LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 23: Chapter 23: There’s a Lot of Goldies
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Kenneth: "Wait, isn't that El-Melloi II who showed up in yesterday's video?"
Kenneth: "Waver! Are you saying you're El-Melloi II?!"
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The revelation at the end of the last video had been too much for him to process. El-Melloi II, the person Kenneth had been searching for, was actually Waver, his former student who had always been a thorn in his side.
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Waver: "If you're asking me about it, I still…"
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Chihiro: "Judging by Tohsaka Rin's age in the video, it must take place around ten years in the future."
Chihiro: "Waver, what on earth happens to you in that time? You seem to change so much."
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Waver: "I wish I knew!"
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The thought of going from a young, idealistic student to a worn-out middle-aged professor in just over a decade was a bit too much for Waver to wrap his head around.
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Kenneth: "And what about me, then? If you become El-Melloi II, what happens to me?"
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This was the question burning in Kenneth's mind. If Waver was destined to take on the title of El-Melloi II, did that mean Kenneth was destined to disappear or lose his position? Could it be that something happened during this Holy Grail War?
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[The second question is over, and now we move on to today's last question.]
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[This is a multiple-choice question. Please look at the following pictures and identify the one who is not the King of Heroes.]
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Waver: "Ah, not this kind of question again."
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Yesterday's question about different versions of Artoria had stumped nearly everyone. The trauma was still fresh.
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Kenneth: "So, does this mean the King of Heroes, like the King of Knights, has multiple forms across different worlds?"
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Hero King: "Hahaha, of course! The greatness of my legend spans the world!"
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The King of Conquerors: "Yesterday it was the King of Knight . Today, it's the King of Heroes. I suppose my turn is coming up."
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Waver: "With the way this system works, I wouldn't be surprised."
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[A: The picture shows a version of Gilgamesh with his hair down, wearing a black motorcycle outfit and riding a golden motorcycle.]
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Waver: "This one looks like Gilgamesh."
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Chihiro: "But doesn't it seem a bit too modern? It feels misleading."
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Waver: "Yeah, I can see that."
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The King of Conquerors: "Hahaha, Hero King, are you interested in modern machines? How about we have a race?"
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Waver: "Better not."
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Hero King: "Hmph, a king does not indulge in such trivialities."
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Still, there was a glint in his eyes as he glanced at the picture.
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"Tokiomi, go find me a motorcycle like the one in that image."
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Tohsaka Tokiomi: "...Yes, King."
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[B: The next image shows a child, unmistakably Gilgamesh, in a purple shirt, white jacket, and camouflage pants, with a long chain wrapped around him.]
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Irisviel: "He's adorable."
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Artoria: "So even the Hero King had a childhood."
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The King of Conquerors: "Hahaha, even the King of Heroes had to start somewhere."
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Hero King: "…"
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He glanced at the image with a mixture of irritation and curiosity. The chain in the picture was unmistakably Enkidu, the Chain of Heaven. That much couldn't be faked.
Two possibilities occurred to him: either his childhood self had been summoned in some form, or this version of him had consumed some kind of youth-restoring potion.
He was inclined toward the latter. After all, he hadn't possessed the Chain of Heaven as a child.
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[C: The third image shows a younger-looking Gilgamesh with two swords strapped to his back and two bangs hanging down his forehead, looking more youthful and warrior-like.]
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Artoria: "So, you can wield a sword too, King of Heroes?"
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Hero King: "Naturally. All weapons are within my domain."
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Waver: "He does look younger here than in the previous videos."
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Hero King: "Are you implying I don't look youthful now?"
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Waver: "No, it's just… a different feeling."
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Gilgamesh considered this and then styled his hair to match the bangs in the picture, startling Tohsaka Tokiomi and the others nearby.
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[D: The image shows a blonde woman with twin ponytails. Her armor resembles Gilgamesh's, but her face and figure are distinctly feminine.]
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Hero King: "…"
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The King of Conquerors: "Hahaha, Hero King, even as a woman, you have a rather nice figure!"
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Hero King: "Be silent, fool. Anyone with eyes can see that she's not me."
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Kenneth: "Indeed, there isn't much resemblance."
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While the versions of Artoria yesterday had a clear similarity, the girl in this picture didn't look like Gilgamesh at all.
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[E: The next image shows a Gilgamesh with a white headdress, holding a clay tablet in one hand and an axe in the other. He looks slightly older but exudes an aura of regal authority.]
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Gilgamesh recognized the figure instantly.
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Hero King: "Tch, so it's this version."
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He knew very well that this depiction was of his older self, though to see both versions considered separate Heroic Spirits felt odd.
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The King of Conquerors: "You truly are a versatile king, Hero King."
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The clay tablet and axe made it difficult to decide whether this form would be categorized as a Caster or Berserker.
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Hero King: "Hmph."
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[F: The last image depicts a nearly identical Gilgamesh to the one seen in previous videos, but with significantly less clothing.]
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[His outfit consists only of a black loincloth, while his body is adorned with golden accessories and a black clover-like emblem between his eyebrows.]
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"Ah!"
Several female group members quickly covered their eyes.
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The image was quite a shock.
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Chihiro: "Pfft! Gilgamesh, I didn't know you had this kind of… habit!"
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Hero King: "Silence, you imbecile! That is definitely not me!"
While he was known to go shirtless at times, this level of exposure was not his style.
Seeing Tohsaka Rin glance at him with suspicion, Gilgamesh's temper flared. "What are you looking at? Do you take me for some sort of exhibitionist?!"
This accursed system seemed to revel in tarnishing his image.