Chapter 314

"Ugh, ugh, this atmosphere is so depressing! This is much better."

Jeanne d'Arc Alter proudly raised her hand towards the sky for Novia to see.

"Now, let's just disappear like Gilles together. Next time, I'll definitely forget about 'mother,' so at least for now, I need to remember Isabella, otherwise Mom will be lonely."

"That's good."

Novia praised her, which made Jeanne d'Arc Alter's smile disappear, replaced by a blank expression, but the corners of her mouth were still slightly upturned, as if she was disdainful, or perhaps shy.

"... It's almost time. Listen up, you dared to embarrass me like this, but now I'm disappearing."

Novia nodded again as she briefly described the Fake of the Saintess.

Some people must be defeated, for they will not admit defeat or move forward until their last breath. It is precisely because Jeanne d'Arc Alter was qualified to be summoned as Servant that she must be defeated.

Nevertheless, he stood beside Jeanne d'Arc Alter for a while.

Finally, the girl gave a self-deprecating smile and shrugged. Although she seemed to be very unhappy with every word Novia said, she was actually enjoying this time alone.

"I will wait, until your betrayal is replaced by mine. Then you'd better take responsibility for it, okay? Goodbye--"

The reason why Jeanne d'Arc Alter couldn't finish her sentence was actually quite simple: she was kissed by Novia, which left her stunned.

"I am the Dragon Husband of the Dragon Witch, right?"

"You you you you you--"

In the end, in a state of extreme panic Jeanne d'Arc Alter hastily transformed into Spiritrons. After all, she probably couldn't think of anything else to say in this situation. If it were Lily, she would probably have launched a counterattack instead of passively accepting it. In any case, a few seconds later she returned to the essence of the Holy Grail.

Rewinding to the moment Novia appeared, Ritsuka, who was observing the battle between Jeanne d'Arc and Jeanne d'Arc Alter, saw her and wanted to run forward, but a hand grabbed her hem. When Ritsuka turned around, she realized it was Kiyohime from Japan.

At this moment, the green-haired girl had completely changed her usual composed demeanor in front of others, replaced by an undisguised blush. Her hands were clasped together, her forehead was covered in sweat, and she looked as if she couldn't suppress her emotions.

"Um, Kiyohime, what's going on?"

"... Ah, um, Ritsuka- san, I wanted to ask, is there any information in Chaldea that says Servant follows Demi-Servant can gain Od by exchanging bodily fluids with the Demi-Servant? After all, Demi-Servant are still human, just unable to possess others, so even though they can't be summoned, exchanging bodily fluids or other methods should be possible, right?"

Upon hearing this, Ritsuka's eyes widened, completely surprised that Kiyohime would ask about this matter.

In fact, Kiyohime asked about this because during the use of her Noble Phantasm, she realized that the young man she had been waiting for all these years and had fallen in love with at first sight was Novia. In order to see him again, she asked Ritsuka so urgently and hoped to be summoned to Chaldea.

"Hmm... I seem to remember the Director mentioning it, but it seems to be an operation with a very low exchange rate."

Ritsuka answered truthfully, saying that she had only heard the Director mention it briefly when he was explaining it in Fuyuki, and did not have a deep understanding of the exchange of bodily fluids.

"Very good!"

Kiyohime sighed deeply, then happily bowed to Ritsuka.

"Miss Ritsuka, could you please tell me about Mr. Novia's lifestyle habits and... Ah, I don't have time now. I was planning to practice more, but please tell me yourself next time I come to Chaldea. Ritsuka you!"

After uttering those words, Kiyohime had no choice but to disappear, having fulfilled the mission given to her by the Holy Grail, just like the already vanished Dragon Daughter and the France Pair.

"Hahaha, what a lively Holy Grail War!"

"Saint George, I want to thank you for your help."

"Me too, Your Excellency Saint George."

"Likewise, Siegfried the Hero, Vlad the Shield of God, I am honored to fight alongside you."

Saint George glanced at his camera, realizing he had taken enough photos of 'Novia,' then nodded slightly to the two of them again, and as he was about to disappear, he smiled and continued.

"From now on, this girl will probably have more than just us helping her."

Then, Vlad and Siegfried exchanged a glance, smiled, and walked towards Ritsuka and Mash, who were standing to the side.

