บท 209: -206- Don't do this anymore
"————"
Within the audience hall, a heavy atmosphere of silence began to pervade.
Listening to the truth revealed by Jeanne, Rozen, and even Mash couldn't find the words to speak. Up until now, Rozen had assumed that the Jeanne who obtained the Holy Grail was the one whose attributes had changed. Just like in the Fuyuki Singularity, where the attribute-reversed King Arthur also obtained the Holy Grail from someone else.
Now, Rozen understood that this premise was fundamentally flawed.
It wasn't attribute-reversed Jeanne who received the Holy Grail, but Gilles de Rais manifested as a caster.
He was the one who set this singularity into motion.
As for Jeanne Alter, she was simply an entity created by caster using the Holy Grail, not the real Jeanne.
—"Counterfeit."
Suddenly, the word flashed through Rozen's mind.
In other words...
"Yes, I'm a counterfeit, just a replica of the great Saint. I was neither betrayed by France nor did I protect it. Even this hatred, curse, and resentment were all fabricated. The reason was simply Gilles wanting to take revenge on this country."
Jeanne Alter, as if completely unveiling her mask, twisted her face, identical to Jeanne's, into a somewhat distorted expression, all while forcing out mockery and laughter.
"You say you've never thought of seeking revenge on anyone? Never harbored hatred for anyone? But how can you be so sure others haven't?"
From deep within, Gilles de Rais hated all of this and fell into depravity.
This fanatic wanted to use the Holy Grail to craft his ideal vision of Jeanne, a Jeanne who could rightfully exact revenge, complain, and curse all of France.
Thus, Jeanne Alter was born.
"Gilles thought I was ignorant, that I knew nothing. He was so moved after creating me, saying things like 'Oh...! Saint...! You've returned at last! This time...! This time you must...!' He handed me the Holy Grail and told me that he summoned me, that I had the right to seek revenge in this era, and that everything I did was right, just, and what should have been done."
Jeanne Alter spoke with a bitter self-deprecation.
"At first, I thought I was the real Jeanne. Gilles didn't tell me anything, but the one who handed me the Holy Grail was himself."
Perhaps others might find her words perplexing, but Rozen understood.
It was because of the Holy Grail that Jeanne Alter became aware of all this.
After all, the so-called "Holy Grail" was a wish-granting device.
"Two days ago, when I met you here, didn't you say things like 'I've never thought of revenge'?"
Jeanne Alter provided this hint with a self-deprecating tone.
Presumably, it was at that moment that Jeanne Alter began suspecting the underlying reasons and thought about using the Holy Grail's power to dispel her doubts?
By making a wish, Jeanne Alter learned the entire truth from the Holy Grail.
It was because of this that she spoke as she did.
"Gilles risked his life to save the real Jeanne, his idealized Saint, the one he constantly pursued. Not the counterfeit me, I'm just someone he used as a stand-in for you!"
Jeanne Alter exclaimed with resentment.
"But why are you still so composed!?"
With a sudden wave of her flag.
"Boom!"
The flames of the Crimson Lotus immediately ignited, surging toward Rozen and his group like a tide.
However, Mash's and Jeanne's Noble Phantasms were still in effect, creating an impervious barrier and blinding light, once again shielding them from the advancing sea of flames.
However, perhaps it was an illusion...
"The... the temperature of the flames seems to be rising...!? Even higher than before...!"
Mash strained under immense pressure, holding her shield and yelling out in distress.
In response, Rozen could only force a bitter smile.
"It's not just a feeling, it's definitely true."
With the ability of "Heaven's Eye," Rozen could clearly sense that the power of the flames outside had indeed increased significantly.
"That witch's Noble Phantasm is capable of converting her and her surrounding's resentment into magical energy and burning it. Once allies die, its power increases."
As a result, after caster's passing, the power of Jeanne Alter's Noble Phantasm naturally increased.
Not to mention, Jeanne's own resentment was increasing, constantly amplifying the power of her Noble Phantasm.
Coupled with the assistance of the Holy Grail...
"It's becoming quite troublesome..."
Rozen tightened the hand that held the last Command Seal, feeling torn inside.
"Should I use my last trump card here?"
No, not yet.
Using the last trump card here might result in facing an even more dangerous threat in the next phase.
"I can only use 'Magic Defense'!"
Rozen was willing to expend his magical energy.
Just then...
"...Did you really think Gilles did it for me?"
Jeanne, who was also silently maintaining the defense like Mash, suddenly spoke up.
"If you think that way, you're mistaken."
Jeanne's words left Jeanne Alter stunned.
Under such circumstances, Jeanne shouted.
"Think carefully! At the very end! Gilles extended his hand toward you, not me!"
Jeanne's shout caused a slight change in Jeanne Alter's expression.
Perhaps Jeanne Alter might have thought that caster did this because he considered her to be Jeanne?
But...
"If Gilles truly pursued only me, he wouldn't have stayed here and would have come to find me. He wouldn't have opposed me with you. His choice from the beginning to the end was you, not me!"
Jeanne spoke out her thoughts.
"Perhaps you're not me."
"Perhaps Gilles created you because of his own selfishness."
"However, didn't he say that in the end?"
"'I hope you can live on well'—this was my assertion as his closest comrade in arms!"
As Jeanne's words reverberated, the sea of flames pervading the entire hall began to flicker.
Just like it represented the doubt within Jeanne Alter's heart.
"I... I..."
Jeanne Alter's face contorted in struggle.
Seeing this, if not everyone else, at least Rozen understood.
This witch didn't possess only hatred within her heart.
Ultimately, she was an existence modeled after Jeanne.
Within her heart, there definitely still existed an innocence and kindness that others couldn't comprehend.
Sensing this and recalling how caster had taken a fatal blow meant for this girl, Rozen almost without hesitation spoke once more.
"Stop, don't do this anymore."
These words became the final straw that overwhelmed the hatred in Jeanne Alter's heart.
"..."
Jeanne Alter bit her lip.
The flickering sea of flames around them gradually began to die down.
This brought relief to both Mash and Jeanne.
However, Rozen suddenly held his breath and shouted out.
"Be careful!"
When this voice resounded in the audience hall...
"As expected, a mere counterfeit can't be relied on too much."
Beneath a cold and ruthless voice...
*Splurt!*
A hand pierced through Jeanne Alter's body, emerging from her abdomen.
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