Xingyue, is Xiaokai also considered Kai?

Then, without saying a word, Jeanne Alter led Novia to a path outside the city. Upon reaching an endless expanse of farmland, she suddenly stopped and uttered the following words to the empty land before her:

"Although we've assigned dragons to all those guys, we're still missing one big one... It's about time it came out."

Black Jeanne unconsciously tightened her grip.

Novia saw an even clearer picture of the 'Dragon Witch's' will within it—

Countless repulsive joys, abandoned saints, harboring personal resentment, sing of the joy of the sounds once played in their distorted memories, loudly chanting frantic wails and extreme distortions. This is the 'saint' based on Gilderey's anger, prejudice and one-sided obsession.

Therefore, as the current arbiter, the 'Dragon Witch's' motive is—

revenge.

A dark form of will, similar to rage, flowed directly into the French soil through that hand.

At the same time, Black Jeanne's lips curled up in delight.

But what exactly is the source of this joy?

It was probably the burning pleasure she felt in the dark abyss of despair that gave her a certainty she had never known before.

"Appear, Fafnir!"

In the next instant, an enormous dragon, Fafnir, representing the concept of a dragon possessing treasure in European cultures, appeared before Jeanne Alter.

"Roar--"

Just as Fafnir was about to roar, it quickly stopped. The reason was simple: it saw Novia behind Jeanne Alter, who was smiling at it. Novia was the one who had killed it with Siegfried.

Of course, theoretically speaking, even if it was Fafnir who had killed it, it shouldn't care, since it could fight again. But the problem was that Fafnir felt the aura of the 'Primordial Dragon' on Novia was too terrifying, and there was even the aura of Typhon, the Greek ancestral dragon that was the source of its birth... It felt like its ancestor had personally descended, so how could it dare to resist?

Fafnir's idea is understandable, since the origin of Western European dragons is the ancestral dragon Typhon.

Therefore, in the next instant, Fafnir, who had initially seemed quite imposing to Jeanne Alter, suddenly turned around, lying on the ground while softly calling out.

It looks like a large dog.

This greatly shocked Jeanne Alter, who felt caught off guard.

"This……"

However, Jeanne Alter believed that things were not so simple, because in her view, such a powerful dragon could not possibly appear so humble, could it be... that she was too strong? No wonder, now everything makes sense.

With this thought in mind, Jeanne Alter smugly mounted Fafnir, and as Novia approached, she coldly called out:

"I didn't give you permission to ride. You weakling, just watch how I fly in the sky."

Fafnir, with its head bowed low, wanted to shake off the ungrateful woman when it heard Jeanne Alter say such things. However, since Novia did not speak, it continued to keep its head down and remained motionless, no matter how much Jeanne Alter flapped or shouted at it from above.

"It's rare to see a mount disobey its master."

"Shut up, mind your own business! Fafnir is just a little tired from just arriving!"

"is it?"

Novia answered calmly.

"Joan of Arc, don't you hate those who don't listen to you?"

“It’s different, Fafnir and the others would never betray me—”

Suddenly, Novia, who had been in front of Fafnir, appeared beside her with a speed that even Jeanne Alter was surprised by.

The two were so close that they could almost feel each other's presence, which startled Jeanne Alter, who staggered backward and barely managed to avoid sitting on the dragon's back.

“'Jeanne,' if you want to become my Master, then be prepared to be betrayed by me.”

Novia smiled slightly at the dumbfounded Jeanne Alter.

These words sounded like both a consolation and a hint, but Jeanne Alter quickly frowned and shook her head.

"Ha, you think that as my Servant, I would give you the chance to betray me, your Master? That's absolutely impossible! Before you could betray me, I would have already discarded you as a worthless being!"

After all, Jeanne Alter is unexpectedly stubborn, so it would be difficult to see her bow down.

After Novia came aboard her back, Fafnir took flight as Jeanne Alter had previously predicted.

Soon, Jeanne Alter was high in the sky, gazing at the vast lake and the green leaves of the grain, as well as the countless dragon tooth soldiers behind Fafnir. This made the girl suddenly squint and look at the nonchalant Novia beside her.

