Magician in Type-Moon

Page 25

But the body, which had just been as soft as a cake, was now as stiff as cement.

Just as Kirei was about to let go and leave, Matou Ike's body suddenly disintegrated, revealing its true form—a swarm of insects.

The fire ant hid beneath the skin of the clone made by the demon worm, waiting for the moment when Kirei Kotomine got close.

Qili retreated abruptly, but it was too late.

Fireball ants swarmed toward Kirei, and despite his quick reaction, several had already attached themselves to his arm.

He immediately wrapped the priest's uniform tightly around his arms and then jumped into the underground river in an attempt to mitigate the damage from the explosion and the formic acid.

The icy water instantly enveloped him. The river's current washed over the fire ants, greatly weakening the explosive force, but a dull pain still lingered.

Looking at Caster floating in mid-air, Kirei Kotomine couldn't help but realize that he seemed to have underestimated that man from the Matou family.

From the very beginning, he was being plotted against, and even Caster's attempt to rescue him was just an act.

As the underground river flowed away, Kirei Kotomine fell silent.

The icy river water washed over his body, but his mind was filled with more reflection on being tricked.

Perhaps it was the coldness of the river, perhaps it was the shame and indignation of being mocked, or perhaps it was the interest he had developed in that man that made his thoughts become increasingly calm and sharp.

Seeing Kirei Kotomine and Assassin escape, Caster's eyes flashed with resentment, and he was about to give chase.

However, the swarm of insects beside her quickly reformed into Matou Ike's figure and reached out to stop her.

After all, the most important thing right now is Berserker.

Matou Ike turned to the Servant who had remained silent since the start of that battle and asked:

"Have you thought it through, Mr. Gilles de Rais?"

"I just want to be free; I don't necessarily need to depend on you."

Gilles de Rais is now in a state of great inner conflict. On one hand, he doesn't want to be corrupted into that despicable state, but on the other hand, he is compelled by the curse to continue living a miserable life.

Having never possessed any magical abilities, he was utterly powerless to resist the bindings of Command Seals, let alone the fact that he was now deeply bound to that person's skin book.

Gilles de Rais's gaze fell into the distance, as if through the mists of time, he saw the despicable form that had once twisted him.

That image, a monster despised by the world and recorded in history as infamous.

All that ill-fated connection began when he picked up that book called "The Book of the Snail Annihilation City".

That book corrupted his soul, eroded his reason, and ultimately led him into an endless abyss.

“I’ve already seen how he twisted himself,” he whispered, his voice filled with undisguised sorrow.

“He is despised by everyone, and I even personally fought against him with the saint.”

"And now, I'm going to become like that too."

Had she fought alongside the Saintess? Matou Ike instinctively felt something was off.

Historically, Gilles de Rais only gradually transformed into that despicable villain after the death of the saint.

"You said you fought alongside the Holy Maiden..." Matou Ike frowned and asked him:

"This doesn't match historical records. Didn't you only fall into depravity after her death?"

Matou Ike objected to Gilles de Rais's answer, saying it was too different from normal history.

Even the most obscure historical accounts couldn't possibly get the time of the saintess's death wrong, could they?

“She is a spirit, the spirit of Joan of Arc,” Gilles de Rais explained slowly. “On the third day after she was burned at the stake, she became a spirit to continue protecting us.”

Matou Ike frowned, silently weighing the veracity of the information in his mind.

It sounds quite bizarre that Joan of Arc became a heroic spirit after her death in reality, but in the world of magic, it is not entirely impossible.

"I feel like I've heard this somewhere before..." Matou Ike frowned and muttered to himself, as if recalling some scattered fragments.

Suddenly, he abruptly raised his head, looked directly at Gilles de Rais, and said:

"Wait a minute, you said you attacked your twisted self?"

"Yes, he suddenly appeared just when peace was about to be restored and started a new war with dragons and fire. Although he called himself Bluebeard, I knew that was me in the future."

Gilles de Rais appeared to be caught up in painful memories, his face slightly distorted.

When France was once again engulfed in war, it was Joan of Arc who saved us once again.

But we let her down, becoming a casualty of peace. Is that really okay?

Seeing Berserker's wild aura gradually leaking out, seemingly about to enter a "Berserker" state, Matou Ike interrupted his thoughts.

