Xingyue, is Xiaokai also considered Kai?

Thus, Mashu probably understood how these people had gotten along peacefully before.

Then, six girls sat down at the wooden table: Marie, Martha, Jeanne, Kiyohime, Elizabeth, and Mashu.

"Um, this is my first time attending a party like this..."

Joan of Arc said somewhat embarrassedly, but kept looking into the tent with her head down.

"It's alright, it's alright, I'm the same, Joan of Arc."

Martha comforted Joan of Arc.

Speaking of which, the purple-haired saintess felt a little strange. Among the three girls who first met Via, Ritsuka had a crush on her, Mashu had a similar admiration and respect for her senior, but this saintess who saved the country was a bit more complicated. She felt apologetic, longing, and a certain sense of guilt.

In short, it's very complicated, but for some reason, I'm more eager to see what the shrunken dragon witch will do, even though Martha knows that in their eyes, this Black Jeanne Lily is Jeanne d'Arc Lily...

This guy wouldn't expect Lily, the Dragon Witch who thinks she's her own, to do anything she wouldn't dare to do, would he?

Thinking about this, Martha couldn't help but become wary of the saintess and the dragon witch who transformed into a different person when she shrunk.

Although she didn't care that the saintess had feelings for Novia, after all, there was only one in a century.

I wonder how Nero is doing now...

"Alright, I'll start next. After all, my love affair in my previous life was like a burning fire."

Kiyohime said this with a confident expression.

"I had a dream where I fell in love at first sight with a monk whose face I couldn't see, so I expressed my love. I think the reason I said monk is because I dreamt it in a Buddhist temple in Maitreya Buddha, but for some reason, he didn't react to me at all."

"But I believed he must be someone from this Buddhist temple, so I waited and waited, but he still didn't come. Therefore, I thought he was afraid of me, so he ran away."

"So I began, and continued, filled with sorrow, anger, and hatred... and before I knew it, I had transformed into a dragon before the Buddha..."

"In the end, I used the Dragon Flame to burn the entire temple to the ground until nothing was left. But I still have some remorse. After all, I must have had the Buddha's help to transform me from a human into a 'dragon.' But there was nothing I could do. I was just too angry at the time."

The expressions of everyone present changed drastically upon hearing Kiyohime's three sentences, ranging from anticipation to shock, tension, and bewilderment.

"Who wants to listen to that!"

However, Elizabeth, seeing Kiyohime's displeasure, snapped out of her daze and shouted with a look of dissatisfaction, "Tell me a more romantic or cute story! Who wants to hear any more of this Buddhist nonsense! It's all so unreliable!"

"How rude!"

Afterwards, Joan of Arc, somewhat dazed by what she heard, pointed to Fafnir and Tarasque beside her and said:

"Miss Kiyohime, have you transformed into a dragon like this?"

"……Forehead."

Kiyohime's lips twitched slightly. "Although I call it a dragon, if I had to make a comparison, it would be a snake..."

"Hahahaha, to actually admit to being a snake, how embarrassing!"

"You frilled lizard! How dare you talk back to me like that!"

Kiyohime glared at Elizabeth, "When that Fafner came before, weren't you almost scared to death!"

"Huh? Aren't you the same!"

When they saw Fafnir arrive earlier, they were almost startled, because in addition to the difference in strength in words, there was also the kind of majesty that comes from bloodlines between dragons.

Therefore, just like Fafnir, when they saw Novia, the two of them wondered, "Is this person some kind of dragon concept incarnation?" Even Kiyohime almost couldn't resist inviting him to be her Master, but she gave up the idea after learning that he was a Demi-Servant.

"Ah, it's time. I should go and call Master and Advisor Novia out of the tent for dinner."

Seeing that it was getting late, Mashu said those words and then ran out of the tent to call the two of them.

Then, watching everyone enjoying their meal, Kiyohime covered her lips with her folded fan and smiled demurely.

What a pity... I can't be my Master. Luckily I held back, otherwise it would have been quite embarrassing. Acting on instinct is hardly the behavior of a proper lady, and should be avoided as much as possible...

So where exactly is my ideal 'future'?

Buddha, when will you answer my questions again? I promise I won't burn down the Maitreya Buddha temple again this time, but in the end, I regret it.

Kiyohime sighed softly to herself.

