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"Even if this country fall. He alone will survive."
- Haru Okumura (Persona 5)
"Sir, Wake up." Ren Amamiya heard a voice beside him. He wakes up seeing a field of grass and tents that getting build up. He blinks several times and makes sure that his vision isn't tricking him. "We will arrive in France tomorrow." The soldier him informed. "But the night is going to hit soon. So we better set a camp for tonight." Hearing that. Ren stretches his arms before jumping off the wagon his using. "Hopefully nothing happened to your friends at the west." Ren gives the soldier a friendly smile before replying.
"I think they can handle it. They are the scouts of the group after all." He said remembering Archer and Medusa this early morning. The two decided to help him on escorting this caravan. But since two caravans will arrive in France. They decided to split up leaving Ren on the east while the two help the west. "By the way sir. I heard that someone will come here and help us with escorting." Ren looks at the soldier in curiosity. "Really? Who's that going to be?" He asks.
"I don't have any idea. But they will arrive here soon." The soldier jumps off on the wagon and stands in front of Ren. "Guess it's time for us to help." He said. "Yeah, let's" Ren replied. 'Someone going to help us?' He wondered in his mind. 'Could it be Charlemagne or Astolfo? Maybe Jeanne?' He thought. 'But then I remember that they are going to help Marie at preparing the celebration for these people.'
'I wonder who-' Ren stops when he saw a group of soldiers on horses. "It looks like they arrive." He heard beside him. "Oh look, it's sir Gilles." Ren saw the man coming to them. "It's good to see that nothing happened on these people." Gilles said in a neutral tone. "and to you." The man addresses him. "I would like to apologize for what happened yesterday. Hopefully, you understand that I was drunk at that time."
"You see. Something happened that made me turn into that sorry state. I feel like I failed my people and my frustration and angrier lead to you. I'm sorry if I scared you. Please forgive me." Ren notices how Gilles trying his best to make his apology sound sincere. He can at least appreciate that. But he saw what happened. He even heard the name of the demon he summoned. Hearing him making an apology after all of that feels strange.
Remembering what Vlad III told him about him. He cannot fully trust this man. Even though Jeanne trust him. Ren mind, body, and soul telling him not too. Which is why he decided to be cautious around him. "I already move on about it." He passively replied. "I also understand. So there is nothing to apologize anymore." He said while waiting for Gilles reaction.
"I'm glad." A small smile appeared on Gilles's face before he replies. "Then we should help these people settling this camp." He gives a signal at the soldiers behind him. "Help these people and prepare the food." He commanded. "Yes, Sir!" The soldiers gave their salute before leaving. "Her majesty still supply us foods even though we have enough?"
"Yes, I told her that it's not needed. But her majesty is just very modest." Gilles replied at the soldier beside Ren. "Viva La France! We're gonna have a feast tonight!" The soldier cried out in joy. "Indeed we will," Gilles said hiding his amusement from it. "Anyway let us not stand here and make idle talk." He said before leaving the two.
"Well let us start helping everyone." Ren nodded his head in agreement with the soldier statement. "I'm excited about tonight! I'm gonna eat like there is no tomorrow!" said the soldier. Meanwhile, Ren keeps his look at Gilles. He felt something strange about the man. "Just what are you up to, Gilles?" He whispered under his breath.
After finishing setting the tents around the camp. The people on the caravan and the soldiers of France started to have a party. They are happily chatting at each other and making casual conversation. Some are dancing around the campfire while following the rhythm of the beat coming from their instruments. Some are having a feast on the food and drinks placed on the tables. Some are already drunk but still keep ongoing. Ren watched all of this in the distance while enjoying the lively evening on the camp.
"Hey mister, why are you here alone?" He heard from one of the children that are approaching him. "Are you not having fun?" He shakes his head in disagreement and reply. "I like the view here." He simply answered their question. "See, if you look over here you can see everyone having fun," Ren told the children. "Really?" The children then find a place beside him and see the view for themselves.
"Look!" One of them giggled and pointed at the campfire. "I can see my parents dancing over there!" The children started to giggle as well when they saw their parents and familiar faces around the campfire. "The view here is nice." Ren simply smiles after hearing their comment. "If you look behind you. You can see the lights coming from the fireflies in the distant." He told.
His group of companions immediately turned around to see the fireflies. "So pretty." They let out in awe. "Do you think there are fireflies in the city, mister?" One of them asks. "Because if there aren't. Then we're gonna miss them." He turned around and saw a small girl that look sad. "They might not be a lot of them in the city and you won't see them glow like this. But that makes this rare scene much more beautiful because we don't usually see them." He tried to comfort the girl.
