Disclaimer: Fate series and Persona series belong to their awesome owner. I do not own anything.
Call upon my name, and release thy rage! Show the strength of thy will to ascertain all on thine own, though thou be chained to Hell itself!"
-Arsene (Persona 5)
Early morning, Hakuno Kishinami the sovereign of Seraph wake up early to talk to Marie Antoinette. Accompany by her trusted servants, Nero Claudius and Tamamo no Mae, the three stood at the gate of Marie's mansion while pressing the doorbell to ring and wait for someone to let them in. The female master presses the bell again for the fifth time and only gets greeted by the sound of the chiming bell. "It's impossible that no one is inside the queen mansion, no?" said the Roman emperor. "Also why there isn't any guard assigned on the gate?" She mentioned the lack of security at the Queen mansion.
"I don't see anyone working outside the mansion either." Nero said while looking at the beautiful bed of flowers presented outside the mansion. "Those flowers won't water themselves, Marie, better to remind her maids the importance of it." The crimson emperor complained and made her rival in love and at Hakuno's attention, sighed. "You seem more disappointed about the plants than the lack of guards on the mansion." Tamamo commented and shrug her shoulders. "But then again, you are right. No one seems working on a place where the Queen live."
"That is true, the shops we passed before we got here are already opened and ready to work." Hakuno agreed and begun to wonder why no one is answering their call. "Let's try one more time-" The female master got interrupted when she saw someone come out inside the mansion. "Great, it's Mr. Scowl face." Tamamo said after seeing Gilles de Rais walking toward them. "What does the sovereign wanted this early morning?" He asks in a somewhat sharp tone at Hakuno.
"Is that how you talk to the sovereign?" Nero raises her voice on the servant. "Oh please forgive my behavior. I forgot that you're the sovereign of Seraph." Gilles mocks while looking at Hakuno. "To be honest, you don't look like one." He said and back away when Tamamo angrily slammed her fist on the gate and almost break it. "Ridicule her one more time, I dare you." She said in a threatening demeanor at the man. "Calm down, Caster." The fox shrine maiden heard from her side, she felt the touch on her shoulder coming from her master. "Remember why we're here." She said and smiled at her. "I'm not offended, so please?" seeing the smile of the most precious person in her life, Tamamo has begun to relax and returned to her normal self.
"We want to talk to Marie, so will you please let us in?" Hakuno asks the frightened general. Gilles cleared his throat before answering. "Due to what happened yesterday, Her Majesty isn't well, and needed to rest so she cannot talk to you." He said and returned to his earlier composure. "It seems it not just the Queen who isn't well, I don't see any guards or maids working outside, are they bedridden as well?" Nero voices her doubt at the servant.
"They are working inside and taking care of her majesty at this moment." Gilles simply answered. "We've been ringing the bell more than once and no one answered. How many maids are needed to check the Queen condition, also that begs another question as to why there are no guards here outside, are all the guards inside as well?" The crimson emperor questioned. "The Queen cannot talk to you, we'll inform you when she can." The marshal said and ignored the emperor's question completely.
The three females sent each other a look, they felt something suspicious is happening, but decided not to show it on the man, and set up a plan to talk about it with everyone once they returned to the hotel. "I guess we'll take our leave then." said Hakuno and about to leave but Gilles called her out. "Before you leave, I just wanted to inform that if we found out you're hiding Ren Amamiya somewhere, then expect France to turn its back at you."
"Unless if you, the Sovereign of Seraph, helped us to hunt him down, a Demon if let loose will stain your name and questioned your position on France and its people." The marshal smiled as their eyes meet. "Your group came here intending to make us an alliance, but one of you did a crime and my people wanted to serve him the justice he deserves. It a perfect time to prove that your group, really meant to help us, by telling where he is." Gilles finished, but Hakuno just stands to her ground unfazed about what the servant is spouting. "Sir Gilles, mind my words, but I want to tell you that if you've been proved lying all along. Not only you'll be going to betray France, but you will also be hated for all the crimes you did, I'll also sentence you for treason."
"You betrayed not only this country but also the whole Seraph. I'll make sure you will pay for it, I'm the sovereign after all." She said before turning her back to Gilles and make their leave. "Treason? Don't make me laugh." He said while staring dagger at Hakuno's back. "Don't act so tough, you don't know what I'm capable to do." Gilles said before storming off back inside the mansion.
"Stop staring at me, I already made my decision and it's final." Jeanne d'Arc said to the thief. "Didn't we talk about this back on Lundy? We said that we can rely on each other, that's why I'm staying here to help you." She then crossed her arms after that. "We can work together to make sure these children are safe." Listening to her reasons, Jeanne does have a point, he does need someone to lend a hand, and the saint already did it by making the children calm with her kind words, having her around will make it easier to move as they look for a safe place to hide these children.
But what worries him is that Gilles might find out that Jeanne still hasn't returned to France and knew that she's with him, The thief knows that it will make the servant inflame if he found out, and he might snap then do the same thing that happened on the caravan at France. "Then again we did agree to that, I also need help." He sighed in defeat and made the saint smiled on her victory.
"But you need to return after we find a place, alright?" Ren told at the saint, who nods her head eagerly after hearing. "Then let's get going." He said and lead the group. "Stay close to me, alright? Hold each other hand, okay? If something happened just shout so we can hear you, understand?" Jeanne said at the children behind her, once she heard their answer, the beautiful maiden hold the hand of the children in the front and followed Ren.
"Just imagine we're on a trip alright?" She said and the children nodded to her. "Why are you smiling?" The saint asks the raven-haired man she following. "You're really good with kids, meanwhile I'm still having a struggle around them." Ren commended. "Now, aren't you glad that I'm here to help you?" Jeanne d'Arc playfully brags at him, the thief chuckled after seeing an attitude that the girl rarely shows. "Yeah, yeah." He casually answered.
"I remember while working at the Lundy kindergarten, my only way on the children's heart is a curry. Whenever they see me making one, they stop and run to my side and repeatedly asks if it is ready, it works like a magic to them as they stop their arguments at each other and wait excitedly for me to serve the curry." Ren reminisces his memories at Lundy and made the saint laugh. "That is true, I remembered when it first happened, I and Martha though the children and missing and went into a search in panic."
