Chapter 306

With a touch of loneliness, Ritsuka lay back on the bed, spread-eagled, the girl surrounded by a faint fragrance, staring blankly at the Ceiling.

Come to think of it, this isn't her room, Ritsuka suddenly remembered and whispered.

"I shouldn't have had the idea of taking this room for myself..."

The silent room seemed to answer for Novia: Whatever. Or perhaps that was the girl's own thought.

"This kind of thing can't be done casually..."

This time, there was no response from the room.

For some reason, Ritsuka started to pay attention to her posture.

He lay on his back with his arms outstretched, his chin slightly raised, and repeated shallow breaths.

She suddenly realized she had done something incredibly daring. After all, this wasn't her room, and if she did this while hiding under the covers, what if Novia found out when she returned...?

The things she began to imagine swung like a pendulum in Ritsuka's heart, drawing huge arcs and striking her heart with many times the force of a pendulum.

The Orange-Haired Girl's lips trembled, and her breathing became slightly erratic.

The next instant, Ritsuka, who had been lost in thought, fully woke up and quickly got up because she heard the door open.

"Stand--"

"Novia, please give me Consultant uniform from Atlas Institute!"

Ritsuka spoke, she ran towards Novia at the door and grabbed his hand. "I've passed the test! Look, I'm already wearing the Combat Suit! I came early this morning, but Consultant Novia, you weren't inside. I've been waiting so long!"

"I knew it when you passed through, Ritsuka, and I was prepared."

Novia said calmly.

It's like Teacher asking a student a question whose Answer they already know.

Hearing that familiar tone of voice, Ritsuka suddenly realized that she shouldn't have overthought it...

"Novia very much, Consultant Novia. I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have barged into this room without permission. It will definitely not happen again..."

Ritsuka muttered to herself, then released Novia's hand and walked towards the door.

At first glance, it seemed as if she left with light and quick steps, but the reason for this was that Ritsuka was walking with very small steps, and her lowered head made it even more difficult to catch the girl's expression.

"Speaking of which, Ritsuka, aren't you curious about why I went out so early this morning?"

Just as Ritsuka passed Novia suddenly turned her head and stared intently at Ritsuka Fujimaru.

"Whatever, Consultant Novia, feel free to say what you want to say. I don't mind."

Ritsuka's tone was very bright, and she revealed a cheerful smile that seemed to have nothing to do with despair.

"Tomorrow we'll be heading to the First Singularity, France AD 1431, where the Hundred Years' War is still raging."

Novia then handed two or three bottles of potion to Ritsuka, saying, "Although I don't know the specifics, Ritsuka, you're not Servant after all. Walking all the time will cause thick skin to grow on your feet and your hands to become rough. To avoid wasting time going back later, I went to Da Vinci this morning to develop these potions based on your physical condition. After all, women love beauty, and as our hope, we should take good care of you in this regard."

Novia's shoulders almost completely obscured Ritsuka's view.

"Also, I heard from Romani that you go to the Chaldea Gate every few hours for the daily collection of Ember. It wouldn't be a problem if you stopped for a while, would it? The same goes for the Training Grounds and the Treasure Vault. I think Ritsuka, you can go to sleep when you feel sleepy, and there's no need to force yourself if you're not feeling well. Ritsuka, you are the Master completed the restoration of Human Order. You won't be blamed if you relax a little."

The turmoil in her chest carried an unusual heat, which, like heat itself, transformed into a numbing sensation that spread throughout the girl's entire body in the blink of an eye.

In order to get rid of this feeling as quickly as possible, Ritsuka bent down:

"Thank you, Consultant, for your guidance!"

The girl then hurriedly returned to her room, and still feeling very hot, she decided to take a shower.

After entering the Bathroom, Ritsuka slowly took off her clothes, applied the potion she had just obtained, and then got into the bathtub to soak.

"Talking about this kind of topic is really presumptuous of them..."

"And you should have said those things sooner! Waaah, I was really hurt..."

Surrounded by a faint fragrance Ritsuka stared blankly at the Ceiling, then suddenly smiled at something else.

