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"Persecuting the lives of others for selfish desires is indeed a sin that must be atoned for."
Jeanne d'Arc pressed her hands solemnly to her chest in a prayerful gesture. Her expression radiated serenity, but a soft smile followed. "But that's a matter for the living. We Heroic Spirits belong to the past—we serve the Master as his guardians now. Even if we once held judgment, we no longer have the right to enforce it."
"...Tch."
Semiramis let out an indistinct sound—half sneer, half disinterest.
But she did not escalate the matter. The absence of further provocation suggested that, at least for now, the Empress had no intention of sowing discord. Her sharp eyes scanned the room arrogantly, her chin raised as she declared, "The Empress is exhausted. Master, ensure a bedroom is prepared—one befitting my stature."
"Sure. The castle has plenty of space. You can go rest now."
Shen He rubbed his nose awkwardly and opened the castle gates with a wave of his hand. He watched as Semiramis, trailed by the maids, departed with the unshakable elegance of nobility.
"Tch, that woman's annoying," Misaka Mikoto (Alter) grumbled.
"I don't like her either," the Ryougi Shiki pair added bluntly and in sync.
Shen He forced an awkward smile. Well, it wasn't surprising.
In the original timeline, Semiramis' Master—Amakusa Shirou Tokisada—had multiple Servants. The Empress had always clashed with the others. Her pride, entitlement, and tyrannical aura didn't blend well with the team.
She was, after all, an Empress through and through—dominant, calculating, and ruthless.
Now that she'd withdrawn, the other followers quietly dispersed to ready themselves for tomorrow's battle. Only Qi Mu Nanxiong and Jeanne remained.
"She seems like she's going to be trouble," Qi Mu remarked dryly, savoring a tart crafted by Nakiri Erina.
Since staying here, there were fresh desserts nearly every night. One of the many perks of cohabitating with such a powerful and diverse team.
"She's hard to get along with, that's for sure," Shen He sighed. "But at least she isn't just another 'salty fish.' Let's see what she does. Once summoned, they can't just be dismissed. Whether she helps or hinders us depends on how we handle her."
Despite his reservations, he was mostly satisfied with having summoned such a renowned ruler. Though Semiramis wasn't an elite tactician or first-rate magus, her knowledge of governance and court intrigue was formidable. Her Noble Phantasm—Hanging Gardens of Babylon—was an EX-rank fortress, immensely useful to Chaldea's strategic operations.
Her second Noble Phantasm—Poison of the Arrogant King—provided deadly area-of-effect support, making her especially valuable in battles involving multiple enemies or sieges.
"If she's a Servant who can genuinely support her Master, that's a blessing."
Jeanne clasped Shen He's hands warmly, offering a gentle smile. Her eyes shimmered with faith and affection.
"Whether I am your follower or your lover, I still fall short in many ways. All I can do is pray for your success. And it seems you've granted yet another of my unspoken wishes."
"Jeanne..." Shen He's voice caught in his throat, visibly moved.
In today's world, how could anyone find a girl so pure, so selfless, so devoted?
Qi Mu, casually grabbing another dessert from Shen He's plate, quietly vanished—leaving the two lovebirds alone in the living room.
Let's just say the night ended very sweetly once they returned to their bedroom.
That was Day One after Semiramis' arrival. Shen He had yet to realize just how much this "catfish" would stir up the dynamics within Chaldea.
The next morning began with Jeanne's soft whisper waking Shen He. Ever since he'd carried her into bed that first time, alarm clocks were a thing of the past.
Normally, he would lounge around in the warmth of the bed a bit longer. But today, with only two hours before combat operations, he rose immediately.
While he had slept soundly, many outside had likely stayed up planning or worrying.
Upon arriving in the villa's grand lounge, Shen He found Semiramis already seated, sipping tea regally. Coulson sat beside her, his demeanor unusually composed.
"How typical," Semiramis drawled as she noticed Shen He and Jeanne. She placed her teacup on its saucer. "Summoned only to be hurled into war. Even for me, this is excessively rude."
"You just got here. Your mana hasn't stabilized yet. No one's expecting miracles," Shen He replied as he sat down beside Jeanne. Then he turned to Coulson. "Status report?"
"All preparations are complete, sir."
Coulson's tone was crisp. Whatever conversation he'd just had with the Empress had clearly sobered him.
"Good. We'll arrive as scheduled."
Coulson rose, saluted, and exited the villa.
"What did you say to him?" Shen He asked, eyeing Semiramis suspiciously. "This world's situation is more complicated than you think. You won't be able to help effectively until you fully grasp it."
Even Lelouch had needed time to understand the geopolitics before contributing anything significant.
"Hmph. Fair enough." Semiramis didn't argue. She cast a deep, unreadable gaze at him. "But if you underestimate me simply because I'm not at full power... you'll regret it."
"Sure, sure," Shen He replied casually, his mind already drifting back to the battle plans. He reviewed strategies and contingencies, checking for holes.
"Have you considered analyzing the enemy's next move from their perspective?" Semiramis interrupted. "If they're aware of your general power level, they'll plan accordingly."
"...I see." Shen He turned to face her fully now, nodding. "The enemy knows we have superior individual combat units. They'll prepare countermeasures to neutralize or stall us before we can interfere with their operations."
This was the crux. Without addressing this issue, even deploying the wormhole stabilization system would be futile—it could be destroyed before activation.
In a world where individual combatants like Captain America could turn the tide of wars, Servants posed an overwhelming threat.
"You don't seem too worried though," Semiramis observed. A sly smile tugged at her lips as she leaned in, her perfume lightly teasing his nose. "Is that confidence I sense, or recklessness?"
Her robe's neckline revealed more than it should—an intentional move, no doubt.
Still, Shen He laughed and looked past her to the room where other Servants were gathering.
"Neither. I just have unwavering faith in my allies."
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