"Imagine our surprise when we saw them waiting on your side for the curry." She said and the thief sheepishly smiled at her after remembering that event. "You really took their hearts with the curry you made." Her smile suddenly vanishes and stared at Ren. "But then, it also applied to everyone who eaten it, notably the females living in Lundy, that are into both of the taste and at the chef who made it." She said while looking at him in accusation. "Are you aware of that?" Jeanne interrogates that thief.
"I'm not." Ren answered with a puzzled look. "But, then again the way to the girl's heart is through her stomach, right?" He jokingly said, but its humor didn't reach the saint. It made things worse as Jeanne looking at him in disappointment. "Stop fooling around! Don't you know how weird it is to listen around the conversation of mothers talking about you?!" She enlightened the raven-haired thief.
"Wait, so you're listening to them-?" Like magic, Ren lost his ability to speak when the saint waves her finger at him, signaling that she still not done yet. "Can you imagine how awkward is it to talk on a female child, saying that they wanted to be with you when they grew up?" Jeanne said while pointing her finger at Ren. "Also, I didn't listen to them… not intentionally, I just somehow heard about it." Her composure breaks a little but returned immediately to continue her complains.
"Also, why are you so popular with older women?! well not that it matters since you are also popular with girls that same age as you! Then you're telling me that you're not aware of it? Are you oblivious or just decide to ignore our feelings?" Jeanne finished and asks. "Wait, our feelings?" Ren questioned and the tables suddenly turned. "By that, you mean your included as well?" He clarified his question at the saint.
Jeanne like a kettle, her face boiled up and blush madly from realizing what she said. "Then-" The thief was about to say something, but Jeanne panics and interrupts him. "Do-don't g-get the wrong idea!" Her earlier composure slowly falling apart as she answers. "By our, I me-mean, girls in general, ye-yes that is what I meant to say." Jeanne answered in cold sweat. "That still means its include you." Ren blankly pointed out on the saint.
"N-no! I'm not!" The saint freaks out as she answers. "I mean, only do-does girls that I just mentioned…" She said and slowly calming down from embarrassment. "I see." Ren casually smiled after hearing the saint answer and cleared up the misunderstanding she made. "Anyways I think there's a cabin over there." He said while pointing at the distance. "How convenient, but let's take a look." The thief then leads the way and Jeanne and the children followed.
"It doesn't look abandoned." Jeanne pointed out after seeing the cabin much closer, the cabin is neatly clean and properly taken care of. "Wait, this feeling. There a servant inside-!" She said but interrupted by an unfamiliar voice. "Are you lost in the wood?" The man standing in the doorway of the cabin asks, he has long indigo hair tied in a ponytail, the color of his hair also matches the shade of his eyes, he wears a purple umanori hakama and kimono, light purple tabi and black geta with purple haori and tekkou.
They also notice the beautifully crafted katana on his hand. "What does the two of you doing with a bunch of kids, here on the woods?" He calmly asks in wonder. "Perhaps, you two are taking your children on a family trip?" The unknown man suddenly came to a wild conclusion. "What a big family for two young adults." The faces of the two flushed from what the man said. "Th-that's not it!" Jeanne cried out in embarrassment. "I'm wrong? Then what reason there is for your group to wonder here?" He asks in bewilderment.
The saint cleared her throat and immediately returned her normal composure before answering. "We want to find a place for these children to hide, you see, they are the only survivors left at the massacre that happened." She answered honestly. "We're thinking that perhaps you can help us to hide these children away from the mastermind of that crime, Sasaki Kojirou?" Jeanne d'Arc boldness made the man smiled.
"The ability to learn a servant's name. It's impressive and makes me wonder how a formidable enemy to face on a regular grail war." Sasaki Kojirou said while looking at Jeanne. "My name is Sasaki Kojirou, a regular swordsman living in the forest, I've been isolated from anyone for a while, and suddenly seeing a servant who belongs to the extra class, it makes me want to test their skills." He said with a soft smile on his face. "Forgive me for suddenly asking, but perhaps you can have a duel with me? I've been fighting only the wyvern for a while and felt my skill become rusty because of it." The samurai explained and asks the beautiful saint.
"You can tell me what happened, and perhaps I might help the two of you." Sasaki said as he goes down the stairs of the cabin and faces the saint. "There is no need to go all out, I just want to test your skills, so what do you say? Will you accept my duel?" Ren was about to talk to Jeanne, but he stops after seeing the determination on her eyes. "I will." She confidently accepted the servant invitation.
"Excellent." He said and go into his fighting position. "They can stay and watch at the cabin as we fight." Hearing his offer, Jeanne looks at Ren. "I got this, don't worry." She said with a smile on her face. "Be careful." The thief said and called the children out to follow him inside the cabin. "Are you ready?" She asks the servant. "I am, let us begin, while you're telling me the story of these children." He said and dashed towards Jeanne and their duel begins.
Their duel end when Sasaki decided to stop after hearing both of their stomach growls, ending with no actual winner. The servant also becomes convinced from their story and gives his sympathy to the children and also to Ren who got accused of the crime he didn't commit. He then offered his home for them to stay and help to hide these children. "So, Gilles is the reason why these children lost their parents?" The samurai asks after getting satisfied with the food that Ren cooked.
"Also, the way you cooked this boar meat is delicious." He gives his compliment to the thief before he forgot. "Thank you, and yes, it was Gilles who did the crime his accusing to me. But I still need to get a shred of solid evidence for everyone to see." Ren answered as he took their plates to clean. "I always have these suspicious feelings at him when we meet back in France." commented by Sasaki.
"You two meet in France?" The thief asks in surprise. "Yes, I've known everyone on France, From Mozart to Sanson, and even the Queen herself. I'm the unsung savior that their people are singing, but it's because I drove the wyvern away from them." He answered after taking a sip from the cup of tea. "This is my reward from that, a place surrounds by the beautiful nature while hunting wyvern in France." Seeing his cup is empty, he asks for another and Ren poured his cup with tea.
"What is your plan now? I can keep these children safe from Gilles, I'll swear for it." Hearing that made the thief relief. "Thank you, I'm still waiting for them to call, before making a plan." Ren answered. "Your friends on France right?" Ren nods his head and gives a glance at the talisman, place on the top of the table. "I cannot believe, that sheer defense of that saint is incredible, I felt my attack didn't work that much against her." said the samurai after remembering his duel with Jeanne.
