Era of Heroic Spirits: I Was Exposed by Alaya

Everything became crystal clear in an instant!

Originally, Artoria had thought that China had firmly rejected the marriage alliance plan.

Qin Shi Huang even domineeringly declared—

[Whoever dares to suggest sacrificing the teacher's future happiness and forcing him to dedicate himself again, I will execute their nine generations!]

With just one sentence, all Chinese Heroic Spirits and ordinary people praised Qin Shi Huang for his brilliant move.

The series of exposure videos by Alaya had already revealed the truth.

They showed that the Nameless Heroic Spirit who walked through human history, protecting China and everyone, had achievements so great that all of humanity owed him a debt.

Savior, Guardian of Human Order, Teacher of Qin Shi Huang… a pile of titles that proved his contributions surpassed the heavens.

Countless people had thus become his fervent fans.

Qin Shi Huang's decree was born from heartache for him, wanting to let him rest properly.

Ordinary people who already knew he had endured countless brutal battles naturally supported this decision wholeheartedly.

Artoria had initially believed Qin Shi Huang simply cared for his teacher and wanted him to retire peacefully and enjoy an ordinary life.

While also prioritizing national interests, continuing to pressure Britain into conceding greater benefits.

Failing to secure a marriage alliance meant Britain would have to surrender cutting-edge technologies or even open its domestic markets.

This was normal.

Between nations, there was no room for sentimental attachments—only cold, hard interests.

Interests were the only eternal friends!

But now, Artoria suddenly understood everything.

"Claiming to care for the teacher, acting for China's benefit—all lies!"

Artoria sighed heavily.

That supreme dragon standing at China's pinnacle, who once boasted he could easily find Nameless, had indeed succeeded—perfectly shielding his own teacher.

To him, his teacher was the greatest taboo, something he would never yield to anyone else.

"To say such hypocritical words… you truly remain the peerless, domineering First Emperor of the Ages!"

Artoria recalled the past.

When she first arrived in Fuyuki City, Fuyuki Magecraft Academy had held a grand welcoming ceremony.

They even specially assigned student representatives to guide the Heroic Spirits on a campus tour.

The student representative assigned to her and Jeanne d'Arc was that utterly unremarkable-looking boy mentioned earlier.

An ordinary seventeen-year-old high school student.

His resume showed no outstanding qualities whatsoever.

Average academic performance, average physical abilities, garbage-level magic talent…

Despite his mediocrity, he seemed indifferent to everything, displaying not a shred of ambition.

A completely resigned slacker.

His only redeeming quality was a fondness for helping others.

Geniuses like Rin Tohsaka, Julian, Illya, and others had all received his assistance to varying degrees.

This was why, when Academy Director Tamamo-no-Mae wanted to select an ordinary student representative, they unanimously recommended him.

Oh, and he also possessed top-tier culinary skills.

His cooking earned endless praise, with many urging him to open a restaurant.

Fixing computers, heaters, light bulbs—all effortless for him.

Academically hopeless, domestically flawless.

Everyone agreed he'd make the perfect househusband and shouldn't even be in school.

But rather, find a wealthy woman to support him.

See? Such a bland, ordinary resume.

So ordinary that even after noticing Roya's connection to him, Artoria still couldn't connect the dots.

The disparity was far too vast!

Nameless, in her eyes, was a towering hero.

Power and miracles were synonymous with him.

Yet the young man before her now showed not a shred of ambition, embodying the very definition of slacking off.

How could he possibly be connected to Nameless?

"Back then, I even used you to tease Jeanne d'Arc... Now it suddenly dawns on me—the real clown was me all along?"

Artoria's bitterness deepened.

At the time, she had granted him the title of squire in front of Jeanne, expecting him to kneel and kiss her hand—purely to provoke the French emperor.

Jeanne d'Arc had traveled thousands of miles just to follow her in search of Nameless.

Back then, Nameless must have been deeply disappointed in her, still unable to forgive her repeated disobedience, which was why he had refused to acknowledge her all this time.

Just then, someone nearby began playing music—

"Snowflakes drift, the north wind howls, the world a vast expanse of white..."

"A lone plum blossom stands proud in the snow, its fragrance only for one..."

"Loving whom I love without regret, this feeling lingers in my heart..."

...

As the cold, desolate melody played, thick snowflakes began to fall from the sky.

They swirled and danced, just like the blizzard that had buried all the blood and corpses after the Battle of the Sword Hill.

Listening to the mournful tune, only one word echoed in Artoria's heart—

Regret.

She truly regretted it.

She had found him first—so why had Qin Shi Huang beaten her to it?

That man stood by the window, deliberately flaunting his majesty—it was nothing but blatant gloating!

Take a step back, and the world would seem vast.

Endure for a moment, and the anger only grew!

In the living room.

"Master, it's cold here. Please come inside."

Qin Shi Huang casually drew the curtains shut.

Foreign king, you can regret it all by yourself. It'd be best if you just obediently leave!

Yes, Qin Shi Huang had noticed the other party from the very beginning.

With a top-tier Heroic Spirit right beside him, how could he not sense it?

But this is China's territory.

This is my domain!

"Fuyuki City doesn't have central heating—it's quite troublesome."

Souma nodded, no longer looking at the fireworks blooming outside.

Fuyuki City, comparable to southern China, lacked centralized heating.

Everyone relied on kotatsu or air conditioning for warmth.

These were major power consumers, and many people simply toughed it out through sheer willpower during winter.

"Master, I recall it was also winter back then when I wanted to seek the elixir of immortality. You once said something—"

Qin Shi Huang repeated with a hint of emotion, "After you, there will still be people guarding this land. Even after a thousand, ten thousand years, humanity will continue to thrive and remember your name."

"Even if everything turns to ashes, even if all traces of the Qin dynasty vanish, people will still remember you, granting you eternal life in history!"

"Because you were the first to unify the world, the one who erected the backbone of our nation—Qin Shi Huang!"

All men must die.

Qin Shi Huang had once sought the elixir of immortality, praying for eternal life, only to be guided by those words.

He abandoned his search for the elixir.

Yet, he later found it delivered straight to his lips by that fox spirit, Tamamo-no-Mae.

Sir, was this also part of your calculations?

"I'm surprised you still remember those words..."

Souma rubbed his nose, sorely tempted to retort—

"So, why did you still end up doing so many questionable things later?"

But now, all of that was in the past.

Best not to say it out loud and risk making him act strange.

After The Sacred Round Table Domain was exposed, King Arthur had already become far more assertive than before.

If Zheng'er saw what came after, he'd undoubtedly become even weirder!

Qin Shi Huang's crimson eyes fixed on him. "Master, what exactly happened afterwards?"

"Let's just say it was an experiment of yours. You'll find out when it's exposed later. Come on, let me teach you how to cook."

Souma laughed it off, swiftly changing the subject.

As if I'd tell you willingly!

Not a chance!

Qin Shi Huang didn't press further, smiling instead. "Very well. Since you insist, I shall defer to your wisdom. I've never stepped into a kitchen before."

Even during his early years as a hostage in Zhao, his mother, Lady Zhao, came from a prominent noble family. Naturally, Qin Shi Huang had never lived in poverty.

"Then you'll have to learn properly from me. Consider this a lesson unlike anything an emperor would receive."

***

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