"Anyway, that's how Atalanta ended up joining us."
Feeling I could no longer hide it, I told them the truth, mixed with a few appropriate fabrications.
I explained that when I form a contract, Servants who meet certain conditions are replaced by their versions from a parallel world's Chaldea, where I was their Master.
I wasn't sure of the exact mechanics, but I told them that seemed to be the gist of it.
"A parallel world, you say? It seems you truly don't know the reason yourself, Master."
Seeing the sincerity in my eyes, Chen Gong nodded, deciding to believe me. I really don't know the reason.
"But for her to change this much… It's astounding."
Leonidas remarked, surprised by Atalanta's complete turnaround.
"So that was it. That explains Lady Yu's and Lady Jeanne d'Arc's reactions."
Parvati, who had sensed something was off, nodded in understanding upon hearing my explanation.
She would be well-acquainted with the possibilities of parallel worlds. After all, Parvati's vessel is the body of Sakura, who experienced Heaven's Feel.
"I never knew you had such a power, Mr. Kuriyama."
"I didn't know either. I have no idea why it appeared."
I was being honest. Seriously, why did this happen? Could it be related to how I gained my Master and Rayshift aptitudes?
"So, how do you feel? Atalanta."
Yu Miaoyi asked, shaking a beer can she'd gotten from somewhere. It seemed the can was already empty.
"Ah, my mind is completely clear now. My other self here has caused a great deal of trouble. Though it wasn't me, it was still an act committed by the existence known as 'me'. The Master said I don't need to feel guilty about it, but at the very least, here in France, I will atone for the sins of my other self. I will do my utmost to make up for the wrongs I have committed."
Atalanta's eyes were no longer clouded with guilt, though a remnant of it might have remained within her.
Rather than wallowing in regret, she intended to make amends through her actions.
"But that one over there…"
Atalanta's gaze then turned to Martha with sad eyes.
"Hah, this is why you shouldn't take in strays."
Martha remained unchanged even after the contract. My theory that the condition was a Bond level of 10 or higher seemed to be correct. I hadn't used Martha much, so her Bond level was stuck at 6.
She had been with me since the beginning, but unfortunately, her performance was lacking.
As a result, there was no change. She was slated to become ammunition for Chen Gong's Noble Phantasm in the future. Well, unlike the demonized Atalanta, she can't regenerate, so she'll just explode and die.
Perhaps that would be a more peaceful end for her.
"It would be better to send Lady Martha on her way quickly. In the next battle, we'll do just that."
Jeanne said, glancing at Chen Gong. You brat, you've gotten way too used to necessary sacrifices.
In any case, Atalanta was back to normal and had joined our ranks. With breakfast finished, it was time for us to head to our destination: Lyon.
===================================
It was once one of the most splendid cities in France.
At the time, it was known as the third city of France, after Paris and Marseille, and was also a city named after the Gallic god, Lugus.
Lyon, a city of immense importance to France since the days of the ancient Roman Empire.
Now, that same Lyon was a ghost town, with nothing but ruins remaining.
"Ugh…"
Yet, there were still people left in such a place.
A man lay suffering under the wreckage of the ruins.
His entire body was covered in cracks, and a sizzling sound, as if he were being burned, continued relentlessly. It was a curse.
"I've brought fresh water. I'm not sure if it will help, but let me change the towel."
"Haa… I'm being… a burden."
"Not at all. I don't consider you a nuisance in the slightest."
A young girl approached him. She was a young girl dressed in a kimono.
She replaced the towel on his head with a new, wet one.
His name was Siegfried.
He was one of the first Servants to be summoned in this French Singularity, a man who had fought alone against the Dragon Witch and her Servants, the main culprits behind France's destruction.
His body had been completely ravaged by the Dragon Witch's curse. Perhaps it was a blessing that he had managed to survive at all.
The arrogant Dragon Witch hadn't even brought the evil dragon Fafnir with her at the time, assuming that Siegfried, struck by her curse, would soon die.
She hadn't even used her Ruler-class ability of True Name Discernment, leaving with arrogant pride after simply cursing what she saw as an easy opponent.
Indeed, while her power was immense, she was far too inexperienced.
Siegfried was a great hero. The most famous dragonslayer in the world.
The wielder of Balmung, a holy sword that was nigh-demonic, who had single-handedly slain the evil dragon Fafnir.
Siegfried, whose body was said to be invincible, was able to endure without dying. He was able to hold on because he possessed the indomitable spirit of a mighty warrior.
His body could barely move, unable to fight properly.
But he was a hero.
"Besides, you were the one who saved us when we were in trouble, weren't you? I, Kiyohime, was taught as the daughter of a lord to always repay my debts of gratitude."
"Is that so…"
He had spotted the girls passing through Lyon and had moved his body to protect them when they were in danger, attacked by hostile entities.
Despite being unable to fight properly, he had stepped forward to become their shield. The wyverns, recognizing him as a dragonslayer, had fled with their tails between their legs, and the living dead were no match for him.