The girl smiled a little after hearing that. "Then I just need to be patient and wait to see another one." She told to herself before beaming a smile to him. "Thank you, mister?" She and her friends realize that they still do not know his name. "My name is Ren Amamiya." He introduces with a friendly smile on his face. "Hello! My name is Sera and this is my friends." She said and one by one they introduce themselves to him.
"It's nice to meet you all." He said at the children in front of him. "By the way, are you not hungry? Because we have food here if you want." Sera said while showing the foods they have. But something caught Ren's eyes. "What is this?" He asks while pointing at the transparent egg. "Oh, the soldiers give it to us." One of them answered. "My father said it taste salty at first but delicious afterward."
"We still haven't tried it though. We don't like its taste and it's look." Sera said and her friends agreed to her. "But our parents going to get angry if they saw us wasting food." Sera then pouted and continued. "But I don't want to eat it." She then and crossed her arms. "Then let me have it. They won't get mad if you share your food to someone else right?" Ren offered. "Really?!" Sera happily asks. "Yes." He replied and they happily give him a bowl full of it.
"Are you going to eat it?" Sera asks in curiosity. Ren looks at the bowl and felt his stomach getting sick just by looking at it. "Maybe later." He said and make an excuse. "Okay!" Sera said before watching the fireflies once again. "I haven't seen an egg look like this before." He murmured to himself. "My stomach already acting weird just by looking. So maybe it's not best to try this stuff." He then put the bowl beside him.
"So this is where you been, sir." He heard the voice of the soldier from earlier. "Oh, it seems you already have company, hopefully, you don't mind if I joined." He said before finding a seat nearby. "I'm excited for these people to live in France. They were staying in those wagons for almost a year now and still haven't found a place to permanently stay." The soldier sincerely said even though he's a little drunk. "I can imagine how hard it is to live in the wild while fearing the beasts that lurking around."
"But all of that will change once they arrive in France." Taking another sip on his bottle. The soldier continues with a smile. "Thanks to her majesty! Viva La France!" He said and raise the bottle on his hand. "I'm happy to be part of this mission. I'm happy to serve the queen and the people of France." Seeing the soldier smile. Ren could not help himself but smile as well. "By the way, are you not going to eat those?" He asks while pointing at the bowl on his side.
"No, I won't." He replied. "Can I have it then?" The solider asks Ren. "Sure." He answered and the soldier immediately took the bowl and pick up one of the eggs. "You're missing the delicious taste of this eggs, sir." The soldier said while looking at the egg in delight. "Not only it's delicious. It also gives us soldiers the nutrients we need to fight!" With just one gulp. The soldier consumes one of the eggs. "That taste so good!" Ren watches the soldier getting another one.
"Is that how you eat those?" Ren pointed out. "Oh yes, you need to take this in one gulp." He saw the beaming smile of the soldier as he began explaining. "The insides of these eggs feel horrible in your mouth. So to avoid it we just take it in one gulp."
"Isn't that dangerous?" Ren asks. "Not really. It's easy to do it since the eggs are slippery in the mouth. The only dangerous about it is choking because someone made some joke." The soldier began to laugh. "Which is why we avoid making jokes when we're eating this." He said and continue eating the eggs on the bowl. "I see." said by the raven-haired man.
"Can I ask you something?" Ren asks the soldier. "Ask away, sir!" replied by the soldier. "Why did France attack Vlad III castle in the first place?" The soldier looks at him in surprise after hearing the question. "Why? Because he's evil. He and his minions killed many of us. You see the condition of the fallen soldier on that castle?"
"They impaled their bodies and let them hang around the castle like some trophy." The soldier looks downcast after remembering that scene. "I see. But when did it all start?" Hearing his another question, the soldier took a sip of his bottle before answering. "It was sir Gilles who encountered that vampire first. They were originally going to destroy this nest, but that vampire and his minions suddenly attack them and killed everyone except sir Gilles."
"Nest?"
"Yes, some nest that creatures who living underwater used." The soldier said. "Those creatures are dangerous and terrifying. Our people could not even fish because of those creatures. But thankfully sir Gilles did something about it. He leads these brave soldiers in their nest to exterminate them. But it looks like those creatures are pets by that vampire. The moment sir Gilles group step on that breeding ground. That vampire came and kill almost everyone."
