"Ah! Nura and Lancer have contacted me!" Gudako stood up, looking at everyone.
"Really, Senpai? What did they say?" Mash asked, along with Fou, both staring at her.
[I hope they bring good news,] Roman's voice chimed in.
"Well, they said there's good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?"
"Good news first!" Marie said cheerfully, while Jeanne sipped her water.
"They've found the Servant that Saint Martha mentioned! And he's a Saber!"
"Awesome! Having a Saber is just too perfect!"
"The bad news is he's on the verge of death after using his Noble Phantasm, and Nura's calling for help because he's fighting Emo Jeanne, who's going all out for some reason."
"..." [...]
"Alright, let's go, everyone! They've given us the location, and I need to get Nura back before that Emo Jeanne does something to him that'll get him killed!"
***
Clang!
Keng!
Boom!
Nura was starting to regret this.
This girl was both strong and relentless; the more they fought, the more disadvantaged he became.
She had a territorial buff from being in France, plus her Ruler class.
Though the Ruler class only nerfed her a bit—beyond detecting Servants' positions and knowing their classes, she couldn't learn their true names.
Or maybe my info's wrong, and I hope it's not.
"What's wrong, Assassin?! Don't get distracted!"
The war banner slammed straight into my sword, cracking it even further.
I was surprised it was holding up so well; its durability was astonishing for an unnamed Noble Phantasm.
I went invisible again, and she immediately countered by unleashing flames that spread everywhere.
Damn, she's figured out how to counter me. In another two or three minutes, I'll be done for.
I reappeared behind her and slashed at her.
She spun her banner and whipped it across my face, sending me flying.
She stomped the ground, and spears erupted right where I was about to land.
I twisted mid-air, slashing hard at the spear tips to bounce myself upward.
Landing, I wiped the sweat from my brow and glared at her.
"You've got a few tricks up your sleeve, I'll give you that. Beyond your impressive presence concealment and that fire-spitting gourd you're carrying, all you've got left is that sword on the verge of breaking."
"Hey, don't say it like that—at least I've given you a little trouble, right?"
"Yeah, and I've already figured you out."
She smirked, pointing her sword straight at me.
"And earlier, what was it you said? Something about killing me if we met again, right?"
"And yet here you are in this state for our second encounter—how ironic!"
"Miss, you're making me sad with that."
"Sad? That's on you. I remember every word you said to me, you know. Now it's my turn to throw the exact same ones back at you."
"Oh? So you want me to find someone to care about all my own? Sounds pretty sentimental."
"Whatever. First things first."
The whole area suddenly heated up, the scenery shifting entirely.
"...Oh, a Noble Phantasm," my face darkened like a storm, while Jalter's smile grew even brighter.
"Luminosité Eternelle!" she declared loudly, raising her banner high.
The surrounding flames poured into her, radiating an intensely powerful fiery aura.
It was completely different from normal Jeanne's Noble Phantasm—this one only buffed her alone.
Same name, but worlds apart in usage and meaning.
"..." Nura raised his sword, his black pupils dilating as his golden eyes began to glow.
Jalter raised her sword too, preparing to strike.
The two stood there for a moment, then charged.
A slicing sound rang out—in an instant, their blades had crossed paths.
"..." Jalter slowly sheathed her sword and turned to look at Nura.
"..." Nura stared at his own blade.
It was completely shattered.
Slash!!
Blood sprayed from his shoulder, pouring down like rain.
"Losing at what I'm best at... that's rough," Nura laughed, then collapsed.
But before he could collapse, Jalter grabbed him by the collar.
"I win," Jalter said, smirking at Nura.
"Yes, you win. You can kill me if you want; I wouldn't mind dying at the hands of a beautiful girl—except for that fox girl."
"Talking nonsense. I will definitely kill you... When that happens, you won't be serving my enemies anymore."
Nura raised an eyebrow.
