"We need to have a serious talk."
Jeanne remained silent for a moment, then nodded slightly.
Seeing this, Ryou walked straight into the forest. Halfway there, he looked back and was instantly delighted.
Jeanne was following him.
He was really afraid Jeanne wouldn't even want to talk to him alone; that would be a total disaster.
Being willing to talk meant there was still hope!
He was genuinely nervous. If this matter wasn't handled well, all his previous efforts would go up in smoke, and he'd have to start from scratch.
Even though he knew the serious consequences, he still chose to reveal his cunning, deeply scheming side in front of Jeanne.
There were two reasons for this.
First, he wanted to prove that even without the Halo of the protagonist or the power of talk no jutsu, he could still become Harem Protagonist EX through his wisdom.
Second, he had previously pretended to be a sunny, carefree young man in front of Jeanne. But now that Jeanne had become his contractual partner, it was impossible to wear that mask forever.
Of course, there was an even more important reason.
He wanted to leave an indelible impression on Jeanne.
At first glance, Jeanne seemed like a 19-year-old girl just beginning to understand love, easy to deceive.
In reality, this was a huge misconception.
In the original work, it was the miraculous influence of the original author that gave Jeanne the aura of an easy girl.
In the true Type-Moon worldview, Jeanne was subtly influenced by the so-called "Lord," which was the force of suppression, training her into an obedient pawn using beauty as a tactic.
Without these external tricks, would France's most famous saintess even look at a mere artificial human? Not a chance!
Look at the men around Jeanne during her life.
There was the dashing Marshal of France, a talented and long-time comrade-in-arms, who was also deeply infatuated with Jeanne.
He had looks, talent, status, and a strong emotional foundation. Yet even until Jeanne's death, the Marshal remained in unrequited love.
Then there was the King of France. Though he lacked the Marshal's many merits, he was still a king.
Wouldn't the King of France want to marry Jeanne, a top-tier beauty who could both fight on the battlefield and "fight" in bed?
Unless he was impotent and brainless, he would try to marry Jeanne.
His indifference to Jeanne's capture was likely not just political but also out of frustrated desire.
Besides these two, there were many other outstanding men around Jeanne during her life. Ultimately, her faith in her Lord and her love for her compatriots overcame any personal feelings.
For such a saintly girl to suddenly fall in love with a random artificial human, there had to be a hidden mastermind!
In terms of romantic games, Sieg was playing on easy mode with developers giving him cheats.
Ryou's challenge to win over Jeanne was at the hellish difficulty level.
The final scene in the original work, where an idiotic mind game summoned a darkened Marshal(Gilles de Rais), gave Ryou inspiration.
No matter how saintly Jeanne seemed, she couldn't be completely devoid of personal feelings and desires.
Being close to perfection meant there were still flaws.
So, Ryou had to leave a deep, indelible impression on her first!
Then, he would subtly influence and corrupt her, and finally conquer her!
On this point, Ryou utterly despised the Marshal.
He always considered Jeanne a goddess, unaware that in modern society, those who idolize women as goddesses often fail to win their hearts or bodies.
Either you possess wealth, power, and looks, which can earn you her body.
Or you possess relentless persistence, which can win her heart.
As Aizen-sama once said: "Admiration is the emotion furthest from understanding."
However, love requires both parties to understand each other.
Putting someone on a pedestal and still wanting to pursue them—He could only chuckle at such a notion.
Ryou chose a very nice camping spot, not far from a shimmering lake.
The moonlight was beautiful tonight.
The pale moonlight spread over the lake, reflecting silver waves, like a thin layer of silver gauze.
Ryou silently admired the beautiful lake for a while, then turned his head.
Jeanne was leaning against a large green stone a few meters to his right.
From his angle, he could only see her side profile.
The saint of France was quietly gazing at the lake, the silver moonlight illuminating her, making her seem cloaked in a layer of fluorescence.
Such a beautiful and sacred scene made him unconsciously slow his breathing as if any louder sound would ruin the moment.
At this moment, her heroic aura faded, leaving behind an untainted sanctity and tranquility, as if even the most sinful person would be awed, kneeling before her to confess to the "Lord."
Her eyes, serene yet carrying a trace of worry, were filled with compassion for countless living beings.
At this moment, she seemed no longer the country girl from Orléans, but an angel sent by the "Lord" to fulfill a mission on earth, now ready to shed her mortal form and return to heaven.
Despite the short distance of a few meters, he felt she was far away from him...
