Era of Heroic Spirits: I Was Exposed by Alaya

Under the gaze of countless onlookers, each with their own thoughts—

"Zheng, long time no see."

Souma greeted him with a smile.

Stepping out from the scroll of history, seamlessly bridging the past and present, standing on the world's most dazzling stage—

This entrance was nothing short of legendary.

The best part? No one could even locate his true self.

Alaya, you finally did something decent for once!

I'll stab you one less time when I beat you up later!

Yes, the figure now standing before them was Souma in his adult form—effectively his Servant manifestation.

"Throughout the five thousand years of China's history, from the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors to the present, every generation has had its own mission."

Souma clasped his hands together with a smile. "The ancestral deities, like the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, spared no effort to forge a future for humanity."

"And you have fulfilled your duty splendidly, safeguarding the entire China. I am proud of you."

"Now is your era. You no longer need me."

The subtext was clear—

Don't come looking for me. You be the First Emperor, and I'll go back to being a slacking high school student.

Souma had absolutely no desire for fame. Wasn't lazing around the better life?

After Alaya repeatedly released those exposure videos, it had finally accumulated enough "legendary weight" for this summoning—otherwise, it would have been impossible.

Even now, his manifestation had a time limit.

After just a few words—

His form had already begun to fade, gradually dissolving into nothingness.

This was merely a phantom forcibly summoned from the river of history through Qin Shi Huang's ritual. It wasn't a true resurrection—just a temporary echo.

How could something that wasn't even human truly come back to life?

Just then—

"Teacher, forgive my rudeness."

Qin Shi Huang suddenly clasped his hands in apology, then pointed to a Servant below the altar. "Chen Gong, lend Teacher your aid!"

"May I?"

Chen Gong's face lit up with excitement as he rushed forward without hesitation. "Nameless, I've long admired you!"

DON'T YOU DARE COME NEAR ME!!!

Souma almost couldn't maintain his composed demeanor.

There was no helping it—in front of this guy, everyone else paled in comparison as mere heroes!

This guy had a particularly infamous quote—

"As long as our strongest force perishes together with the enemy's strongest, what remains is just a battle between small fries. Victory becomes easy!"

"My sincerest apologies, Nameless."

Chen Gong eagerly activated his Noble Phantasm.

Hum~

A surge of mana poured violently into Souma's body, acting like a massive power bank for his nearly dissipated form.

This was Chen Gong's Noble Phantasm, Two-Pronged Formation, capable of temporarily supercharging a target!

With this recharge, Souma could hold on a little longer.

"..."

Souma felt a complicated mix of emotions.

Who would have thought that one day, he'd be the one Chen Gong used as a firework?

Back then, he was always the one turning others into fireworks...

Ahem. As a responsible Master, how could he ever do such a thing?

At that moment.

Qin Shi Huang clasped his hands together once more. "Esteemed one, I wish to invite you to the Epang Palace for a conversation."

"Very well."

Souma nodded.

The two vanished from the altar in an instant, reappearing in the Epang Palace suspended high in the heavens.

After their disappearance, everyone was left in utter frustration.

The most thrilling, most anticipated dialogue between Qin Shi Huang and Nameless across the ages—why couldn't they witness it?!

-[Your Majesty, Qin Shi Huang, please share Nameless with us!]

-[Damn it, what are they even talking about?!]

-[I really, really want to see and hear it! Why won't you let me?!]

...

While countless people were losing their minds,

the two walked through the extravagantly ornate Epang Palace.

As they strolled, Qin Shi Huang sighed softly. "Esteemed one, it has been over two thousand years since we last parted."

"Indeed. Back then, you were just a tiny child." Souma also sighed lightly.

In his mind, he recalled their first meeting.

The invincible, domineering Emperor of Qin—back then, he was just an adorable little boy with rosy lips and fair skin.

"Esteemed one, I fulfilled the tasks you spoke of—standardizing the tracks, unifying the script, standardizing weights and measures... But what happened afterwards?" Qin Shi Huang inquired.

At the end of the First Emperor of the Ages video, there was clearly a development starkly different from his own memories.

How would an immortal Qin Shi Huang rule the nation?

"Well... let's just say it was a timeline heading toward ruin, but I corrected it."

Souma answered with righteous conviction.

"So, in the end, I still cannot do without your guidance, esteemed one."

Qin Shi Huang suddenly smiled with confidence. "Therefore, will you not continue to teach me? Assist me in utterly defeating the Beacon?"

Only in front of this person could he shed all pretense and simply be an ordinary man.

After his departure, Ying Zheng became truly alone.

The self-referential "lonely one"—how ironic.

Even as the most revered emperor of two billion people, there was not a single soul with whom he could relax and converse.

"I'm sorry. I'm far too exhausted now. After walking through thousands of years of human history... it's time for me to rest."

Souma wanted to reach out and pat his head.

But, the tiny child from back then had now grown taller than him. He could only withdraw his hand.

With a gentle smile, he said, "Zheng'er, I have always been proud of you. So... please, don't seek me out anymore. It's time for you to enjoy the life that belongs to you."

The other party was none other than the exalted Qin Shi Huang. If he came knocking, it would surely shatter this peaceful life.

Might as well just take a knife to myself and go sign up with Alaya.

"Master, you truly are carefree!" Qin Shi Huang chuckled lightly.

Even in the face of the emperor, whose might was now unstoppable, he remained utterly at ease.

In truth, he had every right to be.

Even Qin Shi Huang himself had been aided by him.

He walked through human history, assisting countless heroic spirits.

To him, mere emperors and generals were nothing at all.

As he walked, Qin Shi Huang sighed softly. "This emperor relinquished all authority—likely influenced by you, Master. One day, perhaps I shall choose to retire with you, to become what you favor..."

His words cut off abruptly.

Once again, the vast palace was left with only his solitary figure.

That man had vanished again!

"What a cunning man you are, Master. This emperor has yet to punish you for deceiving your sovereign!"

Qin Shi Huang closed his eyes. His face, transcending common sense and gender, always exuding an air of lofty beauty, now bore a faint trace of melancholy.

Yet.

He did not dwell in sorrow or regret. Instead, a mischievous, triumphant smile surfaced. "Master, we will meet again. You cannot escape!"

...

It was as if he had jolted awake from a dream.

Souma slowly opened his eyes to the familiar ceiling.

The LCD screen before him still displayed the live broadcast of the coronation ceremony.

Earlier, it had merely been a projection visiting the other party while his true body fell into slumber.

"Alaya did a decent job this time. Maybe Zheng'er will give up on looking for me now?"

Souma's mood instantly brightened.

This time, he had truly turned the tables with a sliver of health left.

So satisfying!

Just as he was about to reward himself with a glass of ice-cold cola, he suddenly noticed an incredibly mysterious ripple emerging out of thin air.

A dragon-shaped phantom!

It silently merged into Souma's brow, causing his eyes to abruptly turn a dazzling gold.

Filled with the boundless majesty of an emperor.

This majesty vanished like an illusion in an instant, noticed only by Fou, who was curled up nearby.

After a moment of silence, Souma raised his middle finger toward the ceiling and cursed, "Damn it, Alaya! Didn't we agree it was just a simple meeting? Why the hell did the coronation succeed and establish a connection?"

***

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