Chapter 105: New Prologue -3-

Servant Archer, Atalante, entered a certain cave.

The cave was dark and dreary, devoid of even a single beast. As she ventured deeper into the gloom, where droplets of water fell with a rhythmic thud, she discovered a door.

It was an ordinary-looking wooden door. But when she grasped the handle and pushed it open, the scenery beyond was entirely different from the cave.

A grand, opulent chamber lay before her.

The room was decorated in a decadent Roman style, overflowing with luxury and revelry. Countless bottles of wine, fruits, and delicacies were piled like mountains, while priceless jewels and ornaments were strewn about the space.

And there, seated upon the highest throne, was a woman.

"Still playing with your attendants, Rider?"

Atalante addressed her as Rider. The blonde woman, whose very presence screamed "tyrant" to anyone who looked at her, wore a thin, sly smile.

"Ah, you have arrived, Archer. Come, join me. Since you are a hero of myth, I shall not demand that you serve me. Why not rest and enjoy some wine? I can provide a few humans who suit your tastes."

"I decline. Such things are not to my liking."

The woman reminded Atalante of Jason... No, Jason was the type to be honest about his desires; this woman was a corrupted tyrant.

She was the kind of ruler Atalante had seen countless times in Greece.

Perhaps Eurystheus, the King of Mycenae who imposed those trials upon Heracles, was exactly like this, she thought.

"Is that so? How truly a pity. To possess a face that is nothing short of a peerless beauty, yet be unable to enjoy anything. What a tragic life you lead, Archer."

"...Are you mocking me?"

"Perish the thought! How could I possibly insult one so courageous as to share a passionate encounter within the temple of a god? I am merely genuinely sorry. Your life is certainly that of a hero... but compared to others, is it not far too rigid? A bit boring, wouldn't you say?"

Atalante frowned, clearly displeased by Rider's words. However, she did not argue.

Though she had plenty of rebuttals, she knew that no matter what she said, it would be useless.

A being who was a madwoman yet not a madwoman. The emperor who symbolized the very madness of Rome.

"There is nothing more tedious than a life of moderation. To savor the finest delicacies, to indulge in wine, to lust after beauty, and to collect the magnificent—that is the true posture of a king. Is that not the life of an emperor?"

Servant Rider.

True Name: Emperor Nero.

"Since we have been granted life once more, should we not enjoy it to the fullest?"

"...I trust you haven't forgotten our mission."

Nero let out a small chuckle at Atalante's reminder.

"Of course. But we are merely killing some barbarians in Britain, are we not? Is such stiff preparation truly necessary?"

She was brimming with confidence. No, it was beyond confidence—it was pure arrogance.

She was a creature composed entirely of hubris.

"Do you know how many Britons I slew in my lifetime? Was it... eighty thousand? No, ninety thousand? Perhaps a hundred thousand? I forget how many that woman Boudica brought with her... it was such an easy, one-sided slaughter that I can hardly recall the details."

Nero recalled the Battle of Watling Street and the army of 230,000 led by Queen Boudica. Rome had only 10,000 soldiers, but...

"Puhuhu, I still remember it well. I was tense when I first heard the number 230,000, but barbarians are barbarians. They were simply slaughtered before the walls of our proud Roman legions. Our losses were a mere 400, while Boudica lost about 80,000! I do not call them barbarians for nothing. They had numbers, yes, but they were vermin who didn't even possess proper armor."

"……."

"That is the inevitable end for barbarians who delude themselves into thinking they are Spartans. Britain is Britain, no matter how much time passes. Which is why it is so regrettable. They seem to have developed quite a bit under the grace of Rome, yet modern Rome seems to have regressed since my era."

Nero sneered at Britain as a land of savages, recounting her history as a series of heroic exploits.

Simultaneously, she expressed her disdain for the state of modern Rome.

"Truly foolish. To let the hearth of Vesta go cold and bring about their own destruction. Christianity, was it? Hmph! To adopt as a state religion a faith represented by a rude heretic who died under Tiberius... absolutely absurd! This is why those without proper roots must never become emperors! Umu! The divine Quirinus! Jupiter, King of the Gods! Mars, the God of War! These three are the only deities worthy of Rome's worship! To think that idiots who commit spiritual suicide became emperors! And why on earth did they split into East and West!"

Nero poured out her complaints regarding Rome's history while popping a grape offered by an attendant into her mouth.

"The moment they allowed the sacred tree planted by the great founder Romulus to wither, they proved how pathetic future generations of Rome were. Attila? Altera? To be nearly destroyed by nomadic eastern barbarians... it is so pathetic I am speechless! Isn't it laughable, Archer, that this was the result of my deposition?"

"Enough with the lamenting. I have no interest. Greece has little to do with Rome anyway. Besides, wasn't Rome founded by the descendants of Troy?"

"Umu, that may be true... but we worship the same gods!"

"Not anymore."

"Ugh! H-however, this is different! The new emperor of the modern age, Lucius Tiberius! I hear he has returned to the Roman faith and serves the divine founder once more. Umu, a successor emperor who uses the name I once received from my wretched father... I find that rather pleasing."

The name Nero was one she received upon becoming the adopted daughter of Emperor Claudius. Her original name had been Lucius.

"Yes! Rome shall be great again! That is why I have manifested in this world—to return the Empire to its golden age! First, I shall turn this Britain back into Roman Britain and use it as a stepping stone for Rome's resurgence! Umu!"

"……."

Did Nero even realize? Regardless of her plans, Merlin's ultimate goal was the destruction of Britain as destiny decreed. If Britain were to perish, it would be meaningless even if Rome devoured it.

No... would Merlin even allow someone to defy such a fate?

Having heard the general situation, Atalante shook her head at Nero, whose mind seemed to be a field of flowers.

Whatever delusions she harbored were not Atalante's concern.

"Sigh. Just stay quiet and don't cause any trouble until Caster arrives."

"Hmph, you view me as a troublemaker. I possess a fair amount of patience, I assure you."

Atalante gave her warning and sat down to maintain her bow.

As several Servants summoned by the Dream Demon gathered, the net began to close in on Kay.

At that moment, Kay was...

"Oh, for goodness' sake……."

"Dad? What's wrong? You look incredibly serious."

"This is a disaster, Mordred…."

"What is it?"

"The... the kimchi has gone sour."

"Aw, man... I'm not a fan of over-ripened kimchi."

"Neither am I. Well, I'll have to use this for other dishes. I'll need to make a fresh batch for the side dishes."

He was worrying about something else entirely.

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