“I’ve restored the eyeball, but it will take a considerable amount of time for your vision to return.
Keep it covered with an eyepatch so it isn’t exposed to light.”
Loop had injured one of his eyes while buying time against Heracles.
A grazing blow from Heracles’ fist had crushed his eye as it passed.
However, thanks to Chaldea’s advanced technology and the stroke of luck that his optic nerve remained intact, they had managed to restore it somehow.
The problem was that since the eye had been destroyed once, his vision naturally wouldn’t return for a while; everything would appear as a blur.
Having mismatched vision in his eyes would actually be detrimental, so it was better to go around wearing an eyepatch.
Romani marveled at his vitality.
While Chaldea’s technology was aiding Loop’s survival, his own rapid recovery rate was also a major factor.
Loop had mentioned before that his mana recovery was faster than others, and it seemed his physical recovery speed followed suit.
That didn’t mean he was actually ‘fine,’ though.
No matter how good his recovery was, it wasn’t true regeneration.
A severed leg wouldn’t grow back, and the nerves in arms that had been turned into rags wouldn’t just reset.
To keep him moving forward, they were essentially modifying his body for combat, and Romani barely suppressed a sigh, wondering if this was truly the right thing to do.
“Does the prosthetic leg fire beams?”
“Even if it doesn’t fire beams, I’ve included several efficient functions.
I think you’ll be quite satisfied.”
“I’m disappointed.”
“Even if I did put a beam in there, it wouldn’t match the power of that Holy Sword used by the Saber you met in Fuyuki—a blade so beautiful even this super-genius acknowledges it.”
“At least it would be a beam like that Saber’s, so it would obviously be strong!”
“Agh, the trauma has made your brain spin in a weird direction!
Just be satisfied with this!
The prosthetic this super-genius made is exceptionally high-quality!”
It seemed that because he had been so thoroughly beaten by Saber in Fuyuki, she had become the very image of ‘the strongest’ in Loop’s mind.
Well, Romani had only heard the accounts since there was no direct visual link, but the Saber who obtained the Greater Grail was a lord of terror.
Even after losing the Greater Grail and suffering a cracked Spiritual Core, she had fought on.
The way she unleashed her Noble Phantasm until the very moment of her death made her worthy of being called a goddess of war.
It was terrifying just to read about; it went without saying for Loop, who had tasted that atmosphere firsthand on the battlefield.
…Romani cautiously looked over the report of Loop’s psychological evaluation.
Chaldea’s psychological evaluations were surprisingly detailed, allowing for a scientific and technical approach starting from EEG scans.
Naturally, he had forced a reluctant Loop into the machine for a full check-up.
Even if the body was intact, the story couldn’t begin if the mind collapsed.
Loop had to live a normal life after everything was over.
Romani absolutely did not want to watch him live in pain once it was all done.
“Warm your body up and then get some sleep.
…The evaluation showed your mental state is somewhat unstable.
Even if you don’t realize it yourself, these things can grow from small scratches you aren’t aware of.
Understand?
I’d tell you not to get stressed, but given the circumstances…
Anyway, if there’s anything you want, just say it.
The Director will likely grant most requests.”
“Everyone is already doing more than enough for me.
I’m resting, while everyone else is working hard without a break to find Singularities and do their own jobs.
…Gack!!
What was that!?”
“It’s only natural for it to hurt when I’m connecting the nerves~”
“Tell me in advance!!
I thought I was going to cry!”
Romani found it hard to look at him directly.
How difficult a path must he have walked with that small, ordinary body?
And how much further would he have to walk?
The way he tried to move forward despite possessing no special power was admirable, yet it pained Romani that he couldn’t stop him.
Having grown fairly close to Loop, Romani knew.
The boy blustered more when things were difficult.
If he was in pain, he would intentionally make silly remarks to act as if he wasn’t hurting.
In fact, Olga Marie had been fooled by that act several times.
But Romani, a doctor despite his appearance, could immediately catch when Loop was in pain.
“Anyway, I’ll head out soon to hear about the next Singularity.
I can only hope this prosthetic leg proves useful there too.
