We were on our way to Lyon.
For a larger mount, we temporarily released Martha's Saint Graph and used a Command Spell to summon Tarasque, which we then rode.
Afterward, we restrained her again as we traveled. Tarasque was more obedient to us than to Martha.
According to BB, it was because, first, I am the Master, second, Martha wasn't in her right mind, and third, it sensed it would be turned into dragon stew if it didn't obey.
I guess it's a relief that Tarasque is sane.
Just as I expected, the condition seems to be a Bond level of 10 or higher. Martha's was only around 6.
So, even with the contract, there was no change. Her Saint Graph might have been strengthened, but with her mind still the same, it was meaningless. And 'strengthened' is a loose term; it just removed the demerits that women in this world receive.
It was a meaningless contract for one who had already fallen.
Conditional salvation. This power was tricky but potent. I don't know why I possess such an ability.
But I feel like this power might be the decisive key to changing our destiny.
"According to the information I have, there are other Servants in Lyon. And they're targeting them."
"I have a good guess as to which Servants they might be."
The information Atalante provided was especially helpful.
Ryuuji had set up a base in Bordeaux. He had killed countless people and was even reanimating their corpses as living dead.
Is a universal genius capable of something like this? Or did he just replicate it based on pre-existing living dead?
On top of that, he was keeping countless women of this era as sex slaves, and Atalante's group had also captured a vast number of children.
He had apparently even laid his hands on the little girls among them.
We have to eliminate him as soon as possible. At the same time, we had to hurry to Lyon.
If he went to Lyon, Siegfried would be in danger, along with the other Servants there. If they were women, they'd surely be Kiyohime and Báthory.
Atalante had barely managed to keep her sanity.
However, judging from Atalante's case, it might be better to just summon new versions of Kiyohime or Báthory.
But I hate the idea of not being able to save someone who can be saved. Tarasque ran at top speed, and I grew impatient.
"There's no need to be so hasty. Master, you have never been late, nor have you ever failed. Haven't you always done your best?"
Atalante said with a gentle smile at my side. Never been late, never failed, she says.
I've done both plenty of times.
"Even if something does happen, there's no need for you to feel guilty, Master. It wouldn't be your fault."
Jeanne walked over and sat beside me as she spoke. She wasn't wrong. Just because I'm late doesn't make it my fault.
But the regret would still remain.
"This is supposed to be the girlfriend's job, you know~? So many women are after our Sho, I see."
Ritsuka then hugged me from behind. Atalante flinched at the sight.
"Ah, right. The Master is a taken man now."
"Of course, I welcome concubines. I'm generous enough to allow a harem. Besides, I was the one who took Sho's first time."
"What! Master, you are... no longer pure?"
"Why, don't you like it?"
"No, it's just surprising. The Master who put up walls and maintained his purity despite being courted by so many... to think he'd lose his virginity so easily."
Well, that's true by the game's standards. In that sense, is it impressive that he never got into a relationship with anyone?
Thinking about it, maybe it's a good thing Ritsuka was my first. If it had been a Servant, a massive catfight would have broken out.
[Now, now, as fun as love stories are? I'm picking up Servant readings. Three of them.]
Servant readings. The location BB indicated wasn't far. Are they friend or foe?
=====================================
Báthory flew low, carrying Siegfried.
With no other means of transport, they had decided to evacuate Siegfried by having Báthory fly him.
Thinking the area might be safe for a while after the major battle in Lyon, they were moving to another city.
Perhaps somewhere out there was a Servant who could break the curse.
"'Master,' you said."
"Yeah. Those guys weren't normal."
They had fought two factions. One was the Dragon Witch's side, which Siegfried had fought.
The other was Ryuuji's side. They had no information on them, except for one thing: the Servants following him were abnormal.
They looked like people with a few screws loose, mentally.
"Yes, it felt as if they were twisted."
From Siegfried's perspective, they were clearly not Anti-Heroes. Yet they seemed twisted to the level of Anti-Heroes. Was it that man's doing?
Ryuuji, who had displayed the ability to overwhelm Servants with a human body.
"They were a weird bunch. I never want to get involved with them again!"
"I agree. He was a man of poor character."