Ryou bit his tongue hard, refusing to let things end this way.
Even if she were an angel, he would pull her down and stain her with his colors.
Ryou suddenly took a big step forward, grabbing Jeanne's shoulders forcefully. With her shocked eyes on him, he fiercely kissed her inviting red lips.
"!"
Soft, warm—this was Ryou's first impression, like the warm spring water at the peak of a snowy mountain, pure yet heartwarming.
Ryou didn't want to let go, so he didn't!
Jeanne, snapped out of her momentary shock, woke up to the situation. Her eyes, though showing a trace of shame and anger, were mostly determined.
She pushed Ryou hard, but didn't budge him. Instead, it seemed to spur him on, as he wrapped his arms around her back, as if trying to merge her into his body.
Jeanne then remembered she was in a non-combat state.
Her eyes turned cold and sharp, full of warning, but Ryou seemed oblivious.
With a flash of magical light, Jeanne instantly transformed into her combat form.
Ryou suddenly felt as if he was wrestling with a dragon and quickly used his Descent card.
With the support of his heroic spirit form, Ryou's strength once again overpowered Jeanne's.
However, Ryou's near shameless act finally angered the saint of France.
She wouldn't let him ravage her sacred body any longer.
Jeanne suddenly raised her hand and then struck fiercely. Even before the fist landed, a fierce wind blew.
Bang!
With a dull thud, Jeanne's punch showed no mercy. Ryou felt as though he had been struck by a ten-thousand-pound iron hammer.
This was no exaggeration; it was truly like a ten-thousand-pound iron hammer. The strength of a Servant, enough to easily flip over a car, was no joke.
His internal organs were injured, and a trail of blood gushed from his mouth.
Even so, Ryou had no intention of letting go of Jeanne; instead, he held her even tighter.
He seemed to have a premonition that if he let go now, his and Jeanne's fates would diverge into two completely parallel lines, never to intersect again.
So, Ryou's blood flowed from his mouth into Jeanne's.
Feeling the sweet, metallic taste, Jeanne's expression froze for a moment. Ultimately, her faith and strong will prevailed, and she raised her fist once more.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Jeanne's fists, like a pile driver, pounded repeatedly on his back.
With each hit, Ryou spat out a mouthful of blood.
Yet, he refused to let go, enduring with the powerful regenerative abilities of his Mystic Code and Noble Phantasm.
Ten minutes quickly passed, and the time for the Descent card expired, causing Ryou's heroic spirit state to vanish immediately.
However, Jeanne's fists showed no signs of stopping and continued to slam down viciously on Ryou's back!
Already suffering from severe internal injuries that were still healing, and now without the reinforcement of his heroic spirit state, Ryou would surely die if this punch landed.
Facing death, Ryou had a fleeting thought of letting go.
Ultimately, not only did he not let go, but he held on even tighter as if to express his resolve...
Whoosh!
The powerful wind from Jeanne's iron fist made his tattered clothes flutter loudly. But in the end, the punch did not land.
A barely perceptible smile flashed in Ryou's eyes as he slowly released Jeanne.
"Are you crazy? I almost killed you just now! What were you thinking?!"
The always gentle and humble saint suddenly burst out uncharacteristically.
As Ryou swayed unsteadily, a sense of pride rose in his heart.
The saint of France, who could face the stake with calmness, was now flustered and at a loss in front of him. He was undoubtedly the first to see her like this.
With Jeanne's outburst, her otherworldly sanctity vanished without a trace.
I won.
I brought the angel back to the mortal world.
Ryou wanted to laugh, but as soon as he opened his mouth, blood spurted out.
"Are you okay?"
Jeanne immediately supported him with a worried look.
But she quickly seemed to remember something and suddenly put on a stern face.
"I haven't forgiven you, just thanking you for everything you've done for me."
Her tsundere response was textbook, even adding a unique charm to the saint.
"It's okay, I'm not going to die. I just need to rest for a while."
Ryou said, giving a thumbs up.
"Is that so? That's good."
The atmosphere between them seemed to turn awkward again.
At this moment, he broke the silence first.
"Sorry, I hid something from you before."
Ryou looked Jeanne straight in the eyes and said earnestly.
"No... well, honestly, seeing you like that before made me feel very conflicted. I couldn't tell which was the real you, and I didn't even want to face you anymore."
Jeanne initially intended to respond politely, but seeing the blood on his clothes, she hesitated for a moment before deciding to speak the truth.
