"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?!"
Gilgamesh could feel it—he wasn't getting out of this unless he sacrificed a chunk of his reputation.
He sat back down again, silently watching the massive screen.
"…En…"
One of his only two true friends.
She used to cling to Nameless like a shadow, never leaving his side.
Nameless would always cook her tasty meals, and Gilgamesh himself had shamelessly joined in to mooch food too.
That time of their lives… might have been the happiest and most carefree for the King of Heroes.
But alas—
All good things are bound to face hardship.
When the three of them fought against the gods, both Nameless and Enkidu fell… leaving only him behind.
And so, he could never forgive anyone wearing Enkidu's face and siding with the gods.
He, Nameless, and Enkidu had paid a heavy price to sever the bond between humanity and the divine.
And now, that same face dared stand with the enemy? Serve the gods?
Unforgivable.
Gilgamesh furrowed his brow. "Enkidu had green eyes. This strange thing has purple ones. What the hell is going on?"
Their eye colors were clearly different.
Could it really be that the gods recreated a divine weapon to resemble Enkidu?
Meanwhile, on screen—
Mash had already raised her shield, standing protectively in front of Nameless. And the figure claiming to be Enkidu stood as well, magic surging around them.
The battle was moments away from erupting.
But then—another figure barged in.
A familiar white-robed, handsome man appeared.
It was the Flower Magus himself—
Merlin.
He came jogging over with a wide grin. "Ahh, hello there, everyone! We're just fellow survivors who happened to get lost right under the Mother of Beasts' nose!"
Beside him trailed a small, hooded girl with violet hair, dressed in a black robe that concealed her little head.
Merlin turned to her with a cheerful look. "See, Ana? I told you I had a good feeling about this. We may not have found the way, but we did find people who know it!"
"…Hmph."
The little girl snorted and looked away.
The moment Merlin appeared on screen—
"That bastard Merlin! He's still nowhere to be found. He better hope I don't catch him!" Mordred snarled through clenched teeth.
That damn bastard had always just sat back and watched everything like a show.
He called Artoria his 'child,' yet even knowing the tragedy that awaited, he never stepped in to stop it.
Scum, through and through!
Mordred cursed fiercely:
"Since you love teasing noblewomen and princesses so much, once I catch you, I'll make you into a girl too!"
"…Hah."
Gilgamesh's expression turned odd at that.
Truly, birds of a feather flock together.
That brat Mordred really had a lot in common with that troublesome friend of his, Sanjiro.
No need to trouble yourself now.
Your beloved Nameless already turned him into Merry long ago!
Gilgamesh thought of the video in his collection and couldn't help but smirk.
That footage of Nameless pinning Merlin down and forcefully baptizing him into femininity—he'd kept it ever since.
Watching other people's blackmail material… now that was pure joy for the King!
No—wait.
The real problem was, now his blackmail was up next!
Gilgamesh's mood instantly took a turn for the worse.
No way… In this Singularity, could I have actually turned into some evil god like the Lion King…?
Onscreen—
Nameless turned and greeted the newcomer.
"Flower Magus, this one claims to be Enkidu. What do you think?"
"…That's definitely strange. Enkidu died a long time ago," Merlin's smile faded, his gaze sharpening. "So who are you really?"
Surrounded by hostility—
The one claiming to be Enkidu sneered. "I am a weapon created by the gods. Naturally, I will aid the goddesses. Let me offer your severed heads to Mother as tribute!"
BOOM!
A surge of chains exploded outward from around them.
In an instant, battle erupted!
"I'll show you all—this is a new era! The age has changed! You relics of a bygone age, all you can do is grovel in envy as a perfect weapon tosses you in the trash heap!"
And yet—
None of the present party panicked.
Instead, every one of them looked at the "Enkidu" figure with pity in their eyes.
Ana, the hooded little girl, said coldly, "To possess human intellect can sometimes be a burden. You'd do well to remember that."
"…So it was like that. I fell for Merlin's illusion from the start?"
The imposter Enkidu froze, realization dawning.
The four had already vanished into a flurry of flower petals—they had escaped long before.
The fake turned and vanished deeper into the forest.
=-=-=
Scene transition.
The group reappeared beyond the forest.
Merlin, as flamboyant as ever, beamed,
"Well! That went perfectly! As expected, no one can resist my illusions. That innocent child didn't stand a chance! Haha, I totally saved you in a crisis. C'mon, shower me with praise!"
Just then—
Mash blinked in surprise. "Eh? Fou's… climbing a tree? And showing its claws?"
Next second—
Before anyone could react, a white blur spiraled through the air and slammed into the Flower Magus!
