[FDJ] Chapter 24: Bonds

"Look at those piglets wiggling their butts as they run for their lives. It's hilarious. If I knew how to shoot arrows, I would make sure their butts carry some souvenirs!"

"We have also paid a certain price and are unable to pursue them. Many people have been injured by arrows. I pray to our lord, hoping that their lives can be spared."

"Mercy is not a luxury in war, and people will die, often in large numbers. The number of souls unjustly slain by my sword today... let me think... 21 English pigs. And what about you, little girl? Don't go!"

--*--

It was the first time Berserker encountered such a spirited girl who dared to defy him and leave in a huff. He remembered her name clearly, even in his irrational state as a Berserker.

"Jeanne!"

Archer halted her action of drawing the bowstring. Jeanne, Saber, appearing here was undoubtedly due to Attila's request. She didn't like being worried about it, even if the person concerned was the great king of this era. But she wouldn't reject it either.

Archer was not familiar with the future history of France, but seeing Jeanne's joyful expression, she could understand. If she could reunite with the companions who embarked on the adventure aboard the Argo at this moment, she would also approach them without considering the danger. Perhaps this was a flaw that needed to be mended in the Holy Grail War. Emotions were not necessary within the cold clash of heroes. Emotions would only dull the blades and misguide the arrows.

"To be able to meet again in our homeland in the year 451 AD, this Holy Grail War is truly filled with wonders." Jeanne momentarily let go of her guard and allowed the suppressed side of herself to surface. Hope still lingered in her heart, and the burning flames had not completely consumed her will. "Etienne de Vignolles (La Hire), it's been a while."

The gentle call of the saint had a more profound effect than Archer's sharp arrows. Berserker hesitated for a moment, then planted his massive sword into the ground and slowly released his grip. This action went completely against his instinct in battle, but even in his irrational state, he forcibly resisted the urge to go berserk and knelt on one knee to pay homage to Jeanne.

He may have disregarded kings, but he held deep respect and gratitude for the saint. He, along with many other commanders who had worked alongside Jeanne, firmly believed that this country girl from humble origins was the savior sent by the Lord to redeem France.

"Jeanne d'..."

His crimson eyes, almost on the verge of shedding blood, strained to remember the simple fact. For Berserker, even this much was already pushing the limits of his recollection. He couldn't even recall his desire to participate in the Holy Grail War, and coming to the Hun camp tonight was also done under the orders of his Master.

He attempted to reach out and touch Jeanne but seemed afraid of harming the sacred flower right before his eyes. His slightly raised hand fell back down, and he simply gazed at the saint before him.

Berserker's fervent battle spirit had completely vanished. If Archer hadn't witnessed it with her own eyes, she would never have believed that the same monster who could generate a whirlwind with a swing of his sword and withstand her arrows would now bow respectfully like a knight.

--*--

Meanwhile, Suzuki was in the tent of Attila, the King of the Huns. The latter had invited Jeanne to support Archer temporarily, while Jeanne herself protected Suzuki. Neither Jeanne nor Suzuki could openly oppose Attila's request at this moment, especially when the king personally protected Suzuki, who already showed a considerable amount of respect for Jeanne.

Outside the tent, there were over a hundred guards, and a significant number of soldiers were stationed nearby, specifically tasked with protecting the security of the tent. Attila didn't have any slaves by her side this time, and her attendants and personal guards were not arranged for close protection.

"No need to search. I have only arranged for the army to line up outside and not hide inside the tent," Attila said casually as she turned a page of a book, leisurely perusing a certain war trophy. Despite being known as a destroyer of civilizations in later times, Attila was very interested in the civilization that the Hun people had never possessed, especially after obtaining the Holy Grail, which allowed her to read any written text without hindrance.

Of course, she couldn't access books from after the 15th century, but using the authority similar to that of a Master granted by the Holy Grail, it was effortless for her to see through Jeanne's true name. It was remarkable that Archer could see through Jeanne's true name, considering how special this female hero named Jeanne d'Arc was, especially since the army had just launched a strong attack on the city of Orleans.

"Your name is Suzuki Yuki?" Attila showed no sign of tension from having hostile Servants nearby. She seemed confident in her power to defeat the enemy. She picked up a gilded porcelain pot from the table and poured two small bowls of hot drink, gesturing for Suzuki to come over. "Your appearance resembles... the people of Seris (Silk). Are you from the future of the Far East?"

"I am not from the Silk Country you mentioned. I come from Chaldea."

Suzuki had seen tea drinks in Chaldea, with free tea bags and high-end products that needed to be purchased, but in 5th-century Europe, they were treasures far more valuable than gold. Attila's table also had exquisite salt, spices, sugar, and other seasonings that were almost impossible to find at that time.

