Chapter 89: The Banquet of Kings, Saber Altered by Akira
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DxD World.
Agumon successfully infiltrated the ranks of the fallen angels using his scientific prowess and Akira's Twelve-Winged Fallen Angel avatar. Meanwhile, in another world...
Fate World.
Night had fallen over the Einzbern Castle, where the so-called "Banquet of Kings" was taking place. However, this time, the banquet wasn't initiated by the King of Conquerors, Iskandar. No, this time, the one who called for the gathering was none other than Saber herself.
Boom!
The sound of thunder echoed as Iskandar arrived in his chariot, pulled by divine bulls.
"Haha! Saber, I never expected you to be the one to call for this banquet. What's the matter? Did you feel your words last time weren't enough, so you want to try again?" Iskandar laughed heartily as he stepped down from his chariot.
"Before we engage in battle, why not share a drink?" Saber extended her hand, inviting Iskandar inside.
"A banquet? Excellent! I've been longing to taste the Hero King's finest wine!" Iskandar strode in with his usual boisterous demeanor.
In the center of the courtyard, Saber and Iskandar raised their cups. Both of them felt an eerie sense of déjà vu. After all, this wasn't the first time they had participated in such a gathering. In another timeline, the three kings had already debated their ideals once before. And they all remembered how it had ended.
Whoosh!
Golden particles of light shimmered, and Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, made his grand entrance.
"Saber, I must say, I admire your tenacity. Even after losing once, you still dare to invite me again. That stubbornness of yours is quite amusing," Gilgamesh said as he took his seat, pouring himself a glass of the finest wine.
This time, however, Gilgamesh was far more interested in the banquet than before. Why? Because all three kings present carried memories of the future. With such knowledge, this gathering promised to be far more entertaining than the last. How could he possibly miss it?
Saber accepted the divine wine from Gilgamesh and drank it in one swift motion. She then looked up, her gaze steady.
"Gilgamesh, you seem to have misunderstood something. When did I ever lose? I don't consider the last banquet a defeat."
Gilgamesh's serpent-like eyes narrowed. "Oh? How interesting. As a king, you still fail to grasp the true meaning of kingship. I'm curious, what words do you have to redeem yourself this time?"
"I, too, am curious," Iskandar added, a playful smirk on his face.
Saber glanced briefly toward the castle before turning her resolute gaze back to the two kings.
"The reason you both dismissed me last time is because you are both tyrants from history. Throughout human history, there have been many tyrants, but not all kings are tyrants. You may define kingship in your own way, but there are other kings, other people, who define it differently. If I believe myself to be a king, if the people of Britain believed me to be their king, and if history remembers me as a king, then I am a king!"
Her voice was firm and clear, a stark contrast to her demeanor during the previous banquet.
For a moment, silence filled the courtyard. Then, almost simultaneously, both Iskandar and Gilgamesh burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Saber, are you saying that a king who dedicates themselves entirely to their people is still a king?" Iskandar asked, still chuckling.
"Yes, without a doubt, I am a king," Saber replied earnestly.
Iskandar shook his head, a hint of pity in his eyes. "Saber, I've told you this before, but it seems you've forgotten. Let me remind you again: A king does not exist to serve the nation. The nation and its people exist to serve the king! A king without desire is nothing more than a decoration. A true king is one who embodies greed, joy, and the extremes of human ambition. It is this very nature that inspires their subjects to admire, to envy, and to aspire to become kings themselves!"
"No, you're wrong, Iskandar!" Saber stood up, her voice sharp. "The people do not desire to serve a tyrant, nor do they wish to become kings themselves. What they desire is simple: food, shelter, and a peaceful life. The men who followed you into battle were not the common people. They were knights, generals, and nobles—not the masses. That is why you lost the support of the people! You conquered lands but failed to govern them. What meaning does such a reign hold? A conqueror who cannot rule is not a king. You are nothing more than a force of destruction, leaving behind chaos and suffering in your wake. In my time, I fought against conquerors like you!"
Iskandar listened in silence, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he downed his wine and let out a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha! Saber, you speak boldly. Are you denying my right to be called a king?"
"Yes, Iskandar," Saber replied without hesitation. "Conquest and kingship are not synonymous. A king may engage in conquest, but it should never define their reign. A ruler who cannot govern is unworthy of the title."
Iskandar stood, gazing up at the moon. "Hahaha! You're right, Saber. Conquest did dominate much of my life. But you should know, I've conquered countless kings like you in my time."
