Era of Heroic Spirits: I Was Exposed by Alaya

A little surprise?

Souma blinked in slight confusion.

As the saying goes, to conquer a woman's heart, you must first conquer her stomach.

He had mastered the culinary arts across six thousand years of human history, incorporating flavors from every era and nation worldwide.

Even using just a fraction of his skills was enough to make even the most determined dieter abandon their resolve.

Was this her way of repaying him?

No, no—that was overthinking it. That would be illegal!

Feigning curiosity, Souma asked, "What kind of little surprise?"

"You'll find out later~"

Illya smiled sweetly.

For some reason, the first time she met this boy, she had felt a soul-deep familiarity.

That was why she kept shamelessly coming over for meals, much to her best friend Roya's confusion.

Now, hearing that the academy needed recommendations for ordinary people to participate in the grand welcoming ceremony, Illya instantly saw an opportunity.

If he got selected, it would definitely be the surprise of a lifetime!

After all, King Arthur and the King of Heroes were among the most popular Heroic Spirits—any ordinary person would faint from excitement upon meeting them!

"Alright, I'll look forward to it then," Souma nodded.

The little angel was truly adorable!

Her angelic smile alone could chase away all worries.

He wondered what kind of surprise she had in store. Maybe she'd greet him at the door in nothing but an apron, asking—

"Souma brother, would you like dinner, a bath, or... me?"

No, no—that was too sinful! He deserved to be shot for even thinking that!

Roya's big eyes sparkled with golden stars: "The King of Heroes is coming too. I wonder if he'll adopt me as his little sister."

Rich! So rich! The richest!

It could be said that the King of Heroes had long become synonymous with wealth.

He possessed the [Gate of Babylon], which was the doorway to the [Golden Capital].

Within it lay endless treasures!

"Haha, if the King of Heroes really gives you money, I'll be holding onto it first!" Souma said with complete calm.

Though that guy's arrogance made him want to throw a few punches.

Someone who kept saying all the world's treasures were—

Mine! Mine! All mine!

But in reality, he was quite generous to his own people.

"Hmph, don't even think about it!" Roya couldn't help grinding her teeth.

Every New Year when she received red envelopes, they'd be taken away with the excuse of "saving them for you," only to never be seen again...

The next morning.

There were still four days until King Arthur, Mordred, the King of Heroes and other heroic spirits would arrive.

The entire Academy City was immersed in a sea of excitement.

Souma, however, remained completely indifferent. After all, he was just an ordinary nobody.

Completely unknown at school, he didn't need to worry about these things.

His good friend Julian approached him: "Do you desire power?"

"No, I desire money," Souma replied calmly.

This guy was getting more and more fond of playing mysterious.

"Such mortal desires. Well then, I'll satisfy you—I've prepared a little surprise for you."

Julian adjusted his glasses.

As the heir of the Ainsworth family, he was naturally remembered by the higher-ups of Fuyuki Magecraft Academy.

Earlier, the school had asked for student representatives to recommend for the reception of Heroic Spirits, and he didn't hesitate to recommend this close friend of his.

He even directly gave up his own nomination spot for the other person.

As for the so-called qualification to receive Heroic Spirits, he truly couldn't care less.

"What is it?"

Souma blinked in slight confusion.

Earlier, when Illya, the little angel, said she had a surprise for him, that was fine—but now even you, a guy, want to give him one?

"You'll find out later."

Julian adjusted his glasses, looking all mysterious.

Despite being an ordinary person, he always carried an air of calm composure no matter who he was facing.

It made Souma look forward to the day when the other would finally find out—how moved he would be, weeping uncontrollably and swearing to go through fire and water for him!

"Tch, fine, keep your secrets!"

Souma grew even more exasperated.

Two people in one day saying they had a surprise for him—did you all plan this together?

Whatever. It probably wasn't anything important anyway. At most, it'd just be some gifts or something.

At that moment, he spotted another familiar classmate—Tohsaka Rin.

She carried herself with an icy, aristocratic demeanor, every bit the noble young lady.

Her stunning legs, wrapped in black stockings, drew countless gazes as usual.

Hmm. If Souma hadn't seen her flustered state while grocery shopping earlier, even he might've been fooled by this act.

Even the young lady's household was running low on funds!

Huh? Why was she walking toward him?

Souma was slightly surprised but waved in greeting. "Yo, Lady Rin, good morning~"

"Good morning."

Tohsaka Rin offered a perfectly practiced noble smile, though it seemed a bit stiff.

After watching the King of Heroes video earlier, she couldn't shake the feeling that Ishtar looked exactly like her—and that the nameless hero bore some resemblance to the boy before her.

It made her feel as though she had been the one confessing to him!

And then being ruthlessly rejected, told she was nothing but a monkey.

However.

At night, when Rin dreamed, he began appearing in her dreams more and more frequently.

Sometimes leaping over the high jump bar again and again on the field.

Sometimes sitting on a chair, gazing at her with a smile.

Sometimes lying beside her on the grass, shoulders touching, looking incredibly intimate.

Each scene felt so vivid that she could recall them clearly even after waking up.

Good grief!

This was too weird. Was she cursed or something?

Tohsaka Rin decided to bestow upon him a grand favor—just to rid herself of this bizarre state once and for all.

She looked at him seriously and declared, "I owe you a favor from before. I'll repay it."

"Uh, no need to be so formal."

Souma quickly waved his hands in refusal.

It was just a few discount coupons—was this level of courtesy really necessary?

"Hmph. You can refuse, but I won't take it back. Just wait for the surprise this young lady has in store for you!"

Tohsaka Rin snorted, deliberately putting on a haughty front as she strode away.

Her heart was already pounding.

If she stayed any longer, something was bound to go wrong.

Souma scratched his head, utterly baffled.

What was this young lady being so tsundere about?

Was she embarrassed because she looked exactly like Ishtar?

Even as he walked, he could clearly hear people murmuring things like "They really look alike" or "Is she the goddess reincarnated?" while staring at Tohsaka Rin.

He silently apologized in his heart.

Sorry, this really isn't my fault. If you want to blame someone, blame that bastard Alaya.

If that guy hadn't kept exposing things, none of this would've happened.

"So, why are all three of you surprising me? You really didn't plan this together, did you?"

Souma's mood was incredibly complicated.

One person was manageable, two were pushing it, but three? That was just overwhelming.

He couldn't shake the ominous feeling of an impending storm!

Ding dong~

Souma felt his phone vibrate lightly and pulled it out to check—

[Your specially followed content creator has updated!" Come take a look!]

"Holy crap, speak of the devil—it's only been a day!"

Souma felt his peaceful daily life was about to be utterly destroyed by his black-hearted, bastard of a boss.

Are you really that desperate to turn me back into a tool?

God, can't you stop milking just one person? Try someone else for once!

Let's see what kind of exposé video this is—

[The Oldest King Side Story—Flower of the Underworld.]

[This side story follows the perspective of Ereshkigal, the Goddess of the Underworld, recounting what happened after Nameless severed the connection between gods and humans!]

***

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