FGO/KONOSUBA: GOD BLESSINGS ON THOSE WONDERFUL HEROES

[Orleans] Jeanne D'Arc And Jalter? Anyway Aqua Is Awesome!!!

The chaos had settled. Smoke hung in the air like a lingering ghost, carrying the sharp tang of scorched earth and the faint odor of dragon's blood. Beside me, Ritsuka crouched next to the elderly woman we had just saved from the carnage. She clutched his hand tightly, her expression shifting between gratitude and shock, while Fou perched on his shoulder, unusually quiet for once.

I stopped and took a moment to catch my breath, scanning the battlefield. It wasn't every day you saw someone take down a dragon with a flagpole, of all things. But here we were.

My eyes trailed over to the figure standing amidst the carnage, her tattered robe fluttering in the wind, stained with soot and dragon ichor. She held the flagpole firmly, as if it were a knight's lance. Even from this distance, I could see her poise—confidence radiated off her like heat from a fire.

Badass.

"Who... who is that?" I muttered, half to myself, half to Ritsuka, but he was too busy calming the elderly woman to answer.

As if hearing my thoughts, the robed figure turned to us, the hem of her cloak brushing the dirt. Her hood cast a shadow over her face, but the voice that emerged was unmistakably female.

"You two. Bring your Servants. Follow me." Her tone was commanding yet calm, carrying the kind of authority that left no room for arguments.

Ritsuka stood, straightening his jacket. "She knows about Servants?" he asked, shooting me a questioning glance.

I crossed my arms, my mind racing. "Looks like it," I replied, already piecing together the puzzle. "Probably some kind of guide NPC. You know, the 'follow me if you want to live' type."

Ritsuka gave a faint smile, but his eyes lingered on her warily. "Think we can trust her?"

I shrugged. "If she wanted us dead, she wouldn't have bothered saving the old lady or talking to us. Plus..." I gestured to the dragon's lifeless form. "Flagpole. Dragon. I'd rather have her on our side."

He nodded, albeit reluctantly, and I tapped the comm device on my wrist. "Mash, Aqua, regroup with us. We're moving."

After a moment, Mash's soft, composed voice came through. "Understood, Kazuma-san. We're on our way."

I glanced at the figure, who had already begun walking away without waiting for us. She was quick, efficient—no wasted movement. Classic guide NPC behavior. Just as we began to follow, the elderly woman behind us gasped, her voice trembling with recognition.

"Janet! That's you, isn't it, Janet?!"

The figure paused but didn't look back. For a brief second, I thought she might respond, but instead, she gripped the flagpole tighter and continued walking, her boots crunching against the dirt.

I turned my head slightly, watching the old woman struggle to her feet, her frail hands outstretched toward the retreating figure. Her voice cracked, filled with desperation. "Janet! Please! It's been so long—"

The figure gave no reply, vanishing into the shadows of the ruined buildings ahead.

I sighed, the air heavy with unspoken tension, and cast one last glance at the old woman before turning to follow. My mind swirled with questions, but if there was one thing I had learned in this world—and my previous one—it was that answers only came to those willing to take the next step.

As Ritsuka and I jogged to catch up, Aqua's voice boomed from behind, undoubtedly annoyed. "Why do you always call me at the worst possible times, Kazuma?! I was in the middle of something important!"