Napoleon Bonaparte.
A name known throughout the world.
As the illustrious Emperor of France, a military strategist compared to the Roman Emperor Caesar, he should have been met with cheers wherever he went after announcing his identity.
Should have!
However, Napoleon, who manifested as a Servant, did not receive such attention from others.
"Napoleon Bonaparte? Is that your name, Uncle? Hmm... a strange name."
This was the lukewarm reaction Napoleon's name elicited from the children. It was hard to feel happy about it.
But soon, Napoleon set aside his misgivings and became familiar with the entire village.
Through interaction, he gathered a great deal of information. Any information the villagers knew, he learned within a few dozen minutes.
This was a place called Village No. 67. The customs were simple and honest. Everyone was harmonious. Aside from being rather empty-headed and lacking knowledge, it could be called a paradise.
The downside of being easy to get along with and easy to question was that there was nothing truly worth inquiring about. The villagers seemed never to have left the village and knew nothing of the outside world. They only knew of the "Emissaries."
What were the Emissaries?
He couldn't get an answer to that question either.
After wandering around the village, Napoleon also discovered a crucial piece of information.
He saw no trace of elderly people. Upon asking, he received a terrifying answer.
"Elderly? What is that? Oh, you mean people in their forties, fifties, or sixties? Uncle, there are no such people in the village." The child's innocent reply plunged Napoleon into confusion.
Upon further questioning, he got the answer.
"Because when people turn twenty-five, they leave the village. Guided by the Emissaries, we enter Valhalla."
Valhalla.
The Hall of the Slain in Norse mythology, where Odin was said to host the bravest human warriors, preparing for Ragnarök. Considering the earlier knowledge that only one god remained in this world, Napoleon guessed that the departure on the "Chosen Day" meant going to one's death.
—The name Valhalla only served to make the Chosen Day seem less cruel, less meaningless.
Napoleon's thoughts expanded. When he first manifested, his surroundings were an icy, snowy wasteland. The cold weather was insignificant to a Heroic Spirit.
Later, he encountered giants. Those giants, upon seeing Napoleon, charged at him as if crazed, seeming mindless. By chance, he found this village.
When a Heroic Spirit manifests as a Servant, they are infused with knowledge of the current era. Using this knowledge, Napoleon deduced this Lostbelt was closely related to Norse mythology.
But *how* it was related required further verification. It likely had something to do with Ragnarök, right?
Village No. 67 had few houses; one could take in the entire village at a glance. Napoleon looked up and saw that at the village gate, the village elders seemed to be receiving a man dressed in white clothing.
At first glance, Napoleon didn't react. He thought it was someone from the village. But looking again, he realized.
That person's attire was completely different from everyone else in the village!
And just as Napoleon looked at him again, the other's gaze also fell upon him.
That gaze seemed to carry a voice, echoing a sentence in Napoleon's ears.
"Greetings, the esteemed Emperor of France, His Majesty Napoleon Bonaparte."
That man was not a native!
...
...
"When something abnormal appears in a place, it is often the breakthrough point. The only worry is, before getting close, you don't know if it's dangerous or safe. Napoleon, you act so boldly? Aren't you afraid there might be a trap in the village?"
Having encountered Napoleon, Li Mo teased him.
This was his first time meeting this famous emperor and general in European history.
Napoleon was a figure deeply connected to the French Revolution. In that era of dazzling stars, he was among the brightest.
He was tall, imposing, his attire casual, giving a seasoned veteran feel.
Napoleon said, "When you lack information, if you don't boldly gather it, what else can you do? Wait in confusion for the enemy to come and kill you? That is not my style. Also, didn't you just address me as Emperor?"
"You are the Emperor of the French. What does that have to do with me, an Easterner? Calling you 'Emperor' once acknowledges your achievements. Do you expect it to be a constant state?"
"An Easterner... Why are you in this Lostbelt? This is the Scandinavian Lostbelt, right? Could it be you are one of those so-called Crypters?" Napoleon asked in surprise.
Li Mo shook his head. "If I were, say, Ophelia, I would have eliminated you long ago. Well... she probably couldn't either. The Lostbelt King is compassionate. Even knowing you come from Proper Human History to resist her rule, as long as you haven't actually opposed her, haven't actually become her enemy, she will love you and won't choose to kill you."
"It seems I can only stay alive thanks to the enemy's mercy?" Napoleon appeared quite relaxed.
Ignoring Napoleon's comment, Li Mo said, "Think what you will. I am only stating facts. I have time now. You can ask me any questions."
"I happen to have many questions I'd like to consult about."
The mage named Li Mo harbored no hostility towards him. Reaching this judgment, Napoleon became unrestrained, starting to ask his questions incessantly.
Li Mo naturally answered them all. Napoleon's questions were all about the Lostbelt. Li Mo held nothing back; none of it was secret.
As for whether this would be seen as fraternizing with the enemy... even Scáthach-Skadi didn't consider him an enemy, so why worry?
The process lasted for a while until the time was almost up. Li Mo then prepared to take his leave.
Napoleon asked, "So why did you come to see me? And you, on whose side do you stand?"
"Leaving the key question for last?" Li Mo said. "First question: I just wanted to see who the historically famous Napoleon was. Second: I am currently a subordinate of the Lostbelt King. Whose side do you think I stand on?"
"Napoleon, I hope we won't become enemies in the future."
Li Mo took his leave.
As he said, he had only come to see Napoleon. He wanted to see what this man, full of possibility, was like.
After seeing him, Li Mo understood why Napoleon was filled with infinite possibility.
The Archer-class Napoleon *was* a form of possibility! Historically, Napoleon was not particularly tall, but the Archer-class Napoleon stood a head taller than Li Mo.
Rather than being the Napoleon of history, he was more like the idol named Napoleon. He was born from the expectations people placed upon Napoleon.
He was a Servant born from affirming various legends of Napoleon, embodying human possibility.
"Unfortunately, this kind of possibility cannot be replicated."
Li Mo left Village No. 67 without looking back. After witnessing Napoleon, witnessing human possibility, he headed straight for the border of flames.
Although he couldn't replicate it, this encounter made him understand the approximate upper limit of Napoleon's possibility.
He could not allow Napoleon to become a variable in his plans.