The room was tense. Dimly lit by fire torch, the air was thick with disbelief. Ritsuka and Gudako knelt on the floor, heads bowed, as Director Olga glared at them through the main screen.
Mashu, Bondica, Mandricardo, in room while Romani, Da Vinci, and even little Airi in Chaldea command room stood nearby in various states of concern. The silence broke with Da Vinci's light laughter.
"Well, that's one way to interrogate a villain," she chuckled, arms crossed.
Olga slammed her fist on the virtual console.
"You idiots!" she snapped, eyes burning with fury. "You said you were only going to gather information! Not sit down for tea with the Witch Jeanne!"
Ritsuka raised his hand slightly. "To be fair, the fastest way to get answers is from the villain's mouth."
"You're not wrong," Da Vinci chimed in with a grin.
Olga seethed like an angry wife catching her husband sneaking in late. "Ritsuka! You're lucky you're still alive!"
Gudako added, "But we did learn something. The ritual isn't complete, and there's a way to slow it down."
Olga groaned. "That's true, but still—!"
At that moment, mashu rushed in. "Anastasia's awake."
Romani quickly scanned from Chaldea command room monitor.
Everyone turned toward the ice beauty, where Anastasia slowly opened her eyes. Romani checked her spirit origin readings. "Her spiritual core is damaged… almost torn apart. She's lucky to still be with us."
Anastasia's voice was weak but steady. "There are… other rogue Servants. I don't know where they are now, but I know one… someone who fought the Witch before he fled."
"Who?" Mashu asked.
"Siegfried."
Romani immediately brought up his file. "Germanic dragon-slayer… anti-dragon capabilities, high survivability, and extreme loyalty."
Ritsuka nodded. "If he's still alive, we can bring him back. He'll be a strong ally."
"Then what's the plan now?" Bondica asked.
Ritsuka stood up. "We split into two teams. One searches for the rogue Servants—especially Siegfried. The other hunts the eight statues to weaken the ritual."
Olga sighed, but nodded. "Alright. We follow this plan, Gudako, you'll lead Bondica, Mandricardo, and Mashu. Search for Siegfried and any other potential allies. Follow up on Anastasia's clues."
She turned to Ritsuka from screen. "You'll go with Jeanne and Anastasia. Focus on finding and destroying the statues. That's our only shot at delaying the ritual."
As everyone prepared to move out, Mashu finally spoke.
"…Why didn't the Witch go after the rogue Servants? She let them escape."
Everyone paused.
Da Vinci looked thoughtful. "Maybe she's too focused on the ritual's completion. Or maybe there's something binding her—something preventing her from leaving the city."
Ritsuka's expression darkened. "From what I've seen… that woman doesn't back down. She's the angriest person I've met in my life."
[Moments later]
Time was short. Gudako's team stood ready.
Ritsuka and Gudako stood a short distance from the others, sharing a quiet moment. The city's wind howled in the night, ruffling their hair and cloaks.
Ritsuka looked her in the eyes. "…For my plan to work, I'll need you to pull off your part. I'm counting on you."
Gudako placed a hand on his shoulder, eyes full of fire. "I'll get it done. You can bet your life on it."
Ritsuka smiled.
But before he could speak, Gudako stepped back, letting the moonlight fall across her face. Her red hair danced with the wind as she smiled shyly, partially covering her face with her hand.
"…Don't go too far away from me, okay? I'll catch up to you."
Ritsuka watched her turn and join her team. With one last glance, she waved—and disappeared into the shadows of the city.
Ritsuka exhaled.
---
(Next day)
The wind crept through the cracks in the broken walls. A sliver of sunlight pierced through the shattered rooftop, landing on Ritsuka's face.
He stirred on the old blanket and slowly sat up, rubbing his eyes.
"…What a strange dream…" he mumbled. "I saw Jeanne and Chaldea… trapped in ice?"
He blinked, trying to recall more, then let out a dry laugh.
With a stretch and a yawn, he stood up and made his way to what used to be the bathroom. The walls were cracked, and part of the ceiling was missing, giving him a full view of the morning sky as he splashed cold water on his face.
He wiped his face with a ragged towel and looked up.
"…Alright. Sakura."
A blue glow flickered in his eyes vision as the AI assistant responded in her soft, composed voice.
[Host, decoding the magic patterns is complete.]
Ritsuka grinned. "Wow. You're a genius, Sakura."