"Speaking of her, isn't she taking a bath for a while now?" Sasaki wonders as the two give a quick look at where the saint is. Meanwhile Jeanne d'Arc, on the other hand, is currently in the bathtub while blushing hard from thinking about what happened earlier. She almost confessed to Ren! That thought itself made the saint sink from the bathtub to hide her embarrassment. 'Stupid, stupid, I almost messed up!' Jeanne thought to herself while looking at the ceiling and submerge from the water.
"But…then…did I miss my chance?" She asks in worries on herself after taking some air to breathe. "I wonder what would happen by now if I didn't deny it." said the saint and suddenly felt her face burning from embarrassment once again, she then sinks into the water to cool herself up. 'W-what chance I'm talking about!? I'm still not sure whether or not I'm in love with him!' She said while shaking her head madly underwater. 'also, I'm not sure if he will return my feelings as well.'
"Besides, he's probably into girls that have a gorgeous body and exciting personality." She murmured and submerge half of her face on water and stared at the wall. "Who knew what kind of girl will he meet into his life and how much I'll compare to them." The saint then slowly submerge from the water again but suddenly raise her head and rub off all the negatives thoughts on her mind. "What I'm talking about, my body is fine! I think!" She said while looking at her body. "I can be exciting as well if I wanted to! I also know a lot of things from cleaning house and cooking, surely that separates me from the others!" Jeanne confidently told to herself.
"Jeanne? Are you okay? We're hearing noises inside." She heard Ren's voice behind the door. "I'm fine!" The girl replied in a panic. "Alright." after hearing his reply, the blushing girl slowly submerge from the water again due to another embarrassment she feeling. 'Why I'm thinking too much about this! I don't even know if I love him or not!' She then raises her head once again and took a deep breath, and closed her eyes to focus. "My lord, please help me." Jeanne prayed to the lord above. "Give me a sign so I'll finally know the answer I'm looking for."
"If I have a feeling for him, then please send an angel down for me to witness." Jeanne d'Arc requested. "Too much?" She opened one of her eyes and look at the ceilings. "But that will make me sure that my feelings are true! Please send anyone!" The saint finished her prayers and felt exhausted from her antics. "My luck for romance might not come because of that." She said and let herself out of the tub and dry herself before putting her clothes.
"Oh, you're done." Ren greeted her after she leaves the bathroom. "Hakuno just called and we'll just waiting for you before we continue." He said and offered the seat beside him. "Thank you." She said and accepted the seat. "Everyone here? Good, things aren't looking good here in France." They heard Hakuno's voice coming from the talisman. "I also got the information we needed to prove Ren's innocent and Gilles identity, it took a while for the regalia to fetch this information because I'm away from my throne." She said in an apologetic tone. "It's fine, all that matters is we have it." Ren assured to the sovereign.
"Also thank you for helping them, Mr. Sasaki." She thanked the servant across the table. "It's nothing, but please just call me, Sasaki." said the samurai who's enjoying his tea. "I will. Anyway first things first, Gilles put a large amount of bounty on your head, Ren." Hakuno informed the thief. "I and Charles heard it from most everyone here in France." Astolfo's voice has been heard next and confirmed that it's true.
"Someone probably watching us and waiting to tick off some information from us." Tamamo said in disbelief. "Don't worry, the room we're using is protected by my spell, no words will be heard outside as long as we talk here." She said and make everyone sigh in relief. "Anyway, why Jeanne still hasn't returned here?" Her question made Ren remember something about what they talked about this morning. "We-well, I'm going to stay here and help Ren proves his innocence." Jeanne answered while avoiding the stare of disbelief coming from the thief. "Is that so? Then I suggest to be cautious around you, alright? Some people are desperate for money after all."
"There is no use for calling her out then." Ren released a sigh in defeat. He just remembered that they talked about Jeanne returning to France after they found a place to hide these children. "What else did you find out?" forgetting about it, he decided to keep the conversation on track. "Well, we tried to talk to Marie, but instead it was Gilles who came and informed that Marie isn't feeling well and cannot meet us." said the sovereign.
"Not only that, but the mansion feels suspicious as we didn't see any maid or guard outside it. No one came even though we ring the bell for many times, no one besides Gilles who greeted us." This time Nero decided to join the conversation and tell the rest of the story. "I have a bad feeling about it, and he has something to do with it. We might not able to talk to Marie until we figure it out, but we all agree that if something happened on her, we will go to save her, alright?" No one disagrees with it, each one of them is committed to saving the kind Queen of France and because of that, Nero made a beaming smile at them.
"Moving on, let's talk about the information coming from my regalia." Hakuno said and suddenly the talisman they using shows a two holographic image at them. "As you can see, there two images of Gilles de Rais, on the left is the saber form of Gilles de Rais, the one who becomes the national hero during the hundred years war while serving under Jeanne d'Arc, that same person we seeing in France."
"Meanwhile, on the right is also him, but this is him after falling into despair after Jeanne d'Arc got executed as a heretic. He went into madness after his lost and begun conducting dark magic, demonic summoning, and horrifying deeds. To prove that God is absent, he begun abducting young children to do nothing but wickedness to them, and that eventually earn him the title of 'Bluebeard'." said the sovereign, whose voice becomes low-spirit after reading the servant files.
"If our suspicion is right, then he was part of Karl der Große group when they attack us." Hakuno said, but her voice tells that she is still uncertain about it. "But then, how did he manage to revert himself to his old self and become a saber. Did they got summoned separately like how Charlemagne and Karl der Große did? Is it something like that? One is from the fantasy while the other is the reality, but in Gilles's case, one fell into madness and the other one is the hero?" She asks.
"But the Gilles on France is already falling into madness, I mean he accused Ren of a crime he didn't commit!" Astolfo pointed out. "It doesn't make sense if we follow that line of thoughts. Like its super doesn't make any sense." He said and everyone could not deny it. "You have a point, but how did he revert himself? He doesn't have any true knowledge, when it comes to magic, even though his a caster." The crimson emperor commented and joined her master in thinking for an answer. "We also cannot do that, once we got summoned, we're stuck with this body unless you can shapeshift, that kind of super-advanced magic is impossible for someone like Gilles could able to do." This time it was Tamamo who voices her thought and knowledge about magic with everyone.
