In order to become a Heroic Spirit, I had no choice but to cause trouble in history.

“Mary, but…” Joan of Arc instinctively wanted to dissuade her, but when she saw Mary’s gentle eyes, she froze.

“I am Rider. After defeating D’Eon, I will catch up with you very quickly.” Mary smiled, turning her face to D’Eon.

The knight's confident smile vanished.

“…Hmm.” Joan of Arc paused for two seconds, then nodded.

"Be careful, little queen," Camilla instructed.

A soft whisper reached Joan of Arc's ears: "Tell Amadeus to play me another piano piece when he has time."

Jeanne, Camilla, and Kiyohime quickly retreated, and D'Eon caught up, trying to continue harassing them and buy time.

Mary held the magic ball in her hands, which shone brightly.

call out--

A breeze carrying flower petals brushed past Dion's ear.

Dion had a small cut on his cheek, and blood was flowing from it.

“Dion, my beautiful knight, I will be here to stop your advance,” the servant named Marie Antoinette declared solemnly.

Dion sighed: "Queen... I know I can't dissuade you, but you are no match for me."

"Oh my, as expected of a famous and powerful knight, so confident." Mary chuckled.

“But my resolve compels me to stand here, even though my legs tremble with fear,” the Queen said earnestly. “I am naturally no match for you, and may very well be killed by you here, but—”

"I'll stop you here."

"Because I want to save this country, even though this country has given me unforgettable pain, I still love it."

"So, witness this, knight Dion, witness the resolve of this queen who has no power to even kill a chicken."

Even if her appearance was somewhat comical, even if the queen's hands were truly trembling.

The knight silently drew his rapier.

“Then I will also kill you here, my queen.”

"Give it a try!"

A storm of magic and clashing swords ignited as the knight and queen engaged in battle.

Even if the final result is inevitably that the crystal shatters and the lily withers.

------------

Chapter 261 Looking Back, I Am the Most Radiant

Fujimaru Ritsuka felt the contract break, and was somewhat surprised and silent.

"Senpai... what happened?" With Lawrence and Martha's help, Mash had regained her strength and asked, looking at the somewhat silent Fujimaru Ritsuka.

“…I don’t know.” Fujimaru Ritsuka touched the back of her hand, looked at the scarlet Command Seal that had been restored, and sighed.

"I'm going out for some fresh air." Fujimaru Ritsuka went outside.

“Senior…” Mash subconsciously wanted to follow, but Lawrence stopped her.

Lawrence shook his head.

Mashu swallowed hard and silently lowered her arms.

Fujimaru Ritsuka stepped outside the castle and took a deep breath.

“Miss Mary…” Fujimaru Ritsuka was not good at dealing with parting, because parting always made her reveal her most tender feelings.

The broken contract belonged to Marie Antoinette, meaning that the ever-active and unconventional French queen, a woman as beautiful as a lily, had already left the stage.

“…Damn it.” Fujimaru Ritsuka lowered her head. “Perhaps we shouldn’t have arranged for her to go out and search for other Heroic Spirits.”

Mozart stood not far from Fujimaru Ritsuka, listening quietly to everything.

He didn't say a word, but went up to the top of the castle alone.

Sitting on the stool, a piano appeared in the spot.

Silently, he opened the piano lid and placed his slightly eerie hands on the keys.

"At this moment, you must want to hear my piano music the most..." Mozart murmured to himself, "I understand you, just as you understand me."

"Then, please listen, and then continue to smile."

......

Inside a bedroom in the castle.

Mashu stared wide-eyed at the ceiling.

Although Miss Lawrence instructed that she was currently injured and needed to sleep more so that she could face the final battle in a more refreshed state...

But I just can't fall asleep...

Senior, as the very first Servant, you're unable to offer any help even at a time like this...

Mashu blinked, and two tears rolled down her cheeks.

The young female Servant fell into self-doubt.

crunch--

The door was opened.

Mashu sat up.

“Miss Lawrence,” she called out the name of the person who had come.

With her cascading burgundy hair and elegant gown, it was none other than Lawrence.

Behind Lawrence was Fujimaru Ritsuka.

“I heard from Miss Lawrence that you weren’t feeling well, so I came to see you.” Fujimaru Ritsuka sat down beside Mashu’s bed, holding Mashu’s hand. “What’s wrong, Mashu?”

"It's nothing, Master..." Mash tried to force herself to smile, but she couldn't manage it.

Fujimaru Ritsuka was getting anxious, while Lawrence stood silently to the side.

During the day, while examining Mashu, she discovered something.

He opened the door and went outside; Lawrence stood in the hallway.

"Roman, are you there?"

hum.

The small screen appeared, and Roman's expression showed a hint of sadness.

"What's wrong with Mashu's body?" Lawrence asked expressionlessly.

"...Little Mashu, she's a homunculus." That was all Roman said.

“…” Lawrence was silent for a few seconds before saying sarcastically, “No wonder the experiment on the demi-Servant was carried out on her.”

“Although it may sound like I’m shirking responsibility to say this, but…” Roman sighed, rubbing his forehead, “This happened when my former boss was still the director of Chaldea. By the time I took over Mash’s vital sign monitoring and training, she had already reached maturity.”

"...Although it's subtle, Mashu's body has a defect," Lawrence said, stating his discovery.

“I know.” Roman nodded with difficulty. “Now, Mashu’s lifespan…”

“I’ll think of something,” Lawrence interrupted Roman. “She’s a good girl; she shouldn’t have left so soon.”

With his back to the screen, Lawrence's tone was somber: "I've seen too many lives wither in their prime, and I don't want to see it again."

Lawrence left, and Dr. Roman also removed the light screen.

Late at night, he was sitting alone in this spot again.

Roman sighed, resting his chin on his hand.

Yes, it's true, to fade away in the prime of one's life...

Nobody wants to see this.

Fujimaru Ritsuka came out of the room.

Lawrence smiled and asked, "How is Mash?"

"She's already asleep." Ritsuka gave a tired smile.

"...What just happened? Can you tell me?" Lawrence pointed to the ceiling. "The musician is still playing the piano. Did something happen to Miss Mary?"

Fujimaru Ritsuka's smile vanished instantly.

"Yes... Miss Mary has already left the stage."

“...Is that so...?” Lawrence also fell silent.

"I'll go in and check on Mash again." With that, Lawrence pushed open the door and went inside.

Fujimaru Ritsuka stood at the door for two minutes, then sighed and went back to her room to rest.

Lawrence looked at Mashu, who was still enduring the pain, and couldn't help but chuckle. He patted her on the shoulder and said, "Stop pretending to be asleep and open your eyes."

Mashu slowly opened her eyes, sat up, and hugged her legs.

"What are you thinking about?" Lawrence patted Mashu's head.

"No, I just..." Mashu looked at the other Heroic Spirits, powerful, confident, each with their own characteristics, and so...present.

But I am just...

Snapped.

“…Huh?” Mashu was stunned.

Lawrence gently patted Mash's cheek, making her a little more awake.

"It's self-doubt, isn't it?"

“Miss Lawrence, I…”

“I know about your past; I asked Roman.” Lawrence smiled and looked into Mash’s eyes.

Mashu's expression darkened, and she said with a trembling voice, "Then, Miss Lawrence, why do you still...?"