[FMMIKA] Chapter 261: Gilles and Jalter (I)

"..."

"Um..."

When Jalter saw Gilles again, she was at a loss for words at first.

Even in the steampunk era that had evolved in France, the prison environment couldn't be called good. Or rather, for the Dragon Emperor, who had an entire continent of Europe to conquer, build, transform, and explore, prison renovations were not a top priority; they came far behind other projects.

With little humanitarian spirit, Artorius, who would be criticized by the leftists, didn't show much interest in improving the living conditions of prisoners. The temporary cells received some modifications, but the modernization of the police system was still in progress.

So, when Jalter saw Gilles, who looked emaciated and bore the marks of hardship, she was only slightly surprised before understanding the situation.

"Quite the sight, huh?"

After some hesitation, Jalter decided to treat him with a relatively indifferent attitude.

"Oh, Jeanne... my holy maiden."

Although Gilles appeared disheveled, wearing nothing but tattered clothes and covered in wounds and dirt, to Jalter's surprise, he seemed to be in good spirits, not displaying much pain due to the injuries.

Considering his borderline insane mental state, perhaps that wasn't too surprising. But what about his mental trauma? Why wasn't that showing?

Gilles had been condemned by Artorius just over a month ago, in front of everyone, and now he looked like he had forgotten all the humiliation.

This caused Jalter to reassess him, and not in a favorable way.

"I'm really glad you came to see me..." Gilles continued with a gentle smile, much different from the one he wore when summoned during a certain Holy Grail War when he was about to sacrifice children.

"You bastard! I'm not that holy maiden. I'm not Jeanne d'Arc. You knew that, right?!"

Before he could say anything, Jalter, frustrated, even bordering on hysterical, shouted at him, cutting him off.

"You're quite spirited, Jeanne."

Even after Jalter's outburst, Gilles remained calm and continued to smile, as if he were looking at an immature child.

The way he appeared, anyone who knew who he was and what he had done in the past would be surprised and find it hard to believe.

After all, from any angle, Gilles de Rais was a genuine madman and a monster.

"You're still dare smiling!"

Jalter seemed to have completely forgotten why she had come to see Gilles in the first place.

She grabbed the cell's bars and shook them vigorously as if trying to break the iron grating open and deliver a punch to him.

The bars of the prison cells were changed from wood to iron steel, perhaps the only reform in Artorius's government when it came to the prison system, ever since the development of productivity.

After steel saws became no longer rare, this modification was the right move. Of course, no matter how strong the steel, it couldn't contain a true Servant.

Even though Gilles possessed dark magecraft, the primary source of his power in chaotic magecraft was his magic book rather than his inherent abilities.

However, every Servant was a 'monster', and this fundamental premise remained unchanged.

So, aside from the steel, what kept Gilles bound were also the magic shackles. These were the unbreakable chains that even the Avenger Jalter struggled to shatter, leaving Gilles free from an A-ranked flame fist.

Gilles continued to smile, watching Jalter, until she calmed down again after some time.

While watching him maintain his smile, Jalter began to think and became alert.

'He's losing it.'

'Or maybe he's hatching some new conspiracy.'

'Does he want me to help him escape?'

Jalter couldn't help but think like that. She also made an inner vow.

'No matter what, I won't be deceived again.'

And just as she was thinking that, Gilles finally spoke up. His voice, somewhat comical but carrying an inexplicable allure:

"Just as you said."

"Indeed, just as that bastard emperor said."

"You're right, it's not right to call you Jeanne."

"My mistake."

"The errors I've made..."

"Aaahhh... though I've been reflecting on it, but—"

"—It's not a betrayal of the Lord. Such things no longer concern me. My true sin, indeed, is betraying you, betraying Jeanne, betraying you, my holy maiden, my holy maiden!"

Gilles grew more and more agitated as he spoke, descending into hysterical madness. His bulging fish-like eyes began to well up with tears as he fell to his knees, clawing at his chest and arms, tearing his flesh apart.

It seemed that the wounds on his body might not be solely the result of prison abuse.

"Y-You..."

Watching Gilles in such a state, Jalter's emotions became rather complex. Of course, she had no desire to be seen as a replacement for Jeanne.

But, just as she had been contemplating for some time recently. If she wasn't Jeanne, then what was she?

She had come to Gilles seeking an answer.

But when his words acknowledged that it was a mistake to see her as 'Jeanne', it left her feeling disappointed.

"B-But—"

In the next moment, Gilles's abnormal crying and self-harm came to an abrupt halt. He looked at Jalter earnestly.

"But compared to Jeanne, I've also let you down, my child."

"..."

That kind of statement caught Jalter off guard.

She instinctively wanted to retort something like, "What the hell are you talking about?!", "Disgusting!", "Trying to deceive me again?! You bastard!"

But she didn't.

Quite the opposite, in fact.

When Gilles told her this, something in Jalter's heart made her feel a bit pleased.

"Thank you once again for visiting me, my child. So, do you have any questions? Everything you desire, I'll do my utmost to help you."

Gilles's sincerity in his attitude made Jalter believe he wasn't being deceitful. However, the assumptions he made next made her feel uncomfortable.

"Is that bastard treating you poorly?!"

"Is that bastard with other women, leaving you behind?!"

"Has he moved on?!"

"Is he mistreating you?!"

"AAAHHH!!!"

It was as if he was concerned about his daughter being mistreated by her boyfriend. At this point, Gilles seemed to have a hysterical fit again.

"Damn it, damn it, at a time like this, at a time like this, I can't be of any use, it's truly infuriating. AAAHHH!!!"

Gilles pounded his head against the ground, desperately shaking the bars of the cell, shouting and venting his emotions.

"Artorius! Artorius! Dragon Emperor! Where are you?! I'll end it all with you!"