"And what of it?" Saber shot back. "Were those kings more focused on conquest or governance? Conquerors like you are nothing more than catalysts for change, stirring nations to grow stronger. But you will never be the mainstream. Why? Because peace and prosperity are what the people truly desire. Even your own followers only sought power and status. In the end, they, too, longed for a stable life. That is why conquerors like you will never define an era!"
Her words echoed through the courtyard. Gilgamesh remained silent, observing the exchange with keen interest. After all, he wasn't a conqueror in the same vein as Iskandar.
Iskandar drained his cup and let out a booming laugh. "Hahaha! Saber, you're right. I am not like those mediocre kings who achieved nothing. But since you dare to challenge my ideals, I acknowledge your right to call yourself a king. After all, kings prove their worth through action, not words. That's why I am known as the King of Conquerors."
He paused, then added, "By the way, Saber, when did you become so eloquent?"
"It's not eloquence. I was simply taught some valuable lessons," Saber replied, her gaze briefly flickering toward the castle.
"I see," Gilgamesh interjected, a sly smile on his face. He had noticed something. "Saber, who taught you these ideas? These words are not your own."
Saber didn't hesitate. "These ideas were taught to me by Akira."
Both Iskandar and Gilgamesh fell silent for a moment. Then, Gilgamesh spoke again.
"Saber, don't you think that by adopting someone else's ideals, you've lost the last vestige of your dignity as a king? A king without their own will is unworthy of the title."
As soon as Gilgamesh finished speaking, the courtyard was illuminated by the glow of a teleportation circle.
"Is that so? By your logic, Gilgamesh, all the kings who became Heroic Spirits after death must have lost their dignity long ago. After all, isn't serving as a pawn of Alaya far more degrading than listening to the counsel of others?"
Gilgamesh's eyes narrowed as he turned to face the newcomer. "Mongrel... who gave you permission to attend a banquet of kings?"
Akira, completely unfazed, took a seat on a chair brought out by Jeanne. "A banquet of kings? Didn't you allow Diarmuid to join last time? Or are your gatherings so exclusive that no one else is welcome?"
Gilgamesh scoffed. "Last time, that knight was allowed to attend as a gesture of royal generosity. But you... you are unworthy of even being in the presence of kings."
As soon as Gilgamesh finished speaking, a system notification chimed in Akira's mind.
[Ding!~]
[Congratulations, host! You have triggered a Villain Sign-In Event!]
[Sign-In Level: Gold.]
[Sign-In Type: Special Event.]
[Event: Noble Phantasm Theft.]
[Requirement: Steal at least 100 Noble Phantasms from Gilgamesh.]
[Note: Within 24 hours, you will gain access to a special inventory capable of storing Noble Phantasms. Any Noble Phantasm you touch can be claimed as your own.]
Akira couldn't help but smirk. "Well, well, looks like I'm about to become the ultimate treasure thief."
Gilgamesh frowned. Why did he feel like Akira was looking at him with a strange, almost predatory gleam in his eyes?
"Gilgamesh, you said I have no right to attend this banquet? Tell me, does a Demon King who commands a Twelve-Winged Fallen Angel not qualify as a king?"
With a flourish, Akira summoned his Twelve-Winged Fallen Angel avatar. The sheer presence of the being, radiating power at the peak of the Super Devil level, was overwhelming.
"My name is Akira. Akira Leviathan. Pleased to meet you, mediocre kings of the human world."
"Leviathan..." Gilgamesh's eyes glinted dangerously. He had a deep-seated hatred for serpents, and Leviathan, the embodiment of chaos, was no exception.
Before Gilgamesh could respond, Iskandar eagerly poured Akira a drink. "A Demon King from the underworld? Welcome! I've always been curious about hell."
"Curious? Don't tell me you're thinking of conquering hell after taking over the human world," Akira quipped as he accepted the drink.
"Ah, you read my mind! Truly, a Demon King from hell is something else," Iskandar replied with a grin.
Gilgamesh laughed. "Hahaha! Only you, Iskandar, would dream of conquering hell!"
Akira took a sip of the divine wine. "Demons are not so different from humans. We are beings of desire, after all."
"Then, like humans, demons can be killed, correct?" Gilgamesh asked, his tone laced with menace.
"Indeed, demons can be killed," Akira replied, meeting Gilgamesh's gaze. "Care to try, King of Heroes?"
The Twelve-Winged Fallen Angel behind Akira spread its wings, casting an imposing shadow under the moonlight.
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 135 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 50 power stones I will publish the next chapter.