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IBHJ Chapter 557
🕑 Added 2023-11-05 11:45:38 +0000 UTCAs Shirou and the others entered Vâlcea, a chartered flight from London had just landed at Henri Coandă International Airport in Bucharest, the capital of Romania.
Though the same breeze brushed their faces, the dry winds of Romania felt nothing like the damp cold of foggy London. Gray lifted her head to the early morning sun, relief washing over her.
"So this is Romania - truly a foreign land I've never visited before."
She had studied photos and materials about the country, but experiencing it firsthand was something else entirely. Gray couldn't help but admire the place anew.
It wasn't just her mood that felt lighter. Dressed as a tourist in flat boots and a knee-length skirt rather than her usual Chaldea uniform, she relished the freedom of movement and ease.
"How was your first plane ride, Your Highness?" Gray got off the plane first and asked the Servant who was about to step onto the ground behind her.
"Hmm...nothing special. More boring than I imagined," came the sighing reply.
That seemed an honest take. Gray noticed the Servant's lapis lazuli eyes were unexpectedly calm.
"What a shame...I thought you'd be surprised, Your Highness," Gray said, slightly disappointed.
"Hmm...Gray, you're not treating me like some primitive, are you?" The Servant frowned, clearly displeased.
Having coordinated with the local Clock Tower beforehand, Gray and her Servant swiftly passed through immigration. In just a few steps they reached the lobby, anticipating the rest of their tasks would resolve equally quickly.
However, with each step, eyes turned their way.
It was unavoidable - the two bore an uncanny resemblance, almost like sisters.
"Why's everyone looking at me, Gray?" the Servant asked, perplexed. "Is there something wrong with my clothes?"
"It's probably because Your Highness is too beautiful," Gray replied with a smile.
The Servant walking beside her shared her face and appeared about sixteen, dressed in a white dress that made her stand out like a blooming lily.
Her beauty was unlike that of ordinary women - solemn, sublime, almost ethereal. Her slender figure, fair skin and pure aura, like an artist's muse, compelled sincere admiration.
"Let's go meet little Mash first," the Servant suggested.
"Yes," Gray nodded. "I located her in Vâlcea during our last contact. I hope nothing unexpected happens."
With a look of concern, Gray led the Servant out of the airport.
...
As Shirou and his companions walked through the city, they took in the chaos and destruction around them. Vâlcea was still reeling from the previous day's battle.
The center of the city lay in ruins, looking as if a war zone had torn through it. Shattered buildings and debris littered the streets, reminiscent of scenes from monster movies where Ultraman battled giant creatures - shocking to behold for anyone not accustomed to such devastation.
During the fierce clash yesterday, Shirou had managed to take down nine massive octopus beasts spawned by the Red Caster, but he had failed to defeat the Red Caster himself, allowing the enemy to slip away. Frustratingly, he could no longer detect the Red Caster's presence.
However, with Jeanne d'Arc now in the city, things were different. Her Revelation skill was almost unfairly powerful. It was like an intuitive radar for finding enemies, choosing the most appropriate paths in travel to eventually reach the desired destination. It could be said to be applicable to all matters related to achieving a goal. However, the activation of this skill was without rationale, making it impossible to explain to others. To onlookers, it might even have appeared as random floundering.
At the moment, Jeanne meandered east, then west, as if on a casual stroll, perplexing Shirou and Mash as they followed her lead. But Shirou knew of this skill, so he trusted Jeanne's path, wherever it took them.
The ravaged Vâlcea had taken on an eerie atmosphere. The cultists who had witnessed the Red Caster's monstrous beasts did not flee - instead they knelt solemnly among the ruined city, praying for their cult leader's safety.
Shirou didn't comment on this. His approach was similar to that of a rational Spartacus, offering help only to those who showed a will to save themselves. Religious matters were something he preferred not to involve himself in.
However, this very scene ignited something in Jeanne.
Shirou had already informed her about the religious cult of Vâlcea. At the time, her demeanor had shown righteous indignation, as if she were a paladin ready to rush to the battlefield.
And now...
