I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit

"This sense of danger... why does it feel stronger than that Demon King Army general?"

Nero gritted her teeth, forced back step by step by the Winter Shogun's relentless assault. The Shogun, tireless and unyielding, continued its ferocious offensive.

The snow-white katana cleaved through the air, aiming for Nero's side. But the strike was blocked by Nero's greatsword, firmly planted into the ground, producing a deafening metallic clash that echoed like thunder.

Feeling the force transmitted through her arms, Nero dug her heels deeper into the snow, her legs sinking under the immense pressure.

"Guh—aaaaah!"

With a shout, Nero forced the katana aside, following up with a heavy slash that struck the blade directly and pushed the Winter Shogun back.

The Shogun staggered several steps, gripping its sword tightly as it searched for Nero—only to find her gone.

A sharp whistling sound came from above. Instinctively, the Shogun looked up.

In that instant, it saw a fiery red streak descending upon it. Without hesitation, the Shogun swung its katana. Nero simultaneously brought down her greatsword.

Clang!

Nero's strike overpowered the Shogun's blade, driving it diagonally into the snow, sending a plume of white powder into the air.

Golden hair whipped wildly as Nero's eyes sharpened. With a flick of her wrist, the flaming greatsword scraped against the Shogun's katana, once again slicing toward its neck.

Shhhk!

At the critical moment, the Shogun abandoned its sword and shrugged off its white haori.

The haori was effortlessly torn apart by Nero's blade, but it obscured her vision.

In the next moment, Nero felt a sharp pain in her abdomen.

Through the haori, the Shogun delivered a powerful kick, sending her flying.

Sliding backward across the snow, Nero finally came to a stop, her expression grim.

"Damn it… This is getting troublesome."

It wasn't that she would lose—Nero acknowledged that the Winter Shogun was formidable, possessing exceptional swordsmanship and unrelenting stamina. Moreover, it seemed impervious to mere physical attacks.

But Nero was confident that she would ultimately triumph if the fight continued.

The problem was that she didn't have the luxury of time to resolve this quickly.

The avalanche was rapidly approaching, and Nero had no intention of being buried alive. Yet the creature before her refused to give her an opening to escape, using its era-defining swordsmanship to relentlessly pin her down.

"And on top of that…"

In a brief pause between exchanges, Nero glanced toward Kazuma's party not far away.

The avalanche would surely engulf them, leaving them no chance to survive.

Having made her decision, Nero steadied her resolve.

Intercepting another diagonal slash from the Shogun, she shouted:

"Darkness! Kazuma! Aqua! If you don't want to die, come to me! And bring the immobile Megumin with you!"

Hearing Nero's call, Kazuma's group hesitated for a moment.

"Quickly! Trust me!"

The first to move was Darkness. Without hesitation, she slung Megumin over her shoulder and ran toward Nero.

Facing the unstoppable force of nature, Kazuma couldn't think of a better solution. Seeing Darkness lead the way, he followed suit, though the sight of the Winter Shogun still unnerved him.

With her companions on the move, Aqua naturally joined in.

It seemed Darkness had the most faith in Nero after all.

"Nero! The avalanche is coming! What's your plan?"

"Hmm! Open your eyes wide and behold! Now entering the stage: the manifestation of my imperial authority here's your—Invitation to the Golden Debauchery Theater!"

Deflecting the Shogun's katana once more, Nero grinned with radiant confidence and raised her left hand high.

The white snowfield was suddenly showered with vibrant crimson petals.

"Open the gates! Raise the curtain on my solo performance!"

"Hey, hey, hey! Darkness! Kazuma! Aqua! What's Nero doing? I feel an overwhelming surge of magical energy—is this some sort of spell?!"

Megumin, shaken by the incredible power radiating from Nero, spoke in awe. Though she had been feigning unconsciousness, she couldn't help but react, though she remained slung over Darkness's shoulder and unable to see Nero's actions.

But Kazuma and the others didn't have time to answer her.

The roaring sound of the oncoming avalanche, vast and deafening, bore down on them, exerting immense psychological pressure.

Yet Nero's timing was perfect.

"Behold my glory..."

"Hear the thunderous applause..."

"Sit down and praise... My Golden Theater!"

"Kingdom of Heaven and Hell..."

"My heaven, reconstructed! This is where the limelight shines!"

"Aestus Domus Aurea!."

With Nero's declaration, the greatsword in her hand pierced the ground, and the Golden Theater began to materialize.

Crimson carpets replaced the white snow.

Fluttering petals supplanted the falling flakes.

An enormous, opulent stage. Towering, extravagant banners. A resplendent, golden canopy.

Aqua was dumbfounded. Kazuma was speechless. Darkness was awestruck.

Even the Winter Shogun, despite its stoicism, found itself drawn into Nero's world.

Standing center stage, Nero spread her arms, as if basking in the admiration of all.

"Welcome! Welcome to the stage that is mine alone! Witness the apex of my imperial authority—my ultimate Noble Phantasm!"

The Noble Phantasm—Aestus Domus Aurea.

For the second time in this world, it unveiled its full majesty.

A recreation of the grand theater Nero had designed and built in Rome during her reign.

It embodied both her tyrannical excess and her imperial authority, a monument to her lavish opulence.

No one could fathom the profound impact this scene had on Kazuma and Aqua, who were too poor to afford even basic accommodations.

"And now…"

Standing at the very center of the Golden Theater, as though the entire world revolved around her, Nero raised her greatsword and pointed it at the Winter Shogun.

Sensing danger, the Shogun raised its katana in defense.

But the summoning of the Golden Theater signified Nero's full commitment to the fight.

Though the Shogun braced itself, Nero was already behind it, her greatsword embedded in the ground.

"This is the brilliance of a meteor tearing through the night sky!"

The next moment, flames erupted, roaring like a feral beast.

Behind Nero, the Winter Shogun's form disintegrated, consumed by a sea of crimson fire that reached toward the heavens.

"Burn to ash, and salute the tyrant Nero Claudius!"

"My passion burns like an inferno!"

Nero raised her swanlike neck with pride, utterly confident in her display.

"Well? Darkness, Megumin, surely you find me overwhelmingly magnificent, yes? Haha! Feel free to heap endless praise upon me!"

Turning to bask in their adoration, Nero froze mid-step.

"Kazuma? Aqua? What are you two doing on the ground? Were you so terrified your legs gave out? No, wait… Why are you stabbing the floor with knives? What are you doing to my beloved theater, you fools?!"

---

T/N: tsk tsk thats why you dont show your stuff to the beggars