Wait, what's going on?
All the senators and knights looked at each other in complete confusion.
Flames blazed around Jeanne, igniting the throne completely.
The temperature in the entire council chamber suddenly spiked.
And even more terrifying—
This was no ordinary flame.
It was a demonic fire, fueled by resentment within and around her, capable of devouring souls. Within the fire, it felt like one could smell burning flesh… and hear the screams of countless gods.
"See? I knew my instincts were right. Just saying, this has nothing to do with me!"
Astolfo skipped away gleefully.
He had warned them in advance that something would go wrong—and sure enough, it did!
The other paladins joined forces to protect the ordinary people present, their faces full of disbelief.
The Dark Saint had always been overbearing and forceful, but she had never lost control like this.
What on earth happened?
Jeanne gazed eastward and let out a soft sigh. "Why did I forget…?"
After watching the video, the memories that had once been forgotten surged back into her mind.
Scene after scene of their time together, countless moments where he had saved her.
Their meeting, their bond, their journey side by side…
She had once been nothing more than an illiterate peasant girl, but after meeting him, she had transformed into something beautiful, like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon.
That person… taught her how to read and write, and passed on so much knowledge.
Many times, he even taught her until sunrise.
She should have remembered it all clearly—why had she forgotten everything?
The Speaker cautiously asked, "Your Majesty…?"
Today, the Saint was acting extremely out of character, which made a bold idea surface in his mind—
Could it be… that person really existed?
But Jeanne didn't even glance at him. Her gaze was distant.
"You told me to let go of all those burdens—and I did. I lived the life I wanted. But what about you? Why are you still willing to remain nameless, walking in the dark? Why won't you let the world know what you've done?"
The world was obsessed with the greatness and strength of heroic spirits, worshiping them as divine guardians.
Yet they had no idea that there existed a nameless heroic spirit who had silently protected humanity, giving everything without asking for anything in return.
Jeanne couldn't accept the fact that he was forgotten by all!
Why?
That person had walked through darkness and fought in countless battles.
Time and again, he had risked everything to finally bring about this radiant age of heroic spirits.
And yet—
No one remembered him.
No one!
Even she—rescued by him, admired by countless others as the Emperor of France—had forgotten him!
"To awaken the memories lost after Earth was rebooted and to restore his existence… Is that what you're trying to do, Alaya?"
Jeanne's expression was immensely complex.
In this moment, she was certain—the one who had posted the video was none other than the collective human will: Alaya.
And the nameless heroic spirit… was Alaya's most cherished executor.
A nameless heroic spirit who had walked the river of history, guarding human civilization.
"Your name is unknown to all, but your deeds will live on forever? Heh… This time, I will make sure the world knows just how great you truly are!"
Suddenly, Jeanne broke into a radiant smile—one that brimmed with joy.
Then—
The Emperor of France issued a powerful command: "Hold a press conference. I'll personally respond to this video!"
"Yay!"
Astolfo, who had been hiding far away, came running back with a cheeky grin.
The other knights and senators exchanged looks.
What exactly was Her Majesty planning?
Surely… she's not going to confess to him in front of the whole world?
—
[France to hold a press conference; His Majesty the Emperor will personally respond to the video!]
This news spread like wildfire, reaching people around the world in no time.
Britain, Prime Minister's Office.
Mordred, dressed in a sharp suit, curled her lip when she saw the news. "Huh? Strange. Why aren't the French accusing us of making the video?"
"That is odd,"
Beside her, Gawain also wore a puzzled expression.
Centuries of animosity—from the Hundred Years' War to the ongoing rivalry over European dominance—had left the governments and citizens of both nations perpetually hostile.
Whenever one did something shady abroad, they'd disguise themselves as the other nation and fling mud at each other.
In the video titled Chronicles of the Nameless Heroic Spirit…
That so-called "nameless" spirit boldly claimed that God didn't exist—and told Jeanne to play the role of a liar who deceived the entire world.
To the French, that kind of blasphemy warranted burning at the stake.
Those people should've immediately assumed that it was a British-made video.
Did they hit their heads?
Mordred casually twirled her gold-plated pen and glanced at the mage, frowning slightly.
"Feels like that Dark Saint just got herself a new toy—and now she's showing off its ownership to the whole world."
"Hey… what if she's flaunting the ownership of the Nameless Heroic Spirit to warn off potential rivals?" Gawain said meaningfully.
"Hah! No way!"
Mordred slapped the shoulder of the Sun Knight, bursting into laughter. "That Dark Saint wouldn't possibly be warning my old man, right? Or even me? Pfft—come on, it's just a nameless heroic spirit. Whoever wants him can have him!"
She laughed heartily, like she had just heard the funniest joke in the world.
A random, no-name heroic spirit… being treated like a treasured gem by the Dark Saint, as if she wanted to publicly announce ownership to the entire world.
She couldn't seriously think we'd want to steal him… could she?
No way, right? No way? No way?
Gawain's expression suddenly turned a bit awkward. For some reason, he had a strange feeling she'd regret saying that…
Must be his imagination.
—
Fuyuki Mage Academy.
Also known as Academy City.
Located in the Japan Archipelago, it was the world's largest academy for mages—practically the size of a small city.
Its headmaster was none other than the legendary Nine-Tailed Fox Tamamo-no-Mae.
Its vice headmaster—the most talented Onmyouji of Japan—was Abe no Seimei.
Countless magical prodigies gathered there.
Of course, many weren't suited for combat magic and instead pursued careers as researchers or in logistics.
Sanjiro was one such student, studying logistics, mainly in charge of maintaining and repairing magical tools.
—
Lunchtime, cafeteria.
The class bell had just rung, and students swarmed into the cafeteria.
Sanjiro bought a plate of mapo tofu and rice and casually found a corner to sit in. All around him, students buzzed about the video posted by Alaya.
It gave him more and more of a headache.
He had saved the world, returned to a normal life—and now it had turned into this mess?
Just then, a chorus of gasps broke out around him:
"It's starting! Jeanne-sama's press conference is live!"
On the giant projection screen in the cafeteria—
That Holy Maiden, wearing a steel crown and draped in a black cloak, stared intensely into the camera.
Her gaze was so overpowering that students around the room couldn't contain their excitement.
One after another, they whispered things like "Please step on me, Queen!"
"…Is this really the humanity I saved? Yep, we're doomed," Sanjiro muttered, speechless at these masochistic students.
The press conference began.
A nervous French reporter cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, how do you respond to this video that appears to slander you?"
Under the eyes of the world—
The woman who had once been the Holy Maiden of the Catholic Church and was now the Emperor of France… gave a dangerously fierce smile.
"Everything in the video is true!"
The room instantly fell silent.
Everyone was frozen as if turned to stone, staring at her in disbelief.
Before they could even react—
Jeanne reached out her hand as if inviting someone and smiled softly,
"Nameless, I'm here—why won't you come find me?"