"Fou… fou! (Merlin must die!)"
The crowd watching exploded with laughter—
Blorbo-[Hahahaha! Nice one, Fou!]
SinMommy-[Fou has been falling for 1,500 years! Give him hell!]
RebelliousExecutive-[Merlin must die! Get him, Fou!]
MonaLigmaBalls-[So, is Magic☆Merry really that old liar Merlin?]
Dr.Sol-[Shut up, I'm not listening! Merry is a cute anime girl!]
Onscreen—
The elegant, dashing Flower Magus scrambled away in a fluster.
"Damn you, you beast! I raised you, remember?! You catastrophe of a cat—Cath Palug!"
While dodging wildly, he cursed up a storm.
Never once thinking about how he let the poor thing fall freely for 1,500 years!
===
In Academy City—
Tamamo-no-Mae tilted her head, curious. "How did you even end up in the Age of the Gods?"
Chaldea could shift through Singularities using Rayshift. Nameless, being humanity's final Master, could naturally traverse timelines too.
The others were all Heroic Spirits or pseudo-Servants, like Mash.
But Merry was alive.
"Simple," she replied, swinging her legs playfully on the sofa, a lollipop in her mouth. "The King of Heroes existed over 2,000 years ago—way before my time. That means I technically don't exist in this era. So I'm not really alive, am I?"
Ever since Nameless had forcibly turned her into "Merry," she'd grown used to this petite, adorable form.
Tamamo didn't know what to say.
Over the past few days, she'd watched the man transform—more and more—into a genuine little girl.
Terrifying.
Just what had Nameless done to her? Not only her body, but even her behavior had changed!
If word got out, this would shake the whole world.
Merry stared at the screen with tearful anime eyes. "Ugh! You damned Nameless… I swear, I'll get back at you someday!"
Watching the video triggered a wave of returning memories.
Back then, she hadn't even recognized Nameless.
She'd been totally played.
Utterly scammed.
"..."
Tamamo remained silent.
She was starting to seriously wonder—was teaming up with Merry even a good idea?
Why did it feel like, if she faced Nameless again…
He'd finish turning this guy into a full-on little girl?
Her thoughts were complicated as she kept watching.
Onscreen—
Dr. Romani appeared in Chaldea, gaping at the magician. "Merlin?! You useless layabout, you actually showed up?!"
Everyone looked confused.
So Romani began to explain—
"Grand Caster-level magi all possess clairvoyance. Solomon could see past and future. Gilgamesh can see the future. But Merlin… can only see the present. So basically, all he can do is peep at Earth from Avalon. No better than browsing the web!"
After witnessing just how terrifying a Grand Assassin could be, no one dared underestimate Merlin now.
That guy had waltzed into the Sun King's temple wearing full armor and chopped his head off!
Merlin grinned meaningfully. "That's right~ I can see everything happening on Earth. Every little secret, heehee~"
===
In Chaldea—
Romani looked down at the ring on his finger.
A flood of memories surged back. In that instant, he understood… so much.
Merlin's warning hadn't been subtle.
That guy knew his secret.
Mash peered at him curiously. "Doctor, are you okay?"
Even Da Vinci looked concerned.
What was this "secret"?
"…It's nothing. Just watching this bring up some old memories." Romani gave a relaxed smile.
It was something only he could deal with.
He couldn't let it trouble those around him anymore.
Even if it cost him everything.
Romani stared at the Merry figurine and the strawberry shortcake nearby, feeling a twinge of regret.
By then, he'd probably vanish from everyone's memories, just like Nameless.
No more cake… no more Merry's livestreams…
What a shame…
As he brooded—
Onscreen, Dr. Romani made a request: "Master, if you get a chance, punch him really hard for me."
"Got it!"
Nameless was easygoing as always—and promptly socked him in the face.
POOF—
Merlin burst into a spray of petals and reappeared in the distance. "Hey, hey! We're allies, remember?!"
"Magus, your bizarre behavior and shameful antics… save that for when you're alone at night." Ana grumbled with clear irritation.
She hated humans. Hated noise.
Hated everything.
Just then—
The Chaldean Master stepped forward.
Mash whispered nervously, "Senpai… Miss Ana's gripping her weapon tightly!"
But—
Nameless didn't flinch. Smiling, he walked right up to her.
"What is it?" Ana asked, looking up slightly.
"You're so small and cute, and you made it all the way here with Merlin," he smiled, offering something. "I've got some candy—want some?"
"Eh? I… I don't need…"
Ana hesitated, surprised.
"It's fine. We packed it for our journey, but it's too sweet for me. You'd be doing me a favor."
Under his gentle smile, she hesitated—then reached out. "Okay… I'll take one."
