Typemoon: Starting Out as the Lion King's Personal Knight [431] (Patreon)

“Even just seeing it via remote imaging, I thought this place was unbelievable,” Da Vinci kept looking around, clicking her tongue in amazement. “But seeing it in person—wow, wow, wow.”

What met their eyes was a countless number of turrets, on a scale so massive it had surpassed the realm of humanity, practically a megastructure.

“These ones covering the perimeter, those are the rockets we saw before, transporting Hinako and Xiang Yu, right?”

Da Vinci commented, “If they prepared this many, it could easily cover the entire planet.”

The turrets stretched so far you couldn’t see their end, and since  had no intention of building up any other cities, only leaving Xianyang, where his holy body resided—

It could be deduced that global domination was managed solely from this one city.

Just imagining such a thing was astounding.

“My, my, to think he’s really ruling the world with just one city.”

Da Vinci laughed, “But then, does this city still function as a city?”

A city’s core function is to sustain its people’s lives, but the current Xianyang seemed highly mechanized. Was it just a special city designed for ’s global rule?

“Of course it’s functional.”

Alaric nodded slightly. “That stadium-like building ahead seems to be a gathering place for citizens. There are a lot of people inside.

This is only the outer area. The real capital is inside.”

It didn’t seem like Xianyang had any spells to block out presence, so Alaric easily noticed the citizens living in the city—quite a number, fully matching what you’d expect for such a metropolis.

might be the sole Emperor ruling over the stars, but there’s no reason to live in an empty city. The Emperor’s radiance might shine over the whole world, but he still needs people at his feet to create atmosphere.

“Let’s hurry inside, then. The Emperor is waiting for our audience.”

Da Vinci didn’t hesitate. Though she inwardly grumbled about Qin Shi Huang inviting them for an audience while sending attack units to harass them, it was just a complaint.

An emperor’s mind is hard to guess.

Alaric didn’t object to Da Vinci’s suggestion, and followed her into the capital.

This process didn’t trigger any retaliation from the mechanical soldiers guarding the perimeter—they were utterly ignored.

Alaric only glanced at the idle mechanical soldiers, then entered the capital, where he was instantly struck by a lively, bustling atmosphere.

It wasn’t the rustic style of wheat-field farmers, but eastern steampunk aesthetic—almost every resident was composing poetry, singing, or dancing.

Joy seemed to take tangible form, rippling before Alaric and Da Vinci’s eyes.

“Oh—”

At the scene, Alaric couldn’t help but stroke his chin, thoughtfully scanning the surroundings. “Painting, songwriting, sculpting, singing… every form of art is gathered in Xianyang. Are they artists kept in captivity?”

Unlike the external wheat fields, whose style and folkways even Da Vinci couldn’t bear to look at, this place was advanced and gripped by a thriving artistic wave.

“What a joke!”

Artist Da Vinci simply couldn’t accept what she saw being called art or those people being called artists. “Their only theme is praise for the First Emperor! Everything is about him! That’s not art at all!”

She refused to accept it.

She absolutely could not accept that this was art—it was an insult to the concept.

“Anything that brings people joy is art, is culture.”

Alaric mused, “But here, the only person who enjoys it is the First Emperor. So everyone creates the kind of art the Emperor likes, just for him.”

It was clear from the diverse artists below—all ethnicities and styles, obviously from different cultural spheres.

Even though the First Emperor had unified the world, he’d gathered people from all over to create for him—

“Like livestock.”

Alaric sighed, “They’ll probably spend their entire lives in Xianyang, creating for the Emperor until they die. Their whole lives are gifts to him.

Creating under the Emperor’s gaze, like exhibits on display.”

“In these circumstances, whether it’s Shakespeare who dreamed of applause, Andersen who sought life’s truths—”

Da Vinci murmured, “Or someone like me who loves creating, none of us would ever be born here. The difference from pan-human history is too great.”

Under the reign of Qin Shi Huang, the world might produce warriors from pan-human history, but there were few exceptions in art and culture. The cultural soil was different from the very beginning.

