Chapter 144: Chapter 68. A Gentle Breeze
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I Will Eventually Embark on the Path of No Return Called a Hero [Arc2] - 68. A Gentle Breeze
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At this moment, Cyd had given up… no, he had fallen into deep thought.
The boar's head was the physical manifestation of the beast pelt. In any case, removing this object would stop Atalanta from going on a suicidal rampage. If it wasn't removed quickly, Atalanta would truly self-destruct in the future.
But where did the boar's head go?
Had it been removed, or had it completely transformed into a state of frenzy that couldn't be dispelled?
Jeanne, holding the flag, sat to one side, looking lost as if she were a golden retriever abandoned by her owner. Now she was beginning to doubt what she was even doing here. The more Jeanne listened to Atalanta, the more she felt something was wrong.
This wasn't just a rampage! It was a confession while her mind was unclear!
From a certain perspective, Atalanta had successfully stalled Cyd, rendering him immobile. This way, it wasn't really her fault; she just stood by quietly… but she couldn't stand to watch anymore!
Jeanne covered her face.
One was a village girl who had never even been in a relationship, who had entered the battlefield early and remained a noble saint until death. The other was a simple high school girl, a devoted young lady who prayed daily. Facing Atalanta's wild outburst, all they could do was blush, cover their eyes, and occasionally let a few gaps show.
"Well, Atalanta, calm down for a moment," Cyd said, tentatively touching Atalanta's head. When he found that Atalanta still buried her head in his embrace without any reaction, he relaxed and gently stroked her head. "When I come back, I will sit here and listen to your complaints."
"This time… you won't leave again, will you?" Atalanta quietly raised her head, clinging to Cyd's clothes as if afraid he would disappear.
"Ah, of course not," Cyd said, lifting Atalanta into his arms. "It's time to fulfill my promise."
Jeanne, sitting not far away, sighed. It seemed she still had to make that decision—to sever the heroic wish for a [possible] [potential] human crisis to combat the [possible] [potential] human crisis.
At the very least… she couldn't let the insult to their resolve stand and face them with her head held high!
Jeanne took a deep breath, planted the holy flag firmly on the ground, and spread her arms to block the path to the Holy Grail.
But she would absolutely not fight! This was her faith! Cyd's wish, Atalanta's wish, had no fault, so her holy flag, her faith, would not be directed against them!
"Let's go," Cyd patted Atalanta on the back.
"Mm," Atalanta nodded and climbed down from Cyd.
"I… won't let you pass, but I won't resist either!" Jeanne's gaze was resolute as she looked at Cyd, who was getting closer.
"Alright, alright, no resistance," Cyd bent down and lifted the resolute Jeanne onto his shoulder, as casually as if carrying a golden retriever refusing to go home.
"Wait… wait! My determination!" Jeanne kicked her legs, her hands flailing in front of her as if trying to hold onto her shattering resolve.
"Smack—"
Atalanta pulled out the holy flag and placed it into Jeanne's hands.
Jeanne held the flag in silence.
It felt like these two people looked down on her greatly, and the key was that she had no way to refute them!
"Mm…" Jeanne lowered her head weakly. What was she even doing in the Holy Grail War?
"Don't make those sounds like a small animal being bullied. You said yourself you wouldn't resist," Cyd said, carrying Jeanne towards the Holy Grail at a steady pace.
"Even so…" Jeanne bit her lip, "I finally gathered the courage to face you, to… to deny your wish, and yet you're so casually brushing me off."
"I am quite serious… about brushing you off," Cyd sighed. "Don't overthink it. You're not that kind of character. Uphold your faith, even if you know your faith is considered wrong by others. Keep your head high and continue because the only person you can truly represent is yourself. As long as you can persuade yourself, that's enough."
"But…" Jeanne said softly, her eyes dimming, "I can't even persuade myself."
"Then just don't worry about it. After all, as rulers, we are human. We have thoughts and can't just follow rules like machines. Even machines malfunction, let alone us," Cyd said, blinking. "Forgive us. We are imperfect humans, and we will make mistakes. But we can't deny ourselves before we see the result because we move forward with the premise of doing what's right. So… trust in your own beliefs!"
"You're actually advising me not to use that Noble Phantasm to destroy the Holy Grail, aren't you?" Jeanne sighed lightly.
"Discovered?" Cyd tilted his head. "But I do trust my beliefs. I have to come back; after all, someone is crying in my arms."
"No, I'm not!" Atalanta's cheeks flushed red as she raised her bow and pointed the arrowhead at the back of Cyd's head.
"Now I'm serious! After putting on the boar's pelt, I've lost any sense of morality. My feelings for you could turn into murderous intent at any moment! Don't think a few casual words and a pat on the head will erase the pain in my heart…"
Cyd turned and placed his hand on Atalanta's head, gently rubbing it.
"Mm, you've really worked hard."
"Handled," Jeanne sighed.
"Smack—"
"Stop being so talkative!" Atalanta's face turned red, and then, with a surge of anger, she raised her hand and slapped Jeanne on the buttocks.
"That hurts! What are you doing!" Jeanne cried out, covering her behind with tears welling up.
"Alright, alright, stop messing around," Cyd sighed wearily.
…
"I have to say, life is really quite wonderful," Shakespeare said as he kicked open his study door, sat down, and flipped open a blank sheet of paper, picking up a pen and starting to write rapidly.
"Even if it's just two sides, a tossed coin still brings countless fantasies. The result is simply success or failure, which is monotonous, but its process is incredibly exciting. Whether it's a powerful hurricane that can sweep away all obstacles or a gentle breeze that can only soothe the heart, both can change the coin's direction."
"Even if you think the hurricane can sweep everything away and firmly grasp the result in your hand, you might not have considered that the gentle breeze, which was never taken seriously, becomes the key to turning the coin the moment it lands. Who would have thought that the hurricane you thought you were…"
Shakespeare finished writing "End," stretched, and turned to gaze out the window at the night sky.
"…would ultimately become a gentle breeze."
"Even if nothing has changed… no, hasn't it already changed?"
Under the vast starry sky, Amakusa Shirou Tokisada lay with Semiramis's knee as a pillow, half-closing his eyes.
What is this? This is really a simple thing…
He had always been curious about how Semiramis managed to place his head on her lap without waking him up.
Just like a little girl, she observed his expression while gently lifting his head and resting it on her knees. Then, after she breathed a sigh of relief, she patted her face and waited for him to wake up with a proud look.
It was such a simple thing, and he only now realized it. How truly…
Slow-witted…
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