"Perhaps, Karl der Große has something do to with it." Ren tried to offer an answer, but realize that it also sounds far fetch so he decided to explain further. "Maybe not directly to him, but on his group. We're still not sure how many they are right now, but he's aiming for the sovereign throne, it can't be done by just five groups of servants." the thief releases a sigh afterward. "He still hasn't made a move after that ambush, I wonder why." Ren murmured to himself and look at the ceiling in wonder.
"Since we still cannot find a concrete answer about it, let's move on and proceed to the other one." Hakuno stated and continued their meeting. "This voice record was taken from your talisman during that massacre." She informed and made the thief confuse. "This talisman can also record voice?" Ren asks. "Yes, I think Tamamo forgot to tell you about it." She answered and look at caster who's smiling cutely at her.
"I see, but I don't remember using it during that time." He pointed out. "Right, but you are still under my domain which is the whole of Seraph. I've used my authority and this is the result." Simply answered by the sovereign. "Y-you did that?! How!?" Nero and Tamamo cried out in surprise. "Well, I'm slowly learning how to use my authority." Hakuno sheepishly answered the two. "It wasn't easy though, and it's very limited since I'm only using a portion of the regalia's power, I can do more than a voice record if we're on the throne." The female master clarified.
"Regardless that was impressive. I'm curious how you did it." Archer compliment the girl and earn him a smile coming from her. "Well first, I pinpoint the location of where the crime happened, but then I need a subject to search which is impossible for me, I cannot directly search for a person whereabouts, which is why we have no idea where Karl der Große is right now, and Karna as well after he has gone missing during that king ambush."
"But I can search for objects, any object inside here on Seraph, depending on what type of object we're talking about, it might take some days to pinpoint its location and needed to connect the regalia back to my throne, but items that I created, on the other hand, can be located relatively fast." The sovereign pauses before continuing her explanation. "I don't have any skills related to item creation, but the Moon Cell considered items that servants who form a contract with me as mine. Which means the talismans that Tamamo created are considered mine and object that I can search with ease."
"Using Seraph's system, I've searched for the talisman and got a bunch of results and face another problem. Since the talismans are just given randomly and don't have a specific owner, I still don't know who's talisman is who. So I decided to look and saw radar scan results, the talisman is working by the use of magic, but here on Seraph, it is more technical than that. It started recording since its creation, and seeing all of it makes my head dizzy." Hakuno let out a sigh after remembering her experience with it. "There's a lot of it and will take forever for me to figure out which is yours."
"But then I remembered that you're escorting a caravan, which gives me an idea to look at thermal signals." There is satisfaction with her voice when she said that. "Caravan mostly followed straight lines, and since you're the only one there, I search for a straight line thermal signal with one talisman signal, I've found yours and the exact coordinates, time, weather, terrain, everything on that place!" The sovereign explained with a high-spirit voice. "After getting the data, I tried to convert into a video, but the talisman doesn't have that function and as you said, you're not using it at that time."
"So I tried to connect on a living being to use it as a camera, but the Moon Cell forbid me for doing that, and cannot use this data to prove your innocent since no one would understand it." Hakuno takes another pause before continuing. "Then a crazy idea came to my mind, what if I run a simulation where the talisman is getting used. Sounds very crazy right? Well, it is, but its also the reason why I have these recordings."
"I know everyone is getting confused so hear my explanation of it. So I used the data and run a 'what if' simulation of that same event, and luckily the Moon Cell allowed me since it's already been used, by simulating that event and adding a twist, where this time, the talisman is getting used. I recorded the entire conversation of you two." She explained to the group. "It is harmless and won't affect the Moon Cell recordings, by cutting its origin, which is the time and day it started, and its continuation of the following events that happened. The simulation will never exist since it only runs by a short amount of time and doesn't have the element to keep going."
"I'm lost in words, praetor. How did you pull this off?" Nero asks in surprise at the girl. "Well, I remembered how the other me send a warning from another timeline, it made me impress that she manages to do it even with the circumstances she's facing. It gives me the confidence to myself." Hakuno genuine answered the crimson emperor question. "Really? I'm happy to hear that you gained confidence to yourself, praetor."
"But let me remind everyone that even if I can run a simulation like that, I cannot changes the things that happened there. I can only run a simulation over this world that is already happened, and then only have limited things that can do on it. I do have control over that simulation, but only on objects that work as an on and off switch." said the sovereign and begin her explanation again. "Things that can decide and objects that are very dependent on its user."
"Those are the things that I cannot control on the simulation I've made. Seeing how strict the requirements it needed to be used, I'm honestly feeling lucky that everything I needed is lying there, especially your talisman, if you didn't bring it with you, then none of this will work." The girl said in relief through his talisman. "Also add the fact that the talismans aren't user-dependent since it will keep recording as long as it is on."
"Impressive." Jeanne d'Arc said and praise the sovereign over her work. "So technically this recording didn't happen, but the conversation did. By the used of your regalia, you've made a timeline where the talisman is on and that recording their talk. But this timeline cannot exist anymore due to the lack of elements in it, so it won't branches out, is that right?" The saint of Orleans asks in wonder and Hakuno agreed to her.
"I'm starting to get it then." said the beautiful saint. "I'll still don't get it though. But basically, we can use this to prove that Ren didn't kill those people right?" Astolfo cried out in joy toward the thief. "Let use this and make that man pay for his accusations!" He said in excitement, but immediately drop when Ren disagrees with him. "Unfortunately we can't., if we made France suddenly turn against him, then he will going to kill everyone with those creatures that are living inside them."
"Clearing my name isn't important right now, saving France should be our priority." Ren calmly said and informed the group about their goal. "But still-" The paladin tried to protest, but his reassuring voice stops him. "There's no point in clearing my name if no one will be there to hear it." said the thief over the talisman. "Once France is safe from Gilles, then we can prove to them my innocence."
