This line, this scene—why does it all feel so... familiar?
Shokatsu Kōmei, gently swaying his feather fan and exuding an air of wisdom, suddenly paused mid-motion.
Something didn't feel right.
Back in Uruk, that ancient King of Heroes had also boldly chosen to broadcast his video publicly.
Not only that—
That man had even summoned all his people and made them all watch the Alaya-uploaded video "The Oldest King."
The result?
Shokatsu Kōmei looked toward his lord and couldn't help but ask again, "Your Majesty, are you certain you want this to be broadcast?"
You mustn't do this, Your Majesty.
If this is anything like what I'm afraid of, then it's nothing less than a public execution in disguise!
"What, do you still worry for Us?" the Shikotei asked, giving Shokatsu Kōmei a strange look.
He was the First Emperor, a name etched in boldest ink in the annals of its history.
Not to mention, ever since manifesting in the modern era as a Heroic Spirit, he had steamrolled through countless enemies and brought unity and peace once again to his nation.
Now, he commanded two billion citizens and was boldly challenging the Pantheon of America for the title of World's Number One.
He would not be cowed by some nameless Heroic Spirit!
"Very well," Shokatsu Kōmei hesitated, but then fell silent.
He knew the emperor too well—an ego second to none, no less than that of the King of Heroes himself.
His word was law, and no one was allowed to object.
Delegating power to the people had only come after endless centuries of toil and burden.
Toil…
Wait a second, haven't I also been doing nothing but overtime, with zero vacations???
Shokatsu Kōmei froze mid-thought.
Ever since he'd been summoned as a Heroic Spirit, he had been working nonstop, handling every detail of the empire's massive internal affairs.
His only consolation was that, being a Heroic Spirit, he had infinite stamina and couldn't die of overwork—
Wait, is that even a consolation?
As the First Emperor issued his command—
A massive screen lit up, and the new Alaya video began to play.
[The Eternal Emperor.]
Obviously, anyone seeing that title would immediately associate it with the First Emperor.
The video began.
Mordred, who had been preparing to engage in serious diplomatic talks with Shokatsu Kōmei, was a bit surprised to see the emperor authorize a public screening.
Clearly, this emperor intended to show how different he was from her father.
Beside her, Gawain whispered, "This feels kind of familiar…"
"I feel it too…" Mordred muttered under her breath.
That damn Alaya probably held the blackmail material of every Heroic Spirit imaginable—enough to send shivers down anyone's spine.
Take The Oldest King, for example: it was basically a live-action soap opera about the King of Heroes and Nameless, full of bickering that somehow turned into brotherhood.
Then came Unlimited Blade Works, where that "dear friend" got his arm sliced clean off by Nameless.
And don't forget Vow Beneath the Snow—where the King of Heroes straight up turned into a busty girl.
Who knows how much more embarrassing stuff Alaya's still hiding?
Thankfully, this wasn't her black history.
If the emperor wanted to show it, hey, sure—watch away.
The video started.
A young, delicate-looking Shikotei appeared on-screen, and Mordred's expression turned… complicated.
She exchanged a glance with the ever-radiant Gawain. The mutual sympathy in their eyes was unmistakable.
It was happening.
Nameless had the power to walk through all of human history, visiting Heroic Spirits at their weakest points.
No matter how terrifying the First Emperor had become, he too had once been small.
And there he was: a sweet, baby-faced First Emperor, innocent and unknowing.
No surprise, then, what came next—
The historical scene of his escape from Handan in Zhao played out, with hundreds of cavalry surrounding him.
Just as he was about to fall, Nameless descended from the sky, saving Shikotei from certain death.
And then—of course—the classic scene:
Shikotei, without hesitation, begged to become Nameless's disciple and learn the art of the Emperor's Sword to bring peace to the realm.
From the corner of her eye, Mordred peeked at the First Emperor.
His once-confident and proud expression was starting to fade.
His brow furrowed ever so slightly—clearly, something was clicking. Doubt was beginning to creep in.
Meanwhile, across from him, Artoria also looked troubled, frowning faintly in concern.
Wait—was Father worried the Emperor would try to poach Nameless too?
Mordred felt her scalp tingle.
That would be the worst-case scenario.
This wasn't some petty rival. He was the leader of one of the world's two major superpowers, commanding over a hundred Heroic Spirits—a hopelessly strong contender!
There was no way they could win against that.
Worse still, their mission in Japan wasn't just to see Nameless. They were here to sign major agreements, whole business and alliance packages.
Getting into a rivalry over Nameless would derail everything.
…But no, that's overthinking it. The First Emperor's a guy. No way he's interested in that kind of thing, right?
