I definitely Rayshifted to a Singularity. But... this isn't France.
Surely Olga Marie and everyone else Rayshifted to the Singularity, so why am I here? This is definitely...
"... First, let's move."
I was about to use clairvoyance, but... as if something is interfering, strong pain and blood flow from my eyes. Someone is blatantly blocking my clairvoyance. Is it Lev? Is this possible even with the Holy Grail's power? No... this Singularity, something feels off.
A dark night Singularity. An unknown ominous feeling makes the mood eerie. My heart pounds, and my body tingles...
Thud! Thud!
Leaping at full speed, I search for that place somewhere. From this direction, I sense massive magical energy. Something feels thick and negative, filled with magical energy.
"That... what's going on?"
What I see in the distance. It was an ancient Roman city.
The Second Singularity, Septem. I had Rayshifted there. An era later than when I reigned as king. Though it's a different worldline altogether.
First, I need to go to Rome. How long has it been since the Singularity occurred, and already such chaos? Rome shouldn't fall already. Especially if Nero dies, the Singularity collapses.
"This is..."
Quickly entering the city, what I see... are Roman citizens rising up in a group rebellion. Soldiers are also joining the citizens in rebellion, burning Rome. It's a scene of madness.
Is it someone's scheme? I don't sense any particular magical energy... Are they doing this in their right mind?
"... That man?"
I see a podium, and on it, a man and a woman. The man pointing a sword at the woman is someone I know.
The first emperor of Rome・Augustus.
He was the man who became emperor in my time's Rome. And before him, a woman kneeling, looking exhausted. She is the current emperor.
Nero Claudius.
She was there. Clearly not a submission, but the appearance of someone who fought and lost.
Originally, previous emperors before Nero were summoned in the Singularity. It's such a mess that most are unknown, but I heard that three emperors were killed by Jing Ke. One of them is that first emperor, Augustus.
"Rome is finished, emperor of decadence. You can't even suppress those who cry out for heretical religions, letting them still stir things up. What can an emperor like you do?"
"Is it my fault... first emperor? You are merely a dead ghost... denying the Rome that lives in the present era..."
"Did only I deny? No, it was me, your predecessor emperors, and the people of Rome who denied. In the end, it's your inadequacy that made the people of Rome abandon you."
"...."
This is a dangerous development...
"Look! The fate of those who fought and died to protect you!"
"... Simon, Locusta..."
A man and woman tied to a large wooden pillar, cold corpses. Rome's court mage Simon Magus and Nero's poisoner Locusta. Locusta died too... no, cruelly put, she has little weight in history. So, it's not at the level of Singularity collapse. Did those two struggle to keep Nero alive until now?
"No one supports you anymore, Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus. No, wait... Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, child of a lowly prostitute and a lowly man. The bloodline of royalty and the position of emperor never suited you from the start. At the very least, I'll show mercy for once having been an emperor. I'll personally behead you."
"...."
Why are you just bowing your head, Nero...? Are you accepting death like this? Are you satisfied with dying like this?
"Before it gets any later, I'll end it with my own hands."
""Judgment upon the false emperor!!!""
"... I'm sorry, Locusta. I..."
... Really, what a farce.
Clang!!!!
I block the emperor's blade with the edge of my hand. A hand edge wrapped in magical energy is enough.
"What...?"
"... Who are you? Why are you interfering...?"
"Hmm... Because I don't wish for your death. There are people who sacrificed themselves for you, will you die so meaninglessly?"
"Shut up... I have no reason to live anymore..."
"You can make reasons. Just find them. Don't give up already."
"You, who are you?"
Augustus glares at me, interfering with the execution, and speaks. Truly, the dignity of a first emperor...
Boom...!!!
"!"
"This is... the emperor's majesty?"
I release my full killing intent along with magical energy, and the maddened Roman citizens kneel or collapse. Even Augustus before me stiffens.
"You asked who I am...? I am the king of Ulster and the High King of Erin, Fergus mac Róich. First emperor of the empire. We lived in the same era, but this is our first meeting, right?"
"Fergus mac Róich...? Ulster means a Celt. How insolent for a king of such barbarians to act towards an emperor."
"What's so great about that emperor? Pretending to have power when you don't."
"Who says I don't have power──!"
Crash!!!!
Ignoring his words, I directly strike his solar plexus with a full-powered punch. His armor crumples, and the emperor flung far away crashes through the city wall and rolls on the ground.
"Augustus... so easily..."
