Ritsuka POV
So, good news.
Kriemhild confirmed that Siegfried had apparently manifested in the singularity somewhere, as she immediately felt her connection to her husband the moment she arrived.
That meant that they now had a powerful counter to Fafnir.
The bad news? Recruiting Siegfried has just become exponentially harder because Ritsuka summoned his crazy yandere wife, who has a massive bone to pick with him, in the same singularity he's in.
And the worst part? He couldn't send her back. Not without earning her ire himself.
Kriemhild has made no effort in hiding her disdain for heroes, especially the sacrificial ones. This was due to her husband Siegfried having tricked her into thinking he was killed by Hagen, when in truth, it was just an elaborate suicide.
As a Berserker infamous for holding grudges and seeking revenge at any cost, she had finally located her target of hate.
On the one hand, he could use a command seal to force Kriemhild not to kill Siegfried, but if he does, the likelihood of her turning on him and Chaldea is guaranteed.
One does not simply ask someone obsessed with vengeance to give up their quest for vengeance. He'd honestly have an easier time convincing Sasuke Uchiha to give up killing his brother Itachi than telling Kriemhild to not kill Siegfried.
On the other, he lets her kill him, and she takes up the role of dragon slayer.
This situation is not ideal.
Kriemhild may be the wife of the dragon slayer, but she herself is not a dragon slayer.
She's a man slayer.
Although she possesses Balmung, it was not the sole reason for Siegfried's victory.
Kriemhild knows this, and that is why they planned to have her and Archer work together to bring down the beast.
But it would be easier and much less risky to have Siegfried take the dragon down. However, Kriemhild wouldn't allow it since that would still risk the man dying to the dragon himself and Kriemhild losing her chance to kill her husband.
He let out a sigh; it honestly felt like this situation was quickly spiraling into a special episode of Maury. Instead, he would have to host this episode because Maury Povich is undoubtedly just a pile of ashes now.
Ritsuka was not a marriage counselor, but he didn't think even the most world-renowned marriage counselor would be able to fix the mess that was Siegfried and Kriemhild's marriage.
What does this mean for Siegfried himself?
It means that he will have to apologize to Siegfried for bringing his executioner with him. Hopefully he'll understand, but Ritsuka isn't a fool to believe he will forgive him so easily.
[Uh oh. Someone is in trouble.]
[My thoughts and prayers are with Siegfried. We never knew yee, but we have sentenced you to death by angy ex wife.]
[Nothing says, 'I am an ally,' like laughing like a maniacal serial killer.]
"Bonjour, Madame!! My name is Marie Antoinette, future Queen of France!! May I know your name?"
And of course, Marie, being the social butterfly that she was, disregarded the tense situation and just decided to act like a golden retriever and befriend the new arrival.
The target of her greeting had suddenly stopped grinning like a lunatic, her face quickly resetting back to a neutral face of porcelain. The woman turned to face the petite girl, and immediately, he could tell she wasn't impressed.
"A future queen of France, huh? You may refer to me as Kriemhild. I am the former princess of the Burgundians and the wife of a piece of trash who doesn't care about me.
Ritsuka pondered whether cultures beyond Japan practiced the superstition of sneezing in response to gossip. Because if so, the guy is probably sneezing up a storm every time Kriemhild opens her mouth to take a breath of air.
The cheerful Marie put her hand over her mouth, clearly surprised about what Kriemhild had said.
"Oh…. How awful!! I am so sorry to hear you are going through such a terrible marriage! If you ever need someone to vent to, know that I will always be available as a supporting shoulder for you to cry on if you wish!"
The Berserker just gave the woman a look of distrust, a look one would usually reserve towards peddlers who knocked on your home hoping to trick the homeowner into becoming a part of a pyramid scheme.
"Your offer has been heard and will be considered." Kriemhild told the pink-haired queen.
"Does that mean that you accept my hand of friendship?"
"No. Your proposal has been rejected." She told the woman, her voice dripping with disgust.
[Ouch, not even Marie can break through the ice-cold shell of steel that surrounds Kream's heart. ]
"B-But why?!" The brokenhearted Marie demanded an explanation from Kriemhild, who plainly stated why such a thing wouldn't happen.
"Because you claimed yourself a 'Hero of Justice.' I cannot stand such things. So keep your distance, or things will get… ugly."
[*Facepalm*Welp, there goes our alliance.]
[Kream!! Please don't antagonize them!! I don't want Gudao to have to kill Marie!! ]
"If you try to harm a single hair on Marie's beautiful scalp, then know that we won't take that lying down." Amadeus's voice rang through the clearing, his conductor's baton aimed straight at the Berserker.
"I find it disgusting that I agree with Marie's Piggy, but count me in too." Elizabeth pulled out her spear, getting ready to jump into the fray to defend Marie.
Jeanne also took a defensive stance, but it was obvious she was doing so to defend her squishy mother should a fight break out.
