Crownslayer saw it—the way emotions seemed to be etched into Jeanne's golden eyes as she spoke. Those emotions filled Crownslayer with a faint sense of terror.
In that moment, she caught a glimpse of a frenzied avenger. The sheer intensity of that gaze sent a cold shiver down her spine after just a single look. Crownslayer had never expected such a gentle and kind person to possess such a side, and she couldn't begin to imagine what Jeanne had endured in the past. However, she did not pry into Jeanne's secrets; she simply continued to follow behind her.
Jeanne herself hadn't realized how terrifying her current state appeared to others. Usually, she rarely exhibited this emotional state—after all, being consumed by such overwhelming hatred and resentment was not a pleasant experience. However, this served as good news for her: even if her identity were to be exposed in the future, if she manifested in this form, no one would ever believe that she and the Saintess were the same person.
Along the way, Crownslayer didn't tell Jeanne exactly where their destination was, but she led her through countless streets and alleys. The route was so convoluted that even Jeanne, who was becoming familiar with the terrain, felt a bit lost.
"The person you're looking for lives in this cluster of houses, right? The security in this wretched place is more than just strict. How many people were there when you sneaked in quietly last time?"
After circling through various corners with Jeanne for a long time, Crownslayer finally arrived near the enemy she had been obsessing over. At this moment, her eyes were shot through with blood vessels. She had indeed come for an answer, but just as Jeanne had said, her gaze was primarily filled with hatred alongside her confusion. Lyudmila simply could not let go of that hate.
Even if what Kal'tsit told her was true—that Sergei had betrayed her father only to protect his own children—that was no reason for Lyudmila to forgive him! Furthermore, according to Kal'tsit, without her intervention, even Lyudmila wouldn't have escaped the clutches of the Chernobog City Lord. She had to ask and understand the truth of this matter!
"Jeanne, there's something... I want to ask you."
Lyudmila thought for a long time before finally speaking to Jeanne, who was ahead of her. They were currently waiting for a gap in the patrol rotation, providing ample time to consult Jeanne on a question.
"What is it? Speak up!"
Hearing Jeanne's reply, Lyudmila took several deep breaths before asking, "It's... about those people... who once caused you to harbor such hatred... what was their final outcome?"
"Burned."
The answer was concise and dry. It didn't exceed Crownslayer's expectations, yet Jeanne hadn't even blinked when she said it, as if she were discussing something that had nothing to do with her.
"If I said I came here to kill their entire family, and that it might involve innocent people... would you step in to stop me then?"
Crownslayer watched Jeanne's expression intently. Over the last two days, she hadn't quite figured out Jeanne's temperament, but there was one thing she was certain of: Jeanne despised taking out one's anger on the innocent.
"While I don't approve of such revenge, there are some hatreds that truly cannot be forgiven with a single sentence. As long as your vengeance doesn't spill over onto those who have absolutely nothing to do with the matter, I won't step in to block your path."
Jeanne didn't intend to forcibly stop Lyudmila's revenge. Hatred was not something that could be dissolved by a few words from a bystander; having experienced the power of the Alter form, Jeanne understood this better than anyone.
"However, I must warn you about one thing. Do not let hatred fill your soul entirely. It will cause you to lose your reason and twist your perception, turning you into the very thing you loathe the most. That outcome is never beautiful."
Jeanne didn't know how much of this Lyudmila took to heart, but if that overflowing hatred were unleashed without control, the result would likely be the birth of a demon named Crownslayer.
At that moment, a slight flaw finally appeared in the tight security surrounding the house. Seizing the opportunity, Jeanne grabbed the nearby Crownslayer and began to sprint forward.
Crownslayer was dazed by Jeanne's sudden move, but she had no time to think, because in the next instant, Jeanne hit full speed. She felt a blast of violent wind hit her, so fast she couldn't even open her eyes. The air felt like a solid wall crashing against her body, or like being pinned down by a giant boulder, rendering her unable to move.
Lyudmila had no capacity to think of anything else; she could only exert every ounce of strength to resist the drag of the air. Even while studying in Siracusa, she had only heard the most elite assassins mention it once: that if you were carried along by a Kazimierz Silver Lance Pegasus on a march, you wouldn't even be able to withstand the air resistance without a high-tier physique.
She finally understood what those words meant. She just hadn't expected Jeanne's speed to be even more terrifying than a Silver Lance Pegasus; even with her training, she could barely handle the resistance.
To Lyudmila's relief, Jeanne's high-speed dash didn't last long before they stopped. By the time she realized they had halted, they were already next to the house.
"Phew... next time you sprint, at least give me a heads-up so I can be mentally prepared... No, there won't be a next time. I am definitely not letting you carry me while running again."
Crownslayer grumbled to Jeanne while suppressing the physical pain and nausea. Although these reactions weren't severe enough to impede her movement, the suddenness of the maneuver without warning was still difficult for her body to adjust to.
"That's not a certainty. There's a high probability we'll have to do it again when we leave. Besides, time was tight; the opportunity came before I could tell you."
Jeanne comforted the grumbling Crownslayer and led her quickly into the building. They had worked hard to avoid the outer patrols; it would be a waste to be discovered now.
After a while, Lyudmila felt her body recover sufficiently, though the thought of having to experience that speed again when leaving made her heart skip a beat. However, she was finally inside. It seemed she would find out today whether the things Kal'tsit told her were true or false.
At the thought, Lyudmila tightened her grip on her daggers, planning to help Jeanne deal with the patrolling soldiers outside... wait! Lyudmila suddenly realized that Jeanne was gone. She must have left while Lyudmila was recovering. Where had she gone? How could she just leave her here alone?
Thinking this, Lyudmila pushed open the door and stepped out, only to see the "corpses" of soldiers lying scattered across the floor in every direction. Looking closer, they still had faint breath; they had simply been knocked unconscious.
"Although the Hassan seniors taught that the perfect assassination means having no witnesses—which means killing everyone on-site—my strength ensures they won't wake up before tomorrow noon. This should also count as a so-called perfect assassination. Ehe~"