No hundred schools of thought could bloom.

Different soil breeds different fruit.

“This Emperor never ceases to surprise.”

Alaric raised an eyebrow. “Looks like someone’s come to greet us.”

An elderly man in a red Zhongshan suit stepped calmly from the crowd, appearing before Alaric and Da Vinci.

“Lady Da Vinci, be careful. He’s strong—strong enough to shatter your spirit core with a single punch.”

Alaric, calm, stepped forward to stand before Da Vinci, facing the old man head-on.

The bright red Zhongshan suit was clearly made of top-quality silk, but such luxury was ordinary for the old man.

Beneath the suit, his physique was robust—his muscles had not faded with age, but remained at an astonishing level.

His steps were measured, every move precise; even Alaric couldn’t find fault.

His steady, rhythmic breathing expanded and contracted his body—a masterful breathing technique that adjusted his physical state.

This allowed the old man to maintain a body as powerful as a Heroic Spirit.

Yes, as powerful as a Heroic Spirit.

Alaric could see that the old man before him was still alive, at least a hundred years old, yet still at this level.

His gaze was reserved, not the look of someone at death’s door, but of someone honing himself.

Just meeting his gaze, Alaric could sense the tiger-like aura hidden in his body. From youthful ferocity to the current state of unity with nature, decades of self-refinement had produced explosive power.

More importantly, the way he looked at Alaric and Da Vinci—beyond assessing their looks, he was searching for weaknesses. Qin Shi Huang's bodies held no secrets for him; if given a chance, he could kill with a single blow.

Realizing this, Alaric’s brow twitched. Honestly, he sensed danger in the old man’s eyes.

It wasn’t mere strength—it was transcendent skill.

The old man’s martial arts were so superb that if he struck a weak point, even Alaric would be affected.

At this point, even taking a direct hit from an anti-army Noble Phantasm wouldn’t bother Alaric much, but this man could still threaten him.

His martial arts had reached the realm of the divine.

“So, you must be Li Shuwen. I’ve heard so much about you.”

“May I ask what position you hold under the First Emperor?”

Alaric naturally recognized Li Shuwen, though he didn’t know how someone born in the Qing Dynasty was still alive now.

That was why Alaric earlier deduced Li Shuwen was over a hundred years old. However he’d survived didn’t matter; just being here proved his extraordinary status.

After all, in Xianyang, most people were apparently artists. It didn’t make sense for someone with such martial prowess to exist here otherwise.

“I currently serve as the Emperor’s Royal Guard Captain, in charge of his safety for a hundred and fifty years.”

“I’ll be brief. His Majesty permits your audience. Follow me.”

After leaving the central control room, Li Shuwen’s only task was to escort Alaric and Da Vinci there to meet the First Emperor.

“Is the Emperor’s world truly peaceful now?”

Along the way, Alaric asked curiously, “How does His Majesty soothe the desires in people’s hearts?”

Human beings have the seven emotions and six desires—even the First Emperor can’t erase them. Yet he’d achieved this so-called golden age. Alaric was curious how.

Suppressing wisdom, preventing the spread of technology, and improving wheat fields might ensure everyone was fed, but as the saying goes, once people are full, they get restless.

To put it simply: once basic needs are met, people want spiritual fulfillment. If they don’t get it, they start to get ideas.

So how did Qin Shi Huang suppress the desires of the world?

“The Emperor’s Gift.”

Li Shuwen, walking ahead, answered, “His Majesty periodically grants special gifts to the populace. Consuming these rare items allows people to satisfy their desires at home and enjoy happiness. This is the basis for today’s peace and stability.”

“Oh, I see, I see.”

Alaric and Da Vinci exchanged glances, instantly understanding that Qin Shi Huang used some special drug to keep the world’s people content—fulfilling their material and spiritual needs, eliminating unrest.

Through further probing, Alaric also learned that Qin Shi Huang currently relied on thermal power—burning the endless wheat fields outside to keep the empire running.

