Welcome to the Holy Maiden's Dream, Fleeting as a Bubble (Part 3)
Waver Velvet, Lord El-Melloi II of the Clock Tower, originally had no qualifications to log into Neo Gaia. However, thanks to his terrifyingly powerful connections and the favor of a certain top-tier military strategist from China, he was forcibly dragged from the Throne of Heroes to this place, temporarily residing under the Alexander lineage alongside his adoptive sister and disciples.
P.S. Due to his frail constitution, he is often subjected to torment by his adoptive sister and the muscular warriors under Alexander's command.
For example, today.
"Ah, my dear brother, how disgraceful. Truly, utterly disgraceful." The little demoness, now grown into a graceful young lady, crouched beside her adoptive brother, teasingly poking his cheek. "To collapse after just a bit of exercise—how can I entrust you with the important task of carrying on the family line in the future?"
"Shut... shut up, Reines." Waver's voice was as thin as a thread, his disheveled black hair clinging to his pale face like a sickly woman. "Damn it, why must I suffer such unnecessary agony..."
"Even if you're hosting a Heroic Spirit, daily training is essential, brat." A burly man with steel-like stubble and a rough face, his chest emblazoned with the words "Grand Strategy," laughed heartily as he crossed his arms—each thicker than a thigh. Behind him, his muscular brothers roared in unison while adjusting the Smith machine and elliptical trainer, responding to their king.
Train! Train! Train!
Countless muscles pulsed, roaring along with the intense battle song, the atmosphere blazing with fervor. Only the spot where Waver lay remained a desolate gray, like a tombstone.
"Pfft." Jeanne d'Arc couldn't help but laugh at the absurdly comical scene.
Is this really a Heroic Spirit? So utterly pathetic—just like an ordinary gaming shut-in.
"Hmph, oh, it's you guys." Waver managed to lift his head a few degrees before collapsing back down, closing his eyes. "My apologies, but this place is off-limits to Sakatsuki and dogs. Please leave... ugh."
Suddenly, like a dying man miraculously sitting up, Waver jerked upright amidst the protesting creaks of his bones, his gaze locking onto Jeanne without blinking.
"That form... is that..."
"Well, well, long time no see, Waver. Still as physically inept as ever, huh?" Sakatsuki laughed loudly, not only mocking his old friend but also winking at the young lady crouching beside him. "Reines, you should take care of your health too. Your hairline really can't afford to recede any further."
"You—!" Reines clenched her small fists. "How dare you say such things to a lady!"
"My dear adoptive sister is quite sensitive about that topic." Unfazed by Sakatsky's interruption, Waver lay back down, muttering with equally sharp sarcasm. "If you don't want to be assassinated by mercury maids, I suggest you watch your words... ugh, like right now."
"Trimmau, it seems my brother's muscles are in dire need of a massage. Don't hold back—ignore his reactions and press as hard as necessary." Reines smiled sweetly, dark energy swirling behind her, almost materializing into a tangible form. "Even if something happens, we can always fix it with magecraft."
"Ugh... AHHHH!!!"
Amidst the backdrop of screams, Reines twirled a lock of her hair around her finger, smirking as she glanced at Sakatsuki and his group. "As for you all, what brings you here unannounced?"
"My target isn't you," Sakatsuki shrugged. "What about the Servants of the Apocrypha lineage? When will they finish training?"
Speak of the devil. Heavy footsteps echoed as two bare-chested men, wiping sweat from their brows, approached the entrance while conversing.
"Those muscles forged through rigorous training are truly enviable, Black Saber."
"No need for flattery, Red Lancer. Physical advantage isn't everything for a warrior. The brilliance of your spear techniques is something I could never hope to match."
Their conversation halted abruptly when they spotted the smirking white-haired boy. "Blue Assassin... What are you doing here?"
"Yo, Siegfried, Karna, long time no see." Sakatsuki called out the names of the two great heroes, teasing them with a grin. "Brother Sieg, I heard you and Kriemhild nearly demolished Ryuudou Temple during New Year's prayers. Has that been settled yet? As for you, Karna, Arjuna barged into the student council yesterday demanding to know where you were hiding."
"Ugh..." The two heroes averted their eyes in unison, unable to hide their embarrassment.
If their wives (or rivals) found out they'd been idling away in the gym, they'd surely come charging over in a rage.