[I'm simply doing what I'm capable of, host.]
"Hmph. That's a compliment, y'know."
[Then… thank you, host.]
Ritsuka chuckled. "Anyway, open the shop. I want to see if we can get anything to help with our statue hunt."
A glowing blue screen materialized in front of him, displaying a digital inventory. Most of it was greyed out with small lock icons.
"…Huh. Looks like I'm still too weak for most of these."
[Correct. Access to most functions requires further upgrades or stronger energy signature.]
Ritsuka scrolled through, then paused as something caught his attention.
---
[Points: 400]
Takacandroid – 10
Takocandroid – 10
Battacandroid – 10
Toracandroid – 10
Denkiunagicandroid – 10
Gorillacandroid – 10
Kujyakucandroid – 10
Pteracandroid – 10
Torikeracandroid – 10
---
He narrowed his eyes and tapped the names, causing holographic previews to pop up beside each name—stylized, animal-themed mechanical drones with scanning and support abilities.
"The Candroids… these could actually help us track the statues. Especially if they're cloaked or magically hidden," he murmured.
His eyes landed on the Takacandroid—a sleek red hawk-like unit, optimized for high-altitude scanning, heat detection, and magical signature tracking.
"This one."
He selected it.
With a gentle shimmer, a small red soda can-like capsule appeared in his palm. Ritsuka stared at it with a smile of boyish wonder.
He pulled the tab. Psshh-click!
The can hissed and unfolded with metallic whirs and clicks, transforming into a gleaming mechanical bird with narrow wings, glowing blue optics, and a proud stance.
The bird flapped its wings once, scanning the area, then stared directly at Ritsuka.
Ritsuka's eyes sparkled. "Woah… This is awesome… You're amazing!"
He walked around the little bird, studying every gear and joint. The eagle looked almost shy under the praise, but puffed up proudly, standing taller like a loyal knight.
"You and I are gonna find those hidden statues and stop them in no time. But first…" Ritsuka smiled. "Let's introduce you to the rest of the team."
The bird gave a metallic chirp! and folded back into the can on its own.
Ritsuka slipped it into his pouch, straightened his shirt, and stepped through the broken doorway heading toward the room where Jeanne, Anastasia waited.
The broken wooden door creaked as Ritsuka knocked lightly.
Creak…
It swung open like an old man groaning, reluctant to rise with the morning chill. Shadows danced from the cracks in the wall, and silence pressed against the ruins like thick fog.
"Come in," Anastasia's voice came, cool but attentive. She peeked around Ritsuka, scanning the alley beyond like a trained observer, checking for pursuers. The moment he stepped inside, the door thudded shut behind him.
"You've truly embraced criminal life now, Miss Jeanne," Ritsuka said, grinning.
Jeanne smirked faintly as she stirred a small pot of reheated soup. "Yes, I'm even thinking of changing classes. Maybe something dramatic like becoming a phantom thief?"
"I shall follow suit then. From Grand Duchess to criminal mastermind," Anastasia said, her icy-blue eyes gleaming playfully despite her serious tone. "Though, given the Romanovs'... reputation, perhaps it's hereditary."
Jeanne giggled quietly. The mood had shifted. Whatever weight they had carried before seemed lighter now, cracked open by absurdity and companionship.
"We're going after the Evil God's stone statues now, right?" Jeanne asked.
"Yes. We can't afford to wait," Ritsuka nodded.
"Do you have a way to find them?" Anastasia questioned, brows raised. "Vaucouleurs is far too big for a random search. And Jeanne's presence complicates things."
Ritsuka flashed a confident smile.
"I do. Allow me to introduce… my friend… THE GREAT MIGHTY EAGLE!"
He struck a pose worthy of a stage magician, dramatically pulling out the red can. With a pull of the tab, steam hissed and light burst out.
Brrwhirr-click!
The Takacandroid unfolded midair, transforming into a majestic mechanical eagle just as a shaft of sunlight fell perfectly through the broken ceiling, lighting it like a stage spotlight.
With a mechanical SKREEE! the bird flared its wings wide.
Ritsuka extended an arm. "Behold!"
Anastasia blinked.
"…It's an eagle," she deadpanned, deflating the moment with a perfectly flat voice.
Ritsuka nearly stumbled from his pose. "H-Hey! He's more than just an eagle—he's a surveillance-class drone with mana-detection sensors! He is MECHANICAL EAGLE."
