"Huh? Why did we stop here? Have we arrived?"
"Almost. But if we had gone any further this way, we would have been attacked. And that's already happened way too much."
"So we have to reach the palace on foot?"
"If your king is willing to walk, then so should you."
As they got out of their vehicle, the group started walking. Soon enough, they were surrounded by a group of soldiers.
"Hold on! Who goes there?"
"We are a group of heroes coming to save your pathetic lives. Now bow down to your King."
"Hold your tongue, you rambling fool! Drop all your weapons and identify yourselves."
"We shall do no such thing."
"Gil, let's not escalate the situation."
"There's escalating the situation and there's having some dignity."
"Enough of this! You will come with us as prisoners!"
The soldiers raised their weapons at them.
"If you're going to raise your swords against your true ruler... then you need to be punished."
Gilgamesh said as he summoned his portals behind him. Everyone else was unsure on what to do, uneasy with how rapidly and badly the situation had evolved.
"Cool your jets, everyone."
A commanding voice could be heard. A man with a very refined and small parted pencil-style mustache walked forward, a hand against the hilt of his sword.
"My name is Charles de Batz de Castelmore, count of d'Artagnan, but you can simply call me d'Artagnan, or Charles if you're ladies. May I ask what your intentions are?"
"I-"
"I'll take it from here, Archer. We were sent by the King of Uruk as representatives of the United Front to help you defeat the Grand Lancer Remus."
"That's highly specific information... either you truly are what you say you are... or you're really good spies. But I don't want to test my luck, and my King can judge that for himself, so I'll gladly bring you to him."
"Phew, good thing he arrived..."
"You don't have to be like this, Gil."
"I did nothing wrong."
"Mmm, don't be stubborn."
"... I'm sorry, I'll try to be better."
"Umu! That's a start."
Entering the gardens of the palace, everyone was shocked and in awe by their beauty and opulence. The building itself was unrivaled in wonder and perfection, so much so that it seemed like it was the only thing that could rival in aesthetics with Gilgamesh's court. At least that's what the King of Heroes thought, unwilling to admit it.
They approached the King's audience room.
"I kindly ask you to kneel when you enter the presence of His Majesty."
"I kindly refuse. We are four kings, an empress and a peasant, so only one of us knows how to bow."
"I'll burn you to a crisp."
"Save that energy for the battle, you witch."
Finally, they reached the throne and looked forward at the ruler of that land.
"Hold on a minute..."
"He..."
"Yes, he..."
"He really does..."
"Gil, this guy looks like you a lot!"
"At this point, I'm not even questioning it."
[Complete list of all Gilfaces until now:
Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh Alter
Caster Gilgamesh
Child Gilgamesh
Sandman
This guy]
"Anyway, greetings to you, o' Great King. I'm the Queen of Knights, Artoria, and we represent the United Front against the Will of Humanity. We have come to help you."
"The United Front? Mmm... ah yes, those people did send me a few messages... and some useful soldiers. You might be useful after all."
"Might?"
"I'm already getting the wrong feeling with this guy."
"Should we all present ourselves?"
"We're not going to have a field trip, and your names are irrelevant. And I doubt you deserve to know my real name. You can simply call me Your Highness or King."
"Listen well, you mongrel... as Artoria said, we were sent here to help you, and that's our intention... but you better never speak to any of us in such a manner ever again, or your throne won't last long."
"Are you threatening me?"
"No, I'm just telling you the future."
To prove his point, Gilgamesh called forth a few swords behind himself.
"That golden glow... fine, I shall grant you the great honour of knowing my name. I am the Sun King, Louis XIV. Welcome to Versailles."
"Versailles?!"
"So he's the Sun King..."
"It was kind of obvious..."
"But that still doesn't explain why you look so much like Goldie, only with blue eyes and a ponytail... and weird fashion sense..."
"You must have travelled a lot to get here. I shall arrange some rooms for you. You can rest a bit and then join me for tonight's dinner. We can talk then."
"... sure."
"Can we walk a bit through the gardens?"
"I'll allow it."
The group went out in the garden, enjoying the beautiful weather.
"Finally, we have arrived!"
"Aren't you afraid now that we'll have to fight very soon?"
"Why should I be afraid? I know I can count on amazing people, and most of all, I'm sure I can count on you. And you can count on me too, obviously."
"Count on you... would you like to play a game?"
"Sure, what kind of game?"
"What kind of games do you like?"
"Mmm... well, I must admit that chess intrigues me, but..."
"But?"
"But you'll cheat!"
"What?"
"You'll use your eyes to beat me."
"I won't do such a shameful thing."
"Mmm, I don't believe you."
"I swear I won't."
"And what exactly do you swear on?"
"... on our affection, naturally."
"... yeah, I suppose that's good enough."
"Do you know how to play?"
"I know the general gist."
"Very well."
They played several games. Nero won none.
"Umu, no fair! You're surely cheating!"
"I'm simply more experienced."
"That's ridiculous! I've been using my Imperial Privilege this whole time to learn from the best chess masters ever and I still keep losing!"
"That's because I have great luck and instinctually select the best tactic."
"That's cheating!"
"And yours isn't?"
"Yes, but you're cheating more..."
"No, I'm cheating better..."
"..."
"Are you pouting?"
"No..."
"Now you're just sulking."
"..."
"It's just a game, Nero. No reason to get mad over it."
"..."
"Look, let's just play one more game, ok? Maybe it's your lucky try."
