Thanks for the invitation. I'm in Type-Moon, inheriting the legacy of Zi-O.

Nianzhuo glanced at Ritsuka, who was hesitating behind him, and patted her head amidst her surprised gaze.

"Let's go, Ritsuka and Mashu are here, I'm here."

Ritsuka nodded. "Thank you," she whispered. This enigmatic Servant had given her a tremendous sense of security, both in Singularity F and now. So she started walking, following Nenju's steps.

Mashu naturally trusted him completely and was the first to follow.

They walked straight into the forest before the servant who called himself Joan of Arc stopped.

"Alright~ We can stop here." Looking at the demonic mist that suddenly appeared around them, his eyes gradually turned hostile. "Although the magic is very weak, these demonic things are still very dangerous. Besides, we are very close to the fortress. Let's take them down before they breach the fortress."

The turbid figure transformed into a black crow and rushed towards the purple, demonic mist.

--Boundary Line of Power--

Meanwhile, in the Church of the Swords, the silver-haired Jeanne looked at the pinkish-green monster crouching before her and clicked her tongue in exasperation.

"So, what are you going to show me..." Flames appeared in his hand, making it seem like he was about to fight at the slightest provocation.

“My king… has asked me… to give you this… which… will… help…” He presented a small cassette tape with both hands. Joan of Arc, however, picked it up with great interest.

The cassette tape was prominently printed with

"drogon knight"

"Hmph~ Interesting thing. It actually makes me, the Dragon Witch, feel an increase in power. I'll keep this." A smile finally appeared on her lips, and the silver-haired Jeanne was clearly very interested in this little thing.

"If I can help you... then so be it." The figure transformed into a purple cube, and the pinkish-green monster disappeared once more.

After confirming that the monster had left, Joan of Arc called Gilles over.

Joan of Arc handed him the cassette, her expression incredibly serious. She then asked...

"Jill, what do these letters mean?"

Well, it seems our Black Jeanne is illiterate. A country bumpkin.

"Oh, Holy Maiden! This is the very meaning of Dragon Knight, a treasure perfectly suited to your status..." the blue-bearded mage with octopus-like eyes exclaimed excitedly.

"Hmph~ That's not bad either." Joan of Arc hung the cassette on the chain of her breastplate, and her arrogant laughter rang out once more.

Truth or falsehood, falsehood or truth, no nesting dolls allowed.

By the time the last demonic monster turned into black smoke and dissipated, the sky had already turned into the setting sun.

"Ah~ I'm exhausted." Ritsuka finally slumped to the ground, as if all her strength had been drained. "Ahhh, so tired~~."

"Phew~ The enemy is wiped out. Well done, everyone." Mashu also looked exhausted, but she was still able to stand up, unlike Ritsuka who embarrassingly collapsed to the ground.

It seems like it has already stopped—the regimental commander.

After a period of rest, the sky darkened and night fell.

Joan of Arc and her companions ventured deep into the forest, where all the demonic creatures had been eradicated, leaving only tranquility. The faint chirping of insects adorned the twinkling stars in the night sky.

“Yes…we can rest assured now that we’re here.” After confirming that the fortress had no way of knowing what was happening here, Jeanne turned to the group. “First of all, could you tell me your names? Ah, of course, no need for that gentleman over there. I know your name is Nianzhuo…” She pointed to Nianzhuo standing to the side.

“Okay. My individual name is Mash Kyrielight.” Mash then pointed to Ritsuka, who was resting nearby. “This is my senior, and also my Master, Fujimaru Ritsuka.”

“Master?...This Holy Grail War also has Masters..." As if recalling some memory, Jeanne d'Arc fell silent for a moment.

"No, this has nothing to do with the Holy Grail War. I am just a Demi-Servant."

"A pseudo-Servant?" Jeanne d'Arc, the Arbiter, looked puzzled.

"Not a formal Heroic Spirit, didn't you know?" Mash's clear eyes put Jeanne under immense pressure.

"...Ahem, well, let me first introduce myself." To cover her slight embarrassment, Jeanne changed the subject. "I am indeed a Servant, and my class is Arbiter. I'm aware of that." Changing the subject, Jeanne awkwardly scratched her cheek, a little embarrassed.

"...However, most of the knowledge about the Holy Grail War that should have been given to me is gone. No, not only the knowledge, but even the level of my abilities has been reduced. No, I can't even see through a Servant's True Name, let alone use Command Seals in battle. Fortunately, this is my birthplace. At least the language is the same..." She found a sliver of comfort.

“Just now, that soldier said that Joan of Arc had transformed into the Dragon Witch.” Mashu chose to reveal the information she had just received from the soldier.

“I was only summoned to the mortal world a few hours ago, so I’m not entirely clear on the specifics…” Jeanne shook her head, apologizing for not being able to provide any useful information.

