Era of Heroic Spirits: I Was Exposed by Alaya

"Holy shit! Are you throwing gold around, or is Merlin made of the stuff?" Souma stared at him wide-eyed.

A billion, just like that? Did money mean nothing to him?

Damn it, the most ancient of filthy-rich landlords!

"Look around—who else is willing to help you? You think it's expensive? I think it's too cheap!"

Gilgamesh gave him a disdainful look. "That Child of Nightmares is at least a candidate for Grand Caster. Did you really think he was just some pig waiting to be slaughtered?"

As much as he hated to admit it, the guy was still on the same level as him.

Standing at the pinnacle of all heroic spirits, just one step away from transcending the ultimate threshold.

It was precisely this overwhelming strength that allowed him alone to elevate Uruk into a world-class power.

To even consider taking action against an existence of this caliber, a mere hundred million would be considered an insult.

"Fine, can you guarantee you'll catch him?"

Souma gritted his teeth and decided to agree to the other's terms.

When you're already covered in lice, a few more won't itch. When you're drowning in debt, a little more won't hurt.

He was already 110 million in the hole—there was no way he could pay it back anyway.

What was another hundred million on top of that?

"Are you taking the deal or not?"

The King of Heroes coldly stared at him.

"Ahem, I just wanted to ask if you can actually catch him. If you can, of course I'm willing to pay."

Souma coughed lightly.

Asking him to deal with a Grand Caster candidate was indeed a bit like forcing a strong man to bend—

No, forcing the impossible!

But he was desperate.

Having raised a troublemaker since childhood, constantly worrying about daily necessities, he had naturally learned to pinch every penny.

"Do you want my help or not?"

The King of Heroes snorted, turning as if ready to leave.

"Of course I do!"

Souma hastily reached out to stop him.

Without the golden bastard's help, he'd never be able to track down that damn dream-walking scoundrel, Merlin.

He rubbed his hands together. "So, uh, mind giving me a bottle of that?"

"Oh? If you want to drink it, I'll give it to you for free!"

The King of Heroes smirked at him.

"Piss off! It's for Merlin!"

Souma rolled his eyes.

What kind of logic was that—turning your bro into a girl and then offering them up first?

Once this was over, he needed to stay far, far away from this guy.

"One million, as a friendly discount."

The King of Heroes retrieved a potion from the [Gate of Babylon].

With a gentle, almost affectionate reminder, he added, "You now owe me a total of 220 million. If you don't pay up, I'll send the recorded footage to those women."

"...You're ruthless."

Souma was utterly speechless.

All this talk of friendship, yet everything was just business to him!

...

Meanwhile.

Merlin, currently in Academy City, frowned in confusion. "So, where the hell is that Nameless guy?"

He had meticulously prepared a grand spectacle, yet there was no trace of the man.

If the lead actor went AWOL, the show wouldn't be nearly as entertaining.

As a incubus, he could traverse countless dreams, going wherever he pleased.

Yet.

No matter how much he wandered through Fuyuki City, he couldn't find Nameless.

That boy Artoria had met earlier was slightly suspicious.

But alas, it was just a hunch—not the real Nameless.

Someone as domineering and unyielding as Nameless would never submit without a fight.

"Hmm? The King of Heroes is calling?"

Merlin suddenly sensed a faint ripple.

Last time they met, the guy had nearly lashed out at him for not showing the Unlimited Blade Works footage.

Fortunately, after watching it, the King of Heroes had chosen to act against Nameless, just as planned.

But now, with Nameless nowhere to be found, things were getting awkward.

Might as well go see what he wants.

Merlin made up his mind instantly.

Hum~

The Magus of Flowers traversed the realm of dreams.

Amidst a shower of blooming petals, he arrived at his destination.

In the distance, a radiant golden figure standing atop a streetlamp was impossible to miss.

Yet, despite the many people passing by below, not a single one looked up at the other.

With Merlin's world-class illusion skills, he easily saw through it—it was a Concealment Noble Phantasm.

Clearly, even the illustrious King of Heroes didn't want to be noticed.

Merlin feigned confusion and asked, "King of Heroes, what brings you to summon me?"

"This king has found Nameless."

Gilgamesh looked down at him, speaking in a perfectly natural tone.

"As expected of the King of Heroes, achieving something I could never dream of!"

Merlin didn't hold back in praising him.

Too strong.

Even Nameless, who walked through human history and battled countless formidable beings, couldn't evade his notice.

No wonder he could compete with him for the title of Grand Caster.

Merlin's smile widened.

A good show couldn't go on without its lead actor.

If you want to leave, I'll drag you back and force you to perform on stage for me!

Ah, Nameless, how I love seeing that frustrated look on your face when you want to punch me but can't!

Suppressing his amusement, he asked, "So, where is Nameless?"

"Right behind you."

Gilgamesh answered with a smile.

"Behind me???"

Merlin instinctively sensed something was wrong. The moment he turned around, he saw a familiar figure.

A red cloak billowing in the wind, short hair gleaming snow-white under the light.

It was unmistakably Nameless!

Merlin finally realized what was happening, staring blankly at Nameless, then at the King of Heroes. "Gilgamesh, you set me up!!!"

Yes, this time, he had clearly been played.

The King of Heroes, seemingly unbothered by having his hand sliced off in Unlimited Blade Works, was even willing to help Nameless.

Why?

Even after being publicly humiliated, with his darkest secrets exposed to the world, why would he still help him?

Damn it!

At this moment, Merlin suddenly felt like he had become the actor on stage.

Despite meticulously planning everything, it had all fallen apart at the last moment.

The ally he had called upon, the King of Heroes, turned out to be Nameless's mole!

A complete reversal!

Under his tense vigilance, Souma stepped forward. "Merlin, it seems you've been looking for trouble with me lately?"

"Ahem, I'm just an innocent and pure Flower Magus. I have no idea what you're talking about."

Merlin didn't hesitate to play dumb.

From what he knew of Nameless, the man had traversed all of human history, his strength long surpassing any measurable limit.

He might have even taken the final step, reaching the level of a Grand!

"Hah, a incubus trying to play the good guy?"

Souma's voice dripped with mockery.

Now he wanted to feign ignorance? There was no way he'd let him off so easily.

He had spent a hundred million to hire the King of Heroes to lure Merlin here, locking down the surrounding space to prevent his escape.

Not even God can save you now. I said it!

Souma pulled out a potion he had bought from the King of Heroes for ten million and smiled. "Merlin, time to take your medicine."

***

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