After some back-and-forth, Suzuki Makoto finally understood that the blonde girl's need wasn't some kind of war-induced desperation, but rather a request for him to become her Master and replenish her mana.
"My name is Jeanne d'Arc. I am a Heroic Spirit of the Ruler class, manifested after the recent disaster began. However, because I've lost the mana supply from the Throne of Heroes, my power is barely sustained at its current level. Although I can maintain minimal consumption thanks to my home-field advantage and renowned fame, the amount of mana I can draw has been dwindling day by day."
The blonde girl looked crestfallen.
"That is why I desperately need to find a Master with powerful magical energy. Only with such a mana supply can I gain enough strength to investigate the source of this disaster."
"So you're Jeanne d'Arc? If that's the case, why can't you receive support from the local mana source here in your native France?"
Suzuki Makoto was puzzled. A country naturally has its own mana supply, commonly referred to as ley lines. This mana can typically only be used by those whose legends are told in that land—regardless of whether their reputation is good or bad, fame is all that matters.
But if she really was Jeanne d'Arc, shouldn't the entirety of France's ley lines be her personal all-you-can-eat buffet?
"Because the one who caused this disaster is also 'me'—another girl named Jeanne d'Arc. She has summoned countless wyverns and evil walking corpses, vowing to turn all of France into a scorched wasteland. She has seized control of all the ley lines in France, preventing me from gaining any more support."
The girl sighed and told Suzuki Makoto all the information she had gathered from the rumors passed among the survivors.
The man stroked his chin.
"So, you should be able to hold on in this state for a while longer, right?"
"Yes, I can."
"Where are we?"
"This is Domrémy, my hometown."
Suzuki Makoto nodded, then asked a question that Jeanne d'Arc completely unexpected.
"Excuse me—which way to Paris?"
"Why Paris?"
"Because I want to gather intelligence. According to you, if there's another Jeanne d'Arc, her base might be in Paris. Even if it isn't, I should be able to find enough information there."
The girl shook her head.
"I don't know where her base is either, only that she has indeed conquered Paris."
"In that case, I'll need you to hold on for a few more days. I'm going out to gather information. After I return, we can discuss the matter of me being your Master."
Jeanne d'Arc pressed her lips together and nodded.
"I know you can't trust me yet, but that's alright. I will continue to resist the monster attacks here. I just hope you can make your decision soon. For you to have arrived in this world at this time, I believe you must be the key to saving France!"
"Perhaps. I'll be back as soon as I can."
Just as Suzuki Makoto stood up, he heard a sharp whistle from outside.
"The wyverns are here! Mr. Suzuki Makoto, could I trouble you to help us repel this attack?"
"No problem."
The private issue of trust could be discussed later, but saving lives required no deliberation.
The two left the house. Suzuki Makoto looked up, sensing the monsters circling high above, and frowned.
These creatures called wyverns were not flesh-and-blood like normal animals, nor were they driven by a soul like walking corpses. Instead, they were more like the girl who called herself Jeanne d'Arc, relying primarily on an internal mana core to maintain their existence.
"It seems the situation in this world is quite strange."
Suzuki Makoto muttered. On the other side, Jeanne d'Arc had already run up to the city walls and was commanding the soldiers to prepare. Several cannons were wheeled into position. These were likely the only weapons capable of harming the wyverns, but to hit the flying creatures, they would obviously need to be lured down first.
The man didn't plan on waiting any longer. He urgently needed more information.
As for the wyverns in the sky... coincidentally, he had learned a certain technique from someone.
"Secret Technique: Swallow Reversal!"
The diving wyverns froze in mid-air. Suzuki Makoto's attack precisely shattered each of their mana cores. The monsters turned to ash, leaving only a few scales and claws to fall to the ground, which seemed to be mana crystals that randomly formed after the cores disintegrated.
No one noticed where the attacks came from. Only Jeanne d'Arc's eyes flashed with delight—her guess had been correct. This man must have been summoned here, just like her.
She loudly ordered the others to rest while the sentries remained on alert. The girl then bounded down the steps and came to stand before Suzuki Makoto.
"Thank you, Lord Suzuki Makoto."
"Just Suzuki is fine."
The man turned to leave but was stopped.
"Wait a moment, Mr. Suzuki. Please give me your hand."
Suzuki Makoto extended his hand in confusion. Jeanne d'Arc grasped it firmly with both of her hands, held it to her chest, and murmured a prayer.
A moment later, a look of surprise appeared on the man's face.
"Now, Mr. Suzuki, you should be able to understand what they are saying."
The girl released his hand, a hint of exhaustion on her face.
"It worked. Thank you. Did that use up a lot of your mana?"
"If you hadn't intervened in that last battle, I would have had to expend far more mana. I hope you return soon and tell me your decision."
"I will."
Watching the man's departing back, Jeanne d'Arc sighed. But she quickly regained her composure and resumed directing the deployment and repair of the city's defenses.
Suzuki Makoto walked through the war-torn land, killing every monster he encountered and saving a few people along the way. However, this was clearly a temporary solution, not a cure. So, he merely pointed them in the direction of Domrémy and continued on his way to Paris without any delay.
But before he reached Paris, he ran into an unexpected situation.
Several beings made of mana, just like Jeanne d'Arc, appeared to be fighting. They were clearly split into two factions: one was fleeing south while the others gave chase.
Suzuki Makoto immediately changed direction and moved to intercept them.
Soon, he could make out the figures of the Heroic Spirits. At the front was a man with long silver hair and a shining mana pattern on his chest, wielding a greatsword.
He also saw Suzuki Makoto. A flash of surprise crossed his eyes, and he immediately shouted.
"Get away from here!"
Of course, Suzuki Makoto wasn't going to listen to him. He hadn't come here just to be a spectator.
He drew his longsword and pointed it at the four pursuing Heroic Spirits.
Compared to the man who radiated a righteous aura, the aggressive ones chasing him were clearly the much bigger problem.
____
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