Jeanne chuckled. "Let's just let him have his moment."
Ritsuka cleared his throat. "Anyway, he'll fly over the city and search for any unusual magical signatures, concentrations of corrupted mana, or areas guarded by the undead. If we're lucky, we'll pinpoint the statues by nightfall."
"Good idea," Jeanne nodded. "That way, I won't need to be seen walking around and causing a panic."
"Oh, speaking of which…" she leaned forward, her expression sharpening. "How will you contact Chaldea?"
Ritsuka rubbed the back of his neck. "Ah… about that… Gudako and I only had one device left. She took it as I order, Limited resources. But don't worry—they'll be here in two days with reinforcements."
Jeanne sighed with relief. "Thank goodness."
Ritsuka turned to his partner. "Alright, buddy. You know the drill. Sweep the skies."
The Takacandroid gave a digital chirp! and launched skyward like a bullet, disappearing into the clouds above.
The three of them watched in silence for a moment.
"…So, when are we leaving?" Anastasia asked.
"Tonight," Ritsuka replied. "We wait until the city sleeps. Right now, people still think Jeanne is some cursed witch. Moving in daylight would risk everything as you both already know."
"…Jeanne is fine," the former saint said quietly, looking out the cracked window. "You don't need to keep calling me Miss."
Ritsuka gave a light smile. "Okay then. Jeanne."
Anastasia cleared her throat, raising an eyebrow.
"But I am royalty. Grand Duchess of Russia. You should be treating me as such. In fact—though I'm your Servant, which is backwards—I expect to be addressed properly." She crossed her arms, raising her chin haughtily. "As your Princess."
Ritsuka chuckled. "Yes, my lady."
"Good," she replied with mock dignity, but there was a light blush on her cheeks.
Jeanne watched the exchange quietly, a small smile on her lips. She noticed the slight hesitation in Ritsuka's voice, the way Anastasia's sharp edges softened whenever he was nearby. The way she leaned closer than necessary when she spoke to him, and how she actually smiled more often.
"She's falling for him," Jeanne thought. "Maybe she already has."
She kept it to herself. Anastasia was waiting for Ritsuka all this time but as he appeared she put cool face. She didn't point that out.
---
(At night)
Splaaaaash!
The rain came down in thick sheets, as if the storm clouds themselves were throwing a tantrum, unwilling to relent. Cold water poured relentlessly, blurring the world outside and muffling every sound beneath its watery curtain.
Most people dared not step outside, fearing the havoc wrought by Witch Jeanne's recent rampage. Those few who ventured out hurried back indoors as fast as they could, clutching their errands like precious cargo. Yet some welcomed the storm's fury—a cleansing baptism for the restless city.
Underneath an inverted hoodie, raindrops cascaded like a waterfall, but beneath the fabric, a pair of determined eyes shone fiercely. It was Ritsuka, carrying Anastasia who herself hid most of her face beneath her own hoodie. Below them, a modest house waited silently in the muted gray.
Trailing behind, Miss Jeanne, hoodie drawn up as well, scanned their surroundings, rain dripping from her hair.
"Are you sure it's that house? Does your eagle have a malfunction or something?" Anastasia's voice was tinged with doubt, her usual confidence shaken. After all, Ritsuka had pointed out this particular building without so much as a mana or clue from the outside.
Ritsuka smiled, unwavering. "My mighty eagle is in perfect condition, my princess. During the day, he charted the patrol routes of the zombie guards. Of course, it's natural for them to guard important places. But what caught my attention was the intensity of their patrols in areas with no obvious significance. That's a clear sign something valuable is hidden there."
"So you think the Evil God's statues are inside?"
"Yes."
Both Anastasia and Jeanne nodded, though the truth was, they had no choice but to trust Ritsuka's judgment now. His certainty had become their anchor.
"Then, let's go."
Without hesitation, Anastasia gave the order, and Ritsuka moved forward, carrying her firmly but gently. The three entered the house, the storm's roar muted by the thick walls.
True to his prediction, a heavily guarded perimeter lay within zombies stationed in patterns that had remained invisible from outside. Yet with calm precision, Ritsuka slipped past, dispatching the undead with swift efficiency. He easily found the traps hidden in the building.
Jeanne watched, half-amused, half-impressed.
