Saber asked, "Archer, do you think you're above the gods?"
"Of course!"
The Golden Archer declared, "Everything in this world belongs to me! Wine, swords; only the best catch my eye. Even people are judged before me."
"Except for me, all are worthless, gods included!
"Even those called kings are just slightly better than the rest! That I sit with you is a great honor; you should kneel in thanks. But I'm feeling generous today, so I'll let it go."
"What a joke, Archer!"
Saber snapped, "I'm sick of your pride and greed. You're not a king, you're a fool."
Archer didn't get mad. She looked at the angry Saber with interest, like she was a rare jewel.
"A fool? Hm, you're the first to call me that, but I find it oddly fun… You really are a one-of-a-kind treasure, tempting me to keep you."
('Collector EX!')
"Enough, you two get upset over nothing. This is a banquet, not a fight," Rider said, shaking his head. "Saber, as host, shouldn't you show some patience?"
Then, to the Golden Archer, "Archer, you say everything's yours; does that include the Grail?"
"A silly question. It's always been mine, I just lost it over time."
"You've had the Grail?" Rider asked, startled. "What is it?"
"I don't know."
The queen sipped her wine, calm. "Why should I bother remembering? To me, it's just a cup, not worth my time."
Rider and Saber had no words.
"I see, I was wrong," Saber said. "I thought you were proud and rude. I'm sorry for that."
She looked at Gilgamesh with scorn. "You're not proud; you're just mad."
"Even with my favor, you're too rude, Saber!" Red eyes flashed with intent. "You—"
"Boring!" Rider yelled, cutting her off.
"Dull, slow, endless, annoying!"
The king shouted, "We're kings who lead armies and nations. Why act like clowns?"
"Sorry, I lost control," Saber said, calming down and nodding to Rider.
Archer huffed, finished her wine, and said, "A king is a unique being!
"Priests, workers, traders, farmers, officials; any job can be filled, but 'king' cannot!
"No one in this world matches me!
"So, all unique things are my treasures!
"The world turns only because I allow it!
"Only what I rule has meaning!"
Her eyes narrowed, pupils sharp, like a beast ready to swallow everything. "I don't want the Grail itself, but a vessel worthy of me; something unique!"
Her words came naturally, certain and firm; because the king said so.
A king's word is final!
Even Saber and Rider felt Gilgamesh's overwhelming force.
"So, you'd use the Grail for your own wishes, Archer?" Saber asked, tense.
Archer smiled, charming. "Isn't that obvious, Saber? Or do you want it for someone else?"
"The Grail is an all-powerful wish-granter. How can you use it for yourself…"
"No, because it's all-powerful, you should pour out your deepest wish!" Rider grinned. "I have a wish I'd give anything for."
"Oh? A man like you has a wish for the Grail? I'm curious. You take land, women, riches; Conqueror King, what do you want?"
Archer toyed with her cup, interested.
Saber was surprised too; she'd thought Rider relied on his own strength.
Rider scratched his nose, blushing a little. "…A body."
"What?" Everyone blinked.
"A body! I want to be reborn as a human in this world!
"Yes, I… want to be human!"
It was a shocking answer, catching everyone off guard; except Haru, who knew and stayed calm.
"Wait, isn't it your wish to conquer the world? Hey, Rider—ow!"
Rider flicked Waver's forehead, quieting him. "Fool, what's fun about conquering with a cup? I love the journey, not the end. Like food; it's the taste, not just being full."
"Conquering the world is a goal. The path is what matters!
"Isn't that the best thing?"
"Haha… Not bad for a lesser being… Such a simple wish. Fine, I'll call you a fool!" Archer looked pleased; it'd been a while since she'd enjoyed herself this much.
By "fool," she meant someone who picks the hard road without fear.
Gilgamesh rarely praised anyone, but she had to admit, this Conqueror King was a rare "fool"!
"Rider, why do you want to conquer the world?" Saber asked after a pause.
"Why?" Rider scratched his head. "Does it need a reason?"
Saber shook her head. "War without protecting people is empty. If you conquer land but don't bring happiness, it's wrong!"
She touched her chest, blue eyes on the two kings. "I, Artoria, the Knight King, wish to save my homeland! To stop Britain's fall!"
A heavy silence settled.
Saber felt it first. Even with her strong words, the others wouldn't bend easily.
Praise, mockery, debate; any reaction made sense, but why this quiet?
"…Did I hear you right, Saber?"
Rider asked, puzzled. "Your wish is to 'change history'?"
"Yes! If the Grail is all-powerful, it can fix the past!"
"No, it's not about can....it's why. Let me ask: your homeland fell in your time, right?"
"Yes! That's why I can't forgive myself! If I'd been a better king, maybe…"
"Pfft… Hahaha!"
Gilgamesh laughed hard, her golden hair swaying like it was the best joke ever.
"…Archer, what's funny?" Saber's face darkened.
It was her deepest wish; she wouldn't stand for mockery.
"If only you were a man, little girl!" the ancient queen teased.
"What—" This stung Saber.
"If you were a man, you'd be a fool, and I'd toss you aside. But you're such a lovely beauty…
"Hm, maybe I'll take you for my harem! Your purity will glow in ruin!"
{P/S: No Yuri}
Archer licked her lips, playful. "I'll enjoy that light!"
"You know I'm a king, and you still say this?!" Saber's magic flared, almost solid.
"As a king, why regret what you've done?"
Archer's voice turned cold. "Saber, you are not fit to be a king!"
Saber shot back, "Is being a tyrant like you what makes a king?"
Rider met Saber's eyes. "She's not wrong, Saber…"
"Conqueror King, even you… Why don't you understand? I just want to save my land and people. Is that wrong?"
"You want to undo all you've done?"
"So what? I failed. The nation I gave everything for is gone. I'm bitter, I mourn… What's wrong with fixing it?"
"Hey, Conqueror King, this little girl talks about 'giving herself to the nation'… Haha, it's… sadly sweet."
"Listen, Saber!" The oldest king stood, looming over her. "A king is above all. Nothing deserves their sacrifice. Everything must serve the king's will!"
"What—" Saber's anger boiled over.
She yelled, "That's tyranny, Archer! That kind of king is the people's worst fate!"
"True, we are tyrants," Rider said calmly. "But we ruled without regret or sorrow. So, Saber, if someone regrets their reign, they're a failed king; worse than a tyrant!"