Her eyes showed less confusion and more acceptance of the fact.

"Hmph, you're lucky to be able to ride the Fafnir alongside me. Consider it my way of repaying you. From now on, you'll be the one riding the Fafnir—"

The arrogant Black Jeanne paused abruptly at this point.

Coachman? Coachman? Neither seems right... Fafner is neither a coach nor a horse, but a dragon, ah, a dragon...

"Yes, yes, you're going to be my dragon husband from now on!"

With her exceptional ability to apply knowledge to new situations, Jeanne Alter uttered this nickname without hesitation, which almost made Novia burst out laughing.

"Isn't the title 'Dragon Husband' a bit...?"

"You are what I call you, that's my right as Master, and you, as a Servant, have no right to object, understand?"

In the stillness where even the air seemed to stand still, Jeanne Alter stared at Novia with a serious look in her eyes, her tone filled with icy coldness.

Upon hearing this, Novia turned to look at the girl.

"Then let it be as you say, Joan of Arc."

……

At dusk that day, Jeanne Alter, returning to Orleans aboard Fafnir, sat in the Great Hall, her eyes half-open, gazing blankly out the window.

Leaning back in the heavily tilted chair, the girl gazed at the gradually yellowing sky, while a cool breeze flowed into the hall. Then, Black Jeanne exhaled deeply, as if expelling all the 'confusion' and 'bewilderment' in her mouth.

What did I do today...?

He had planned to lead his dragon army to raid various parts of France after summoning Fafnir, to teach those who had betrayed him the lesson of betrayal, to make them wail and suffer in flames, but...

How could I be riding around in the sky with that guy on a Fafnir... How could I do this to Jill...?

Jeanne Alter harbors a strange mix of clarity and numbness within her.

Suddenly, as if extremely displeased, Jeanne Alter raised the flag beside her with a fierce aura.

The flag swept across the ceiling of the hall, and for a moment, she herself didn't know what she was doing.

The ceiling was cut in half, and scattered fragments littered the room, raising dust everywhere.

Let's go somewhere else. There's no need for me to stay in these ruins... I know I must lead Fafnir to destroy France!

With this in mind, Jeanne Alter vaguely found a room and went in to rest.

The next day, I continued to ride around in my Fafner and Novia.

On the third day, I rode around in Fafner and Novia.

On the fourth day, I strolled around with... Novia.

On the fifth day, I strolled around with that damned bastard.

On the sixth day, Joan of Arc, oh Joan of Arc! How could you do this! Did you just ignore it because Gilles didn't come to inquire? Those French bastards must know that I, Joan of Arc, have returned from hell to take my revenge! I can't wander around like this anymore! What's so interesting about this scenery!

Day 7: Strolling around.

Day 8

"Absolutely not today! I must take Fafnir to another place to breathe fire! My other subordinates are performing so well in various places, I, as their superior, can't just sit here and do nothing!"

As Novia stood there, seeing his gentle smile welcoming her, Jeanne Alter turned her head slightly and crossed her arms, expressing her resistance.

"Of course, it's not that we'll never go again, it's just that we'll make an exception for today. Anyway, you're going to destroy the town with me anyway, so wouldn't it be better to have a new pastime? Besides, even though you're weak, I don't think there's anything to worry about with me here."

With that, Jeanne Alter waved apologetically, urging Novia in front of her to hurry up.

"Alright, hurry up—"

"Speaking of which, 'Jeanne,' the Rider-class Servant you summoned and turned berserk is named Martha, right?"

"That seems to be the name..."

Jeanne Alter stared at Novia with displeasure. "Why are you asking this? Do you two know each other?"

Novia didn't answer immediately, but instead moved closer to Jeanne Alter. Jeanne Alter wasn't on guard at all. The next second, Novia reached out and gathered her magic power, pressing it against Jeanne Alter's neck. Jeanne Alter then felt her head become dizzy.

"You...bastard...what are you going to do to me...?"

Even the Servant's body subconsciously became powerless, and in a daze, Jeanne Alter felt something being stuffed into her mouth, and after entering her mouth, it released some kind of power that changed her body, seemingly shrinking.