'Maybe Lady Gudako was right,' she thought with a smirk. 'Maybe Master Ritsuka really is some kind of master thug.'
The truth, however, was a secret Ritsuka couldn't share: Sakura AI's guidance had been invaluable in locating hidden rooms and secret passageways. So for now, they all suspected his "thug skills" were genuine.
Ritsuka approached a heavy wooden door, his hand reaching out to open it—when suddenly, ice erupted across the surface, shattering the door into splinters.
Anastasia stood beside him, a playful smirk on her face, chest puffed out with mock pride. "I'm a Grand Duchess. When words fail, brute force always works."
Ritsuka grinned, stepping aside. "That's my princess. Never lose that royal spirit."
Anastasia's cheeks flushed ever so slightly at the praise, but Jeanne couldn't help feeling like a third wheel between them.
She crossed her arms, watching the quiet moment of camaraderie, wishing she could join in without feeling invisible.
But regardless, they opened the door to the secret room.
Inside sat the statue they had been desperately searching for an ugly, grotesque cockroach-headed idol.
"It's here," Ritsuka said, eyes narrowing with satisfaction.
"What did I tell you? Easy for the mighty eagle," he boasted, puffing his chest a little. "These kinds of guys are simple-minded. They have everything to lose, so they tend to overprotect their treasures. That's their weakness."
Anastasia crossed her arms, surprised. "Still, I didn't expect we'd find it so quickly."
Ritsuka grinned. "We didn't really find it quickly. He laid plenty of traps and baits around. It's thanks to my mighty eagle that we located the real one."
Jeanne watched him, a small smile tugging at her lips despite herself. Though Ritsuka didn't do this all alone—Sakura AI's quiet guidance had been a major help—his leadership was shining through the crisis. Jeanne found herself complimenting him without hesitation.
"That's true. You and mighty eagle really are amazing."
Ritsuka's cheeks reddened slightly. "Ah, that's kind of embarrassing."
Anastasia tilted her head, smirking. "I think you'd make a good servant for me."
"Thanks, my lady," Ritsuka replied with a bow. "Anyway, enough hype. Let's finish our business."
"Yes, let's."
The reason for finding the evil god's statue was to disrupt the ritual before it could be completed. Ritsuka pulled a paint box and brush from his system storage.
"What...?" Jeanne blinked.
"Huh?" Anastasia echoed, confused.
Ritsuka focused, pouring his mana into the paint. The red color flickered and shimmered, then faded back to its original hue.
Poke!
He dipped the brush in the paint, then, as if creating a masterpiece, twirled it around the cockroach statue.
Both Jeanne and Anastasia watched silently from behind, curiosity and skepticism mingling in their eyes.
"Is this...?" Anastasia finally whispered.
"Will this really work?" Jeanne's voice trembled slightly, betraying her anxiety.
Though nervous, Jeanne trusted Ritsuka. But still, there was a difference between believing in the man and believing in the knowledge he carried.
"It's over," Ritsuka said quietly, placing the brush and paint back.
The two women stepped closer to inspect the statue. Its surface was covered in strange lines and symbols—magic circles, no doubt, meant to hinder the ritual and restore life force to the lost.
Yet Jeanne's eyes narrowed.
These marks didn't look like the intricate, geometric patterns of true magic—no suns, moons, stars, or creatures. Instead, they were crude, almost childish scribbles.
Could these really be the magic circles to stop their dire problem?
Anastasia and Jeanne stood silently, uncertainty heavy in the air.
"Please, let's wrap this up," Ritsuka said, breaking the silence.
Jeanne nodded at his command.
"Oh, flag of mine, protect our comrades! Luminosité Eternelle!"
The words echoed, summoning the holy banner Jeanne d'Arc once carried into battle, the beacon of hope that saved France. Luminosité Eternelle shone bright, imbued with a self-stun component, aimed squarely at the statue.
"You did your part. Now the ritual should weaken."
"Let's hope so. Even though I can only use this skill....I still can't manage my Noble Phantasm yet," Jeanne confessed quietly.
"Don't worry," Anastasia said, pride swelling in her voice. "I'll protect you both with my ice."
Jeanne forced herself to keep faith in Ritsuka. She had come too far to doubt now. The ritual could begin any moment.
"are we just going to leave the statue like this?" Jeanne asked hesitantly.
Ritsuka shook his head. "It doesn't matter. Your holy power has already flowed down to the basement. Whether we smash the statue or not, we've done what's needed."
