"Lord Guard, this is the mask you entrusted to me before the battle! I protected it closely, just as you asked!"
The intelligence officer, with a mix of excitement and reverence, handed the mask to Lin Qi with both hands.
This mask was, of course, the one Nero had crafted for Lin Qi. Knowing the likely high intensity of this battle, Lin Qi had chosen not to wear it into combat.
After all, this mask was merely a beautiful handicraft, not a Noble Phantasm. If he wore it and it got shattered, Lin Qi would have nowhere to even cry about it.
"Thank you... Speaking of which, why does it feel like your attitude towards me has become more distant?"
Lin Qi took the mask and asked hesitantly.
Being quite sensitive, he could still perceive subtle shifts in others' attitudes.
"Look at what you're saying! Not just me, none of the soldiers fail to respect you now."
"You are one who has followed His Majesty the Emperor across multiple battlefields! And just now, I saw you standing on that giant tree and ending the battle in an instant!"
"And that Roman-style attack falling from the sky! Just thinking about it makes my heart surge with excitement!"
"If I could have a chance to do something like that just once, I'd be willing to die on the spot!!"
As he spoke, the intelligence officer's face suddenly filled with yearning and excitement.
"Ahaha... Well, your eyesight is quite good then, to see it so clearly from such a great distance..."
Feeling the intelligence officer's emotions were a bit too intense, Lin Qi laughed awkwardly.
"Hehe, I've had good eyesight since I was a kid. And actually, I wasn't that far away before."
The intelligence officer chuckled goofily, then said something shocking.
"When the other brothers were busy running for their lives, a few brothers and I discussed it and actually moved closer to your battle position."
"Let me tell you, that blast of shockwave and vibration hitting us in the face really packed a punch!"
"My brothers and I were prepared, but we still got sent tumbling on the ground several times!"
While speaking, the intelligence officer vividly demonstrated his actions from that time.
You don't belong in this kind of scene; you and your brothers should find a place with Magnetic Power to hang out.
Lin Qi facepalmed, speechless, and could only give him a thumbs-up.
With his behavior, perhaps Lin Qi should have entrusted the mask to a more suitable person.
Why?
With his antics, Lin Qi wouldn't be surprised if he died anywhere. Getting the mask back would be another matter altogether.
...
Due to Romulus's departure, the Roman soldiers who had been "charmed" by his charismatic leadership gradually felt their intelligent IQs returning to occupy the high ground once more.
Especially after the colossal tree fell, they all sobered up and wisely chose to surrender, returning to Nero's banner.
After all, the emperors of the United Roman Empire were gone. If they stubbornly held out now, they'd just be utter fools, wouldn't they?
Therefore, it probably wouldn't be long before Nero fully regained the prestige befitting a Roman Emperor.
Since the matter was settled, and not wanting to be the last to leave yet again, Lin Qi initiated the return procedure on his "watch" after retrieving the mask.
In about three minutes, he would be directly recalled to Chaldea.
At this moment, a golden light began to shimmer over the forms of Boudica and Lu Bu, who were still present.
"...Boudica? Are you... leaving?"
Noticing the anomaly, Nero, though she had expected it, couldn't help but feel dejected.
"Of course. We were just summoned here. Since what needed to be done is finished, it's natural for us to leave."
"What? Could it be that His Majesty Nero is reluctant to see me go?"
Boudica said with a smile.
"Who says that! It's just... you haven't forgotten our agreement, have you? We agreed that after the war ended, if you were defeated, you would join my ranks!"
Nero's face flushed red as she vehemently refuted.
"Ah, Nero, you really are naive. That kind of agreement is only valid if both parties are alive, right?"
"I am now thoroughly and completely dead, you know!"
Boudica was remarkably cheerful for someone who had died once.
As for why she called Nero naive? Well, it was because Nero truly was a naive person.
As a Servant, Boudica possessed all the knowledge she should have, especially being well-versed in both Nero's story and her own. She naturally knew about the end that Nero met, which was caused in no small part by her naivety.
After being summoned and making inquiries from various sources, she came to understand that the suffering she endured due to Rome's invasion wasn't actually Nero's intention, but rather the doing of subordinates who acted without her knowledge. This gave her an even deeper understanding of Nero's naivety.
Most of her resentment and hatred towards Nero had subsequently dissipated.
After rendering Nero speechless, Boudica turned to look at Lin Qi with a satisfied expression.
"It's a pity I arrived a bit too late. I didn't get much chance to chat with you, little Master."
"But since it's come to this, it's time to say goodbye, little Master!"
As a motherly-type Servant, Boudica truly felt a surge of maternal affection towards Lin Qi. If she hadn't arrived so late, she would definitely have pulled Lin Qi aside by a fireside to care for him properly.
Even though partings were always hard to get used to, Lin Qi still smiled and nodded, saying:
"Yeah, see you again if fate allows."
