The meeting between Jeanne Alter and Sona Sitri ended without incident.
Sona had merely been curious about this "human possessing Maou-level strength" and wanted to meet her face-to-face without malicious intent. After all, Jeanne's spectacle that night had been so overwhelming that Sona couldn't sleep well without at least confirming things herself.
Jeanne had noticed that Sona seemed particularly invested in Kuoh Academy, even more so than Rias, its actual owner.
"I won't allow anyone to endanger this school, not even Rias."
With unwavering seriousness, Sona had spoken these words openly in front of everyone.
From Akeno Himejima's explanation, it seemed Sona's dedication was tied to her own ideal—building a school where reincarnated devils and pure-blooded devils could learn and progress together without distinction, and Kuoh Academy currently came closest to that ideal.
When Jeanne returned to the classroom, Asia quickly approached her, her face full of concern.
"Miss Jeanne, they didn't trouble you, did they?"
"Huh? Who has the guts to trouble me? Actually, I might even be happier if someone tried—that'd give me an excuse to go wild again… No, wait, I meant to say, defend myself."
Jeanne dismissively waved her hand.
Asia's worries were clearly misplaced. Rather than worrying about Jeanne, it might be better to worry about Sona. Facing a Maou-level powerhouse, Sona might have appeared calm and assertive on the surface but could've easily been terrified deep down.
In a confined room, if Jeanne had wished it, Sona wouldn't even have had time to react before being instantly obliterated.
Moreover, the Fallen Angels, Angels, and pantheons like the Norse, Greek, and Hindu might have been quite pleased if Sona had inadvertently provoked a Maou-level enemy for the devils.
Reassured by Jeanne's confident smile, Asia let out a relieved sigh and gently patted her chest.
"When the devils suddenly wanted to speak with you, I thought... I thought your true identity had been exposed..."
Asia whispered the last words in a voice only audible to the two of them.
Only Asia had been explicitly told by Jeanne herself that she was indeed "Saint Jeanne d'Arc." Rias and Koneko merely had suspicions until now.
"If my mistake caused your identity to be revealed, I... I..."
Asia looked ready to cry at any moment.
Miss Jeanne is the legendary Saint… Koneko might be kind, but if other devils find out, they surely won't let Miss Jeanne go, right?
If Jeanne was pursued by devils and put in danger because Asia accidentally revealed her identity, the mere thought made Asia's heart ache sharply.
"Huh? W-What? Don't cry! If others see you, they'll think I bullied you…"
Seeing Asia on the verge of tears, Jeanne panicked slightly, hurriedly reaching out and gently stroking Asia's head, hoping this anime-learned trick would soothe her.
"Relax, relax. My identity isn't some huge secret that needs to stay hidden forever. It's not as serious as you think. Even if people find out, it's no big deal. Honestly, I've about had enough of sneaking around. It won't be long before I openly tell everyone myself."
"Is… Is that really true?"
"Of course it is."
Jeanne rubbed Asia's head firmly. "If it were truly an important secret, I wouldn't have told you in the first place, you dummy. Don't tell me you've been worrying yourself sick over this all this time?"
"Ah…" Asia's guilty expression revealed Jeanne's guess had hit the mark.
"Hmph," Jeanne scoffed lightly, patting Asia again. "You really are such a silly girl."
"I-I'm not silly!"
Asia pouted, gently touching her head, wanting to retort further.
"Only a dead person can truly keep a secret. If there were something absolutely crucial, I wouldn't tell anyone. Moreover, no one alive would remain around me. I'm not some self-sacrificing, hypocritical saint. I won't feel the slightest guilt about taking someone's life if it's necessary to protect myself."
If I truly commit wrong, then let Heaven itself punish me—not a bunch of hypocrites hiding behind masks of righteousness and morality.
Acting in self-interest wasn't wrong; everyone did it. But pretending to act on behalf of justice and righteousness? That disgusted Jeanne.
The real Jeanne d'Arc would accept the Church's condemnation as divine judgment with serenity. Jeanne Alter would simply burn them all to ashes.
...
Aside from a few night owls, most people had already washed up and gone to bed, ending the day and resting for tomorrow's tasks.
Jeanne lay on a futon on the floor rather than on the empty bed in the other room.
Ever since Koneko and Ophis had moved in, she had always slept this way.
Tonight, however, was slightly different. Jeanne had tucked herself beneath the blanket, unable to sleep even after a long while.
She could feel it—a gaze piercing through the darkness.
"…Koneko, aren't you going to sleep yet?"
