Jeanne: "Here I go! May the Lord's protection guide us!"
Jeanne: "It's fine! If you don't think it hurts, it doesn't!"
"Protect my comrades!"
"I'll fight with all I've got! Don't worry—I'm fine!"
Jeanne Alter: "Shut up! Why are there two of you!?"
Dialogue
"W-W-Waaaaah!"
The Resplendent King's Iron Steed roared at 200 km/h, blazing toward the leyline's coordinates.
A new sidecar had been added to accommodate Jeanne d'Arc, making them a party of four. But the bike was a Noble Phantasm—no issue at all.
"What's with that pathetic squealing?" Gilgamesh barked. "You received all the knowledge you needed upon summoning! Scared of a mere bike? Is that the mettle of a Ruler!?"
"I-I don't have much self-awareness as a Servant due to certain circumstances—!" Jeanne stammered.
"Stop talking! You'll bite your tongue!"
"You're the one who spoke to me first—! Even a warhorse doesn't go this fast—!"
"Jeanne-san, stay strong!" Mash called.
"It's about getting used to it!" Rikka added. "You'll manage!"
"You're all so brave—!" Jeanne gasped. "I-I'm about to lose consciousness—!"
"Hold it together!" Gilgamesh snapped. "Fall asleep here, and you'll be flung off!"
"Noooo—!"
The Gilgil-Machine tore across the plains in a straight line, leaving even the Saint's cries in its dust.
"Oh, right—Doctor!" Gilgamesh called.
"What!?" Romani's voice crackled. "Tracking you at this speed is a nightmare! Can you ease up!?"
"Once we reach the leyline, explain to these fools why this is a Singularity! And prep the supplies!"
"The way you're talking, you've got something planned, don't you!?"
"Trivial matters!" Gilgamesh said. "I'll be stepping away!"
For some reason—unknown even to himself—Gilgamesh felt a pressing need to act. A "preparation," as he called it.
"At that speed, you'll be there in under ten minutes!" Olga Marie said. "Gil, be careful!"
"Of course!" he replied. "Don't underestimate a Rider's prowess!"
"By the way, why do you even have Rider aptitude!?" Romani asked.
"Don't ask foolish questions!" Gilgamesh roared. "Why am I a Rider? Obvious!"
He cranked the throttle to full, the golden steed reaching its maximum speed.
"Because I am the king who rode the grandest throne!"
"What's that supposed to mean!?"
A throne as a Rider's mount… It made sense. If anyone could claim Rider status, it was this king.
Faster than the setting sun, the Gilgil-Machine thundered into the forest. Its onboard defenses obliterated the enemies swarming the leyline, securing the site without a hitch.
Gently slapping Jeanne's cheeks to rouse her from her dazed state, Gilgamesh instructed Mash and the Master to discuss their next steps while he established a summoning circle.
Now, Chaldea's Servants and supplies could arrive, creating a safer base.
The provisions were top-tier: sleeping bags, portable shower rooms, and even Emiya personally cooking meals. Jeanne's wide-eyed astonishment was adorable, but that was a secret to keep.
As for Gilgamesh, he wandered away from the group, searching for a suitable "leyline pulse."
"Hm… this spot will do," he said.
"What are you up to?" Romani asked. "Not interested in Emiya's cooking?"
"Give my share to Mash and the Master," Gilgamesh replied. "Let them rest. The road ahead is long."
He reached into the golden ripples of his treasury, pulling out a vessel.
"—Is that a Holy Grail!?" Romani gasped.
"Quiet! Don't shout in my ear," Gilgamesh said. "No need to worry—it's not activated yet."
He drove the cup into the ground.
"What are you doing!?"
"It's a receiver," Gilgamesh explained. "To absorb the Singularity created by a Holy Grail."
"Absorb it…?"
"Yes. When the Singularity is corrected, this place will vanish—like a vessel overflowing."
A vanishing Singularity—would it be as if it never existed?
No. Something would remain. Something to seize.
His vessel and soul urged him to prepare—for something critical, something deadly.
What it was… he couldn't yet see.
"This vessel will take it all in," he said. "Converting the Singularity's essence into magical energy."
A receptacle to catch the spilling resources.
"If it succeeds, it'll create a massive magical core—a Holy Grail brimming with power, a reserve to fuel my full strength."
For whom was this power meant?
"You can stockpile like that!?" Romani asked, stunned.
Even Gilgamesh was surprised. A thrifty King of Heroes?
"Naturally," he said. "Power comes from reserves. I spare no expense, but know I'm a man who hoards."
"Wow… you keep surprising me," Romani said.
"As you should be," Gilgamesh replied. "Mortals can't fathom a king's intent. I am the freest king in existence!"
"I'm not gonna argue," Romani said. "Free-spirited king, how about a break? You're working too hard."
Romani's kindness warmed him. A good man, checking in like that.
"No need," Gilgamesh said. "You're doing well, so I'll fulfill my duties. Tell the staff to nap—you too. Overwork breeds resentment."
"I'm fine! I was dozing earlier!"
"Then you're on midnight maintenance," Gilgamesh said.
"Decided just like that!?" Romani laughed. "Any overtime pay…?"
"Take it up with Marie," Gilgamesh said.
"No chance, damn it! Fine—I'm happy with red bean paste, sweet or chunky!"
"Simple pleasures, eh?"
The light banter was a comfort to the ears.
The night deepened.
When all was quiet, one question burned in Gilgamesh's mind.
"Country girl," he called to Jeanne.
"Good evening," she replied. "Up late, King of Heroes?"
"Yes. Before I rest, I have one question."
Sorry for dragging you into personal matters, King of Heroes.
But he had to ask.
"Why?"
"?"
"Why didn't you hate them?"
He needed to know.
Betrayed. Scorned. Abandoned.
Degraded. Humiliated. Burned.
Forsaken by allies, by those she swore to protect—yet she never abandoned her faith.
What drove her? What kept her going?
This Singularity's Jeanne was theirs. He wouldn't interfere.
So he asked Chaldea's Jeanne.
"Answer me."
"Oh, is that all?"
She cleared her throat.
"Because it was the life I chose, the ending I wanted."
"—"
"It began with a revelation, but everything after—destruction included—was my choice, my desired path."
"I took up the flag to save others. I fought to save them."
"Even if the end wasn't pretty, I was content."
"The France I protected lives on, far into the future."
She fought for France.
That France's legacy endured into the distant future.
That was enough, Jeanne said. She connected what she cherished to the future.
Even if it meant her death.
"What stubborn resilience," Gilgamesh said. "Are you a fortress or something?"
"Am I?" she laughed. "You could do it too, you know."
"—?"
"Find it. What you want to protect."
"Something worth staking everything on."
"…"
"Hah! Don't ask me foolish questions, country girl… No, Jeanne, was it?"
"Jeanne d'Arc! Jeanne d'Arc!"
"Quiet! We're done. Sleep!"
"The summoning circle's set. Brace yourself—I'll work you to the bone as an absolute defense!"
"Bring it on! Good night!"
The connection cut off with a snap.
"What a noisy girl… Her upbringing shows," Gilgamesh muttered.
"…Time to sleep."
Her final words lingered, as if spoken to his soul.
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