"Chaldea? The ancient country that was destroyed by the Persians a thousand years ago? You don't seem to have any connection to it. The future Chaldea?" Attila's fingertip paused on the word "Holy Grail" in the book. She didn't expect to see this term in a Roman parchment manuscript from 200 years ago. Unfortunately, the entire text was dedicated to praising the greatness and wisdom of God with a religious doctrine, without any explanation of where the Holy Grail came from, its essence, or how it was ultimately used.

She despised such things, along with the decadent civilizations that they had built. Perhaps it stemmed from her heritage. She instinctively wanted to destroy everything that attributed human achievements to the greatness of deities. "Do you believe in God (YHWH)? You seem to have a deep understanding of the Holy Grail War. Is the Holy Grail and similar miracles the focal point of research in your Chaldea?"

"No," Suzuki immediately denied this point, but he couldn't explain why he was so resolute in her denial. "Chaldea is an observational organization composed of a group of magus. We observe the human order and strive to ensure the continuation of the correct human history."

The director often preached lengthy and incomprehensible concepts during meetings, and Suzuki could only remember these fragments when asked to explain.

"The continuation of the correct human history? It sounds like a distant goal. Did they send only you to this era?" Attila flipped through several pages of meaningless content, shifting her complete interest to Suzuki. She had never thought about such distant questions before, but she was genuinely intrigued now.

The goal of magus was always to reach the Root, so most magus in Chaldea were using the organization's resources to aid their research. Suzuki firmly believed in it because there were people in Chaldea who were truly dedicated to this cause, putting their heart and soul into realizing this unattainable dream. That person was not the director. The person in Suzuki's memories was far more mature than the director and had a clear purpose, knowing exactly how to approach the land of dreams.

"I don't know how I ended up in the past either, but I have a Servant. She is my companion. As long as I win this Holy Grail War and obtain the Holy Grail, I'm certain I will learn the purpose of my arrival. I studied so much knowledge to ensure victory in the Holy Grail War."

Suzuki gradually let go of his wariness towards Attila. Attila's thirst for knowledge was similar to his own, and it was not just the aspect of being a king that made Suzuki feel a familiar warmth. She agreed with the grand ideal of safeguarding human order.

"For the Holy Grail?"

"Not entirely. If any anomalies occur in this Holy Grail War, I also must correct them. My magical abilities are limited, so I may not be able to fulfill that role." Suzuki remembered that the members of the A-team were the true elite Masters adept at correcting Singularities. He couldn't recall when he had the privilege of joining them, but currently, he was the only one who had arrived in this era. If true anomalies were to arise, he had an obligation to rectify them.

Attila sensed that the latter part was the true underlying purpose of Chaldea's cultivation of individuals like Suzuki as tools. However, in her opinion, Suzuki's displayed strength was insufficient. It would be difficult for him to achieve victory in the Holy Grail War, let alone correct human order. Attila wasn't confident about facing Jeanne head-on, but it would be easy to eliminate Suzuki through covert means. Humans are fragile beings.

"If it's for the Holy Grail, we, the Hun people, are willing to help you. However, matters concerning upholding human order are beyond my capabilities. Myself and my army are people of this era, and we don't know what kind of human order is considered correct. So..."

Suzuki finished the tea in his bowl, the bitterness and astringency still lingering in his mouth. Even with added sugar, it didn't compare to the taste of the tea packets freely distributed by Chaldea.

"Thank you, King of the Huns. When encountering other Servants, I will need your assistance and that of Miss Archer."

Attila found Suzuki increasingly intriguing. No one had ever thanked her before, especially with such genuine gratitude, without any ulterior motives. Attila momentarily doubted if Suzuki was truly human. Humans couldn't possibly be without personal desires, unable to escape the bondage of their cravings. "Not now?"

Attila deliberately hinted at Suzuki, wondering if he would say that he needed the Holy Grail. If Suzuki did, Attila would magically present it on the table like Santa Claus, offering it to Suzuki. She was the king of this era, and the Holy Grail was nothing more than a rare treasure to her, which she could give to the person she deemed worthy.

"Not now. How could Jeanne and Archer possibly lose to Assassin when they are working together?" Suzuki didn't have access to the information provided by the Holy Grail as Attila did, so he was unaware that the recent commotion was caused by Assassin.

"You truly are an interesting person. Are all of you in Chaldea like this?" Attila laughed happily. It had been a long time since she encountered someone so pure. It was hard to believe that an organization filled with people harboring unattainable dreams could produce such an easily deceived child.

"Perhaps I'm just slow-witted. There is much knowledge beyond the Holy Grail War that I need to learn to keep up with my seniors. They... should all have dreams of saving human order."

"Is that so?" Attila stood up and put the book back into her bag, exchanging it for another one to peruse. "Chaldea? If I could travel through time, I would love to visit with my great army."

It was just a joke, probably.

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