Since not a single Servant appeared in the summons, I’ll have to go to the next Singularity alone again.
I’ll have to prioritize finding a Servant to form an alliance with once I get there.
If possible, a beautiful, older, busty woman would be my ultimate wish!”
“If it’s a beautiful, older, busty woman you want, there’s one right here!”
“It’s a Schrödinger’s situation down there!”
“Fufu, want to check?”
At Da Vinci’s words, Loop let out a yelp and stood up quickly with a fed-up expression.
“Come to think of it, the Director told me to hurry!!
Thanks for the treatment and the prosthetic!!
Oh, I might be sent to the Singularity immediately, so come over once you’re finished tidying up!
If you’re too tired, feel free to rest!”
“Could we be more tired than you?
Understood, we’ll head to the command room as soon as we’re done here.”
Loop gave a final smile and ran off quickly.
That prosthetic leg had been outfitted with various functions by Leonardo Da Vinci to ensure his survival.
Since it was made in a hurry, it would need adjustments later, but Loop would have to find those compromises himself while using it.
The same went for the artificial nerves currently maintaining his arms.
Watching him leave, Romani let out an involuntary sigh and covered his face with both hands.
What…
exactly is this?
That absurd feeling bloomed in his chest, causing him to lie to Loop without thinking.
Romani was blaming himself, but that lie was a sort of white lie.
Da Vinci, who had known him for a long time, caught on immediately.
Though Loop and Romani seemed similar in personality, Romani unfortunately lacked the talent for lying.
“‘Somewhat unstable,’ was it…?
So?
What was the actual result?
The psychological evaluation.”
“302 points.”
“302 points…
Right, haha.
This is so ridiculous I can’t help but laugh!
It’s amazing he doesn’t look like that at all!”
“As you know, our Chaldea psychological evaluations are quite detailed.
From EEG scans to literally exposing one’s inner thoughts.
You could call it the pinnacle of technology combining magecraft and science.”
More accurately, it was the area Romani had paid the most attention to.
He never imagined the day would come when he’d use it like this.
Regardless, the evaluation was surprisingly useful for caring for staff and Masters.
That was why Romani couldn’t stop sighing.
Of everyone who had ever taken it, Loop had recorded a score high enough to stand alone.
The higher the score, the more dangerous it was.
Exceeding 200 was already a dangerous level, let alone 300.
“Of everyone we’ve tested, the Director was the highest at 148 points.
Of course, that’s by no means a low number.
Considering the burden she carries and her personality issues, it’s somewhat risky.
However, with a certain amount of mental care, she can function in daily life without issue.
…But he’s at double that.
He’s more than double.
He doesn’t even realize he’s broken.”
“When you walk through extreme cold, eventually you stop feeling the cold.
I’ve heard that among those who freeze to death, some even take off their clothes and act as if they’re dying of heat.
The brain starts malfunctioning.
Is he in a similar situation?”
“This is not normal, no matter how you look at it.
…And look at this.
This is the quantification of his mental stress while he was in Fuyuki.
Fortunately, since he was a Chaldea employee, his mental stress was being checked from the start.
Look!
Here, here, and here!
After going to Fuyuki, his stress levels skyrocketed three times when absolutely nothing was happening!
Something definitely happened.”
Since he was on the front lines, it was inevitable he’d be stressed, and since one can’t only think positive thoughts, a sudden increase in stress isn’t that strange.
But the timing was mostly during peaceful moments, like when he was resting or walking, and the magnitude of the increase was abnormal.
These were levels usually seen when someone is being tortured or suffering equivalent agony.
Da Vinci listened to Romani’s outcry and spoke quietly.
“Are you saying Loop is hiding something?
Was it out of consideration that you didn’t ask him directly?”
“…He didn’t consult me about anything.
He always had a tendency to hide his hardships, but it’s strange that he says nothing at all.
If, just if, it’s something he’s hiding and a situation he can’t talk about, then the moment someone asks, it will become a source of stress for him.
The stress of being unable to speak, the stress of not being able to exchange trust—we can’t give more burdens to a child who looks like he’s about to collapse at any second!
…All I can do is wait for him to tell me.
