I really didn't want to burn it.

"Hey?"

Mashu stumbled and staggered into the room.

In the command room, everyone's eyes were fixed on her.

Mashu felt uneasy under their gazes, and she forced a smile.

"Everyone... it's been a long time."

Contrary to Mashu's expectations that she would be disliked for disturbing their meeting, everyone in the command room gave her a warm welcome.

"oh oh!"

"Long live!"

"Our goddess of victory has awakened!"

"Is this a signal for a counterattack?!"

……

Mashu, overwhelmed by applause and cheers, was completely bewildered; she had no idea what was happening.

"Ah, Mashu. You're awake."

Nero walked up to Mash and performed a perfect noble bow.

"Your Majesty! What are you doing?"

Nero smiled and said, "I apologize. Because you saved me and gave me the opportunity to leave a legacy for Rome. You are undoubtedly a hero of Rome."

"Um...I...Your Majesty..."

Nero's gratitude was more of a shock than a surprise to Mash; she stood there stunned, as if she had been hit by a hammer.

"king……"

In the end, Mash pitifully turned to Artoria for help.

“Accept her gratitude, Mash.” Artoria nodded gently. “It’s what you deserve.”

"Then... Your Majesty, you flatter me."

After receiving Artoria's permission, Mash finally responded to Nero.

Instead of being angry at Mashu's overly delayed reaction, Nero hugged her with a smile.

"Hmm... Just as Lady Flora said, you really are a girl like a blank sheet of paper."

"That...it's too close, Your Majesty..."

Mashu blushed again.

My face turned red twice right after I woke up. Am I sick?

Pink bubbles kept popping out of Little Eggplant's head, and she felt like she was going to faint again.

Faced with Nero's predicament, Artoria, trusted by Mash, not only did not stop Nero, but instead showed a motherly smile of relief.

"Hehe, my Mashu-chan is definitely the most popular!"

Ritsuka secretly ran up to Artoria and whispered something in a boastful tone.

Artoria nodded in agreement: "To make this arrogant and unreasonable woman so grateful, she truly is worthy of being Lord Lancelot's daughter... Hmm?"

Artoria, who had been smiling, suddenly frowned slightly and braced herself on the table with both hands, looking conflicted.

"He's sent another intelligence report?"

Upon seeing this, Chloris's face immediately darkened.

"Yes... excuse me for a moment."

Ignoring the puzzled looks from others, Artoria quickly left the command room.

"very good!"

Chloris, her fists clenched so tightly they cracked, looked up with a bright smile on her face.

But that smile looks so fake!!

"Chloris...sister?"

Seeing Chloris's body emanating black energy, Ritsuka called out softly, still worried.

"Don't worry, Ritsuka, I feel—very—good!"

Seeing that things were not going well, Merlin quickly crouched down and slipped towards the door, but before he could take a few steps, a vine wrapped around his foot and hung him upside down.

Merlin, on the verge of tears, asked, "Goddess Chloris, what have I done to offend you? I'll change, okay??"

"When you came in, you stepped into the room with your right foot first."

Chloris said with a smile.

"Honestly, whether it's an excuse or just a habit of taking it out on me, you're just like Li Ang! You two really do look like a married couple... Ouch!!!"

"Don't exert any more force in that direction!! Your spine will break!!"

"No... hahahaha... don't tickle the soles of my feet with flower petals... that's too unfair... hahahaha..."

"Stop it—!"

Merlin let out a sound like the Orb Rings being violently broken.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

The city of Rome.

In just three months, this once bustling city has ceased to exist.

Instead, a dilapidated city, polluted by black mud and scarred as far as the eye could see, had been transformed.

A long line of black Roman soldiers walked slowly down the dilapidated streets. Their lifeless and dreary appearance made them seem like an army made up of the dead.

As one of the army's leaders, Li Ang believed this statement was very appropriate.

It was like a parade of a hundred demons.

“I completely agree.” Li Ang pursed his lips. “It’s just a bit boring if it doesn’t scare anyone.”

【Then you can take this army outside the borders of Rome.】

"I'm not that stupid."

Gawain Alt, who was standing next to Li Ang, turned to look at him, seemingly wondering why he was talking to himself.

Li Ang quickly shut up, maintaining his aloof persona.

"Okay."

Standing in front of the arena, Li Ang and Gawain Alt stopped at the same time.

Li Ang turned to the army behind him and said, "Dismissed. We'll wait for Lord Romulus to assemble again next time."

