--------------------
After the summoning was complete, what awaited us was a briefing on the next Singularity. So we were on our way back to the control room. But.
"Hey, aren’t you two a little too glued to him!?"
"Isn’t this only natural for lovers?"
Right now, a catfight had broken out on either side of me between the fairies clinging to me. As I was thinking, 'Why is it always me?' Ritsuka, who had been watching from the side, muttered in a low voice as if my situation was incredible.
"Wow, Juhwan, you’re popular~..."
"Please, I don’t need this kind of popularity. Take it off my hands..."
Hearing my half-complaint, half-whine, she put on a serious expression and politely refused me.
"I’m sorry, but I must decline."
"Sigh... seriously... just you wait..."
While I was having a not-quite-conversation with Ritsuka, we had already reached the front of the control room. Soon after, we opened the door and went inside. Once everyone had gathered in the control room, Director Olga turned on the holographic map and was about to begin the briefing on the next Singularity.
"Ahem...! Then, I’ll begin the briefing. Ahem..."
'Director... you’re way too cute...'
Apparently unable to reach the map on her own, the Director climbed onto a chair and began speaking while pointing at it with her fingertips.
"Grr...! This time... what we... need to deal with..."
As she strained to explain things to us, Romani could no longer watch and stepped in to explain instead.
"I’ll take it from here, Director."
"...Please do, Doctor Romani..."
Blushing, she sat back down on the chair she had been using as a step and ordered him to explain in her place. Then Romani, apparently finding the Director adorable, suppressed a snort and continued the briefing.
"Hngh... Anyway, the Singularity we need to resolve this time is Orleans, France, in the year 1431."
As soon as he finished speaking, the hologram more precisely indicated Orleans, France, and while we checked the map again, Romani continued his explanation.
"In 1431 France, it’s also the year when France, which had been struggling in the Hundred Years’ War with the appearance of Saint Joan of Arc, sold her out to England and had her burned at the stake there as a witch."
Listening to him, Mash seemed to think for a moment before asking Romani a question.
"Then does that mean a Singularity in history formed around that point?"
Director Olga, who had been quietly listening to the question, answered it in Romani’s place.
"That’s highly likely. In 1431 France, there shouldn’t be any major events beyond Saint Joan of Arc’s execution."
Da Vinci, who had also been listening quietly as if agreeing with her explanation, added a word to support her claim.
"Yes, there’s a high chance she’s right. There are a few other possible explanations, but let’s set those aside for now."
After saying that, she(?) continued in a serious tone.
"So, what you need to do now is choose the Servant you’ll take with you right away, go to the Singularity, investigate the incident, and resolve it. That’s your first objective. Understood?"
Ritsuka and I answered her question energetically.
"Yes."
"Yes, understood! In short, just like last time, we need to recover the Holy Grail from the Singularity and set history back on the right track, right?"
Hearing her question, Romani shouted out the correct answer and continued.
"Yes, Ritsuka-kun. That’s right."
After saying that, he took a sip of the coffee beside him, then gave us the final rundown of what we had to do in the Singularity.
"To summarize, what you need to do this time is go to Orleans, France, in 1431, investigate this incident, resolve it, and then recover the Holy Grail. That will be your task from here on out."
After hearing his neat summary, Director Olga stood up from her seat and pointed at us with a hand, trying to speak with dignity.
"Ahem...! Nice and tidy explanation, Romani. Then, everyone, please select the Servants you’ll be taking to this Singularity!"
Seeing her so spirited, Ritsuka immediately hugged her and rubbed her face against the Director’s.
"Director, you’re so cute~~!!!"
Apparently this was the first time she had ever been treated like that, because she immediately blushed and pushed at Ritsuka’s face while speaking to her.
"P-please stop...! I-I can’t breathe...!!"
Anyway, after that Mash pulled Ritsuka away from her side, and we began choosing the Servants to bring along.
"All right... then I’ll take Mash!"
"S-senpai..."
Ritsuka chose Mash without hesitation.