“I told you long ago, be prepared to be betrayed by me, Joan of Arc.”

After Jeanne Alter fell into a coma, Novia, carrying her, walked out of the main hall and onto the hill outside.

At the same time, a sound came from the other side of the hill.

Those were the sounds of painful wails, the sounds of people ravaging the land at this very moment, led by the six Servants sent out by Jeanne Alter and their Dragon Fang Soldiers.

"Your Excellency, where are you taking my saintess?"

Suddenly, Bluebeard, who had ignored Jeanne Alter and Novia's long conversation, appeared in front of Novia.

"Gil, do you think the real Joan of Arc would hate this country?"

"Isn't that obvious? A saintly woman who is adored by the world, hailed as a banner by the world, used by the world, and ultimately abandoned by the world, would naturally hate this country."

Bluebeard answered in an eerily calm tone.

"However, you and I both know that Joan of Arc wouldn't hate, right?"

Novia replied with a smile.

"Ah, of course I understand, of course I understand."

Bluebeard's face was contorted with rage. "But I hate this country to the core. I swore to destroy this treacherous nation. I reached out to her as she burned in flames, but I couldn't touch her because I wasn't there. But every time I reached out, every time I prayed, but the outcome remained the same."

The man, who had been contorting his expression, shed tears.

"Ah, why wasn't I there? Why, why didn't anyone save her? The real Joan of Arc might forgive them, but I can't! Gods, royalty, or this country—I will destroy them all! I will kill them all! This is the wish I place in the Holy Grail! Don't stop me!"

Novia had already anticipated Jill's answer; after all, it was the hatred she had expected.

"I don't think you're wrong."

Upon hearing this, his face turned pale, his blue beard blushed, but a smile still appeared on his lips as he stretched out his withered hand toward Novia.

"As expected, though her aura as a Servant is weak, she is indeed the founder of that church. Is it because of her demotion? Saint Novia! Will you join me, and the Saintess, in destroying time?"

As the wielder of the Holy Grail, Bluebeard naturally made some guesses after sensing that the magic of the French land was flowing towards Novia, coupled with her appearance and name.

"No, of course I will stop you, that goes without saying."

Novia calmly replied, "But because Joan of Arc is a saint of the Church, as its founder, I feel it is necessary to tell you something for the future generations of the Church—"

“Gildre, it’s understandable that you hate this world, and it’s certainly reasonable to try to destroy this country, but I and others will still stop you, because even if no one is wrong.”

The silver-haired youth stared directly at Bluebeard and continued speaking, word by word.

"It would be absolutely wrong to leave you like this unchecked."

"Ahhh... Why...why would you say such things... Ahhh..."

A childlike smile involuntarily appeared on Jill's face, like a lost child finally seeing parents willing to take them home—an expression of relief and reassurance, while tears still fell to the ground.

"So that's how it is. Today I will die by your hand—"

Bluebeard, who had just taken out the Holy Grail to prepare for battle, suddenly realized that the Grail was no longer usable, as if he had been 'stopped'.

"I won't be the only one saying this to you, so let's wait for that day to come, Gildre."

After saying this, Novia, who had summoned Fafnir, took Jeanne Alter, who had already consumed the 'youth-restoring potion' from the Ocean of Milk in India, to La Salite, the place where Jeanne and Ritsuka met.

During this time, Novia felt that the best thing about her relationship with Jeanne Alter was that she didn't ride Fafnir out, allowing the reputation of the 'Dragon Witch' to slowly spread from the Orleans region throughout France, and that she didn't instruct the Dragon Fang soldiers to kill her own mother in La Salle.

Now that Joan of Arc, who was summoned shortly after, has arrived, this mother will naturally not be killed.

Novia was also pondering how to make it believable for Jeanne Alter to meet Joan of Arc and her mother, since she genuinely didn't know her origins and believed herself to be simply another side of Joan of Arc. After much deliberation, Novia made her decision as follows—

Find an opportunity to give Jeanne Alter the "youth-restoring drug," causing her body to shrink to Lily form, and then take her to meet him.

Little Black Jeanne.jpg.

Chapter 354 Joan of Arc: Even a little me is me!

"Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mashu..."