"I am still sorry. That version of me is the real me, someone who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals."
Ryou's eyes were sincere as he looked into Jeanne's.
Jeanne, however, couldn't meet his gaze.
Although she had died at the hands of the English, she bore no grudge against them. They were enemies, and from the moment she stepped onto the battlefield, she had been prepared for that.
What truly disgusted her were the greedy, heartless politicians, and even the king himself.
She had carried the banner for France, shed blood for France, and in return, she had been betrayed and sold out!
Ryou's previous actions had starkly reminded her of these people.
Yet, he had not harmed her; instead, he had always been considerate.
If Jeanne's feelings could be summarized in one sentence, it would be: "My feelings are complicated."
"But I don't regret it at all, truly."
Ryou's gaze became resolute.
"Why are you telling me this? You've just been seriously injured and need to rest."
Jeanne turned her head away, feeling guilty.
"I just wanted to tell you that for the people I care about, I can become even more despicable, even completely abandoning my moral compass."
Ryou's intense gaze made Jeanne even more reluctant to meet his eyes. She suddenly stood up and, in a fluster, tried to leave, hurriedly saying, "Sorry, I'm tired and need to rest."
Ryou grabbed Jeanne's wrist.
In his current state, Jeanne could easily have broken free, but she only weakly struggled before letting him hold her.
Ryou slowly pulled her back in front of him and hugged her tightly.
"I like you! No, I have romantic feelings for you!"
Jeanne silently lowered her head. After a long moment, she suddenly pushed him away.
"I'm very sorry! I still have duties to fulfill, so I can't respond to your feelings right now. I'm sorry!"
Jeanne shouted, and before he could respond, she turned and fled.
"As expected, it wasn't going to be that easy."
Ryou scratched the back of his head in frustration.
"But, 'not right now,' means that someday it might be possible."
Thinking of this, his mood suddenly lifted.
When Ryou cheerfully returned to the camp, Jeanne had already retreated into her tent and firmly zipped it shut.
On the other side of the camp, Astolfo, who had just finished replacing the heart of the Homunculus boy, was loudly exclaiming.
"You're okay! That's great! How about I give you a name?"
Astolfo held the boy's hands, smiling broadly.
"Um..."
The boy's appearance was already quite delicate, and with his hands being held by the cross-dresser, a blush of shyness involuntarily crept onto his face.
From a distance, Ryou saw two cute boys holding hands, and it seemed as if even the surrounding air had become tinged with an atmosphere that felt distinctly gray.
"What name should I give you? How about Whitey, Russian, or Bruno?"
Astolfo pondered deeply, putting on a thoughtful expression.
Aren't those all dog names?
Remembering how Astolfo had named the mythical beast 'Hippogriff' as Little Eagle, Ryou was at a loss for words regarding the cross-dresser's naming skills.
Seeing Astolfo's face full of pride as if thinking, "The names are great, right?" while the boy tried to speak but was constantly interrupted, Ryou could see the situation. Even Siegfried, who usually kept a straight face, had a hint of helplessness in his eyes.
Unable to watch any longer, Ryou interjected.
"Since he inherits the heart of the hero of charity, Karna, why not call him Kaar or Kaana?"
"Kaar? Kaana... Kaana seems familiar somehow. Let's go with Kaar, yes! It's decided."
Without asking the boy's opinion, Astolfo decided on the name.
Ryou didn't mind; after all, both names had a feminine ring to them, and whichever Astolfo picked, he'd fall into the trap he set.
"Great! Kaar, you have a name now!"
Astolfo jumped and laughed while holding Kaar's hands, but Ryou could see clearly that Kaar was also smiling, albeit a bit forcedly.
It seemed that even with an initially high affection level, dealing with the cross-dresser was a bit overwhelming.
"Ah! Look at the time, I should be heading back."
Astolfo suddenly shouted, then his face visibly turned crestfallen.
"Rider, don't you want to return to your Master?"
Ryou asked, knowing the answer.
"No!"
Astolfo shook his head rapidly.
Just thinking about that twisted Master gave him a headache.
"Do you like being with Kaar?"
As soon as Ryou asked this, Kaar shyly lowered his head, while Astolfo excitedly raised his hand.
"Like! Like! Like! Of course, I like being with Kaar!"
"Then congratulations on becoming cou... contract partners!"
Ryou almost blurted out 'couple' but caught himself just in time.
"I feel like you were thinking something very inappropriate just now."