"Luckily Sir Gilles made it and reported what happened. His story gives us the strength to avenge our fallen soldiers. Which why we assaulted that vampire castle every single night. With Sir Gilles leading us, we will have our revenge against them." He then looks at him. "Thankfully all of our efforts didn't go to waste. We finally avenge our friends." He saw the smile on the soldier face before thanking him personally.
"But damn now I realize that Sir Gilles is one lucky soldier. It's like the goddess of fortune is always on his side and keep him safe from that kind of situation. He manages to survive the event that happened in the sewer against the remnants of that vampire minion that other day. Many of our men died on that day, but Sir Gilles determination to keep going make us believe in him more." The soldier proudly said.
"Oh goodness, I eat all of it." The soldier said while looking at the empty bowl. "I should return now. There still food on the table that needs to get eaten." He stood up and wave goodbye to Ren. "We will have another party tomorrow. Hopefully, you have a drink with me alright?" Ren smiled hearing the soldier offer. "I'm still underage." He said and made the soldier laugh. "Ha! When I was on your age, I already experience getting drunk!" Ren watches the soldier walking away. "I'm getting tired now." He heard behind him. "We'll be going now, bye!" Sera said and soon the children leave. Seeing himself alone once again. Ren lay down on the ground and look at the evening sky. "Gilles leads them on a nest, huh?"
"I need to prepare for tomorrow." He said to himself. "I'll keep everyone safe like what you ask me, Marie." He whispered before letting himself fall to sleep under the blanket of stars and the beautiful evening sky.
Early morning the caravan is getting prepared to move. Everyone is packing their kinds of stuff and the soldier of France are scouting the road before they move. Ren Amamiya is currently helping on disassembling the tents they have used. "Ren! Good morning." He heard the voices of the children from yesterday. "Good morning," Ren replied and shifted his attention on the children.
"We're getting excited! Are we ready to move soon?" Sera happily asks the raven-haired man. The girl excitement does show to her face with the beaming smile she sent to him. "We're almost done. We're just waiting for the soldiers to return from scouting." Ren answered. "Save your energy for later. Believe it or not. France will celebrate your safe arrival."
"Really? They will do that for us!?" The children ask in awe. "Yep, so we better have the energy for tonight, alright?" They smiled and nodded to him while showing him their smiles. "Well, I better go back to work-" Ren stop when he saw Gilles walking toward him. "There you are," Gilles said. "I want you to join me on the front wagon." He said while pointing at the head of the caravan. "I already sent some soldier to report on her majesty about our arrival."
"The scouts also reported that there is no sign of any monsters on the road. So we are good to go." Gilles informed him while keeping his voice in neutral. "Come, let us move immediately." He commanded and walk ahead to the front. "He looks so scary," Sera commented in fright. "He does." Ren jokingly said to her. "I need to go now. See you guys later?" He waves his hand and leaves the children with a smile.
After arriving on the front. Ren pulled himself up on the wagon and seat on the driver seat. Gilles is already there is just waiting for him to arrive and without saying anything to each other. The caravan started to move and on its way to France. Ren didn't mind the silence between them, but sitting beside Gilles made him uncomfortable. "Is there something you want to say?" Ren startled when Gilles suddenly spoke. "Or perhaps there is something wrong? You look not comfort over there." He asks.
"Regardless keep your guard up. Prepare for the worst as they say." Gilles reminded him. "I will," Ren replied and the silence returned once again. "But then again. Sitting beside a demon is perhaps one of the worst things happened in my life." Hearing that comment. Ren looks at Gilles and saw that he's serious when he said that. "So why are you here?" Gilles smirk after hearing his question. "To keep an eye on you. You are dangerous around these people after all and I'm just being a good Samaritan for these people."
"Good Samaritan?" Ren chuckled after saying that. "What so funny about it, demon?" Ren saw the smirk on Gilles's face disappears after getting insulted on his comment. "I heard some stories about you, very intriguing I must say and it's a contradiction to what you think on yourselves." Ren the wipe his amusement and look seriously to Gilles.
"Which is why I wanted to know your side about it." He said while looking at Gilles. "Stories?" He heard him laugh after saying that. "What kind of stories from hell did you heard?" Ren ignored Gilles insult and proceed in questioning. "I heard that Vlad III didn't do anything to France. Instead, you and the soldiers under your command attack him." He ignores the chuckle from Gilles and continues. "Not only that. These soldiers are acting strange when Vlad III see them. They look like in pain and died before he can do anything about it. Surely you are aware of the condition of these soldiers before sending them on a mission right?"