"Really..."

He reached out into the water and touched his feet, stomach, hands, and other places where Fuyuki had been injured or had shallow scars. The pain had subsided and the marks had disappeared.

"Can't we just not talk about such private things like that... Whatever, given the current situation, whatever happens, happens—"

Rather than realizing she had said something wrong, Ritsuka was more surprised by what she had said. After a moment of silence, as if she had realized she had made a mistake, the girl's face gradually turned a bright rose color, a color that could no longer be described as pink.

In the blink of an eye, even the roots of her ears turned red, and then she shook her head, as if trying to shake something off.

"I... I... I didn't say anything, really... I didn't say anything... Xiao Xiang, don't overthink it..."

The girl became increasingly ashamed as she spoke, saying, "I was just talking nonsense," before sinking into the bathtub.

Glug glug glug.

Gurgle.

Gurgle.

Even its head sank completely.

More bubbles emerged from the pile of white bubbles.

The following day, Ritsuka and Mash, whose Spiritron Transfer to the First Singularity, experienced a brief period of disorientation before both girls shared the same question—

"Where's Novia, Novia Consultant?"

Let's rewind to June 2, 1431, inside the Cathedral of Orléans, France.

"Long time no see, Bishop Pierre Cauchon."

"No, impossible! You must be dreaming! You should have died three days ago—"

The portly Priest stared in horror at the girl before him, while the bishop responded with a sharp, Banner- adorned armor that ran throughout his body.

"I am standing right in front of you, the one you burned at the stake three days ago."

"Spare me! Spare me! I'll do anything, please spare my life!"

"You actually dared to beg for mercy? That won't do. You killed me right before the mural of the Church's founder, yet your Faith is as thin as paper."

The girl laughed maniacally, "I feel so incredibly sad about this, so sad that I'm almost laughing myself crazy!"

She continued.

"Think carefully, Bishop, how did you kill me?"

A certain madness stirred within the girl's terrifying smile, a smile that held both joy and sorrow.

Three days ago, Jeanne d'Arc Saintess condemned as a Heresy, falsely accused of being Witch, and perished in a fire.

"If I am consumed by Divinity flames, then may your body be consumed by Hell."

El, engulfed in flames, struggled to reach out his hand to the girl.

"You... witch... Witch... Witch! Zhen..."

After killing El, Jeanne d'Arc Alter and Bluebeard summoned Six Servants, inflicted them with Mad Enhancement, and ordered them to join the Dragon Tooth Warrior in completely annihilating all of humanity.

"Raise the dragon Banner high, in the name of the Evil Dragon that symbolizes Calamity, and burn this world to ashes."

As the last to leave the Cathedral, Jeanne d'Arc Alter heard a voice echoing from the center of the Cathedral, which was filled with blood and flames, and a figure appearing and disappearing.

"And then it truly begins; you will be starting the real Hundred Years' War with your own hands... That's what you think, Jeanne d'Arc."

"Who are you?"

Jeanne d'Arc Alter stared at the center of the church for a while, her eyes filled with a sharp light, gritting her teeth as she stared at the approaching figure.

Upon closer inspection, she noticed a different expression hidden beneath the unfamiliar man's smile, which sent a chill down Jeanne d'Arc Alter's spine. Nevertheless, as if by some premonition, she felt a nostalgic sense of familiarity in the man's smile.

Amid the chaos, Jeanne d'Arc Alter seemed to have figured something out, and waved the Banner in her hand at the approaching figures.

"So it's the one who's late... huh? Stop sneaking around, I'm your Master."

Without a doubt, I am your Master, and you are my Servant.

For Jeanne d'Arc Alter, this was a vague yet intense confidence.

That was Novia, the 'Demi-Servant' who should have been traveling with Ritsuka and the Ritsuka, but for some reason she had appeared here.

Ritsuka.

Chapter 353 Jeanne d'Arc Alter, What Kind of Husband is Dragon Husband?

"Are you my Master?"

"Hmph, does such an obvious thing even need asking? No wonder you were so late, you're just too weak."

