Jeanne Alter's tears were like a sudden storm.
They came with ferocious intensity, as if to wash away all the grievances and injustices of the world, extinguishing the flames of anger that had been burning within the witch.
But just as swiftly, they faded silently.
In an instant... the wind stopped, the rain ceased, the clouds parted, and the sun emerged.
A radiant smile bloomed on the witch's tear-streaked face, a vision of the world's most beautiful scenery.
But alas, the moment was fleeting.
"I... I wasn't crying."
"It's just... the smoke from the fire got to me!"
She tried to play tough, even with undeniable evidence before her... she was like that, her mouth the only hard part of her.
"Alright, let's head back!"
"Just a minor setback... we haven't lost yet!"
Jeanne Alter wiped her face again, and that familiar, brazen smile returned.
... Proof that even fools have their strengths.
If Artoria had faced a betrayal from all her Knights of the Round Table... her resolve might have crumbled by now, right?
...
Alaric brought Jeanne Alter back to the Orleans castle.
Elizabeth and Kiyohime, who had been waiting for nearly two hours, greeted Jeanne Alter with a new surprise.
"Oh, you two are here?!"
Her voice was filled with joy... but she quickly realized this "surprise" didn't fit her usual cold persona. She shifted her expression, continuing in a disdainful tone:
"You've seen the state of this place. I've got nothing to offer you."
"You'd better leave quick. Those traitors are probably scouring the world for me. If you don't want to get dragged into this, get out now."
Jeanne Alter tried to "shoo" Them away again.
Alaric, hearing this, rolled his eyes.
Her "tsundere" personality was something else... sometimes even she couldn't control the words spilling from her mouth.
... She clearly wanted them to stay but was worried her situation would drag them down.
Thankfully, Elizabeth and Kiyohime weren't the type to care about such things.
Elizabeth was overly outgoing and self-centered, automatically filtering out anything she didn't like and forcing interactions with others.
As for Kiyohime... she appeared to be a cool, refined maiden, but was actually a complete obsessive. She only believed what she wanted to believe, her favorite approach being "you say your thing, I'll do mine"... a strange personality that perfectly complemented Jeanne Alter's "tough talk, soft heart" demeanor.
"I love this castle! Only a place like this is worthy of a beautiful idol like me!"
"I've decided... I'm moving in!"
Ignoring Jeanne Alter's words, Elizabeth dashed through the castle.
She picked a room filled with art collections, claiming it as her new home.
"Those traitors... they don't sound very friendly."
Kiyohime, meanwhile, was pondering the "enemy."
Here's the thing: she was a Servant summoned by this land to correct its distorted history... but as a Counter Hero in the Berserker class, her compatibility with "proper" Servants was abysmal, often resulting in "fight first, talk later."
Now, hearing that those "justice-filled" Servants had formed a proper team, she decided instantly... she wanted nothing to do with those sanctimonious types.
All those Holy Kings, Heroes, Saints... a monster like her dealing with them? She'd rather face death!
"I'll stay here then."
Kiyohime chose a room she liked.
It was on the first floor, next to the garden, with a window overlooking the scenery.
"Hey, you two, are you even listening to me?!"
Watching the two monster lolis ignore her and pick their rooms, Jeanne Alter was exasperated.
... But only exasperated.
She was annoyed at their disobedience, yet the outcome touched her. She, who thought herself alone and betrayed by the world, not only had the little dragon who hadn't abandoned her in her darkest moment but also gained two "companions" who could now be called friends.
"Alright, it's settled! To celebrate moving in, we'll hold an all-night concert!"
"Shut it, you umbrella lizard! Sing, and I'll toss you out!"
"Pfft, you country bumpkin squirrel. Just admit you're jealous of my beautiful voice!"
In the empty city, the brightly lit castle echoed with the girls' playful banter, injecting new life into a world steeped in deathly silence.
"Maybe this isn't so bad?"
Jeanne Alter sat on a soft, comfortable chair, rubbing her head.
She was still plotting her revenge.
But at that moment...
Knock, knock, knock...
A sudden knock came from the castle's grand doors.
A knock, at this hour? In a city reduced to ruins?
Jeanne Alter, who had been lounging, sat up straight.
Kiyohime and Elizabeth, mid-bicker, stopped and turned.
All eyes focused on the ornate door.
Knock, knock, knock...
The knocking continued.
Along with it, a girl's voice in conversation.
"Seems like no one's here, Mash?"
"No, Senpai, there's definitely someone. I can sense magical energy inside."
"Then it must be a Servant!"
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