Note: I wanted to update this fic two weeks ago, but this site kept running into bugs and constant problems. Every story I posted wasn't showing up in the update section, so I didn't want to waste my time until they fixed it. Now that they finally have, I can post this again.
...
Without a moment of hesitation, he picked the second option to investigate the vampire.
Whether the vampire was actually there or not didn't really matter. The whole point of Artoria setting out on this journey in the first place was to build a solid reputation and make her name echo across Britannia.
And honestly, what better way to do that than by defeating a vampire or driving it away from a terrified village?
That kind of tale spreads like wildfire.
But even if the so-called vampire had already fucked off and vanished, Khan could still have Artoria stay and tend to the aftermath, healing the injured, comforting the scared, and protecting the villagers from any bandits or scumbag robbers who'd love nothing more than to take advantage of their weakened state.
Let's be real here: from what he knew, vampires usually didn't bother robbing dirt-poor villages.
They didn't exactly have a fetish for stealing rusty coins and moldy bread.
But bandits? Oh, they'd be jerking themselves off at the chance to rob villagers when they're already injured, blood-drained, and helpless.
So yeah, choosing the second option made total sense, and Khan picked it without wasting a second.
As for the third option — robbing the rich to help the poor? Come on. Wash your face and go to sleep. This ain't Earth. This is the goddamn Nasuverse.
Most of the so-called "rich" here are magi, and they've got ridiculous amounts of power in their bloodlines.
There's a reason they've stayed on top of the world for centuries.
What was Khan supposed to gain by playing ass-kissing Robin Hood?
There was no benefit to licking the boots of the poor if it only meant making powerful nobles his enemies.
He didn't give a damn if it was Earth or if there was a giant population watching. This wasn't some modern world, this was the Nasuverse.
Being a rebel with a cause would just get Artoria hunted, and her reputation wouldn't be worth shit if she got turned into a smear on a wall by some aristocrat with a Reality Marble.
And as for why he didn't pick the fourth option?
Does that even need to be asked? Seriously?
Khan rolled his eyes internally and continued with the game, watching the choices play out exactly the way he expected.
[As you had predicted earlier, the vampire didn't even bother to loot the village. However, you noticed that many of the villagers' faces were pale and drained—especially the younger ones.]
[The elderly and the children, meanwhile, stared at you with wary, uncertain eyes. It seemed the rumors were true: the fae vampire didn't target the old or the young.]
[Without wasting any time, you gave orders to all the knights under your command, as well as to Merlin, to start treating the wounded and the drained villagers.]
[Seeing that you meant no harm, and in fact were helping them out of genuine goodwill—especially with Merlin using his magic to heal them one by one—the village chief eventually stepped forward.]
[With cautious gratitude, he thanked you and invited you personally into his humble home.]
[You didn't hesitate for a second. Boldly, you accepted his invitation and stepped inside his modest, thatched hut.]
[Once inside, you immediately told the village chief not to waste any of his precious food or resources trying to entertain you or your men. You were here solely to help—not to be served or honored.]
[After making sure the villagers were treated and safe, you and your knights departed the village without delay, politely refusing the chief's offer to stay the night.]
[But you didn't go far. Instead of leaving completely, you and your knights hid in the woods just outside the village, silently standing watch.]
[Your gut told you the danger wasn't over yet. Something didn't sit right with you, and you had a strong hunch that more trouble was on its way.]
[Your instincts were spot-on.]
[Just as night began to settle in, a rough-looking man with a cruel smirk and a gang of bandits strolled toward the village.]
[They carried machetes and swords, walking with arrogant swagger and bloodthirst in their eyes.]
"Hahaha, boss! Looks like the vampire really did hit the place, just like the rumors said," one of the bandits laughed. His tone was full of disgusting flattery, the kind that made even those ass-kissing Chinese cultivators in sect novels look like amateurs.
The boss smirked in satisfaction, clearly enjoying the praise. "Those poor bastards are already screwed. Take any woman you want—but the village chief's daughter? She's mine. Got it?"
His men grinned and saluted, nodding like obedient dogs. "We got it, boss!"
They were the kind of scum who only feared the strong and preyed on the weak.
Back when the village was thriving, they didn't dare to make a move—the risk of resistance or casualties was too high.
