Era of Heroic Spirits: I Was Exposed by Alaya

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Jeanne looked at him with utter disgust.

What a ridiculous notion.

China upheld the principle that "a teacher for a day is a father for life."

Given the relationship between Nameless and Qin Shi Huang, how could that ever happen?

Surely that Emperor wouldn't dare become a rebellious disciple?

Astolfo meekly replied: "King Arthur also thought Mordred would never..."

"Shut up!" Lancelot immediately tackled him to the ground.

Good grief, this guy was really fanning the flames!

As the two men wrestled in their "male bonding" moment, Jeanne stared at the screen displaying Qin Shi Huang's transcendent, gender-defying charisma and began to harbor doubts.

No, no—the real question was: how could she actually find Nameless?

[King Arthur Seeks Marriage Alliance with China's Imperial Tutor]

[French Emperor Announces Sanctions Against Britain]

[China Rejects Marriage Proposal!]

Three international headlines in a single day—enough to break the internet.

"Truly the Age of Heroic Spirits, where every one of them is a top-tier celebrity!"

Roya felt like the drama just kept escalating, making it hard to keep up.

But unlike traditional celebrities, these figures were each more formidable than the last, all legendary figures from human history who had made indelible contributions to their nations.

Every move of a Heroic Spirit tugged at the hearts of countless people.

She clicked her tongue. "King Arthur's plan to ditch her mess and settle down with Nameless has gone up in smoke."

"..."

Souma's mood was complicated.

Now, he could confirm that the once adorable and pure Artoria had definitely been influenced by the memories of her Lion King era, making her far more domineering and assertive.

She had gained a touch of very human selfishness.

With her previous saintly mindset—willing to sacrifice everything for Britain at any moment—she would never have done something like this.

Lily, if you'd been this human back then, the tragedy of Camlann might never have happened...

Souma shook his head. "Roya, go buy some soy sauce. We'll need it for cooking later."

"Got it~"

Roya pouted and reluctantly left the warm kotatsu.

She glanced at their guest, Mr. Qin.

He had been visiting more and more frequently lately.

But it wasn't a problem—he always brought delicious food and fun gifts. The more, the better.

Once she was gone, Souma gazed at the snow falling outside the window and smiled. "Zheng, when you were Roya's age, you also begged me to have a snowball fight with you."

"Yes, that's true."

Qin Shi Huang's peerlessly handsome face was filled with nostalgia.

In the blink of an eye, over two thousand years had passed.

In the beginning, the First Emperor who unified the world was just an ordinary child.

"Who would have thought that a hostage in an enemy state could become the future eternal emperor?" Souma remarked with admiration.

During their first meeting, the other had been a somewhat delicate and adorable little one.

Nine years of living in the state of Zhao had made his personality extremely withdrawn and insecure.

Fortunately, under his guidance, the boy grew increasingly imbued with the domineering majesty of an emperor.

Even the way he looked at him had shifted—from initial fervent worship to a burning ambition that yearned to conquer everything.

Though he never claimed to be his teacher, he still felt that this was his proudest student.

Qin Shi Huang replied with utmost humility, "It is all thanks to you, Master."

"I was merely a helping hand. Your own efforts were what truly mattered."

Souma chuckled, recalling the news he had seen earlier. "I'm far too exhausted now and really don't want the spotlight. Thank you for turning it down on my behalf this time."

After fighting for countless years and overworking himself to the bone, all he wanted now was to enjoy his twilight years in peace.

He was deeply comforted by Qin Shi Huang's firm rejection of King Arthur's marriage proposal earlier.

In contrast—

Gilgamesh was simply stirring the pot, reveling in the chaos.

Mordred was the epitome of a troublemaker.

Even Jeanne d'Arc had turned dark—who knew what she might do?

Now, even King Arthur seemed to be showing signs of corruption.

Indeed, it was only this disciple, personally nurtured by him and a true child of China, who truly cared for him.

Qin Shi Huang smiled gently. "Rest assured, Master. With me here, no one will disturb you."

As the First Emperor of China, the sovereign who wielded the Dragon of Human Order, not even the gods of the West could dare snatch his master from him!

"Mhm, you're still the best," Souma nodded.

Only in the presence of this disciple did he feel truly at ease.

He instinctively reached out to pat the other's head, only to realize that the emperor now stood slightly taller than him.

Yet—

Qin Shi Huang bent down slightly, allowing his hand to rest atop his head.

The sight left Souma momentarily dazed.

It was as if he had been transported back to the past—when the boy, just thirteen years old and newly crowned, had nervously nuzzled against his hand, uncertain of the future.

Souma sighed softly. "That tiny little one from back then has grown taller than me now."

...

Meanwhile.

Outside the residential area.

Roya stomped her feet and blew warm air onto her hands. "It's so cold!"

Snowflakes drifted down, blanketing the earth in pure white.

The sub-zero temperature left her shivering all over.

She had originally intended to buy a bottle of soy sauce at the neighborhood store, only to find it sold out.

Forced to trek to a farther market, she had just stepped out with the soy sauce in hand when she spotted a blonde beauty staring intently at her.

The woman smiled. "What, don't recognize me?"

"You're… King Arthur???"

Roya gaped at her in shock.

At the moment, the other was dressed in a pure white down jacket, looking like nothing more than an ordinary foreign beauty.

There was no trace of King Arthur's regal bearing to be seen.

"Correct."

Artoria smiled in response.

After the public announcement of the marriage alliance—only to be harshly rejected by China—she had stepped out for a walk to soothe her frustration.

Following the faint resonance of Avalon, she had wandered here.

And once again, she encountered this adorable little one.

There was a faint Avalon reaction emanating from her.

Concealed further by the Hades's Cap of Invisibility gifted by the King of Heroes.

Her identity was clearly extraordinary.

"Eh? M-my King—"

Roya nearly gasped aloud.

To encounter King Arthur in a place like this marketplace?

How utterly unbelievable.

Could there really be a gathering of heroic spirits in a vegetable market?

"Accompany me for a casual stroll."

Artoria glanced sideways at the Celtic mythological hero Cú Chulainn selling fish nearby before calmly leading the way forward.

Ever since Alaya began releasing those exposure videos, the number of heroic spirits in Fuyuki City seemed to be increasing.

"Y-yes!"

Roya felt her blood racing, her heart pounding like a drum.

Walking alongside the exalted King Arthur like ordinary sisters—

No, like an ordinary mother and daughter on these common streets felt dreamlike in its unreality.

Perhaps she still hadn't woken up yet!

As they walked, Artoria asked softly, "What's wrong? Are you afraid of me after watching that video?"

"N-no! Not at all!"

Roya shook her head like a rattle-drum.

Truth be told, when she first watched Alaya's "Camelot Singularity" video, she had been genuinely terrified by that merciless Lion King.

It nearly turned her from fan to critic.

But upon learning that the transformation was caused by the holy spear's corruption into divinity and the schemes of the Demon King Goetia, she realized it wasn't the king's fault.

Had that bastard not attempted to destroy human history, King Arthur would never have become the ruthless divine Lion King!

Everything was that bastard Goetia's fault!

"Don't worry, I won't blame you. It was my failing after all." Artoria gently patted the girl's head.

Just being near her made the presence of [Avalon] grow clearer.

This puzzled her slightly.

During the previous singularity, when Nameless departed, he had returned [Avalon] to her.

Yet she didn't possess this Noble Phantasm now.

***

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