"I suppose that's exactly the kind of answer expected from a saint, huh?"
Shirou smiled softly at Jeanne. Interacting so closely with someone straight from the pages of history had given him a deeper insight into just what sort of person Jeanne truly was.
"No," Jeanne murmured, her expression growing melancholy as she gazed toward distant clouds. "I never believed myself worthy of others' reverence. After all, no matter my reasons, my hands remain stained with blood."
Jeanne didn't regret standing against those who invaded her homeland. If given the chance again, she'd still rise up without hesitation and strike down anyone who threatened her country.
Yet, despite that unwavering resolve, she remained haunted by those she'd slain. No matter the justification, Jeanne believed those sins would always weigh heavily upon her shoulders.
Then, as if suddenly recalling something, Jeanne turned toward Shirou with gentle reproach:
"But you're hardly one to lecture me on this."
She vividly remembered him—severely wounded, his body battered and broken—persistently combing through the battlefield, driven purely by determination, desperately seeking out surviving homunculi.
Saving lives was infinitely harder than taking them, especially in a battlefield dominated by Heroic Spirits, where a single stray attack could end a mortal's life in an instant.
That courageous figure had left an indelible impression upon Jeanne's heart.
"You should consider your own life more carefully. A person only lives once."
Though the way Shirou usually put it was simpler—People die if they are killed.
Jeanne sincerely hoped Shirou would treasure his own life, and stop recklessly rushing to the frontlines of every conflict.
Especially during that moment when Shirou went to support Arthur. Had Jeanne not arrived precisely when she did, Shirou might have fallen victim to Assassin's Noble Phantasm, dying quietly in that forest.
Arthur and Jeanne herself were Heroic Spirits. Even if they were killed in the Grail War, they'd simply return to the Throne of Heroes. For Servants, even defeat in battle usually meant nothing more than the loss of a temporary manifestation.
But Shirou Emiya was different—just a human. If he died, there was no coming back.
Jeanne couldn't bear the thought of such a kind-hearted, righteous man losing his life in this meaningless conflict. If she could choose, she'd rather Shirou had never participated in the Grail War, living instead a peaceful, happy life.
Shirou offered no rebuttal to Jeanne's gentle reprimand. Instead, he turned to her and asked earnestly:
"If you weren't Ruler, would you have chosen to save those homunculi too?"
"Yes."
Jeanne answered without the slightest hesitation, quickly and confidently.
The two stared into each other's eyes silently.
"Pfft—!"
Then, almost simultaneously, both burst into laughter.
Jeanne realized how absurd it had been for her to lecture Shirou. In reality, she herself would have done exactly the same thing in his place—risking everything to rescue those survivors.
Her actions were dictated by her heart, something no amount of reasoning could ever change.
And she knew perfectly well that, despite her cautionary words, Shirou Emiya would continue to act exactly as he had before, putting himself at risk without hesitation if it meant saving others.
Jeanne felt a newfound warmth and closeness toward Shirou. Understanding each other's hearts, recognizing their shared beliefs, naturally brought a sense of joy.
"So, where are we going now?" Jeanne asked, glancing at the bags of food she carried. Clearly, what they'd bought so far wasn't nearly enough to feed everyone at Yggdmillennia's villa.
Yet, after leaving that first stall, Shirou hadn't continued purchasing groceries. Instead, he appeared to be looking for something specific along the street, piquing Jeanne's curiosity.
"There!"
Following the direction of Shirou's pointing finger, Jeanne spotted a small shop front filled with various carts and hand wagons.
While both Jeanne and Shirou had the strength to easily carry enough food for everyone, realistically, there weren't bags large enough to carry everything at once. Besides, transporting that much food openly would surely attract unwanted attention.
Neither of them could cast magecraft spells to erase people's memories after such an unusual sight, either.
So, Shirou had been searching specifically for something that could hold and carry a large quantity of supplies. Fortunately, he quickly found a store selling carts suitable for their needs.
Due to the town's authentic medieval atmosphere, traditional carts drawn by horses or oxen were still commonly used for local transport. Modern vehicles couldn't navigate these narrow streets easily, forcing goods to be carried by hand or carted to main roads beyond town limits.
With Shirou's mastery in household affairs, they swiftly purchased everything needed. Soon enough, the pair departed the bustling streets of Trifas, heading back toward the Yggdmillennia villa.
They spoke openly on their way back. Shirou shared everything he knew about the Holy Grail War without reservation—
From the initial night's attack against the Red Faction's stronghold,
To the second night's harrowing encounter and narrow escape from Black Assassin,
And finally, the third night—his meeting with Shirou Kotomine, and the assault upon Yggdmillennia Castle.
Jeanne's expression darkened progressively as Shirou continued.
All these events had occurred without Jeanne's direct involvement. Now, thanks to Shirou's detailed account, she finally understood precisely which Servant had massacred the residents of the town.
In turn, Jeanne disclosed to Shirou the true identity of Shirou Kotomine—Amakusa Shirou Tokisada.
"I'm certain the reason I was summoned this time was specifically to stop Amakusa Shirou Tokisada," Jeanne stated resolutely.
Even knowing that Amakusa Shirou's ultimate goal with the Grail was to bring salvation to humanity, Jeanne remained completely convinced of her duty.
If she had to provide a reason—
It was the [Revelation] granted to her, guiding her path.
Moreover, ever since Jeanne left Bucharest, heading toward the Red Faction's location, she'd felt an unsettling certainty growing inside her. This feeling intensified with each attempt the Red Faction made to evade her, continuously changing their location.
And when Jeanne finally came face-to-face with Amakusa Shirou Tokisada, her Revelation became crystal clear:
She must stop Amakusa Shirou Tokisada—at any cost.