The villain's journey from the Type-Moon world

"No way, Black Father, are you serious??"

……

In the dungeon, Wang Chong did not go looking for Altria first, as she was still asleep. His first target was another person—Jeanne.

His clone had already noticed that Joan of Arc was about to wake up, and Merlin had also reminded him that Joan of Arc's dream was almost over. Therefore, Wang Chong immediately set off for the dungeon.

After arriving in the dungeon, Wang Chong first sent his clone to Altria's place above to monitor her movements. He himself stayed with Jeanne, quietly waiting for her to awaken.

With the sound of soft, sticky breathing, Joan of Arc's eyelashes trembled slightly, and finally, she opened her sleepy eyes. Joan of Arc felt like she had a very long dream. In the dream, she seemed to dream that she and Wang Chong, whom she recognized, had finally defeated the enemy, wiped out all the enemies, and finally won the final victory in the Holy Grail War.

Finally, Jeanne watched Wang Chong make a Holy Grail wish. She had no idea what it was, but she blessed him with all her heart. Although the Holy Grail War was over, the summoned Servants would not disappear immediately. She imagined that for a long time to come, she would absorb Wang Chong's magical power and accompany him in reality.

And then… then Joan of Arc woke up. Well, it had been a long time since I'd had a dream like this, especially one that included returning to the tranquility of everyday rural life. That had always been Joan of Arc's dream. And in the dream, it came true so easily.

Dreams are truly wonderful things... but dreams are ultimately just dreams. One must eventually face the cruel reality, just as when one led the troops, believing it would be the final victory, a sudden betrayal completely forged one's tragic fate.

"It's you, Wang Chong-kun." Jeanne raised her head and looked at Wang Chong, who was quietly watching her from outside the railing. Even though Wang Chong didn't say anything, everything was said without words.

"You are much calmer than I thought, Joan of Arc." Wang Chong looked at Joan of Arc who had regained consciousness. He knew that after seeing the environment he was in and the fact that his position was completely different from hers, she naturally understood everything.

"After all, getting angry and yelling won't solve the problem, right? Besides, this isn't the first time I've been a prisoner." Joan of Arc felt the power in her body. Sure enough, her power had been sealed, or her entire body was filled with weakness. It seemed that there was some incredible magic circle where she was, which even took effect on her anti-magic Ex.

"So, Wang Chongjun, are you planning to detain me here and wait for everything to be over, or are you planning to execute me?" Joan of Arc asked slowly.

"Neither..." Wang Chong slowly walked up to him. "If I wanted to kill you, the outcome would have been sealed the moment you fell. If I wanted to detain you forever, I wouldn't have come here to see you. You know, I always do things with a purpose."

"...That's right. Whether you kill me or imprison me, you won't come to see me. So, what are you planning to do? You're not planning to invite me to join you, are you?" Joan of Arc nodded slightly, looking directly at Wang Chong and asked.

"Yes and no." Wang Chong stretched out his hand, reached into the railing, and said, "How about we reconcile here?"

"Reconciliation? Right now? Wang Chong-kun, you're kidding, aren't you?" Jeanne looked at Wang Chong with amusement. The truth was laid out before her so clearly. Wang Chong was the Master of all the alien Servants. He had deceived everyone, especially himself, betrayed himself... and even failed to live up to his own feelings.

Well, Jeanne wasn't sure if this was her own feeling or if it was the influence of Leticia's feelings within her. But she was truly disappointed... She finally understood some of the feelings Irisviel had once had towards Emiya Kiritsugu.

"Indeed, I admit that I lied to you. But if I didn't do that, would I have to watch you deal with me?" Wang Chong said lightly.

"But this is no reason for you to deceive others...especially since you have let down three companions who trusted you so much," said Joan of Arc.

"Yes, that's why I plan to finally confront you. But I've always been selfish. You know I prefer to keep the initiative in my own hands," Wang Chong said. "It is precisely because of your three unconditional trust that I hope you can join my side, even if it means using some unsavory means."

"You mean, we should thank you?" Jeanne's tone grew a little unhappy. Even though she had remained calm, her natural sensitivity as a woman only made her feel more disappointed and distressed by Wang Chong's words.

Chapter 317: Forcing Joan of Arc

Wang Chong had been constantly checking Joan of Arc's favorability, and it remained stubbornly stuck at 80 points. It seemed that while Joan of Arc had been disappointed in him, the feelings she had accumulated over this period of time couldn't be completely shattered by a few words. The disappointment Joan of Arc now expressed was more a reflection of her own disappointment and a subtle longing for her return.

