Good lord—how did you get here before even the original Ahoge King?
That tone—don't tell me you're actually jealous of the treatment I gave her?
Sanjiro stood there, utterly baffled.
Ever since Alaya released the video, fully exposing everything he had done in the Sixth Singularity, he had been on edge—dreading that the full wrath of the Round Table Knights would come crashing down on him.
After all, poor Tristan and Gawain had both been taken down by his own hands.
And to twist the knife even further, he had always added one last remark—something soul-crushing and unforgettable—just before delivering the final blow.
Even if they were just Servants, once the video aired publicly, it was guaranteed to stir up lingering memories from their spirit origins.
Who knows? They might all team up and come knocking at his door any minute now.
And then there was Artoria.
In that singularity, Sanjiro had undeniably gone full legendary—singlehandedly restoring her humanity with divine flair.
He had used the Grand Assassin King Hassan's signature divine-severing technique, learned through countless timelines, and sliced the Lion King's divine authority clean off—reducing a true god to a mere half-divine, pseudo-god entity.
Of course, that wasn't even King Hassan's full power.
If he'd been willing to burn away his own Saint Graph and go all in, even one of the Beasts of Humanity wouldn't have survived his strongest blade.
But even without going that far, after summoning versions of himself from various timelines and assuming his "Steel-Willed Savior" form, Sanjiro had successfully cut the Lion King down from her divine pedestal and brought her back to humanity.
Then, he even gave her back [Avalon], returning her heart and allowing her to once again descend into the world in her white-lanced form.
If he hadn't done that, the divine Lion King would've continued seeing humanity as nothing more than collectible figurines.
Letting her "protect" Britain?
Well… if even a few hundred survived out of several million, that would've been considered merciful.
But now—the Singularity had been successfully repaired.
And the world? Safe… for now.
Sanjiro originally thought that no one had seen what he did, and that he could simply act all cool and dramatic, then slip away unscathed.
He never imagined… Alaya would actually release the video and expose everything he had done!
Damn you, Alaya!
So tell him this—
Why hadn't Artoria or Mordred shown up yet, but this golden bastard did?
Was the oldest Hero in existence actually jealous of the treatment he gave to Ahoge King?
You're not even a girl! What the hell are you being jealous for?!
Sanjiro took a deep breath, then cautiously responded,
"Back then, you were planning to unleash [All the World's Evils] from the Holy Grail to cleanse the world, so I had to act—"
"However," Gilgamesh interrupted, lounging on the sofa while swirling a wine glass casually, "even if this king had released [All the World's Evils], it would've only destroyed part of humanity. Many would still have survived. But the divine Lion King—she would have wiped out all of humanity, leaving only five hundred alive."
"…Er."
Sanjiro was momentarily speechless. After a pause, he muttered, "But if I didn't fight you, you would've killed me first!"
Clearly, this golden guy was still bitter about getting his arm sliced off and his heart ripped out during their last fight, and had specifically called just to settle the score.
He had to handle this carefully.
After all, this guy was the very definition of chaotic amusement—if he ever sold his's info to Jeanne or Artoria out of spite, he'd be done.
"The divine Lion King wanted you dead even more."
Gilgamesh took another slow sip of his drink, his tone still cold and indifferent.
That divine Lion King… never cared about human life in the first place.
To collect a mere 500 "human figurines," she was willing to sacrifice the entire world.
Sanjiro cleared his throat.
"Ahem… At the time, we didn't even know each other. And you were about to rip Illya's heart out—"
"So my dearest friend, you chose to rip out my heart first?"
Gilgamesh's voice was gradually growing colder.
"Ahem, it was combat, right? Life-or-death. There's no right or wrong in battle. And besides, you were just a Servant—it's not like you died permanently or anything."
Sanjiro's tone grew weaker. "The Lion King, though… she was her actual body. If she died, she'd be truly dead. That's why I saved her instead of killing her…"
After the Battle on the Hill of Camlann…
The Lion King, having been infected by the Holy Lance, had lived for 1,500 years.
She had summoned the entire Round Table as her Servants and founded the Holy Capital of Camelot in a single night within the desert.
If she died in that form, she wouldn't reincarnate as the White Lance Artoria—she'd be gone for good.
So after fixing the Singularity, Sanjiro had severed her divinity, reducing her to a human and returning her heart—thus giving birth to White Lance Artoria once more.
"…Heh. This king thinks it was purely because she was a girl."
Gilgamesh looked at him with increasing contempt.
So much for "oldest and dearest friend"—the moment a pretty girl showed up, Sanjiro stabbed him twice!
"I swear, there's a future Singularity that'll make you so popular, you'll gain fans by the millions!" Sanjiro quickly promised, sensing Gilgamesh's rising displeasure.