“But hearing you say that, it seems there is another Joan of Arc in this world. A Joan of Arc who killed King Charles VII of France and carried out the massacre in Orléans…” Joan of Arc’s hands unconsciously clenched, her brows furrowing at the tragic fate of her homeland.

"Summoning two identical Servants within the same era... is that what you mean...?" Mash asked through the communication device, trying to get the director's help in analyzing the situation.

“However, according to the Holy Grail War records preserved by Chaldea that I’ve seen, such precedents do exist.” Nian Zhuo rummaged through the information stored in his mind and stepped forward to participate in the analysis. “But the information we can decipher now is that Charles VII of this world is dead, and Orleans has been massacred… In other words, the country of France is gradually collapsing…”

"According to historical records, France was the first country to advocate for human freedom and equality, and many other countries later followed suit." Nian Zhuo stroked his chin, beginning to calculate the consequences of France's collapse. "However, if this right had been delayed by a century, civilization would have stagnated... Although France is now often persecuted, if this right had not been recognized, we might still be living a life similar to that of the Middle Ages..."

"So, since you all understand that the consequences are serious, let's find out where the problem lies in this singularity first..." The director's voice also came through Mashu's communication bracelet.

"I can only hear voices... Is this magic? Who are you—" Joan of Arc heard the voices appear out of nowhere, but saw no one, and her face changed.

"Just passing by... a mere Chaldean who came specifically to save humanity."

"Ahem, well then, excuse me, Miss Jeanne," clearing her throat, our professional commentator Mash came online.

--Commentary Time--

“I see, I understand.” Nodding, Jeanne had completely digested what Mash had said about Chaldea’s concept and mission. “I never imagined the whole world would be burned down… My troubles are insignificant, but now I—” Jeanne’s eyes dimmed again as she spoke.

"I'm not perfect as a Servant. I can't even trust 'myself.' Not just Jeanne d'Arc who invaded Orleans, but also those dragons..."

"You mean wyverns, right? Wyverns shouldn't even exist in 15th-century France," Mashu continued. "More importantly, the soldiers called Joan of Arc the 'Dragon Witch.'"

Jeanne nodded. "Yes, although I hate to admit it, the one who controlled those dragons was probably 'me'... I don't even know how I controlled them. I never even considered such a thing in my previous life. I've heard that summoning dragons is the highest level of magic..." (A certain Rider-class Iron Fist Saintess gave a thumbs up)

"What's more, there are so many dragons together..."

“Modern magicians couldn’t do that,” Nian Zhuo scratched his head, dismissing the possibility of a future Heroic Spirit. “In the 15th century, the level of magic at that time would probably be difficult to achieve. In other words… Ritsuka, if we’re talking about using such a cheating method…” He winked at Ritsuka beside him, and Ritsuka, having received the signal, began to think seriously.

That purple-haired man—Professor Rafe—was the one who opened the spatial portal across time and space.

"That means using the power of the Holy Grail." Ritsuka recalled the golden cup. She stopped thinking—or so she thought.

"So, Lady Jeanne, what is your answer?" Mash looked at the Heroic Spirit in front of her, anticipating her reply.

“I have set my goal,” Joan of Arc said with a determined look in her eyes, gripping the flag tightly. “We will march toward Orléans and retake the city. To do this, we must get rid of Joan of Arc, who is an obstacle. Although I do not know how to do it without divine revelation, I cannot stand idly by.”

"A hero who fights to the end even alone, truly a figure no different from the legends..." Admiring the girl's determination, Nian Zhuo looked at Mashu and Ritsuka beside him. "Mary, Mashu, Ritsuka, and I share the same goal as Jeanne d'Arc, so let's team up with her. Unity is strength." He extended his hand.

"Everyone... thank you so much!" Joan of Arc shook Nian Zhuo's hand, and a warm, gentle smile returned to her face.

However, even in such a beautiful scene, there are always monsters trying to disrupt it.

A low growl came from beside them, and the beasts hidden in the grass emerged in droves.

"How oblivious to romance." Joan of Arc, Nian Zhuo, and Mashu stood side by side, stretching their wrists.

"Ritsuka, I'm counting on you to take command of the battle."

Chaldea's first joint battle begins—

Happy Lantern Festival, everyone!!

The last monster fell, and peace returned to the surroundings.

"Um... well," Jeanne shifted her gaze, her face slightly flushed, looking at the Chaldea members, "I was so embarrassed to say I was going to fight alone earlier. Thanks to you all, I'm very confident now!" Having regained her energy, Jeanne finally perked up, "Even if my opponent is someone known as a witch, with such reliable companions, I have nothing to fear!"

