Why did Sieg appear on the battlefield? And how did he reunite with Astolfo?
To explain this, we need to go back to the night a few days earlier when the two parted ways.
After watching Astolfo disappear, Sieg randomly chose one of the three paths before him and started walking shakily forward.
One step, two steps, three steps, four steps...
Even though he was utterly exhausted, even though his body still ached from intense exertion and overuse of magical energy, and even though he had to focus all his energy just to perform the basic human act of walking, he continued to push himself forward.
He had already traveled a considerable distance from the castle, well beyond the protective range of the bounded field. Although the surrounding area was still silent, he could distinctly sense the presence of living beings. The Trifas region was sparsely populated, with vast expanses of undeveloped wilderness and forests outside the towns, teeming with wildlife. While small animals like squirrels and rabbits were of no concern, encountering larger carnivores could be fatal in his current state, so he needed to reach a human settlement quickly.
If he collapsed here, it would be a betrayal to the Black Rider who extended a helping hand to him in despair; to the Black Archer who healed his wounds, taught him to walk steadily, and gave him a sense of purpose; and to the Black Assassin who provided him with a place to rest, showing no malice despite his stern exterior.
Having never interacted with the outside world, the homunculus's thoughts were pure and straightforward. He wanted to live on, for himself, for those who showed him kindness, and for his companions still in Millennia Castle.
Driven by this determination, Sieg, who had only just learned to walk and was not much different from a toddler, managed to traverse the rough mountain path through sheer willpower.
His steps were still clumsy and heavy, but as long as he kept moving forward, the path gradually opened up.
After crossing the mountains, Sieg spotted a small village in the distance. Unlike Trifas, this place seemed untouched by magicians.
It wouldn't take a day to use mental suggestions to manipulate the villagers, meaning he could potentially find the peaceful everyday life he desired in that village. He might even use it as a stepping stone to travel to other countries.
So, if he just took one more step forward, he could attain that kind of life. He could survive, obtain something, or perhaps find hope.
Everything depended on this one step.
But why, why—were his legs refusing to take that step?
He sighed. It seemed he couldn't dispel the fog clouding his mind. Did living mean he would always be in this state?
Even so, he mustered the effort to lift his leg and walked into the unknown village, turning a new page in his life—this was how it was supposed to be, and this was what he did. There were no obstacles, and the process went remarkably smoothly. The simple villagers accepted him without him even needing to use the simplest suggestion magic.
He lived with an old man, leading a stable and peaceful life.
There were no orders, no exploitation, and he wasn't treated as a tool. Everyone he met was kind to him, and he was happy there.
Perhaps because homunculi are complete beings, his learning ability was exceptional. In just a few days, he got used to walking, could help with simple farm work, became physically stronger than when he was in the cultivation tank, and even found using magecraft much easier.
Indeed, he spent several hours each day practicing the magecraft imprinted in his body and memory.
It wasn't out of interest or boredom, but because of the fog that constantly shrouded his mind.
It's unclear and indescribable.
Instead of fading with time, it only grew more intense.
Strangely, he felt there were things he had to do, but he didn't know what. He felt people were waiting for him, but he didn't know who.
What's wrong with me?
This place was so peaceful and stable, and he had attained the life he wanted. So why did he still feel uneasy?
Because of the butterfly effect of the traveler, he did not accompany a certain saintess, nor did anyone come to resolve his doubts. He could only wander and be lost on his own.
Until one day, when a magically protected aerial fortress—imperceptible to ordinary people—flew overhead, he finally understood the source of his unease, the fog in his mind.
The knowledge he was given told him it was a Noble Phantasm of a Servant, and the direction the fortress was heading was exactly towards Millennia Castle.
Undoubtedly, an unprecedentedly vast war was about to begin, and his companions would suffer great losses.
He knew he had to do something. Although he hadn't figured out what, staying here would achieve nothing.
He bid farewell to the villagers who had always taken good care of him, abandoning the life of stability he had finally obtained, and set off towards the place he thought he would never return to, the place he never wanted to return to.
Through hitching rides, walking, and suggesting beasts to carry him, he finally arrived at the battlefield.
When he saw the unique and brutal scenery of the battlefield, when he saw the tragic state of his companions intertwined with fragments of Dragon Tooth Warriors and puppet remnants, when he smelled the overwhelming scent of blood, and when he heard the endless sounds of slaughter and wailing, he experienced emotions such as anger, sorrow, and disgust—emotions he had never felt before. Amidst these still incomprehensible emotions, he cleared the fog that had shrouded his mind for many days and understood what was calling him. He also realized what he truly wanted to do.
He closed his eyes and reflected on his life. He had escaped to seek survival, sought help, fled to survive, and faced several crises, yet managed to avoid them successfully.
Although it was a very brief life, he had been blessed by the goddess of luck multiple times. He was no different from the other homunculi... Yes, there was now a difference between him and the other homunculi. They would all inevitably face death, while he would continue to survive.
"It's impossible"—summarizing it with this phrase would be easy. Just this phrase alone could effortlessly separate himself from them. But saying "it's impossible" was unacceptable. In the past, the homunculi who were his companions received orders to search, but in the end, they still let him go.
When he later heard this from Rider, what was that feeling of joy? Wasn't it because he felt a bond that transcended the master's orders?
If that's the case—
My wish couldn't be clearer.
I have gained freedom. So, I want everyone else to gain freedom too. Just like how Rider, Archer, and Assassin granted me freedom.
This is the dream of a homunculus. It may not be grand, but it is not insignificant either. It's simply the pure wish to live as a human being.