Anyone who has watched a car race knows that a car must be traveling at full speed when it crosses the finish line. After crossing the finish line, it needs to continue sliding on the track, gradually slowing down, and finally stopping.
The finish line is the Einzbern Forest, but the actual parking spot is in front of the castle gate.
The Einzbern Forest was covered with a large-scale barrier, and a group of people's blatant intrusion would naturally trigger the barrier's warning and defense mechanisms.
Feeling the suppression of the barrier, Rider and Archer did the same thing while slowing down - destroying the barrier, more specifically, destroying the forest.
Although the core of the barrier is inside the castle, it is not enough to have only one core for such a large barrier. It also needs base points to stably transform the spiritual power extracted from the earth veins and spread it to the outside. These base points are set in the lush and endless forest outside the castle.
Destroying the forest is to destroy the base of the barrier, which is equivalent to destroying the barrier itself.
Irisviel, who was connected to the barrier, was inevitably affected. The alarm caused by the intruder and the disorder of magic power caused by the destruction of the barrier interfered with her magic circuits and almost made her faint on the spot.
Saber didn't need her to say anything, she already knew what was happening, the intruder did not hide his presence, and rushed directly from the front.
Although the exact number of invaders was unknown, the thunder outside the window and the bold approach indicated that Rider was among them.
Considering the maneuverability of the tanks, it was too late to retreat at this time, and they could only fight back head-on.
Having made such a judgment, Saber and Irisviel came to the terrace outside the entrance together, where they should be able to meet the enemy who attacked head-on.
However, when the two of them saw the intruder standing with his chest puffed out in the hall through the moonlight shining in through the skylight, they were suddenly speechless.
The combination of Archer, Rider, and Assassin is strange enough in itself, but what's even stranger is the outfits of the three.
Three people, three different painting styles, and none of them is combat-oriented.
Are you guys here for a picnic? —Although it was a bit rude, Irisviel really thought so.
And the next scene proved that her idea was correct.
"Hey, Saber, I heard you had a castle so I wanted to come and see it - how did it become like this?"
Rider showed his white teeth without any guilt and grinned, while twisting his neck as if he was tired, making a rattling sound.
"There are so many trees in the yard that it is really inconvenient to go in and out. I almost got lost before I reached the city gate. I have helped you cut down some of the trees. You must thank me."
"Rider, you... you guys..."
Saber looked serious and wanted to say something, but she didn't know where to start.
"Hey, Rider, look at Saber's expression. You haven't told her what you are going to do yet, right?" Archer got out of the car and put the Golden Babylon into the King's Treasury while Shinji was stunned.
Yes, you read that right, he put the motorcycle away, but Scathach didn't have such a treasure, so she could only park the motorcycle in the corner of the entrance.
"Yes, I'm going to say it now. But before that, Knight King, stop wearing that rigid armor and change into clothes of this era like us." Rider said, patting the Grand Strategy Logo on his chest with his hand, as if showing off.
"... Saber's armor is boring, but it's better than your cheap T-shirt and jeans."
Shinji's expression betrayed his inner thoughts, and Waver and Irisviel were also betrayed by their expressions.
The former's face says "I want to go home quickly".
The latter's face showed a look of "What on earth do you want to do?", and Saber asked this question for her.
"Don't you understand after reading this?" Rider said, picking up the wine barrel from the gap in the chariot. "Well, don't just stand there in a daze. Lead the way. Isn't there a courtyard suitable for holding a banquet here? Drinking in this broken city is really a depressing sight."
Saber sighed helplessly, and the anger accumulated in her chest disappeared without a trace. Facing an opponent who showed no hostility, she was unable to maintain her fighting spirit.
Irisviel felt the same way. Although she was angry that her barrier was destroyed, she couldn't hate him no matter how hard she looked at his smile that showed no tension.
"Saber, what should we do? They really look like they're here to drink..."
"No, it's a challenge."
Although Saber had put away her fighting spirit, her expression remained serious.
"challenge?"
"Yes. Those standing here tonight are all kings of their countries. To decide the winner over the wine table is like a bloodless battle."
Perhaps because he heard Saber’s whisper, the King of Conquerors smiled and nodded.
"Hehe, you know it well. Since we can't fight with swords, let's settle the outcome with wine. Knight King, I will not let you go tonight, so be prepared."
Rider once said that he would not fight with Saber until the winner between Saber and Lancer was decided. That was an agreement that the Heroic Spirits had made in exchange for their own dignity, and he would not betray it, so he chose this way to fight Saber.
"Interesting, I'll take that."
Saber resolutely accepted the challenge, her face exuding the same dignified heroic spirit as when she went to the battlefield. At this point, Irisviel finally realized that this was not a joke, but the beginning of a real battle of victory or defeat.
...
The garden in the castle courtyard was chosen as the venue for the banquet.
The scars from the battle the night before did not affect this place, so it would not be embarrassing to use it to entertain guests, but Archer was still very dissatisfied with it.
"They actually chose such a small, suffocating place to hold the 'Feast of the King'; this is the only taste that the bastard has."
"Bastard"; Archer did not specify who he was referring to. It could be Rider, the organizer of the party, or Saber, who provided the venue, or it could be both of them.
"Don't say that, Archer." Shinji spoke before Rider and Saber could speak, "This is already the best place in Fuyuki City. There used to be a luxurious hotel that might suit your taste, but it was bombed two days ago."
"Shut up, magician." Archer looked at Shinji with his ruby-red eyes arrogantly. "If you want to give me advice, you should at least remove your disguise. It is the greatest disrespect to hide in front of the king."
Shinji knew Archer's character, and also knew that his ability to judge people was on the same level as Scathach, so he didn't get angry, but just bowed humbly.
"I apologize to all three of you. Due to some compelling reasons, I cannot show my true face. Please forgive me."
It's actually not difficult to get along with Archer. Just don't argue with him, go along with him and make him feel happy, and he won't bother with you.
"Since your attitude is quite sincere, I will not pursue your disrespect this time." As expected, Archer snorted and ignored Shinji, not even mentioning his dissatisfaction with the "venue".
Saber and Rider also displayed the magnanimity of a king and laughed it off. Rider knocked open the lid of the wine barrel with his fist with bulging joints, and the rich aroma of red wine immediately filled the air in the atrium at night.
The "Feast of Kings" has begun.