章 165: -162- [ Saint ] and [ Witch ]
In the audience chamber, two identical girls were locked in fierce combat.
"Hehe... Haha... Hahaha!"
The witch's laughter resonated with mockery and scorn, as if blaspheming her opponent, taunting her, and intending to thoroughly toy with her. Her figure moved like a shadow, and the evil flag in her hand created phantom-like streaks in the air. She swung it towards her opponent, delivering a series of powerful blows with each stroke, generating gusts of wind.
"Ugh...!?"
The girl's expression tightened, her brow creased in seriousness. She quickly raised her holy flag to block the oncoming attacks.
"Clang!"
The clash of the two flags ignited sparks, resembling the sudden appearance of swirling air currents.
"Clang!" "Clang!" "Clang!" "Clang!"
The girl adjusted the angle of her defense, blocking the witch's attacks with unwavering precision, while simultaneously retreating to maintain distance.
However, the witch persisted in her aggressive assault, wearing a mocking grin. With astonishing speed, she swung the evil flag, aiming it at the girl.
The two continued their intense battle—one aggressive and the other focused on defense—revealing their contrasting personalities.
Yet, Rozen also realized,
"The witch seems to have a significant advantage."
Undoubtedly, the witch's power was formidable.
Even from the perspective of Rozen's abilities as a Master, the witch's power level was quite high, comparable to a Saber-class Servant in Fuyuki City. Although he didn't know the details of the witch's Noble Phantasm, her displayed power was exceptionally strong, possibly due to her connection with the Holy Grail.
In contrast, the girl engaged in battle with the witch appeared somewhat frail, with abilities that couldn't be considered top-tier for a Servant. Her strength was lacking, akin to a novice Servant who had recently taken up the role. Her overall capabilities were a bit immature, hence her current defensive stance.
Of course, when saying "frail," Rozen was considering it from a Servant's standpoint. If viewed from a human perspective, the girl was undoubtedly quite strong.
Thus, faced with the witch's fierce onslaught, the girl fought hard to defend herself, managing to hold her ground.
Upon closer inspection, the girl had the same appearance, physique, and attire as the witch, but there were still many differences.
The witch's body was shrouded in inky blackness, as if emanating curses and harboring resentment. The aura around her was eerie and unsettling, with her coloration even presenting an ominous pallor. She bore no resemblance to the legendary savior of France.
On the other hand, the girl wielded a holy white flag, dressed in attire that blended deep blue and pure white like that of a saint. Her colors radiated a brilliant gold hue, and her expression exuded determination and dignity.
In that moment, she truly resembled a saint.
If this girl before him was indeed Jeanne d'Arc who saved France, Rozen would undoubtedly believe it.
"Could she be the true Jeanne?"
As this thought crossed Rozen's mind, he immediately turned his head towards the direction of the witch.
"Then who is that witch?"
This was the only thought occupying Rozen's mind.
At that moment, the situation on the battlefield took a turn.
"Clang!"
Under the witch's relentless assault, accompanied by a shower of sparks, the girl finally couldn't hold on any longer. Her holy flag was knocked away.
"Ha!"
The witch immediately swung her black flag, delivering a powerful blow that struck the girl.
"Thud!"
Amid a dull impact, the girl emitted a muffled groan. She was sent flying and rolled on the ground. After a while, she raised her palm and performed a somersault to get back on her feet.
"Ha... Ha... Ha..."
The girl began to catch her breath and kneeled on one knee.
However, her gaze remained full of determination and resolve. Her grip on the holy flag remained strong, and she kept her eyes fixed on the witch.
In response, the witch responded with disdain.
"What's the matter? Can't even handle this?" The witch's words were sharp and mocking. "You thought you could achieve something by sneaking in while the chaos was unfolding outside? So this is the extent of the savior of this decaying nation?"
Upon hearing these words, a thought crossed Rozen's mind, and he looked towards the girl.
"As expected..."
The revered savior, the world-famous saint who had been burned at the stake a few days ago, was now standing before them as a Servant—Jeanne d'Arc.
"She is Jeanne..."
And moreover, she was summoned in her true form as a Servant.
Rozen's earlier speculation had been correct.
"Jeanne was indeed summoned to the time of her era."
However, she wasn't summoned as the corrupted version who laid waste to France. Instead, she was summoned as the true and virtuous Saint Jeanne.
It seemed that in the midst of the ongoing conflict between Rozen's group, the witch, and others, Jeanne had seized the opportunity to infiltrate the situation secretly.
While Rozen pondered this, Jeanne finally spoke.
"...Who are you?"
Jeanne bit her lip and gazed at her mirrored reflection—an entity so different yet identical to her. Her voice was clear and moving as she asked this question.
"Why would you do such a thing?"
The term "such a thing" naturally referred to the witch's devastation of France.
"If you truly are me, then you should know this is our homeland. Do you really intend to destroy it entirely?"
Jeanne posed this inquiry.
But...
"...I thought you would say something different? But it's this foolish talk again?" The witch regarded Jeanne with a gaze akin to someone insignificant. The same wicked smile combining mockery, scorn, and contempt remained on her face.
"You dare ask me why I would do such a thing? I want to ask you, why can't I do such a thing?"
The witch's voice resounded with fury.
"Think about everything we've done for this country. Now think about everything this country has done to us. And you even ask why, given all of that!?"
To save their country, the saint left her village, donned her banner, led an army, and rescued the nation. How much effort, determination, and struggle did that require?
And yet, what had France done for the saint?
"They watched as we were captured!"
"They watched as we were accused falsely!"
"Even worse, they watched as we were put on the cross and burned to ashes by flames!"
"Now, you dare ask me why I would do such a thing?"
The witch's words were laden with curses.
"Of course, it's for revenge!"
"To exact revenge upon this country, its people, and everything belonging to its people!"
"This is the reason I exist in this world!"
Finally, the witch revealed her purpose and her thoughts.
Yet, upon hearing these words, Jeanne fell silent.
The delicate beauty of her countenance held no hatred or confusion, only boundless sorrow.
"Enough, please stop."
Jeanne's voice was filled with compassion.
"If you truly are me, then please stop."
This was the plea of the saint towards her alternate self.
Because...
"—I—never once thought of seeking revenge."
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