Whatever it took—first calm him down.
Once that Singularity got published, Gilgamesh's tragic loss of fans from Unlimited Blade Works would be completely reversed.
"…Very well. This king shall wait and see. But if it's just more of the same—don't blame me if I sell your info to every single Heroic Spirit in existence."
Gilgamesh's voice was brimming with undisguised menace.
"C'mon, we're bros! Look at my innocent eyes—do I look like someone who'd backstab you?"
Damn it, Gil! You're not even a girl—why are you being so extra right now?
…Or maybe—
Are best bros supposed to be closer than any romantic relationship?
"Exactly. 'A brother who takes a knife for you… is nothing compared to the one who stabs you for a girl.'"
Gilgamesh sneered.
"…My phone's at 98% battery. I need to go charge it. Catch you later." Sanjiro didn't hesitate to make up an excuse.
If this conversation continued, who knew if Gilgamesh would just teleport over and kill him on the spot?
"Fine. This king looks forward to the show."
Gil casually hung up.
He leaned back into the sofa, slowly swirling his wine glass.
"Tomorrow's New Year. Should I drop by to visit my dear friend?"
But first—
The new exposure video was far more interesting.
Now that it was out, the internet was boiling.
The so-called "Perfect King" was shown to be a potential destroyer of mankind—more terrifying than anything Gil had done in Unlimited Blade Works.
Now then, let's sit back and watch Britain's glorious shame unfold.
Such amusement… truly brings this king joy!
==========================
Chaldea.
The video had ended.
The trio sat in heavy silence.
For a long time…
The ever-resourceful Da Vinci finally let out a soft sigh. "No wonder Alaya chose Nameless. He really does only want to save others, never himself…"
The more they watched the videos, the more their hearts ached.
He was clearly still just a teenage boy—and yet from the very beginning, he'd been protecting others.
In the Singularity, when he activated [Unlimited Blade Works], the Lion King had asked why he did it—why he turned it into a one-on-one battle.
He had replied with a simple sentence:
"Because I don't want anyone else to get hurt. Let me face you alone."
It sounded so natural.
But to face a god alone just to protect others—wasn't that the very definition of true heroism?
He claimed he didn't want to be a "hero of justice," but no one had ever embodied it more perfectly.
Not that Kiritsugu.
Not the pragmatic Julian.
None could compare.
Da Vinci turned toward the shut-in beside her, suspicious:
"So, what's your real identity? How could you assist me in creating summoning cards bordering on Second Magic?"
The Second Magic allowed connection to countless parallel worlds, drawing mana from infinite realities.
And Nameless had clearly achieved something near that level when using those cards.
…Though that might've been with Alaya's help.
That entity was the original Archer Fanboy.
"I-I'm just an ordinary shut-in otaku…" Dr. Roman answered meekly.
He looked down at the strange ring on his finger.
After watching the video, he was more confused than ever.
He felt like his memories were sealed away.
That looming doomsday he vaguely sensed… might very well be the [Beast of Humanity], Goetia.
But what did that have to do with him?
"An ordinary otaku, huh?" Da Vinci's smile was sharp. "By the way, Nameless once said he'd help you find a wife. Did he ever succeed?"
"Uh, probably not…"
Roman looked embarrassed.
He was just a guy who liked virtual idol Magical☆Merry. Who'd like him?
Still… why did the thought of some dark-skinned girl suddenly make his kidneys ache with anxiety, even though he couldn't remember her face?
Da Vinci turned to the usually cheerful kouhai.
"Mash, did something come back to you?"
"…A lot of things."
Mash lowered her head. Tears streamed down her usually bright face.
She remembered everything about her senpai.
All the bonds they had shared across countless worlds—fighting side by side, protecting humanity together.
But why had she forgotten?
Had the world truly reset… forcing everyone to forget him?
At that moment, she remembered it clearly:
The day she met a normal high school boy at a local market in Fuyuki City.
She had instinctively called him "Senpai."
Could it really be the same person?
That boy's name was "Sanjiro"—same pronunciation as Shirou.
He even went to the same school she was preparing to attend.
Everything felt too perfect to be coincidence.
She decided—
When the time came, she'd get closer to him… and confirm the truth for herself.
Da Vinci grinned mischievously again: "So Mash, the video kinda revealed that Lancelot is your dad. What now?"
Previously, Galahad had passed all of his Heroic Spirit data to Mash—making her practically his child.
"I will never forgive that man!" Mash answered without hesitation.
"…Not even a little?" Roman asked weakly.
She barely had any family, after all. Just the few people around her.
"Never! Even if he begs on his knees, I will not forgive him!"
Mash's voice was unshakable.
After all, Lancelot's affair with Queen Guinevere was the spark that destroyed the entire Round Table.