"Nothing, nothing~ There's nothing around here that could be used as medicinal herbs. Besides, your knowledge is of the East, right? There's no way they'd be in France."
"Oh my, was there nothing? That's a shame. Even if one is granted knowledge, it seems things like herbal lore aren't included."
Soon, another girl entered the ruined structure.
They were Kiyohime and Elizabeth Báthory.
Both were daughters of nobility.
Kiyohime, daughter of Lord Kiyotsugu, and Elizabeth, a lady of the Báthory family. Elizabeth, in particular, was a woman who would later become a baroness herself and marry a count, earning the title of countess.
Kiyohime had become a dragon out of obsession for the one she loved, while Elizabeth, due to the dragon's blood flowing in the Báthory family, activated upon her spiritualization, had become a dragon-kin.
Dragons nursing a dragonslayer.
It was a sight that would likely make the gods stare in disbelief.
Kiyohime's nature was to repay her debts, and Elizabeth, having been helped by him and feeling lonely wandering France alone, had remained in Lyon as well.
But they could do nothing to heal Siegfried's body. All they could do was nurse him and stay by his side.
"It would be nice if a cart or something passed by."
"Why don't you just turn into a dragon and fly?"
"We might be mistaken for enemies by other wanderers like ourselves and get attacked. We'd also stand out to the enemy. Is it not possible for you to fly?"
"It's tough for me too, you know!? Besides, I'd look even more suspicious!"
The problem was that they had no means of safely transporting Siegfried. The other problem was that, being dragons, they both stood out far too much.
"For now, I suppose we must wait for a cart or horse to pass by."
The two of them were thinking rationally, unlike the other women of this world.
It was likely because Siegfried's condition was too severe, and their instinctual aversion to him as a dragonslayer was too great for them to be overcome by their desires.
Thanks to that, they were able to assess the situation with clear heads.
But then.
"I sense… a presence."
"Pardon?"
"Ooh, is someone here? Let's go check it out!"
Báthory, thinking it might be passing refugees, was about to go out to borrow a cart when Siegfried weakly reached out and grabbed her wrist.
"No, I have… a bad feeling. For now, stay here…"
Was it a hero's intuition? The great hero of the Age of Gods held Báthory back. She glanced at Kiyohime for support, but Kiyohime nodded, intending to follow Siegfried's judgment. Pouting, Báthory sat back down.
"What, is this the right place? It's just ruins."
Then, a voice was heard from a short distance away. A flippant man's voice.
"You're right. Didn't they say a Servant was around here?"
"Yeah, this is the place. They said one of them was seriously injured, so they probably couldn't have gotten far, right?"
Other female voices could be heard as well.
"Then let's hurry up and search. You think they're hiding somewhere? They said it was a woman, right? She couldn't have gone far."
The man's voice was blatantly searching for women. Kiyohime and Báthory held their breath, while Siegfried, with great effort, gripped his sword, ready to ensure their escape if worst came to worst.
Just then, Siegfried felt another sense of foreboding.
A sensation he had felt before.
"She's come."
The Dragon Witch.
She was here.
FLAP~!
As he expected, the Dragon Witch appeared outside, leading a group of wyverns.
Such was her arrogance that upon hearing reports of a Master and Servants, she had come with only wyverns and a few Servants, leaving Fafnir behind.
"What, just some pathetic-looking bald guy? Is that really the Master?"
The Dragon Witch, Jeanne d'Arc Alter, sneered, mocking him.
Conversely, Ryuuji, on the ground, looked up at her in the sky with a vicious smile.
Her thighs were clearly visible, and it looked as though her underwear might be as well.
"Living Dead? Hah, so he uses corpses."
Jeanne Alter scoffed at the swarm of Living Dead behind Ryuuji. She used them herself, but only for amusement; her real strength was her wyvern army. She had made a few at the beginning but hadn't created any since.
Most of the Living Dead currently in France were Ryuuji's work, his creations. The work of the Caster, Da Vinci.
"A necromancer, is that it? Whatever. Berserker, you take care of those things. Berserk Saber! Berserk Assassin! You two will deal with those Servants."
Jeanne Alter sent the Berserker off on its own, then deployed the Berserk Saber, Chevalier d'Eon, and the Berserk Assassin, Carmilla, whom she had brought with her.
Jeanne Alter had come with only three Servants and about ten wyverns. Her overconfidence truly knew no bounds.
"Now, it's hunting time."
Jeanne Alter spoke with absolute confidence, and Carmilla began to move, targeting Marie Antoinette while also aiming for Ryuuji.
Looking up at the self-assured Dragon Witch, Ryuuji's lips curled into a vicious smile.
"Yeah, it's hunting time. Every single one of them looks delicious."
Licking his lips, he clenched his fists and walked toward Carmilla. The Dragon Witch had no idea what was about to unfold.