"Four down. Just one more, and the Grail will manifest."
After saying this, Souta turned to the nearby Iskandar and called out directly:
"Iskandar, it's just us now. Want to talk?"
Iskandar silently unsheathed the Sword of the Kupriotes.
Waver, standing beside him, looked downright terrified as he stared at Souta.
Both of them had already recognized him as a major threat.
Souta sighed. He withdrew his divine power, restoring the aura of an ordinary young man, and only then did he start walking toward them.
He figured this would make him seem more approachable and help them lower their guard.
As he walked, he spoke calmly: "There's no need for us to fight. You two don't have to be so on edge."
"Hold it right there, lad."
Iskandar raised his sword slightly.
"Take another step, and I won't hold back."
The steamroller that had flattened the King of Heroes was still sitting there on the ground—why on earth would he let Souta get any closer?
Let alone talk things over.
"Don't misunderstand—I really mean no harm."
Souta stopped in place, looking helpless.
Fortunately, this was when Artoria and the others arrived.
"That... that was an Anti-World Noble Phantasm, wasn't it?"
Artoria still hadn't fully recovered from the sheer destruction she had just witnessed.
"Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes... I never imagined we'd face a monster like that in this Holy Grail War."
Kiritsugu's tone was grim.
He was feeling a bit shaken.
Had it not been for Souta turning the tide, all of them combined wouldn't have been able to withstand even a single swing of EA.
"Souta, how did you block an Anti-World Noble Phantasm?" Irisviel asked curiously.
"Secret," Souta replied with a grin. "You guys are acting way too surprised. If you gave Artoria Avalon, she'd be able to block it too."
"Avalon... You have it?"
Artoria's eyes widened in shock as she turned to Irisviel.
Her lost scabbard had been within reach this whole time?
"I'm sorry, Saber. We kept it from you," Irisviel admitted apologetically. "But don't worry—the Grail War is nearly over. Avalon has no use for us anymore. Returning it to you is the best choice."
"It's fine, Irisviel. I'm just surprised, that's all."
Artoria shook her head, signaling that she didn't mind.
"Let's focus on getting the Grail to manifest first."
Souta lifted Illya's replica heart in his hand and said, "Now that the King of Heroes is gone, the plan is in its final stage."
At his side, Illya's expression turned slightly unnatural.
Seeing the heart in Souta's hand had forced her to remember how Gilgamesh had slashed her eyes and ripped her heart out.
"Onii-chan... thank you."
Illya's voice was unexpectedly soft.
"Hmm? What for?" Souta glanced at her, puzzled.
"Thank you for avenging me!"
Illya cast a satisfied glance at the steamroller, feeling an inexplicable sense of relief.
"Illya?" Irisviel, sensing something in her daughter's gaze, looked puzzled. "Does that mean... you and the King of Heroes had a grudge in the future?"
"You could say that. But now, it won't happen anymore."
Illya approached Souta and, without warning, hugged him from behind her hands, a sweet alluring smile on her face.
"I'm liking you more and more, Onii-chan~."
Kiritsugu sighed at the sight.
If EA at full power couldn't kill Souta, there was no point in drawing his gun—he'd just be embarrassing himself.
"Illya, let go for now. We're in the middle of a serious discussion."
Souta, feeling the soft, small frame clinging to his back, looked helpless.
Great—now everyone was going to think he was a lolicon.
Hurrying to steer the conversation back on track, he said, "Rin is handling Tohsaka Tokiomi. At this point, there's no need to fight anymore. Once I convince Iskandar, we should be able to use the Grail for a wish."
Illya quickly interrupted him. "Onii-chan, leave the negotiations to me. You'd just mess it up."
"Uh... You think you can handle it?"
What negotiation skills did Illya even have?
In the original story, she just brute-forced her way through everything with Heracles, didn't she?
And she was looking down on him?
Artoria suddenly volunteered.
"As a fellow king, I have a better chance of persuading him. You modern people won't be able to relate to him properly."
"...You guys are ridiculously confident."
Souta rolled his eyes.
Did Artoria not remember that, in the original Three Kings Meeting, Iskandar had completely dismantled her worldview with just a few words?
With that level of persuasion, she wanted to negotiate?
Was she not worried about biting her tongue?
Irisviel, watching the three of them argue, suddenly had a strange realization.
Illya was out of the question.
Artoria was too straightforward—she wouldn't be effective.
And Souta... definitely not.
The way he had dragged Kiritsugu and Maiya to negotiate with her and Saber showed that he had a rather... unique approach.
Kiritsugu was a poor choice too—he and Iskandar were polar opposites. Iskandar probably wouldn't even take him seriously.
After considering everyone, it seemed like she was the only remotely reasonable candidate.
That realization made her chuckle wryly.
A homunculus... was the most normal person here.
"Saber, come with me," Irisviel decided. "You'll be my bodyguard. I'll handle the negotiations. Souta, you stay here."
Without waiting for his opinion, she turned and walked toward Iskandar.
A deep, hearty laugh rang out.
Iskandar was grinning as he strode back toward Souta.
When he reached him, he gave Souta a firm pat on the back.
"Lad, I never expected you to be doing something so... romantic."
He glanced at Illya behind Souta and continued, "But... your tastes are a little hard to accept. Cough... You might want to be careful."
Waver, following behind Iskandar, gave Souta a look that was a mix of admiration and something complicated.
Souta stood there, expressionless.
What the hell did you say to them?
"Speaking of which, lad—your battle against the King of Heroes was truly impressive. A sight to behold!"
Iskandar suddenly looked at him with excitement and extended an invitation:
"Would you like to join my army?"
"You said the same thing to Saber, didn't you?"
"Indeed. But she refused. A real shame. What about you?"
"Join your army, huh..."
Souta rested his chin on one hand, pretending to ponder before replying:
"If I get to laze around all day, have food delivered to my mouth, clothes laid out for me, and receive a generous monthly salary—with a wife assigned to me, too—then sure, I'll join. What do you say?"
"...On second thought, never mind."
Iskandar scratched his head and cleared his throat.
"I've got enough people in my army already. Forget I said anything."