Kriemhild noticed the duo preparing to attack her if she made a move, but after a brief tense silence, she dismissed them with a 'humph.' She then refused to face them in a very 'tsun' way and vanished into spirit form.
"D-Dear Lord above… It happened again… Where did she go?" Isabelle asked with trepidation in her voice as she looked left and right, trying to see where Kriemhild had gone.
[Kriemhild showing too much tsun and not enough dere. ]
[JennyPD-16528: Tsunderes are not misunderstood, they are bitches.]
[Harsh, but not completely untrue…]
[I thought it was the opposite? ]
[JennyPD-16528: No, they aren't. ]
[Yo, you fools think Kream is a tsundere? Since when? The chick has crazy yandere etched into her soul. She literally wants to shank her husband to death! ]
As Madame Isabelle showed, spirit form made servants invisible and was extremely useful when used against normal humans, but the ability was pointless to use against servants because they would be able to see the servant without issue.
Even so, he understood Kriemhild well enough to realize that her display was not intended to conceal herself but to make a point.
She wanted nothing to do with Marie.
And Marie looked hurt by the rejection.
"Ah, how cruel!! I just wanted to comfort you, since you seemed like you were in emotional pain! But it would seem I overstepped my boundaries." She pointed a finger at the spot where Kriemhild had been standing, saying, "But I won't give up!" I will find a way to open the door to your heart, Kriemhild!"
"Marie, I'd encourage you to not do that. The woman is clearly not interested in stopping to smell the flowers. She seems more the type to crush them beneath her feet if it means she can obtain her goals." Mozart warned Marie, but Marie just brushed away his concerns.
"It's ok, Amadeus, I can handle myself."
[I agree with Mozart. Kream has too much baggage for you to carry Marie. You would only be hurting yourself if you did. ]
"Um… I'm really sorry about Kriemhild! She's a berserker, and she can be very… abrasive towards people." Ritsuka said while bowing his head in apology.
"Abrasive" is certainly a word. She used the word 'ugly' against Marie, and I cannot hope to trust such a woman." The famous musician let out a scoff.
"I'll be sure to keep her focused against our enemies, not our allies." Ritsuka bowed deeper.
"You mean Siegfried, yes? Because I do not know if you know, but I would feel much safer having the actual dragon slayer fight the literal dragon he slayed in his legend than having his wife try to fill his role."
The sound of grinding teeth coming from Kriemhild caused Ritsuka to feel multiple beads of sweat drip down his face and neck and water the grass directly under him.
Then he heard Amadeus let out a yelp of pain, and for a moment, his heart stopped.
His neck creaked as he craned up to see what had happened. He feared that Kriemhild had snapped and had stabbed the man for talking smack about her.
His shoulders relaxed when he saw that Mozart hadn't been stabbed, but rather, Marie was currently pulling and twisting his ear like he was a misbehaving child.
"That's enough, Amadeus. Give the poor boy a break!! I am fine, and besides, you're only making my future attempts at friendship towards Kriemhild harder!!"
"Okay, okay, I give!! Please forgive me, Marie!~" Ritsuka's relief tripped and fell into a deadpan at the clear showcase of masochism from someone who was renowned as an icon in music.
"Not to me, apologize to him!" She twisted his ear harder, and Ritsuka felt a shiver down his spine as the man let out a moan of pleasure.
"I'm sorry for antagonizing you, Monsieur Ritsuka. I was only worried for Marie's safety!"
[Ugh. ]
[Gible_Archeologist: My image of Mozart has fallen to shambles… ]
[Bro should be crying tears of pain when getting his ear yanked, not joy! ]
[OrochiMochiHime: He's the worst kind of match for a kunoichi to face. He is the type of opponent who finds pleasure in receiving pain. A troublesome target to extract vital intel from. ]
"... it's fine. Now please stop hurting him, Marie; he's starting to creep me out." He couldn't help but say what he wanted to say. He may be kind, but he will call someone out for being 'sus,' as his chat would say.
Marie furrowed her brows before she realized what he meant when he saw Mozart's blushing face.
She let go of his ear and backed away from him, "Kya!! I touched the piano, pervert!! I need to be cleansed!!"
Marie ran to Jeanne, kneeled before her, and said, "Please, I beg you, Jeanne D'Arc, cleanse me with a prayer of deliverance and healing!!"
[Heart0f6old: Us too, Jeanne!! We may not share the same beliefs, but we all need to cleanse our souls after watching such degeneracy!! ]
[Electrical★Streamer_Iono(MOD): I can't believe I am agreeing with Gold, but yes!! Please, Jeanne!! Pour thy divine bleach over mine eyes and ears!! ]
Jeanne seemed confused about the petite queen's request, but she went through with it without question.
After she was done, Marie climbed to her feet and thanked her.
"Thank you so much!"! I was nearly corrupted, but you restored the purity of my soul! As expected of the Holy Saint Jeanne D'Arc!"