Well, in a sense, this should be considered the emotion of a spoiled wife.

But he also knew that continuing to forcefully press would only lead to a complete fallout with Jeanne. Wang Chong was speaking so harshly now, hoping to test Jeanne's current psychological limits, so that he could gradually gain control of her.

Therefore, Wang Chong did not respond too strongly to Jeanne's words. Instead, he said slowly, "Jeanne, the reason you are so resistant is simply because you believe we are the anomaly in the Holy Grail War, the ones who are guilty of the heinous crime, right?"

"I don't know what you're trying to do, Wang Chong-jun. But as a former friend, I'd like to give you a piece of advice: those who do evil will eventually perish. Also, since you knew I was coming in advance, you must have some understanding of the power of inhibition. Even if you succeed in stopping me now, there will be more people and more powerful forces waiting for you. It's not too late to stop now." Joan of Arc calmed down after hearing Wang Chong's softening tone and spoke seriously.

"Hahahaha... Is it not too late to stop now?" Wang Chong laughed, then asked, "You mean, if I surrender to you now and stop all actions, you will forgive me? And then pretend nothing happened?"

"At least I can do it. After all, you haven't made any irreparable mistakes yet. The only ones you feel sorry for are the Masters who participated in this Holy Grail War. And this is even within the rules of the Holy Grail War." Joan of Arc said seriously.

"Haha, you know that no matter how evil I do, at most I'm only targeting those who should have died in this Holy Grail War. After all, they either died at my hands or at the hands of others. This is in line with the rules of the Holy Grail War." Wang Chong chuckled and said, "What's more, you should also know that neither I nor my Servants actually killed those people. We are not stained with their blood. So, according to the rules of the Holy Grail War, am I... and my Servants guilty?"

"..." Jeanne was speechless for a moment. Indeed, emotionally, what Wang Chong had done would be unacceptable to the person involved. However, as Wang Chong had said, the Holy Grail War was a war of mutual destruction. Ultimately, the Servants would determine the final victor. Therefore, no matter who killed whom, they should not be punished by the Holy Grail rules. Furthermore, Wang Chong and his Servants had never personally killed any Servants. Instead, the person who had killed the most Servants was Emiya Kiritsugu, the one who had been blamed for the crime.

"However, Joan of Arc, if you still think I am guilty, then fine, I can give you a chance." But at this moment, Wang Chong pulled the railing open, then held Joan of Arc's hand and pulled her out.

The sudden scene made Joan of Arc a little confused, but she soon realized that after she left the room, the seal had quietly disappeared, and her body was absorbing the surrounding magic power to recover.

"Why did he suddenly let me out?" Just as Jeanne was beginning to wonder, Wang Chong's subsequent actions made her completely confused about his intentions. Wang Chong continued to hold her right hand, then drew his sword and pointed it directly at her neck.

"You?!" Joan of Arc didn't expect that Wang Chong would let her hold the sword against his neck. Was he trying to kill himself?

"Joan of Arc, we've played this betting game many times before, right?" Wang Chong loosened his grip and let Joan of Arc continue to hold the sword against his neck.

"What bet?" Joan of Arc couldn't help but ask.

"Don't you think I'm the one that the restraining force needs to eliminate? Don't you think I'm the biggest anomaly in the Holy Grail War, that I'll sabotage it or use the Holy Grail to do something evil? Then let's make a bet, Joan of Arc. If you kill me, will all the anomalies be resolved... or will you end up aiding and abetting the evil and creating a true tragedy with your own hands? Let's make a bet, and use my life to bet." Wang Chong said slowly.

"What!" Joan of Arc was shocked. She had never expected Wang Chong to do such a bold thing. He was actually willing to gamble his own life on his own judgment.

"What...what do you want to do? And...what exactly do you mean by aiding and abetting the evil and creating the real tragedy with your own hands?" Joan of Arc asked hurriedly.

"Who knows? Shouldn't you have greater faith in your own judgment, Your Excellency the Fair and Upright Saint?" Wang Chong said slowly.

"What tricks are you planning to play?" Joan of Arc asked sternly.

"Trick? What other tricks can I have... Do you think you are the only one who is disappointed, Joan of Arc?" As he said this, Wang Chong actually leaned forward, and the tip of the sword accidentally pierced the skin on Wang Chong's neck. A trickle of blood flowed from the tip of the sword.