"Said like a full pledge paladin, isn't it Astolfo?" Charlemagne said at his friend. "If that's what you wanted, then we will follow your lead." He said and made Ren smile softly. "Do you have any plan on your mind?" Roland, the leader of the paladins asks. "I do have one, this plan isn't just for saving France, but also for the grand scheme of things." Ren said while having a smirk on his face. "I'm planning to get myself captured, to get information at Gilles about Karl der Große. I know it's risky since we're still not sure if he's that caster from his group, but if he's really is that caster, then we can use it against the king plan."
"His formidable as everyone knows, waiting for him unprepared will be much riskier for us, especially for you, Hakuno." He tried to explain, they knew that he has a point, but his plan is dangerous. "How can you make sure that he will not kill you on the spot?" Jeanne was the first one to point out her concern on his plan. "Killing me on spot won't make him satisfied. I mean if he wanted to do that, then he would not come up with that plan of setting me up."
"I believe he rather wants to show his justice on me with everyone watching, than simply killing me." Ren tried to reason out but the saint still against his plan. "Look, you have a mission to stop Karl der Große remember? I'll go get the information we need against him." He said, but it didn't make the girl feel less worried. "I won't come up with this plan if I'm not confident about it, I'll make sure I won't die."
"Is this really the only plan you have?" Hakuno asks in concern about the thief. "Yes, by having me, it will keep Gilles satisfied and will not kill everyone in France." Hearing his explanation, The paladin Astolfo voice out his concern on him. "Then what? Are we going to bust you out of the prison?" He asks the raven-haired boy. "No, that will make him go mad. He's going to make everyone watch my execution, so that's where everyone will come in. We go after him by surprise."
Ren heard Charlemagne sigh after hearing his explanation. "You make sound it so simple." He said and made him chuckle. "I'm not usually the one who can come up with plans, but I'm the one who will make plans work." Ren replied with an innocent yet devilish smile on him. "I'll make sure that France will be saved from Gilles." He announces and Hakuno's group felt the confidence coming from the thief.
"Also, is it possible to send the recording on my talisman? Marie needs to know what really happened." Ren asks the sovereign. "Sure thing." She quickly responds to his request. "Once I get captured, I'll call everyone, and I want all of you to not speak and just listened over your talisman, alright?" He let everyone know over the talisman. "One last thing, well since I'm getting myself capture, can anyone come up with something that will make Gilles aware of it?"
"I think I can do that, When will you do this?" Astolfo suddenly asks, out of everyone's surprise. "Tomorrow evening." Ren answered in wonder what Astolfo has in mind. "I'll do it right away!" The thief heard from Astolfo and the sound of a door closing. "Wait, where are you going, Astolfo?" came from Charlemagne's voice. "That idiot, what is he going to-" The king of paladin then got interrupted from a loud shout they heard.
"WAIT, REN AMAMIYA IS GOING TO FRANCE TOMORROW!" They heard Astolfo loud voice from the background. "Did he…really shouted that?" Medusa let out in confusion of the paladin's action. "I'm back!" Astolfo said after returning to their room. "Everyone should probably hear that, right?" He innocently asks the group. "I mean we still heard your voice inside this room that's protected with my magic." Tamamo commented and unsure how her barrier didn't work.
"Hopefully this plan still going to work." Roland said and release a sigh of defeat. "It will! Trust me, I saw the workers here in the hotel, listening to our conversation. I bet they wanted that bounty, and I'm super and extra sure that they are racing against each other to get that money from Gilles." assured by the pink-haired paladin. "Let's trust his words, and get ourselves prepare." Ren said and backup the paladin words.
"Everyone, just wait for the day of my execution, alright? Don't do anything that will make Gilles suspect about our plan." Ren said his final words at everyone before ending their call. "Jeanne you need to return to France tomorrow." He said at the concerned saint. "I'll be fine, don't worry." He tried to reassure the saint but it's not working. "You know that once we make up our mind, both of us won't take no for an answer right?" Ren gently smiled at Jeanne. "I'm also relying on you to follow the plan."
"Nothing will happen, trust me." Jeanne heard from the raven-haired boy and felt a hand over her head. "Do you really have to do that?" She said and hide her face to him, as the feeling of her cheeks is starting to burn. "Will you really going to be okay?" The saint asks in concern for her friend. "I'm confident that I will." Ren kind and gentle voice slowly dispelling her fears away. "We should take a rest now, tomorrow is going to be a long day." He said and stretch his arm high in the air.
"By the way, Jeanne. Don't blame yourself too hard from what happened to Gilles, he choose that path and there's nothing you can do about it." Jeanne suddenly heard from Ren. "But I still wish there is something I can do about it, he ended up like that because of me, if only I've talked to him properly then his life won't be tragic as mine." She said and felt strongly guilty about the fate of her friend. "Is that what you think?" He asks and the saint nods. "Do you know what you're going to tell to him? After knowing those things that happened to him, and the things he did?" Jeanne d'Arc doesn't know what the raven-haired man is getting at, but she still manages to come up with an answer. "I think, I know what I wanted to tell him. But I want him to listen to me without the anger his feeling toward humanity."
"I see." Jeanne takes a glance at him and saw a small smile on his face. "Oh wait, I need to make a calling card." suddenly said by the thief after remembering the thing he needs to do. "Calling card?" Jeanne asks while looking in a questionable look. "Well, the heist is happening tomorrow, so I need to announce the treasure I'm going to steal." He casually answered with a smile on his face. "It's a thing about being a phantom thief."
"I forbid anything that related to stealing." Jeanne said while staring dagger at Ren. "But then what are you going to steal?" The raven-haired thief smiled from her question. "The heart of the national hero who fell from wrath." He said while showing a blank card on his hand. "Do you want to watch how I do it?" Ren asks the girl seating beside him. "Well someone needs to stop you from working yourself too hard." Hearing that made the thief sigh from remembering a certain cat who's stopping him from making too much infiltration tools.
"It looks like something going to happened." said the knight of lilies as she looking outside the windows. "Our city is all guard up, It makes me wonder why?" She asks wondering what's is going on outside. "It's hard to tell since we've been in this room for two days without any contact outside." Mozart replied while reading a book in his hand. "Are you alright, Your Highness?" d'Eon asks after seeing the worried face of the queen. "I'm fine, I'm just wondering what's going on." Marie answered the worried knight honestly.
