Shinji Matou At Your Service

Chapter 96: Rider’s Invitation

This is a truly "giant man," with a muscular and powerful physique that exudes an awe-inspiring presence. The dense, almost interconnected hair, eyebrows, and beard reveal an unparalleled wildness.

Standing in front of such a person is like facing a solid wall, making it difficult to breathe.

Scáthach discreetly tapped her Master, Shinji, who turned his head and twitched at the corners of his mouth. This enormous figure, with its peculiar appearance, is unique to only one person in the entire city of Fuyuki.

"Rider... Conqueror King Iskandar..."

Shinji did not mean to belittle the Conqueror King; his current appearance was just truly peculiar and worthy of being recorded in history.

Rider's upper body was wearing an oversized, seemingly cheap short-sleeved printed T-shirt. There was a symbol with a world map on the chest, and it read "Admirable Grand Strategy VI."

As an otaku, Shinji naturally knew that it was a famous promotional item from the strategy war game series called "Grand Strategy."

Reminiscing about his university days in his past life, Shinji would hum German military songs in his dormitory, singing triumphantly as he advanced through the Maginot Line and reached the heartland of France. It was an incredibly satisfying feeling.

Of course, to his non-otaku roommates, it seemed like he was overly obsessed. He acknowledged that war games are a romantic pursuit for men, but the game graphics were truly not praiseworthy. It's a wonder Shinji was able to endure it—yes, back then, Shinji played an earlier version of Grand Strategy, and the graphics were indeed poor.

However, Shinji couldn't remember which version it was; otherwise, he could have had a good exchange of experiences with Rider—marching and fighting wars. I can't defeat you, but in video games, especially strategy war games, can you defeat me, a seasoned otaku who has played games like Advance Wars, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Great War, and Grand Strategy since childhood?

With such thoughts swirling in his mind, Shinji lowered his gaze. Compared to the out-of-place short-sleeved T-shirt on the upper body, Rider's lower body was relatively normal, wearing a pair of oversized jeans, just like the T-shirt. Unfortunately, Rider's muscles were so well-developed that even this loose-fitting style of clothing appeared tight, making one worry that it might burst open.

Rider laughed heartily with a rough and powerful voice that could shake the atmosphere, lifting a barrel from the cart the shopkeeper had just exited, which was as wide as his shoulders, and walked out of the shop.

His Master, compared to Rider, looked like a delicate and dejected beauty. Waver counted a few ten thousand-yen bills from his wallet and glanced at Rider with a resentful gaze.

"Should we go up and say hello?" Scáthach, dressed in casual clothes, asked her Master.

Scáthach's attire was truly casual, with a beige cotton-padded jacket, dark trousers, a pink woolen hat on her head, and a pair of sunglasses perched on her nose that could cover half of her face.

Thanks to this attire, Scáthach's charm was maximally weakened, avoiding the chaos caused by the likes of Irisviel and Saber when they went shopping.

Shinji nodded gently and walked forward with Scáthach by his side. At this moment, he was disguised as a young man wearing a Hades cloak, so he wasn't worried about being recognized.

"Good afternoon, Rider, Mr. Waver Velvet."

Upon hearing someone call his name, Rider turned around with a barrel on his shoulder, almost hitting the glass door of the specialty store with the one-meter-tall oak barrel, causing the shopkeeper's heart to skip a beat.

"Isn't this Assassin's Master? And Assassin... Hmm, you've also changed into the clothes of this era. Truly, great minds think alike among heroes."

Rider's face bore a carefree smile, and his familiar expression didn't convey any hostility.

"How about it? This king's new clothes. It feels amazing to have the entire world's map on your chest. Hahaha..."

"Stop laughing! Stop laughing!"

Waver hurriedly put away his wallet and ran out of the store, not hesitating to deliver a punch to Rider's chest, although, with his strength, it was more like tickling Rider.

"Don't you realize that everyone on this street is looking at us?"

Waver's words were completely true. Rider attracted the attention of everyone on the street. His imposing physique, something almost impossible for Japanese people to possess, coupled with his eccentric attire of wearing only a short-sleeved T-shirt in the dead of winter and carrying a barrel that was half his height, not to mention his booming voice that could be heard from dozens of meters away, made it impossible not to draw attention.

"Of course, I noticed. A king, no matter where he is, will attract the gaze of the masses." The Conqueror King proudly thumped his chest, emitting a drum-like sound.

"You idiot! You're such a big idiot!!!" Waver was about to go insane. He wanted to gain recognition from others and attract their attention, but he didn't want to be seen as a clown.

Perhaps feeling sorry for the pitiful appearance of Waver, Shinji finally stopped spectating and interrupted this "romantic comedy."

"Both of you, let's go somewhere else. There are too many people here."

Upon Shinji's suggestion, Waver naturally nodded repeatedly, and after thinking for a moment, Rider didn't object either. They left the pedestrian street together. However, before leaving, Rider shouted at everyone.

"I'm glad! I'll come to play often in the future."

This caused people to burst into laughter and strengthened Waver's determination never to bring Rider out for shopping again.

...

"Rider, what are you planning to do with that large barrel of alcohol?"

In a quiet corner near the pedestrian street, Scáthach asked somewhat curiously, "Isn't it a bit too extravagant for one person to drink so much alcohol?"

"I plan to hold a banquet," Rider replied. "Gathering heroes from different eras across time and space is the marvel of the Holy Grail War. And this Holy Grail War has four kings, which makes my blood boil. Unfortunately, only one person can ultimately obtain the Holy Grail. So, before we engage in battle, I want to share a drink with everyone, express our ideals, and share our kingship."

The smile on Iskandar's face had less foolishness and more sincerity, along with the pride of being a king.

In his era, he no longer had any opponents, so he set his sights on kings from different eras. This banquet was not just a feast but an invisible competition.

Physical conquest was not true conquest; conquering hearts and minds was. Iskandar wanted to defeat the kings of other eras in a fair and honorable manner, conquering them spiritually.

This was Iskandar's kingship and the reason behind his title, the Conqueror.

"Assassin, no, Queen Scáthach of the 'Land of Shadows'," Rider said, his tone and expression making people overlook his attire and posture. He was extending an invitation to another king as a fellow king.

As a king herself, Scáthach couldn't refuse such an invitation.

"I accept your invitation," she replied.

"There's still Archer and Saber," Rider said.

"Saber's foundation is half destroyed."

"Also Archer doesn't need a separate invitation."

Scáthach shook her head at Rider and pointed behind him.

Standing there was a young man with golden hair, red eyes, and a slender figure.

He was also a king.