Then--

"To enlighten people's hearts is to light a sky lantern. Passionate, brave, and ardent young woman, your flames are true to your understanding; what you see is the future."

Kiyohime heard a familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar Buddhist voice.

The girl felt this was a bit too much of a riddle. What did it mean to say that "knowing things as they are, is the future"? She didn't understand at all! Could it be explained in a simpler, more understandable way?

"...If you, now, can withstand what lies ahead."

Why are you still a riddle teller...?

However, this time the girl never received a reply from the Buddha's voice.

……

At the same time, in Montluçon, not far from Lyon.

"I felt it..."

His entire body was withered, like Siegfried struggling to lift himself from the bed, as if cursed.

"Fafner, that guy is already here, and he seems even stronger than before..."

"They've already made such a mess of things with the Dragon Witch's subordinates, are they still planning to continue?"

"...Because I have to do it. If I just stand by and watch Fafnir run rampant, why should I even show up?"

Siegfried gave a wry smile. "Georgeus."

Click.

In an instant, a camera appeared in Giorgios's hand and snapped a picture of Siegfried.

"Very nice expression, I'll accept it as a souvenir... But even if you say that, the two of us are no match for each other. Although it's a bit inappropriate for a saint of the church to say such things on this land, it's the truth, after all, I'm just an ordinary Rider-class Servant."

"Does that mean things would be different if the adjudicator were in charge...?"

“I didn’t say that; that’s your speculation.”

Jorcos chuckled as he carried the paralyzed Siegfried on his back. "Well, are you ready to face a certain death, or even a meaningless journey? There won't be any mercy, you know. You'd better be prepared before you go."

"It's not a question of whether I can do it, it's that I have to do it now, even if I'm all alone right now..."

"is it?"

Giorgios gave a subtle smile. "Perhaps it will work. Kill that Fafnir you mentioned. After all, the 'staff' has appeared, otherwise 'me' wouldn't have appeared... I just don't know how it compares to the red dragon I've dealt with. Anyway, don't have too high expectations of me. I might run away if things get bad."

"In any case, I am extremely grateful for your assistance, Your Excellency St. George."

Little Kiyohime.jpg.

Chapter 356 St. George: Now we have no choice but to use our forces urgently.

The world shifted from dark to a hazy white, and the leaves and flowers on the outskirts of Lyon, France, were tinged with an indistinguishable pale gold.

The sun is about to rise.

With Siegfried on his back, whose skin was cursed and 'cracked' due to the attack by several berserker Servants, Georgios seemed to be hidden in the sunlight, moving forward in the light with his back to the endless plain, his body surrounded by a golden glow that seemed real.

If anyone were to witness this scene, they would surely think that the farther the man goes, the farther the radiance will go. But no matter how far he goes, the man will always protect the radiance behind him, as if nothing external can surpass it.

Therefore, from Siegfried's perspective, Georgius, the Church Saint, did not lament his own serious injury after encountering him. Instead, he said, "Although I am a Church Saint, another one will be needed to heal you." He seemed quite certain that a Church Saint would appear.

Although he was once a close friend of Avia, who destroyed the Western Roman Empire's church, Siegfried felt that this matter was not a big problem. Even the 'Seat' had not given him any corresponding abilities because of it. However, even if he had, it would not affect his current relationship with Georgios. After all, in order to save this place, he would try his best to put aside some of the differences.

Saint George, as a saint of the Church, is most famous for his dragon-slaying and martyrdom.

In this world, Giorgios was active during a period of intense struggle between papal and imperial power in the Roman Empire. At that time, the Roman emperor launched a persecution campaign to crack down on papal power, and Giorgios was arrested as a result, but no matter what kind of torture he was subjected to, he was never injured.

Finally, St. George prayed to God in the temple, and then fire fell from the sky and burned down the temple and the statues. The governor in charge of arresting him remained obstinate and was furious. He ordered St. George to be beheaded, and the governor was burned to death by the heavenly fire on his way home.

In his final moments before death, St. George uttered these words—

"Whenever you tremble because you have been treated unfairly, call on my name, and I will surely come to your aid."

Therefore, St. George holds a position in the hearts of some church believers comparable to that of Guanyin Bodhisattva in Buddhism, who grants all requests.

Suddenly, around Giorgios's relaxed body, a gust of wind blew up along with the sound of the earth shaking.

