CH 42

Waver's relationship with Iskandar dropped to the freezing point.

That's right, it's all that guy's fault.

Waver seethed with anger, viewing Iskandar as crude, impolite, and most of all, disrespectful. He had joined the Holy Grail War with the aim of proving his worth and prevailing over other magi. He wanted to demonstrate to the arrogant, dismissive people at Clock Tower, who had belittled him, that he was a gifted and talented magus.

His ambition was to be acknowledged for his theories on magecraft and be recognized as a "child prodigy," akin to Kayneth. Though he felt that his talent had stood the test of time, his family's reputation, which spanned only three generations, was not as well-known. Nevertheless, he was confident that the future belonged to him and that he would ascend to greater heights than that of a mere "child prodigy." Waver was resolute in his determination to establish himself and prove his worth as a powerful magus.

For Waver, the fact that his servant was not heeding his instructions was one thing, but to obstruct his dreams and aspirations was intolerable. Such behavior was, in his view, narrow-minded and ridiculous. As a result, their relationship had deteriorated to a freezing point.

"Little Master, let's buy this 'Great Journey' game and we'll get a red cloak!" Iskandar, wearing a white shirt, grabbed a copy of the "Great Journey" video game from the department store's game shelf and placed it into Waver's shopping cart.

Waver thought to himself, 'What a joke, the money simply isn't enough!' but on the surface, he replied, "I have the funds, but why should I assist you in purchasing it?"

Iskandar took charge of the situation, grasping Waver's head, hoisting him up, and retrieving his wallet. Holding the game in one hand and Waver in the other, they approached the cashier. 

The cashier, who was responsible for the transaction, was dumbfounded. However, upon seeing Iskandar's massive build, he opted not to say anything and dutifully processed the purchase, even providing a red cloak as part of the deal.

Outside the department store, Waver looked at his emptied wallet with a tear of pain. My money...my money!

Waver's anger boiled over as he glared at Iskandar, gritting his teeth. "Have you no self-awareness? You not only ate all my food, but you also used my money to purchase a game! We are in a war! We are fighting! How much self-awareness do you have?" He was frustrated that his servant had used his resources without his consent, and he stomped his foot in anger.

Iskandar grinned and said, "Stop talking like that, I'll let you play it." Despite Waver's fury, Iskandar appeared unfazed and attempted to ease the tension by offering to let him play the game.

Waver's fingers trembled as he glared at Iskandar. "You--! You--!!!!" he exclaimed in anger. He truly despised the muscle-bound brute who had no sense of self-awareness, and the fact that Iskandar wasn't taking his anger seriously only made him angrier.

Afterward, they returned to the home of a couple and used Suggestions to live there. Iskandar eagerly tore open the packaging of the game, while Waver, still upset, distastefully moved away from him and turned his attention to his book. He wanted to distance himself from Iskandar and whatever the hell he was doing.

"Little Master, how do you play this game?" Iskandar asked Waver.

"There's an instruction manual, can't you read it yourself?" Waver curtly replied.

But Iskandar insisted, "Come over here and help me look at it. How do I set it up!"

Waver thought to himself, 'This is so annoying! You want me to look, then I must look? What about my dignity?' With a frustrated sigh, he said, "I don't know."

Iskandar pulled Waver over to him, saying, "Come here and help me look at it. Why are you being so narrow-minded and stubborn?"

Waver ground his teeth with frustration and exclaimed, "Is this how you ask for help? You, you, you, you..."

Sensing Waver's growing agitation, Iskandar handed the instruction manual to Waver and urgently asked, "Hurry up and help me look at it. How do I set this up?"

Helpless, Waver assisted Iskandar in looking at the instruction manual and setting up the game. Once everything was in order, he returned to his book, relieved that he could now read in peace.

But as he listened to the sound of the game's buttons clicking, Waver found it too loud and turned to remind the conqueror king to lower the volume. Instead, he saw a scene that almost made him lose his mind.

"Are you serious? You're using cavalry to fight tanks? Archers to fight planes?" he exclaimed. "What kind of operation is this? Do you think they're all Servants?"

Waver was flabbergasted. "My God! What kind of technology tree is this? Archery, woodworking, horse breeding... do you think the world will forever stay in the Middle Ages? Can't you have a little sense of progress?"

"Technology points! Damn technology points!" he ranted. "My God! What are you even trying to do? I seriously doubt if you're really a conqueror king!"

"Ahh! I can't take it anymore!" Waver shouted. "Get out of my way! If you're going to play like this, without even developing a bomb, what kind of world do you plan on conquering? Watch me create a bomb and destroy the entire world!"

Despite his outburst, the two of them eventually became fully engaged in the game.

"Hahaha... I've finally made a bomb!" Iskandar exclaimed triumphantly. "This world will be conquered by me!"

"Hmph! While you were making a bomb, I've already made a spaceship!" Waver retorted.

Iskandar was stunned. "Hey, hey, hey, how did you do it so quickly?"

"Hahaha! Don't you know who I am? I am Waver Velvet!" Waver proclaimed proudly. "Take your punishment, Iskandar! Your ambition of conquering the world, I will be the one to break it! Taste my Prometheus Cannon--!"

Game Over.

In the 17th conquest, the conqueror king was never able to break through the technology blockade and modern strategic layout set up by Waver, the formidable demon king.

"Oh no! I lost again!" Iskandar scratched his head in frustration.

Waver stood up and looked down at Iskandar, who was seated on the ground, with an arrogant gaze. Despite Iskandar being taller, even when seated, he declared confidently, "You're still far from it!"

Eh-?

Wait a moment!

Waver slammed his book shut in frustration. "I shouldn't be playing games with him right now. Why did this happen?" he muttered. "Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! I was too forgiving. This is definitely not right!"

Iskandar nonchalantly mentioned his grand dream of conquering the world as he scratched the back of his head. "Ah... Ah. It looks like in order to achieve that, I'll need to acquire some nuclear bombs."

Waver, back in his Sage mode, mockingly retorted, "Hmph. If you had that kind of money, you might as well just buy a whole country."

Iskandar rubbed his chin as he spoke. "As expected, the root of the problem is money," he acknowledged. "If only I could buy a country as wealthy as Persia, all my problems would be solved."

He turned his gaze to Waver, a smile playing on his lips. "But... you're quite talented, little master. If you were born in my era and were a king, maybe we could have a glorious battle."

Waver stood tall, patting his chest confidently. "You should know that," he said. "Understand? Your master is truly talented and knowledgeable. You should listen to his commands."

Iskandar lifted Waver up and laughed heartily. "But you're still a small-minded brat," he teased.

Waver's anger boiled over as he spat out, "You damn--!" His eyes shot daggers as he glared at the unenlightened giant of a man.

Feeling resentful and bored, he spent the rest of the evening half-heartedly watching TV while listening to the rambling of the elder host family member.

"Dang--"

Waver's chopsticks slipped from his fingers and his face filled with shock and disbelief as the news suddenly interrupted the program he was watching.