Night fell. Mount Enzō. Ryūdō Temple.
On the paved forecourt, a short-horned ox over three meters tall was suspended above a bonfire.
In front of the roast—fat sizzling and dripping—seven low tables were arranged neatly in a three–two–two layout.
At the three tables in the front row, various figures were already seated.
At the center table sat Baiye, with Morgan on his left and Scáthach on his right.
At the table to Morgan's left sat two little girls who, despite differences in clothing, hair, and eyes, looked unmistakably like they'd been cast from the same mold:
Matou Sakura and her Servant, Kama.
At the table to Scáthach's right sat Irisviel and the Goddess Rhongomyniad.
Three minutes after Baiye released the same kind of "invitation" signal Diarmuid had used on the first night of the war—
A brilliant vessel descended from the sky, shaped like a gigantic bird and crafted of gold and gemstones.
A Master in a red suit and a golden armored Servant landed first.
"Hmm? Hah."
Gilgamesh's gaze swept Kama, Morgan, Scáthach, and the Goddess Rhongomyniad, and he gave an ambiguous verdict:
"Interesting."
"Sakura? Why… how could this happen?"
At that moment, Tokiomi Tohsaka had no mind to spare for the other tables.
Even before landing, he had recognized Sakura—alongside a near-identical figure—and as a Master empowered by the Grail's privilege, he could sense that they were a Master–Servant pair.
"Good evening, Head of the Tohsaka."
Sakura lifted her hand and showed the Command Seals on her skin.
"…"
Tokiomi's lips parted, wanting to speak—only to be pinched by the neck of his coat and dropped into his seat by Gilgamesh like a troublesome piece of luggage.
Seconds later—
Thunder cracked.
A chariot drawn by two bulls wreathed in lightning descended.
Kayneth, Waver, Diarmuid, and Iskandar leapt down in sequence.
"King of Babylonia!"
Iskandar called out, sounding half regretful. "I meant to settle our score before facing the final enemy—but it seems there's no such chance now."
He swept his gaze over Baiye's group and inhaled the scent of roasting meat.
"I see… so before the final battle, the warriors are granted a feast to fill their bellies?"
Then he frowned.
"But meat without wine—how can that be?"
"I was going to prepare wine as well," Baiye replied, looking directly at Gilgamesh, "but after thinking it over, I decided not to show off."
"Hehahaha!"
Gilgamesh laughed. "So you dared to set your sights on my collection?
"Still, I'll concede this: a fair number of you here are qualified to drink with me.
"Be grateful. This is a wine even gods might never taste."
Seven golden ripples opened above the seven tables.
From each ripple fell a golden wine jug and several golden cups.
"Then I'll look forward to it."
Iskandar understood the seating logic immediately, and the four of them paired off to sit:
Iskandar with Waver.
Kayneth with Diarmuid.
Tokiomi with Gilgamesh.
"—Wait," Waver whispered, tugging Iskandar's "Grand Strategy" shirt. "Isn't there still one more group that hasn't arrived? We're not waiting?"
"That's not your concern, little Master."
Iskandar filled his second cup, then filled Waver's too.
"If the host hasn't stopped us, it means all this is within the allowed bounds… am I wrong?"
He asked the last part toward Baiye.
"Fruit on the table, meat on the fire, wine gifted by the King of Heroes—please, enjoy freely."
Baiye enhanced his vision with Runes, glanced toward a distant direction, then gestured to the gathered guests.
"Our last guests will likely take a while longer. Don't let them spoil your appetites."
"Then I won't hold back."
Iskandar strode to the fire, cut down a leg of ox larger than his entire body, and divided it into three portions.
He handed one-third to Kayneth and Diarmuid's table, one-third to Tokiomi and Gilgamesh's, and carried the last third back to his own.
After taking a bite, his eyes lit up.
"Excellent meat… can this era still raise livestock with such quality?"
He looked curiously at Kayneth.
Kayneth's eyelid twitched.
"I took you to the most authentic French cuisine in all London—arguably all Britain—top-tier ingredients, top-tier chefs!"
"Bah. I wasn't doubting you."
Iskandar waved it off.
While the guests ate and drank, the hosts didn't simply watch.
At the right table, Irisviel used silver threads that turned into metallic blades, neatly slicing the portions she and the Goddess needed.
Which left Baiye with only one table to personally manage: Sakura and Kama.
"Same meat as always," Baiye reminded Sakura as he set down bite-sized cuts before the two girls, "but today you don't have to practice what I taught you, so don't overeat."
"Okay."
Sakura nodded obediently.
"And the wine…"
Baiye lifted his jug, sniffed it, then looked to the one truly responsible—Gilgamesh.
"Any non-alcoholic options? Mages don't have to care about mundane law, but at her age she should drink something age-appropriate."
"Where do you find the audacity," Gilgamesh said coolly, "to accept the King's gift and then dare to pick and choose?"
"No?"
"A crude provocation."
Gilgamesh snorted and flicked his hand.
A golden jar—filled with sacred milk once offered to gods—fell from a ripple and landed in Baiye's palm.
....
My Patreon : patreon/RuneA
If you want to read the novel in advance, you can subscribe for early access. I also have many more novels in my collection that you might be interested in
I upload ten novels a day, with 3 to 4 chapters per title depending on the length. If you're following a particular series, please wait your turn a little
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it