But now? Now the village was broken and drained.
And only a complete idiot would pass up a golden opportunity to take everything—wealth, women, and whatever else they could grab—without breaking a sweat.
[When the bandits stormed into the village, the villagers looked at them with a mix of fear and unease etched across their faces. Panic gripped their hearts as they froze, unsure of what to do.]
[Hidden within the trees of the nearby forest, you didn't hesitate.]
[Before the bandits could even utter a single word, you struck them down from behind—leading Merlin, Kay, and all the knights under your command in a sudden, fierce charge.]
[They were no match for you. Completely outclassed and overwhelmed, the bandits were wiped out in a single decisive clash, not even given the chance to scream, let alone beg for mercy.]
"Thank you, Sir. Thank you so much," the village chief said, bowing his head in gratitude as he spoke to the group.
"I'm not a 'Sir'," Artoria responded bluntly, her tone leaving no room for confusion. "We'll make camp outside. We'll protect your village until you're strong enough to defend yourselves."
Before the chief could get another word out, Artoria turned on her heel and walked away, her knights, along with Merlin and Kay, silently following behind her.
Merlin watched her from behind, his eyes thoughtful, his expression unreadable.
No one knew what was going through his mind.
[The night had finally come.]
[You felt it—a strange pull, like something was yanking your consciousness away, dragging you out of your body. It wasn't gentle. It was forceful, like being sucked into a vortex without warning.]
[1. Resist with every ounce of your willpower and strength.]
[2. Let them pull you away. Maybe this is Merlin's doing—you trusted him not to harm you.]
[3. Force yourself awake and confront Merlin directly about what the hell is going on.]
Khan furrowed his brows, unease gnawing at the back of his mind as he stared into the simulator text.
Why would Merlin do this?
If he wanted to talk to Artoria, all he had to do was ask. A simple request would've been enough—not this shady, forceful shit.
Was this even really Merlin?
Something felt off. Too off. The vibe was wrong, and every instinct in Khan's body screamed that this wasn't right.
Without a second thought, he chose option three. No hesitation. No patience left for games.
[Forcefully awakened from your sleep, you confronted Merlin directly, demanding answers for everything he had done.]
[Merlin looked at you with that ever-familiar, playful glint in his eyes, but this time, the smile on his lips didn't quite reach them.]
["You're not Artoria," he said calmly. "She would never question me, never suspect I'd have a hidden motive. But you? You're different. Who are you really, Your Excellency?"]
[He tilted his head slightly, voice turning colder. "Well... I suppose it doesn't matter who you are. I'll just take the answer myself."]
[Before you could even react, your body went numb. Darkness closed in instantly.]
[You were dead.]
[Your soul was being searched.]
[Unfortunately for him, Merlin couldn't extract your memories. Something blocked him.]
[Waifu Simulator Life Protection: ACTIVATED]
[Soul Integrity: Protected]
[Unauthorized Access: DENIED]
[Bad Ending 1: Killed by Merlin]
[Evaluation: Maybe acting on your own wasn't the smartest play. You should've brought Morgan along instead of thinking you could safely build up power under Merlin's nose. Especially the moment you started having your own opinions instead of blindly following his lead.]
Reward: +5% Strength of Simulation Character
[Would you like to load a previous checkpoint, Player?]
Khan stared blankly at the screen, speechless.
Seriously?
He never thought Merlin would be that decisive or that the simulator would be this brutal.
Either you play along as Merlin's obedient puppet... or you bring Morgan into the mix from the beginning if you want Artoria to develop properly toward the endgame.
Now, it came down to one thing: which checkpoint could actually salvage this shitshow?
Would he have to start from scratch?
Or was there still some kind of redemption path buried in one of the earlier choices?
Maybe... maybe he should try involving the Lady of the Lake this time.
Pull her into the game before Merlin tightened the leash again.
But would Vivian even agree to enter the game?
She had always been an observer, never an actor—even in canon, she stayed out of everything.
Still, failure wasn't an option.
Either he got murdered by Merlin again, made the risky play of choosing Morgan... or somehow convinced Vivian to join the game.
So now, it came down to one thing.
Which route would he choose?
Decision... Decision...