"But it doesn't end there. The chest of these soldiers who came in that condition suddenly burst out and Vlad III saw the horrifying creatures eating their insides." Ren continued recollecting the information Vlad III told to him. "Do you have any idea why did that happen?" Gilles didn't reply and just look at the road ahead of them. "Another story I heard is that you gathered some soldiers to get rid of these creatures who live in the water."
"Vlad III and his minions attack you when your group set foot on the area. And only you manage to survive. There is also a claim that these creatures are under Vlad III commands. But then that falsify to what Vlad III statement. He fought this creature similar to that. They also live underwater and made the area around his castle their nest. He manages to drive them away but it looks like they manage to find another place to habitat."
"Somewhere that has a large amount of water. Somewhere like the sewer. Like what happened the other day. I heard that you and your men encounter this creature you claimed under Vlad III command. Many have died but somehow you manage to get away."
"This is the second time it manages to escape Vlad III and His 'Minions'." Ren keeps his eyes on Gilles. "Hearing all of that. I wonder which one is true and which one is false." Ren pauses for a moment and pressed on for answers. "So tell me your side, Gilles De Rais." Ren waited for his answer but get nothing. "Did you send those soldiers knowing those creature is eating their organs?" He asks and Gilles stays quite. "Did you set Vlad III to become France enemy?"
"I want to hear your side. I want to hear it with your mouth. Who between Vlad III and you are telling the truth?" Ren's voice raises a little after saying that. "To be honest, I'm wary of you Gilles. Which is why I wanted to hear it. Because in the end, you are still Jeanne friend. A friend she trusted the most. A friend she been with since then. That even if I tell her all of this I heard about you. She is still going to believe you and will get your side. That is how much she trusts you."
"So just answer my question, Gilles De Rais." Ren finished but still haven't got anything from Gilles. But he heard him laughing softly. The very sound of it startled Ren's body. "The truth?" Gilles let out in amusement. "Yes, yes I did all of that. I sent those soldier with those creatures inside them. I made Vlad III an enemy of France to get my revenge after what he has done to my minions."
"Yes, all of that accusation is true. I did all of it. Just for the mission that given to me!" Gilles said while holding himself from laughing. "Some things never change. Even when we are now living on the moon and the world it made. The people who live here are still stupid and easy to manipulate." Gilles then looks at Ren with a smirk on his face. "But to fair, they are perfect materials for me to uses."
"Virtual body as they may be. The substance is still there and the conditions have been met." The smirk on his face changes into a sadist smile. "Here let me ask you a question. How did my minion burst inside them? What method I'm using for that to happen. For the hint well I didn't use any magic. I also didn't force them for it to happen." Ren began to wonder while watching Gilles laughing on his heart content. "Not force." He murmured and then his eyes got wide from realization. "You didn't-"
"Oh, it seems you realize it. Have you seen those eggs that everyone is eating yesterday evening? Those delicious delicacies that the soldiers telling? Those eggs are what I'm using. I'm feeding them that and their ignorance will slowly kill them." Gilles started his laughing pit. "The look on your face is priceless! I didn't know a demon will make my stomach laugh this hard!"
"You bastard! These people trusted you!" Ren said and pulled Gilles closer and about to hit him in the face. But the smirk on Gilles's face stops him. "They still going to trust me. Believe me, they will. Once you are gone and killed. They will trust me more. A hero who killed the demon. A hero that avenge the people of France. A hero that Jeanne will be proud of." Ren could only stare at him as he says that. "Meanwhile everyone will watch your death, you fiend!"
"ARGHHH!" The voice of someone shouting stop the caravan. "ARGGHHH!" Another voice has been heard. "What are you going to do now, Ren Amamiya?" Gilles looks at him in amusement. "Shut up," Ren replied and jump off the wagon to check what is happening. "HELP!" He heard somewhere close to him. He then checks the back of the wagon and saw the passenger rolling due to pain. "HELP!" They say while holding their chest. "MY CHEST! IT HURTS!" Ren not knowing what to do could only watch the passenger cough in blood.
"SOMETHING COMING!" They shouted and slowly their chest opened. Ren watches the horror happening in front of him as something forcing it way out on the passenger's chest. Ren saw tentacles on their chest moving uncontrollably and pushing it way out on the passenger's chest. "Father!" He heard the voices of the children from one of the wagons. He immediately finds the source and started to realize the horror happening on the wagon.
