Upon clicking the video, one could see—
It was an endless sea of flowers.
Countless blossoms bloomed, transforming the place into a dreamlike paradise.
[This is the Inner Sea of the Planet, the Hill of Observation.]
[It exists in the form of an ideal land.]
[As long as the Flower Magus, Merlin, is present, the place will never be a hellscape, but a land overflowing with hope.]
...
"Wow, so beautiful!"
Kirina widened her eyes, stunned by the fantastical scene before her.
It was too beautiful—so beautiful it took her breath away.
Even in dreams, she had never seen something so mesmerizing.
She couldn't help but praise, "Living in such a beautiful scene… Merlin must be a kind-hearted, noble person, right?"
"Uh…"
Sanjiro was momentarily speechless, as if he'd just heard the sun was rising from the west.
Kind-hearted? Noble? Pure of heart?
Did that damnable nightmare even possess such things?
If he really did, Sanjiro wouldn't have had the urge to stab him a few times and send him to a hospital in a dress.
"Just keep watching."
Sanjiro had the tiniest sliver of anticipation—curious to see how Alaya would go about exposing Merlin.
Tch, after getting exposed harshly twice already, it was about time someone else got their turn.
BobUchiha-[Holy crap, look what I just rolled?!]
HolySimp999-[It's actually a bonus episode—about that mysterious Flower Magus!]
YaoiBreed-[Merlin is seriously so handsome!]
YeetTheInfidel-[But… he kinda gives off shady vibes…]
Countless people followed the uploader [Alaya].
As soon as the new bonus episode was uploaded, everyone clicked to watch it.
The video began to play.
A young girl version of Artoria lay in bed sleeping, her brows tightly furrowed. The scene shifted, showing what appeared to be her dream.
Wearing a luxurious white robe, Merlin was lecturing her seriously.
From history and culture to politics and military strategy—all the knowledge a king should possess—he stuffed into her head via rote-force teaching.
During the day—
The young girl comforted her foster brother Kay, saying, "Don't worry, I can actually get by on just two or three hours of sleep!"
"Damn you, Merlin! Do you even have a conscience?!" Kay exploded in rage.
He had long since treated Artoria as his real little sister—there was no way he could tolerate her being treated like this by Merlin.
Only two hours of sleep a night? No wonder she never developed properly!
And the audience was furious too—
HerbertXOXO-[WTF?! Ten-year-old King Artoria only sleeps two hours a day?!]
AspiringWizard-[That's insane! Studying even in her dreams!]
BobUchiha-[Damn, I thought sleeping at midnight and waking at 5AM during senior year was already brutal!]
YaoiBreed-[He looks handsome but acts like a demon! Call him "Mer-less" (Merlin + heartless)!]
AlmightyMiddleFinger-[Of course it's easier to push a child than push yourself!]
...
At first, everyone was captivated by Merlin's looks.
If you're good-looking, even people's values start following your face. But now, everyone was turning on him.
Not even the strictest parents would treat their children this way—this was beyond cruel!
The screen shifted again.
Young Artoria had finally reached the critical age of fifteen.
The conversation between the two birds—Merlin's and Nameless's—from the earlier video "The Perfect King" was reenacted.
With that opening scene fresh in their minds, the audience was already brimming with anger, eager to curse him for being heartless.
The bonus video continued.
After she pulled out the Sword in the Stone—
Merlin said to Nameless, "I know her path will be filled with hardship, but also of great spectacle. So please, show me every beautiful thing along the way and bring me joy."
A nightmare-born being with no human emotions, seeking only to witness so-called "beauty"
What followed:
Artoria, Merlin, and Nameless began traveling across various nations.
Artoria was to read countless books and travel extensively—becoming the perfect king.
Whenever they encountered robbery, theft, insults, or noble oppression, Artoria would unhesitatingly intervene.
Meanwhile, Merlin would only fuel the fire with his sharp tongue.
In the end, Nameless always had to clean up the mess.
A nightmare born to stir up trouble!
He claimed to seek beauty, but in truth, he just wanted entertainment!
...
Uruk.
The King of Heroes watched with great interest. "Merlin, you seem to understand what true pleasure is."
Those without self-awareness merely chased carnal pleasures, like beasts drawn to blood.
Their emotions were laid bare in their actions—simple and crude.
But true pleasure—
"Pleasure, at its core, is part of the soul. It's not about 'having' or 'lacking' it. It's whether one is 'aware' or not."
Gilgamesh was slightly intrigued by this Flower Magus.
A fellow seeker of pleasure!
While traveling, Merlin constantly observed everyone. He treated people as clowns meant to entertain him—relishing the journey.
Unlike Artoria and Nameless, who traveled burdened by duty.
"Nameless, in this regard, you're far less interesting than Merlin!"
Gilgamesh grinned.
If he ever met this Magus of Flowers, he'd definitely make him one of his vassals!
The scene continued.
Merlin stood far off, watching like a spectator. Following his gaze— Morgan was creating the artificial human Mordred.
"Ria, this is the calamity you are destined to face,"
The Flower Magus sighed.
Tears dripped from the corners of his mouth, his face full of sorrow (and joy).
HistorianWithWifi-[WTF, this guy knew everything all along?!]
BobUchiha-[Got it—he's just a damn sadist who lives for drama!]
NotSunKnight-[Damn you, Merlin! I thought you cared about our King! You just stood there watching the father-daughter drama unfold!]
HerbertXOXO-[Nameless, quick—go kill him!]
...
"Kirina, how many times have I told you—never judge a book by its cover!"
Sanjiro pointed at the guy on the screen.
If not for Alaya exposing him, even he wouldn't have known Merlin was worse than he'd imagined!
That bastard—he should've stabbed him a few more times back then!
"He's too cruel. That's not even human!"
Kirina swallowed hard.
So handsome—yet acts nothing like a person.
Oh right, he isn't human!
Well, that explains everything.
The video continued.
The nightmare-born man was shown flirting with various women.
In the end, during Artoria's campaign to Europe, Merlin offended a fairy and had to hide away in Avalon.
He locked himself up completely.
And he stayed hidden for over a thousand years.
Not even the father-daughter war between Artoria and Mordred brought him out!
"MF! That bastard!"
Even Sanjiro couldn't hold back a curse at that scene.
He had thought Merlin went into hiding so as not to burden Artoria. But turns out, it was because he was a skirt-chaser who provoked a fairy!
"Truly scum!"
Kirina couldn't help but share in the outrage.
A nightmare scum—utter trash!
They had thought the bonus video would show the dignity of the royal court's official magician, but instead, it revealed someone utterly despicable.
Kirina wasn't alone—every viewer felt their mindset collapse.
They wished they could band together and go chop Merlin into pieces!
But the next scene made everyone momentarily forget their rage.
Because—it showed the heart-wrenching farewell between Artoria and Mordred.
This time, it was from Merlin's perspective, standing atop the Tower at the End, watching through clairvoyance.
The Battle for the Fall of Britain had ended.
Bedivere finally arrived, tears streaming down his face as he knelt.
Arthur handed him the Holy Sword. "Bedivere… cross that blood-drenched hill… and cast this sword into the deepest part of the lake…"
"Yes, my king!"
Bedivere wiped his tears, took the sword, and walked toward the lake Arthur had spoken of.
However—
The first time, he reached the lake but returned to the forest.
Without the Holy Sword's blessing, the king would die.
Bedivere didn't want his king to die, so he lied twice, claiming to have returned the sword—but both times, Arthur saw through him.
When he went back a third time—
The king...
Was gone.