It’s so frustrating.”
He was currently in an extremely unstable state.
Crossing 150 points meant he might need professional counseling and even medication.
Since he was recording more than double that, the burden his mind was carrying was beyond imagination.
He was naturally optimistic; when he was tested in the past, his score was 42, lower than the average person.
No matter how much he suffered in a Singularity, it had jumped too far.
He just didn’t realize it.
How much longer could the wall of Loop’s mind withstand the storm-like winds called stress…?
“Hmm, then we must support him all the more.
Loop is about to walk into hell again.
Since he couldn’t pull a Servant in this summon, he’ll be going alone once more.
We have to give him a sense of normalcy.
We have to react to what he says, laugh at his jokes, and support the path he walks.
Right?”
“…Right, let’s go.
…Oh, but you know.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep it a secret.
But you should report this properly to the Director.”
“Well, it’s scarier if I keep it a secret and then get caught.”
**
“Then, I’ll begin the briefing.
The region where the Singularity occurred is France—France in the year 1431.
I don’t know the exact date, but it’s likely around the time the Holy Maiden, Jeanne d’Arc, was active.
Or perhaps it’s after she was burned at the stake under the false accusation of being a witch.
The only way to find out is to go there and talk to the people of that era.”
Yeah, I know this part.
The name of the First Singularity is France.
Three days after the Holy Maiden Jeanne d’Arc was burned, she was resurrected as the ‘Dragon Witch,’ killed King Charles VII of France, and began massacring the entire population.
In other words, the French Revolution naturally never happened, and absolute monarchy would still be in place.
Anyway, the conclusion is that Jeanne d’Arc Alter was actually a fake created by Gilles de Rais.
The real Jeanne d’Arc would never resent the country that abandoned her; there wasn’t even a possibility of that.
…If it were me, I’d resent them.
If it were me, I’d curse them.
But because she didn’t, she became a hero as a Saint under the name of Ruler.
She was an incredible person.
Regardless, the most important thing in this Singularity is to meet Jeanne d’Arc as quickly as possible.
I just hoped I wouldn’t hear the infuriating news that she had been unsummoned before I even met her.
Unfortunately, I’m not Fujimaru, so the timing of my entry into the Singularity will be slightly off from his.
There’s no guarantee the events of the original story will happen exactly when I go, and above all, no guarantee they’ll follow the same script.
The reality correction was so damn strong that I ended up playing tag with a Berserker I shouldn’t have had to fight.
There’s no rule saying that won’t happen in France too.
The true mastermind, Gilles de Rais, wouldn’t suddenly be replaced by someone else, but there was plenty of potential for the plot to twist.
Therefore, my top priority was to meet Siegfried, who is needed to deal with the dragons, and Jeanne d’Arc, the protagonist of this arc.
If I’m lucky, I might meet Siegfried before he gets cursed.
If I succeed in that, this France Singularity might be solved more easily than Fuyuki.
The mastermind is just Gilles de Rais, right?
What I’m actually worried about is the black Jeanne he created.
And her subordinates, the six Berserked Servants…
Wait?
Thinking about it, isn’t the situation worse than Fuyuki?
I don’t know, let’s just try it.
“Alright, let’s head out immediately.
…If we stall and the person who’s supposed to be our ally gets unsummoned, the loss would be beyond words.
I’m going via Spiritronization in the Coffin this time, right?
Drop me somewhere good.
If possible, I’d like an allied Servant to be there as soon as I arrive.”
Give me Jeanne!
Please!!
I need Jeanne d’Arc to clear this Singularity; what am I supposed to do without her?
It’s no different from trying to clear Fuyuki without Caster-bro!
As I opened the Coffin immediately, the Director shrugged and spoke.
“Don’t you have any fear or hesitation?”
“Eh, I’m super scared.
But as I said, it’ll be more troublesome if I don’t go now.
And they say it’s better to get the beating over with early, right?
So let’s just go and think about it once I’m there.
Despite how I look, I have good luck, you know.”
“And yet you only summon Craft Essences over and over?”
“A-Ah, no!!
That was because my destiny power was lacking!
