Just as Mash and Ritsuka were about to speak with the red-dressed girl—Nero—following the battle's conclusion to gather intel, Mash's expression suddenly changed. She quickly stepped beside Ritsuka and raised her shield defensively. In unfamiliar territory, caution was essential—if the enemy Servant turned out to be an Archer, they could launch a surprise attack at any moment.
"The Servant's presence has vanished."
Mash relaxed after sensing the enemy had withdrawn with the retreating army. She promptly reported the update to Dr. Romani through the communicator.
"They've retreated? That makes it hard to determine if they're friend or foe… Never mind, Mash, gather intel for now," Romani instructed after a brief pause.
"Understood, Dr. Romani."
"So you're not sent by Boudica, huh? Time travelers… whatever, you mages are always mysterious. I am Nero, Emperor of Rome. As for your reward, I shall bestow it upon you when I return to the capital."
The exchange between Mash, Ritsuka, and Nero proceeded smoothly. After all, they had just aided her in battle—essentially rescuing the emperor. Their support came at a critical moment, and while their reasons were practical, they'd still saved her.
Chaldea had chosen to support the red-dressed girl's side based not only on Daniel's identification of her as Nero but also because she had clearly been at a disadvantage. In situations with unknown factors, offering help to the weaker party was usually the best move. After all, delivering aid in times of hardship carried more weight than joining the victors.
As for Nero, a Roman emperor never neglected those who had earned merit. Had she carried suitable rewards with her, she might have rewarded them on the spot.
"Your Majesty, may I ask—who were those enemies earlier?"
Knowing now that they were near Rome's capital and having heard the name Boudica mentioned, Romani grew uneasy.
This was supposed to be the height of the Roman Empire. Though Rome had many enemies, the idea that Nero herself would be fighting so near the capital—and at a disadvantage—was bizarre.
Then there was the matter of Boudica. If the Boudica Nero referred to was who they suspected, then technically she should be an enemy, not an ally. But Nero had spoken of her as a comrade.
"They're a newly emerged enemy faction. They call themselves the United Roman Empire."
After a moment of hesitation, Nero explained. The faction had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. By the time she had received news of them, more than half the cities in the Roman Empire had already submitted to the enemy, who now threatened the capital itself.
That was why Nero had personally taken the field. The empire was on the brink of collapse. Following consecutive defeats, her forces were dwindling. She had only come because she'd detected an enemy patrol—but it turned out to be a trap.
Had Mash and Ritsuka not appeared, she might've been in serious trouble. While her own safety likely wouldn't have been at risk, a defeat would have had disastrous consequences. Morale was already low across her remaining territories. News of the emperor's defeat could trigger mass desertion.
"How could this happen? Who are these enemies?"
Mash cried out in disbelief. Unlike Ritsuka, who was still struggling to process everything, Mash quickly realized that the so-called United Roman Empire was the anomaly responsible for the Singularity.
As a demi-Servant, Mash had received extensive historical education and was something of a history prodigy. Precisely because she understood the historical context, she found the current situation deeply perplexing.
Even considering the nature of Singularities, the Roman Empire's collapse had come far too fast.
"The enemy… well, calling them 'enemies' may not be entirely accurate. They're all former Roman emperors."
Nero's expression turned awkward. At first, Mash and Ritsuka didn't understand. But as she continued, they realized the situation's gravity.
It was indeed former Roman emperors—Caesar, Caligula, and others—who had reappeared. Faced with such figures from Rome's glorious past, it wasn't surprising that many cities chose to defect.
From this perspective, Nero's ability to hold out so far was actually impressive. Despite her infamy as a "tyrant" in legend, she was evidently well loved by the people of this age—even more so than the emperors of the past.
"So the United Roman Empire is the enemy… and those emperors are Heroic Spirits."
For Chaldea, figuring out the cause of the Singularity so early was a great start. Romani began preparing for negotiations with Nero.
Unlike the Hundred Years' War Singularity, where Jeanne Alter commanded armies of monsters, this time the enemy fielded well-organized troops. Mash and Ritsuka alone wouldn't be able to handle them—they'd need to cooperate with Nero.
"Emperor Nero—ah…"
Romani, speaking via video, was about to open negotiations when he caught sight of Nero's face—and froze. He turned slowly to glance at Artoria.
Even though it wasn't the first time, seeing Nero's face—nearly identical to Artoria's and Jeanne's—left him momentarily speechless.
"Foreign mage, what is it you wish to say?"
Nero's voice brought Romani back to reality. He shoved the thoughts aside and began explaining about the Singularities and the incineration of human history.
"So… the former emperors were summoned as Heroic Spirits."
After listening, Nero exhaled deeply, her expression easing. One of the reasons she had lost ground so quickly was that she didn't know how to handle these resurrected emperors. With this new context, it all made sense.
In fact, the emperors had extended her an offer: join them, rule the empire together, and even expand their dominion over the world.