"Th-they are...?" Sensing the faint but palpable battle auras—especially from the man with the blue tattoo on his chest—Jeanne d'Arc felt an inexplicable wariness.
"The dragon-slaying hero, Siegfried, and the legendary son of the sun god, Karna." Draco's expression also turned grave. "Both are worthy dishes for my grand feast."
Heroes of that caliber?!
Even the most ignorant would have heard of them. But as Jeanne observed the two heroes shrinking back, looking almost docile, she couldn't help but mutter, "They just look like salarymen sneaking drinks behind their wives' backs and airheads dodging commitments."
Though Jeanne kept her voice low, the Servants still caught her words. Good-natured laughter erupted immediately. Siegfried took a deep breath as if struck by a critical hit and bowed his head humbly. "My apologies, Ruler... I neglected my wife's feelings."
"Has something happened to you, Saint?" Karna, unfazed by Jeanne's jab, met her gaze with clear eyes. "This straightforwardness of yours is far more spirited than before."
"Just say she's being sarcastic," Sakatsuki rolled his eyes, subtly stepping between them. "I don't mind either way."
"Hey, wait." Jeanne tugged at Sakatsuki's sleeve in protest. "How I talk has nothing to do with you."
"...I see. Understood." To everyone's surprise, Karna nodded in agreement. "If you'll excuse us, we'll take our leave to address the matters Assassin mentioned."
"Hmm, granted." Sakatsuki waved his hand magnanimously, appearing thoroughly satisfied despite seemingly having done nothing. "Perfect timing, we were just leaving too."
"Hey, wait up, King of Moon Spirits." At that moment, the red-haired giant raised his hand, stopping Sakatsuki. "I actually have a favor to ask of you."
King of Moon Spirits? Jeanne d'Arc's eyebrows twitched slightly as the white-haired boy flicked his sleeves and calmly turned around.
"Oh? So even the great Conqueror Alexander has something to request from me?"
Shortly after, the trio walked down the street together.
"Honestly unbearable, treating me like some messenger?" Sakatsuki pressed his forehead, laughing helplessly. "The Seventh King's Banquet? Has he really gotten so bored that he's turning this into an event now?"
"More than that, I'm curious about something else." Jeanne raised her hand earnestly like a student. "What's this about the King of Moon Spirits?"
"Just one of my contractor's insignificant titles, noble schoolgirl Miss J." Draco deliberately emphasized the word 'insignificant,' showing no intention to explain further.
"One of them?" Jeanne grew even more puzzled. "Now that you mention it, I only know your names but not your identities... Are you just ordinary dragons?"
"I'm merely a shadow clinging to someone to avoid annihilation—utterly insignificant." The red-dressed little girl lazily replied. "But this guy here has all sorts of identities—a mage, a dragon, the ruler of this world, and the most promiscuous scum you'll ever meet."
"Protest." The boy also raised his hand. "In your epic, your harem was far larger than mine..."
"Isn't history just a doll to be dressed up as one pleases?" Draco smirked, pressing against Sakatsuki's chest and tilting her head up coquettishly. "If you want to go there, I was a genuine male tyrant. Should I lock you in the arena and release a few of my familiars?"
"I surrender." Sakatsuki raised his hands in defeat. Meanwhile, Jeanne, completely oblivious to how terrifying Draco's threat actually was, casually joined the conversation. "Since you called Sakatsuki promiscuous, I'm curious—what kind of woman would fall for someone like him... well, scum."
"Curiosity is a precious thing, but I'd rather you didn't direct it at me... Oof."
The little red dragon physically muted Sakatsuki. Her gaze suddenly darkened as she coldly stared at Jeanne until the latter uncomfortably averted her eyes. Then, with a mocking grin, she spoke:
"Then let me count my sisters for you."
"Hey, hey." Sakatsuki tried to stop Draco, but the little red dragon effortlessly pinned him down with one hand and began her execution.
"First, he's the Prince of the Round Table, the favored one of the Undefeated King."
"Ah, the emperor who understands not the human heart. Stripped of the vanity of hymns, she is the purest lotus of the celestial mountains. Even tainted by mud, she blooms with dazzling brilliance, inspiring countless knights to pledge loyalty—perhaps just for a single smile of hers."
Seeing that he couldn't stop her, the last knight of the Round Table resignedly wrapped an arm around Draco and began his own recitation.