She really became a crusader.
She began to use the doctrine of the Holy Church to refute these heretical believers, trying to bring them back to the righteous path.
It was only now that Shirou realized Jeanne was not dull at all - her verbal rebuttal was incredibly powerful!
She spoke fluently and ceaselessly, drawing from scripture, quoting classic phrases of King Solomon, the words of Jesus, various apostles and saints, and famous sayings of people, seamlessly weaving in biblical allusions.
Shirou watched her with an incredulous expression. Was this the same Jeanne he knew, that naive and foolish village girl?
Then he remembered - Jeanne d'Arc had carried out the most famous cross-examination in history.
In records of the Hundred Years' War between England and France, Jeanne's trial testimony was legendary. When priests asked her "Do you believe you are in God's grace?" she answered: "If I am not, may God put me there; and if I am, may God so keep me."
It was a clever response to a trap question.
At that time, the church's doctrine stated that no one could be certain of being in God's grace. If Jeanne d'Arc had responded affirmatively, she would have proven herself to be a heretic. And if her response was negative, then she would have admitted to being guilty.
When the court heard Jeanne's clever reply, her questioners were dumbfounded and had to suspend the interrogation for that day.
This episode became legendary, continuing to impact many fields to this day.
Perhaps Jeanne wasn't dull at all; her gentle, guileless nature simply led people to believe she was easy to fool.
But on the subject of religion...
As a saint, she would change her usual demeanor and fight like a crusader.
This reminded Shirou of religious gameplay in Civilization VI, with warring missionaries of competing faiths.
Under Jeanne's preaching, the followers rolled their eyes, ignored her, even wanting to burn her as a heretic. But when they saw Shirou, they screamed "Demon!" and fled in fear.
Jeanne returned solemnly. "They...can no longer hear the Lord's voice."
"Don't mind them," he replied. "Remember, you are a Ruler."
Jeanne shook her head resolutely. "I cannot pretend not to see. After we confirm the Red Caster's identity, I plan to stay and steer these people back to the righteous path!"
Jeanne's face was set with the sacrificial spirit of a true saint.
However, trying to reform this church would likely cause headaches for its members. After all, she was a renowned historical saint.
But since this cult sprang up in just a month, they surely had tricks up their sleeves. It was unpredictable what would happen if Jeanne opposed them directly.
Still, Jeanne's preaching was not futile.
Although the cult occupied the city, not every citizen had joined their worldly worship. Many like the shopkeeper feigned allegiance out of necessity.
These people, mingled among the true believers, heard Jeanne's words and began thinking critically. Some secretly contacted Shirou's group.
Shirou wanted to obtain information about the whereabouts of the Red Caster from them, but unfortunately, neither the pretend believers nor the true believers knew where the Red Caster was.
However, he did get a piece of information.
"You're saying the city's sewers have been clogged for a month now?" He asked the sewer worker, who wore a black coat and hid in an alley entrance.
The man nodded. "Yes. For some reason, they've been unusually blocked up starting a month back. My coworkers and I have repaired several sections, but..."
"I see. Thank you for the information," Shirou said with a thoughtful nod.
"No need to thank me. And please, don't mention we spoke," the worker said, pulling up his hood and disappearing into the alley.
Jeanne's expression was touched. "There are still people loyal to the Lord in this city."
Stroking his chin, he said, "Whether they're loyal to any lord, I can't say. But your 'Revelation' is truly useful. I'd love to add it to my collection."
Looking at Jeanne, Shirou's gaze was filled with both envy and greed.
He desperately wanted that skill for himself.
But "Revelation" was no human feat - it was divine guidance from God, beyond his ability to replicate.
"Um, please don't look at me like that...I-I'm feeling quite uncomfortable," she said, seeming unsettled.
Shirou's gaze had been too intense, making her self-conscious.
"My apologies, that was rude of me."
Indeed, he had been impolite.
But he really did want to collect Revelation!
Shirou sighed and then said, "Let's investigate the underground sewers."
Joan nodded in agreement.
Comments
JeanMartin Freites
Revelation truly is a handy skill.