"Was Joan of Arc the only heroine to descend to earth? Or were there others who accompanied you in saving France?"

"There were also several other Heroic Spirits, and a man who called himself Master. That man seemed to claim to be from Chaldea."

Gilles de Rais's words shocked Matou Ike.

Are you kidding me? The man summoned as a Berserker is actually from a singularity.

Memories locked in the mind resurface one by one, and knowledge of the singularity returns.

As Matou Ike pondered, he inwardly berated himself: Why hadn't he figured out this man's true origins sooner? There were already so many strange things about him that he couldn't possibly list them all.

He began to re-examine the man in front of him.

The story of finding the 'Snail Annihilation City Textbook' now seems plausible.

It was not copied from the boundary record tape, nor is it a true heroic spirit in history.

Instead, after the singularity was repaired, despite not wanting to become the most detestable thing, he couldn't resist the tide of history and picked up the evil book called 'The Book of the Annihilation City'.

Singularities are simply nodes of possibility; minor changes are harmless, whether they are found or given by someone else.

It's enough that the existence of Gilles de Rais will be corrupted into 'Bluebeard'.

Chapter 27 "Effect"

This is a point of constraint, a juncture that a man named Gilles de Rais is destined to pass through in his life.

This is a destiny already etched in our minds; history has already written its inscription.

Perhaps being drawn to the Holy Grail is also because of a desire to defy one's own destiny.

Or was it the temptation of an evil god?

If it were Joan of Arc, what would she have done? How did she encourage her comrades to achieve victory in an impossible battle?

But none of that matters, no matter what this world becomes, whether it becomes a singularity or a Lostbelt.

But none of this mattered to Matou Ike. His goal was simple: to have more leverage in his hands.

“I understand your situation now. Join us.” Matou Ike paused, looking directly at Gilles de Rais. “You want liberation, and I no longer wish to be controlled by fate. Perhaps we can help each other achieve our goals.”

A flicker of hesitation crossed Gilles de Rais's eyes, and he whispered:

"Liberation? Can you help me break free from the curse of that book? Can you make me stop being Bluebeard?"

Matou Ike slowly shook his head and said:

"I can't guarantee I can help you break free from the curse of the evil book, nor can I change your fate of becoming Bluebeard. Perhaps all I can do for you is a decent way to die."

“I just want to fight for the present, Mr. Jill.”

Matou Ike extended his hand in front of Gilles de Rais.

Gilles de Rais fell silent upon hearing the man's words, yet also felt a surge of amusement.

When recruiting people, instead of showing them a grand future plan or using profit sharing as an incentive, they only want to rely on sincerity?

But I am no longer a naive young person who can be easily inspired by words.

He had seen too much hypocrisy and betrayal, and experienced too much glory and depravity.

Although he had only been a Marshal of France for three years, he was already accustomed to the corrupt practices among the nobility.

Even Joan of Arc died in the same way...

Joan of Arc?

"I don't know, Jill. Even if I'm destined to lose, I'll probably fight to the end."

...

Looking at the outstretched hand of the man in front of him, Gilles de Rais remained silent for a moment before finally shaking it.

He didn't know what the future held, whether it would lead to depravity or death.

Just like when you faced that person's invitation back then, give it another try.

“Then, the contract is established!” Matou Ike said in a low voice.

The magic's brilliance illuminated the entire underground river, highlighting the two people's tightly clasped hands.

......

Ryudong Temple.

In the Zen room.

Matou Ike is eating self-heating food she bought from a convenience store. She's exhausted after today's battle.

He chewed his warm food while pondering his next plan. The room was quiet, save for the sounds of his chewing and the occasional clinking of cutlery.

This ancient temple, once a place of tranquility, has now become a resting place after battle.

Neither of the two Servants nor their Master are the type who are good at housework.

Or rather, only a minority of Servants possess the EX level of housework expertise.

Caster held the 'Snail Annihilation City Text' in his hand, studying it carefully, as if there was something interesting in it.

As she flipped through the pages, she muttered to herself thoughtfully.

“Master, I should be able to sever the connection between this book and Berserker with my Noble Phantasm.”

She said it casually, as if stating something perfectly ordinary.

Matou Ike stopped eating with her chopsticks and looked up at Caster.

His expression revealed a mixture of helplessness and confusion, as if silently questioning: Why didn't you say so sooner? You made me so embarrassed just now.