Quietly opening one eye, Jeanne looked toward Koneko, who had clearly been staring at her for quite some time.
Koneko's golden eyes glittered faintly like polished gold in the darkened room. Though Jeanne's vision was naturally sharp enough to see even in darkness.
Koneko had previously explained that newly reincarnated devils struggled to adapt to their powers, becoming lethargic during the day but lively at night. But Koneko wasn't newly reincarnated—she had been a devil for a long time now.
Stare—
Koneko didn't speak, just kept intently watching Jeanne, her gaze growing increasingly intense.
Suddenly, Jeanne's blanket shifted slightly, a small lump emerging. A sleepy-eyed Ophis slowly poked her head out from beneath the covers.
"Mm…" With a drowsy murmur, Ophis instinctively nestled into Jeanne's chest, pressing her face gently into Jeanne's neck. Her slight frown faded, lulled back to sleep by Jeanne's comforting scent.
Stare—
Koneko's gaze intensified even further.
"Uuu… Ophis, that's unfair! I want to sleep with Miss Jeanne too…"
Asia whined enviously, stretching her neck and gazing jealously at Ophis sharing Jeanne's futon.
Though the room was dim, Jeanne could clearly see Koneko's face darkening even more.
"Why?" Koneko asked abruptly.
"What do you mean, 'why?'" Jeanne responded uneasily. "The bed can't fit three people, and none of you wanted to sleep in the other room, so this was the only arrangement—two in the bed, two on the futon."
"Then why can't I sleep with you?"
Koneko clearly refused to accept this reasoning, her small brows furrowing deeper.
"Because you and Asia are close friends. I thought Asia might sleep better with you by her side. Isn't that right, Asia?"
Jeanne turned to Asia for support.
"Ehh? Me…?" Asia squeaked in surprise, quickly hiding her blushing face in the dark.
"Well, it's reassuring to be with Koneko-chan… But… But being with Miss Jeanne might be even more reassuring…"
Asia's voice dwindled to a whisper so faint that Jeanne nearly missed it.
Jeanne fell silent, completely unsure what to do. Oblivious, Ophis slept comfortably in her arms.
What a mess…
Just then, a small red magic circle suddenly appeared beside Koneko's ear like an earpiece.
Koneko's eyes widened briefly before immediately sitting up and speaking into it.
"Is it Akeno-senpai?"
It was a convenient communication magic circle—a magical version of a cellphone.
Koneko quietly spoke into the circle, and after a short conversation, it vanished with a gesture. Her expression immediately turned grave as she turned toward Jeanne and Asia.
"The President is missing."
Rias had vanished.
That was the message Akeno had given Koneko.
Rias was nowhere on campus, leaving no messages behind—she had simply disappeared.
Akeno had contacted Koneko hoping to find any clues or sightings. Although Akeno believed Rias would be fine, Koneko looked extremely worried.
To reassure Koneko, Jeanne changed into street clothes. After soothing an irritated Ophis, who was upset at being pulled from Jeanne's embrace, she set out to track down Rias.
Jeanne was extremely confident in her tracking skills.
Using magical perception over all of Kuoh, Jeanne quickly located Rias's magical signature.
From what Jeanne sensed, Rias was safe, alone without anyone else nearby. Koneko was clearly worrying needlessly.
Jeanne should have quickly checked on Rias, reassured everyone, then returned home to sleep. But she didn't.
Instead, she quietly arrived at a secluded spot and halted abruptly, flames of hostility surging around her, causing the air temperature to rise.
The night wind carried heat, roaring like restless spirits.
"Aren't you going to show yourself?" Jeanne spoke coldly, glaring into the darkness. "Or should I invite you out personally?"
She hadn't immediately attacked only because she felt no hostility from the other side.
"…You're less patient than I expected."
A figure emerged with a gentle smile.
His most striking feature was hair redder than roses or flames, vibrant even under moonlight.
"Don't misunderstand. I'm not hiding from you. Actually, I secretly slipped away this time—if someone finds me here, it'll be troublesome."
"Could you temporarily drop your hostility and talk with me… about my sister?"
He stood confidently in the moonlight, expertly hiding his magic.
Yet Jeanne instinctively sensed danger, her body tensing for battle. Though nowhere near Ophis's level, this man was strong enough to threaten her.
"Hah? You think I'll obediently listen just because you ask nicely? Who the hell do you think you are?"
The red-haired man froze, stunned that someone would speak to him with such audacity.
He was strong, sure—but Jeanne wasn't exactly known for patience.
"I'm busy. Explain it all in thirty words or less."
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T/N: pretty boy <3 also wife below