Aside from his personality, Ryuuji had a very well-built, masculine body. If you met him when he was just standing there silently, he might even make a good impression. After all, the women here had become somewhat easy.
However, his words and actions were beyond just flippant—they were frivolous and vulgar, earning him disfavor from the start.
Therefore, instead of seducing women with words or his face, he had to resort to acts thoroughly labeled as 'training'.
Because of this, regardless of how easy the women of this world had become, as long as they weren't physically overpowered, they wouldn't be won over and corrupted by his conduct alone.
That was why Kiyohime and Báthory's favorability towards Ryuuji was deep in the negatives.
Deciding to hide and observe the situation had been a stroke of luck. If they had gone out, they might have ended up like d'Eon or Carmilla.
"Let's rest over there for a bit. I'm tired, too!"
"Yes, you've worked hard. It wouldn't be good for Sir Siegfried to be held like this continuously, either."
The group found a nearby stream and decided to rest there.
"First, let's think carefully about what to do next. Moving around aimlessly is too reckless. Wandering this vast land of France continuously... it's a foolish thing to do."
"Then what should we do? No one knows the geography here. We have to at least try to find a town or something, right? We can't just stay put."
"I know that. But moving aimlessly with a patient could be a self-destructive move. If we run into another enemy Servant like that Berserker, we'll be in deep trouble."
"That's true, but..."
Kiyohime and Báthory were not combat specialists. Of course, both of them possessed considerable power.
Kiyohime could transform into a fire dragon and freely control flames. Báthory, too, was a Dragon-kin with good base physical abilities and could fire a sonic breath, making her a decent fighter.
However, both were novices when it came to actual combat.
As noble ladies who were raised delicately, their skills were severely lacking, regardless of their abilities.
Of course, Western noblewomen learned basic martial arts for duels of honor. Báthory, from one of the most prestigious families of her time, had learned some martial arts, and Kiyohime, the daughter of a lord during the Heian period, was fairly proficient with a naginata.
But 'fairly proficient' was the extent of it; in front of Servants who specialized in combat, it was mere child's play.
They didn't know how many Heroic Spirits specialized in combat, like Lancelot, were out there.
If they were attacked while carrying a patient like Siegfried, they would be helpless.
"So what do you suggest? We still have to move around."
"I'm suggesting we set a new objective for ourselves."
Kiyohime and Báthory exchanged various opinions, but since the two were fundamentally incompatible, their discussions devolved into arguments and ended in empty theory.
"We're not getting anywhere like this. I suppose we have to just keep on as we have been."
"Wasn't that the only answer for us from the start?"
Kiyohime had tried to find another way, but after talking with Báthory, she lamented that there were truly no other options.
"Something's... coming."
Just then, Siegfried sensed something rushing towards them fiercely. Feeling the vibrations, Báthory and Kiyohime immediately prepared for battle.
Siegfried struggled to his feet, gripping his sword, as a turtle-like dragon came into view in the distance.
Báthory considered a preemptive strike, but Siegfried stopped her.
"No, I don't think they're enemies."
"Not enemies? How can you tell?"
"I can tell by looking at their eyes."
Seeing the figures riding the massive dragon from afar, Siegfried realized they were a completely different faction from the ones he had fought in Lyon.
Trusting his words, they waited, and Tarasque approached them.
A man was the first to jump down from a height of about two stories.
"Looks like we made it just in time."
A man with deep dark circles and pale skin. Báthory didn't get a very good impression, marking him as unlikable for now. Siegfried, on the other hand, saw that the man's tired eyes shone with conviction.
And then, there was Kiyohime.
"Thanks for not attacking first. It's nice to meet you. I'm a Master from Chaldea, to put it simply."
"Anchin-sama."
"Huh?"
She interrupted him and grabbed hold of him.
"The moment I saw you, I knew. You are this Kiyohime's husband! You are Anchin-sama!"
Her Anchin-sensor had identified Sho as Anchin.
"This brings back memories."
"Back to basics, right? Haha."
"Who needs a 'back to basics' like that? That's just mental illness."
And so, Sho's Chaldean Servants watched this Kiyohime. They grimaced at the sight of her old self, so different from the more mature Kiyohime they knew.
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