Astolfo eyed him suspiciously, looking him over from head to toe.
Ryou, with his thick skin that could withstand anti-fortress Noble Phantasms, showed no change in expression under Astolfo's scrutinizing gaze, his face practically spelling out "sincerity."
However, Ryou also laughing internally, thinking that a comic relief character's intuition must be enhanced accordingly—definitely not someone to mess with.
"Well, whatever. Oh! Does that mean..."
With Astolfo's peculiar train of thought, he quickly let it go and looked at Ryou with excitement.
"Naturally, it's to form a... contract with you two. How about making Kaar your Master? Are you willing?"
Ryou's real intention was to pair up Astolfo and the now-renamed Kaar, formerly 'Sieg,' so there was no way he was going to let Astolfo go back so easily.
"But won't my Master be angry?"
A hint of hesitation appeared on Astolfo's face.
"Let me ask you, Rider, do you have any wish that can only be granted by the Holy Grail?"
Ryou guided gently.
"No!"
This time, Astolfo answered decisively.
"Then that's settled. You can simply withdraw from the Holy Grail War, right?"
Astolfo sensed something was off, but with his limited intellect, he couldn't see through his intentions. Moreover, the suggestion to withdraw was exactly what Astolfo, who disliked fighting, wanted to hear.
Seeing Astolfo nod, Ryou's smile widened.
"Then tomorrow, let's ask Jeanne to formalize the marr... contract between you two."
Ryou almost let the word 'marriage' slip out, but thankfully, Astolfo was completely focused on the idea of becoming a 'pair' with Kaar.
At that moment, a portal emitting golden light suddenly appeared above Ryou.
Descending from a golden celestial ship, a goddess in full regalia arrived.
Ryou found it strange why she had suddenly come back and then realized something was wrong.
Why could everyone see her now!?
Almost the moment Ishtar appeared, Siegfried drew his sword, aiming it at the lofty figure.
Meanwhile, Jeanne, who had been tossing and turning in her tent, immediately sensed the immense magical energy and instinctively transformed into her battle state, grabbing her holy flag and rushing out of the tent.
Both Siegfried and Jeanne could feel the overwhelming and ocean-like magical energy emanating from Ishtar, as well as her supreme and unmatched presence.
A formidable enemy! An unparalleled formidable enemy!
With a serious expression, Jeanne gripped her holy flag tightly, and while Siegfried's expression didn't change much, his eyes were locked onto Ishtar without a moment's relaxation.
Their actions indicated to Ryou that Ishtar, previously hidden from the hidden dimension, was now fully visible to others.
Facing the two Servants who treated her as a severe threat, Ishtar didn't even spare them a glance.
She looked down at Ryou from above, her voice carrying the unique arrogance of a deity, and her gaze as if looking at an ant.
"I, Goddess Ishtar, demand payment!"
Ryou almost stumbled to the ground. This goddess had put on such a grand display just to collect a debt.
It was utterly absurd.
With a helpless smile, Ryou ignored the extremely capricious goddess and turned to Jeanne and Siegfried.
"No need to worry, she's my..."
Ishtar quickly interjected.
"Creditor."
Seeing the strange expression on his face, Ishtar crossed her arms and spoke haughtily.
"What are you looking at? I told you, I lost a full ten million dollars working for you. You promised to compensate me five times that amount."
"Five times? Wasn't it agreed to be four times?"
Ryou was taken aback.
"Huh? You disrupted this goddess's grand plan to make money and forced this goddess to travel back to collect the debt. Shouldn't you compensate for this goddess's losses?"
Ishtar replied matter-of-factly.
Unreasonable, willful, domineering, and with a touch of mischievousness—Ryou was already somewhat immune to Ishtar's little devil-like personality.
Seeing the interaction between the two, Jeanne and Siegfried, realizing they were indeed acquaintances, put away their weapons.
"You're right because you have a big heart... Oops! Sorry, I didn't mean anything by that."
Ryou had initially spoken offhandedly, but after glancing at her, especially at her regrettably flat chest, he couldn't help but laugh.
"You... you did that on purpose, didn't you? Shine(Die)!"
The previously lofty goddess's face turned beet red with anger and embarrassment. She covered her chest with one hand and pointed at Ryou with the other.
"Maanna!"
With Ishtar's shout, filled with shame and anger, her celestial ship Maanna obediently followed its master's command, firing several golden beams directly at Ryou.
PS: 1 Power Stone = 1 Push up