"Hopefully, nothing bad is going to happen." She said in concern about her people. "I wish, I could do something about our situation." d'Eon lowered her head in shame about herself. "Forgive me, your highness." She deeply apologizes to the queen. "You don't have to apologize, We didn't have a choice but to surrender." Marie said to the knight, as her hand touches the girl's shoulder, the queen gives her a smile that tells everything is fine. "But I'm sure we'll make it all through this, together!" seeing the queen smile, d'Eon felt the weight on her shoulder been lift.
"We just need to figure out what to do and-" Marie got interrupted when they heard a knocking sound from the window. "My Queen, stand behind my back." The female knight told her queen, after seeing a silhouette outside the room balcony. "Don't hide from the shadows, show yourself!" d'Eon pulled her rapier when the window suddenly opened. "Put down your weapon, I'm not here to hurt anyone." They heard a familiar voice as the silhouette show itself to them. "Ren?!" Marie calls out in surprise of the raven-haired boy appearance. "Good evening." Ren force a smile from seeing the charming queen, he genuine felt relieved from seeing they are fine and not hurt, but facing Marie face to face, it reminded him of the broken promise he made.
"I'm sorry about what happened. I failed to protect everyone and the promise I've made." He said and looking dejected. "I-its not your fault." said the queen as tears started to fall to her face after seeing the thief once again. "You've made me worried." Marie could not stop her emotions from flowing anymore and hide her face with her hands. "You will pay for making the queen cry." d'Eon said with a cold voice and a rapier in hand pointed on his neck. "You won't get away with this." Mozart stated while staring dagger at the thief.
"I concede." Ren said and raise his hands in a sign of defeat. "That's right, you won't get away from this, Ren." Marie lightheartedly commented after recovering from crying. "It's a major offense you know." She said and finally smile from the relief of seeing the thief again. "I'll will, make it up for it." He replied and this time felt a genuine smile coming from his face after seeing the queen. "But I don't have much time left." Ren dejectedly said before handing out his communication talisman to Marie. "Here take this." He said and the queen took it in puzzled.
"Tamamo made this for our group communication purposes, just say the keyword 'Mikon' and you'll be able to talk to everyone on our group." He informed Marie, while carefully explaining what is it and how to use it. "Why are you going giving this to me?" She asks in confusion about the thief action. "We have a plan, but explaining what it is will take a lot of time. Just know that we'll save France from Gilles." He said before walking back to the room balcony. "Wait what are you doing?" Marie frowned as she followed the thief to the balcony.
"That talisman also has a record of my conversation with Gilles before the mass murder happened." He said, completely ignoring the queen's concern, Ren wears his mask and prepare himself to leave. "You don't have to listen to it if you don't want to." said the thief in consideration at the queen. "Immediately call Hakuno after I take my leave, she'll help you to escape this mansion." He said and to turn his back and about to leave. But the queen embraces him behind his back. His body stopped moving and felt the warmth coming from the girl behind him. "I have this feeling that you'll be doing something reckless." Ren heard from Marie.
"I'll be fine, we'll save France don't worry." He replied and felt the queen arms hold him tighter. "Thank you." She whispered on his back, before letting the thief go. "I'm glad you didn't run away from this." Marie said and wipe her tears before smiling. "It's against the code of the phantom thieves." He faces the queen and said with conviction. "Sorry for stopping you, I just returned the thing you did for me, here in this same balcony." She stated while avoiding looking at the raven-haired thief.
"But you better not run away from making me cry earlier!" Marie said after gathering her courage to tell the thief and look into his eyes. "I didn't mean to do it though." He said before turning his back. "Oh well, I don't think I can run away from it." Ren with a final glance at the queen, he smiles and gives his parting word. "See ya." was the last thing Marie heard as she watches the thief make his way out on her mansion. "I'm putting my trust in you, Ren. Please, save France from that man." She whispered before returning inside her room, only getting greeted by the stares coming from d'Eon and Mozart.
After hearing the information about the demon coming to France. Gilles de Rais immediately act and put all of his soldiers on patrol, he's going to capture this demon no matter what it takes, he's going to make everyone watch how this demon life end, he's going to make everyone realize know what a demon is, and exact his revenge for everyone who killed the important woman on his life. That was his plan from the start, that is what he desires, he's going to make everyone pay and he couldn't contain himself from the excitement his feeling.
"Just a little more, and we'll have our revenge for what they did to you, Jeanne." He murmured to himself, as the memories of his time with the girl flashes on his mind. "I'll do it for you, I'll break the chains that shackle you from their influences, and you'll be free once I'm done. I know that you will understand everything once you see it." Gilles keeps his words under his breath, he then looks at the one who tips him off about his appearance. "Are you sure they are still there?" He asks the owner of the hotel that the sovereign is staying. "Yes milord, they aren't suspecting your arrival." faithfully said of the owner.
"Is she's there? The beautiful maiden with long blond hair?" The owner nodded his head after hearing the marshal question. "But milord, I'm hoping that there won't be any damages that will happen onto my hotel." plead by the owner at the man. "I'm just going to check them out, there will be no harm as long as they greeted us peacefully." He apathetically answered the hotel owner plead. "I see." disheartening replied by the owner.
"I need to have a talked with Jeanne before that demon shows up." The servant collectedly stated. "But I must warn you, if he didn't show up, you'll going to get punish, Mr. Hotel owner." He said with a smile that made the man terrified from looking. "I-I'm sure, that he'll appear." The owner replied in panic, his eyes suddenly turn wide while pointing in the air. "Milord, he's here, that demon! He's on the roof."
Gilles follows where the finger pointed out and saw the raven-haired thief standing in the roof, under the shade of the moon. He saw the thief smirking at him, with a gun that is aiming for his head. "Sir, get down!" heard by the marshal coming from the soldier standing on his side. He immediately pulls out his sword and deflects the bullet from the gun that the thief fired at him. The thief keeps his smirk and makes his escape from the roof. "Men, after him!" Gilles screamed at the top of his lungs, making his soldiers panic to catch the escaping thief.
The phantom thief jumped from roof to roof and easily passed through the French soldiers that tried to stop him. Ren Amamiya enjoyed this kind of thrill in his life, he enjoyed it because its how a phantom thief lives their life, that must be the reason why his smirk didn't leave his face and why he taunts his opponent from trying to catch him. "There's nowhere to run!" He heard and saw a wall of soldiers waiting for him. The thief didn't falter and look around his surroundings and saw his way out.