And in the Singularity, he had knowingly supported the Lion King's twisted actions.
Even if he came groveling with every apology imaginable, she would never forgive him!
================
Meanwhile.
Fuyuki City.
Once a member of the Round Table—
No, formerly a knight of the Round Table—
Lancelot now aligned himself with his homeland, France.
Let's not forget—he had stolen Guinevere away, effectively destroying Camelot with his own hands.
There was no way he had the face to stay in Britain after that.
Even when Artoria had recently offered him a handshake and reconciliation—it was nothing more than a performance.
The Round Table Knights… not a single one of them had a kind look for him.
If putting it aptly, the Knights hate him.
"Damn you, Alaya! You actually played that publicly!!"
Lancelot felt like a dagger had stabbed straight into his chest.
It was infuriating.
Everyone was supposed to forget about it all, not dwell on it further, and yet Alaya had released an exposure video, forcing everyone to relive the Round Table's darkest history.
His affair with Queen Guinevere—the scandal that brought down the entire Round Table—had now been broadcasted to the whole world.
Lancelot could no longer imagine how much the people of Britain must hate him now.
He could probably forget about ever returning to the Round Table for the rest of his life!
Just then, a ridiculously cute pink-haired knight came bouncing over, someone whose face alone made others want to "top the pretty boy" on sight.
Astolfo pointed at the screen, which showed a similarly pink-haired girl, and patted Lancelot on the shoulder.
"But hey, you do know that Mash is your daughter, right?"
"Oh, right—my daughter!"
Lancelot's eyes lit up instantly.
Instead of that rebellious son who loved smashing him with the dinner table, now he had a soft and adorable daughter?
That was absolutely a win!
He couldn't help rubbing his hands excitedly. "My daughter… how can Daddy finally reunite with you?" (Bruh said it in a disturbing way XD)
Mash was currently attending school in Fuyuki as part of Chaldea's group.
So close—within arm's reach!
"Don't even think about it. Mash definitely hates you and will never acknowledge you as her dad!" Astolfo blinked innocently with huge, sparkly eyes.
"Could you not say that?!"
Lancelot felt like tearing this kid apart.
This guy had the most troll-like skill ever—
[Madness Enhancement: Turn off Sanity].
His rationality had already evaporated. He just said whatever came to mind without any filter—basically cursed with zero secrets.
Worst of all, his words were often true thanks to his near-prophetic Instinct!
Astolfo grinned.
"Since it's almost New Year, how about you dress up in something festive, bring a gift, and go visit her? Maybe she'll forgive you!"
"Festive clothes?!"
Lancelot's eyes gleamed with hope.
Given how accurate Astolfo's Instinct usually was, maybe he should follow it this time.
If his adorable daughter really forgave him and called him "Dad" in her cute little voice… he could die without regrets!
For the sake of my daughter—I could even defeat the Lion King!
====================
Meanwhile, in Britain.
In London, Tristan stared at the screen with undisguised rage.
Alaya's exposure video was playing.
As a proud Knight of the Round Table, he had been completely reduced to a stepping stone to highlight Nameless's overwhelming power.
That bastard had toyed with him like a child playing with a puppet—mocking him at every turn.
And after killing him, even left this parting insult:
"Tristan, quit pretending to be some gloomy poet!"
Getting killed he could tolerate—but this? He absolutely could not!
He had always loved music and singing. He was known as the "Knight of Lamentation" and was so beautiful that even fairies swooned at his looks.
Clenching his Noble Phantasm, [Failnaught], he gnashed his teeth. "Damn you, Nameless! If I ever find you, I'll—!"
"You were killed by him," Agravain calmly reminded him from the side.
"That was a sneak attack! That doesn't count as a fair loss!" Tristan immediately defended himself.
"But you were killed by him. Everyone saw it," Agravain said flatly.
"…You really are insufferable!"
Tristan almost wanted to punch him instead.
Can't you at least try to say something nice?!
No wonder every knight hated this guy—just opening his mouth made people want to throttle him.
Agravain turned his attention to another knight. "You… surprised me."
This knight had such beautiful features it was difficult to tell his gender, and his demeanor was so gentle he felt like an older sister.
It was none other than Artoria's beloved "little cotton jacket"—Bedivere.
He was one of the original members of the Round Table, and the only one who had been a mere mortal.
Compared to the others, he was far weaker.
Agravain had never understood how he had qualified to become a Heroic Spirit.
But after watching the video, he finally understood everything.
Perhaps it was precisely what Bedivere did in that Singularity that qualified him to be a Heroic Spirit. Even Agravain had to admit—he was the perfect Round Table knight.
"I… only wanted to atone," Bedivere said, exhaling deeply.
The video had restored all his memories.
He had been staring at the screen in a daze ever since.
