Fate/Magus Path

22 Rest

"What exactly are you trying to do, Rider?"

"What do you mean?" The King of Conquerors scratched his face.

"What?! Do you still have the nerve to ask me that? You completely ignored Professor Kayneth's plan! How are we supposed to explain this when we get back? A-And you made me look like a fool in front of all those Servants! I'm your Master! Don't forget, I'm the Master!"

On the streets of Fuyuki City, having just left the battlefield, Waver angrily tugged on Iskandar's cloak and yelled, his face flushed with embarrassment.

"Is that all you're upset about? Haha, well, in a gathering of so many heroic spirits, how could this king's heart of conquest possibly remain still?"

Listening to his little Master's endless nagging, Iskandar picked at his ear with his pinky, clearly irritated. The boy had been whining ever since they left the battlefield, repeating the same things over and over... it was enough to give him ear sores.

But what annoyed him even more was his Master's attitude.

It was hard to look at... an awful mix of insecurity and arrogance, with no trace of the spirit of conquest. Naturally, someone like that couldn't understand his actions.

"Stupid Rider! Idiotic Rider! The situation was perfect just now. If we'd just followed the plan and continued observing, everything would have gone smoothly. But you charged in, and even revealed your true name to everyone! What were you thinking?"

"Ahhh! Once we get back, Professor Kayneth is definitely going to kill me! What should I do?! It's all your fault, Rider."

Hearing Waver's frantic complaints beside him, Iskandar frowned slightly.

"Enough! Quiet!"

Finally losing his patience, Iskandar grabbed Waver by the collar, effortlessly lifting him off the ground. With his feet dangling in the air and the sight of Iskandar's fierce tiger-like eyes, Waver felt a wave of fear.

"What... what are you doing?! You're not going to... kill your Master, are you?"

Terrified by Iskandar's threat, Waver's entire body began trembling, and he slowly raised his right hand.

"I-I'm warning you, don't forget, I still have Command Seals!"

"Hmm..."

At such close range, Waver found himself face-to-face with Iskandar's intense gaze. The shrinking distance between them only made him tremble more violently, tears were about to spill from his eyes.

With Iskandar's massive frame, the pressure was unbearable.

"Hmph, I was just teasing you, kid."

Seeing Waver's panicked expression, the previously serious Iskandar suddenly broke into a grin. Then, with a casual flick, he tossed Waver to the ground with a thud and burst into hearty laughter.

"Hahaha! My little Master, how was it? Did you feel the aura of dominance this king possesses?"

"Ouch!"

Waver yelped in pain. Seeing Iskandar laughing, he quickly scrambled to his feet and protested.

"Feel your dominance?! What nonsense! Why can't you be more like Lancer? How can there be a Servant like you who treats their Master this way?!"

"Hmph!"

*Flick!*

"Ouch!"

"Hmph, I am who I am. My dominance is naturally different from Lancer's, and this is part of your training."

"Training?"