Giorgios stopped and then calmly placed Siegfried on the ground, thus creating a camera in his hand and focusing it in front of him.

His gaze followed the camera to four figures dozens of kilometers away, and soon a pleased smile appeared in his eyes.

"It seems that before your duel with Fafner, you still have old friends looking for you, Siegfried."

"They caught up so quickly..."

"Don't be surprised, Dragon Slayer."

Suddenly, Vlad III, who had been summoned here and was now in a berserk state, smiled and reached out his hand to the two of them.

"Those who can truly be called heroic spirits must have twisted aspects that they cannot bear from their own actions."

Then Vlad III glanced at the 'female' swordsman beside him and said.

"Take this swordsman, for example, he remains completely unfazed no matter how many people he kills."

His real name is Dion, a dragoon sworn to the French royal family. The other is Atalanta, a Greek huntress, and Lancelot, a berserker.

Siegfried, who had not yet encountered Georgios, fought against all the Servants belonging to the Dragon Witch's side based on his own judgment. He was ultimately defeated due to a lack of magical power, but Martha hid him away in the end.

“You don’t seem to be affected, Vlad.”

“Your Excellency St. George, my body has fallen and is now a true ‘demon.’ If possible, I hope you will end my life.”

Compared to Siegfried, Vlad treated Georgios much better; he didn't glare at him and even bowed respectfully.

"That's not how it works. It seems you were involved in a Holy Grail War with Siegfried in another world."

A smile returned to Giorgios's face, and then Ascalon, which appeared in his hands, shone brightly. "What did you witness at the end?"

That, of course, is oneself as a saint—

Before Vlad could finish speaking, Jorcos extended Ascalon towards the three of them. Instantly, the air split open, and an astonishing magical blade drew arcs and flames in the air.

"Originally, I was planning to deliver this blow to Fafnir, whom Siegfried mentioned, just to avoid becoming rusty—"

While Georgios paused for some unknown reason, the sword energy he unleashed had already pierced through D'Eon and Atal's bodies. Of course, it wasn't because he was too powerful, but because they were no longer willing to continue killing the people here in this 'berserk' state.

After all, being forced to kill their children and the inhabitants of their own country is something they can hardly accept. Therefore, when faced with this blow, they exert all their willpower just to free their bodies from the inability to commit suicide.

Originally, even Flander had planned to do the same, so Lancelot, who was preparing to resist, was ambushed and killed. However, just before the sword energy was about to hit him, Giorgios crushed it with his hand, turning it into magical light, which, along with the others who turned into tiny lights, scattered across the land of France.

"...Which one is..."

Before Vlad III could ask any questions, Giorgios opened his eyes wide in the other direction.

"Siegfried, let me ask you one more question: Is the Fafnir you speak of truly an irredeemable dragon?"

Those brown eyes were fixed intently on Siegfried, who was leaning against a large tree.

"Fafner, as a being of the evil dragon phenomenon, naturally harbors immense malice and greed towards humans. Is... what's wrong?"

"There are always exceptions to everything. No wonder the 'staff' appeared. I thought it was because of that little girl, but I didn't expect it to be for this reason..."

As Giorgios spoke, half sighing and half conflicted, as the surrounding light gradually returned, he seemed to Vlad III and Siegfried to have become a completely different person.

"Oh dear, I just remembered. Actually, as a saint, even if I don't appear in the world as the Arbiter, I can still borrow it based on the prestige here. I almost forgot."

St. George's expression really looked like he was embarrassed because he had forgotten something.

At the same time, the morning sun was rising, appearing to rise directly overhead in their line of sight, its soft light pouring down.

Then, St. George took a picture of Siegfried and Vlad III, and Siegfried, who felt as if his body had been 'analyzed', was surprised to find that the curse that had immobilized him for several days had been lifted in an instant.

"As for you, you must be even happier to appear in this capacity."

In an instant, Vlad III, whose class remained Spearman but whose appearance had suddenly changed drastically, stared bewilderedly at Saint George before him.

"This can be considered as some remedial measures."

At this moment, St. George, with his free hand resting quietly on Ascalon and his whole body filled with a supple tension, stared intently at a certain spot.

"However, no matter how I think about it, I just can't understand why they would get involved..."

Deep within St. George's deep voice echoed the nervous anticipation of meeting someone.

……