He started walking away, gesturing for the others to follow.
Jeanne trailed behind, her eyes lingering on Ritsuka's back...half in admiration, half in silent hope.
---
Not long afterward, Jeanne felt foolish for doubting Ritsuka. After they drew those silly-looking magic circles on the evil god's statues and poured their holy powers over them, an unexpected creature soon appeared.
"It's a zombie."
"Yes, it's a zombie," Anastasia confirmed, her voice steady despite the danger.
Under the cover of darkness, Ritsuka, Anastasia, and Jeanne were searching for another statue when the zombie emerged. Zombies weren't unusual at this stage of the ritual, but something about this one seemed off.
"Why is it acting like that?" Jeanne whispered, her eyes narrowing.
The zombie staggered toward them as expected, but its movements were oddly stiff as if it wore invisible armor restricting its limbs.
"Hm." Ritsuka stepped closer, curiosity flickering in his gaze.
Like all zombies, it stretched out its hands, trying to drain Ritsuka's life force to turn him into one of them. But its awkward, slow motions lacked menace. It wasn't threatening it was almost pitiful.
Without hesitation, Ritsuka struck the zombie's neck a simple, practiced motion like flicking the head of a dead fish.
"It's weaker now," Ritsuka said, eyes sharp.
"Weaker? The zombie did?" Jeanne's heart skipped. That sounded like good news.
"Yes, definitely weaker. It looks like what we're doing isn't useless after all."
His words washed away the last traces of doubt in Jeanne's heart.
"Ah, thank goodness! That's a real relief!" she whispered, sinking to her knees and silently praying to her lord. Tears pricked her eyes not from sadness, but from hope. They might actually end this brutal ordeal without a terrible sacrifice.
She abruptly stood, her hands trembling as she reached for Ritsuka's.
"I'm sorry," she said softly. "To be honest… I doubted you."
Ritsuka blinked, then grinned teasingly. "Uh, that's a bit disappointing. How many people do you think would be kind enough to risk their lives for humanity...and you doubt me?"
His eyes held no bitterness, and both Anastasia and Jeanne couldn't help but laugh.
"I didn't doubt you as a person," Jeanne hurried to clarify, "I'm grateful beyond words for everything you've done. But… I had doubts about your method of stopping the ritual. The method is…"
"Because the method is drawing ridiculous, suspicious-looking scribbles that don't even look like magic circles. Even my younger brother would do better than you," Anastasia interrupted, smirking.
"…To tell the truth, that was it. I'm sorry," Jeanne admitted with a sheepish smile.
"No need to apologize. I understand,"Ritsuka said
Anastasia said thoughtfully. "Even I wonder what kind of person made this. Genius or idiot , I still can't decide."
Ritsuka chuckled.
"I think Master Ritsuka is a genius."Jeanne said
Anastasia rolled her eyes but smiled. "Since you say so, I'll agree. But I still call it childish drawings."
Ritsuka gave a quiet thanks to Sakura AI for her help once again.
Perhaps because they had seen the effects of their work, their moods brightened despite the danger looming the Gilles and Witch Jeanne were still out there, still a threat.
"Now, we just have to take care of a couple more statues," Ritsuka said. "Then the Witch Jeanne's power will weaken enough for us to strike her mansion again. But we have to be cautious—they'll increase their guards as the statues disappear."
"I understand," Jeanne said firmly.
Feeling a newfound hope, they melted back into the city's darkness, ready for whatever came next.
---
Since then, Ritsuka, Anastasia, and Jeanne had found a few more statues—with Mighty Eagle's help. On each statue, Ritsuka's magic circles glowed faintly as Jeanne generously poured her holy power into them, stunning the statues one by one. The results became increasingly clear.
By the first night, they reached a point where they couldn't find a single undead roaming the city.
Of course, that didn't mean every last one had vanished. There might still be some lurking in a back alley or forgotten corner. But overall, the number of undead had definitely dwindled.
"Alright," Ritsuka said, determination sharpening his voice. "Let's head to the witch's mansion and destroy the central statue. If that's still intact, everything we've done will be for nothing. At best, we've only delayed the ritual, not stopped it."
"Let's go tonight."
---
Episode End
---
Note: thanks for the support for this story.
If you want to know what Gudako is doing? She is gathering servants like in game story or manga.