Jeanne d'Arc Alter stated bluntly, "But it doesn't matter. Mad Enhancement is already in your body. You can barely control those dragons to destroy those humans, and that's enough."

"Since Jeanne d'Arc says so, then so be it, you are my Master."

Novia joked, sounding as if she had breathed a sigh of relief.

This guy seems... disobedient.

Jeanne d'Arc Alter was lost in thought about these things, almost forgetting her purpose.

"What's your name, you bastard? And as my Servant, you're not allowed to call me by my name without my permission. You don't have that right, understand?"

After exchanging glances with Novia for a while, Jeanne d'Arc Alter continued speaking, but she still didn't reveal her purpose. Originally, she had planned to have this last Servant, along with those who had already left, drive the Dragon Tooth Warrior to wreak havoc on the land of France, but for some reason, she just couldn't bring herself to say it.

Seeing Jeanne d'Arc Alter's tough demeanor, Novia found it amusing and answered directly.

My name is Novia.

As for Jeanne d'Arc Alter, who was created by Bluebeard using the Holy Grail and was not the other side of Jeanne d'Arc, Novia felt that with her knowledge, she should not understand the meaning of the name.

As expected, Jeanne d'Arc Alter showed no reaction upon hearing the name, simply waving her hand dismissively and saying:

"This name seems familiar... Never mind, you're still --"

"Jeanne d'Arc? Why are you still inside the church?"

Suddenly, a voice came from outside the church. It was the voice of the person whom Jeanne d'Arc Alter trusted implicitly— Gilles de Rais, who was now Bluebeard.

Normally, Jeanne d'Arc Alter should have immediately responded to Gilles's words and opened the church Great Gate, however—

"... No, that won't work."

She stood in the doorway, talking to herself.

Originally, Jeanne d'Arc Alter intended to send Novia, whose Servant aura was so weak, to lead the Dragon Tooth Warrior, but for some reason, she had a very subtle feeling.

Could this guy be one of the guys from the team I used to lead? Someone who, like Gilles, worked tirelessly for me? Is that why I have this feeling?

Jeanne d'Arc Alter murmured blankly to herself; this was the first time she had ever been conflicted since she appeared.

"Jeanne d'Arc of Arc, you who have risen from the dead are righteous. No one can punish you; let everything in the world be judged by you!"

Meanwhile, outside the church, Bluebeard urged the girl who had stopped at the door to hurry up. His voice was almost a scream, but in Jeanne d'Arc Alter's eyes, Gilles' voice was full of Wrath and grief.

"... I see."

Jeanne d'Arc Alter knew she was very anxious, but there was nothing she could do. She didn't want to delve too deeply into it, so she pushed the door open unsteadily, as if she were injured.

"Oh, oh, oh, forgive me, Jeanne d'Arc... please forgive me... for urging you so urgently—"

The moment the church doors opened and Bluebeard saw Novia behind Jeanne d'Arc Alter, his initial excitement vanished instantly, replaced by calm. "It seems Your Excellency wasn't part of our Ritual..."

As the holder of the Holy Grail in the First Singularity, he could naturally sense that this weak Servant a somewhat 'strange' aura was not Servant he had summoned, and despite its weakness, the land of France seemed to be providing it with a continuous source of Od...

Normally, he should have dealt with such an unusual situation immediately, but unexpectedly, he showed no suspicion or dissatisfaction whatsoever.

Yes, there is... you just haven't noticed.

Novia, holding the book, suddenly turned and looked back at the Cathedral engulfed in flames.

"Alright, alright, Gilles, he is one of my Servant..."

Jeanne d'Arc Alter turned to Novia again, her indifferent gaze devoid of any sympathy or warmth. "Even with Mad Enhancement, she's still quite weak. There's no need to send her out. She can stay by our side as a follower for now."

Since she's now her Servant, even though she's weak, she should still try to take care of her as much as possible, she thought.

"Yes, Jeanne d'Arc, it is your will."

Bluebeard gently narrowed his eyes, wearing his usual smile, and walked away.