At the courtyard entrance.
The atmosphere instantly turned peculiar with the gentle greeting from the sailor-uniformed beauty.
Souma, the person in question, felt the stars of impending doom flashing above his head as he gazed at the Queen of the Land of Shadows dressed as a seventeen-year-old beauty.
[Danger!]
Holy shit, recognized again?
How the hell did this queen recognize him?
Even though his disguise had become even more flawless with his recovering strength.
Not even the King of Heroes—the first one who'd recognized him before—might be able to do so again if given another chance.
Did that big dog sell me out?
But here's the thing.
That big mutt hadn't recognized his identity at all, let alone snitched on him.
That bright-eyed, bushy-browed Child of Light couldn't possibly be a fake, right?
But then again, who knows?
This guy insisted on leading the queen to his home—clearly trying to divert trouble onto someone else!
Souma put on a confused expression and asked, "Uh, what are you talking about? Did Mei Liangxin offend you or something?"
"Oh, still pretending in front of me?"
Scáthach's eyes gleamed crimson like fresh blood.
In that instant.
The ruthless, blood-soaked aura of one who had slaughtered countless demonic gods and monsters in the depths of hell erupted without restraint.
It was as if one could see a throne perched atop mountains of corpses and seas of blood, steeped in endless slaughter.
Just this killing intent alone was enough to chill the hearts of countless people.
Souma wanted to feign terror.
The problem was, even an Oscar-winning actor couldn't convincingly fake the trembling of the soul.
With a sigh of resignation, he said, "So… what exactly do you mean?"
If you, a two-thousand-year-old purple-haired granny, want to play the part of a seventeen-year-old JK beauty, then just keep up the act!
Why go and expose yourself?
"Simple. You tried to conceal your aura, but it's impossible to hide from me."
Scáthach replied indifferently.
As an immortal, divine existence.
She transcended humanity, slew gods, and placed herself beyond the boundaries of the world, gaining wisdom from the abyss.
It could be called—
[The Wisdom of the Magic Mirror]
Granting her, a mere spearman, the clairvoyance of a magus—the ability to glimpse fragments of the future!
Even Cú Chulainn's fate had been laid bare before her.
That was why, without being summoned, she had descended upon the Fifth Singularity on her own, intending to assist Nameless in cleaning house.
Scáthach looked at the silent young man with disdain and said, "Besides, with cooking skills like yours, did you really think I was blind?"
"…What's wrong with my cooking?"
Souma was taken aback.
He never expected this to be the thing that gave him away.
Sure, his cooking was top-notch, but wasn't it still within the realm of ordinary humans?
"Heh, your culinary skills are nearly transcendent, praised by thousands—enough to qualify you as a Heroic Spirit." Scáthach retorted.
"..."
Souma fell silent.
Damn, I got careless this time—didn't dodge in time!
His skills spanned six thousand years of human history, blending the techniques of countless master chefs from across time and cultures.
He had long since synthesized them into his own unique style.
Most crucially.
With each exposure by [Alaya], the Heroic Spirits across the world gradually recalled the meals they had once enjoyed.
Coupled with the endless admiration and envy of countless spectators, his cooking had truly surpassed the ordinary.
That was why Heroic Spirits like Cú Chulainn, despite knowing he was just a regular human, shamelessly came to mooch meals off him!
So he was officially a Grand Chef now?
Souma's mood was complicated.
If this kept up, would he end up earning the title of [Grand Charmer] too?
Then, with a single activation of his charm aura, would all the opposite sex in the world come swooning at him?
Like some crispy-shark anime girl from a new series?
No—it'd probably be even more extreme, to the point where even men couldn't resist!
"Not just that. That seemingly ordinary little girl is probably connected to the Demon God King, isn't she?" Scáthach pressed further.
"Uh, what are you talking about?"
Souma feigned ignorance in response.
So what if he got exposed?
But the brat's identity couldn't be revealed.
Now that [Alaya] has released the final singularity video, if this were to be exposed, the world would instantly descend into chaos!
At that point, countless people would be terrified, fearing that the unruly child might suddenly lash out.
"He... you won't be able to seal him for much longer."
Scáthach glanced in the direction where the other party was located.
During their earlier meal, she had vaguely sensed that the other carried within them a power of destruction.
That power was so overwhelming, strong enough to instantly vaporize all Heroic Spirits.
Scáthach had lived for over two thousand two hundred years, yet she wished to die in a human way.
But she absolutely refused to be killed by an enemy.
She would rather be sent off by someone she cared about, by their own hand.
"I know."
Souma sighed softly, deciding there was no point in hiding it any longer.
In truth, even if [Alaya] didn't release the exposure video, the unruly child's power was rapidly recovering.
One day, it would completely break free from the seal and transform into the world-ending unruly child.