"All of them are yours!"
He dumped the whole stash into her arms, like he was afraid she wouldn't have enough.
It was way too much. Her tiny hands couldn't even hold it all—it spilled over.
The audience watching groaned and facepalmed—
TooHotToPeg-[Why does Nameless look so much like a suspicious guy trying to lure little girls?!]
LoliConnoisseur-[EX-rank Charisma at work again—he even charmed the grumpy loli! Ahh, damn it! I'm so jealous!!]
InterdimensionalFBI-[Am I just an air to you?!]
HistorianWithWifi-[So… who exactly is Ana?]
SergeantSaunders-[Alaya's style is always like this—sweet now, heartbreak later!]
NotEmiyaLOL-[NOPE. If anyone dares hurt Ana, I will spam UBW on there face!]
FateBot-[You're not Nameless bro, shut up.]
Fresh from finishing the dishes, Sanjiro glanced at the screen—
And was struck by nostalgia.
That was the very first time he'd met Ana.
She could be considered a god, or a monster.
She was the youngest of the Gorgon sisters in Greek mythology.
As a counterforce against the Queen of Demonic Beasts, she had been summoned to this era with only one purpose—to kill Gorgon.
But Sanjiro just wanted to see her as a kind little girl.
At the beginning, Ana maintained an icy demeanor toward everyone—"Don't come near me."
From the start, just like Dr. Roman, she carried a heavy burden.
She wandered alone through the final days of the Age of Gods, completely hiding herself under a black hooded cloak.
She kept saying, "I hate humans," but—
That was a lie.
She had always tried her best to interact with everyone, fearing she'd drag others down, secretly yearning for care and affection.
How adorable.
The footage continued.
The group finally arrived at Uruk.
However—
What appeared before them was a grand and majestic fortress-city!
Lined along the walls were rows upon rows of cannons that looked straight out of science fiction!
Kirina's eyes widened.
"What the hell?! This is Uruk from the Age of Gods? Weren't we told it was just a small village?!"
A city from the earliest era of human civilization… how could it be so futuristic, even boasting actual cannons?
Ever since the Hero King's black history had been exposed, his status had plummeted in many people's eyes.
The so-called birthplace of human civilization was basically the size of a rural town.
The "Oldest Hero King" had even been mockingly renamed "Oldest Village Chief."
Someone even made up jokes like—
[According to media reports, an anonymous 'Hero of Justice' tipped off the police about a blond man hoarding a vast number of national treasures! The suspect resisted arrest and even climbed a streetlamp to evade capture. Apparently a village chief from a remote mountain region, he claimed 'All treasures in the world belong to me!' and used that as an excuse to confiscate everyone's wealth…]
But now—
What appeared before everyone's eyes was a grand sci-fi-style fortress.
Battle raged on.
Countless vicious monsters stormed the city walls.
Cannons fired wildly, blasting them apart.
This scene stunned viewers and shattered many assumptions.
Shikotei wasn't fazed and calmly reminded them, "Don't forget, Camelot was like this too."
In the last exposed video, "Sacred Round Table Domain," Camelot was also a majestic holy city. But ordinary people weren't even allowed in.
Only those who passed the Holy Selection could enter.
Most people who approached were immediately executed.
However—
As the video continued—
Nameless and the others finally stepped into the fortress-city, only to find that everyone was living in peace and prosperity.
It was completely different from the bloody nightmare that was Camelot.
Mash couldn't help but admire it.
"Everyone seems so busy and tense, but they're smiling! Every single person is filled with fighting spirit and a desire to survive!"
"It's unbelievable—how can the streets be this well-organized? The military, industry, and infrastructure are all perfectly balanced!" Dr. Roman also exclaimed.
It wasn't just those in the video.
Even the Heroic Spirits watching it live couldn't believe their eyes.
Mordred grumbled in disbelief. "No way! Even our Britain couldn't manage this—how can Uruk from over 2,000 years ago do it?!"
The orderly streets, the happy people—everything was completely overturning her worldview.
If King Arthur had accomplished all this, no one would have rebelled.
No one would've claimed she lacked understanding of human hearts.
If she had achieved this, when Mordred raised her rebellion, the Knights of the Round Table and all the nobles would've united to kill her first!
"How the hell did he manage this?" Jalter frowned as well.
Even someone from a later era like her couldn't pull this off.
Did he… ascend to godhood?
While everyone was confused—
Onscreen—
The Chaldeans were brought into the royal palace.
As they approached, they heard the booming voice of the King of Heroes—
"You idiots! How many times do I have to say it—battlefront reports must be fresh and timely! Don't slack off on the updates!"
