The air fell silent.
Manaka Sajyou stood there, arms wide open, her expression a little stiff.
"...What is she doing?" Miss Illya whispered, conferring with Miss Jeanne, who scratched her head. "I don't know."
Although their voices were soft, they made no effort to conceal them, so of course, Miss Manaka could hear them.
The blonde girl lowered her arms, a tick mark appearing on her forehead.
"FRANÇOIS!!!"
Her voice, though suppressed with rage, was crystal clear under the amplification of magic.
"Aren't you going to help her?"
Aboard the unmanned airship, Kama looked at the Flying Princess, who was leisurely dangling her feet and watching the scene below, somewhat surprised.
"Idiot, why would I help her?"
"She's asking for a soul to be sacrificed. Who would do something so stupid?"
The latter made a face and stuck out her tongue.
Although that's what the Flying Princess said, Kama didn't believe a single word of it.
Though she wasn't fond of this Master, anyone who understood the Flying Princess's true nature would know that for gods like them, life was the least valuable thing.
Besides, if it was just a matter of sparing her own life, she could have used Kama as the material. As the god of love, she could fully satisfy that woman's needs. Then, the Flying Princess would get another chance to wash away the filth that clung to her and regain her glory.
To achieve all this, sacrificing a mere Servant like herself would have been enough.
The Flying Princess was reluctant to part with her?
That was definitely impossible. Based on François's personality, while she was indeed interested in the Arrows of Love Kama possessed, as they could fully satisfy her twisted personality and hobbies, the bond between this master and servant was clearly not that strong.
The reason the Flying Princess made this choice was something much simpler, and at this moment, it was obvious to Kama.
"I see, so it's love."
Kama pouted, a little annoyed.
Incredibly, this twisted, fallen goddess before her, despite having an indescribably awful personality and even persecuting others for her own amusement, François Prelati herself... loved humanity!
But on second thought, it seemed only natural.
After all, François Prelati's former self, the ancient Baal, was a god who was incredibly close to humans.
Even though she later fell and became the demon king Beelzebub, that was ultimately just something the church had imposed on her.
"Well~ I do love humans~"
Regarding this point, the Flying Princess made no attempt to hide it once she was found out, her face wreathed in smiles.
This initial feeling, even after thousands of years, even after the love people once had for her had turned into the current disgust and fear, had not changed in the slightest.
However, for a "broken goddess," one couldn't expect her to do anything praiseworthy.
But even so.
There were things she would never condone.
Just like the Dead Apostles, those enemies of humanity were existences that even the Flying Princess would despise and hate—similarly, Manaka Sajyou was currently playing a similar role.
"Although starting over would be pretty good for me... even though I'm broken, I still don't think I'm that bad right now."
"So, sorry~ I won't help you overthrow the history created by those lovely humans."
"That person..."
Hearing François's attitude, Jeanne's expression became complicated.
From the Lord's perspective, that person should be her sworn enemy, but...
Compared to Jeanne, Miss Manaka Sajyou's expression was even more spectacular at this moment.
"..."
She clenched her fists, grinding her teeth.
A miscalculation! She hadn't expected this person to be the type who values humanity more than herself.
"If you're a broken goddess, then just stay broken obediently!"
Manaka Sajyou was on the verge of a breakdown.
Failing was one thing, but more importantly, she had lost so much face in front of her prince, especially in front of that little home-wrecking cat.
At this moment, Miss Manaka's mood was at rock bottom.
However, the moment she thought of her prince still being there, she quickly regained her sweet demeanor.
"Gomen~ It seems there was a small accident."
"But please rest assured, my prince."
"Even with this little hiccup, it doesn't mean I will lose!" Trying her best to maintain her image in front of Jiang Qiao, a slight curve appeared on Manaka's lips. She wasn't discouraged by being stood up by the Flying Princess at all; instead, she became even more determined.
After all, she could feel it.
She was back!
Along with her was the spiritual presence of that useless goddess... Hmph, it seems Morgan and Lancelot have completed the task I assigned them.
"...Throw that useless goddess in!"
Not paying much attention, Manaka Sajyou said this, then used the remaining time to admire her prince—in fact, after "Illya" appeared, if not necessary, most of her attention was on him. After all, for Miss Manaka, other people were not worth wasting her time on.
However...
Morgan, who had materialized behind her, did not respond to her words, which made Manaka both surprised and impatient—what are you dawdling for? If you delay my honeymoon with my prince, do you still want your pathetic Britain to win the resurrection match?
She was about to scold her, but the next moment...
Clang
As steel met steel, the vigilant blonde girl narrowly avoided a vital spot, but the sharp sword still slashed across her back, leaving a deep wound.
Protected by the demonic beasts bred by the Monster Princess, she pulled away. Morgan, having failed to kill her in one blow, glanced at the holy sword in her hand and showed a hint of regret.
"A pity."
"Eh?!!" Miss Illya, who had been ready for battle, was so shocked by this dramatic turn of events that her jaw dropped. "Master, did you see that? She... she attacked her own Master!"
Obviously, this was also what Manaka Sajyou was concerned about.
"...You!"
Her back throbbed with pain. Although she had stopped the bleeding and healed the wound with magic in time, she could still feel the curse and even poison that specifically inhibited wound recovery. Thanks to her direct connection to the Root, she could barely hold on, but Manaka still stared at Morgan with disbelief and anger.
"You betrayed me?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
"Why!"
