This Is My Holy Grail War [95]

As the first rays of dawn broke over the horizon, a knight astride a white horse emerged from the shadows. The sun’s light had yet to fully banish the darkness, leaving the sky draped in a deep indigo veil.

The white-crowned Archer wandered the streets of Fuyuki City like a monarch surveying their domain. The rhythmic clatter of the horse’s hooves echoed softly as it passed through the quiet alleys. Beneath the crisscrossing electric wires, Archer reined in the horse, the steed snorting lightly as it came to a halt.

Raising her head, Archer locked eyes with a blond man clad in a black coat. He stood atop a power pole, his golden hair catching the dim morning light.

“This city belongs to me,” Gilgamesh declared, his haughty voice cutting through the crisp air. His face twisted in fury, unable to hide his growing anger. “You dare tread here, wearing that crown? Is this a declaration of war, you mongrel?”

The pale crown upon Archer’s head was a symbol reserved solely for kings. To Gilgamesh, the mere sight of it was an unforgivable provocation.

There can only be one king in this world—and in this city.

“I’ve come to see you,” the white Archer said, her tone calm and deliberate. “You’re a participant in this Holy Grail War, aren’t you, Archer of the past?” Her words carried a knowing weight, as if she had already unraveled everything about Gilgamesh.

“You insolent wretch,” Gilgamesh spat, his voice venomous. “I’ve tolerated your existence long enough. Did you come here to learn the meaning of death?!”

The crown atop her head burned in his gaze, a blasphemous affront to his own regal pride. Behind Gilgamesh, six golden portals appeared, each glowing with the light of the treasures contained within the [Gate of Babylon]. The air crackled with the promise of violence as the weapons began to emerge.

“I’m here to ask if you’d like to join me…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Gilgamesh launched his attack. Golden beams of light streaked downward, exploding in deafening bursts that shook the ground and sent debris flying in all directions.

When the dust settled, revealing a ruined street and swaying power poles, Archer remained standing. She was completely unscathed, not even a speck of dirt marring her white attire.

Crack.

The force of Gilgamesh’s attack had caused the power pole beneath him to splinter. Forced to leap down, he now stood on the same ground as Archer.

“You mongrel, are you seeking death?!” Gilgamesh roared, fury lighting his crimson eyes. The portals behind him multiplied, their number surging from six to thirty-two. The weapons they held were of higher caliber, gleaming with lethal intent.

“Humanity is a sinful existence,” Archer said, undeterred by his rage. Her voice was steady, almost serene. “I intend to destroy all humans. Would you be interested in joining me?”

Despite being the target of countless weapons, she urged her white horse forward, advancing toward the golden-armored king without hesitation.

“How amusing,” Gilgamesh sneered. He despised modern humanity, especially magi, whom he viewed as a plague upon the earth. Yet he had never encountered someone whose sole desire was the annihilation of the world itself.

“What’s your plan?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.

“You should know, after the last Holy Grail War, what the Grail truly contains,” Archer explained. “We need only release the evil within—the sins of humanity—and let those sins destroy mankind. That will suffice.”

“And if you fail?” Gilgamesh pressed, his gaze narrowing as he studied the pale knight before him. Her calm expression sent a shiver through him—a strange blend of unease and fascination.

“If I fail, it will prove humanity is not sinful,” Archer replied simply. Her logic struck a chord with Gilgamesh. “My Master is the embodiment of humanity’s sin. If humans can survive this cleansing, it will mean I was wrong. Perhaps… that’s what the gods intend to show.”

“The gods, you say?”

“They’ve declared that humanity is steeped in sin. I’m merely here to cleanse it,” Archer said, her tone carrying a faint trace of weariness. “I don’t care about being a king. This crown was placed on my head without my consent.”

She sighed softly, her voice tinged with melancholy. “I… am just a witch who was burned alive by humanity. I did nothing wrong, and yet I was consumed by flames born of malice.”

“Oh?” Gilgamesh’s interest sharpened. The golden weapons hovering behind him wavered, then slowly receded back into their portals. “You were once human?”

“Yes,” Archer admitted without hesitation. “A mere peasant, or perhaps a simple village girl. They dragged me from my fields, accused me of witchcraft, and condemned me unjustly. All I wanted was a better life, but that was enough for them to sentence me to death.”

Gilgamesh studied her intently. He realized that this pale Archer was no ordinary hero from legend. She was a fusion of countless souls, a vessel of vengeful spirits wrongfully condemned.

“How fascinating—a conglomerate of souls, crowned by a god’s decree,” he mused. “What a foolish act, to grant a vengeful wraith the title of king. Tell me, which ignorant deity made such a mistake?”

“God,” Archer answered simply. The term she used was stripped of adornment—neither lofty nor reverent, just a single word.

Gilgamesh’s lips curled into a sly grin. “Very well. I’ll entertain myself by retrieving the key to the Grail. It seems I have some time to kill. Besides, I’m curious to meet this so-called ‘demigod’ who considers themselves my equal.”

“So, you’ll join me?” Archer tilted her head slightly, her expression calm. “Shall we announce the world’s end together?”

“Yes, mongrel,” Gilgamesh replied. He found her words strangely compelling, as though they resonated with a part of his own disdain for humanity.

“Good. Then it’s settled,” Archer said, her tone brightening as a small smile graced her lips. “The next step is to summon the Grail and welcome the future we’ve envisioned.”

As the pair departed, the weight of their intent loomed heavy in the air. For Gilgamesh, the release of the black mud—humanity’s accumulated evils—was both a judgment and a test. He harbored a peculiar hope that mankind might overcome its sins, even as he sought its destruction.

Under the watchful eyes of Fuyuki’s citizens, the pale Archer rode her white horse toward the forest on the city’s outskirts.

Her destination was a castle nestled deep within the woods. There, Berserker awaited, along with a homunculus who held the key to activating the Grail.

—

T/N: ITS ACTUALLY OVER HOW CAN THEY WIN????? HELLO??

This is a fan translation of 这是我的圣杯之战 by 向希望祈祷. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!