"Don't get it? When I say 'kill,' I mean killing your status as a Servant of another Master."
Wow, if you put it that way, how the hell am I supposed to know?
"Besides... Didn't you say you wanted me to find someone who cares about me?" She looked straight into my face.
"...Oh... Miss, my kindness was just a fleeting thing. Please don't misunderstand—I don't actually care about you—"
"Besides Gilles, you're the second one to speak to me with such genuine kindness—no hatred, no flattery, no admiration, just pure sincerity. I can feel it."
"No... Thinking about it, Gilles is obsessed and flatters me to the extreme, and I don't like that kind of thing."
"Miss, think it over. I don't think I can live up to—"
"Too much talk. You said you'd find one, right? Well, I've found one now. Are you still going to refuse?"
"Refuse? I don't like sharp-tongued, vicious girls. I like cute ones."
A sharp slap straight across Nura's face.
"So, are you saying I'm ugly?"
"You're very beautiful."
"Am I cute?"
"Not sure—actually, yeah, you are."
"Good, see? You do care about me!" Jalter laughed, then dragged me away.
"Hey, hey, where are you taking me?"
"To my kingdom. Gilles will probably have some way to make you my Servant."
"..."
She's innocently similar to Jeanne—just her thoughts are a bit unconventional.
No, maybe she's exactly like Jeanne, just walking a different path. Their essences aren't different at all.
Right after that, a crystal horse came charging toward the two of them. Jalter swung her war banner straight at it, smashing it to pieces.
She then turned to glare at the newcomers.
"YOU BASTARD! GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF MY HUSBAND RIGHT NOW!!!" Gudako's face twisted into a demonic snarl as she pointed straight at Jalter.
What's this? Coming to fight over a guy?
"Wow, she's exactly like our Jeanne—just a bit edgier!" Marie said, eyeing Jalter.
Jalter glanced at the exhausted pink-haired girl holding a shield, then at the girl wielding a flag identical to her own.
The two locked eyes—same face, but worlds apart in expression.
"You... You really look just like me," Jeanne said.
"Pfft, wrong. You should say you look like me," Jalter burst out laughing, her eyes dripping with disdain.
"Why... Why are you doing this?!" Jeanne demanded outright.
"Why? You know why. You knew it from the moment you were burned alive, didn't you?"
"But—"
"Say whatever you want. I'm not interested in a fool who believes in God like you... Or should I just kill you right now? Save myself the annoyance."
"Ayo, chill—calm down a bit," Nura interjected.
"Put my husband down! Or I'll chop off both your hands, you Emo Jeanne!"
"Husband? Do you have a wife?" Jalter asked Nura.
"No."
"Heh, no matter how you answer, I don't mind stealing people."
"WHAT?! DAMN NTR!!"
Gudako was so furious she looked like she was about to turn into a gorilla. She thrust out her hand, Command Seals glowing.
"CHEN GONG! GET HERE NOW!"
In an instant, Chen Gong—mid-sip of his tea—materialized in front of everyone.
"Oya? Seems like Master wants me to do something?"
"Chen Gong, activate your Noble Phantasm! Sacrifice target is Mash!"
"Huh????" Mash panicked, her voice cracking.
"Oh? Isn't you two are friends?."
"Don't worry—she's the heroine. She won't die."
Jalter stood there waiting for them, then casually tossed Nura aside like a ragdoll.
"Assassin, take him away."
"As you command," a female voice echoed, hoisting Nura over her shoulder and vanishing with him.
"Ah! You bastard! You've kidnapped Nura!!! Chen Gong, use it now! I'll pump you with 300% NP!!!"
"I have a devoted Master," Chen Gong said with a grin.
"Let's see what you've got. I haven't forgotten what you did to us," Jalter said, smirking.
"Senpai!!!!" Mash wailed, on the verge of tears as she stared at her own life being loaded like ammo into Chen Gong's Noble Phantasm.