"Then... I’ll..."
I made my selection.
"I’ll do my best again..!”
"Leave it to me. I’ll cut down any enemy."
"Yes, please leave it to me, Master."
I chose Tonelico, Yoslott, and Kriemhild.
I picked Tonelico because she was adept at handling all sorts of tasks, and Yoslott because I wanted her for scouting and boss fights. As for Kriemhild...
'Just wait, Siegfried. I’ll be bringing you a gift soon...'
That was me, snickering with a nasty grin.
"Why is he so excited...? Juhwan-kun..."
"Beats me..."
After that, Ritsuka, Mash, and I put on our Chaldea combat uniforms and stepped into the cockpit, waiting for our first proper [Ray Shift]. Not long after, Romani’s voice came through to us.
"Ah, right. And the cockpit still isn’t fully repaired, so you might end up dropping into a strange coordinate. Please understand that...!"
"Huh? W-wait..."
The moment we heard something that should never have come out of his mouth, the incomplete [Ray Shift] began immediately.
- Un-summon program start. Spiritron conversion commencing.
- Three seconds until [Ray Shift]...
"Fuck... my life..."
- 2
- 1
- All procedures complete. [Ray Shift] commencing.
--------------------------------
This was France, Orleans. At this very moment, Joan of Arc’s execution was taking place in Rouen, and Bishop Cauchon, who was overseeing it, was savoring the scent of wine while indulging in a thoroughly self-satisfied reverie over her death.
"I’m sorry... Joan of Arc. I’m sorry, but for the sake of France, you’ll have to die..."
Just as he said that and was about to take a sip from the wine in his glass, he noticed someone kicking his door open and storming in. And the owner of that door was...
"It’s been a while... Archbishop Cauchon...?"
"Y-you are!?"
The mysterious saint, no, witch, who appeared before him immediately began burning his flesh.
"Aaaaaaagh!!!!"
Soon, the smell of burning meat filled the room, and after incinerating Bishop Cauchon without leaving a trace, she turned to the man with bulging eyes standing beside her and said,
"Gille~! Do you hear that? That damned bishop’s screams!!"
To match her mood, he smiled and answered her question.
"Yes~... Truly a beautiful melody, Jeanne."
Listening to Bishop Cauchon’s song, the two of them felt a deep impulse rising in their hearts: they would take revenge on everyone who had killed her. Then Joan of Arc immediately asked Gilles about the Servants beside her.
"Gilles. And what happened to the Servants?"
"They’re being prepared for summoning right now~. Jeanne~."
After finishing the preparations, Gilles de Rais immediately chanted the summoning incantation, and seven Servants were then summoned using the Holy Grail as a medium.
"Servant, Saber. True Name: Sigurd. I promise to carry out the operation swiftly."
"I am the demonic Archer, the Sixth Heaven’s Demon King, Oda Nobunaga! Hmm... ho... well... it can’t be helped! I look forward to working with you!"
"Brynhild. Class: Lancer. I have answered the summoning and come here."
"Servant, Rider. True Name: Martha. I look forward to working with you."
"Servant, Assassin. Charles-Henri Sanson. I have come in response to the summoning."
"SHrrrrrrrrr....."
"I am death. I must kill the one beloved by God... My name is Salieri. No, that’s wrong. I am... who am I...?"
After looking over the seven summoned Servants one by one, he approached her again, knelt on one knee beside her, and bowed his head to report that the summoning had succeeded.
"All seven Servants have been successfully summoned~. Jeanne~."
"You’ve worked hard, Gilles."
Leaving him behind, Jeanne d’Arc Alter approached the summoned Servants and, after looking at them, said one thing.
"Ahem... Welcome. My comrades. I am your Master. You know why you were summoned, yes? It’s simple and straightforward. Destroy everything you can see...!"
And with her declaration, the curtain rose on the First Singularity.
--------------------------------
The First Singularity, Dragon Witch War of a Hundred Years: Orleans (Beginning)
Comments (0)
Please log in to leave a comment. Login or Register