Mordred let out a small sigh of relief.
And kept watching.
The video continued.
Nameless took action to save the young future First Emperor and personally escorted him all the way to Qin.
Outside the royal palace in Xianyang, Ying Zheng cupped his hands in salute:
"Descendant of Duke Xiang, the 26th generation of the Qin ancestors, grandson of Lord Anguo, and legitimate son of the new king—Ying Zheng returns from Handan. I humbly ask Father to allow this child to recognize his ancestors and return to the clan, so I may fulfill my filial duty and proper rites of kinship!"
"Granted!"
Born and raised in Zhao, the bloodline of Great Qin finally returned to its rightful country in that moment.
What followed—
Nameless began teaching Shikotei swordsmanship hand-in-hand, forging his own imperial sword.
Not just sword training, he also taught him various disciplines—culture, politics, military strategy, and more.
Despite insisting he wouldn't be a teacher, he became the most perfect teacher imaginable.
Artoria watched the video, lost in thought.
"Nameless… So that's why you were so skilled back then…"
When they first met, he had taught her in the exact same way.
He had guided her from a mere girl into a proper king.
This man, who swore he wouldn't be her teacher, nor her knight, had ended up being both—perfectly.
"So… you taught him first, huh?"
Artoria's brow furrowed slightly.
Earlier, when she saw the Jeanne d'Arc video, she paid no mind to the relationship between them.
After all, she existed a thousand years before Jeanne.
But now? The First Emperor was born 700 years earlier than she was!
No, no, he's a guy. It should be, maybe, possibly… unlikely that he'd steal Nameless from her...
She continued watching.
A critical turning point arrived.
After mourning for a year, the First Emperor's grandfather died just three days after ascending the throne.
And Shikotei's father also passed away only three years into his reign.
Before dying, his father appointed Lü Buwei as the chancellor, entrusting him to assist his young son.
Thus, at only 13 years old, Shikotei became the new King of Qin.
...
Under the curious gaze of countless onlookers.
The young and inexperienced King of Qin sat on the throne, filled with unease.
Once everyone else had left—
Nameless stood before him and smiled, asking, "How do you feel?"
"Sigh… Teacher, no one in the grand hall cares about me. Everyone just sees me as a little brat." Shikotei sighed lightly.
He had just been crowned king but held no authority. Everyone only listened to Lü Buwei, the regent.
To them, he was clearly just a puppet.
"That's normal."
Nameless took a step forward. He wanted to pat the boy's head, but remembering he was now king, stopped just above his head.
However—
To his surprise, Shikotei tilted his head and nuzzled into his hand on his own!
"..."
Shokatsu Kōmei saw this and fell silent, lowering his head.
It's over.
This is a total disaster.
They were trying to show the majestic, unbeatable might of the First Emperor to Britain—but this?
This was a public humiliation!
Was this really the awe-inspiring Emperor?
He looked more like an adorable kitten!
Mordred also stared in shock, glancing back and forth between the screen and the emotionless First Emperor.
Did Alaya mess up or something?
No way!
The emperor with a stick stuck up his ass… how could he be this cute?!
Inside the conference hall—
Everyone wisely chose to remain silent, terrified of angering the Emperor.
Amid this bizarre atmosphere, the video continued playing.
Nameless paused for a moment, then placed his hand gently on the young king's head and smiled.
"Shikotei, if you wish to become a true king—one worthy to be remembered for ages to come—there's only one thing you must remember."
"Please guide me, Teacher," Shikotei bowed with solemn respect.
Nameless replied in a calm, clear voice,
"Uphold what is right. Protect your people. Preserve wisdom. And create peace that endures beyond your lifetime."
"Teacher… could you explain further?"
Shikotei looked up, eyes filled with the hope of a boundless future.
"The world may seem indifferent, but people are not. To uphold what is right means standing for justice when no one else will. To act not by fate or tradition, but by conscience.
To protect your people means building a nation where they feel safe, where they can live without fear.
To preserve wisdom means learning from the past—and ensuring the knowledge of the wise continues to shape the future.
And finally, to bring peace is not to conquer, but to guide. A peace that doesn't end with you, but lasts for generations to come."
With this brief explanation—
Shikotei fell silent, lost in thought.
"…Teacher, I understand now."
The confusion clouding his heart lifted. For the first time, his path was clear.
He looked up and smiled—genuine, unburdened.
"Teacher, you might not know this, but I never truly wanted to be King of Qin."
He had been a political hostage in a foreign land—powerless, forgotten. His only dream had been to go home.
