Miracle Summoner

"...!"

Jeanne [Alter]'s mocking expression instantly froze.

Looking at her reaction, Rozen instead revealed a faint smile.

"You despise the people here, not only because they keep engaging in meaningless activities, offering meaningless prayers, holding meaningless faith, and living meaningless lives, but also because, despite the meaninglessness of it all, they are still able to wear genuine smiles, work hard, and live in contentment."

"You dislike Bedivere, not because he clings to life despite his condition, but because even in his weakened state, he still pursues dreams, strives for something, and drags his broken body here to help these people with their problems."

"All of this stems from envy and jealousy."

"Why? Because although their existence might be fleeting dreams, they still have things to do and goals to pursue, while you have nothing."

Rozen peeled back layer after layer of Jeanne [Alter]'s emotions.

Yes.

That was the true reason for Jeanne [Alter]'s irritation and anger.

Compared to the people here and Bedivere, Jeanne [Alter] was the one who was truly living a fleeting, meaningless dream.

Her hatred was false, as it belonged to the real Jeanne d'Arc. She was merely a counterfeit. Those feelings were forcibly implanted in her Spirit Origin and had nothing to do with her.

She had no purpose. Coming to this Singularity, she had neither a goal nor a mission. She was merely drifting aimlessly.

Ordinary neutral Servants are summoned by the Holy Grail to counteract Servants summoned to disrupt the order of a Singularity, holding the mission to repair it and the goal of saving the world and humanity.

But Jeanne [Alter]?

She was not one of them.

Even Da Vinci had said that Jeanne [Alter] was merely a fragment of a record manifested due to the shared connection of the Holy Grail and Artoria [Alter]'s presence, an incidental consequence of cause and effect. She wasn't an entity summoned by the Holy Grail itself, nor did she appear for the sake of the world or humanity. Her existence was a one-time miracle that could never be replicated.

In other words, Jeanne [Alter]'s appearance was purely coincidental and had no deeper purpose.

As a Servant, she was a counterfeit.

As a Heroic Spirit, she was a counterfeit.

Her life was a counterfeit.

Her hatred was a counterfeit.

Everything about her was counterfeit.

And eventually, she would quietly disappear, with no chance of returning.

Compared to Bedivere and the refugees of this era, it was Jeanne [Alter] who was truly facing despair and cruelty.

Meaningless?

Jeanne [Alter] understood very well that her own existence was the most meaningless thing of all.

Thus, Jeanne [Alter]'s frustration and displeasure stemmed from envy and jealousy.

This was the most fundamental truth about Jeanne [Alter].

She wanted to refute Rozen's words but found herself utterly unable to do so.

If she tried, her inner thoughts and emotions would be laid bare, rendering her argument powerless.

Jeanne [Alter] could only glare at Rozen with mocking eyes.

"So, what?" Jeanne [Alter] sneered. "Are you trying to pity me?"

Hearing this, Rozen simply laughed.

He laughed indifferently.

"Why would I?" Rozen said flatly. "I just think you're as foolish as that girl, Jeanne, being derived from her and all."

"Foolish?" Jeanne [Alter] froze momentarily, then glared at Rozen.

From her expression, it was clear that if the conversation didn't go well, Rozen might end up roasted by the flames of her cursed banner.

But Rozen was utterly fearless.

"Not everyone is born with meaning," Rozen stated bluntly, looking straight at Jeanne [Alter].

"Some heroes are born with missions, and some children are born with great expectations placed upon them. But there are also those whose births are unwelcome and uncelebrated. Even Tristan was like that. Throughout the world, there are countless examples of such people."

Isn't that the truth?

Who is born with inherent meaning?

There are children who are abandoned, despised, and unwanted.

Jeanne [Alter] was no different from them. Even if her hatred was false, her life was false, her emotions were false, and even her very existence was false—so what?

"The meaning of life is something people find later. Only a small number are born with it."

Rozen continued speaking to Jeanne [Alter].

"How long has it been since you were created? And yet, you're already wallowing in self-pity over not finding your purpose? That's what's truly meaningless!"

That was why Rozen called Jeanne [Alter] foolish—just like that village girl who, even after being burned at the stake, bore no hatred for anyone, didn't see herself as a saint, and instead believed her hands were stained with the blood of those she had tried to save in France. In her eyes, her fate was nothing less than deserved.

In this sense, Jeanne [Alter] truly was the reverse of Jeanne.

"What you should prioritize now is survival. Only after that should you seek the meaning of your existence. Even abandoned orphans know this; they scavenge food from garbage bins to survive and don't waste time pondering life's great truths or their own purpose. Don't tell me you're worse off than ordinary human orphans."

Hearing this, Jeanne [Alter] fell silent.

Because she had no rebuttal.

Then...

"They can scavenge food to survive, but how am I supposed to keep living?" Jeanne [Alter] asked bitterly. "I'm not someone who can continue to exist just by eating. Once this Singularity is resolved, I'll vanish, won't I?"

That was true.

When hope doesn't exist, who would willingly keep fighting to survive?

Jeanne [Alter] truly saw no hope, so she resigned herself to her fate.

But...

"Who said you would disappear after this Singularity ends?" Rozen replied without hesitation. "Your existence is based on the destruction of human history, which led to the distortion of the world's natural order—not merely on this Singularity. The reason you would disappear afterward is that we've only formed a temporary contract. If it were a formal contract, you could return to Chaldea with me. Even if you're still a fleeting dream, at least you could exist until human history is completely restored and your repair is achieved."

These words left Jeanne [Alter] completely stunned.

How could she not understand the meaning behind them?

"You…"

Jeanne [Alter] tried to say something.

But Rozen shook his head, cutting her off.

"There's no need to decide now. Take your time to think it over," Rozen said. "I just think this path is one you might want to try."

With that, Rozen turned and left, leaving Jeanne [Alter] standing there in stunned silence.

Meanwhile, Rozen, walking away without looking back, was smiling bitterly.

"In the end, I didn't form a formal contract with a self-sacrificing Servant, yet I offered a formal contract to a former enemy."

That, too, was quite ironic.