After completing its ultimate metamorphosis and becoming the planet's consciousness, humanity would stand no chance of defeating it.
Let alone killing it.
If they truly killed it, humanity would perish alongside it.
Before that happened, he could only try his best to recover his strength so he could seal it away once more.
Souma stared intently at the other: "So, please help me find Merlin. What do you want me to do in return?"
"Simple—kill me." Scáthach replied calmly.
"..."
Souma hesitated, at a loss for words.
I ask for your help, and in return, you want me to kill you? What kind of twisted yandere logic is this!
"I have taken countless lives—humans, spirits, even gods."
Scáthach's eyes were filled with painful memories. "Endless slaughter has made this body truly eternal."
"I can no longer remember when I first picked up a spear, nor how many years have passed since then."
"So, I look forward to the day you succeed in saving the world, and then... kill me in the most heroic way possible!"
Endless bloodlust, an infinite lifespan.
An immortal body, coupled with battle memories so vivid they were unparalleled.
Every day she continued to live was nothing but torment.
Yet, upon meeting this Nameless Heroic Spirit, she felt an inexplicable softness in her heart.
Even her eternally cold body, frozen by immortality, seemed to warm slightly.
Thus, she wanted to be killed by his hand.
To be buried in a human way.
"I see..."
Souma felt his headache growing worse.
If you can't remember, doesn't that mean you have dementia?
And you still dare to call yourself a seventeen-year-old beauty?
Of course, he didn't dare say that out loud.
If he did, she wouldn't be asking him to kill her—she'd be chasing him down to kill him instead!
"Sorry, but I can't do that to you. If you truly wish to die..."
Souma thought for a moment before asking seriously, "Would you be willing to become a Grand Servant and fight alongside me?"
There are many candidates for the Grand Lancer class, unlike the Grand Assassin class, which only has King Hassan as its sole representative.
For example, the Divine Ancestor who appeared earlier had already relinquished his Grand Saint Graph.
The seat of Grand Lancer is still vacant.
If she truly seeks death, what better way than to become a Grand Servant and face the ultimate evil?
"A Grand Servant? Unfortunately, expending a Grand Saint Graph in a single strike wouldn't kill me."
Scáthach replied calmly.
A Grand Saint Graph is essentially the strongest anti-Beast one-time-use Noble Phantasm.
It's like a super-enhanced version of [Stella].
However.
This wouldn't plunge her into eternal slumber—at most, she'd lose her Grand Saint Graph and revert to her original form.
Cases like Dr. Roman's, where one sacrifices everything to reach the ultimate state of [Nothingness], are truly one-in-a-million coincidences.
Others couldn't achieve it even if they tried.
"Isn't living better…"
Souma's mood grew even more complicated.
He had fought with everything he had precisely to enjoy life.
Yet now, the other party sought only death.
If [Alaya] were to broadcast the Lostbelt footage, perhaps it might change their mind.
"Merlin and Tamamo-no-Mae are together. From the fragments of the future I've seen, it appears she intends to make a move against Dr. Roman."
Scáthach deftly shifted the topic.
Given the other party's attitude, killing her seemed highly unlikely.
But after witnessing Souma living as an ordinary high school student, it had kindled a faint desire in her to keep living.
Perhaps... I could try being a normal high school girl too?
Souma frowned. "That bastard clearly didn't learn his lesson from the last punishment!"
The previous "drowning in femininity" punishment had been meant to discipline that unscrupulous mage.
Now, toying with Dr. Roman was obviously an attempt to provoke him.
After all, Souma was Dr. Roman's only true friend.
This was blatantly "beating the grass to startle the snake"—a direct challenge and threat.
Why must they interfere when both he and Dr. Roman just wanted to live ordinary lives?
Truly, they spurn the path to heaven and charge headlong through hell's gates.
Then don't blame me for being impolite!
"Would you like my assistance?" Scáthach inquired.
"Ah, that's a bit embarrassing," Souma replied awkwardly.
He who receives a favor unearned cannot satisfy the giver—it would be shameless to seek help under such circumstances.
"I have no ulterior motives. I simply find him unpleasant," Scáthach replied coolly.
Both were Grand-class Servants, yet that guy insisted on courting death at every turn, which naturally rubbed her the wrong way.
"Then I'll gratefully accept," Souma replied with a smile.
After Romani Archaman lost his Clairvoyance, finding Merlin had become as difficult as scaling the heavens.
Though his Clairvoyance was the most lackluster,
the ability to see the [Present] rendered him virtually invincible in the current moment.
If he truly resolved to hide, no one could find him—not even the King of Heroes.
A pity.
Now, with the assistance of the Queen of the Land of Shadows,
plus another heavyweight ally, Souma was brimming with confidence in capturing his target.
Merlin, you heartless bastard, let's see where you run to this time!
Meanwhile, at Chaldea.
