Era of Heroic Spirits: I Was Exposed by Alaya

"That's why I'm defeating the Three Goddess Alliance to fight back! I'll save her myself!" Nameless met his gaze fearlessly.

"You truly..."

The King of Heroes waved his hand dismissively. "Enough. You were always superfluous outsiders to begin with. The abducted citizens—let them be your responsibility to save!"

The scene playing out in the video.

Made the expressions of numerous heroic spirits grow increasingly peculiar.

Mordred couldn't help muttering under her breath, "Damn tsundere!"

Though she claimed it was a whisper, every single person in the hall could hear it clearly.

How infuriating!

He could have easily let Siduri live, yet chose to watch her march to her death instead.

He claimed he wouldn't intervene, yet still allowed Nameless to lead the rescue.

Then why not stop it from the beginning?

She simply couldn't accept it!

Qin Shi Huang, however, remained perfectly composed as he inquired, "Do you regret it?"

This seemed to count as one of the King of Heroes' embarrassing moments.

"This king never regrets anything!"

Gilgamesh lifted his chin proudly in response.

As a king, one must bear all consequences and never regret any action taken!

Even if regret turns one's guts green with remorse, one must return alone to savor that bitterness—

To speak of it would be far too shameful!

A faint flicker of remorse passed through Gilgamesh's crimson eyes.

Back then, this king should never have let her leave!

The video continued.

Nameless and Mash journeyed together to another city—precisely the place Siduri had come from.

However.

The entire city stood eerily empty, devoid of any human traces.

One after another, grotesque and terrifying monsters roamed freely, launching attacks against them.

Mash suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? Senpai, this monster is so strange! It spotted us, so why isn't it attacking?"

"Just one Lahmu? Then we can fight. Let's take it down before it calls for reinforcements!" Roman, the calm commander, suggested.

"But it's really weird! Instead of attacking us, it just turned and ran away!"

Mash grew even more puzzled.

At that moment, she noticed Nameless trembling slightly beside her and couldn't help but ask, "Senpai, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing. Don't mind her. Let's go help the others!" Nameless shook his head, his expression turning sorrowful.

The scene shifted.

They were blocked by a group of Lahmu.

Kingu, who had left earlier, now stood before the horde of Lahmu.

"You creatures are worse than beasts—utterly mindless, savage things that revel in slaughter! How could Mother have created such monsters?"

Kingu frowned deeply as she glared at the creatures.

Then, she turned her gaze to the group before her. "These are just flawed rejects. But even trash like them are my siblings. All of you, step back."

"Kingu, you're siblings with these monsters?" Mash looked at her with pity.

Kingu sighed helplessly. "Yes. I'm the only true new human. They were mass-produced based on me, so it's only natural there's a gap."

"Too bad you're not Tiamat's child at all—just a puppet made from Enkidu's corpse!" Nameless coldly revealed the truth.

But it was useless.

Kingu sighed softly. "What a boring answer. I am still Mother's child! Leading the Lahmu to exterminate you obsolete humans—that is our future!"

Behind her, the grotesque Lahmu stood like an army, making her seem like a king poised to conquer the world.

Then, a sudden betrayal erupted.

One of the Lahmu abruptly pierced through her chest, forcibly snatching the Holy Grail away.

Kingu stared blankly. "Why...?"

"Because... you look... hilarious! Killing... humans... is so... fun!" The Lahmu let out a shrill laugh.

All the monsters burst into maniacal laughter.

"You bastards!" Kingu clutched the gaping hole in her chest, her disbelief growing.

The Lahmu cackled mockingly. "Hahaha, Kingu, you still don't get it? You're the real obsolete trash! You're useless now!"

"Pathetic! Ridiculous! Laughable! Ridiculous!"

Countless Lahmu howled with laughter, their voices piercingly shrill.

The once-formidable villain Kingu had, in this moment, been reduced to a complete joke.

The scene left everyone stunned—

-[What the hell?! Don't tell me Kingu, the only decent villain so far, isn't even a real villain?!]

-[This is insane! None of the Three Goddess Alliance are villains! And now even Kingu doesn't count!]

