"Do you feel Mr. Kairi seems uneasy?" Laeticia asked, holding her milk tea and staring at Kairi, who was nearby hinting to the police.
"It's because you keep staring at him," Cyd said, patting Laeticia's head. "Just act natural."
"Oh," Laeticia nodded but still glanced at Kairi from time to time.
"This girl is too obvious"
Cyd glanced at Kairi, clearly uncomfortable. As a mercenary, he was sensitive to hostility and scrutiny. Laeticia's direct and unabashed gaze made him feel like a novice under observation.
"Hey, Laeticia, you're in high school, right? When did you become possessed by Jeanne?" Cyd moved closer to Laeticia to help Kairi relax.
"Yeah," Laeticia nodded. "I heard Miss Jeanne calling me during my prayers, and I agreed."
"You shouldn't have agreed. The Holy Grail War is not something to take lightly," Cyd sighed. "Everyone fights for their own desires. If possible, I wouldn't want you involved."
"I know. I volunteered to be Miss Jeanne's vessel," Laeticia said, stirring her milk tea with a straw. "I really wanted to know what kind of world that was hidden from the public"
"I see I don't blame you but we shouldn't have involved ordinary people like you in the Holy Grail War," Cyd patted Laeticia's head. "But don't worry, if Jeanne falls, I'll protect you."
"Miss Jeanne said, 'Why do I have to fall?'" Laeticia smiled helplessly.
"Well, this is the Holy Grail War. Anything that seems impossible elsewhere is possible here," Cyd stretched lazily. "Even heroes who were mighty in life can fall in the Holy Grail War."
"Even... you?" Laeticia asked cautiously.
"Don't be so worried," Cyd ruffled Laeticia's hair roughly. "Rest assured, I'll protect you."
"That's really... reassuring," Laeticia lowered her head, letting Cyd mess up her hair.
"You guys look to be enjoying yourselves," Atalanta said softly behind Cyd.
"Ah! I'm sorry!" Laeticia jumped and bowed to Atalanta.
She almost forgot that Atalanta and Cyd were married.
"Sit down," Atalanta pointed to where Laeticia had just been sitting.
"O-Okay," Laeticia nervously sat back down, unable to tell if Atalanta was angry from her poker face.
"Don't mess up the girl's hair, you stinky man," Atalanta glared fiercely at Cyd, then reached out to untangle Laeticia's braided hair, starting to tidy up the messy hair that Cyd had messed up.
"It's fine I let him do it," Laeticia felt embarrassed.
"It's okay. I used to help those kids with their hair," Atalanta took out a comb from her pocket and gently started combing Laeticia's hair, her gentle smile making Cyd involuntarily chuckle.
"What's so funny? Your laughter is so annoying," Atalanta frowned at Cyd.
"No, I just feel that the decision I made back then wasn't wrong. You're the best now," Cyd raised his thumb.
"Tch, don't forget I can chase you to the ends of the underworld," Atalanta snorted.
"Hey, I've already become a Heroic Spirit," Cyd exaggeratedly held his head.
"Hmm? Do you really think I'll believe that?" Laeticia's confusion was evident. Atalanta's words had given her a strange feeling that Cyd might not be dead after all.
Could it be just an illusion?
Laeticia cautiously glanced at Cyd, hoping for some confirmation or reassurance.
"Hmm?" Cyd tilted his head slightly, his curiosity evident.
"Nothing, it's nothing," Laeticia said, forcing a smile to cover her concern.
"Alright then," Atalanta said with a satisfied nod as she finished adjusting Laeticia's braided pigtails.
"Thank you," Laeticia said, feeling genuinely flattered by the Greek hero's gesture.
"It's no trouble," Atalanta replied with a shrug, glancing at Cyd. "Just a small favor."
"Ah, as expected of you," Cyd said with a knowing smile.
"At least finding you is easier than tracking a wild boar," Atalanta added with a smirk.
"What are you talking about?" Laeticia asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"Well, Laeticia, you should call Jeanne d'Arc. We might face danger soon," Cyd said, snapping his fingers to get everyone's attention. "We've located the black assassin."
"Good!" Laeticia closed her eyes in concentration. When she opened them again, Jeanne d'Arc had reappeared. "Are you done with your nap, Jeanne?" Cyd asked, tapping Jeanne's forehead lightly.
"Of course I'm awake!" Jeanne d'Arc replied, her irritation evident.
"Let's get going," Cyd clapped his hands decisively. "As for Kairi, he won't be fighting during the day, so he can wander around for now."
Cyd signaled to Kairi, who nodded, extinguished his cigarette, and put his hands in his pockets before heading towards Mordred's position.
"First, let's address the situation," Atalanta said as they approached the black assassin's location. Her expression was a mix of concern and curiosity. "The combination of the black assassins seems unusual."
"The master is an ordinary woman," Cyd said with a casual shrug. "I've seen them before, but I didn't expect them of all people to be the ones that caused all this commotion"
"An Ordinary woman?" Jeanne d'Arc frowned. "Aren't only magicians supposed to participate in the Holy Grail War?"
"In theory, anyone who forms a contract with a Heroic Spirit can participate," Cyd explained with a shrug. "That also explains why the assassins keep targeting magicians."
"Supplementing magical power?" Jeanne d'Arc said, her expression troubled. "That's not something a hero would typically do."
"Allowing one's Heroic Spirit to attack others suggests that the master might have issues as well," Cyd said, his tone serious as he pointed to a green-haired young woman being dragged into an alley by a group of thugs. "There they are."
In the dimly lit alley, the thugs, their faces contorted with malevolence, had pushed the young woman roughly against the wall.
"I've had my eye on you," sneered the yellow-haired thug, his gaze lingering lecherously on the woman. "You're a prostitute, aren't you?"
"I…"
"Cough, look over here," Cyd interrupted with a loud, deliberate cough, capturing the thugs' attention.
"What do you want?" the yellow-haired thug snapped, drawing a knife. "If you don't want trouble, you'd better leave now."
"Why don't you let the lady go before things get messy?" Cyd said, cracking his knuckles with a steely resolve. He then turned to the woman and added, "Don't worry, I'm here to help you."
"Now are you guys gonna leave or you gonna fight," he finished, his posture ready for a fight.