284 Reunion

On the sidelines, Jeanne instantly turned to stone.

For a village girl who hadn't read many books, witnessing a dragon turning into a human form was an experience with profound impact.

"I finally... found you..."

Nidhogg swayed gracefully, instantly diving into Arkhan's embrace, sniffing the familiar scent on him.

A look of relief immediately appeared on her face.

Arkhan gently stroked Nidhogg's silky black hair, his eyes softening unexpectedly. He never thought he would encounter her in such a situation.

Both remained silent, tightly embracing each other, feeling the heartbeat and the joy of reuniting with their loved ones. Everything was said without words at this moment, and no one wanted to disturb this rare and beautiful tranquility.

"Um..." Jeanne tilted her head. "Are you two married?"

The serene atmosphere instantly shattered, and Nidhogg gave this blonde woman, who had strange steel pieces on her head, a displeased look.

'Can't she understand the mood?' Nidhogg thought with irritation.

But for the naive saint who had never been in love, dedicated entirely to her God, reading the atmosphere was a bit challenging.

"Yes, indeed..." Arkhan smiled, patting Nidhogg's head. "Nidhogg and I are married."

"And it's the kind of married with a wedding, you know!" Nidhogg declared proudly as if showing off something incredible.

Though she had suspicions, the pure-hearted saint was still shocked by the acknowledgment.

Could humans and dragons really become a married couple?

In the distant sky, the pitch-black darkness gradually receded, replaced by a glassy light blue. On the vast horizon, rays of dawn sparkled like treasures, beautiful and dreamlike.

The long night had ended, and dawn was approaching.

Looking at the disaster scene around her, as if Mars had collided with Earth, the French saint couldn't help but sigh wearily.

If this much havoc was caused at the beginning of the war, could she really stop them when both sides went all out later?

Was she truly here to ensure the smooth progress of the Holy Grail War in the first place?

She couldn't decisively say it wasn't, but there was a fuzzy feeling she couldn't entirely trust. It was as if a voice in her mind was telling her that something was not right about this Holy Grail War.

'...Thinking about it now won't change anything... Anyway, I can only do my best.'

With that determination, Jeanne gazed intently at the husband-and-wife pair.

===

"Ara, ara~ Quite a brutal scene, right? Looks like we've got some real troubles in this Holy Grail War."

On top of a small hill, a tall and graceful woman gazed at the destroyed land.

Despite wearing a standard nun attire, her voluptuous figure couldn't be hidden, adding a hint of forbidden allure to her gentle and virtuous demeanor.

Though she behaved mildly and sensibly, there was an inexplicable charm that seemed to say—I dare you to pin me down and ravish me.

"Defeating Surya's offspring... That Rider from the Black Faction must be quite extraordinary."

A crisp and youthful voice resonated from the void next to the nun. Though audibly underage, the voice carried an indescribable seductive touch.

"An eight-legged horse, a black dragon, and a divine lance... Maybe Odin himself has made a grand entrance." The nun's delicate face wore a gentle smile, as if a hundred flowers bloomed instantly.

"Impossible!" The youthful voice asserted firmly. "With the strength of a normal Saint Graph, it's simply impossible to accommodate the descent of a god!"

"Fufufu, you never know, dear. What if someone got bored and decided to discard a portion of their power just to make an entrance?" The nun chuckled.

"..." The youthful voice instantly fell silent.

Theoretically, there was indeed a possibility.

"Odin is the king of the Norse gods. If you compare, he's probably not that different from Shiva who killed you back then." The nun's lips curled into a pleased smile. "How does it feel, thinking about facing such a powerful opponent? Do you suddenly feel the urge to cry in fear?"

"Hmph, stop talking to yourself, you vulgar woman!" The youthful voice snorted. "Even if it's truly Odin descending, so what? The strength of his Saint Graph can't contain much of his power. Even if we really fought, I... I might not lose to him!"

"Fufu, alright then. Show me what kind of funny show you can perform."

The nun extended her alluring red tongue, lightly licking over her plump red lips, making her even more enchanting.

"But be careful, in case I find a chance, I won't hesitate to—"

"Eat you up."

===

After years of separation, reuniting with a loved one should be a romantic and beautiful experience. Still, Nidhogg couldn't find any joy in it, no matter how surreal the encounter was.

It wasn't that she had any problems with Arkhan. In fact, she wished she could drag him into a secluded grove and engage in passionate and intense 'communication' to release the burning passion inside her.

But...

"Why do you keep following us?!" Nidhogg asked angrily, a black line forming on her forehead as she looked at the saint who had changed back into casual attire.

"Because I am the overseer of this Holy Grail War and need to assess the situation on the Black Faction." Jeanne explained earnestly.

Nidhogg turned to Arkhan, who nodded helplessly.

"She's right."

"Damn it..." Nidhogg muttered, grinding her teeth in frustration. Without hesitation, she swiftly reached out with her slender, fair fingers and pinched Arkhan's waist before twisting it. "It's all your fault for being so nosy."

Arkhan's face twitched slightly as Nidhogg showed no mercy with her pinch.

"I was just doing my job, okay? Who knew she'd agree so readily."

Due to the previous request from Vlad, before leaving, he casually asked Jeanne if she would like to join them on the way to the Fortress of Millennia. Surprisingly, she agreed without hesitation.

He distinctly remembered in the original work that Jeanne decisively rejected Gordes's offer to come along. Why did it change when it came to him?

Jeanne glanced at Arkhan's back, then quickly averted her gaze.

From the standpoint of an overseer, openly heading to the territory of a particular faction was indeed improper and biased. Still, she couldn't resist following because she always felt something.

She felt that the black-haired man before her emitted a captivating power that irresistibly drew her in.