"Nice to meet you. So, shall we go? It seems there's no place for you here?"
"... I want to die. Why are you trying to save me?"
"Hmm... let's talk about that later."
Just now... something like a black haze appeared from Nero... this is dangerous. Beast transformation is rapidly increasing. Is it the Singularity's influence? No, could it be because of me...?
Ibaraki and Sitonai said they see something in me...? Could it be related to Tokyo? No, probably not. The beast transformation has already increased significantly. It's not accelerated by me.
The Beast factor...
It feels strong. Perhaps, if she survives like this, she might metamorphose into a Beast within this Singularity...
It's quite a dangerous matter. But...
So what? Beasts aren't unconditionally enemies of humanity. Look at Cath Palug.
There's no absolute reason to defeat or kill her. My Spirit Origin as a Grand Servant seems to say she must be eliminated, but... screw that.
"Will you come with me? Or do you want to meet a miserable end like this?"
"... I'd rather──"
"Nope~ you don't really have a choice~!"
"You, then why did you ask!?"
I immediately lift her in a princess carry and leap away, leaving the place. I need to leave Rome. I have to restore the Singularity while protecting Nero. But... this Singularity is too out of spec for that.
"Just what are you that you force me to live!?"
"Are you satisfied with such an ending?"
"That, that is..."
"... You've lived until now with your own pride, right? Receiving Rome's love, seemingly satisfied but craving more and more love. But, look in the end. The people of Rome reject and ostracize you. There's a saying that the masses are like pigs and dogs for a reason. Truly ignorant people exist. They say out of five people, one is trash. On this vast land, in Rome, it seems all of them have gathered? And this isn't even Britain."
"... What do you want from me? Even if I live like this, I can no longer reign as emperor. And, from what I hear, you're from the same era as the first emperor. That is, like him, a revived ghost... all ghosts tried to kill me. Saying I shouldn't exist..."
All ghosts...?
"You mean you met other Heroic Spirits besides Augustus?"
"So they're called Heroic Spirits... notably, Boudica. She led other ethnic groups, not Romans, to attack me, and there were more beings called Heroic Spirits with her. A huge muscular man, and a red-haired boy on a black horse and a long-haired man."
Boudica is with the emperor alliance army...? No, why Spartacus? Even with the Holy Grail, his traits would allow resistance. Did he genuinely judge Nero more dangerous than the Incineration of Humanity side?
"There were others. A woman in unusual clothing holding wooden daggers and a giant with a statue-like demeanor... and a dragon girl with a spear and a fox, no, cat-like woman. And a girl who called herself a goddess."
"..."
Something's strange...? The other two are one thing, but why Stheno? She should declare neutrality... an ancient goddess older than the native faith Olympians couldn't be brainwashed. Is it her own will? But, why? She should know that if Nero dies, the Singularity collapses...?
I don't understand...
"Any other peculiarities?"
"... The Christians are suspicious. Recently, the leader of the Christians called the Twelve Apostles went missing. After that, they've been doing even weirder things than before, like madmen. Calling me the Great Whore of Babylon or an evil deity... rumors are spreading at a faith-like level."
Faith...?
This is dangerous. Faith is dangerous. Divine spirits are beings that originally existed in nature like spirits, born as divine spirits due to human faith. Conversely, that means... it's the perfect environment to promote Nero's metamorphosis into a Beast.
Could it be, that Lev guy... because Solomon and I are here, he's doing this?
"It's confusing... how the situation is unfolding."
"The most absurd thing is the Britons. Boudica returned, but Britannia is occupied by others."
"Others...?"
"A group calling themselves the Round Table Army, led by one called the Lion King. They're currently hostile to the emperor alliance army, but they're not on my side either... I can't grasp what they're thinking or what faction they are."
"... Do they take people with them or anything like that?"
"No, they don't."
They don't do selection...?
Could it be... Artoria. Are you...
In your right mind?
"Let's go to Britannia."
"What? You want to go to them?"
"For now, they're the only ones we can trust."
"... Do as you please. I have nothing to do anyway."
I thought about using Vimana, but... it would draw their attention. For now, we need to cautiously and secretly go to Britain to meet Artoria. But... as a goddess, will she truly not oppose Nero?
Even if she becomes a Beast, I affirm her.
It might become a somewhat lonely fight...
I should save my Noble Phantasm for now. I can't involve it in such a huge mess. If things get bad, I might have to call it, but... it feels a bit ominous?