Pulling the grappling gun on his coat, he aimed at the lamp post and fired it, the grappling gun then pulled him toward his target, and easily landed on the ground then run toward the back alley. This made the soldiers frustrated from failing to capture the thief, they stormed off the roof and chase after him on the alley. Ren made his way out of the back alley but unfortunately got meet by a battalion of French soldier at the end. He immediately stops and turns his back and saw the soldiers that chasing him in the alley, blocking his way.
"Your run ends here, foolish demon." Gilles said while walking his way towards Ren. "After all of those stunts you've made, you still no match against-!" The man gets interrupted when the raven-haired boy punches him in the face. "Finally, I get that out of my system." the marshal heard as he tried to get up after being punched. "Bastard, you'll pay for that." Gilles said and spat blood on his mouth on the ground, while staring dagger at him.
"Men, capture him." He commanded and the soldiers behind Ren forcefully put him in the ground and bound his hand in chains. "You failed to assassinate me, that will cost you, your life. Not even the sovereign can save you from this." He said while mocking a smile at the thief, and looking down at him. "You don't have to wait for so long, but first, I'm going to beat you up." Gilles told to the thief while pulling his hair up. "That you might not able to march tomorrow. But don't worry, we can just tie you up and drag you to the guillotine, hopefully, you find the device fitting to end your life." was the last thing the thief heard at the servant before the soldiers take him away.
"Scream, demon, scream!" Gilles yelled behind the thief, with a whip on his hand, he used it to torture him for about an hour. "Pain and agony, this is what you deserve, demon!" He said, and put more force into the whip. Ren bites his mouth and suffers pain in his back, he can taste his blood inside his mouth, and his back feels numbness. The thief didn't use his persona to help, because he wanted to make the servant guard down, by making the man freely torture him, he's waiting for his chance to get information on him.
So he goes through it, and ignore the pain. He needs to, because if not, then their plan wouldn't work. "You are tough, but that makes me want to break you more." Gilles said as he appeared in front of him, the man then raised his knee and hit his stomach with it, he did again, and again, and again. That made Ren gasp for air when he finished. "Still composed?" He asks and hit the raven-haired thief in the face. "Impressive, how about another one?" He said and repeat the process until he got satisfied.
"I have an idea, can you even keep your voice from leaking with this?" Gilles said and took out a sword that had been sunk from molten metal. "Are you ready?" He asks and pointed the boiling sword at the thief's chest. "Mikon." Ren said and made the marshal confuse. Luckily, even though the guards took his upper clothes, they just left it hanging on the wall, the talisman he borrowed from Jeanne before he leaves was on his tailcoat. Hopefully his voice is loud enough for it to activate and start recording.
"What nonsense did you just said?" Gilles asks the raven-haired thief. "How far did the marshal of France fall?" Ren asks the man in front of him. "How far did you fall, that you betrayed your country, and also murder its people, people that trusted you, people that serve you, people that look up to you, people that saw you as a hero and not a villain." He said and stared at Gilles, waiting for him to answer. "I throw away that title after they killed Jeanne." The man answered in sorrow. "They convicted her, and labeled her as a witch, then killed her by burning the girl alive."
"After all she's done to help these people, they just throw everything away and killed her." Gilles stated and his anger started to build up from remembering everything that happened. "You're asking me why did I betray my country? Why I did all those things? Simple, to prove that God is absent, that he didn't care what we do, that he's cruel! Just look at how God let her die after helping him!"
"He didn't do anything, he just let her die." Gilles then strongly tighten his grip on the sword. "He should be punished, he should be! I'll make him suffer!" He yelled and slowly cut Ren's body and make a long line of a fresh burning wound. "For her, I'll do it." The marshal said while staring coldly at Ren who's breathing heavily from feeling the burning wounds on his body. "This isn't what she wanted.." Ren said while ignoring the pain of his wound.
"This is what she wanted." He said then soaked the sword with molten metal. "But God is cruel to her, Jeanne didn't even realize what she wanted. But I know deep inside, she has this desire to take revenge, but she can't show it." Ren saw the same sword hovering over his wound, he bites his mouth and ignored the heat that burning his body. "But I'll help her, I'll free her from the shackles, and let her true self show to the world."
"You've been with her, longer than I am, and yet you didn't realize what she wants?" Ren smiled in sympathy at Gilles. "You said she was seeking revenge, but in reality, you were just pushing your own desire for revenge on her." He said and immediately got punish by Gilles, as the flat end of the boiling sword pressed against his chest. "Nonsense! You don't know anything, you don't know anything about her!" said the marshal and pressed the sword much harder.
This time, Ren's body can't take it anymore as he yelled through the burning pain on his chest. "Fool, you can't even accept reality." The raven-haired thief stated while breathing heavily from the pain. "She let everything go during her final moment, but if there is one thing she regrets not doing, it's that she didn't able to talk to you." He said while staring in defiance at the servant. "Shut up!" Gilles said and pressed the boiling sword to his body again.
Jeanne, on the other hand, is stopping herself from making noise, hearing Ren in agony makes the saint want to shout and stop Gilles from hurting him. But she needs to restrain herself, she needs to even though it hurts her seeing her friends hurting each other, even after hearing Gilles reasons, she needs to stop herself. Meanwhile, Marie Antoinette almost cried out to make Gilles stop, but luckily, d'Eon covered her mouth and whispered to her ears to stop.
"Is that the reason why you joined Karl der Große? Why we're you there when he almost killed Hakuno? To take revenge against humanity? Is that it?" Ren asks with a bit of anger in his voice. "So you finally figured it out?" Gilles replied with a laugh. "We just accidentally stumble upon each other and asks me to join forces with him. He said he'll make my dreams come true, as long as my loyalty is on him, and let me tell you, it wasn't a mistake that I accepted it, he still hasn't failed me, and I as well will not fail him."
"Just look at what he did to me?" Gilles said and showed his body. "He showed me the power of God!" He then began hysterically laugh after saying that. "His God, whispered to my ears, his words calmed my mind, and slowly after that my body begun to change, I couldn't contain my laughter after that! He proved his power to me, and it was incredible!" While staring at the laughing servant, Ren felt his sympathy for the man fading away. "You ridicule God, and yet you accepted his power. How hypocrite can you be?" Ren commented toward the man who keeps laughing.
