Era of Heroic Spirits: I Was Exposed by Alaya

This line, this scene—why does it feel so familiar?

Zhuge Liang, who had been gently fanning himself with an air of transcendent grace, suddenly paused.

Something felt... off.

Back then, in Uruk, the King of Heroes—the most ancient of them all—had also boldly chosen to broadcast it publicly.

Not just that!

He had even summoned all his subjects to watch Alaya's video, The Oldest King.

And the result...

Zhuge Liang glanced at Qin Shi Huang and couldn't help but ask again, "Your Majesty, are you certain about broadcasting this publicly?"

Your Majesty, you mustn't!

If his fears came true, this would turn into a public execution!

"What? Are you worried about me?" Qin Shi Huang looked at him strangely.

As the First Emperor of ancient China, he had left an indelible mark on its history.

Not to mention, after manifesting as a Heroic Spirit in the modern era, he had swept aside countless enemies, bringing unity and peace to China once more.

Now, leading two billion people, he was challenging U.S. for the title of the world's strongest.

How could Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor, be intimidated by some nameless Heroic Spirit?

"Very well!"

After a moment of hesitation, Zhuge Liang stopped trying to dissuade him.

Knowing His Majesty, he was every bit as prideful as the King of Heroes—if not more.

Once the Emperor decreed it, no one dared oppose him.

Delegating power to the people was merely the result of millennia of exhaustion—a desire to pass on the burden.

Exhaustion...

Hmm, come to think of it, I've also been working overtime nonstop, with no breaks at all???

Zhuge Liang froze at the realization.

Ever since being summoned as a Heroic Spirit, he had been working day and night, managing the affairs of this vast empire.

The only silver lining was that, as a Heroic Spirit, he had boundless stamina and couldn't die from overwork—

Well... that counts as a silver lining, right?

As Qin Shi Huang issued the command,the massive screen began playing Alaya's new video—

The First Emperor of the Ages.

Anyone who saw the title would immediately connect it to Qin Shi Huang.

The video started playing.

Mordred, who had been preparing for tense negotiations with China's Prime Minister, was surprised to see Qin Shi Huang publicly broadcasting the video.

Clearly, the First Emperor intended to use this to highlight the differences between himself and King Arthur.

Beside her, Gawain muttered, "This feels... eerily familiar..."

"Yeah, same here..."

Mordred whispered back.

That bastard Alaya had who knew how many blackmail-worthy videos of Heroic Spirits—enough to make one's hair stand on end.

For example, The Oldest King had shown the King of Heroes and Nameless locked in a love-hate relationship.

Despite constantly bickering, they had become the best of friends.

Then, in Unlimited Blade Works, it showed Nameless slicing off his dear friend's arm with a single strike.

And that wasn't all.

By Vow in the Snow, the King of Heroes had somehow turned into a big-breasted woman!

Who knew how many more embarrassing videos like this Alaya had in store?

But it had nothing to do with her anyway—it wasn't her embarrassing past.

Since you're willing to broadcast it publicly, let's watch it together.

The video began playing.

A young, delicate-looking Qin Shi Huang appeared on the screen, causing Mordred's expression to twist slightly.

Exchanging a silent glance with the Sun Knight Gawain beside her, their gazes were filled with sympathy.

Here it comes!

Nameless roamed through human history, capable of reaching every Heroic Spirit at their weakest moment.

No matter how terrifyingly strong Qin Shi Huang was now, he still had a childhood.

Now, seeing the adorable, tiny Qin Shi Huang in the video, she already knew what was coming next.

Sure enough.

The scene of Qin Shi Huang fleeing from Handan, the capital of Zhao, played out—surrounded by over a hundred Zhao cavalry, trapped in a deadly crisis.

At this critical moment, Nameless descended with overwhelming force, saving the young emperor from the brink of death.

And then came the inevitable.

The little Qin Shi Huang, without hesitation, tried to bow before Nameless as his disciple, begging to learn the [Sword of the Emperor]—the art of pacifying the world.

Mordred glanced sideways at Qin Shi Huang.

She noticed that his usual proud, domineering smile was slowly fading.

His brows furrowed slightly, clearly recalling something, beginning to doubt everything.

At the same time.

King Arthur, seated across from him, also frowned slightly, as if troubled by something.

Huh? Was Father worried that Qin Shi Huang might also try to claim Nameless?

Mordred instantly felt her scalp tingle.

This would be the most terrifying competitor yet.

Ruling one of the world's two greatest nations, commanding over a hundred Heroic Spirits under him—his strength was despair-inducing!

How could they possibly compete with that?

Besides, this trip to China wasn't just about finding Nameless—they also had a series of major contracts to sign.

If they really ended up fighting Qin Shi Huang over Nameless, the entire plan would be ruined.

He would absolutely crush them without mercy!

Wait, no—overthinking it. Qin Shi Huang was a man, so he probably wouldn't...

Mordred relaxed slightly and continued watching patiently.

The video played on.

After Nameless rescued the young Qin Shi Huang, he safely escorted him all the way to Xianyang, the capital of Qin.

Outside the royal palace of Xianyang, Ying Zheng bowed respectfully and said, "Ying Zheng, the twenty-sixth-generation descendant of Duke Xiang of Qin, grandson of Lord Anguo, and eldest son of the new king, has returned from Handan. I humbly request my father's permission to allow this child to acknowledge his ancestry, fulfill filial duties, and complete the rites of kinship!"

"Granted!"

The Qin bloodline, born and raised in the State of Zhao, had finally returned to his homeland at this moment.

What followed next...

Nameless began personally instructing the young Ying Zheng in swordsmanship, forging his own Sword of the Emperor.

But it wasn't just swordsmanship—he also taught him various subjects, including culture, politics, and military strategy.

Despite claiming he wouldn't be a teacher, he had effectively become the most perfect mentor!

Artoria watched the footage, lost in thought. "Nameless, now I understand why you were so skilled back then..."

When they had first met, he had taught her in the exact same way.

Transforming her from an ordinary girl into a worthy king.

This man, who had similarly insisted he wouldn't be her teacher or her knight, had ended up becoming both—the most perfect teacher and knight!

"So... you had already taught Ying Zheng long before me."

Artoria's brow furrowed slightly.

Earlier, seeing the footage related to Jeanne had made her completely indifferent to their relationship.

After all, she had known him over a thousand years earlier.

But now, Qin Shi Huang had preceded her by seven hundred years!

No, no—this was a man. Surely, perhaps, possibly... he wouldn't realistically compete with her for Nameless...

She continued watching.

A pivotal moment arrived.

Qin Shi Huang's grandfather, Lord Anguo, who had just ascended the throne after a year of mourning, passed away after only three days.

And Ying Zheng's father, King Yiren, likewise ruled for merely three years before his death.

On his deathbed, King Yiren appointed Lü Buwei—who had once invested in him—as Ying Zheng's foster father, entrusting him with assisting the young boy.

At just thirteen years old, Ying Zheng became the new King of Qin!

-[The three-year period is up—welcome the Emperor's ascension!]

-[Damn, it really was exactly three years! Returned home and crowned king in three years flat!]

-[Qin Shi Huang became king two years earlier than King Arthur, who pulled the sword at fifteen!]

-[The true beginning of all legends!]

***

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