-[So brutal! Kingu, who worked harder than the Beast Goddess, just got her heart ripped out on the spot!]

-[This is what happens to pawns!]

...

"Even Kingu isn't the villain?"

Roya was even more bewildered.

After all, Kingu had been trying to kill Nameless and the others from the start.

Later, she went to great lengths to awaken Tiamat.

And now, even she wasn't the real enemy!

"Betrayers will always be betrayed," Souma said indifferently.

Violence and slaughter can never rule.

Moreover, the Lahmu are the epitome of unruly brats.

Their concept is quite intriguing.

Children trap insects in cages and watch them tear each other apart.

They use magnifying glasses to burn ants under the sun.

They pluck the wings off dragonflies, committing all sorts of innocent yet cruel acts.

And the Lahmu—they are the ultimate brats, freed from all restraints, mercilessly trampling everything in their path!

Hmm, if Roya were completely unshackled, she'd be the kind of brat who'd want to destroy the world and wipe out humanity!

On the screen.

Kingu panicked and retorted, "They're just mass-produced trash… I'm the strongest weapon of the new era… Mother, why can't I hear your voice?"

But it was useless.

One after another, the Lahmu charged at her, intent on tearing her apart.

In this situation, she could only stagger away in retreat.

Nameless watched quietly as she fled, making no move to pursue.

The reason was simple.

At this point, Kingu still clung to a sliver of hope—wanting the Lahmu and Tiamat to return to normal.

But alas, she had already been abandoned!

The Lahmu that had stolen the Holy Grail earlier let out a shrill laugh. "Come, I am the true leader. Transform!!!"

Bzzzt—

The vast mana supplied by the Holy Grail surged violently.

Its aura skyrocketed, wings sprouting from its back as its body grew larger and more formidable.

"Transformation forbidden!"

Nameless roared, swinging his weapon mid-transformation and slashing down with his sword.

Crack!

The half-formed wing was severed on the spot!

Yet, the moment one wing was cut off, the monster grew three more!

"Useless! Useless! Useless!"

It cackled wildly, suddenly taking flight and soaring into the sky.

Nameless swiftly summoned a bow and a familiar spiral-shaped Noble Phantasm, nocking an arrow and firing at the monster.

BOOM!

A dazzling mushroom cloud erupted in the sky, blasting the creature to pieces.

Golden sparks scattered—but in a flash, a shadow darted forward and effortlessly snatched the Holy Grail.

Watching this scene,

Ushiwakamaru, who had been viewing the footage, was dumbfounded. "Huh? Wait, that's me?"

As a Heroic Spirit of Sakura, she had naturally already manifested.

She had been bragging to Oda Nobunaga about her past heroic exploits—only to be instantly proven wrong.

"Have you betrayed us as well?"

Oda Nobunaga eyed her warily, immediately putting distance between them.

Ever since her betrayal and death at Honnō-ji at the hands of Akechi Mitsuhide, she had harbored deep hatred for traitors.

"N-No, that's not me at all!" Ushiwakamaru wanted to cry.

During the battle against the Beast of Calamity, she had boldly declared—

"As long as children a thousand years from now still admire Ushiwakamaru, I will fight with everything I have!"

That line had earned her countless fans.

The barrage of comments had been filled with praise, with many pledging to become her supporters.

But now, she was shown attacking Chaldea's group and stealing the Holy Grail!

The comments exploded, all condemning her!

In the video.

A pitch-black Ushiwakamaru roared furiously, "All who forget the battlefield, who flee from it, who abandoned me—die! I will slaughter every last human!"

"It's Ushiwakamaru! Why her?" Mash was horrified.

Having to fight a former ally left her utterly lost.

Fortunately, in the video.

Nameless explained: "This is a combat weapon modified by the Flesh and Blood Temple using Ushiwakamaru's corpse, not the real Ushiwakamaru!"

This finally cleared Ushiwakamaru's name.

"If it's not you, then it's fine."

Oda Nobunaga sat back down and sheathed the weapon she had drawn.

Beside her, Okita Souji also coughed lightly, similarly putting away her sword and calmly wiping the corner of her mouth.

The three of them returned to their harmonious coexistence.

"..."

***

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