"Looks like that's it. No one else is coming. Archer, Assassin, and that Berserker—their strength was eye-opening. Alright, I'm out."
After Berserker's escape, Rider decided to slip away. Whether it was his imagination or not, he felt Archer, Assassin, and even the idle Lancer were far stronger than him. Best to make a quick exit.
At some point, Assassin had already vanished.
"Farewell, Archer. I hope we can cross blades someday."
Lancer spoke earnestly before dissolving into spiritrons.
Rider, too, departed, riding his chariot.
Left behind were Archer and the ruins of the Tohsaka mansion.
"That feeling... that woman. That vile woman is in this era too? Always toying with hearts! If not for Father... I'd end you."
Kingu stepped back, her face sour. She recalled a woman she despised—one of her stepmothers, with whom she never got along.
"Tokiomi Tohsaka, you've got some nerve using a Command Seal on me! There won't be a next time!"
After scolding him, Kingu left.
Had it been anyone else, she wouldn't have wasted words. In this world, only her father and mother could command her.
Tokiomi's unique status spared him her wrath.
The orchestrator of this event, however, paid a heavy price. His carefully built fortress of a mansion lay in ruins, and his Servant now held a grudge.
Worse, he uncovered a dire flaw: Kingu was immune to Command Seals. They couldn't restrain her, meaning even if he reached the end with her, the Grail was out of reach.
Why hadn't Kingu turned on him completely?
He figured she still needed his mana supply.
Kingu, of course, was no longer at Tokiomi's side.
...
"Jeanne-nee, where are we going? You're not making me sleep on the streets, are you?"
A childish voice echoed through Fuyuki City's streets.
"Reines, stop being naughty. You won't be homeless. We're heading to the church!"
A girl in a school-like uniform, with a generous figure, exasperatedly tugged Reines along.
"The church? No way! God will purify me!"
Reines threw a tantrum.
"He won't. If you repent sincerely, the Lord will forgive you."
Jeanne replied earnestly, her serious nature blinding her to Reines' playful antics.
"..."
Reines fell silent, bored. Jeanne was too dull, offering no amusement.
Squeak!
Jeanne's expression shifted. She swiftly pulled Reines behind her, shielding her while glaring ahead.
A faint purple glow flickered, revealing a man under a streetlamp. Behind him trailed a line of children, hand in hand.
Their eyes were vacant, like manipulated puppets moving in sync with the man.
The scene resembled a grim fairy tale, like the Pied Piper of Hamelin, with a figure wielding mysterious power leading the children forward.
"Oh?"
The man noticed Jeanne and Reines, his face illuminated by the light. It was Caster's Master, Ryunosuke Uryuu!
His eyes shone with a childlike purity, as if spotting something fascinating. Smiling warmly, he called out to Jeanne and Reines, "Hey, we're about to throw a party. Care to join?"
His words triggered a reaction from the purple-glowing bracelet on his wrist. Waves of light spread, infusing his voice with "mystery," transforming a simple invitation into a devilish temptation that struck the heart.
"Hiss!"
Reines stumbled back, clutching her eyes. Through her fingers, her eyes glowed as if burned.
Mystic Eyes!
A gift of "mystery," a manifestation of the arcane, a priceless treasure coveted by all mages.
Mystic Eyes were ranked as Normal, Gold, Jewel, and Rainbow (also called the Eyes of God). Reines' eyes were currently only "Normal," not fully awakened, their sole function being to sense mana—painfully.
"Reines!"
Jeanne rushed to support her, concerned.
"I'm fine. He's a mage—be careful!"
Through her fingers, Reines' crimson eyes locked onto Ryunosuke. Every mage was dangerously unpredictable, especially at first encounters.
First meetings between mages often ended in ambushes. Even a stronger mage could fall to a well-placed trick.
"I know!"
A radiant glow erupted from Jeanne's body, as if dozens of holy knights had blessed her with divine light, blinding all onlookers.
As the light faded, Jeanne stood in silver-white armor, a horseshoe-shaped helmet on her head, wielding a banner embroidered with a cross and the French emblem on a white field.
"Ohhh! You're like my lord?"
Ryunosuke raised his arm, his Command Seal activating instantly.
"Ryunosuke, if you meet an enemy on my level, don't hesitate—use a Command Seal to summon me!"
That was his "Bluebeard" lord's instruction.
"Lord Bluebeard!"
Ryunosuke shouted, his Command Seal glowing blood-red, triggering a spatial leap rivaling grand magic.
A foul, black wind swept through the basement, tainting every inch with a twisted, corrupted sensation.
"Ryunosuke, what's wrong?"
A nauseating, eerie voice emerged from the black mist, a murky crimson light glinting within.
"You are...?"
Jeanne stared intently at the man stepping from the mist.
His youthful, smooth face, large eyes that darted lively, and sleek cheeks were framed by an ornate robe adorned with gold and silver. In his hands, he held a grimoire radiating an unnatural red glow. It was none other than Caster, "Bluebeard" Gilles de Rais.
"Gilles de Rais? How can this be?"
Jeanne gazed in shock at the man who had once fought beside her for France, a radiant knight.
Now, his former glory was a mere shadow, replaced by a foul, malevolent aura. His round eyes brimmed with greed and evil.
Yet one thing remained unchanged...
"Jeanne... oh, my holy maiden!"
His fanatical "love" for Jeanne.
***
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