One by one the passenger is jumping on the wagon and rolling to the ground while feeling an extreme pain inside them. Ren saw the children crying as they watch their parents in rolling in pain while screaming in agony. They started coughing blood and he realizes what is going to happen next. "Close your eyes!" He told at the crying children. "Close your eyes!" He repeated and soon they cover their eyes with their hands.
"Father!" One of the children shouted as they hearing the much louder scream from their parents. Ren forcefully watches the creature burst itself out on the body. A creature who's appendage are heavily spiked and tentacles with circular mouth-like openings marked with shark teeth-like blades. These creatures slowly growing as their body absorb air. Ren could not describe these creatures but horrifying. "ARGHH!" Ren body startled when the children saw the state of their parents body.
"Let's get out of here." He tried to tell the children but they are currently horrified or perhaps trauma about what they seeing right now. Without much choice, Ren hops in on the wagon and carry the children out of the wagon. Once all the children are out of the wagon. He saw Gilles walking toward them with a group of soldiers behind him. "What the hell!" He then heard from the soldiers behind Gilles. "Everyone is dead." One of the soldiers let out in disbelief after seeing numerous dead body of soldiers and the others.
"It looks like you showed your true color," Gilles said. "What do you mean, sir." A soldier asks in confusion. "I cannot believe this. It looks like we've been set up." Gilles replied while faking his realization. "Did you make Vlad III work for you? Or perhaps your the one who's controlling them now. But then again You're a demon, everything is possible just for your evil cause." Ren saw how the terrified look his getting on the soldiers behind Gilles. "Why did it have to end like this." Gilles then looks at the dead bodies that currently getting eaten by those creatures. "Why did you have to kill these innocent people!" Gilles yelled at him.
"That's bullshit!" Ren angrily said to Gilles
"You're going to pay for this demon!" Gilles then pulled his sword and pointed it at Ren. "Men prepare yourself!" He commanded. One by one the soldiers pulled their swords at him. "You disgust me. I thought we can trust you!" One of the soldiers said to him. "We should have to believe what Sir Gilles said the other day! You're a demon! You're just the entire being is evil! You should be burned!" One of them threatens. "Die demon!" One of the soldier's charges at him. "Stop!" Gilles shouted but the soldier didn't listen. Suddenly this creatures attack in a group at the charging soldier and killed him instantly.
"Brace yourselves. These creatures are under his command!" Gilles yelled. "How many do you have to kill?" Gilles asks then shifted his attention on the children behind him. "What are you going to do with those children?" He then slammed his hand on the wagon beside him. "Those children have nothing to do with this. Spare there lives, please. I'm begging you!" Gilles fake acting got all the soldiers believing and started supporting him.
"Let the children go," Gilles told Ren. "Shut up," Ren replied while doing his best to keep his emotion in check. The memories from that one evening when he helps that woman from Shido is coming back. The frustration and shock he felt when he got arrested because of him. Those same feeling is coming back but this time there is angrier on it. But Ren realizes he needs to keep himself calm. The safety of these children depends on him. He doesn't want Gilles to get his hand on these children. "I'm warning you. If you do anything to those children. You will pay for everything." Gilles warned.
"ARGH!" He heard behind him and saw one of the creatures jumps into one of them. Ren immediately pulled the child away from the creature. "Hold each other hands and follow me!" He said and pulled their hand and run straight toward the jungle. "Sir! They are coming for us!" Gilles heard and saw the creatures slowly approaching them. "Let none of these creatures survive!" He commanded the soldier of France while simultaneously order these creatures on his mind.
"Keep running Ren Amamiya. We will come to you." Gilles whispered under his breath. "Everyone will saw your dead body. Yes, that's it. After that, I can go and proceed to my next plan." He then makes a soft laugh while everyone around him is fighting for their lives.
Author Note: Originally I wanted to post this after it got proofread. But unfortunately, there are circumstances and delayed process. Regardless, me and my beta reader (Zuskato Zyus) will do our best to make this story great. Anyway, Chapter 1 and Chapter 3 has been updated and rewritten while the other chapter remains the same and untouched. So come and see the changes we made on those chapters. Also originally I'm planning to make it an assassination, but then it felt lame for me so I changed it. Then I change it into an Ambush but then It also feels lame and wrong for me. So, in the end, I made it into a Setup.
For the plot and a better introduction for the Archangels. With that, we only have three or four chapters left before France Arc ends. I'm excited to write the next arc since I already have an idea hatching for it. Well that is all for today back to honkai impact 3 LOL.
Well, that is all for now, leave a review and follow this story if you're interested. Favorite this as well if you like it. Bye-bye~