It’s definitely not because I have bad luck, or because Caster-bro and Charlotte are bad!!”
If I had just one more Saint Quartz, someone might have appeared.
If my heart had been stronger, someone might have appeared.
…Well, even so, the decisive factor is that my mana capacity isn’t that large, so even if I summoned many Servants, I could only take one with me at a time.
The rest would have to stay on standby at Chaldea until I found a leyline to connect back and summon them.
Therefore, holding only Craft Essences at this point isn’t actually that bad!
…Even as I spun this circuit of hope, the ache in my heart didn’t vanish.
Well, fine.
Last time, Caster was summoned for the Fuyuki Holy Grail War, so I couldn’t bring him back to Chaldea, but this time, if I’m lucky, I could bring a Servant back.
Plus, if I clear France, I can get Saint Quartz.
If that happens, this will be the last time I enter a Singularity alone.
…Let’s believe that.
“I’ll begin the Rayshift preparations.
…Now, anything you want to say before you go?”
“Director.”
“Yes?”
“According to history, Jeanne d’Arc was incredibly ‘big.’ What do you think?”
After a moment of silence, the Director spoke in a cold voice.
“…Proceed with the Rayshift.”
“I’m talking about her height!
Her height!
Hello?
Director?”
Ignoring my opinion, the Coffin door closed.
Once I was alone, the thumping of my heart sounded unnecessarily loud.
Phew.
I calmed myself down.
In the original story, they probably went to Jeanne d’Arc’s hometown as soon as they arrived in the Singularity.
I don’t need to copy everything, but there’s no harm in following the basic progression, right?
Being able to read the plot is a huge advantage, so I should use it, shouldn’t I?
If I just follow the original, I can meet Jeanne d’Arc.
From there, I’ll just have to proceed with improvisation, flashes of intuition, and finally, my heavenly luck.
I don’t have brilliant strategy or overwhelming power.
Clearing it through the strength of my Servants was the best way.
[Rayshift starting in 5 seconds.]
The Coffin filled with light.
I slowly closed my eyes.
…Calm down.
It’s the same as going to hell, but there’s no Saber where I’m going now!
…Hmm, I feel a bit better.
Anyway, Jeanne d’Arc.
I just need to meet Jeanne d’Arc first.
She’s a kind and good person, so she’ll recognize even someone like me as a Master and fight alongside me.
Is my partner this time Jeanne d’Arc?
Not bad.
Personally, Caster-bro felt more reliable, but he’s not here…
Besides, once the fighting is all over, Jeanne d’Arc will look reliable too.
That future has already been decided.
Listening to the Director’s countdown, I calmed myself.
[1 second…
First Singularity, Rayshift start!!]
I remember the feeling of my body being disassembled.
It was similar to when I went to Fuyuki.
However, it felt a bit more stable.
My consciousness was sucked away in an instant, and then awakened just as quickly.
My limbs move.
Good, did the Rayshift work?
…Huh?
I felt a powerful wind.
Eh?
What?
I couldn’t grasp the situation.
What on earth is happening?
Uh, uhhh…?
My body is falling.
Falling?
What do you mean?
Fall…ing?
[Prepare for landing!!
You’re in mid-air!
You!!]
…Excuse me?
Only now did I realize the fact that I was floating in the sky.
I felt like I should say something like, “Archer, catch me!” but I have no Servant to ask for a landing.
No!!
What do you mean ‘prepare for landing’?!
How?!
Looking down, I saw a somewhat large building.
Even if there’s a building, it’s not like that building is made of cushions, so what am I supposed to do?!
The height is no joke!!
Is this an assassination?!
“I-I’ll curse you!!
Director!!!
My curse will cross the Singularity and reach Chaldeaaaaaaa!!
Uwaaaaa!!!”
I’m falling!
I’m dying!
I’m dying!!
I’m really going to d—.
Huh?
I looked at the necklace I was wearing.
Dammit!!
Dying as soon as I arrive!
I refuse!
I absolutely don’t want to die!!
Above all, it was absurd to die from a fall right after my own side Rayshifted me, rather than being killed by an enemy!
