I, Fujimaru Ritsuka, am back with a max-level character!

"Yes, there will be, there will definitely be an opportunity."

Fujimaru Ritsuka smiled gently and nodded, then looked up at the sky.

A gust of wind blew by, then a fierce gale swept through.

That was a top-tier fantasy species that could frighten even Elizabeth and Kiyohime.

Above its head, proudly riding the dragon, is Fujimaru Ritsuka's servant.

The girl watched coldly as Kiyohime stood beside Fujimaru Ritsuka.

"Hmph~ As expected, after being out of sight for a short while, some thief took advantage of the situation and broke in."

"You really are completely unprepared, Master."

"I thought it was someone else, but isn't this the mentally unstable Miss Kiyohime?"

It's the enemy!

The atmosphere was tense from the start.

Kiyohime sniffed.

This tastes exactly like the Master's taste before!

She was the cat who stole fish before Kiyohime and Master met!

Dragon Girl, gritted her teeth, her fur standing on end!

"You bastard, could you be...!"

"I don't have time to waste with you right now; I have more important things to do."

Jeanne Alter pursed her lips; she had no mood to argue with Kiyohime right now.

"Are you trying to run away?!"

Just as Kiyohime was about to say something, she saw that Jeanne Alter had already begun to act.

"Go, Fafnir!"

The girl gave the command to the black dragon.

"Roar----!"

The raging dragon roared, flapping its wings, before transforming into a black shadow.

"Hmm...Even if she is a high-ranking dragon, Kiyohime will defend her love with her life...Hmm."

But I'm so scared.

Kiyohime instinctively wanted to hug her Master.

Ding ding.

The outline of Fujimaru Ritsuka flashed twice.

"Hahahahahahahahahaha, I'm sorry, you stupid Kiyohime! I'm taking my Master with me now, ahahahahahahahahahahaha, I'm dying of laughter, how can there be such a stupid snake in the world!"

Fafnir carefully carried her male owner in her mouth, putting in the same level of care she would have when lighting candles on his birthday.

Master's safety = Jeanne Alter's happiness = Fafnir won't get beaten up.

Black Jeanne d'Arc left triumphantly.

"hateful---!"

"Kiyohime, Kiyohime will never give up, she will follow you to the ends of the earth, Master!"

A fierce flame burned in Kiyohime's clear eyes.

————————————————————

The meteorite's flames, like fire stolen from the heavens by Prometheus, relentlessly scorched the sea monster.

The sea monster possesses extraordinary regenerative abilities.

If it preys on living beings, it is practically immortal.

But it is not a creature like Majin Buu, which can only be destroyed at the cellular level.

A single, lethal attack on a city, or damage dealt at a rate greater than the rate of growth, is enough to inflict considerable damage.

Celestial magic, with its vast range and extraordinary power, is one of the best weapons to deal with this sea monster.

However, it cannot be confirmed that the sea monster can be completely destroyed.

Or rather, while it's possible to destroy the Sea Monster, Gilles de Rais, who is being devoured and controls the entire Sea Monster, might still survive.

Burning, endless burning.

The blazing flames turned the outstretched tentacles into ashes.

This was not the impact of a planetary bombardment, but rather the heat emitted when it rubbed against the atmosphere.

Even something like this is deadly enough.

"Aa ...

The scorching light shone on his gray and pale face.

The surrounding ground turned a dark red due to the terrifying heat, and the air was filled with a pungent, fishy smell, like that of roasted octopus.

The magician stood quietly in the center of what was once the sea monster's abdomen, his black robe tattered and worn from the intense heat.

His eyes darted around, and the marshal howled loudly, seemingly experiencing unusual joy despite the stinging pain reminiscent of being burned at the stake.

This is not despair, but hope to suffer the same fate as Joan of Arc.

Thud—Thud—

The sound of a giant dragon flapping its wings came from high above.

The girl in black, once a vengeful saint, now Jeanne d'Arc (Black Jeanne) who hates everything about France.

Here we are at this moment.

Gilles de Rais

A reliable elder, a loyal subordinate, and one could even say... a father figure.

Everything he did, though Joan of Arc did not approve of, was indeed for Joan of Arc's sake, to avenge her.

Although I don't agree with this approach, it is still quite touching.

......

But wrong is wrong.

What needs to be faced must be faced.

"Oh oh ...

The joy was like that of a heartbroken father desperately searching for his runaway daughter.

"Alter, are you okay?"

Watching Jeanne Alter climb down from Fafnir's back and walk step by step toward Marshal Gillespie, Fujimaru Ritsuka couldn't help but speak up with some concern.

Is it too cruel to let her make the final decision?

"It's alright, Master, I can handle this on my own."

Black Jeanne did not turn around, but walked step by step into the familiar marshal's house.

The scorching flames, the girl who came from hell, and the look of disappointment in her eyes.

"I knew it, no matter what, you would come back, Joan of Arc, Joan of Arc!"

Upon opening his eyes, the marshal was overjoyed and danced with delight.

"Even if we fail this time, as long as you, Joan of Arc, are still here...!"

"That's enough, Jill."

Jeanne Alter spoke in a calm tone, giving off a strange and very unsettling sense of distance.

The marshal was slightly taken aback: "Uh—Joan of Arc?!"

It's like the jarring feeling of a three-year-old child who's always crying and fussing suddenly transforming into a mature woman in her twenties.

“I am neither Joan of Arc nor a saint who should avenge France. I already know that, Gilles.”

"..."

The girl's sudden change in maturity left Marshal Gilles speechless for a moment.

Actually, even Jeanne Alter didn't know what to say.

Damn, times like this always feel so tough... Is it because I haven't read enough books?

[It's so difficult... I want to go back, but I feel so incredibly embarrassed.]

However, it was I who requested a clean break.

[My Master is behind me too, I want him to see my cool side as well.]

If it were him, what would he do in this situation...?

"Joan of Arc... how can you say that... even you... no, even the saint I wanted to create in my heart, have lost the will to avenge France? God... God, you have indeed come to punish me!!!"

The lack of will to fight, the pain of his daughter's sudden rebellion and departure from home, seared Gilles de Rais's heart.

“Lift your head, Jill!”

"Your crying and whining is disgusting, I feel like throwing up, please."

......

"I'm not some saint, I have no faith, I'm just a village girl with a vengeful heart, and a copy of someone else at that. I didn't even cry, why are you crying?"

"You...you don't resent me, do you? That Gilles de Rais shamelessly used the Holy Grail to create you...to avenge France..."

Jeanne Alter snorted impatiently and waved her hand: "What are you talking about? If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been born at all."

"Well... and... how should I put it... during this time in France, you have been helping me and supporting me—even though I am not Joan of Arc, but a figment of my imagination."

"So how should I put it... this silly, foolish time was... well, it was actually quite enjoyable, even though it caused quite a ruckus."