"I'm issuing a decree: front-line clay tablet updates will now be hourly instead of every three hours. No breaks—day and night!"
"The busier we are here, the fewer chances the enemy has! If you want an easier fight, then don't stop moving!"
"Deploy 20 men from the west gate to drive off the monsters. Sem, you lead—this is your hometown, don't disappoint me!"
…
A rapid-fire series of commands, covering everything in exhaustive detail.
Even Komei couldn't help but widen his eyes. "This is totally different from the depraved, fallen King we imagined!"
As an expert in administration, he knew exactly how much work and effort it would take to achieve this.
Dying from overwork wouldn't even be surprising.
As the group entered the throne room—
A dazzling, radiant King of Heroes appeared onscreen—handsome beyond compare. He wore extremely revealing clothes, with most of his body exposed. He flaunted his flawless body without the slightest hint of shame.
At his side, Priestess Siduri, dressed in a green ceremonial robe and veiled, spoke with concern, "My king, please take a rest. You've been working nonstop for two whole days and nights."
"Don't worry, Siduri. I'm the omniscient and omnipotent invincible King!" Gilgamesh waved her off.
"But still…"
Siduri looked even more worried.
Ever since Nameless and Enkidu—his two dearest friends—were gone, the king had been working non-stop.
From dawn to dusk, she'd never once seen him rest.
"No need to worry."
Gilgamesh leaned his chin on his hand and casually looked down at the newcomers. His gaze fell on the young Master of Chaldea. "Looks similar… Quite a bit, actually."
That boy really did resemble his dear friend.
However—
That friend had died in the battle against the gods. There was no way he could return from the dead.
"King of Heroes, this is a visitor from Chaldea. They wish to assist you in saving humanity," Merlin reported.
"Pffft—what a joke!" Gilgamesh suddenly burst into laughter.
"I possess clairvoyance that sees the future—I know everything. You think I don't know about your 'Heroic Spirit summoning' and 'Holy Grail' nonsense? The so-called Holy Grail? It's right here in my hand!"
Whooom—
A golden vortex appeared.
The King of Heroes reached in and pulled out a Holy Grail, flaunting it arrogantly before the group.
Mash stepped forward. "King of Heroes, we must reclaim the Grail to repair human history!"
"I've no reason to hand over my treasure to the likes of you!" the King of Heroes flatly rejected.
Nameless smiled. "Then… what if we help you defeat the Three Goddess Alliance?"
"Pfff—hahaha! Don't make me laugh!" Gilgamesh burst into laughter again. "Siduri, bring me my jug of water! Laughing too hard might kill me! Record this in the royal log! Title it: 'The King Laughed Until His Abs Hurt!'"
With that exchange, he showed himself to be a king who deeply loved his people—yet was still arrogant to the core.
Countless viewers were shocked—
IDigBigCLock-[WTF?! Weren't we supposed to see Gilgamesh's black history?! Why is he coming off like a tireless wise king?!]
BoobVenerate-[To govern Uruk this well during the Age of Gods… he's a true wise king!]
GlazingAtItsFinest-[What do we do, guys? Should I start glazing him? But I don't really want to run around naked in my town...]
FateShit-[Do it~, make your name proud~]
GigglesThenShit-[Hold the line! His dirt's gotta be in the second half of the video! Just wait! And I don't want someone to be traumatized on what you are gonna do!]
…
In the hall—
The crowd fell silent. They exchanged uncertain glances.
Shikotei furrowed his brows tightly.
What the hell?
They were supposed to publicly disgrace the King of Heroes—strip him of his dignity so he'd stop squatting in Fuyuki City.
But now, why was he being portrayed as such a compassionate, devoted king?
Something's not right.
Seriously not right.
Even Artoria had her dark side exposed as the terrifying Lion King—so why was this King of Heroes from that Singularity portrayed like this?
It made Shikotei increasingly uneasy.
He was starting to suspect that this video wouldn't shame Gilgamesh at all—
It might even massively boost his popularity.
Meanwhile, the King of Heroes—
Was also frowning at the screen.
"…Why didn't I recognize my friend at first?"
Gilgamesh watched the video, his expression growing increasingly sour as he looked at the clueless young man on screen.
That damn bastard of a friend—he clearly recognized this king, yet pretended like they were total strangers!
That guy was clearly enjoying the thrill of toying with him in the palm of his hand, maliciously deceiving him!
But… Gilgamesh would settle that score later.
Suddenly, he stood up and looked around at the gathered Heroic Spirits.
He burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahaha! Welcome to MY glorious stage—enjoy the full spectacle of this king's magnificence to your heart's content!"