Although the Master had changed, Celenike's Command Spells were still effective. However, Astolfo no longer needed to resist them.
The command was to hand Sieg over to Avicebron. So, they would hand him over and then take him back—simple enough, especially with Shinji and Mordred watching Avicebron, preventing him from going back on his word.
Once the effect of the Command Spells wore off, the two, having narrowly escaped death, embraced each other tightly. Seeing their faces pressed together, more affectionate than newlyweds, Shinji became even more resolute in his decision to send them to the Netherlands to get married.
But before he could make a teasing comment, Sieg suddenly collapsed to the ground.
Being a recently created homunculus, Sieg was nowhere near as resilient as a hero like Astolfo. His body and mind were very fragile, and the three days of imprisonment and countless mental torments had pushed him to his limits. The only reason he managed to complete the ritual was due to his longing for Astolfo and the unknown skill Chiron had used. After ensuring that both he and the most important person in his life were safe, his mental resolve waned, and he could no longer hold on.
For an ordinary human, this state would simply require some rest for natural recovery. But Sieg was different—he was a homunculus, a mass-produced humanoid battery. Due to cost considerations, his body parts, aside from the magic circuits, were low-grade, barely passing. Not only did he have a short lifespan, but his recovery ability was also poor. Reaching his limit meant irreversible damage.
At this moment, Sieg's breathing was erratic, and his heart and lung functions were rapidly declining. Continuing like this wouldn't be life-threatening, but whether he could live normally as before was uncertain.
Hearing Chiron's diagnosis, Astolfo's tears flowed instantly, filled with guilt and anxiety.
"It's all my fault, all my fault—Chiron, Chiron, please save him."
"I'm sorry, I can't help," Chiron sighed with a bitter smile and glanced at a short, stout figure who had approached unnoticed.
"However, you might have a way, Mr. Gordes?"
Gordes snorted and nodded, "It's just organ dysfunction. Adjusting his condition to rely on the magic circuits should suffice. This low-grade model's only decent aspect is its magic circuits."
What seemed impossible for a human was easy for a homunculus. Chiron wasn't lacking in ability, just experience in this area.
"Don't you dare call him a low-grade model," Astolfo glared "fiercely" at Gordes, eyes red.
"He is a low-grade model. By the standards of homunculus, he doesn't even qualify," Gordes retorted, locking eyes with Astolfo.
"If it weren't for Darnic's orders, I wouldn't have created such a useless low-grade model, except for its low cost."
"I don't care, I don't care about the standards of homunculus! I only know that Sieg is an outstanding person, the best Master!"
Astolfo clung tightly to his new Master, unwilling to let go for even a moment.
"What you think is irrelevant to me. But I must remind you, if you keep holding him like that, he might die."
"Ah—"
Astolfo then noticed that Sieg's face had turned from pale to ashen. His respiratory system was already compromised, and being hugged tightly with Servant-level strength...
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
"The Master is a low-grade model, and the Servant is... never mind, arguing with you would be beneath me. Rider, if you want to save him, place him in the center of the altar, lying flat. And you, over there, go get my toolbox."
The last sentence was directed at the homunculus guarding the entrance to the altar. Interestingly, the homunculus showed no reaction at all.
Gordes' face twitched with irritation: "Hey, I'm talking to you. Did you hear me?"
The female homunculus standing to the left of the entrance, holding a poleaxe, finally turned her head and replied, "I have a name; it's Toole, and you gave it to me. I hope you'll address me by my name."
"You... I'll call you whatever I want! If you don't want his condition to worsen, go get it now!"
"Fine, for Rider and Sieg's sake."
With a haughty toss of her head, the homunculus named Toole briskly walked away, leaving Gordes gnashing his teeth in frustration.
"Ugh, that wretched creature, has she forgotten who created her?"
Finally calming himself, Gordes found another pair of deep blue eyes staring at him.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing, just curious what could have happened to change you like this. If my memory serves, you used to see them merely as tools."
"I still do! But if you see someone clumsily cleaning, you'd want to correct them, right? It's the same thing! If you saw an idiot using a vacuum cleaner in the bathroom, anyone would get annoyed!"
To be honest, it was a decent analogy, but it made Shinji smirk.
"I mentioned tools, but you said 'someone cleaning.' Cleaners are people too; your phrasing shows you've started to see homunculi as people. Something must have happened; what was it?"
"It's none of your business!"
"Hey~ you didn't deny it. Truly, after three days, one must reassess you."
Gordes knew he couldn't outtalk Shinji, so he chose to remain silent, not wanting to be further provoked.
However, Shinji wasn't planning to let him off. In his memory, Gordes' transformation happened due to Siegfried's sacrifice and Sieg's influence, among other events. But now, with Siegfried standing right there and Sieg having been imprisoned upon arrival, what had happened?
"Come on, speak up. It's not like it's a bad thing."
"Don't push him, Assassin. Master won't respond to you. Even if he acknowledges it in his heart, he won't admit it verbally. That's how he is."
"Siegfried?"
A hand rested on Shinji's shoulder, and the words spoken by its owner completely overturned Shinji's perception of him. Siegfried was the kind of Servant who passively accepted orders, never acting on his initiative. But now—
"What exactly happened during the three days I was unconscious?"
Shinji's curiosity was piqued. What had caused this change in the Master-Servant pair?
Siegfried didn't remain silent like his Master. Through his deep voice and the additions from Fiore and Caules, Shinji finally learned the answer.