Bombarded by countless messages, Romani Archaman lay in his room, utterly drained.
It was terrifying.
After the video was exposed, countless people tried calling or messaging him.
Among them were numerous powerful Servants.
It was more exhausting than his usual work.
Beyond these individuals, even the adorable Mash and Da Vinci kept a close eye on him,
as if fearing he might suddenly utter his farewell.
The problem was,
with Goetia yet to appear, there was no reason for him to do so.
He had sacrificed everything to be reborn as Romani Archaman.
How could he discard it so casually?
Surely no one would be foolish enough to actually seek death, right?
Ding-dong~
Just then, Romani heard another notification chime. Frowning instinctively,
he suddenly realized the sender was none other than "Merlin"!
His face lit up as he eagerly opened the message—
[Merlin: Heard you've been troubled lately. Want me to comfort you?]
"Eh, really? Is that okay?" Romani's joy knew no bounds.
[Of course! I'm the gentlest, cutest virtual idol. Want to meet me?]
"Yes!"
Romani nodded without hesitation.
She was the virtual idol he adored beyond reason—how could he refuse?
One day, he would rescue her from that sleazy incubus!
Without a second thought, Romani left Chaldea and followed the instructions to the meeting spot.
There stood Merlin, clad in a pure white princess dress, with snow-white hair and crimson eyes—utterly adorable—smiling at him.
Bathed in sunlight, she looked as holy as an angel.
Romani's eyes widened. "Praise the Lord! To meet you in person... You're absolutely perfect!"
"I live alone, and my place is pretty big. Feel free to come over. If you get tired, you can sleep there. No problem~"
Merlin's smile grew even sweeter as she extended a hand, inviting him to her home.
Overjoyed yet slightly unsettled, Romani couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
Why did she seem... strange?
"Don't worry. I often help troubled people. If you don't want to come, that's fine too,"
Merlin said gently. "But if you do, I'll cook for you and sing to cheer you up~"
"Alright, then I'll trouble you," Romani agreed without hesitation and followed her.
Upon arriving at her home,
the angelic Merlin brought him beer and some dishes.
Excited to be with his idol, Romani drank a few extra cans,
leaving him dizzy and lightheaded.
With a smirk, she remarked, "Look at this Romani, getting drunk after just a few cans. How lame~"
"N-no way! I can still drink!" Romani retorted defiantly.
In front of his idol, he couldn't admit weakness.
Merlin grinned. "Oh? So you're pretty tough, huh?"
"Of course! I'm super tough, super good at drinking!"
Romani grabbed another can.
As a doctor, he knew the dangers of alcohol.
But at this moment, caution was the last thing on his mind.
"Quite the tough guy, huh? Nice physique too, pretty sturdy~"
Her smile grew even weirder.
Then,
to Romani's utter shock, the petite, adorable loli before him morphed into a burly man,
who reached out to grope his thigh!
Startled, Romani pushed him away. "H-hey! Who are you? What are you doing?"
"Still shy at your age? You clearly don't understand~" the man chuckled.
"Understand? Understand what?"
Romani tried to flee,
but the alcohol left him too disoriented to escape.
"Oh, you wanna learn? My room has some good stuff~"
The man's grin turned sinister. "I can teach you—how to become a man~"
"Hey, who the hell are you?!"
Romani struggled desperately.
This guy was terrifying, shamelessly groping him—utterly intolerable!
But the man pinned him down. "Oh? You're blushing? Let me see~"
"No! Stop it!" Romani grew increasingly horrified.
"Be good. Let me see~"
The man's grin widened.
Simultaneously,
he split into three shadowy figures, surrounding Romani from all sides!
"AAAAAH! HELP!"
Romani screamed in terror.
Meeting his beloved idol and visiting her home should have been double the joy.
So why had things turned out like this?
Meanwhile,
Merlin watched the screen, grinning at the doctor's struggles. "How can anyone be this dumb?"
Everything—from the invitation to the events in the room—was her illusion.
As the greatest illusionist, even the primordial goddess Tiamat had fallen for her tricks!
"I've recorded everything. I wonder how Nameless will react when I post this online. Can't wait~"
Merlin's smirk deepened.
If [Alaya] could publicly shame people, then she, the master manipulator, was even more adept.
After the finale singularity's video, countless people had grown fond of Romani.
But once she uploaded this, jaws would drop worldwide.
Public humiliation—social death on the spot!
Merlin sneered. "Nameless, this is just the beginning. You'll learn the consequences of crossing me."
Tormenting Romani was merely the appetizer.
She had already uncovered traces of Nameless. Once fully exposed,
he'd never live in peace again, forced to flee endlessly.
She relished the thought of him seething with rage yet powerless to stop her. Truly delightful!
Just then,
a familiar voice spoke beside her:
"Oh? And what exactly will happen to Nameless?"