"Hmph..." Draco's eyes gleamed with a cold light, yet her tone grew increasingly gentle, like a female host at an awards ceremony. "The most beautiful hunter in Greek legends, a devotee who vowed her chastity to the goddess, was also captivated by his beauty."
"The spirit born from Arcadia, the handsome beast that calls forth the spring breeze," the former assassin murmured. "Countless have seen her beauty, admired her form, whether feigned or sincere. Only I beheld her free and noble soul. A single glance from her was enough to dwell among the gods."
"Beyond that, there was also the mistress from Sumerian underworld. He was the sole priest of that deity."
"The fragile yet aloof goddess, the only flower blooming from the dark abyss." The priest lowered his eyelids, praying with devout reverence. "Mistress of the Earth, you are one and all, the fleeting moment and eternity... May my life be with you till the end."
A small hand suddenly pinched the soft flesh at Sakatsuki's waist. The red-dressed young girl stared at him with meaningful eyes and uttered the next words: "Likewise, she was also the beloved of a certain tyrant, the one with whom I swore to spend my life."
"And where are the beautiful Roman emperors? I asked a seagull." The white-haired scoundrel governor began his passionate recitation once more. "Nero? I saw her under a palm tree by the Mediterranean. At dusk, the sunset spilled over the horizon, casting golden hues upon their dresses. Their lovely figures were dyed in romantic gold, more enchanting than wheat at harvest, more exquisite than daffodils blooming in the fields. Go there to find her!"
"Wow..." Jeanne d'Arc exclaimed in admiration, though her face was full of disdain. "One, two, three, four, five... As expected, you're a super invincible scumbag."
"You think that's all?" Draco's gaze was like a dark pool, sending a shiver down the scoundrel's spine as he finally realized the gravity of the situation. "Is this over yet?"
"Huh?" Jeanne's ahoge stood on end, and for some reason, she grew flustered, her eyes darting around. "Let's just drop it... We haven't even finished touring Fuyuki City yet..."
Dragon claws, dripping with filth, rose from the ground, trapping Jeanne within them.
"There will be plenty of time for that after I'm done speaking," Draco said, her suppressed fury now revealing its ferocious nature. "Did you really think I'd be forgiving enough to overlook your repeated provocations?"
"Um, little red dragon..." Sakatsuki weakly interjected. "Jeanne has lost her memory."
"Oh, has she?" Draco's tone was flat. "What does that have to do with me? Besides..."
She looked at Jeanne, who was struggling fiercely, sensing the dark aura—utterly incongruous with her saintly image—bursting forth uncontrollably. A cruel smile curled her lips. "Hmph, let me tell you, pitiful saint, who the fifth woman was—the one who wagged her tail like the dumbest dog and threw herself into his arms without a shred of dignity."
"Shut up... SHUT UP!" As if some facade had been torn away, Jeanne suddenly roared. Flames erupted from her in a geyser-like surge, startling even herself. They rose on all sides, sweeping across the world, threatening to burn everything to ashes.
But what kind of existence was Draco? Even as mere remnants of the Beast, she was far beyond what a single Servant could resist. Maintaining her restraints, her voice emerged hauntingly from the towering flames as she revealed the truth.
"That would be you, Saint Jeanne d'Arc."
"The holy maiden captured in chains, burned at the stake, only to throw herself like a moth into the flames of love during her second life."
"Calling my contractor trash? Mocking the lovers who formed bonds with him?"
"Even amnesiac, your stupidity is laughable! In the first place, only I have the right to berate my contractor! Only I have witnessed his journey alongside him! What qualifications do you have to criticize his way of existence!"
Under that merciless tirade, the deep purple flames dissipated, leaving only scorched earth and ruins behind. Jeanne d'Arc was clutched tightly in the dragon's claw, her eyes vacant.
So this... was why Sakatsuki had taken such initiative to care for her?
The one who loved Sakatsuki... was me?
Saint Jeanne d'Arc loved Sakatsuki? Loved this strange man?
Wait, what connection did these two people even have with her?
His story, her story, the stories of those heroic spirits... it all felt like an intangible dream. She tried to understand, to reach out, yet it was as if an invisible wall always separated her from the world.
The moment she pierced that wall and glimpsed the truth, she would dissipate like sea foam, vanishing like the Little Mermaid without a trace.
In the end—
"Just who... am I?"
A whisper escaped her lips, filled with utter emptiness.