Era of Heroic Spirits: I Was Exposed by Alaya

Fou might seem like just a mascot for cuteness.

But in truth, it is the Fourth Beast, bearer of the sin of [Comparison].

An existence on par with the Demon King Goetia and the Primordial Goddess Tiamat!

Dubbed the Primate Murder, it specializes in targeting primates—capable of annihilating humanity!

How thrilling is it to suddenly find such an adorable creature before you?

Surprised? Shocked?

Excited?

"The little guy doesn't like crowded places. Since Fou is here, my kouhai must be nearby too, right?"

Souma gazed steadily at the small white beast.

Not a trace of fear or apprehension—only boundless nostalgia.

Long time no see.

Back then, entrusted with Alaya's mission as the Savior, he had traversed human history time and again, accompanied by his kouhai and Fou.

He wondered if this little one still remembered him.

"Fou... Fou? (Why do you feel so familiar?)"

The small white beast tilted its head slightly.

As the Primate Murder, it typically held an indifferent attitude toward humans.

Yet, in the presence of this peculiar human, it felt an inexplicable fondness.

As if they had journeyed together for countless years, across countless worlds!

How strange!

Fou blinked, growing increasingly bewildered.

Earlier, it had been thrown down by Merlin from the top of the twenty-story Tower at the End.

As a result, that bastard only realized he had thrown it out 1,500 years too early after tossing it away!

To remedy this, the unscrupulous Merlin opened a portal at the base of the tower and placed the exit directly above.

And so, Fou kept free-falling for fifteen hundred years!!!

"Merlin must die!"

The more Fou thought about it, the more it gnashed its teeth at that scoundrel.

After finally escaping the endless free-fall, it deliberately concealed all traces of itself.

When it meets Merlin again, it'll make sure to teach him a lesson!

But now, why does it instinctively want to leap into this young man's embrace?

Something's not right!

This is really not right at all!

Could this man be an EX-rank [Charming Pretty Boy]?

"Perhaps we were connected in a past life," Souma chuckled.

After restarting the world, even the Fourth Beast had lost its memories.

If Alaya hadn't exposed him, he truly would have remained unknown forever.

"Fou... Fou (I want to go with you)!"

The small white beast, filled with endless curiosity, nuzzled its little head against his pant leg.

"Well now..."

Souma thought for a moment, then crouched down to look at the other party. "You can come with me, but could you make yourself a bit more ordinary? So that no one can notice you?"

Given his current unrecovered strength, it would be troublesome if Merlin found him.

Once his strength was restored, he planned to hang the other party up and give them a beating, then forcibly perform a sex-change operation.

[You're awake! The surgery was a success—you're a girl now!]

Just thinking about it was quite exciting.

"Fou... Fou (Okay)!"

Fou thought for a moment and cast a layer of [Cognitive Filter] on itself.

Anyone who saw it would mistake it for an ordinary white cat, never associating it with the figure from the videos.

At that moment.

Footsteps approached.

Souma and Fou simultaneously turned to look—a girl in a school uniform appeared at the mouth of the alley.

She wore glasses, her short pink hair covering her right eye, while the "assets" in front of her were particularly eye-catching.

Upon seeing him and the small white creature, the girl froze in place, staring at him blankly.

Then, tears suddenly welled up in her beautiful purple eyes as she blurted out, "Senpai?"

"You..."

Souma was stunned.

Good heavens, his kouhai still remembered him?

Unbelievable!

Even the Fourth Beast had forgotten him—how could a demi-Servant like her remember?

Just as his hand trembled slightly, ready to step forward and acknowledge her—

Mash's adorable face was filled with confusion as she murmured softly, "Huh? What's wrong with me? Why am I crying? Why did I want to call out 'Senpai'?"

It was truly strange.

Even though it was their first meeting, she felt an inexplicable, bone-deep familiarity.

Everything had happened so suddenly—the tears had simply slipped out on their own.

She shouldn't have forgotten, yet she had forgotten everything!

"Maybe... I got something in my eye."

Souma quietly withdrew his hand, bent down to pick up Fou, and placed it on his shoulder.

He smiled at the girl and said, "Your uniform looks like it's from Fuyuki Magecraft Academy. Does a distinguished Chaldea demi-Servant like you still need to attend school?"

"Yes, the doctor suggested I go to school for a while to interact more with ordinary people."

Mash nodded, clasped her hands in front of her and bowed slightly. "My name is Mash Kyrielight. Please take care of me from now on... Senpai."

"Senpai..."

Souma's expression turned distant.

It had been so, so long since he'd heard her call him that.

Back then, he had lost himself in those repeated calls of "Senpai."

But now—

Young, he left home unknown; returning, his voice unchanged, his Spirit Core shattered.

Meeting his kouhai, yet unrecognized—she smiles, asking where the guest is from.

Suppressing his complicated emotions, he smiled and said, "Please take care of me as well."

"Senpai, your kitten is so cute. What's its name?" Mash couldn't help but lean closer, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the creature on his shoulder.

"Its name is Fou."

Souma smiled and revealed its true name.

He could hide his identity from many, but in front of this kouhai who had always been by his side, he truly didn't want to deceive her.

Fou also gazed at her.

At this moment, it seemed to sense some kind of wondrous fate.

A mysterious, supreme power of destiny.

The two of them and this creature—it was as if they had always been together!

"Fou? That's a wonderful name."

Mash paused.

Though it looked like an ordinary white kitten, she couldn't help but associate it with the small white beast from the videos.

A very strange feeling.

She smiled sweetly and asked, "Senpai, what's your name?"

"Souma."

"Senpai, I look forward to your guidance. I'll visit you another day."

Mash bowed politely once more.

Before this stranger who felt inexplicably familiar, she instinctively wanted to get closer.

"Sure, you're welcome to visit."

Souma waved goodbye with a smile—a happy, radiant smile.

So radiant that his eyes turned slightly red.

Junior, Doctor, Shady Merchant... It's so good to see you all alive.

The brutal battles of the past, where they'd rather die than let him take the attacks, had become distant memories too faint to recall.

Not having to fight anymore... It's truly wonderful...

After returning home.

Roya looked at his shoulder in surprise. "Wow, where did you kidnap this cat from?"

She had once wanted to keep a cat, but he had said—

"This house can only have one pet—you or the cat. Choose!"

Now, he had actually brought home a cat on his own? Had he taken the wrong medicine?

Souma replied casually, "It looked a bit like Fou, so I picked it up. Named it Fou."

"Hehehe, little kitty, let me give you a sniff!"

Roya's eyes instantly sparkled with mischief, her grin full of ill intent.

As a severe case of cloud-cat addiction, she had long wanted to experience the real thing.

But as she approached, Fou suddenly bristled, staring at her with extreme tension.

Because...

It sensed a faint trace of an aura on par with its own from the girl!

***

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