"Holy Saint? Jeanette, what is she talking about?" Isabelle looked to Jeanne, who didn't meet her mother's gaze.
"Jeanne D'Arc was canonized as a saint on the 16th of May 1920. Tens of thousands of people attended the ceremony, which included over a hundred of her indirect descendants. " Romani blurted out, uncaring that he was spoiling future events to a person of the past.
The expression on Isabelle's face was complex. To Ritsuka, it looked like she was going through dozens of emotions all at once.
But the most prominent one he could read was shock.
And it was a shocking revelation.
To hear that your daughter, a young woman burned at the stake for false claims, would be canonized as a saint centuries later and that she was popular enough that tens of thousands came to see her, including her descendants?
Seeing the woman's reaction made him fear Madame Isabelle was about to faint upon hearing the news, but she somehow pulled through and stayed conscious, much to his relief.
As for the saint herself? She simply shook her head and said, "I understand that the church of the modern day canonized me as a saint, and while I am flattered, please understand that I am no saint." Jeanne's eyes suddenly found the grassy ground much more interesting.
"I am just a flag bearer who led an army to battle in the name of our lord. My hands are stained with blood… So much blood… I cannot bear to accept such a title because I feel undeserving of it.
[That is the exact response one would expect from a saint. She gives herself too little credit. ]
"Oh dear, I overstepped again. I apologize for bringing up such regrets. " Marie's gaze also fell to the ground, her blue eyes threatening to tear up from her sadness.
Seeing Marie in such a state, Jeanne sighed, "It is alright, Marie. I have no regrets when it comes to my actions in life; I just do not believe I can live up to the title of saint that everyone seems to have assigned to me."
"In that case, if you aren't a saint, then can I call you Jeanne?" The queen asked with a hopeful tone.
"I would like that very much, Marie." Jeanne told the queen, who suddenly regained the color she lost after she was rejected by Kriemhild.
Then, without warning, Marie suddenly held onto Jeanne's hands, much to the woman's surprise.
"Yay! I am overjoyed you called me by my name without stuttering, Jeanne!"
"R-Right. I-umm…"
[Marie showing us how to rizz a saint. ]
[This is so wholesome and sweet. I now have diabetes.]
"Goodness, Marie, give the poor woman some space; she's as red as a rose." Mozart chided Marie, his mood still a bit too cheerful after nearly getting his ear ripped off.
"Shut it, Amadeus! Can't you see I'm enjoying my Jeanne time?!"
Mozart sighed, then looked at the blushing Not-Holy Saint in the eye with an apologetic expression. "I apologize for Marie. She can be quite excitable when she falls in love with something. "
That seemed like the wrong thing to say as Jenne's blush turned bright red. "L-Love!?"
"Hmmm, 'love' is a weak word. I worship Jeanne more than just love her," Marie said without missing a beat.
[VampHaterCIEL: I think that is a bit too much. Love between two people is acceptable, but worshiping someone is a no-no in any Abrahamic religion. ]
"P-please do not use my daughter as an idol of worship! She is a mere servant of the Lord… " A disapproving Isabelle told Marie when she saw the scene, but her blush was also still fairly prominent on her face.
"Yes! Please do not!" Jeanne squeaked out but didn't let go of Marie's hand.
Marie, seeing Jeanne and Isabelle were uncomfortable, decided to let go. This decision caused both mother and daughter to let out a sigh of relief.
Seeing this reaction confused Ritsuka. Wouldn't this blatant GL scene have enraged Isabelle? Maybe he was giving medieval peasants too little credit, and they weren't as hateful towards certain relationships as many people are in the modern day.
Then again, she was probably so overwhelmed that she was just going along with it, especially since Marie was merely stating words and holding hands with another woman.
Or perhaps Isabelle was just an exception.
"Very well then, I won't. Can we still be girlfriends, though?" Marie asked with pleading puppy dog eyes.
The woman's display was too overwhelming for Jeanne, so she caved to her request. "If you mean a girl who is a friend, then yes, we can."
"Hooray!! And well, of course, we are just friends. What else would I mean?" The queen innocently tilted her head, as if she hadn't just had a romantically charged scene with a holy saint.
[She's playing Jeanne like a fiddle. How dastardly!! Marie is truly evil! Yet I can't help but be in awe of her skill at making friends. ]
[Poor girl never stood a chance.]
"N-Nothing…. Oh." Jeanne seemed to have remembered something rather important as she looked away from Marie in a hurry, much to the queen's dismay, to face him and Mash. "In all this chaos, I, too, have forgotten proper manners."
Then, without warning, Jeanne did something he never expected to receive from a medieval French peasant girl.
A formal deep Japanese bow.
"Thank you so much for saving my mother back in Vaucouleurs! Monsieur Ritsuka and Mademoiselle Mash!" Jeanne said with a strong, earnest voice. Seeing her daughter bow had caught her mother off guard, but after hearing her words, she followed her daughter's lead.