"Are you crazy?" Joan of Arc was shocked by this and quickly pulled back the sword in her hand. However, the next second, Wang Chong firmly grasped it, preventing her from withdrawing.

"Now, do you still think there is any conspiracy here? My life is now in your hands." Wang Chong looked as if he had completely seen through Joan of Arc's mood, staring at her with burning eyes.

Joan of Arc panicked. She felt an emotion she had never experienced before. This was the first time she had panicked because of this man who was not afraid of death.

"Why...?" Joan of Arc asked in confusion.

"Didn't you just blame me for seizing the initiative and using any means necessary? Well, now, I will hand this initiative over to you. This is both an apology and a gesture of sincerity for us to work together again." Wang Chong said slowly.

"Joan of Arc, the initiative now rests in your hands. If you believe I'm the culprit of this Holy Grail War, then pierce my neck. I never need so-called magnanimity or mercy." Wang Chong paused after speaking, then continued, "I simply hope that after my death, no matter what happens, you will stick to the path you've taken and the convictions in your heart. And take responsibility for the choices you've made."

"What do you know... Wang Chong-kun. If alien servants and alien masters are not the root cause of the evil of this Holy Grail War, and not the root cause of my manifestation, then who is it? Is it Emiya Kiritsugu, the one you have been persecuting?" Jeanne took a deep breath and continued to ask.

"If you believe me, I will tell you. If you don't believe me, what's the point of telling you? But Joan of Arc... since you have already recognized me as the main culprit, why are you hesitating so much?" Wang Chong took a step forward and rushed towards the tip of the sword fearlessly.

"You..." Jeanne quickly took a step back, just enough distance to put some distance between them. However, the sword tip still cut another wound on her neck due to the close approach.

"I want to believe you too... Wang Chong-kun, but how can I believe you after what you've done... How can I believe you?" This was the first time Jeanne had given in on such an important matter. She lowered her head, somewhat afraid to meet Wang Chong's gaze. She didn't understand why Wang Chong, who had clearly betrayed her, was now acting as if she was the one at fault.

Chapter 318: Joan of Arc's Confession

Seeing Jeanne lower her head, Wang Chong understood that she still valued him and was willing to believe in him. But Wang Chong couldn't let his guard down just yet. He needed to take a step further and, before Jeanne's womanly sensitivities could recover, he had to quickly and decisively address what he had done.

"Joan of Arc, I admit that I deceived you about the matter of alien servants and alien masters. But apart from that, how many other things have I deceived you about? In fact, even when we first met, I repeatedly reminded you not to trust people like me. I am selfish and calculating, and I showed these to you from the beginning." Wang Chong said slowly.

"Joan of Arc, since you're so unsure, why don't you just recall the past? You clearly know that I'm this kind of person, so why do you still choose to trust me?"

Hearing Wang Chong's words, Jeanne couldn't help but feel a hint of doubt in her heart. She did know what kind of person Wang Chong was. When she first met Leticia, Jeanne had actually been wary of him and even warned him several times.

But along the way, Wang Chong maintained a kind attitude towards Leticia. Although Joan of Arc still maintained a certain degree of vigilance, her attitude towards Wang Chong also softened a lot.

Then came the sudden attack. Everything happened so quickly, leaving Jeanne with no choice but to improvise. Looking back now, there were many doubts, but at the time, she was indeed more inclined to save Wang Chong.

And it was precisely because of this attack that the connection between the two began to grow closer. With their continued interactions, Jeanne saw that Wang Chong was calculating and cunning. She even saw that Wang Chong and Emiya Kiritsugu were similar in some ways, both being willing to do whatever it took to achieve their goals.

But even so, Joan of Arc couldn't dislike Wang Chong, and even trusted him more... Wang Chong was right to ask, why... why did she still trust Wang Chong so much even though she knew what kind of person he was?

Just as Joan of Arc began to ponder this, Wang Chong didn't want to give her too much time to think. He simply wanted her to consider this aspect. Wang Chong slowly asked, "Joan of Arc, in your heart, am I truly your enemy?"

"I... I..." Joan of Arc's heart was in turmoil, and her mind was becoming increasingly confused. For some reason, Wang Chong's questions were like a devilish sound, imprinted in her mind, echoing continuously. One question after another made it difficult for Joan of Arc to make a decision.

"Alright, since you can't choose, I'll help you choose. Let's stick to our initial bet... Will my death make this Holy Grail War better, or lead to a more tragic ending? I'm betting my life on it!"