“Your Majesty, they have arrived.” Li Shuwen led Alaric and Da Vinci into the holy body floating above Xianyang—the First Emperor’s own form.

Along the way, Alaric and Da Vinci noted the internal structure of the holy body. It wasn’t human anatomy, but an artificial garden modeled on nature, with miniature mountains and mercury rivers.

The body itself was a microcosm, operated by geomantic magic reflecting the real world, powering the Epang Palace-shaped First Emperor.

It was the ultimate fusion of magic.

“Ah, you’re here.”

Human’s voice rang out unhurriedly, as if their arrival was only natural.

“Was everything on the way here a test?”

Alaric asked calmly, “With Hinako and Xiang Yu, did you want to destroy us or just see how we performed?”

“It was about your performance. If you couldn’t get past Xiang Yu and Hinako, what right would you have to see me?”  Qin Shi Huang said. “Now that you’re here, speak your mind. Or is your only wish to gaze upon my holy body?”

Ask what?

Alaric and Da Vinci exchanged looks. Da Vinci didn’t speak, leaving the questioning to Alaric.

On the way here, and with Li Shuwen’s answers, they’d already grasped the basics of Qin Shi Huang.

Alaric’s questions had been narrowing, condensing into just one.

“How do you define ‘human’?”

Alaric looked around the control room, curious. “Is the mighty Qin an empire of countless people, or just one?”

“Of course, only one. That is me.”

Qin Shi Huang replied matter-of-factly, “By gathering all the world’s actions into a single point, concentrated on this throne, I have made myself the ultimate ‘human.’

In your so-called pan-human history, has anyone risen to my height?

Look up at the Great Wall in the sky; look down on the world’s riches.

Who else has achieved such feats?”

How many have ruled a planet?

Not a frozen wasteland;

Not a divine prison wrapped by giants;

Not a city amid endless oceans;

Not an island of piled corpses;

Not a nine-layer underworld.

But ruling all life on a planet, leading the stars onward in the name of the absolute emperor.

Such achievements, even among infinite possibilities, are rare.

“Whenever humans form groups, they achieve nothing. Discord, difference, and power struggles bind and degrade them.”

Qin Shi Huang was blunt. “So, humans don’t need groups.

Only the ultimate and supreme True Human can rule the species.”

“A True Human, huh?”

Alaric, understanding the meaning, looked around with a sigh. “Even if your body is mechanical, your spirit hasn’t changed. Is that what it means to be a True Human?”

“Of course. What makes a human?”

Qin Shi Huang said, “Not the number of eyes, limbs, or fingers, but responsibility.

Responsibility for the world—for the sky, the earth, the sea, and all life. Responsibility for the planet’s future.

Pan-human history—can you choose which species go extinct? Can you decide how much carbon to emit? Can you stop the polar ice from melting? Can you control endless desire?

I can. As the sole arbiter, I reign over the world.

Therefore, I am human, for I alone bear all responsibility.”

“So, there’s no more possibility—”

Understanding why this world was pruned, Alaric sighed. “Humanity’s possibilities lie in desire. When you stagnate, the world stops moving forward.”

Here, there’s only one person, and when he stops, so does humanity’s progress.

But this world is also farthest from being pruned— stagnates because he and his empire are too strong, so strong that nothing on the planet can threaten them.

No competition means no pressure. No pressure means no progress.

No progress means death—the loss of an infinite future.

But as long as there’s pressure, something that stresses Qin Shi Huang, the world will keep its possibilities.

But for someone who’s unified the stars, only aliens could apply that pressure.

“Oh? What do you mean?”

Qin Shi Huang was intrigued. “How can you say my rule has lost possibility?”

“You mentioned the Great Wall in the sky—a megastructure 2,000 kilometers above ground. That’s amazing.”

Alaric recalled the satellite Great Wall. “Even in pan-human history, nothing like that exists, but they’ve reached the moon, and probes have gone even further—like Voyager 1, which has traveled 15 billion kilometers from Earth. That’s 7.5 million satellite Great Walls.

