Era of Heroic Spirits: I Was Exposed by Alaya

"Every single one of them just loves stirring the pot without caring about the consequences!"

Souma felt his temples throbbing violently.

He was utterly speechless at these drama-loving spectators.

The show they were so eagerly watching was one he had to perform with his life on the line.

Fine then, let the acting begin!

Having walked through the entirety of human history and encountered countless heroic spirits face-to-face, he had long honed his acting skills to perfection.

So flawless that even Gilgamesh couldn't see through it—only deducing his identity through pure reasoning.

If they wanted a show, he'd give them a royal performance!

And then.

He stared dumbfounded as a petite figure trailed behind the British delegation.

Why did that person look so familiar???

The hat she wore—wasn't that the Hades's Cap of Invisibility Gilgamesh had gifted?

Noticing his gaze, she even winked at him, wearing an expression of utmost pride.

You damn brat, you're screwing me over again!

Souma barely held back a curse.

Even a king couldn't withstand a teammate who intentionally fed the enemy!

You could've just laid back and let me carry you to victory—why did you have to throw?!

Could it be that subconsciously, you still haven't forgotten the final battle, instinctively using your Clairvoyance to screw me over?

DAMN IT, ALAYA!

You promised me a peaceful daily life, yet you had to strap a ticking nuclear bomb to me!

I'm done. Don't think I won't press the button—let the world burn!

The only silver lining was that she was still properly wearing the Hades's Cap of Invisibility.

Don't panic.

Stay calm—we can still win!

If we survive this, I swear I'll never let this brat near such occasions again!

...

"Just as I thought, that guy is green with envy!" Roya barely suppressed a smug grin.

But her bouncing twin tails betrayed her emotions completely.

She trotted after the group on short legs.

Perhaps deliberately accommodating her, King Arthur and the others walked at a leisurely pace.

Roya sneakily glanced around and immediately spotted another heroic spirit—cold and aloof—staring expressionlessly at them.

None other than the Emperor of France, Jeanne d'Arc!

"Wow, classic Jeanne-style disdain!"

Roya nearly couldn't resist pulling out her phone to snap a photo.

Meeting so many heroic spirits up close in a single day and being treated so kindly by King Arthur—what incredible luck!

Could it be that I saved the world in my past life, and that's why the world favors me so much?

Roya grew increasingly convinced that in her previous life, she must have been something like an unnamed savior.

Perhaps—she might have even fought side by side with Nameless to save the world!

Just thinking about it made her a little excited.

Once she got back, she'd make Souma beg tearfully for her support!

That guy would finally have to treat her like a mature woman and recognize her charm, right?

After this meeting with the heroic spirits, she could just wait for his confession.

This was a sure win!

When the time came, should she play a little hard to get, or just accept him outright?

As she was lost in these thoughts—

The two top-tier heroic spirits suddenly stopped in their tracks, locking eyes with each other.

Everyone held their breath at once, the silence as suffocating as the calm before a volcanic eruption.

Yet.

The anticipated battle never came.

The two merely nodded slightly and walked together toward the press conference podium.

Astolfo couldn't help muttering under his breath, "Huh? Why didn't they fight?"

He'd been brought all the way from France, only to miss the show entirely.

Meanwhile.

Gawain also looked both relieved and slightly disappointed.

The most dreaded crisis they had predicted had passed without a sound.

.....

At the press conference.

The numerous Heroic Spirits began delivering the usual official speeches—reflecting on the past, looking toward the future, and emphasizing the present.

All of it was perfectly normal.

Or rather—

Too normal!

The volcanic eruption countless people had hoped for never showed even a hint of appearing.

Once the press conference ended.

Artoria casually glanced at the girl beside her.

Despite being brought here under the guise of the Hades's Cap of Invisibility by Gilgamesh, there wasn't a trace of any special aura about her.

What was that person—her nameless best friend—helping to hide?

Or was this merely a trap, meant to keep her from discovering where Nameless was?

At that moment.

Jeanne d'Arc, seated not far away, spoke with a perfectly disdainful expression, "You're putting on quite the act, Your Majesty. You wanted to kill me the moment I appeared."

"Likewise."

Artoria's face remained impassive.

Their brief, private exchange made Roya instinctively shrink back.

Even when suppressed to the utmost, the oppressive aura of these two Heroic Spirits still made one feel as if standing on the edge of an erupting volcano.

Dominant! Overbearing! Transcending all mortals!

Souma, I don't want to stay here anymore. It's terrifying. I want to go home!

Roya suddenly didn't feel the slightest bit fortunate.

If these two Heroic Spirits slipped up even a little in their fight, she'd go from being "Roya-chan" to actual "Roya paste"!

No—she wouldn't even leave behind a speck of dust!

Jeanne's expression grew colder. "You outright rejected his kindness, yet you still shamelessly rushed here. Why?"

"Couldn't the same be said for you?"

Artoria smirked faintly at her.

Jeanne had once been nothing more than a peasant girl, stubbornly ignoring Nameless's warnings to charge down the path of saving France.

In that regard, she was no different from Artoria, who had pulled the sword from the stone and become King Arthur.

"But I've long abandoned my title as the Holy Maiden. Meanwhile, you still play the role of the false, perfect king—protecting the descendants of those who were once your enemies!" Jeanne's voice was icy.

"It seems we'll be getting along quite well these next few days in Fuyuki City."

Artoria didn't respond directly, instead smiling.

"Hmph, I suppose you can't find Nameless either!"

Jeanne couldn't resist taunting her.

"Not at all. Unlike a certain corrupted saint, finding him is quite simple for me." Artoria answered with absolute confidence.

This made Jeanne grit her teeth.

The so-called Emperor of France truly had no leads on Nameless's whereabouts—otherwise, she wouldn't have been tricked by Merlin into coming here on a whim.

Hum~

Artoria suddenly sensed a familiar pulse, transmitted across thousands of miles from the other side of the planet—from Avalon, courtesy of the Magus of Flowers.

Under this resonance, the long-lost connection to [Avalon] flickered back to life, like a phone recharged after being cut off for unpaid bills.

A faint, wispy fluctuation emanated from the girl beside her!

This child carries a trace of Avalon's aura… Could she be your daughter?

She paused slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips as she said, "Little Roya, you're so well-behaved and sensible. If only you were my daughter. Tell me, what would you like?"

***

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