After saying this, Wang Chong actually charged at the sword, and this time, it was clear that he had no intention of stopping. The tip of the sword instantly pierced the neck. Because it was the carotid artery, blood immediately gushed out, even spraying directly onto Jeanne's face.

"No!" Feeling the heat on her face, Joan of Arc's body reflexively drew her sword, freeing herself from Wang Chong's grip and flinging it to the ground. Then, she embraced Wang Chong and laid him flat on the ground. Watching the blood splatter over her like a fountain, Joan of Arc gasped. She had never felt her heartbeat so fast, so tense.

"Calm down, calm down... give him first aid. There's still time!" Joan of Arc removed her hand armor and pressed her jade hand directly against the carotid artery on the left side of Wang Chong's neck, first stopping the blood gushing out, then pressing her other hand on the neck, circulating her own magic power, and began to repair the damaged wound.

A few minutes later, Joan of Arc finally felt her palm no longer passively receiving the splattering warm blood. The wound had finally healed. Luckily, during her career leading armies, she had learned a lot about emergency procedures for wounds. Even though this wound was on the neck, the man's face looked incredibly pale and bloodless, but at least she had saved his life.

Wang Chong had actually seen everything Jeanne did. He smiled as he watched her favorability grow, knowing that this time he had made the right bet.

"What are you laughing at?" However, Jeanne's somewhat cold tone reached Wang Chong's ears directly. Obviously, Jeanne, who had been paying attention to Wang Chong's condition, naturally noticed the change in Wang Chong's expression.

"What are you laughing at? I don't understand...just like I don't understand, since you no longer trust me and regard me as an enemy, why do you come to save me now?" Wang Chong looked at Joan of Arc with a smile, lying on Joan of Arc's lap and said.

"I don't know..." Jeanne lowered her head, staring at Wang Chong. "Out of reason, out of responsibility, and because of what you've done... I should have judged you. But the moment I saw you were truly about to die, I started to act on my own."

"It has nothing to do with the bet you mentioned... If you want to save him, then go ahead and save him. It's just so unreasonable. As expected, I still hope to always believe in you, Wang Chongjun." Joan of Arc said with a self-deprecating smile.

"So what's your answer now?" Wang Chong asked.

"Wang Chongjun...don't you think it's too cunning of you to always ask questions?" Jeanne said.

"... Then Jeanne, what do you want to ask?"

"Tell me, what was your purpose in that secret room last night?" Jeanne closed her eyes and pondered for a moment before asking the question she most wanted to know. Wang Chong, upon hearing this, thought to himself, "As expected, this matter will definitely come to light." Not only would Jeanne ask this now, but Artoria would surely do the same. Now that they all knew he was the true master behind the Hanging Gardens, it was obvious who had the secret room behind it.

"Because I like you and want you." Wang Chong did not lie, because he knew that he could not lie about this matter, so it would be better to admit it frankly.

"The things I've said before, not only about Mrs. Irisviel, or the King of Knights, but also about you, Jeanne... and the Leticia hidden within you, are all sincere. You are all good women. And I, on the other hand, am such a selfish person... I know that once my identity is revealed, we will inevitably part ways. So before that happens, I will obtain you at all costs."

"Even if we eventually find out about this? Even if we feel resentment because of it?" Joan of Arc said sternly.

"That's right." Wang Chong said firmly.

"Hopeless..." Joan of Arc whispered.

"I think so too... So this time, I give you the right to choose, and even my life. This isn't just a bet... It's also my apology to you and them," Wang Chong said with a smile. "As I said, if you think I'm guilty, you can take my life now. But... I still want you to understand, Jeanne. My love for you is genuine."

"Ha..." Jeanne opened her eyes slightly and met the pale Wang Chong's gaze once again. He was so weak now that she didn't need much strength. Just piercing his wound once more would kill him.

"Maybe this is why I am just a fragment of her projection. Maybe this is why I can't be the fair and selfless Joan of Arc." Joan of Arc suddenly spoke to herself, and then showed a somewhat sad smile.

"Joan of Arc?" Wang Chong wondered, and then he saw Joan of Arc leaning down, with a tear dripping from the corner of her eye onto Wang Chong's cheek.

"I like you too, Wang Chong-kun." Then, Joan of Arc kissed Wang Chong's bloodless lips. As she revealed her feelings, she shed a tear of heartache.

"I'm sorry, Lord (God)... I'm sorry, the real me. I've fallen hopelessly in love with him... If I've committed a sin, I'm willing to feed the devil and guide him towards good. If I've committed a great sin, I'm willing to fall into hell with him and suffer the full punishment." Joan of Arc prayed in her heart, "I beg you to accept my confession... and forgive me for making this choice."