More importantly, if it ‘saved’ just now, I’ll die anyway if I don’t survive this!
Even if it saved before the Rayshift, my destiny would have just tossed me into the air again!
That’s just my heavenly luck!!
I can see nothing but a fate of suffering!!
I used Chaldea Mystic Code: Momentary Enhancement and Rune Script: Fortification simultaneously.
I probably can’t dodge the fall with ‘Emergency Avoidance,’ right?
Hold on!!
My body!!
I don’t want to get smashed again right after being treated!
Ah!
Dammit!
The building is getting closer!
I’m falling!
Falling!!
May the curse of CHALDEAS be upon youuuuuuu!!!
**
Burn everything.
That was what she was thinking.
If someone who knew her in life saw her now, dressed in pitch-black clothes, they might have shed tears of pity.
She had fought using her body, mind, and even her soul for her country.
A simple, innocent girl who knew nothing became a hero on the battlefield, and then a Saint.
But her country, France, betrayed her.
They framed her as a witch and burned her to death in the most painful way possible.
And…
with that resentment in her heart, that anger in her eyes, and that hatred in her soul, she appeared in France once again.
She would ruin everything, break everything, and burn everything.
In the end, even if she burned herself up, she wouldn’t stop.
Jeanne d’Arc, the Black Saint, stood up and looked around.
Excluding the Caster, Gilles de Rais, she had summoned six Servants.
Honestly, she thought she could manage to burn down France all by herself using the summons from the Holy Grail, but as if the world were working hard to stop Jeanne d’Arc’s revenge, Heroic Spirits appeared to interfere.
Out of necessity, she accepted Gilles de Rais’ suggestion to summon Servants and use her power as a Ruler to Berserk them.
This way, they wouldn’t think rationally and would only follow orders.
Since Heroic Spirits were all people with wills strong enough to carve their names into history, it was better to remove their reason, even if it made them somewhat stupid.
Burn it, burn it, burn it.
That was all Jeanne d’Arc wanted now.
It was the only thing she desired.
Even the sturdy and powerful Heroic Spirits were now completely Berserked.
Using them, it would only be a matter of time before she dealt with any Heroic Spirits, no matter who they were.
Furthermore, the most important piece, the Holy Grail, was also here.
Jeanne d’Arc wore a wicked expression on her face that her living self would never have made.
The giant man beside her, Gilles de Rais, watched that sight with satisfaction.
“Oh, Holy Maiden!
Finally, the Berserking of all Servants is complete!
These Servants are your hands and feet!
Tools for your revenge!
Fuel to burn down France!!
Now, Holy Maiden!!
Your orders!!
Your resolve to eliminate everything that stands in your way!!”
“My resolve was finished long ago, Gilles.
Besides, this isn’t even something that requires resolve.
This is a duty.”
“You are correct!
This is your duty!
France, which insulted you—you who gave your all!—calling you a witch!
Pointing fingers!
And burning you to death after a ridiculous trial!
It deserves to be punished!!
By your hand!!
Without fail!!!
This is the duty that the Holy Maiden, Jeanne d’Arc, must perform!!”
If there were a God, He should be praising Jeanne d’Arc right now.
This was a story of poetic justice, where a good being who was betrayed subjugates the evil it hadn’t noticed.
If someone called this wrong, that person was the evil one.
Right now, Jeanne d’Arc was trying to do the right thing with the right emotions.
It didn’t matter who interfered.
She would simply subjugate, eliminate, wipe out, and burn them away.
She would burn their very existence until only ashes remained.
The natural wind would blow even those ashes away, making their existence vanish.
“I hear silly rumors that another ‘me’ has recently appeared in France.
Shall we deal with that annoying woman first?”
It was possible she was the Saint, Jeanne d’Arc.
Because the Holy Grail registers all sorts of different aspects.
For example, someone who is a Saber could be summoned as a Lancer.
It wasn’t a normal occurrence for the same person to be summoned in the same place at the same time, but this was not a normal situation.
Just as the vengeful ghost Jeanne d’Arc was here, the Saint Jeanne d’Arc might also exist.