"He's different, and nothing compared to the God that abandoned humanity. Different, very different indeed." said the marshal after recovering from his laughing pit. "Not only he calmed my mind, he even told me that I can reshape this world through my anger. That my sins from doing all those things didn't matter. He even encourages me to chase my dreams, and that he'll help me to achieve it."
"By serving Karl der Große, the king he chooses to rule this world. I can have everything that I ever wanted, from the life that I want to be with the most important person to my life, to our desire for revenge. I can have all of it." He said in content. "Afterall, the current sovereign is nothing compared to king Karl der Große. He excelled at everything compared to that girl, he should be the one who's sitting on the throne."
"A great king and formidable foe, he's the perfect sovereign to rule and protect this world." Gilles said in confidence for the king. "He'll soon take the throne from that girl, it was inevitable at this point, and nothing can be done to stop him." Ren watches the servant mock him with a smile. "Look how pity your group is from trying to get this city on your side. You all fool!" The marshal said and laugh. "Have you ever wonder, why he isn't here to stop your group from your goal? Even though he helped to build this city?"
"Simpleminded fools, this city is built to become a breeding ground for my army of monsters." Gilles explained while holding himself from laughing. "It was the plan for the start! France may be an important country for him, but things are needed to be done for the greater good, he can just build a new one if he desires! You fools, you all are fools!" Ren watches the servant laugh again in hysterical. "With a bit of encouragement and kind words, this city is been built. Once it is done, he just used the same method at that queen and appointed her to lead this city."
"Imagined my amusement from it! She didn't even know that he tricks her, that she doing her hard to make this city great, but this city was destined to be nothing but a place for his army!" The marshal wipes his tears from laughing. "He assigned me to stay here and serve the queen while working secretly on our plan. He has other places to visits, servants to recruit by normal method or by force."
"At this point, I think he's too much for the poor girl sovereign to handle. Especially if he decided to go all out against her, his army is too powerful than hers." Gilles then summoned a book on his hand and smiled at the thief. "Enough talk, I wonder how can you handle this power." He said while showing off a ball made from dark electricity, Ren then braces himself from what about to happened at him.
But Gilles stops after seeing a card on the ground. He picks it up begun to read the letters imprinted on it. "Gilles de Rais, one who causes fear and horror from his own people, one who fallen from wrath, who's heart are corrupted. I'll steal your corrupted heart and make you confess from your crimes." He said before reading the last part. "From the phantom thief, Joker." The marshal finished and saw the smirk on the thief face. "What's the meaning of this?" He asks before tearing the card apart.
"Even though you've captured me, or I'll face the guillotine tomorrow. The show isn't over yet, Gilles. It's just getting started, so you better be ready for the show." Ren said while smirking at the enraged marshal. "Don't act so tough, you demon!" He said and continued beating the thief body.
Ren wakes up after feeling his knees on the ground. He felt the warm sunlight touching his body and fresh air to breath. "You returned." He heard a voice full of might. The atmosphere then changes, the warm sunlight, the fresh air, everything change, and Ren felt like his in the middle of a storm. He opened his eyes and slowly stand to his feet. "But you're not welcome here, after what you've done."
Ren faces the man in front of him. The man stands on firm, with a spear in his hand, and a sword on his waist, while showing angelic wings behind his back. His mind finally realizes who's this person is. One of the four major Archangels and the one who's at the top of the angelic hierarchy, his name means "one who is like god." Ren felt his body itching to fight the archangel, but he doesn't know why. "Michael." He called the archangel name and ignore the feelings inside him.
"You have guts to show yourself after your rebellion?" The mighty archangel stated. "Why are you here?" He asks in genuine wonder, but he keeps his guard up. Ren felt something different on his body, especially on his back, he took a glance and got greeted by six pair of black feathered angel wings. He then looks on his body and notices the change of his outfit, it looks similar to his phantom thief clothes, but this one has more grand design than it.
Now he realizes what's this feeling he has inside. It's not him, but it belongs to an archangel residing on his very core. "I'll ask again, why are you here?" He heard Michael's voice asking the same question. Ren took a deep breath and remembered his goal here. "Let me talk to him. He who sits behind the throne of heaven." Ren answered and made the archangel smile. "You can't." He replied and slam the end of his spear to the ground. "He ordered us to not let you through." The sunlight returned after the sound of his spear hit the ground.
Ren stares at the entire army of angels behind Michael back, they are all armed with the weapon built from heaven, and ready to stop him from his goal. "Are you still going through?" The archangel challenged. Ren looked into his hand and saw a long-barreled gun materializing on his hand. "We won't back down, no matter how powerful you are." Michael said and went into his battle stance.
Ren Amamiya could only sigh and prepared from what about to happen.
Author notes: Finally finished this chapter! Took me a while, specially on the Hakuno's simulation part, I need to think of something clever and yet make sense, hopefully I did okay on that part, also I think I've put everything needed to know about Gilles and his motives, reasons, and other things as well. I also have a hard time how to explain about how he changed his body, so it's basically work like hypnotism, were you whispered on their ears and control their mind, it similar to that (but since Gilles has a strong mental resistance, it would not work). But God whispered to his ears and made calm his mind through kind words, resulting his body to revert into his saber form. But due to the event on this arc, this started to wear off and he slowly become Caster again. Hopefully that made sense.
I also have fun writing that scene with Jeanne, it made me want to write omake again, I guess that is everything that needed to know on this Arc before proceeding to it's last two chapters. So set your final boss theme music! For the upcoming battle! (P5A Theme song "Dark Sun" keeps playing on my head when I imagined the arc final scene, also the one with star ocean and lotus juice is great as well! That violin is hype, also hearing lotus juice again gives me nostalgia on P3)
I still cannot believe it took me 3 years to realize that Minato Arisato / Makoto Yuuki become a seal and died. I thought his just fall asleep T_T (I've only played P3P though so didn't realize that there was a continuation on the story.)
Anyway that's all for today, leave a review and follow this story for notification! Might as well put this in your favorites if you like! Bye-bye.