Generally speaking, the quality of red wine fermented and stored in oak barrels is not bad, and there are many things to pay attention to when drinking this kind of red wine. Shinji, who has not systematically studied this knowledge, is not clear about what the details are, but he knows that it is definitely not like Rider prying open the barrel with his fist and using a bamboo wine ladle to scoop the wine.
While serving, he also boasted to others.
"Although the shape is a bit strange, this is the traditional drinking vessel of this country."
Scathach looked at Rider's cheerful and somewhat funny expression, sighed softly, and corrected Rider's mistake.
"That is indeed a traditional oriental wine vessel, called a wine scoop or a wine scoop, but it is not used to hold red wine, let alone as a wine glass."
"Is that so? Ahahaha." Rider smiled foolishly and touched the back of his head. "No wonder the shopkeeper looked at me so strangely, it turns out I was wrong. Hey, Saber's Master, are there any drinking glasses in the castle? Bring out a few."
Irisviel looked at Saber and asked, and after receiving a positive response from the latter, she turned around and trotted away.
"During this time - Saber, Archer, Assassin, I wonder if you have heard of this legend. It is said that the Holy Grail will only be given to those who are worthy of it, and the consciousness that determines whether it is worthy is this war in Fuyuki."
Rider spoke calmly, igniting the flames of war. Although it was rare to see him speak in such a serious tone, for some reason, it didn't feel out of place at all.
"But if you just want to decide on a candidate, there is no need for bloodshed. If you have a character that the Heroic Spirits can all agree on, then the answer will come naturally."
"You mean tonight's banquet is about competing against each other in this 'character', right?"
Saber, wearing a black suit, raised his eyebrows heroically.
"That's right. A true contest in the name of 'King'. In other words, this is not a 'Holy Grail War', but a 'Holy Grail Quiz'. Who is more worthy of the title of 'King of the Holy Grail'? The answer is clearest when asked with wine."
At this time, Irisviel came back with a few wine glasses. Saber took the wine glasses and Rider poured wine into the glasses with a wine ladle.
"Come, have a drink first."
Rider said as he drank the wine in the glass. His bold drinking style, which was not suitable for the goblet and the red wine, did not look out of place on Rider. This was the hero's generosity and personality charm.
Although the other three servants were smaller than Rider, their drinking momentum was no less impressive. This was a battle in the name of a "banquet", and those who attended the banquet were all kings, so no one would weaken their momentum.
After finishing the wine in the cup, Rider, Assassin, and Saber all kept their expressions unchanged, only Archer showed a look of disgust.
"What kind of vile wine is this? Do you think you can really measure a hero's character with this kind of stuff?"
"Really? This is one of the best products in the local market."
Rider said this because he didn't know that in modern times, truly good wines would not be displayed in the market. Although Fuyuki City was home to many foreigners, it was only a small city and there was no place selling high-end wines.
"You think that because you don't know what real wine is, you bastard."
Archer scoffed, and the space around him began to twist and turn. Waver and Irisviel saw this scene and knew that this was the precursor to the strange phenomenon of countless treasures. They suddenly felt cold all over and stood up.
But tonight, what Archer summoned from his side was not a weapon or something like that, but a set of wine vessels decorated with gorgeous gemstones. The heavy golden wine bottles were filled with transparent colorless liquid.
"Look carefully, this is the real 'Wine of Kings';."
"Ohhh, that's really great."
Rider didn't take Archer's unpleasant way of speaking seriously at all, and happily poured the newly acquired wine into the four golden wine glasses that matched the golden wine bottle.
Scathach naturally picked up the two wine glasses in front of her and handed one to Saber, who was also of Celtic origin.
Saber seemed to be more wary of Archer than the other two. Although she was a little hesitant about the wine in the golden bottle, she still did not refuse and took the wine glass that Scathach handed to her.
"Woooooo, it's delicious!"
Rider, who drank the wine first, cheered loudly with his eyes wide open.