"No no, it was the least we could do, so please raise your heads! And if anything, we should be apologizing for bringing your mother into this mess, Miss Jeanne!" Mash was so flustered that she forgot to address Jeanne in French, but despite Mash downplaying their part in helping Isabelle, Jeanne still remained firm.
"Even so, you both made the decision to protect a complete stranger from an attack and lead them safely into another town." For that, you have my eternal gratitude!"
"But…" Mash appeared reluctant to accept the gratitude in a manner typical of Japanese culture. This was significant, especially considering it came from him. So to avoid beating around the bush, he decided to just accept her thanks. She thanked him in his family's culture, so it only made sense he would return the favor.
"Ce n'est rien. Madame Isabelle has been pleasant company in the short time we got to know her, so it was not a bother. If I were given the option to go back to that moment knowing all that I do, I would still do it again." He told Jeanne, who looked up from her bow at Ritsuka in surprise, that he had responded in French.
[Duchess-Diantha: Your Kalosian lessons have served you well, Gudao. You have made our nation proud. ]
Jeanne got up from her bow, followed by her mother, and based on her smile, she seemed to have appreciated his response.
However, before she could speak, a loud stomach gurgle caught them all off guard.
"Um… pardonne-moi… I haven't eaten anything since breakfast, and we didn't eat lunch after the attack by the Dragon Witch… so I am quite famished…" Madame Isabelle said, red dusting her cheeks.
"Oh right, we haven't set up camp yet. Well, it seems like we will have to get on with that then." Ritsuka said, unbothered by Madame's loud stomach gurgle.
[Electrical★Streamer_Iono(MOD) clipped "The Gurgle that shook the world" to Gudao's clip channel. ]
[Wow that stomach gurgle was so loud it woke up my dad's Snorlax. The lazy bastard thought it was his own. Lol. ]
"Are you sure it will be alright? We already ran out of those unique rations you two brought with us." Isabelle asked Ritsuka with concern. While they tried to hide much of their magical capabilities, they could still get away with sharing MREs as something from their homeland, and keeping them stored in his baggy clothes helped a lot in keeping her from asking too many questions.
It helped that at least Da Vinci was conscious enough to provide them with MREs in Japanese text, likely to give their cover story more authenticity.
But now the cat was out of the bag, so they didn't have to worry about such restrictions anymore.
He looked to his left and saw Archer, in his spirit form, leaning on a tree nearby.
"Archer, can you cook something for us?"
Isabelle once again lets out a yelp as Archer comes out of spirit form.
Archer makes note of it, giving Jeanne a raised brow.
Jeanne sheepishly shook her head while simultaneously soothing her mother with a few pats to her shoulder as she clung to her.
Archer didn't bother saying anything and instead focused on Ritsuka.
"Very well, I'll whip something up for you and your company."
"Good luck trying to whip anything up to eat. It's been days, and none of us have seen much wild game since we manifested. Most likely due to the wyverns not only killing and devouring all humans they see, but also any livestock or wild animals."
[Just_N: Even the animals… they must be avenged. ]
[CaptainDrakeE4: That's the plan. But first, dinner!! The boy needs food to fuel his battles ahead!! ]
A hum echoed in the clearing, one that came from Kriemhild. "So it seems the Dragon Witch is craftier than I gave her credit for. With no wild game, any humans who try to live out in the wild will eventually run out of food. "
"It doesn't matter. We have enough provisions to make a hearty, nutrient-dense meal. But first, we need to set up our cooking area."
He turned to address the group, "I do not mind cooking for all of you. But may I ask you for help in setting up? The more hands we have, the faster I can get started."
"I do not mind. What do you need?" Asked Jeanne. "
"Start by gathering firewood. I am going to need a decent amount for the quantity I will make."
✦✧✦
Time passed, and everyone chipped in to help set up camp.
Jeanne and Mash collected dry firewood in the forest, while Ritsuka just assembled some camping tents that Mash had in her shield.
Meanwhile, Madame Isabelle was helping Archer prepare the ingredients they had rayshifted for the dish he was going to make.
Once everything was ready, Marie utilized her powers to create elegant glass tables for the guests to enjoy their meal.
And finally, after a bit of small talk, mostly between Jeanne and Marie, Archer began to serve their meal.
"The food is ready. Bon appétit." Archer said as he laid down the last plate of beef bourguignon in front of Amadeus, who took a sniff and sighed.
"Well, it certainly smells quite delightful, don't you think so, Marie?" Amadeus asked Marie, but when she didn't answer, he turned to see her.
Marie was staring at the hearty beef bowl placed in front of her, much like a toddler who was given a bowl of vegetables.
A concerned expression fell on Amadeus's face. "Oh dear, are you alright, Marie?"
