Various hostiles attacked us, but they weren't much of a threat.
After easily dispatching the swarm of Wyverns and the living dead, we immediately prepared to move out.
[For now, these are the only means of transportation I can send you~]
The vehicle BB sent us was a four-wheeled bike.
Unfortunately, it seemed this was the best she could do, as something like the Shadow Border hadn't been properly developed at this point in time.
The Servants said they could just run, so only Ritsuka, Mash, and I boarded the bike.
"Hey, I know it's pretty big, but isn't three people on one bike a bit much?"
And she only sent one. Because Ritsuka and Mash didn't know how to drive.
Since I was the only one with a license, I took the driver's seat and drove the two of them.
"This is quite daunting, however. Does this not mean we must traverse the entire country of France?"
Chen Gong expressed his dismay at the sheer size of the Singularity, which required them to travel across an entire nation. I felt the same way.
Unlike in the game, we had to travel on foot—or by wheel. When would we ever reach Orleans?
[Analysis complete. The Holy Grail, which appears to be the cause of the Singularity, is located in Orleans. The problem is the time it will take to get there. At this rate, it'll take several days.]
"Only several days? I'd say it'll take weeks."
Realistically thinking, just the travel time would consume weeks. We'd have to rest, sleep, and eat in between.
"Does that mean we can travel together for a while?"
"You think this is a trip?"
"Like Senpai, I also feel strangely excited for some reason. Fuyuki was the first time I'd ever been outside, but coming to France, I truly feel like I've stepped out into the world."
The two of them described it as a trip. I get it. I feel that way too.
How nice would it be if this really were just a vacation?
But we have a job to do.
First and foremost, Ryuji.
We have to find him. The guy probably arrived first and has likely already secured some level of power.
Of course, he wouldn't join forces with Gilles de Rais's side. Ryuji is the type of person Gilles would despise. I don't know about the others, but the moment he lays a hand on Jeanne d'Arc or Jeanne Alter, his gruesome death is guaranteed. He'd be turned into a musical instrument.
"I feel like I want to travel peacefully. But we have to put that on the back burner. We don't know what that guy, Ryuji, is doing here. It's definitely not anything good. And that's not even mentioning the masterminds of this Singularity."
"Kuriyama-san, you're extremely wary of that person."
"Mash, you haven't met many people so you wouldn't know, but he's the worst kind of human. I have to be the one to deal with him. Because it's my responsibility."
I'm going to do now what I failed to do back then.
[Um, everyone. This is rather big news! I'm detecting a Servant signature 3km away, in the 3 o'clock direction. I can't tell if they're friendly, though. Based on the readings, it looks like they're fighting the same hostiles we just fought.]
"3km! At this speed, we'll be late. Asterios, can you go on ahead?"
"Okay, I will."
"Senpai, you should go with him."
"Alright, I'll hurry."
Yu Miaoyi cut her own arm, and using the spurting blood like a surfboard, she slid forward at high speed. Asterios, while not incredibly agile, charged ahead by leaping with his immense physical and leg strength.
The other three matched our pace, and we raced to the scene at the bike's top speed.
When we were about 300 meters away, we could see what was happening. We saw Asterios's axe tearing through Wyverns and Yu Miaoyi's sword cutting down the living dead.
"Everyone, provide support!"
At my command, Leonidas charged forward, piercing the enemies. Parvati's spear vibrated, causing the enemies to explode and die. Chen Gong, judging that tactics were unnecessary at this level, drew his own sword and cut down the foes.
Mash also rushed forward, swinging her shield to knock down the enemies, and the situation was quickly resolved.
"Hmm, if there were more enemies, I could have used my Gikaku Ichijin on Lady Yu Miaoyi. What a pity."
"Hey, you bastard!"
I decided to ignore the disappointed Chen Gong.
At the scene, we were able to meet the Servant that Da Vinci had detected. In a way, she was one of the French Servants I had most wanted to meet.
"Thank you for your help. It seems my summoning was not a normal one, and I was running low on power."
"It looks like you aren't seriously injured, are you?"
Parvati had considered healing her with her grace, but since she wasn't badly hurt, she just repaired her clothes.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. Could I ask for your name, by any chance?"
I already knew her identity, but as a formality, I asked for her name.