"... fine."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"... why aren't you moving your pieces?"
"I lost."
"What?"
"You checkmated me. Look... that's what you call a scholar's mate."
"I knew it! I knew I was better than you! So... how does it feel to lose, Gil, huh?"
"Very well played..."
"Haha, no need to flatter me. I, the great Nero, simply can't be beat."
"Then how come did you lose all the other games..."
"Those were charity."
"I'm sure they were..."
Meanwhile...
"So, what do you think of this place, Jalter?"
"Do we really have to use those nicknames when it's just the two of us?"
"Hey, I'm here too, you witch!"
"I wasn't talking to you, you dog! ... it reminds me of when I first arrived at the King's court."
"I'm sorry... I hope it doesn't bring back too many bad memories..."
"... I'm bored. Let's do something."
"What would you like to do, girls?"
"I bet she wants to cultivate something, like the French farmer that she used to be..."
"That's rich coming from the one who keeps eating low-quality food like a garbage disposal. Your taste buds must be worse than those of a slave. After all, you're English."
"Girls, stop fighting. We mustn't fight between us. It makes us look stupid and makes us lose integrity. Remember when it was just us against the world? We needed each other back then and we need each other now. Why can't we just get along? We have been through thick and thin together, I doubt you truly hate each other, so you shouldn't act this way."
"..."
"..."
"... wait, I have an idea!"
"That's a first..."
"Let's hear it..."
"Let's do a few laps around the Palace with motorcycles. Whoever wins will be the best rider among us."
"And what happened to those who lose?"
"Simple: they'll become his slaves for today."
"Intriguing."
"This is interesting... come on, the sooner I beat you two, the sooner I can enjoy the results."
Artoria smiled as she looked at the scene unfolding before her eyes, her expression changing a few seconds later.
"There's no shame in envying them, Queen of Knights."
"I'm just happy for them."
"Envy is the greatest form of flattery and respect. The best thing someone can do to us is to envy us. And we pay them back by making it impossible not to envy us."
"These are the thoughts of a lonely man."
"How lonely can a man be when everyone wants to be like them?"
"Envy just causes discord, which leads to conflict."
"But isn't it through conflict that humanity progresses? Only by showing them the heights that man can reach we can inspire others to try and achieve those heights. That is our duty."
Later that day...
"Mmm... this bourgugnon is exquisite. Would you be so kind to bring me another piece please?"
Galter said as Salter sighed in disapproval and brought him another plate."
"Thanks. Jeanne, would you be so kind to pour me some wine?"
"Damn you..."
"What the hell is going on here..."
"Anyway, my army is currently locked in battle with Remus's. They won't be able to hold out for long."
"Does he have an army?"
"He can summon one. Though that's not entirely correct."
"What do you mean?"
"He's a walking distortion. His existence is like a portal to another world. A world that never existed. The reverse Rome."
"Sounds quite troublesome."
"We've been holding out thanks to the help of a powerful ally."
"Who is it?"
"Hold on, more importantly... why do you look so much like Gil?"
"It's merely a coincidence."
"Then why did you have such a reaction when you saw him?"
"I didn't react to him, but to his power. In life, I received many gifts. Attempts to win my grace. Useless flatteries. However, there was one thing of value that was given to me: a golden key. I used it to open a portal to what was said to be mankind's greatest treasure. However, by the time I had discovered it, the treasury had lost all things of value. The only thing that was left... were books and artifacts. So I used them to study and master the arcane arts and became the greatest man of my time, the king who could shift fate in his favour."
"You thief!"
"Gil, calm down!"
"Not like you were using those in the first place."
"So you're a great sorcerer?"
"I have transcended humanity and have become the ruler of my destiny."
"Ok, fly down, Ego Trip."
"I am merely saying that with the power I have accumulated... I am someone strong enough to decide what he wants to do. And what I want to do is to crush any arrogant ant who dares oppose me."
"You don't want to protect your palace?"
"Or your subjects?"
"Why should I care about this?"
"Oh, I get it, those people were conjured up by you."
"No, those are real living people. From the actual time in which he was alive. They are being empowered by the guard who brought us here."
"So you're just a scumbag..."
"No, I'm a king and a hero... and this is my duty."
Somewhere else...
"You think he'll settle down for the night, Aramis?"
"Hard to say, he seemed pretty pissed today."
"At least he's not directly leading them."
"He's too arrogant to do that."
"What do you think, Jeanne?"
"If push comes to shove, we're ready."
"Yeah... but I'd like to get some rest too."
"Rest is essential to act with full power and capability. One must never undervalue the power of moderate and thought-out otium."
"Emperor Augustus... you seem like you haven't slept in a while."
"I have rested enough to continue performing my duties at a satisfying rate... you should all do the same. I shall observe if any treats come this way."
"Are you sure?"
"Do you not trust my word?"
"Well, I certainly do. Goodnight guys!"
"I think he drank too much."
"Some fun is necessary to face the seriousness of this conflict."
"I guess you're right... I wonder how the others are doing right now..."
"You mean the King and d'Artagnan?"
"Yeah... but also... those I met before..."
"Ah yes, the Queen of Knights and the others..."
"I hope they're fine."
"Maybe they're looking for you."
"Hehe, I doubt it. They left thinking they would never see me again."
"And yet perhaps you will encounter them again. You should be more cheerful, Jeanne! Life is better when you think positiv-"
"They're coming. Prepare yourselves."
"What?"