"Are you really alright?" Ritsuka peeked out from behind Zhuo. "The one called the witch is—"

“It’s alright,” Joan greeted her with a nonchalant smile. “…Of course, it’s a little sad that they mistook me for another Joan. But there’s nothing we can do about it. Actually, it’s only been a few days since I was burned at the stake…” Joan, realizing her current situation, expressed understanding. “If I, resurrected, really did carry out the massacre in Orléans, then their fear of me is understandable.” Then, as if remembering something, Joan’s brow relaxed again. “…I was worried that acting rashly would provoke England, but seeing the current situation, it seems I can rest assured. Right now, all I need to do is identify the Joan known as the witch and defeat her.”

"Ah, but for now, let's focus on reconnaissance. Although the objective is simple, achieving it will be very difficult."

"...As expected of Joan of Arc, skilled in military operations and command. Just as she said, a direct assault on Orleans would be far too reckless. It's unknown territory, and we don't have a base yet. Our priority right now is to gather intelligence on defenses." Stroking his chin, Zhuo tentatively made this assessment.

(Knowing about the army and battles is an essential skill for any subject.) Thinking this, Zhuo's eyes deepened.

"Regarding that witch Jeanne d'Arc—" the director's voice came through the communication device, "or let's call her Black Jeanne d'Arc. I hope you can investigate and confirm what kind of Servant she is."

"The second issue is combat strength. Joan of Arc's power has been weakened too much, and relying on her as the main force is still too much of a strain. It would be even better if we could find other helpers."

Logically speaking, Jeanne d'Arc, as the Arbiter, should be able to know the location of other Servants. Mash looked at the silent Heroic Spirit beside her.

"Lady Jeanne, besides us, can you sense the reactions of other Servants?"

However—things never go according to plan.

“I’m sorry…” Jeanne lowered her head. “Right now, I can’t use the Servant detection ability that the Arbitrator possesses. I’m just like a regular Servant now. If they’re not within a certain range, they can’t be detected.”

"Then, could the other Joan of Arc have this ability..." Ritsuka poured cold water on Joan of Arc's hopes again. Joan of Arc paused for a second, then her expression turned serious.

"...! I was careless! That's definitely a possibility! Ah... the other me—well, let's call her Jeanne Alter—if that me is truly a Servant, then her class is Judgement. In that case, our current location might be immediately detected by the enemy, and we need to be ready for battle at any time. If possible, I originally wanted to keep the intelligence gathering in cities and villages to a minimum—"

"Time is running out for us. Let's set off first thing tomorrow morning. Besides, Ritsuka is human, so let's get some rest now." Having made a preliminary battle plan, Ritsuka still glanced at the three Heroic Spirits around her.

"Nian Zhuo is fine, but Mashu and Jeanne, don't you two really need to rest..." Nian Zhuo felt like he was being attacked internally.

Mash and Jeanne both shook their heads. "It's alright, senior. I'm a Demi-Servant now, so it's fine even if I don't rest."

"As for me, although my abilities have been weakened, I still possess the basic abilities required of a Servant."

“No need. I’ll keep watch.” He glanced at Jeanne and Mash. “You two should go and rest too. After all, you’re girls. Let me handle this.” Zhuo flexed his wrists, walked to the campfire, and turned his back to the three of them.

"Also, that Jeanne d'Arc Alter isn't the Judge. As long as she hasn't discovered us, we're safe. Go and rest..." The man sat down, fiddling with the watch face in his hand.

"Well... goodnight," Mashu waved to Zhuo, and Ritsuka was the first to succumb to sleepiness and close her eyes.

A soft snore drifted over, and Jeanne looked up at Ritsuka, who was already fast asleep.

"Is Ritsuka already asleep?"

"Hmm, although I'm not used to sleeping outdoors, I surprisingly fell asleep quickly." Mash returned after observing Ritsuka. "Is Mr. Nianzhuo alright?"

Zhuo patted Mashu's head and said, "Don't worry, I'm fine."

"I see..." Joan of Arc hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but stopped herself.

“…Miss Jeanne, you don’t mean there’s something you want to say to us?” Mashu met Jeanne’s hesitant blue eyes. “Although I don’t intend to delve into it, if it becomes an obstacle to the battle, I think it’s better to eliminate these factors.”

“Yes, please speak freely, Joan of Arc. We are now partners.” Zhuo also nodded in agreement.

"Ah~ you're right, then I'll be honest." Taking a deep breath, Jeanne d'Arc interlaced her fingers. "Perhaps it's because my Servant summoning... was incomplete, or perhaps it's because my original self only died a few days ago." Jeanne d'Arc paused abruptly, a blush of embarrassment spreading across her face.

"How should I put it? I feel like a novice Servant right now."

"A newbie?" Question marks appeared above Nian Zhuo and Mashu's heads.

"Yes, in the Throne of Heroes, there is no concept of past or future time." (The nameless archer and Nianzhuo gave you a thumbs up.)