Hearing her name, Marie just looked to Amadeus and gave him a weak smile.
"It's alright, Amadeus, I'm just… surprised by the dish."
[Surprised how?]
[Didn't know Marie was such a picky eater. ]
[VampHaterCIEL: This is likely because Beef Bourguignon was considered a peasant's dish during Marie's lifetime. As a royal, she never ate such things. ]
[Shame. That beef stew looks delicious. ]
Archer noticed her hesitance and said, "If you don't like it, you don't have to eat it. While I normally wouldn't mind cooking a separate dish for everyone that they like, we don't have the luxury of that right now. I made this meal so that Master and Madame Isabelle could have something filling to eat."
"Non, it is alright. I usually avoided eating hearty meals at dinner so that I could stay lean and sexy after eating so many sweets for breakfast and also for my husband."
Ritsuka was glad he didn't have any of the soup in his throat, or he would have choked a bit at hearing that word.
"Ok. So what did you eat?" Archer wisely decided not to comment on the sexy part.
"A lean bone broth stew with vegetables and some roasted white poultry meat for protein. Though at the time, we didn't call it that."
[KicksYouIntheFace193: As a fighting-type specialist who also has a slim, toned figure. I approve of this diet. ]
[Chef-SieboldE4: if it's a meal fit for a queen, I don't see why I can't incorporate it into my menu. Perhaps I'll make it a special. ]
[VampHaterCIEL: Meh, I'm not a fan of broths. I prefer curry. ]
[Yes. We know. Are you sure you don't want to change your username to CurryLoverCIEL? ]
[VampHaterCIEL: As much as I love curry, and it hurts to say this, but I hate vampires just a bit more. ]
"Huh, that makes sense. Bone marrow is highly nutritious when combined with vegetables and white meat. I will admit, I'm impressed by your diet, Your Majesty."
"Please call me Marie, Archer." Marie told the man just like how she had told everyone else the previous times.
Except this time, it was different. Archer grinned at her, and then with the ease of a man taking a breath, he gave his response.
"No."
[Archer is proving once again why he's the GOAT. He doesn't fall madly in love with someone just because they are pretty. ]
[What a Chad.]
[Beaumains: I think I will never understand the slang of the other world. ]
[CasCu: You and me both. The throne gives me definitions, so they are legitimate terms that our humanity will develop in the future, but the way they speak nonsensical words in a way that makes sense still pisses me off. ]
Marie pouted at the man, who simply shook his head.
"Are you going to eat, or are you just going to sit there and pout like a child?"
Marie gave a haughty humph before she dug her spoon into the meat and then ate it. She froze.
Marie's eyes shot open in surprise, and a pleasant smile stretched on her face. Then she gracefully began to eat more.
Noticing her reaction, Archer nodded in satisfaction, then turned his attention to the rest of the table, who seemed to be eating their food with gusto. Then he heard the voice of the famous conductor speak up.
"I've never had beef bourguignon before, but I must say, this is quite delightful. My compliments to the chef… Archer, was it? Is there a chance you would be willing to share your true name with us, since everyone but you has revealed theirs?" Amadeus bluntly asked the man, who only shook his head.
"Afraid not. Not even my master knows my True Name. It is not something that I deem important, nor is it something that will gain you any advantage against me, as I am a servant of the future beyond my master's time."
"How convenient and advantageous. Such an identity would make you very dangerous and unpredictable in a Grail War." Amadeus mused as he took another spoonful.
"Not by much. Due to my recency, I pale in comparison to many of the powerhouses out there, like King Arthur." Archer said, with a bit of soft humility in his voice when he spoke of the king.
Amadeus let out a playful laugh. "I do not think many could claim to be on equal footing with the King of Knights. He is considered one of the strongest servants for a reason."
Archer was going to respond to the man; however, their conversation was interrupted by Marie's voice.
"Monsieur… would you perhaps be interested in becoming my personal chef?" Marie asked the red archer in a serious tone.
[Huh, so even with a food she disliked being served to her, she still loved it enough to offer Archer a job? Sasuga Red Boner Guy-sama. ]
Archer gave the queen a light, formal bow. "While I am flattered to be offered to cook for royalty, I will have to decline. Cooking is a hobby of mine; my main focus is serving my master as his servant."
"Oh… is there truly no way I can convince you to cook for me?" Marie asked with a pleading tone in her voice.
"Oh boy, Marie seems to have marked you, Archer. You might want to be careful, because it is nearly impossible for her to give up on something she wishes to acquire."
Archer heard the information from the smug conductor and gave a hum of consideration. Then he looked at Ritsuka, who was listening to the conversation with one ear perked up.
"Perhaps if you make a temporary contract with my master—"
"Consider it done." Marie said without hesitation, a move that caused the dinner table to fall silent.
Marie then stood up from her seat and calmly walked towards Ritsuka, who was currently mid-bite in his soft bread roll that had come with his stew.