Even when he chose to follow Nameless, even when he began training in the way of kingship and the sword… he had hesitated.
Even when the throne was his, his heart still wandered.
But now—he knew what he had to do.
"Speak," Nameless said, smiling calmly.
Shikotei straightened his back. His voice rang out—steady, resolute:
"In this world, the powerful live above all rules, untouched by justice. I will change that—I will stand for what is right, and hold the wicked accountable.
Famine spreads. People die in the streets. No one hears their cries. I will build a nation where life is protected, and no one is abandoned.
The wise argue, the philosophers bicker, and no one listens. I will preserve true wisdom—not to divide, but to unite.
For centuries, war has torn this land apart. Kingdoms rise and fall, but the suffering never ends. I will bring peace—not for a moment, but for generations."
He raised his head. His voice softened, but his eyes burned with fire.
"Teacher, will you walk this path with me—this path to build an era where people can live without fear, without hunger, and without war?"
His body trembled slightly. He knew the weight of his vow.
But he did not look away.
Then—
Nameless smiled.
And slowly, deeply, he returned the bow.
"The road is long," he said, "but I will walk it with you, Shikotei."
...
Meanwhile, at the dinner table—
Gilgamesh leisurely dipped a slice of beef into the hotpot, gaze flicking toward the screen.
To reshape the world's values. To protect the people. To preserve true wisdom. To build peace that lasts beyond lifetimes.
Even saying it was already nearly impossible.
And yet… someone had the resolve to try.
"So, uh, why are you crashing at my place and freeloading food again?" Sanjiro rolled his eyes.
He had been enjoying hotpot alone when this guy suddenly dropped by, acting like he owned the place.
"Don't forget—you still owe this king 220 million. What's wrong with eating one of your meals? I didn't seize your house, did I? Count yourself lucky I value our friendship!"
Gilgamesh cast a sideways glance, stealing a beef slice from Sanjiro's plate.
Hmm, delicious.
As expected, someone else's food tastes better!
"..."
Sanjiro was speechless.
Couldn't you at least act like a high-and-mighty King of Heroes?
What's with this friendly neighborhood Fuyuki citizen look?
Sanjiro felt Fuyuki City was becoming unlivable. He might need to pack up the kid and flee overnight.
He turned to look at the LCD screen again.
That stirring dialogue brought back memories of the past.
Time and fate... The young boy had finally taken the path to become the First Emperor.
"I didn't think… you'd have that kind of relationship with that Emperor. So why do you treat this king like crap?"
Gilgamesh stared coldly at him.
Compared to the other Heroic Spirits, he had gotten the worst treatment.
"Oh don't worry—Alaya should release a video about you soon. Once it airs, all the fans you lost in Unlimited Blade Works will come crawling back!"
Sanjiro cheerfully passed him another slice of beef.
"Really??"
Gilgamesh didn't believe a word.
Back when Sanjiro said he'd never show up in Vow Beneath the Snow, what happened?
They introduced his female counterpart—Angelica, the genderbent King of Heroes!
"Of course it's true! If I'm lying, you can stab me with Ea!"
Sanjiro didn't hesitate at all.
That timeline was when Gilgamesh became peak fan-favorite.
"…Fine then. This king will temporarily trust you, scoundrel."
Gilgamesh looked at him with visible disdain.
His crimson eyes filled with absolute skepticism.
If his dark history really got exposed again—well, he he would really thorw hands with this bastard this time!
The two of them continued eating hotpot while watching the video.
On screen—
The scene changed.
After the Shikotei ascended the throne, he gradually gained more power with age.
His younger brother, Cheng Jiao, who once contested for the throne, led a massive army to attack the Zhao Kingdom—only to rebel midway!
Shikotei personally led the army to suppress the rebellion.
Then—
Cheng Jiao, who was supposed to be a human, suddenly transformed into a pitch-black, terrifying monster.
He had a serpent's body, deer antlers, cow ears, goat's beard, eagle talons, fish scales…
He had clearly become a scaled dragon in the midst of a powerful metamorphosis!
Soaring through the skies, he stirred up an apocalyptic storm that made the soldiers tremble in fear.
"Ying Zheng! Your end has come—I shall be the one to rule Qin!" Cheng Jiao roared maniacally.
With divine aid, he had shed his mortal shell and turned into a scaled dragon, about to become a true dragon on par with the gods.
At that point, the whole world would be within his grasp.
"Shikotei, ever since the War of Deification, the gods have vanished from the world, but fragments of their divine power remain. They still long to rule the mortal realm."
Namless raised his head and sighed. "Your brother was chosen by the gods to be a piece in their game—a pawn meant to stop your unification of the world, so they can continue to control it."