They would likely never understand each other for as long as they lived.
Just as the Saint couldn’t understand Jeanne d’Arc’s desire for revenge, Jeanne d’Arc couldn’t understand her character.
To think that such different aspects could emerge despite being equally rebuked and unjustly burned to death.
The Heroic Spirit system was far too peculiar.
“It doesn’t matter if that ‘me’ who appeared is real or fake.
What matters is that she currently does not desire revenge.
How can that be?
The word ‘hypocrisy’ suits her best.
When I want to burn everything so much!
When I want to eliminate everything so much!
Surely she must harbor those feelings deep inside as well!!
And yet she hides them and tries to save France!
Hypocrisy!
Hypocrisy!!
Her hypocrisy makes me want to vomit!!”
Kill them, kill them all.
Kill everything that killed her.
A country like this has no reason to exist.
Break everything.
Burn it, and feed the blazing desire for revenge.
Offering up her own self as a Saint isn’t bad either.
She would offer not only herself as a Saint but other Servants as well.
No one can stop her revenge play.
She had the Holy Grail, she had the military power; everything was on Jeanne d’Arc’s side.
She would tolerate no interference.
Until no living being remained in this France and the land withered and died, Jeanne d’Arc would never stop.
She would burn away even the fact that a country called France ever existed in history.
She fuels the revenge that seems like it will never be satisfied.
She simply seeks a means to quench her eternal thirst.
Jeanne d’Arc engraved that deeply burning hatred into her heart once more.
Then she spoke quietly.
“Now, Servants.
…Hm?
What is it?”
The Berserk Archer, Atalante, wasn’t listening and was staring blankly at the ceiling.
Had she gone completely mad during the Berserking?
Was the mind of a hero so weak?
She felt a brief doubt.
But immediately, Atalante spoke quietly, blankly, with a face that looked somewhat pained.
“It’s coming.”
What?
Before Jeanne d’Arc could even react—Boom!!!
The ceiling collapsed.
And the thing that fell with it landed right where Jeanne d’Arc was.
Thud!!
She couldn’t dodge the falling presence.
Jeanne d’Arc wasn’t hurt in the slightest, but she was so dumbfounded she went blank.
Something had suddenly fallen from the sky.
And the thing on top of her wasn’t a Noble Phantasm, much less a means of attack.
It was a man who looked incredibly frail.
A man with one eye covered by an eyepatch.
His bright blonde hair, reminiscent of gold mixed with a bit of sand, and his fragile impression were somewhat androgynous, but based on his visible lean muscle and bone structure, he was a man.
Jeanne d’Arc, even more flustered, watched blankly as the man coughed in the rising dust and panicked.
Even the Berserked Servants stared blankly, and even Gilles de Rais couldn’t understand the situation and just watched.
The party involved, Jeanne d’Arc, was so speechless she remained silent.
While various questions swirled in her head, the man spoke.
“Uwa…
I really thought I was going to die.
It’s not funny to start with a death stack as soon as I arrive.
That aside, the Rune of Fortification works like a charm.
I fell from that height and have almost no injuries.
No, rather than that, there’s something soft underneath…
Hm?”
Whether he was slow or just that flustered, the man only then seemed to grasp the situation.
He looked around once and then looked at Jeanne d’Arc pinned beneath him.
After about five seconds of looking completely stunned, the man let out a “Fufu…” laugh.
With a peaceful expression, he slowly got off Jeanne d’Arc.
Then, leisurely brushing the dust off his body, he looked at Jeanne d’Arc and bowed his head.
“Thank you for the shock-absorbing cushion.
It was very soft.
I owe you my life.
…Well then!!!”
The man quickly placed his hand on a wall and smashed it.
What kind of grip strength does that frail-looking man have…?
No, he didn’t smash it.
It seemed the wall had moved forward while maintaining its shape.
Jeanne d’Arc clicked her tongue, stood up, and shouted.
“Capture him this instant!!”
And ten seconds later, the man was caught and reappeared before Jeanne d’Arc.
Jeanne d’Arc was filled with nothing but questions about the fact that an incredibly frail-looking man had suddenly fallen from the sky.