-189- "I do not wish to wield my sword against you"

Honestly, if both Martha and Atalanta hadn't been subjected to Madness Enhancement and had been summoned as regular Servants, they wouldn't have been defeated so easily.

Leaving aside the fact that Martha had only been riding on Tarrasque and hadn't personally entered the battle, let's talk about Atalanta. Even with her Madness Enhancement, she didn't use her Noble Phantasm.

If these two Servants had fought rationally, perhaps Rozen's ambush plan would have been uncertain in terms of success.

Of course, in that scenario, Rozen would have adjusted his strategy and found another way to deal with Martha and Atalanta.

Either way, both Martha and Atalanta were defeated without giving their all.

Only d'Eon remained in the camp.

Without a doubt, facing a total of five Servants, d'Eon had no chance.

The upcoming battle would merely be a formality.

Just when everyone thought that...

"Don't let your guard down, Master!"

Amadeus loudly warned while playing the "Requiem."

"The opponent is a guardian of the French royal family, a Dragon Knight of the secret police. Even though he's been Madness Enhanced, he won't surrender so easily!"

Amadeus reminded them, but unfortunately, it was a bit too late.

"Hah!"

D'Eon, who had been grappling with Mash, suddenly shook his Western sword, causing sword petals to fall not towards Mash in front of them, but onto the ground.

"Boom!"

The ground cracked, hit by the fierce sword dance, raising clouds of dust.

"What...!?"

Mash was taken aback, the dust enveloping her and her vision fading.

In this situation, Mash's movement ceased, allowing d'Eon to break free.

Taking advantage of the moment, the Dragon Knight dashed towards the forest.

"Running away?"

Seeing this with his own eyes, Rozen couldn't help but be surprised.

In Rozen's plan, he never anticipated that the enemy's Servant would escape.

It wasn't because Rozen was naive and didn't think of it, but rather he believed that since all the enemy Servants were Madness Enhanced, they had lost their sanity. Even in a hopeless situation, they would fight to the end.

So, when d'Eon fled, Rozen was naturally shocked.

What Rozen didn't know was...

"Even if he's been Madness Enhanced, he's a spy who's willing to cross-dress to complete a mission, who'll use any means to survive. Even if he's fleeing, it's no big deal."

Amadeus explained to Rozen.

That's the essence of d'Eon.

In order to meet and become close friends with Elizabeth I of Russia and foster a diplomatic alliance between France and Russia, d'Eon had infiltrated the country disguised as a lady, utilizing various methods to eventually contribute greatly to the Franco-Russian alliance.

Upon returning to France, d'Eon was appointed the captain of the combined unit of Dragon Knights due to his martial skills. However, because he knew too many state secrets, Louis XV was determined to eliminate him.

D'Eon couldn't leverage state secrets to ensure his safety, but after years of scheming and fighting, he forced a compromise from Louis XV. He secured his retirement and settled in England, living a poor and mocked life until his peaceful death at the age of eighty-one.

"If it's for protecting the French royal family, that Dragon Knight would have no qualms about dying in battle. However, at other times, for the sake of a mission, he will use any means. Escaping is nothing to him."

Amadeus's explanation clarified the situation for Rozen.

Only now did the other Servants understand.

"Wa... Wait!"

"Don't let him get away!"

Elizabeth and Kiyohime chased after the direction of the forest.

"Miss Jeanne!"

"Yes! We'll persuit him too!"

Mash and Jeanne also joined in the pursuit.

Leaving only Rozen and Amadeus standing in place.

"A Dragon Knight who guard the French royal family, huh?"

Rozen murmured to himself.

"No wonder she didn't show up..."

Rozen's muttering was met with a soft chuckle from Amadeus.

The two of them gazed in the direction of the forest, seemingly aware of what was to come, and watched in silence.

"Rustle, rustle, rustle..."

Amidst the rustling of bushes and the fluttering of leaves, the knight d'Eon moved with the swiftness of the wind through the forest, heading in the direction of Orleans.

His face bore no sign of defeat, only a consistent calmness.

"The mission failed, time to report back."

D'Eon mechanically thought of these matters.

Even when a mission failed, he had to find a way to compensate or plan for the next move. That was the way of the knight d'Eon.

Even under Madness Enhancement, this mode of operation hadn't been lost.

Because it had become something nearly instinctual.

D'Eon continued to weave through the forest, preparing to return to Orleans.

Just then...

"Ah~~"

A bewitching high note resounded. Unlike Elizabeth's enchanting melody, this one was a captivating sound.

With this sound came a surge of magical energy, condensing into projectiles that flew towards d'Eon from the front.

"...!?"

D'Eon was slightly surprised, abruptly stopping and leaping aside to dodge the incoming magical bullets.

The magical bullets silently skimmed past, disappearing at the other end of the forest.

"Who's there!?"

D'Eon warily voiced their concern towards the front.

At this moment, d'Eon hadn't even considered that he could ever hear the voice he hadn't forgotten, from both his life and death.

"Apologies, it's been so long that I couldn't resist playing a little prank."

Accompanied by a similarly captivating laughter, the queen, who had been hiding behind the scenes, appeared.

"You... you are...!?"

d'Eon's face, which remained calm and composed even under Madness Enhancement, a profound expression of astonishment and disturbance finally emerged.

"It's been a while, my finest knight."

Marie appeared as if she were taking a stroll in the garden, her smile as dazzling as usual, greeting d'Eon.

"Your Highness... Marie....!"

D'Eon involuntarily took a few steps back.

This greatly pleased Marie.

"So you still remember me? That truly makes me happy!"

Marie's sincere laughter deeply stirred d'Eon's heart.

Regardless of whom he faced, d'Eon could point his sword at them.

And if necessary, d'Eon could thrust his sword into anyone's body.

Except for one.

That being the one he had once sworn his allegiance to.

"....Move aside."

D'Eon fixed his gaze on Marie, speaking with a low voice.

"I do not wish to wield my sword against you."

This was the last remnant of d'Eon's sanity.

Bestowed with the attribute of Madness Enhancement, this noble Dragon Knight had fallen into a ruthless murderer. Even innocent civilians were subjected to his sword's merciless blow, but facing Marie, the last vestiges of d'Eon's sanity managed to suppress the madness, allowing him to hold onto the last shreds of conviction.