She stood before him and leaned in closer to him, then asked.
"Will you accept me as your servant?"
Ritsuka swallowed his food so that he could give his reply, "Sure, I do not mind." As soon as those words left his lips, he felt a soft, warm press on his cheek.
Blood rushed to his ears, turning them red as he realized that Marie was kissing him on the cheek.
Then he felt it.
A bond between master and servant is forming, one between him and Marie Antoinette.
The kiss seemed to have lasted a moment longer before he felt her lips leave his cheek.
"The contract has been finalized. I will now be in your care, Master~." She said this while winking at him.
[Bunny_Aachan: Holy- that was hot! Master, you lucky bastard, you!! (≧▽≦) ]
[Heart0f6old: Man, I wish that were me… (ಥ_ಥ) ]
After the contract came to an end, she turned around to look at a bewildered Archer.
"I have held my end of the bargain, so now you will have to do the same with yours." She playfully stuck her tongue out at him, like he had fallen into a trap she had set up beforehand.
Archer just sighed in resignation, "Very well. So long as you remain in a contract with him, I will make what you want."
"Then in that case, since Marie formed a contract with Ritsuka, then so will I." Ritsuka, hearing Amadeus utter these words, abruptly backed away in fear. Nearly backwards, as he vehemently refused to receive a kiss from the man. The conductor merely rolled his eyes. "Do not worry, I am not as affectionate as Marie, so I will not kiss you. A mere acknowledgement will be ok."
Ritsuka narrowed his eyes, doubting the man's words and searching his face for any signs of deception. Finding none, he decided to agree to his proposal.
"Ok. Welcome aboard, then, Mozart."
Mozart nodded, pleased with his approval. "Then the contract is sealed."
Suddenly, Amadeus noticed something in his peripheral vision.
"What in God's name is that?"
"You saw it too, Amadeus? I thought I was seeing things." Marie asked him as she too focused on the floating camera.
[Crap!! They spotted us!! Everyone hide!! ]
[*Hides in a box* ]
[*Lathers face and body with lemon juice.* ]
[*waves hands around* You didn't see anything.]
"Oh right… I forgot you guys would be able to see it too."
The duo turned to him, both of the expecting him to explain the unexplained phenomena happening in front of them.
'Welp, here goes nothing.'
"Well, I wanted to wait until after dinner for me to reveal it to everyone, but it seems like I have no other choice."
"I've been keeping something secret from all of you from the very beginning. Something which, now that we are all allies, you should know."
The people who weren't in the know were confused by his words, and so he clarified.
"There is someone else, or rather a bunch of people, that I haven't introduced yet."
"Do these people have something to do with that orb floating above our heads?" Amadeus asked, not surprised by the confession.
"Yes. They are."
"Who are these people, and why did you keep them a secret?" Marie asked with a tilt of her head.
"It's a bit complicated to explain, but if you'll bear with me, I'll try and explain it the best way I can."
Seeing that everyone had their rapt attention on him, he felt the courage to proceed.
And so he opened his mouth and began his explanation.
✦✧✦
"And that's all I have to say about that." Ritsuka finished his long explanation with a quote from one of his favorite movies.
Although, whether the servants were aware of it was a different matter.
"Well, that was not something I expected." Amadeus confessed.
"So, just to make sure I heard correctly, you say you are being followed around by that floating camera and box of text everywhere you go?"
"Yes."
"And that this camera is not only capable of relaying information to you that should be impossible to obtain, but it's also showing our private conversations wherever you are present or wherever the camera pleases to go to tens of thousands of people, whom you call Chat, that are from an alternate world that you thought was fiction?"
Ritsuka winced. "Once again, yes."
"One last thing, based on the information you revealed, is this Chat the one responsible for summoning the angel that descended from the sky that kissed Fafnir and the strange magical attacks that appeared earlier?"
Ritsuka felt Isabelle, Marie, and Jeanne's gazes land on him. He tried not to bring that topic up in the conversation, but he was naive to believe someone like Mozart would not be able to connect the dots after telling him all that he did. But thankfully, he didn't need to explain the fact that the angel was fake.
"Yes. It's true." He admitted it.
"Hm, how interesting."
Ritsuka nearly shot up from his seat at the unexpected answer, "Huh?! Wait… you aren't mad?!"
"Why should I be?" Mozart asked him, one of his eyebrows raised at his behavior.
"Well, because I'm clearly recording you against your will by being around you?"
"Monsieur Ritsuka, I may be a man from the past, but even I know that if your superiors in Chaldea can transmit live communications from different eras, then they must also be recording everything we speak. So it was unavoidable even if you didn't have these powers." The man stated this while sipping his wine.
"Well, he's not wrong. Since singularities return everything to normal after we resolve them, we need proof that we actually resolved them. What better way to provide proof than a live video feed? "
Oh. He never really thought about it that way.