As Wang Chong watched Joan of Arc, tears of remorse streaming down her face, choose him without hesitation, he couldn't help but feel a sense of daze. His plot had clearly succeeded, yet he didn't feel overly joyful. It wasn't that he regretted anything, but rather that he felt a complex mix of emotions, and even more heartache for this kind and innocent Joan of Arc.

He couldn't hear Joan of Arc's inner voice, but he knew what Joan of Arc had put into her heart to make such a choice.

"If you don't let me down, I won't let you down." Wang Chong said this in his heart.

Chapter 319: The Price Altria Paid

"Congratulations, host! Not only did you successfully persuade Joan of Arc, you even raised her favorability to 90 points... Why do you seem unhappy, host?" At this time, the system's voice also sounded in Wang Chong's mind, but the system seemed to notice something, so it asked.

"It's okay, I just feel a little complicated, it's not a big deal. Please continue." Wang Chong thought to himself.

"Hehe, to be honest, your operation just now was so bad that it scared me. You really dare to act. The blood gushing out just now really scared me. Host, others are playing tricks, but you are really playing tricks and life together. The system almost thought it was going to say goodbye to the host, wuwuwu." The system looked sad and concerned, which made Wang Chong laugh.

"Alright, alright. It's fine if others don't know, but don't you know if I'll be in trouble if I'm stabbed in the neck? Have you forgotten my current physical condition? Forget about being stabbed in the neck. Even if my head really falls off, I won't die. I have a way to get it back."

Wang Chong is now a member of the True Ancestor royal family. It is not easy for him to die in the Type-Moon world.

"Ah! I really forgot about this. It turns out that you, the emotional host, are just using routines. Woohoo, give me back the feeling I had before!" the system cried.

"Okay, stop messing around. We are still a few steps away from truly persuading Joan of Arc. I am only trying to calm her down temporarily. Well... speaking of it, Joan of Arc and Joan of Arc do have similarities. They both need more coaxing." Wang Chong said with a smile.

"Host, is it Altria's turn next? She doesn't have a good temper, you have experienced it before. And I'm afraid she is not as easy to coax as Joan of Arc." said the system.

"Don't worry, I'm also very attentive to King Saber. Having Mordred fight her all along, and all those words of comfort, weren't just for show. Perhaps her progress will be smoother than Jeanne's. Besides, I've already convinced Irisviel, and there's also Mordred, the other Altria, and Merlin. Even Jeanne is on my side now."

"Even if I can't do it, there are great scholars who will come to debate on my behalf."

……

"Where is this..." Artoria looked at the scenery in front of her, but found that there was only an invisible road in front of her, and two bubbles were floating on both sides of her.

"What is this...?" Artoria looked at the two bubbles. One was a scene of herself participating in the Fourth Holy Grail War and fighting against many heroic spirits, while the other was a scene of herself standing on the Sword Hill, having just killed Mordred and looking at the ruined British Kingdom.

"Didn't I make a wish to go back to the past and change my decision to draw the sword? Why am I here now?" Altria murmured.

"I did fulfill your wish." Suddenly, a voice sounded. Artoria looked to the side and saw another herself.

"Who are you!" Artoria wanted to confront the man with a sword or a gun, but she found that she didn't have any weapons on her. She could only look at the guy who looked exactly like her with vigilance.

"I am the Holy Grail. I just transformed into your appearance to facilitate your understanding and talk to you." The guy who called himself "Holy Grail" said.

"Holy Grail! So has my wish come true? But why am I here?" Altria couldn't help but ask.

"This is a road leading to the past." The Holy Grail pointed at the pure white path and said slowly, "At the end of the road is where you want to go... Choose a moment."

"...Is that so?" Hearing this, Artoria impatiently took the first step. However, just as she took a step, she felt a huge pulling force on her back, refusing to let her go. Artoria looked back and realized that it was the two bubbles that had been holding her back.

"This... what is going on? Why won't you let me go forward?" Artoria retracted her steps, looked at the "Holy Grail" that looked exactly like herself, and questioned.

"Reversing time and space requires a certain price. At least it requires sufficient magical power to allow you to go back." The "Holy Grail" said:

"As for those bubbles, they are actually the nodes of your memories and destiny. They belong to the future, not the past. Those memories anchor you in the present, but they also bind you, preventing you from returning to the past. If you don't remove these anchors, then naturally you won't be able to move forward in the direction of the past."