That was easy enough to understand.
On the other side of the world, in Britain, the Vile King Vortigern played a similar role.
As the Age of Gods faded, the deities refused to vanish quietly, doing everything they could to remain.
And Cheng Jiao—he was a pawn chosen by them.
Shikotei laughed loudly. "Haha! It just so happens that my Sword requires divine beings for tempering. Let him be my test subject!"
His eyes showed no fear—only boundless confidence.
With his will replacing Heaven's will—he would enact Heaven's punishment.
"As you wish." Nameless smiled faintly.
At that moment, Cheng Jiao swung his claws, unleashing a terrifying storm.
The skies turned black as ink, like the end of the world was upon them.
Torrential floods surged forth, and the tens of thousands of soldiers were gripped by terror—some couldn't help but flee in panic.
But Nameless stepped forward, blocking the oncoming tide.
Magic surged in his hands, and a familiar weapon was projected into view—it was—
[Sulsagana, the Horizon of Dawn That Burns All Seas]!
Also known as the Sea-Splitting Sword.
Even if it was just a projected shell, it was powerful enough to go toe-to-toe with a scaled dragon.
With a single slash, the massive flood evaporated instantly, and even the storm clouds were scattered.
Sunlight once again bathed the earth.
Then—
Golden chains materialized around him and shot toward the enemy.
[Enkidu, Chains of Heaven]
Cheng Jiao, who had only just acquired partial divinity, was easily restrained by these chains designed to bind the divine.
"ROAR!"
He thrashed and struggled, trying to break free—
But it was all in vain.
"Shikotei, he's all yours now." Nameless smiled.
"Thank you for your help, sir."
Shikotei stepped forward, holding a mysterious sword.
One side of the blade was etched with stars, mountains, rivers, lakes; the other, with cities, villages, characters, and people.
It was the Heavenly Sword that could bring peace to the world.
Shikotei named it—
[Sword of Inquiry to Heaven]
As the Son of Heaven, he questioned Heaven's will with this blade.
The sword descended—carrying the will of the entire Qin Kingdom.
The mysterious power cloaking Cheng Jiao was utterly unable to resist—it was cleanly severed in a single strike.
The massive dragon head crashed to the ground with a thunderous boom.
All the soldiers stared at the young Emperor with fanatical expressions.
In that moment, they finally saw him as the true king!
…
Nameless stood silently to the side, watching.
Everything was proceeding according to his plan. Killing a half-formed scaled dragon was nothing.
What came next was the true core of the plan!
Right after slaying Cheng Jiao's dragon form, Shikotei suddenly pointed his sword at Chancellor Lü Buwei, who had accompanied the army.
Everyone was stunned.
Shikotei, riding the wave of momentum from slaying the Jiao, shouted fiercely at the Chancellor:
"Lü Buwei, do you know your crime?!"
"My King… what crime have I committed?" Lü Buwei looked at him in shock.
Weren't they supposed to defeat Cheng Jiao and then let him manage this region as his reward?
Why the sudden turn?
The thing is—
Even with Sanjiro's help, the whole Qin administration was his. How could the boy possibly challenge him?
Lü Buwei's expression was shocked, but deep down, he sneered.
He had his own powerful figure behind him. No need to be afraid.
"Father entrusted you with great responsibility. Made you my Chancellor. Hoped you would help me govern the kingdom. But instead, you corrupted the court, monopolized power, and turned Qin into your one-man show!"
Shikotei growled, "You had an affair with my mother, the Queen! You murdered my father and tried to make yourself the true ruler!"
As his voice rang out—
All the soldiers were stunned.
They had come to put down a rebellion—why were they suddenly targeting the Chancellor?
Generals and officials alike looked bewildered, not knowing whom to stand behind.
Lü Buwei snorted,
"My King, such accusations need proof! I've always been loyal and diligent, never once failed the late King's trust. As for adultery, that's slander! I haven't set foot in the palace, much less seen the Queen privately!"
Internally, he sighed a bit.
Shikotei really had grown up—he couldn't keep hiding the truth anymore.
Thankfully, he had prepared for this long ago.
After his own affair with the Queen, he had sent the fake eunuch Lao Ai to satisfy her needs, distancing himself from future consequences.
If worst came to worst, he could throw Lao Ai under the bus.
All part of the plan.
"Hmph… Lü Buwei, you think I don't know you sent Lao Ai into the harem pretending to be a eunuch?"
Shikotei raised his sword and pointed at him.
"Farewell, Chancellor—farewell, to the shameful past of mine!"
=================
Anyone still alive and kicking? No? Okay.