"Are things going smoothly with Mash on your end? …You're saying she's loosened up around you quite a bit? I see. So she's finally figured out how to interact with you, then. Even so, I doubt she fully understands what constitutes appropriate casualness just yet. If you ever feel uncomfortable, do make sure to correct her right away. Courtesy should exist even between close friends. Although, I already know you aren't the thin-skinned sort to lose your temper over a bit of bad-mouthing… Yes, quite. Well then, take care."
Ending the telepathic call, she let out a quiet breath. Jeanne was currently listening to Rikka's report regarding her interactions with Mash.
"What did the Master say?"
"She said she's happy Mash is closing the distance between them. It seems Mash has finally broken through the wall of hesitation and reserve. That's how it should be, after all."
Jeanne genuinely praised the blossoming of this new connection in Rikka's life. She then passed the thought along to Jeanne Alter as well.
"She's Rikka's main Servant. If she can't even manage that much, there's no fun in it. I'm eager to see what kind of place she eventually settles into at Rikka's side."
"A casual friend, a comfortable companion of the opposite sex… I wonder if I will ever meet someone like that myself one day?"
"How should I know? …Come to think of it, that other version of you said something about a 'Sieg-kun' or whatever, didn't she?"
"I certainly possess his memories, but the me right now is Chaldea's Jeanne. Bringing up or speaking of bonds tied to memories of another world would be an insult to King of Heroes—the Master who summoned me. The me who fell in love belongs solely to that version of myself. It has nothing to do with me, for I am a version of myself to whom it no longer applies."
"Hmph, quite the crisp stance you've got there. Though as for me, I'll only ever be summoned by Rikka, and no matter where I end up, I'll never forget her."
"Fufu, that devoted streak of yours is just like mine! As expected of my Alter!"
"Would you leave me alone? I don't care who I am to anyone else anymore. As long as Rikka holds me dear and I hold Rikka dear, I don't need anything else."
"Indeed! Please, don't ever forget that feeling! Oh, and the pumpkin cake, if you would!"
"Yeah, yeah… You better make sure you come back safe, Rikka."
The Pitiful Side of Elizabeth
Thanks to the hard-fought battle (?) of the True Ancestor Arcueid, the party successfully gained entry into Csejte Castle.
"How was I? Did I do a good job as a Servant?"
"Thanks for the feast!"
Rikka and Arcueid shared a cheerful laugh. Somehow, the two easygoing personalities got along like a house on fire. Neither of them tended to worry about the small details, possessing carefree natures at their core… Though, by that same token, delicate sensitivity and fine attentiveness were somewhat lacking—their slight defect and weakness.
"Basically, living creatures only fight for themselves… but having someone standing behind you feels so fresh! Is it because you're the human I'm paired up with? If it were anyone else, maybe I would've become a completely different me?"
"Is that so? No matter what you look like, Arcueid-nee is still Arcueid-nee, right?"
"Really? …Fufu, hearing that actually makes me kind of happy. You're surprisingly open-minded, Rikka."
"Or you could just say I'm reckless and don't pay attention to details!"
"If you're aware of it, I strongly advise you to pay more attention, Senpai! What a waste! I know you can do it if you try, Senpai!"
"Mash is firing off encouragement and reprimands all at once~!"
"Ahaha! Well then, maybe I'll give it my all in the next Servant battle too~?"
Arcueid lightly swept both of them into a hug. She seemed to have taken quite a liking to Rikka and Mash.
"Hmm. Despite it being a moonlight night, there are no signs of her going wild. I know not whether it is due to this worthless atmosphere and the properties of this place, or if she is simply floating on air from the festival."
Taking a step or two back, Gilgamesh sharply observed Arcueid with a discerning gaze.
(She's a high-ranking True Ancestor, after all. She won't commit vulgar acts like sucking just anyone's blood. In fact, right now, she's suppressing seventy percent of the impulses inside her. The current her shouldn't be that strong.)
Fou's keen observational eyes, belonging to a similar species, saw straight through Arcueid's current state.
—Arcueid-san at 100% power… Just how immense of an existence would she be…?
By Ea's estimation, even the current Arcueid easily possessed the power of several Servants combined. Against a proper Servant, she could undoubtedly hold her ground with ease. If this was merely thirty percent of her strength… the thought alone was terrifying.
"She is like an unexploded ordnance mixed in with the festivities. We shall leave the trivialities and combat to the Master, while we keep an eye on her."
Holding fast to the principle that the mind of a non-human monster was beyond comprehension, the King of Heroes remained vigilant against Arcueid. A demon was the sort to tear out the throat of a smiling friend just a second later. Being a True Ancestor, he defined her as someone who could least of all be left unchecked.
Because after the deed was done and everything was over, it would be too late. The King ruled that for any monster, there must be at least one person keeping watch. All the more so if his Master and companions were letting their guard down.
—I will pre-select the treasures needed for vigilance and countermeasures. …Though I truly hope it ends up as mere unnecessary worry and wasted effort…
Ea didn't naively indulge in optimism that Arcueid would be fine; instead, she sorted through her treasure vault. She doubted precisely because she trusted, using vigilance to eliminate carelessness and complacency while secretly hoping it would prove futile.
"You're doubting me, aren't you~?"
—!?
Right in front of the King of Heroes, Arcueid puffed out her cheeks in a pout, sending a protesting glare his way as she leaned her face in close.
"True Ancestors—or rather, vampires—are actually quite dutiful. Once a covenant is made, we never break it. We aren't ill-natured like humans. We properly understand that the trouble that comes after breaking a promise is far more bothersome, so we know how to avoid it."
Brushing aside her protests of "That's so unfair—", he grabbed her head and turned her body around.
"You are currently in an abnormal state; it is only natural to consider the possibility of unpredictable variables occurring. I am not doubting you. I am merely staying vigilant against you should you lose control."
"Ah, so if I don't lose control, you'll view me as a comrade?"
—If you were a comrade who lost control, we would put our lives on the line to stop you! That is who we are!
Precisely because they believed in her, they prepared for the worst-case scenario. As if understanding that stance, Arcueid nodded and began walking once more.
"Then it's fine! As long as the moon is up, let's get along♪ Oh, stairs! There are stairs! Let's go up!"
"Ooh~!"
"Understood! Senpai, please don't trip!"
"I won't trip~!"
Running alongside the high schoolers, Arcueid took both of their hands.
(…What on earth does it take to forge such an airheaded personality…?)
—I think it's a wonderful encounter. Just like how I changed after meeting Fou!
(…I see… So I was able to change too. Then there's no way she can't change either, huh…)
Nodding as if convinced, Fou was silently patted as the group—including the King of Heroes walking slowly from behind—advanced toward their next round of hospitality…
"Ah, absolutely infuriating… Nothing about this isn't infuriating… This persistent dirt, dirt, dirt…!"
Wielding a mop with an utterly half-hearted stance, sweeping up her own castle while muttering complaints under her breath, was none other than—
"Ah, truly infuriating! Like a pig that doesn't make a sound no matter how much you whip or torture it! It's genuinely irritating! Why did I respond to the summons?! Why did I become a Heroic Spirit?!"
It was the vampire, Carmilla. The frustration and rage over her situation reached a boiling point, until finally, she clacked her high heels in a display of fury.
"Ah, I can't take it anymore! Very well then, this isn't like my character at all anyway! Blow to smithereens, Iron Maiden!"
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