Manaka Sajyou was full of questions.
Indeed, she and Morgan had many conflicts, and they had almost fallen out after the night they met the prince, but because their interests aligned, Morgan was still willing to fight alongside her.
Just like with that man, Kiritsugu Emiya, Manaka was very clear that as long as she could help Morgan achieve her wish, it was impossible for Morgan to betray her... it should have been that way!
But... why did it turn out like this!
She couldn't think of any reason for Morgan to betray her—it couldn't be the same as that François, could it? What a joke. If Britain were at stake, Morgan might be stubborn, but with Britain not having won the resurrection match, this woman had no absurd reason like "love for humanity."
"It's simple. I'm also interested in him."
Morgan stood calmly, leaning on her staff, her gaze falling on [Illya].
"I will strive for Britain myself. And he is the prince consort I have chosen for myself as the Queen of Britain."
"I cannot easily forgive anyone who covets my prince consort."
Her tone was incredibly firm and domineering.
And the content of her words left Miss Illya dumbfounded once again.
"...Prince consort?"
"What does that mean?"
"...It means husband."
"Huh?"
Miss Illya's pupils quaked, her heart in great peril. She shifted her gaze to the girl beside her, her tone a little strange:
"Hey, Master... can you tell me what's going on?"
[Illya] shrugged helplessly:
"...I talked to her for a bit, and this is what happened... To be honest, I'm also quite troubled."
Who can understand, my friends? I just saw that the great fairy seemed to be stuck in a pit she couldn't climb out of, so I kindly went over to give her a hand, helped her a little, and now that great fairy seems to have her eyes on me.
Upon hearing this, Manaka also laughed instantly.
Originally, she had been thinking that if Morgan's reason wasn't too outrageous, she could temporarily forgive her—after all, the current situation was indeed a bit bad, and she was willing to compromise to win Morgan back.
But...
Oh, so that's how it is!
No wonder you came back a changed person after being out all day, looking all strange. So... you FUCKING went on a secret date with my prince behind my back! And you FUCKING have designs on my prince, wanting to make him your prince consort?
At this moment, Miss Manaka Sajyou's eyes instantly became severe and strange.
"Honestly, how dare you go behind my back to meet with my prince..."
"Unforgivable! Absolutely unforgivable!" Manaka gritted her teeth, her anger meter about to explode.
If you betrayed me, I could grit my teeth and bear it, settle the score later.
But you dare to covet my prince?
This was no ordinary betrayal! In Manaka Sajyou's eyes, Miss Morgan had gone from being one of the ten evils to deserving ten thousand deaths.
What angered her even more was that she hadn't realized that a home-wrecker like Morgan had been hiding by her side all along. If she had known earlier, she would have used a Command Spell to make her commit suicide the moment she was summoned, and she would have had to try ten thousand different ways to die each time!
"You, die for me!"
Miss Manaka tried to reveal her Stigma, but the next moment, it dimmed.
Seeing this, Morgan mocked:
"You don't think something like this can have any effect on a magus of our level, do you?"
After all, the Stigma was just a Command Spell.
For a magus with sufficient magical prowess, breaking such a contract was child's play.
"Give up. I have control of Lancelot."
"You're all alone now."
With Morgan pointing a holy sword at her, Manaka Sajyou's face turned a little green.
There was no greater insult to the proud Miss Manaka than this. She was trembling with anger.
However, the next second, after glancing at [Illya], she regained her composure.
"Ah... this is my miscalculation, I suppose. I didn't guard against a home-wrecker like you."
"It's hard to guard against a thief in one's own house... Although I tried my best to guard against those two home-wreckers, big and small, I ultimately failed to guard against you."
"But—"
"Don't get carried away."
"Even so, I still haven't lost!"
"My prince belongs to me... I will never let you home-wreckers succeed!"
"Ah, my prince... I will definitely come to your side."
"And now, please allow me to take my leave for now."
Manaka took step after step backward, then glanced at [Illya] and fell into the Great Cavern.
"This is... a brief farewell."
The girl's voice echoed in the air.
"Master, she..."
The black mud dissipated, and with it, Manaka Sajyou's Fall of the Holy City and Monster Princess vanished.
The silver-haired girl walked to the edge of the deep pit of the Great Cavern and looked down into it.
"She used herself as a sacrifice."
"...This..."
Miss Illya blinked. Although she didn't like this somewhat crazy big sister, her ending seemed...
"What are you thinking? She's not dead."
Seeing through the former's thoughts, the girl rolled her eyes.
With Manaka Sajyou's abilities, how could she just die like that?
Even if she was stabbed with a holy sword, Manaka Sajyou still had the ability to win the resurrection match while nestled in the Holy Grail—after all, for people like herself and Manaka Sajyou, death was never so absolute.
Even if they lost their bodies, there were plenty of ways to return.
Choosing to use herself as a sacrifice was just a decision that child made.
And as for the result...
"Hehehehe~"
As [Illya]'s gaze fell on an inconspicuous shadow, a girl's laughter echoed throughout the spacious Great Cavern.
"Hehehehehe~"
Immediately following was a suffocating surge of magical energy.
The black mud rose, and fair, jade-like feet stepped onto the filthy sludge. A blonde girl with a stunningly beautiful face, smiling, picked up the hem of her deep red evening gown, a stark contrast to her previous blue dress, and curtsied politely.
Her lips parted lightly:
"My prince—I've kept you waiting~"