Saber's curiosity overcame her vigilance. Besides, at this time and place, the character of everyone was to be compared, so how could she keep the wine poured by others
The moment the wine entered her throat, Saber felt her brain filled with a strong sense of expansion. It was truly a top-quality wine that she had never tasted before, strong yet refreshing, mellow yet refreshing. The overly strong pleasure of taste overwhelmed her sense of smell, and even her vision and touch became dull.
"This is amazing! This wine must not be brewed by humans. Is it something from the mythological era?"
Hearing Rider's praise, Archer smiled leisurely.
"Assassin, can you tell the origin of this wine?"
It sounds like a casual question, but it has a deeper meaning. It is also a kind of confrontation, a confrontation of knowledge. Archer wants to test the legendary "wisdom of the magic world" that surpasses humans by placing himself outside the world.
Scathach, who saw this, put down the wine glass and responded as she sat down, "Rider is right. That is indeed something from the mythological era. Moreover, it is a wine brewed by the god of wine himself. Only gods are qualified to drink it."
"Bacchus? Dionysus?" Rider lived in ancient Greece. When he mentioned Bacchus, the first thing he thought of was Dionysus, the god of wine in Greek mythology.
"No." Scathach shook her head. "He is a god older than Dionysus, the origin of all wine gods like Dionysus and Bacchus. In the earliest times, gods had no names, nor were they divided into pantheons according to human myths and legends like they are now. They are the extension of nature and the product of concepts - the god of fire is the god of fire, the god of war is the god of war, the god of thunder is the god of thunder, and the god of wine is the god of wine. With the development of mankind, the single concept has been differentiated and refined, and there are various pantheons, various gods with the same priesthood. Archer's wine should be the original wine born from the original god of wine, am I right?"
Hearing this answer, Archer looked at Scathach with approval.
"Correct. Your knowledge is worthy of my praise, Assassin. Whether it is fine wine or sword, there are only supreme treasures in my treasury - this is the taste of a king."
"You must be kidding, Archer."
The one who sternly rebuked was Saber, and the calm was gradually broken by the tense atmosphere.
"You actually comment on the way of the king based on the quality of the wine. It's ridiculous. You don't look like a king, but more like a clown..."
Facing Saber's anger, Archer simply snorted.
"It's really ugly. A boring person who doesn't know how to enjoy a good wine has no right to be king."
"Stop arguing, stop arguing. Accusations from both sides are boring."
Rider first smiled bitterly to stop Saber who was about to open her mouth to refute, and then continued to speak to Archer.
"Archer, your nectar is indeed worthy of these precious cups - unfortunately, the Holy Grail is not a cup. This is a test of who is most worthy of the Holy Grail. First of all, we have to listen to what wishes you place on the Holy Grail, otherwise there will be no discussion at all. Archer, as a king, you have to find a way to convince us that you are worthy of the Holy Grail."
"Don't push your luck, bastard. Besides, this has deviated from the premise of 'fighting for' the Holy Grail."
"Um?"
Seeing Rider frowning and showing a surprised expression, Archer sighed as if helpless.
"To be honest, those items originally belonged to me. All the treasures in the world come from my treasury. Although time has passed and some things are lost, those treasures still belong to me."
"So, you have held the Holy Grail before? And of course you know what it is?"
"have no idea."
Archer denied Rider's question in a calm tone.
"Don't judge me by the standards of a bastard. The total amount of treasures I own has long exceeded what I know. But as long as that item is a 'treasure', it means that it must belong to me. You actually want to take my things without permission. Even if you are a thief, you should stop."
This time it was Saber's turn to be surprised by Archer's words.
"What you said is no different from Caster's nonsense. It seems that he is not the only insane Servant."
"No, that's not true."
Unlike Saber, Rider muttered as if he was just following her voice. He had already picked up the bottle and poured wine into the glass without any hesitation.
"I think I have guessed the real name of this golden glittering angel. There should be only one king who is more arrogant than me, Iskandar."
Rider’s astonishing words made Irisviel and Waver prick up their ears, but he did not continue and changed the subject.
"So Archer, as long as we get your permission, we can get the Holy Grail?"
Rider asked knowingly with a grin. Archer gave him a sharp look.
"Yes, but there is no reason for me to give treasures to bastards like you."