"Yes. I am Ruler, Jeanne d'Arc. I don't know the details, but it seems I have been summoned to resolve the events unfolding here."
Jeanne d'Arc.
She had also been Ritsuka's Servant in the previous timeline.
Although she did eventually betray him back then, she was one of the Servants who had resisted for a surprisingly long time and defended Ritsuka, contrary to the depraved image she later acquired. In the end, though, she betrayed Ritsuka, submitted to Ryuji, and became a villainess who tormented him.
She was a woman who made me think that even in a world like this, her fundamental nature was still that of a saint.
Thankfully, it seems we weren't too late. I'm glad we met her before Ryuji could get his hands on her.
Now, for the next Servant to find. There's another potential ally I want to save before she falls into his hands.
Kiyohime.
Where could she be right now?
"You're Jeanne d'Arc! I'm a huge fan!"
"Oh my, are you?"
Mash was jumping up and down, as if meeting Jeanne was a great honor.
"Lady Jeanne d'Arc, do you happen to know the situation in this Singularity?"
Leonidas, ever the king and general, immediately began gathering information. Well, Jeanne probably didn't know anything.
I briefly looked at the simple map of France from this era that BB had given me before we came to the Singularity.
If I remember correctly, based on the game, she should be quite far away. Was it Bordeaux? Or somewhere else? Siegfried was in Lyon, and it should be further from here than Lyon.
If that bastard Ryuji is in that area, we might be too late.
If that happens, should I give up on this world's Kiyohime and aim to defeat her just to get her catalyst?
Kiyohime.
She was one of Ritsuka's most active supporters and the Servant who resisted that bastard for the longest time. A Servant I had thought might actually be different.
Well, in the end, she couldn't overcome it either.
After her fall, she became his number one follower, persecuting Ritsuka more than anyone else.
She went from a good wife and wise mother to an unprecedented villainess.
Still, perhaps a sliver of her feelings for Ritsuka remained. When that bastard wasn't around, she would speak curtly but still show small signs of looking after Ritsuka.
It was all relative, though. I couldn't tell if it was kindness or mockery.
But she was undoubtedly one of the best among Ritsuka's Servants. I hope she, at least, is safe.
====================================
The lord's castle in Bordeaux.
Ryuji was gulping down wine, waiting for Martha's report. Thinking that Martha alone would take too long, he had also dispatched Atalante after she had finished her debauched play with the children.
"Phew. I wish they'd catch him already."
He wanted revenge on Chaldea for kicking him out as soon as possible. Most of all, he wanted to capture BB, who had directly banished him, and Sho, who had constantly gotten on his nerves.
Wanting to exact his revenge with his own hands, he hoped they would bring back good results soon.
A knock echoed on his chamber door. After he gave his permission, the door opened.
"What is it, Marie?"
Marie Antoinette. With a bewitching smile, she entered, the clicks of her heels echoing in the room.
Originally a Servant of this Singularity known as the Queen of Lilies, she had wandered France with Amadeus Mozart to save the French people.
However, after meeting him, she changed.
Amadeus was murdered by the Servants who followed him, and the beautiful queen, after his 'training', forgot her duty and fell into corruption.
"I've brought good news, Master."
"Oh? Did you catch them already?"
"Unfortunately, no~"
"Well, that would have been too fast. What is it, then?"
She replied with a sordid smile.
"They've found new women. And they're dragon-kin."
"Dragon-kin?"
"Yes. They're cute girls. One is Eastern, and the other is Western."
Ryuji had been looking for female Servants to bring under his control. At the news of finding new Servants, a smile spread across his face.
"Nice, let's go right now. No, we have to prepare to go. Where are they?"
"A city called Lyon."
"A bit far to be called close. Still, it's worth the trip."
At the mention of new women, his motivation surged, and he licked his lips.
Marie Antoinette briefly blocked his path.
"The girls I sent out brought this information. Won't you give me a reward?"
"A reward?"
Demanding a reward, she threw off her skirt.
"None of the other girls are here. I want you to give me your attention today, Master♡"
"Honestly, for someone who threw such a tantrum and refused at first, you're the lewdest of them all. To think this is royalty~ It's such a turn-on."
He laughed as he grabbed her buttocks and immediately ripped her stockings.
He still didn't know.
That soon, in that very city of Lyon, he would come face to face with Chaldea.