"See? Your boss admits it, so you have no need to worry. Also, do keep in mind that I am a professional conductor. So I am used to being observed by large groups of people for long periods of time. In fact, your streaming power and your communications are different since there's more of a separation between us and our observers compared to the usual ones we have to deal with."
"He's right. While I hate having people watch me eat, it's a different experience to just having a camera and an invisible audience watching us." Marie added, also not bothered by the revelation.
"Besides, you can always redirect their attention elsewhere when you truly want a private conversation with someone, can't you? So no harm, no foul. In fact, I'd say that it feels a bit great to have an audience watch our heroic feats while listening to my musical tunes." Amadeus finished his explanation while moving his baton around in the air for emphasis.
[I think this is one of the first times we've seen someone aside from astolfo just plainly dismiss the downsides of becoming an unexpected guest in Gudao's stream. ]
[I feel like the sentiment might be more common than we realize, since a lot of Heroic spirits were more than likely famous people who are used to having many eyes observing their every move.]
[Mozart also made a fair point. Chaldea is always watching. So whatever happens in the singularity would have never been secret in the first place. And unlike Chaldea, we have an off button. ]
"Huh… I was expecting you guys to be more offended by this breach in privacy, but I guess I was worrying about nothing!!" Suddenly, Ritsuka felt a pair of delicate clawed hands hold him by his mystic code and pull him sideways.
His eyes met his assailant's and saw it was Elizabeth Bathory, staring at him with a frown on her face.
Kriemhild and Archer manifested their blades in unison.
Mash, meanwhile, glared at Elizabeth as she manhandled her senpai.
[Oh shit!! I barely saw her move!! ]
[PerfectlySaneHex: Let him go, you fake idol!! ]
The atmosphere grew tense once again, and this time, it was all aimed towards the lancer who had aggressively grabbed hold of the Last Master of Chaldea.
She leaned in closer and spoke, "Puppy!! Why didn't you tell me you were a hot-shot influencer?!"
Her jubilant words cut through the tension like a katana cutting through a swallow.
"Sorry?" Ritsuka offered an apology, but Elizabeth narrowed her eyes, telling him it was not enough.
Then her frown turned upside down, and she gave him a devilish grin. "If you are truly sorry, then form a contract with me too! I wish to see my new piggies face to face!"
"Ok?" He had no idea who she was referring to when she said 'piggies,' but she was offering a contract, so he accepted.
The simple response was enough for Elizabeth to flash him a smile as their newly formed bond flared into existence.
"While it is only a temporary contract, I am still satisfied with it, my new manager!!"
"Manager?" Ritsuka tilted his head, wondering if he had heard her correctly.
[AltariaFloof: Gudao as an idol manager? I never thought I would see the day. ]
[Is he getting paid for this? ]
[AltariaFloof: I doubt Elizabeth has the funds to pay him. She might have been a noble, but she doesn't have the capital attached to her titles anymore due to the fact that she's dead. ]
[I keep forgetting that heroic spirits are ghosts. They are so lifelike and nothing like normal ghosts, or wraiths as they call them. ]
"Of course, every idol needs a manager, and you qualify perfectly for it."
She let go of Ritsuka and stared at the newly visible camera with stars in her eyes.
She then did a little spin and then came to a stop, her arms stretched out and slanted at an angle as she flashed her cutest smile at the camera.
"Hello everyone, my name is Elizabeth Bathory, the cute and adorable dragon super idol, and I look forward to winning your hearts!! And just to commemorate our meeting, I will sing you all a song!"
[Eon_Red: Yay!! ]
[DragonMasterLance: The body is willing, but the flesh is spongy and weak. ]
[DragoonRuleZ: Gold… Did you steal Lance's Twitch account? ]
[Heart0f6old: No? That's all, Lance. Also, bro, just do what I do and put earplugs on. She doesn't sound too bad once you fiddle with the volume. ]
[DragonMasterLance: Much appreciated. ]
[DragoonRuleZ: ( ⚆ _ ⚆ ) ]
"Oh God, please don't. As a fellow performer, I cannot allow you to damage our temporary contractor's viewers with your harpy wails."
[Eon_Red: Aww… ]
[DragoonRuleZ: Phew… ]
"Butt out, Marie's piggy! I'm trying to have a debut here!! And how dare you!! My delightful voice will rake him more views, not like your dusty, old, and boring tunes."
"As if a pop idol would be cultured enough to understand the culture and passion that goes into writing and performing classical music."
"Oh dear, there they go again." Marie said it like she had already seen this happen thousands of times.
"Does this happen often?" Mash asked Marie.
"Yes, it does. I try to have them get along, but I am afraid that there's not much I can do once music and singing come into play. So I just let them get it out of their systems for a few minutes before I step in."
"By the way, Ritsuka, does this chat of yours just text, or can they speak like your Director of Chaldea?" Marie asked him, to which he confirmed with a nod.