"You are not a miser, are you?"
"Foolish, I only give rewards to my subjects and people."
Archer gave Rider a sarcastic smile.
"So Rider, if you are willing to submit to me, I will reward you with one or two cups at any time."
"... Well, that's absolutely impossible."
Rider scratched his chin, still finding it hard to accept, with a puzzled expression on his face.
"But Archer, you don't seem to care much about the Holy Grail, nor do you participate in the Holy Grail War just to fight for it."
"Of course. But I cannot let go of a thief who has laid hands on my treasure. This is a matter of principle."
"Archer, what do you mean-------"
Rider finished his drink halfway through his speech and continued.
"Is there some meaning or truth in this?"
"It's the law."
Archer answered immediately.
"The laws I decree as a king."
"Um."
Rider seemed to accept his statement and let out a deep breath.
"You are such a perfect king, able to follow through on the principles you set. However, I still want the Holy Grail. My way of doing things is to go get it if I want it, because I, Iskandar, am the King of Conquerors."
"No problem. If you break the law, I will punish you. There is no room for argument."
"Well, in this case we'll have to meet on the battlefield."
Archer was serious, while Rider showed a cheerful expression, having no more doubts. The two nodded in agreement.
"------But Archer, finish this bottle of wine first, and put the battle off until later..."
"Of course, or did you intend to waste the wine I served you?"
"How is it possible? How can we leave this top-quality wine unfinished?"
Saber had been watching in amazement as Archer and Rider gradually developed a relationship that was unclear whether it was hostility or friendship. At this moment, she finally asked Rider.
"King of Conquerors, now that you have acknowledged that the true ownership of the Holy Grail belongs to someone else, will you still use force to seize it?"
"------Hmm? Yes, is there any need to ask? My way of kingship is to conquer... that is, to seize and invade."
Saber suppressed the rage that was raging in her heart and continued to ask.
"What is your wish for the Holy Grail that would lead you to do this?"
Rider seemed a little embarrassed. He chuckled twice, took a sip of wine, and then answered.
"It's to get the body."
This was an answer that no one had expected. As for Waver, he was so surprised that he couldn't help but scream and rushed to Rider to interrogate him.
"You, you, you, you! Your wish is not to conquer the world-----Wow!!"
Rider shrugged and said, using his usual forehead flick to make the Master shut up.
"Idiot. Why would I want to conquer the world with a cup? Conquering is my dream, and my wish for the Holy Grail is just the first step to realize my dream."
"You bastard... You dare challenge me for something as silly as this."
Even Archer showed a surprised expression, but Rider's expression was still very serious.
"Even if we can manifest with magic, we are still Servants after all, and we don't belong to this world. Are you satisfied with this?"
"I am not satisfied. I want to be reborn in this world and become a real life."
"... "
After hearing what Rider said, Waver remembered that Rider always resisted becoming a spirit and preferred to maintain his strange habit of being a physical body.
Indeed, even though Rider can talk, dress, and eat like a human, he is essentially no different from a ghost.
"Why do you want the body so much?"
"Because that is the basis of 'conquest'."
Clenching his huge palm tightly, Iskandar looked at his fist and whispered.
"Stand up straight, facing the heaven and the earth, that's all there is to conquering this 'behavior'... With this as my goal, I will move forward and achieve my goal. But now I don't even have a body, this won't do, I can't even start. I'm not afraid of anything, I just feel the need for a body."
Archer silently raised the wine glass in his hand to his lips, wondering if he was listening to Rider's words.
But upon closer inspection, the expression on the corner of his mouth was different from any expression this Golden Heroic Spirit had ever had. If I had to describe it, it was an expression close to a smile, but Archer had only ever shown a mocking expression, and this expression was so gloomy that it frightened people when they saw it.
"It's decided—Rider, I will kill you with my own hands."
"You're still saying that now? You better be prepared. I'm planning to plunder not only the Holy Grail, but your treasure house as well. You're really careless to let the King of Conquerors taste such a fine wine."
Rider laughed and turned to Scathach, who had been silent since a while ago.
"Your turn, Assassin."