That’s the possibility born of human desire.

You’re too strong. By taking all responsibility, your own halt is humanity’s halt.”

“Is that true?”

If Qin Shi Huang had a real body, he’d be frowning. “A journey of 15 billion kilometers—pan-human history did that?”

“Of course.”

Alaric answered calmly. “When did you unify the world?”

“In the 13th century, after destroying the Aztec Republic at the North Pole, the planet was mine.”

Qin Shi Huang said, “After that, centuries of peace—no conflict, no war, just national prosperity.”

“After building the satellite Great Wall, did you ever consider exploring space further?”

Alaric asked, “When was your last technological revolution? Have you, lacking pressure, continued to advance?”

“——”

Qin Shi Huang fell silent. “Technological revolution… I completed industrialization before the Western countries, achieved gunpowder use—”

“Not enough. Gunpowder is nothing.”

Alaric splayed his fingers. “Right now, Qin still uses firewood power. Maybe that’s enough for one person, but it’s the beginning of stagnation. You don’t need to develop further to face threats, just amuse yourself.”

“So you have a lot of opinions on my Qin.”

Qin Shi Huang said coolly, “So what do you intend? Like Chaldea, do you want to destroy my empire?”

“That depends entirely on you.”

Alaric withdrew his hand. “If you want a fight, we’ll fight to the death. If not, we can talk peacefully, can’t we?”

Alaric had sensed multiple strong presences in Epang Palace—enough to match Heroic Spirits.

That was less important than the palace’s own defenses.

Alaric couldn’t gauge how strong ’s defenses were; attacking rashly was unwise.

If possible, he’d prefer to negotiate first.

“Oh? Interesting, you want to negotiate.”

Qin Shi Huang’s tone rose. “So tell me, what do you want?”

Alaric’s point about stagnation had struck home.

The centuries of stagnation were unprecedented.

Without outside intervention, Qin Shi Huang might take centuries more to notice—or never have the chance.

“Technical knowledge. You invited us for a reason, didn’t you?”

Alaric said, “Let’s trade what you want for what we need.”

“Interesting. Be direct.”

Qin Shi Huang didn’t hide his intentions. “I want your body data, to compare with Hinako’s. You’re not quite a celestial, but you have your own strengths.”

“Mine?”

Alaric blinked, clearly surprised by the request.

When Qin Shi Huang first contacted them, mentioning the other side of the Storm Wall, Alaric and Da Vinci thought he wanted a way to freely cross it.

But now, Qin Shi Huang’s true aim was more shocking.

At least, Alaric was stunned.

He had never imagined it would be about himself.

Not only that—

Studying his body—

Alaric was well aware of his own condition—he was in the state of Human Evil, a Beast larva, with the Third Magic’s soul-materialization effect, gradually becoming like a Servant.

He was approaching the state of agelessness—so-called immortality.

Though nominally immortal, higher mysteries or special attacks could still kill him. After all, the last Human Evil to reach the Third Magic, Kiara Sessyoin, had long since met her end.

Alaric wasn’t smug about it; he treated it as normal.

The Third Magic might not be that special, but Human Evil was—a product of extremes.

And in front of Alaric stood another extreme human.

Thinking this, Alaric glanced at Da Vinci, who was evidently thinking the same.

Da Vinci, the universal genius, understood Human Evil’s extremity, and ’s earlier remarks—

“Your Majesty wants to compare Alaric’s data to Hinako’s—is that the so-called celestial?”

Da Vinci asked curiously, “Is Hinako the celestial you spoke of?”

Qin Shi Huang had said Alaric’s current state was not quite celestial, but had its own strengths, and had mentioned Hinako. Da Vinci naturally connected the two.

Celestials in Chinese mythology—have a unique meaning.

Of course, they can be called True Humans as well. To become immortal is the ultimate goal of many, and Qin Shi Huang was one of them. Without the legacy of immortal arts, he might have died in pursuit of immortality.

If Hinako is a native True Ancestor spirit, she fits the mythological definition of celestial.