Yet no one moved.

These soldiers, controlled by the black mud, have no thoughts or desires of their own, nor do they need to eat or drink; they can survive solely on magic.

Therefore, Li Ang's statement about "disbanding" was completely a case of talking at cross purposes.

Li Ang didn't wait for the puppets to answer; he and Gawain Alt walked into the arena.

People were already waiting for them at the entrance of the arena hall.

"Romulus is very satisfied with your expedition."

With bloodshot eyes, Diarmuid Alt spoke in a low voice to Leon and Gawain.

"Of course, I am the strongest Knight of the Round Table."

Gawain shamelessly boasted, completely forgetting the gap between himself and Lancelot.

"Since everything is alright, I'll go back and rest."

Li Ang naturally wanted to walk to the other end of the hall.

Snapped.

A crimson spear blocked his path.

"busy?"

Li Ang asked, glancing sideways.

“That was Lord Romulus’s assessment,” Diarmuid said. “I am very curious about your actions.”

Leon quietly watched Diarmuid, waiting for him to continue.

Diarmuid demanded, "You did absolutely nothing on this expedition. What on earth are you up to, Sanson?!"

Li Ang calmly replied, "Everyone has their own expertise. I am a weak, pitiful, and helpless Assassin, only capable of carrying out operations behind enemy lines. Unfortunately, Lord Romulus's army is too strong and has no need for an assassin like me."

Diarmuid scoffed, "So you just sit around doing nothing? Watching from the sidelines? Even a lowly soldier is more valuable than you, Sanson."

“Go tell Lord Romulus that,” Li Ang said impatiently. “He hasn’t said anything against me, so why are you in such a hurry? You should use this time to fix that yellow Want Want Ice Cream.”

"The emperor isn't worried, but the eunuch is."

Finally, Li Ang deliberately used a Chinese proverb in French as a way of mocking Diarmuid.

"you!"

Diarmuid Alt raised the red tip of his spear, pointing it at Leon's head, as if he was about to attack.

"Is that all the patience you have? How did you manage to hook up with your boss's woman in the first place? Was it just because you were good in bed?"

Li Ang appeared calm, but his actions were extremely cautious, and he gripped the machete tightly in his hand.

"Minister Dilumudo, Minister Sansong, this is Lord Romulus's residence. Do you intend to tarnish His Majesty the Divine Ancestor's dignity here?"

Just then, a serious voice rang out from behind the two of them.

"whispering sound!"

Diarmuid Alt reluctantly sheathed his spear, quickly replacing it with a contemptuous smile.

"Isn't this the poor replica of King Arthur, Lady Artoria Alt? What, so eager to protect your little lover?"

Artoria Alt remained unfazed and calmly retorted, "Can I take this as your jealousy? It seems you're only this level of arrogance."

"Tch, just you wait and see. I will definitely expose the true colors of you adulterous couple."

Facing two Servants at the same time, Diarmuid, who only had one spear left, knew he had little chance of winning, so he simply turned and left.

"He looks like a dog."

Artoria Alt glared coldly at Gawain, who was chuckling to himself.

"Gao Wenqing, are you very free?"

"No, I just remembered I have something to do, so I'll go first."

Gao Wen's expression changed, and he wisely fled.

It seems that no matter what, Gawain remains as obedient as a chicken in front of Artoria.

Seeing that the troublesome guy was gone, Artoria Alt smiled gently and naturally hugged Li Ang.

A stark contrast to her earlier assertive demeanor in front of Diarmuid and Gawain, Artoria Alt gently caressed Li Ang's body, feeling the man's warmth.

Then, Artoria Alt gently bit Leon's ear.

"You're finally back, Li Ang~"

Leon sighed softly, "I'm back, Artoria."

Previously, when Romulus was trying to seize the Holy Grail, he attempted to infect Artoria with black mud.

Although Li Ang pulled Artoria out of the black mud in time, the black mud seemed to have recorded Artoria's existence.

Afterwards, Romulus directly used black mud and the Holy Grail to create a Heroic Spirit with Artoria as its Spirit Origin, which is Artoria Alt.

For some unknown reason, Artoria Alt knew from the moment she was born that the so-called Sanson Alt was actually Li Ang in disguise.

But perhaps inheriting Artoria's love for Li Ang, Artoria Alt not only did not expose Li Ang, but also became very close to him.

Just like now, Artoria Alt is practically glued to Leon.