"Pshhh——"
A jet of white steam suddenly erupted from Lu Bu nearby, drawing everyone's attention.
"Umu, General Lu Bu seems quite dissatisfied with his own performance, doesn't he?"
"After all, this entire war is over, and it seems he only managed to defeat one enemy Servant together with Spartacus, never really getting a proper chance to shine."
Lu Bu crossed his arms, looking thoroughly displeased. Both Nero and Lin Qi, who could somewhat grasp his feelings, couldn't help but laugh.
But no matter how dissatisfied he was, the story of the Second Singularity had concluded.
So, within seconds, both of them turned into particles of light and vanished before everyone's eyes.
Only Lin Qi and Nero remained, facing each other.
A sudden silence fell between them.
They each held a significant place in the other's heart, making the parting especially painful.
Several seconds of silence passed.
It was Nero, full of reluctance, who spoke first.
"...So, Maestro, you must leave as well?"
Looking into Nero's eyes, which shimmered like rippling spring water, and her slightly trembling eyelashes,
Lin Qi let out a breath. He wanted to meet Nero's gaze directly but found himself unable to, averting his eyes instead.
He could only scratch his head, glance at the "watch" on his wrist, and pretend to be unreserved as he said:
"Yeah... about one minute left before I go..."
Although he was looking at the "watch," this watch didn't have a countdown function. Lin Qi usually kept track mentally.
"Your Majesty, don't blame me for leaving in a hurry, okay?"
Having said that, Lin Qi tried to lighten the mood with a joke.
"Umu, does Maestro truly see me as so unreasonable?"
Nero put her hands on her hips, pretending to be angry.
But she broke character halfway through, her hands dropping from her hips and her expression softening into acceptance.
"...Maestro must still have a long journey ahead, right? Having embarked on this path, you must have resolved yourself with unimaginable determination."
"In that case, how could I, as your monarch, cling to your hand and not let go at a time like this?"
Wouldn't that be too selfish?
Nero smiled and stepped back, creating space between them.
"So, goodbye, my most beloved subject."
"May the victories on your future journey be as splendid as blooming roses!"
Looking at the girl bathed in the twilight sun, holding up her skirts, smiling brilliantly,
Lin Qi suddenly felt a lump in his throat.
He wasn't afraid of pain, but he could never quite adapt to goodbyes. No matter how many times, he couldn't control his emotions.
But since His Majesty the Emperor was seeing him off with a smile, he should say goodbye with a smile too.
"Ah, goodbye, my most beloved Emperor."
As soon as the words fell,
The smiling youth vanished from Nero's sight as if he had never been there.
Nero's smile gradually faded, and the hand holding her skirt slowly loosened its grip.
Staring at the spot where the youth had just stood, she murmured to herself:
"Maestro, may you soon become aware of your true power. Only by igniting that flame will your future journey be less fraught with suffering..."
It was a pity this power hadn't fully matured yet; she couldn't explain it to Lin Qi in advance.
Otherwise, she would certainly have taken great care to enlighten him.
———————
——Chaldea——
"Pshhh——"
Accompanied by the sound of the chamber opening, Lin Qi slowly stepped out of the Rayshift coffin.
Returning to a truly safe zone, Lin Qi's whole demeanor slumped like a corporate drone returning from work, his body suddenly giving way.
"My waist and chest hurt like hell, probably something's broken or whatever..."
"My wrist hurts a bit too. I should go to the medical room for a check-up first..."
Lin Qi clutched his waist, muttering to himself.
With every step he took, the sound of his soles hitting the floor echoed incessantly through the long corridor.
Lin Qi had long since grown accustomed to this.
The medical room was located close to the combat simulator, seemingly to facilitate better treatment for Masters injured during simulated battles.
Thus, every time Lin Qi went to the medical room, he could see the combat simulator.
But for Lin Qi, the simulator that had helped him through his novice phase felt somewhat redundant now.
It was like a tasteless piece of meat—one hated to throw it away, but swallowing it was unsatisfying.
Kung fu wasn't something that could be mastered in a single day, and Lin Qi had long since concluded his own natural talent was, at best, average. Even if he trained until the Human Order was completely incinerated, his direct combat prowess would probably never match that of a normal Servant, right?
Besides, the developers of the combat simulator knew this themselves. Its primary function was more to train a Master's command ability.
Unfortunately, Lin Qi's aptitude in that area wasn't outstanding either.
"Heh."
Letting out a self-deprecating laugh, Lin Qi leaned against the wall and walked into the medical room.
...
Skill Acquired:
[Natural Body (C)]
Skill Upgraded:
[Magic Resistance (C)] → [Magic Resistance (B)]
Noble Phantasm Upgraded:
[Thus Is My Heart (C)] → [Thus Is My Heart (B)]
—