If he had only returned the Holy Sword when he was supposed to—not once, not twice, but three times—then the King wouldn't have walked down the path of world destruction.
Nameless wouldn't have had to fight so desperately either.
Everyone else praised him—but he himself could never forgive what he had done.
Tristan patted his shoulder.
"Bedivere, you've already done more than enough. The King and Nameless both praised you. Stop blaming yourself."
"…This time, if the King is cursed by the world, I'll take all the blame. This is all my fault." Bedivere looked at the online storm of hatred directed at the Lion King, filled with sorrow.
He had just wanted the King to be happy.
Even if it meant abandoning his duty to protect Britain.
The King was just an ordinary girl, too.
She deserved to marry the knight who had always stood by her side.
============
Fuyuki City.
At the international summit.
Shikotei struggled to suppress his laughter, but the corners of his mouth still curved up uncontrollably.
This was simply delightful.
To think that the so-called "Perfect King" had such outrageous skeletons in her closet—scandalous black history of the highest order.
Alaya, you did brilliantly!
After the video finished airing, the once-proud Britons now looked like they were having existential crises.
Looks like when he went to visit Teacher's home for New Year's tomorrow, he'd definitely have to bring this up.
Shokatsu Kōmei fanned himself calmly, trying to hide his grin.
He now had the timing, location, and public sentiment—the perfect trifecta!
Alaya's video had exposed the ugly truths of Artoria and the Round Table, completely stripping away their mystique.
It was like a slap across the face.
They were bound to be completely on the back foot during the summit.
Shokatsu Kōmei was already calculating how he should… oh no, warmly and courteously entertain these guests from Britain.
They were totally not planning to extort—
Wait, no. Just a tiny bit more, maybe!
Perhaps they could go so far as to demand Britain's entire high-tech industry?
Or maybe… marry Artoria or Mordred to the imperial teacher as a political alliance?
Yes, that way, it wouldn't be theft—
It would be a generous gift from their side.
==============
Meanwhile.
The Britons who watched the video had all gone silent.
Especially Gawain, who was trembling all over. "Damn you, Nameless! I will never forgive you!"
That bastard had learned Assassin techniques from King Hassan and ambushed him like a coward.
But the ambush wasn't even the worst part.
It was the taunts.
"You're only good at making terrible mashed potatoes!"
"Sir Gawain, did you eat so much mashed potatoes your brain turned to mush?"
"Gawain, you really did become stupid from all that mashed potatoes."
To kill him was one thing—but to mock his pride?
That was too much.
Mashed potatoes were his most treasured dish.
Even Artoria used to eat them all the time!
Veins popped on Gawain's hand as he clenched his fists. "Damn Nameless… once I find you, I'll make you eat mashed potatoes every day, every meal, five times a day!"
The mighty Sun Knight made no effort to hide his murderous rage.
Just then—
He felt an icy killing intent directed straight at him.
The face that looked identical to the King's was glaring at him intensely. "Gawain, all those times you made me eat mashed potatoes—you really were trying to sabotage me!"
Mordred was fuming after watching the video.
If this hadn't been an official summit, she would've already drawn her "Dad-Slaying Sword."
This damn Sun Knight had lied to her over and over, claiming that eating more mashed potatoes would help her grow a "big human heart" like her father.
In the end—it was all lies!
"Come on now! I'm the Sun Knight, the symbol of fairness and justice!" Gawain laughed nervously.
It wasn't like he was the only one who lied to her.
Tristan, Agravain… pretty much all of them did.
Except Bedivere—the only true perfect knight of the Round Table.
The rest? Yeah, they all scammed her.
"Just you wait!"
Mordred decided—for now—to let him off the hook.
She was fuming as she stared at the video.
This video thoroughly exposed her black history as well.
A proud Knight of the Round Table… yet she had been openly toyed with by that damn Nameless.
He had promised that once they defeated the Lion King, he would take her with him—yet in the end, he still left her behind.
Mordred couldn't help but grit her teeth.
That bastard Nameless—once she found him, she was going to bite him at least a few times first!
But for now… there was something more important.
She turned her gaze to her father: "My dearest Father—Nameless helped you again and again, yet you abandoned him, even tried to kill him!"
"What are you getting at?" Artoria's cyan-blue eyes met hers calmly.
That look—
It instantly reminded Mordred of the terrifying pressure the divine Lion King exuded.
Still, she didn't flinch and met her gaze head-on:
"What I'm saying is—since you chose to give up on Nameless, then don't even think about trying to steal him back from me! Should we restart that old plan?"
The Empire had been cold-shouldering Britain's requests for help, trying to squeeze out as many benefits as possible.
So back then, Mordred had told her father she was willing to give up everything for Britain—even to marry far away and form a political alliance with their Imperial Teacher!