Shirayuki's Hesitation

The voice that came from the room was dignified yet heroic, like that of a knight.

The voice was very pleasant, so it could be determined that it was a woman.

Moreover, as this person spoke, the surrounding temperature seemed to drop slightly, making it clear that the other person was an extraordinary individual.

Fang Li and Aria simply looked at each other without uttering a sound. They lowered their breathing, lightened their steps, and silently pressed themselves against the two ends of the door.

Aria was already holding a gun.

Fang Li, still empty-handed, turned his head slightly and cast his gaze into the room.

Because there was a small window in the door, like a prison gate, allowing Fang Li, who was taller, to peek inside.

Fang Li could clearly see that behind the door was a very simple room with only a bed and no other furniture.

At that moment, a young girl was standing in front of the bed.

She was a girl dressed in light knightly Knight Sword, with a gleaming broadsword at her waist.

The girl had silver hair like ice flowers, and her eyes shone like sapphires. Her appearance was more dignified than beautiful.

In front of this girl, on a simple bed, another girl was slumped over.

Fang Li's eyes narrowed instantly as he looked at the girl slumped on the bed.

(Shirayuki...!)

Sure enough, it was Shirayuki.

(So, the other one is the Demonic Sword?)

Fang Li turned his gaze to the knight-like girl who was confronting Shirayuki.

Unaware that she was being watched, the girl simply gazed at Shirayuki with her sapphire-like eyes and said in a melodious yet composed voice, "It's time for you to give up resisting. You've already come this far; do you still think you can get out?"

Upon hearing this, Shirayuki, with a serious expression rarely seen on her face, met the knight girl's gaze and said softly, "The Miko of St. Gala Shrine is a guardian Miko. We will absolutely not join I-Yu, Demonic Sword."

"Don't call me Demonic Sword, I don't like that nickname." The knight girl said this in an unquestionable tone.

"I have a name inherited from my great ancestor, Jeanne of Arc."

—Joan of Jeanne -Dark.

This name is well-known even among ordinary people.

Because the owner of this name was once hailed as Saintess, over a period of 600 years ago, led the France army in repeatedly repelling the English invasion of Orleans and liberating the Orleans, earning her the title of France hero.

However, in history, this France Saintess ultimately met a tragic end, being framed by villains and sentenced to be burned at the stake, dying alive on the cross.

Saint Joan of Arc was only 19 years old when she was burned at the stake, and she left no descendants.

However, the Demonic Sword is indeed a descendant of Jeanne.

The information provided by Riko mentions that Jeanne, who was burned to death in history, was just a substitute. The real Saint Joan of Arc had been secretly rescued long before that and has been hidden behind history for generations. They are a very famous family of strategists.

The Demonic Sword is the 30th Jeanne.

Therefore, this young girl naturally inherited the name Jeanne of Arc.

More naturally, Jeanne was a strategist.

Faced with Shirayuki's stubbornness, Jeanne showed no sign of discouragement. Instead, she displayed a confident smile and said, "I originally thought you were just a girl who didn't understand the dangers of the world. I didn't expect you to be so stubborn. But it doesn't matter. You've already come to Yi-you. No one who comes here has ever left. Do you know why?"

"Because it can make you stronger." Jeanne looked directly at Shirayuki and said in a firm voice, "I-You is a place that no one who wants to become stronger can refuse. Here, you can learn techniques that you never thought you could, and grow at a speed that you can't even imagine. That's why those who were captured and brought here in the past eventually chose to compromise."

"However, I will not compromise," Shirayuki said without hesitation. "I do not crave to become stronger."

"Oh? You really don't yearn to become stronger?" Jeanne asked Shirayuki with a somewhat arrogant expression. "Don't you wish you could protect that Gun Magician?"

"..." Shirayuki's expression changed slightly.

"You yourself said that the Miko of Xingjia is a guardian Miko, and as far as I know, you seem to have very special feelings for the Gun Magician." Jeanne said as if she had confirmed her victory. "Therefore, you will definitely want to protect him, no matter what. This is the destiny of the St. Gala Shrine Maiden."

"But the Gun Magician is very strong, even I know that. You're by his side every day, you couldn't possibly not know that, right?" Jeanne smiled suddenly, speaking slowly in a seductive tone, "Since that's the case, if you still want to protect him, then the only way is to become stronger. And I-You can make you stronger, so why do you still refuse to join I-You?"

Shirayuki's lovely lips moved slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she couldn't utter a single word.

Clearly, Shirayuki was beginning to waver.

Jeanne truly lived up to her reputation as a strategist.

From the very beginning, Jeanne grasped Shirayuki's weakness—"protection".

Just as Jeanne said, Shirayuki would absolutely do anything to protect Fang Li.

Even though Fang Li was clearly not in any danger, as the Miko of Xingjia, Shirayuki's heart was deeply engraved with the concept of protection, and no matter what the situation, she would always think about how to protect him first.

"And this is the place where your wish can be fulfilled, Shirayuki," Jeanne said, extending a hand to Shirayuki.

"Follow me".

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became heavy.

Looking at the hand extended in front of her, Shirayuki's expression finally showed a hint of hesitation.

In that instant, Jeanne was startled, turned her head sharply towards the doorway, and shouted, "Who?!"

Unfortunately, by the time they discovered it, it was too late.

Because the door had been quietly opened before that.

Immediately, a figure swept in from outside the door, rushing towards Jeanne of Arc with astonishing speed.

Therefore, Jeanne discovered this immediately after she spoke.

A dagger was already pressed against his neck.

Then, a rather ordinary face finally came into Joan of Jeanne's view.

Who else could it be but Fang Li?