It was a tempting offer—but they had made it to the wrong person. Nero was the reigning emperor. She would never surrender her throne, not even to the past emperors of Rome. There could be only one emperor—and that was her.
Now that she knew they were Heroic Spirits summoned by the Holy Grail, her hesitation vanished.
"Cooperation? Of course. I shall appoint you both governors in recognition of your service."
Nero readily accepted Romani's proposal. Mash and Ritsuka had just saved her life—rewarding them with the title of governor was only fitting.
"Emperor Nero, have you heard of a powerful mage among the United Roman Empire?"
Now that the alliance was formed, Romani moved to the next matter—information on Lev. Chaldea still had no idea who the mastermind behind the Grand Order was. Lev was the only known figure involved. Capturing him might lead to uncovering the truth.
Romani had also asked Mash to keep an eye out for Lev during the Hundred Years' War.
"A powerful mage? Yes, I've heard rumors of one among them. But whether he's called Lev, I do not know. Unfortunately, my court mage was slain by my uncle in one strike. He might've known more…"
As the emperor of a mighty empire, Nero naturally had mages at her side. But most mages, no matter how skilled, were no match for Heroic Spirits. Not every ruler had someone like Merlin as a court mage.
"If that's all, I must return to the capital to celebrate. We must honor the arrival of our foreign guests."
After finishing her conversation with Romani, Nero waved her hand and began heading back to the city. It was a rare victory—one that deserved celebration.
Three horses were brought forward. Though Mash and Ritsuka had never ridden before, their enhanced bodies handled it without incident.
Upon reaching the capital, Nero immediately ordered her people to proclaim victory. She dismounted and, accompanied by Mash and Ritsuka, walked toward the palace with guards in tow. Along the way, she casually picked up fruit from street vendors—and shared some with the pair.
"She's… not what I expected from the history books."
Following behind her, Mash watched Nero smile and chat with vendors along the street. She was stunned. Was this really the so-called "tyrant"?
"Mash, don't overthink it. Historical records never said Nero was a woman. The same goes for King Arthur. All we know is what human historians have written."
Romani tried to comfort Mash, though he himself was equally bewildered. Even though he had once been Solomon, after using the Grail to make himself human, he was now just a seemingly ordinary, even clumsy, man.
"Maybe the 'tyrant' part came from the nobility or the Senate. Back then, commoners didn't really have a voice."
Daniel, more familiar with history, chimed in. Just look at how Emperor Qin Shi Huang was vilified later—same idea.
Sure, Nero might've been extravagant. For example, upon returning to the palace, she immediately ordered a victory banquet. But such extravagance was normal in her time.
Judging her by modern standards was absurd. And honestly, by those same standards, modern society was far more wasteful.
Take Tony Stark, for instance. Before becoming Iron Man, he was a notorious playboy—he'd been with practically every magazine cover model. And even that was considered tame. At least he hadn't hosted public debauchery.
"I see. That makes sense."
Mash, ever the history buff, quickly grasped Daniel's point.
"Nero… Imperial Privilege."
As Nero prepared to welcome Mash and Ritsuka, Daniel found himself thinking about her skill "Imperial Privilege." With it, Nero could learn virtually any skill she desired—even Divine traits.
In practical terms, it meant if Nero wanted to learn to fly a plane, she'd master it quickly despite having no prior training. She could even make the impossible real—like calling a deer a horse and having it accepted in Rome.
It was even how she acquired the Saber class—she forcibly obtained it through this skill. Daniel couldn't help but envy her. But alas, it was a unique, innate trait. He could only watch in admiration.
As for Nero's chronic headaches—while Daniel might have a way to treat them, he couldn't intervene. Strictly speaking, even if he did, it wouldn't matter. Once the Singularity was resolved, everything would revert.
And if he tried to interfere after the fact, he'd be risking a confrontation with Alaya and Gaia.
In his previous life, Alaya and Gaia didn't seem like much—more like two easily bullied lolis. But that was just an illusion. In truth, they were incredibly powerful. In Chinese terms, they represented the Human and Natural Orders.
Sure, they weren't as overwhelming as the Dao from Investiture of the Gods or Journey to the West, but they were still cosmic-level beings. Unless you surpassed them, provoking them was suicidal.
On the surface world, they might avoid using full force to prevent damage. But don't forget—the Nasuverse also had the Inner World and the Imaginary Sea. They could drag you in and have the gods themselves tear you apart.
So long as you stayed within acceptable boundaries, they wouldn't intervene. Even if you romanced Artoria or Rin, or even prevented someone like Jeanne from dying, they wouldn't care—as long as the key historical events still occurred.
In fact, if your actions benefited them, they might even reward you. But cross a line, and you'd find out what Excalibur with thirteen seals released really looked like.
"Your Majesty, enemies are approaching!"
Just as the victory feast was about to begin, a soldier burst in with a report: another enemy attack, even larger than the last.
Without hesitation, Nero abandoned the celebration. She knew her priorities. Mash and Ritsuka immediately volunteered to assist.
"War, huh? Cú Chulainn—you want in?"
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