Just as Ritsuka was confused by Kiyohime's words, and Mash was feeling sad because of everyone's departure, two hands suddenly grabbed their faces. Upon closer inspection, it was Vlad III, the Warrior, laughing heartily.

"Sigh, since you're already Protection by the 'spirit,' why wear that expression?"

"I'm sorry, I wanted to stop Vlad, but I really didn't want to see the looks on your faces, Fujimaru, Mash."

Siegfried chuckled and explained, "Your journey through the Singularity has only just begun. You'll encounter many more situations like this. My dear friend probably thinks the same way."

"That's right, I hope you remember one thing, which is both difficult and easy."

Vlad put his hand to his mouth, forcing a smile. "It means that no matter what the situation, you must always wear a smile, understand?"

"Um."

"Um."

After Ritsuka and Mash nodded, the two disappeared.

Now, only Jeanne d'Arc Saintess Martha remained. However, since Novia had not yet appeared, Jeanne d'Arc sighed somewhat forlornly.

"By the way, Fujimaru, could you please pass on a message for me when you meet with Consultant Novia later?"

Just as Jeanne d'Arc was about to say something in a subtle tone.

What did you say?

Novia's voice came from the other end.

This startled Jeanne d'Arc, who had been marveling at the scene, causing her to shrink back. The silver-haired youth looked at her with a somewhat malicious gaze.

After a bout of coughing, Jeanne d'Arc quickly regained her composure as Saintess, but still spoke with some embarrassment.

"Seeing the sea is just a wish I abandoned in the past, so please don't dwell on it..."

"Oh, really? I almost forgot."

Novia's nonchalant tone made Jeanne d'Arc, who had been calm, look lost. Martha, who was standing nearby, shook her head and then turned her gaze to Ritsuka, as if she was thinking about something.

"Yes, really? That's good, that's good..."

The Saintess's expression seemed to have been clouded over.

Novia smiled with pleasure and waved gently at the disappearing Saintess.

"However, you don't need to worry, it's really not a big deal. But... I promised Isabella, so I'll catch her runaway daughter and take her to the beach where she never got to enjoy herself."

This almost made Jeanne d'Arc cry out, but since she had just disappeared, the sound didn't get through.

"Ritsuka, I'm counting on you for this journey."

Upon hearing Martha's call, Ritsuka, who had been squinting at Novia, casually turned her head, touched her head, and gave an embarrassed smile.

"Actually, it's me who's troubling you..."

Martha didn't answer, but simply smiled and handed the 'staff' that she had originally intended to return to Novia to Ritsuka.

"This is..."

"Oh, this."

Martha glanced at Novia not far away, then sighed, "This thing, which I was originally given to me and then gave away, isn't my personal weapon, nor does it require Od. Although it's just an ordinary Walking Stick, its meaning is still very important—"

Martha looked at the Zohar Stone hanging around Ritsuka's neck and smiled gently.

"Whether you are a spirit or that child, keep going! I support you, and my blessings will be with you."

After uttering these incomprehensible words to Ritsuka, Martha disappeared, leaving Ritsuka alone, staring thoughtfully at the Walking Stick and fiddling with it. The Walking Stick seemed to have been taken back by Ritsuka, disappearing at the slightest thought.

Afterwards, with everything in the France Singularity completely resolved, the three of them were Chaldea.

However, as they were parting, Ritsuka suddenly noticed something unusual about Novia, so she reached out and unconsciously touched his lips.

"... Is this Novia 'Consultant blood?"

The Orange-Haired Girl stared curiously at the blood that had been placed in her hand.

"I think so."

"Oh."

Ritsuka nodded, then asked no further questions.

However, at the last moment of the Spiritron Transfer, the Orange-Haired Girl, with her back to Novia, quickly put her blood-stained finger into her mouth and licked it, then immediately frowned.

Although it was strange, she subconsciously felt that this wasn't Novia's blood, but something else entirely. So, was it Kiyohime's, the Dragon Witch Jeanne d'Arc d'Arc's, or Jeanne d'Arc's blood, or perhaps the blood of someone she had never seen before...?

But when Ritsuka returned to Chaldea, realizing that she had done something inexplicable at the last minute, she immediately stared blankly at the fingers of her hand.

"... Strange, what was I just doing?"

Chapter 360 Sister-in-law.

"Prototype, do you have any ideas on how to address the Master's question?"

Why are you suddenly asking this?

When Little Da Vinci barged into his Workshop without permission and asked questions, Da Vinci, who should have been displeased as an 'elder,' surprisingly smiled.

