Chapter 57: The Fall of the Saint
At this moment, Saber followed closely behind, coming out of the bedroom. Before she even had time to manage her hair, which looked like a pile of golden sand, she immediately asked:
"What are we eating today?"
"..." Shirou pondered for a moment. "Beef and potato stew."
Saliva immediately began to secrete uncontrollably; all other matters were tossed aside by Saber.
Gurgle... Her stomach seemed directly connected to her brain; as soon as the thought occurred, it began to growl.
After about thirty minutes of preparation...
"Itadakimasu!"
Voices rose one after another. This was the first time everyone had gathered around the breakfast table; in the past, differing schedules meant they rarely ate breakfast together. However, this didn't seem bad at all.
Shirou scanned the room: Illya, Saber, Sakura, and Medea were all gathered in the living room. It was a rare, warm scene.
"Hmm? My... the flavor is a bit light today. Did you change the broth, Sakura?"
"Yes, I thought Saber might not be used to miso soup yet, so it wouldn't be good if the flavor was too strong," Sakura replied, pausing her chewing to answer.
"That is true. Compared to last time, this morning's is even more delicious. However, Sakura, I have already grown accustomed to Japanese-style meals. You don't need to worry about me specifically; cook according to your own wishes. That is better for everyone."
"Eh, is that so? But speaking of which, Saber, you've become quite skilled with chopsticks. I'm surprised; you're very nimble."
"It's just a matter of habit. Though, to be honest, using chopsticks is still tiring. But they are indeed superior utensils compared to a knife and fork."
Saber answered elegantly and politely while continuing to eat. At that point, Illya spoke up.
"Yeah, yeah! Compared to chopsticks, Saber is definitely more used to a knife and fork. Oh, wait, you should add soy sauce there, not steak sauce!"
"Understood," Sakura nodded.
"Mm-hmm! I'll take a piece of dried seaweed as my reward. Hey, Shirou, give me another bowl!"
"Sure." Shirou took the bowl Illya held out to him. After all, the pot was right in front of him.
Amidst the harmonious breakfast, the news was broadcasting on the television.
"A massive explosion occurred in Shinto yesterday. According to reports, the incident was caused by a natural gas leak from a certain company..."
"Wow... news like this again. They just broadcasted something similar the day before yesterday," Sakura said with a sigh. As an insider, she naturally knew the true cause of these so-called gas leaks.
"We should be grateful there were no fatalities," Saber added.
Amidst such reflections, breakfast came to an end. Since today was also a day off, Shirou was dragged by Illya into playing video games all day. By the time he snapped out of it, the sky outside the window was as dark as ink.
"It's about time. Let's go to the basement to check on our Saint."
Seeing that the time was right, Shirou headed to the basement accompanied by Medea and Saber.
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The basement at this moment was practically like a hidden sanctuary.
"Ugh... ah..."
With her hands bound by Medea's magecraft, Jeanne was forced to remain hunched over. Having endured the constant erosion of magecraft, Jeanne no longer looked anything like a Saint. Her blonde hair was disheveled, stuck to her face by sweat, making her look quite pathetic.
From time to time, whispers of pain escaped her lips as she struggled to endure. The faint sounds echoed in the quiet basement, and due to the enclosed space, they bounced back to the girl's ears, making her feel even more utterly despairing.
Human suffering can trigger a protective instinct in some, or conversely, stimulate a sadistic streak in others. Naturally, Medea fell into the latter category. Just by gazing at those eyes squeezed shut in pain, the temperature in the cold basement seemed to rise.
"Impressive, Ruler. To think you could resist the erosion of my magecraft for an entire day; it's quite unimaginable to me."
Medea spoke with a hint of admiration. If she herself had been subjected to a Command Spell by Shirou, her level of Magic Resistance would not have allowed her to resist the order.
"Guh... just kill me...!" Jeanne whispered her final bit of defiance, her rationality nearly gone.
"Even if you self-destruct right now, I can pull you back from the Throne of Heroes again. You can't escape, Miss Saint," Shirou said with a smile near her ear.
To Jeanne, the boy's words combined with that smile made him look like a demon.
"Bastard..." Jeanne said resentfully, tears of despair at the corners of her eyes.
"Well then, the little game is over for now. It's half-time. Release her restraints."
"Yes," Medea nodded and raised her hand.
The red threads of magical energy that had bound the girl's slender wrists like rope, forcing her to double over, were instantly dispelled by Medea. Jeanne, who had long lost the ability to resist under the erosion of the spell, immediately went limp and collapsed to the floor.
"Ugh!" she cried out in pain.
Shirou reached out to help her up. The moment his hand touched her, Jeanne's body tensed up. Like an ordinary girl about to be forced into corruption, she frantically reached out with powerless hands to push him away.
"Don't... don't touch me!"
Her body weakened by Medea's magecraft, Jeanne was currently unable to resist. She could only watch helplessly as Shirou picked her up in a princess carry.
"To think your will hasn't completely collapsed yet; it's truly admirable, Miss Saint."
Shirou remarked with a sigh, then carried her back to the living room.
It was now dinner time. Sakura and Illya were preparing the meal. The warm and peaceful atmosphere of the room left Jeanne's expression somewhat dazed. If this boy were truly an evil person, it seemed highly unlikely he could create such a home that made people feel so at ease.
"Although Servants don't need to eat, perhaps some food will make you feel better."
Under Saber's somewhat reluctant gaze, Shirou took a portion of the food and placed it before Jeanne.
"I won't eat...!"
Having recovered a tiny bit of strength, Jeanne started to get defiant again. Then, she saw Shirou raise his hand.
"By the power of a Command Spell, I order you—"
Seeing the crimson light of the Command Spell flare up, Jeanne's expression turned to one of bewilderment and shock.
"You—you're actually using a Command Spell for something like this!?"
Jeanne was completely dumbfounded. This guy was simply insane!
Although her mind was full of disbelief and resistance, her hands moved uncontrollably.
"Dammit...!"
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