Ageless and deathless—that is a celestial.

Even as a mechanical holy body, Qin Shi Huang was curious about celestials.

“Of course, Hinako is a celestial. You both saw her true nature the moment you met, didn’t you? That’s a useful insight.”

Though he said “you both,” ’s gaze was fixed on Alaric.

Ever since Alaric and Da Vinci entered Epang Palace, Qin Shi Huang had repeatedly scanned them.

As a Servant, Da Vinci gave off a spirit particle reading Qin Shi Huang had never seen—this kind of magical general was a first for him.

But apart from the strange spirit particle signature, there wasn’t much special; Qin Shi Huang’s subordinates included magi.

Alaric was different.

His spirit particle reading was powerful, evil, opposed to humanity itself—the other side of the world.

Just analyzing it had required a significant portion of the holy body’s computing power.

The result was astonishing—a spiritual foundation far above Servant level, compressed into a human body, radiating an indescribable quality.

Compared to Da Vinci’s spirit signature, it was utterly opposed, and had astonishing independence.

What was this?

Qin Shi Huang couldn’t comprehend it—only that it was extremely dangerous.

He also detected that Alaric’s body was ascending, transforming into a perfect body matching his soul—the celestial state.

“…………”

Alaric stood at ease, acting as if he hadn’t noticed Qin Shi Huang’s thousands of scans in a few seconds.

Exchanging words while being scanned head to toe—was Qin Shi Huang just bad at hiding it, or simply didn’t care?

“Your Majesty just wants Alaric’s body data for comparison?”

Da Vinci had also noticed the scans, but controlled herself, saying coolly, “If that’s all, we can trade.”

“Of course, that’s not all.”

Qin Shi Huang said, “I mentioned before—I intend to visit the other side of the storm myself, and need a way to do so. That means imaginary number navigation. You used that to cross the storm wall, didn’t you?”

“Imaginary number navigation—”

Alaric glanced at Da Vinci. Chaldea’s Shadow Border, capable of such navigation, was Da Vinci’s creation, with the help of the Paper Moon.

Their off-road vehicle was a similar creation, but as for that function—

When building the vehicle, Da Vinci had said that without the Paper Moon, it couldn’t navigate the imaginary number space.

But—

Had Da Vinci included it anyway? Alaric had confirmed the answer recently.

Foreseeing that Qin Shi Huang might want a way out—imaginary number navigation—he’d asked Da Vinci if the vehicle had it.

Her answer:

“Of course! The more, the better! I had nothing better to do, so I added it.”

Da Vinci said to Alaric, “I put in a bunch of stuff.”

Even if it wasn’t needed, it was best to have it.

Whether or not to trade this tech with Qin Shi Huang —Alaric left that decision to Da Vinci.

As the universal genius, she could see further than he could.

“The deal can be done, Your Majesty.”

Da Vinci, the universal genius, didn’t hesitate. “But I have a few conditions, which you must accept.”

“Oh?”

Qin Shi Huang’s tone shifted. “Go on, a deal must be fair after all.”

Though Alaric and Da Vinci had reached Xianyang, and the vehicle with imaginary number navigation was basically in Qin Shi Huang’s hands, he disdained any underhandedness.

A true king acts openly.

“If Your Majesty wishes to analyze Alaric’s data and compare it to Hinako the celestial, then I want access to all your research results—not just about Alaric, but everything.”

Da Vinci said, “And, I want to use the computing power of your holy body. Can you agree to both?”

“Hmm? You want to share my results, and use my holy body?”

Qin Shi Huang was surprised. “You’re greedy, but I allow it. My authority is not for commoners, but you are qualified as trading partners.

As for research results, I allow it. There’s nothing there worth hiding.”

The body data research was nothing to Qin Shi Huang—just a hobby. In his eyes, the mechanical holy body was the correct path.

Only a supercomputer could suit a world ruler.

“Then, it’s a deal.”

Alaric said easily, “Let’s work well together in the days ahead.”