"Because Ritsuka asked a very strange question."

"Yeah?"

Upon hearing this, Da Vinci narrowed his eyes, carefully observing the ever-serious expression on the Little Da Vinci's face.

Since Ritsuka returned from the France Singularity, she did indeed thoroughly inquire at Chaldea about the question Kiyohime had asked before her disappearance: 'Can Demi-Servant gain surviving Od through the exchange of bodily fluids with Servant?' Naturally, this inquiry included questions about the Little Da Vinci, but Ritsuka had already provided a detailed analysis of the matter at the time.

"That kind of Od is very difficult to maintain."

Da Vinci asserted this.

"As Demi-Servant, one needs Od, and so does a Servant. The combined Od required is probably unimaginable. Although bodily fluids can indeed provide this, the conversion rate is still too low. You should know the Answer to this, Little Gran."

"Then why is it Teacher even though he didn't sign a contract with Ritsuka and is Demi-Servant, he can move around freely?"

"The servant possessing that guy's Servant is, according to him, a bunch of shadows."

Da Vinci frowned. "Perhaps one of them exists even without the Master providing Od, or perhaps it absorbs Od through some means."

"So, the possibility is very small, right?"

"I have a feeling there's something you're hiding behind this question."

"Really? Who am I hiding this from?"

Upon hearing Little Da Vinci's completely calm voice, Da Vinci suddenly broke into a sunny smile.

"To me and your Teacher."

Little Da Vinci suddenly shut his mouth, staring expressionlessly at Da Vinci, who had a 'smiling' expression on his face. He seemed to intend to remain silent, but in the end, he abruptly turned away.

"... Anyway, I'm very busy right now. Fujimaru will be heading to the second Singularity soon, so let's put this aside for now."

"What you're saying sounds like, 'Oh no, my ideas have been exposed, and I need time to put on a cover, or rather, to put on a better cover...' But that's alright."

After uttering this seemingly provocative remark, Da Vinci turned back to continue studying his Magecraft tools.

"As 'Mi's' second unit, and also my child, I fully support it. If necessary, it can come back to me again."

At the same time, in the Chaldea restaurant.

"It's so peaceful..."

After murmuring to Ritsuka, Ritsuka gently brought the teacup to her lips.

The cafeteria was almost deserted this afternoon. Although the Crowd was busy preparing for the second Singularity the next day, she, as humanity's last Master, was also very busy. Every few hours, she would go to the Chaldea Gate to collect Ember, or to the Training Grounds and Treasure Vault.

After all, such professional matters should be left to professionals, such as Dr. Roman, Consultant Da Vinci, Director Olga, etc., so it has nothing to do with her. After the Chaldea Gate matter is completed, she will continue to perform Magecraft, and only occasionally can she take a break.

For example, today, the day before we conquer the second Singularity, Rome.

Ritsuka remembered that, according to Dr. Roman, this Singularity was originally not in AD in 56 Rome, but somewhere else. However, after the France Singularity was resolved, it immediately manifested as Rome in this time period.

The Orange-Haired Girl thought, "So what?", but Dr. Roman's expression was exactly the same as when he saw Martha give him her Walking Stick in the report they submitted after their return—a truly subtle expression.

In the past, after the events at Lazarus, Jesus gave Martha his own staff, which was then given to Novia many years later. This led the twenty-seventh patriarch, Cowbek, to believe that Novia was an being watched by 'God', just like his teacher Solomon.

However, there are not many records of this Walking Stick in history. Upon learning this information, Romani asked if he could see the Walking Stick, and Ritsuka did not refuse and took it out for Romani to see.

Unfortunately, after looking at it for a long time, Romani still couldn't figure it out and could only return it to Ritsuka with some disappointment.

Perhaps they are hoping to achieve something like the Ten Commandments they once did.

In fact, Ritsuka had asked what was so special about this Rome Singularity. To be honest, she knew a little more about Rome than France, but all she knew was that the Church was founded within the Roman Empire and caused the 'schism' of the Roman Empire in the third century—points that were worth considering.

Of course, Ritsuka also learned from her history Teacher at school that there was a very obvious trap in this. From today's perspective, the Western Rome were indeed divided, but in the eyes of people at that time, one was the 'East of the Empire' and the other was the 'West of the Empire,' and they were simply managed separately because their territories were too vast.