Chapter 234
Although Kiriya’s performance was a little too theatrical even for Jeanne to watch without embarrassment, she had no objection to the clothes themselves.
After all, no matter how revered she might be as a saint, Jeanne was still a teenage girl at heart. It was only natural that she would be drawn to pretty and adorable things.
And so, under Kiriya’s enthusiastic recommendations, Jeanne began an impromptu fashion show.
Sailor-uniform Jeanne.
Trendy gyaru Jeanne.
Biker Jeanne.
Elegant young-lady Jeanne.
Gothic-lolita Jeanne.
Flower-fairy Jeanne...
People might jokingly call her a "country girl," but Jeanne’s appearance was undeniably stunning.
Her proportions were excellent, and she had the kind of figure that made almost anything look good.
No matter what style she tried, she wore it effortlessly.
Her distinctive temperament even elevated clothes that might have looked ordinary on someone else.
It was not only Kiriya who found himself staring.
The shop assistants, the owner, and even passing customers gradually stopped what they were doing to look at her.
Before long, several people started wondering whether some famous celebrity had quietly come to visit the store.
A few even approached asking for photographs and autographs.
As the crowd grew larger and increasingly enthusiastic, Kiriya and Jeanne decided they had better leave before things got completely out of hand.
They hurriedly bought several outfits and escaped.
As for the cost, Kiriya had no reason to worry.
Yggdmillennia had provided him with a black card.
As one of the wealthiest old families in Romania, buying a few sets of clothing meant nothing to them.
Kiriya could probably have emptied half the street without making a meaningful dent.
"Whew..."
Once they finally escaped the store, Jeanne released a long breath.
She looked like someone who had just survived a major battle.
Trying on the clothes had been fun.
The overwhelming enthusiasm from the crowd, however, had been another matter entirely.
Jeanne had led armies before, but dealing with excited fans was somehow much more frightening.
Kiriya was equally relieved.
Most of the crowd had supposedly gathered for Jeanne, yet nearly every woman among them had somehow found an excuse to drift toward him instead.
And several had been far too comfortable with their hands.
So Kiriya had been just as eager to flee.
"What should we do now?"
Jeanne looked at him.
"Well, now that we’ve upgraded our equipment..."
Kiriya licked his lips, anticipation written all over his face.
"Let’s go find the Red faction."
Jeanne stared at him.
"You do realize you’re participating in a Holy Grail War, don’t you?"
She sighed.
"First of all, I’m Ruler. I’m required to remain neutral. Until Amakusa Shirou Tokisada actually begins interfering with the Greater Grail, I still can’t act against him."
"Second, the Holy Grail War is supposed to remain hidden."
Jeanne’s expression became more serious.
"You can’t just start fighting in broad daylight. If you expose Mystery to ordinary society, the rules of the Holy Grail War would force me to oppose you as well."
"Hahaha, I’m kidding."
Kiriya laughed awkwardly.
He had actually forgotten about that part.
The Holy Grail War was supposedly conducted "in secret."
Of course, considering how nearly every Holy Grail War somehow involved enormous explosions, destroyed buildings, and supernatural disasters visible from half the city, Kiriya had almost forgotten that secrecy was technically one of the rules.
"If there’s nothing else to do for now, then let’s keep exploring the city."
Kiriya took Jeanne’s hand and casually continued down the street.
They sampled local food, browsed small shops, and picked out various accessories for Jeanne.
Before long, the two looked less like participants in a supernatural war and more like ordinary tourists visiting the city for the first time.
Jeanne was initially somewhat uncomfortable with the idea.
But after Kiriya encouraged her to relax, she gradually let herself enjoy the rare opportunity.
Jack the Ripper, who had been disrupting the city and slaughtering civilians, was already gone.
As for Amakusa’s Servants, they were unlikely to make any large moves until nightfall.
That left them with most of the day free.
They talked, laughed, teased each other, and wandered around together.
To the older men and women passing by, they looked exactly like a young couple on a date, earning more than a few knowing smiles.
Before they knew it, evening had arrived.
The two entered a restaurant to have dinner.
Kiriya intended to look for the Red Servants afterward and find himself another good fight.
But almost immediately after stepping inside, they spotted someone unexpected.
A blond girl with a high ponytail was seated at one of the tables.
Her finely shaped features carried a bold, wild smile filled with confidence and fearlessness.
Her outfit was equally striking.
A short athletic top covered her upper body beneath a red jacket, while extremely short denim shorts revealed a pair of long, powerful legs.
The overall style was cool, casual, and undeniably attractive.
Even more memorable was the contrast between her beautiful appearance and her completely unrestrained behavior.
She sat however she pleased and ate with the enthusiasm of someone who had just returned from a battlefield.
The number of empty plates stacked across the table was already approaching a small mountain.
"Red... Saber?"
Jeanne narrowed her eyes before looking toward Kiriya.
Kiriya nodded.
He examined the girl.
Beneath her apparently relaxed exterior, he could clearly sense an enormous mass of violent energy waiting to erupt.
His eyes immediately brightened.
"Saber... she seems strong."
As Ruler, Jeanne instantly identified the other Servant’s Class and basic information.
But that information produced an entirely different question.
"The legendary child of King Arthur..."
She stared at the girl.
"Why is Arthur’s son a woman?"
"Oh, so it’s you."
Mordred looked up and paused when she saw Kiriya.
Then a grin slowly appeared on her face.
It was the smile of a predator spotting interesting prey.
"You know me?"
Kiriya was slightly surprised.
They had never met before.
"Ha."
Mordred continued stuffing food into her mouth as she spoke.
"Red Assassin’s Master told us plenty about you."
"He said Berserker and Archer were both taken out by you and warned us not to underestimate you."
"Oh?"
Kiriya smiled.
"Then why are you still here?"
"Are you kidding?"
Mordred finally swallowed the food in her mouth.
"I’m the Knight of Treachery."
She calmly finished the last piece of steak on her plate, wiped her mouth, and stood.
"Come on."
Her grin widened.
"Let me see what you’ve really got."
From the look of her, Mordred was every bit as eager to fight as Kiriya.
"Wait."
Kiriya raised a hand.
Mordred stopped.
"What?"
Her smile became even more aggressive.
"Backing out already?"
"No."
Kiriya pointed toward an empty table.
"I haven’t eaten yet."
"Let me finish dinner first. We can fight afterward."
"..."
Mordred stared at him.
Her grand challenge had somehow been postponed by dinner!
With no better option, she sat back down and resumed the important task of eating.
For the next half hour, Mordred kept glaring at Kiriya while viciously stabbing pieces of meat with her fork and chewing as though each bite were personally responsible for delaying their battle.
Most people would have found the atmosphere terrifying.
Kiriya remained completely unaffected.
He calmly enjoyed his dinner as usual.
Jeanne, on the other hand, had trouble relaxing.
Food she had found delicious earlier suddenly tasted remarkably bland with an impatient Saber glaring at them from the next table.
Eventually, half an hour passed.
Kiriya finished his meal, wiped his mouth at an almost leisurely pace, and finally stood beneath Mordred’s increasingly murderous stare.
He left the restaurant and disappeared into the darkness outside.
Jeanne and Mordred followed.
The three traveled away from the populated area until they eventually reached a secluded valley.
Mordred stopped and looked toward Jeanne.
"What’s this supposed to mean?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"Don’t tell me the great Ruler has joined the Black faction?"