Jeanne [Alter] is by no means a girl who can be easily deceived or manipulated.
She is a vengeful spirit, the Dragon Witch who instills fear into the heart of France. She single-handedly caused nationwide disaster in the First Singularity, killing countless French people, destroying city after city, and even driving the summoned servants by the Holy Grail into madness, turning them into monsters who lost their humanity and slaughtered mankind like animals, nearly wiping them out.
How could such a Jeanne [Alter] possibly be someone who can be easily handled?
The reason she became so easily dealt with was none other than Rozen.
In her life filled with forgeries and deceptions, that Master was the only one who, despite being her enemy, trusted her in a way no one else did, allowing her to destroy the demon pillar, which was why she reached out to Rozen.
Of course, at that time, Jeanne [Alter] never thought Rozen would actually take her hand.
As Artoria [Alter] had said, during the First Singularity, Rozen had only trusted her because he was forced to, and it was a temporary thing.
However, for Jeanne [Alter] at that time, no matter how short-lived it was, that trust was the only real thing in her life.
Thus, she reached out her hand, but what she didn't expect was that Rozen, without hesitation, took her hand and formed a contract with her.
That was why Jeanne [Alter] came here.
Perhaps to others, it might seem like an easily manipulated gesture, but since Rozen had given Jeanne [Alter] the one thing she cared most about, she couldn't refuse him.
Therefore, Jeanne [Alter] wasn't here for Artoria [Alter] or for the survival of humanity, or for the sake of any world—she was here only to find something in her brief, ephemeral life.
That thing, without question, was Rozen.
Jeanne [Alter] exists here for only one person.
Artoria [Alter] saw through this idea of Jeanne [Alter], which is why she could say this so definitively.
However...
"Do you really think you're better off than me?"
A cold smile once again appeared on Jeanne [Alter]'s face.
Artoria [Alter] raised an eyebrow in response.
Jeanne [Alter] began her counterattack.
"If we talk about your usual state, I might understand, but in your current reversed state, you're not the kind of person who would foolishly walk into danger knowing it's there, right?"
Jeanne [Alter] said. "Since half a year ago, when you descended into this Singularity and lost to the Lion King, you've been waiting for that Master to arrive, even going so far as to rule over the Mountain people to consolidate your power to deal with the Holy Knights. You've endured through the hardest times, and when you learned that that Master had appeared in the Holy City, you still rushed in with your army despite knowing how dangerous the city was, all just to bring him back. This doesn't sound like the conduct of a tyrant, does it?"
At that time, Artoria [Alter] was much weaker compared to the Knights of the Round Table. She was no match for the Lion King, not even for Gawain or Mordred. In such a situation, the Mountain people, who weren't much of a match for the Holy Selection Knights, would likely be wiped out in battle. Yet, Artoria [Alter] still rushed into the fray to bring Rozen back.
That could be called an gamble, or a reckless act.
Naturally, Artoria [Alter] wasn't someone reckless by nature.
But she still made this reckless decision. Could it be just because Rozen's arrival made her see a glimmer of hope to defeat the Lion King?
Of course not.
"I know," Jeanne [Alter] sneered, "before the First Singularity, you were guarding that so-called Fuyuki Singularity, right?"
Artoria [Alter] had witnessed the burning of humanity's history and believed that humanity had lost all hope. So she decided to at least maintain that particular Singularity until the end, only to be defeated by the still immature man and his even less mature subservient. This result must have been a huge blow to Artoria [Alter] at the time.
It was impossible that it hadn't had an impact.
After all, Artoria [Alter] had fallen into darkness for the sake of order, and seeing humanity's history being burned like that must have shaken her deeply.
If possible, Artoria [Alter] certainly wanted to save humanity's history.
But she knew how powerful the enemy was, and she knew it was impossible to accomplish, even with all the servants combined.
Thus, Artoria [Alter] resigned herself to simply maintaining the Fuyuki Singularity, hoping to preserve that world for as long as possible.
It wasn't until Rozen arrived that Artoria [Alter] saw a sliver of hope, and she found solace in it.
In other words...
"Didn't you, just like me, already see that man as your only hope? That's why you were willing to do anything to protect him from the Lion King, right?"
Jeanne [Alter] spat out these words with disdain.
The truth was, both Artoria [Alter] and Jeanne [Alter] were in the same situation.
Rozen probably realized this, which is why he decided to bring these two servants back to Chaldea.
Otherwise, why would Rozen, who had never tried to take any servant from the five Singularities, suddenly want to formally contract with these two reversed servants?
The seeds were sown from the very beginning.
Artoria [Alter] was in the first Fuyuki Singularity.
Jeanne [Alter] was in the first Singularity.
Rozen held a special place in the hearts of both of these servants.
Both of them realized this and glared at each other.
After a while, both of them sighed simultaneously.
"Well then, why don't you go and form a formal contract with him?" Artoria [Alter] said, as if trying to provoke Jeanne [Alter].
"Yeah, that sounds good. At least I'll get him before you do."
Jeanne [Alter] sneered.
"Don't get your hopes up. I've already reserved him ahead of you."
Artoria [Alter] retorted confidently.
"Even better. I love stealing other people's things, especially your things."
Jeanne [Alter] laughed unabashedly.
Both of them exchanged sharp words.
And then...
""Let's wait and see!""
With that parting remark, both of them snorted and walked past each other, leaving the scene.
Rozen had no idea what had just transpired.
Had he known, Rozen would probably have been astonished.
After all...
"...So these two are actually that easy to deal with?"
Rozen would eventually remark in the future.