"Oh, they can definitely speak. Say hi to Marie Chat."
[TTS has been enabled. ]
The sound of a ping noise caught everyone off guard, which actually stopped the two servants from their spat.
[Duchess-Diantha has donated 100 bits ]
["Bonjour, Marie! We are Chat, and it's nice to meet you!"]
Oh neat, Diantha was in his chat tonight. She usually never shows up due to being too busy with her acting career. It also doesn't surprise him that she chose to speak in Marie's native language, despite the fact that everyone has universal translators turned on.
"Oh, you speak French?!! Bonjour, new friends!!" She waved both of her hands enthusiastically at the camera.
["In our home, the French language is known as Kalosian, and it is spoken by the people of Kalos, which is our world's equivalent to France."]
Marie placed a hand on her chin and looked to the sky as she tried to remember a fleeting memory. "If I recall correctly, 'Kallos' is Greek for 'beauty,' is it not?"
["Yes, we believe so. Ritsuka, or Gudao as we know him, told us that was what our country's name is in that language."]
"A fitting name for a parallel version of France. And how have you all been enjoying my beautiful country?" Marie asked the orb with enthusiasm. She had clearly adapted to her post-Twitch reality quite well.
["A bit uncanny, to be honest. A lot of us recognize much of the geography of your home in yours, and it has been quite… scary and sad to see a beautiful place that looks like our home be reduced to ashes."]
Marie's smile fell a bit at the reminder of what was happening to her country. "Yes, it is quite sad to see such horrors, but don't you worry, we'll hunt down the ones responsible and make them pay!"
Ritsuka honestly hoped they would be able to do so. He was still racking his brain for solutions to the Siegfried problem.
He let out a yawn, a bit louder than he intended, as all this thinking and damage control was really exhausting.
"Master, I believe it would be a good time for you to head to sleep. We have a lot of ground to cover tomorrow. You can leave Chat with me if you wish."
"Oh right, I guess I did spend a bit too much time on my explanation. I barely noticed the time. Thank you for the reminder, Archer. Night, everyone."
The group all wished him a good night, and simultaneously, he transferred control of the stream to Archer.
[GARcher is now the host of the stream. ]
[Gn Gudao!! Sleep well!! ]
He was about to leave, but a stray thought came to mind and he looked at his chat, "Chat, one more thing… Be sure to behave. "
[Frisk donated 100 bits]
["No promises~"]
Ritsuka rolled his eyes before he headed toward his tent.
✦✧✦
Jeanne D'Arc POV
After sending her mother and Ritsuka to bed, all the servants decided to patrol the forest in pairs.
Kriemhild, Archer, and Marie had stayed in camp to look after the camp.
Amadeus had gone off with Mash, while she and Elizabeth had gone on the opposite side.
Should anything happen, one of them would stay behind to confront the danger while the other sped back to warn the others.
"Hey, when are you going to tell her?"
Jeanne stopped in her tracks, caught off guard, as this was the first time Elizabeth had spoken to her since their walk had started.
Hearing her question, she knew exactly who she was referring to, but she nonetheless asked for clarification like she had no idea who she was talking about. "Who is this person you are referring to, Elizabeth?"
"Don't play dumb with me. You know exactly who I'm talking about. When are you going to tell your mother that you aren't alive?" The red super idol said with her arms crossed.
"I know we aren't supposed to involve civilians in Grail wars, or whatever crazy scenario is happening here, but your mother will be tagging along with us until we drop her off somewhere. She needs to know."
A painful weight settled in her stomach; she wanted to say it was the beef stew Archer had made earlier, but she knew better.
"I haven't gotten a good chance to tell her." Jeanne told her patrol buddy, a term Mash had taught them to describe their partners, with a bit of hesitancy.
"So what you're saying is, you got cold feet and chickened out of saying anything."
She hit the nail on the head with that assumption.
"That's a blunt way to express it, but I agree."
Another lull of silence fell between the two, and so they continued their patrol like usual.
After a few minutes of silence, Elizabeth spoke again.
"Your mother is constantly staring at me."
Jeanne once again looked at Elizabeth, who had a serious expression on her face.
"I usually don't mind the attention, but it's getting a bit annoying having her cower over my obviously demonic form rather than shower me with adulation. So I'm warning you, if you don't tell her what's going on, I will."
Fear and anger coursed through her veins when she heard that statement from the dragon idol, "You wouldn't!"
"I would!! You know, as well as I do, that keeping her in the dark is only going to bring danger to her. Elizabeth narrowed her light blue eyes in judgment.
"I-I will think about it."
Elizabeth scoffed at her answer, "Don't spend too much time on it. The longer you waste time, the heavier the guilt will be on your shoulders when she inevitably pisses off the wrong servant with her words of righteous anger, and you won't be there to save her."
Elizabeth finished what she had to say and kept walking, uncaring that she left her behind as she pondered her words.