Waver: "So Avicebron still has something like that?"
Tohsaka Rin: "I just don't know who he plans to awaken this work to deal with."
---
[Roche: "Teacher, this is the 'core.' Is there any problem?"]
[Avicebron: "Well done."]
["Very good."]
[Roche asked curiously: "But Teacher, this 'core' should have been completed long ago. Why hasn't it been activated until today? Is there a reason for that?"]
["..."]
[Avicebron didn't answer the question. Instead, he silently stabbed the key into the ground and dipped his hands into the lake water.]
["Born of mother Earth, let thee take in the Wind of wisdom, drink deep of the Water of life...."]
[As the chant echoed, the previously calm lake surface began to ripple.]
---
Tohsaka Tokiomi: "This is suspicious. That guy looks very problematic."
Kayneth: "Is it an unfinished prototype? Or does it require specific conditions to activate?"
---
[Meanwhile, Sieg had successfully snuck into the Yggdmillennia castle.]
[On his hand was a new red Command Seal, it was Astolfo's Command Seal.]
[That's right, Sieg had signed a contract with Astolfo, and they had become Master and Servant.]
[Because Astolfo had the Independent Action skill, he didn't disappear after Celenike's death.]
[However, as Celenike's Command Seals were still active, Astolfo didn't stay with Sieg but went off to cover for him.]
---
Waver: "Astolfo signing a contract with Sieg? Honestly, it's not surprising."
Tohsaka Rin: "Sieg has really pulled off a grassroots comeback this time."
Jeanne: "Alas, the Holy Grail War is very dangerous. You shouldn't get involved."
Sieg: "...Sorry."
Kayneth: "Hmph, the moment he became Siegfried, he lost any chance of staying out of it."
---
[As Sieg passed through a ruined corridor, he noticed a hand moving in the debris. Rushing over, he began digging to rescue the person buried underneath.]
[It was a female homunculus—half-blind, missing both legs, and with a pierced abdomen. She was clearly on the verge of death.]
["We're saved. Thank you very much. Is the battle over?"]
[Sieg: "...Ah, it's over."]
["Well, I'm going to go back and clean up. Ah, but I'll make the floor dirty like this. That won't do at all. I'll change into new clothes quickly and swap my battle axe for a broom. But before that, I need to stop the bleeding first…"]
[Sieg, suppressing his emotions, held her hand and said calmly: "No need. I'll handle the cleaning. After everything that's happened, you deserve a good rest."]
["Really?"]
[Relief filled her voice as she replied slowly, "To be honest, I'm feeling a little tired right now. If it's not too much trouble, could I ask for your help?"]
["Of course."]
["Thank you. I'll take a quick break then. Please wake me up in five hours."]
["...Just sleep as much as you want."]
["Five hours should be enough for a homunculus. But I feel so tired. This drowsiness... this is the first time I've felt like this."]
[The girl's hand fell limp to the ground, signaling the end of her life.]
---
[Sieg slowly stood up. There was no time to give her a proper resting place, there were still many living comrades waiting to be rescued.]
["You're so kind, coming back for us. Thank you. Because of you, I was saved..."]
[As Sieg turned to leave, he heard her voice whispering behind him, growing fainter and fainter.]
[Quickly turning back, Sieg grabbed her hand to check—but this time, her life had completely ended.]
[My poor acting skills have long been seen through.]
[The homunculi of Yggdmillennia don't have the concept of helping one another.]
[I couldn't even let her pass with her fantasy intact.]
---
Sieg: "Damn it..."
---
[Suppressing the sadness and anger in his heart, Sieg pressed forward. Guided by his fragmented memories, he found the basement where the homunculi were being kept.]
[However, someone else had arrived before him, it was the female homunculus he had "rescued" on the battlefield.]
[She had already gathered several homunculi and was organizing their escape.]
["If you're still alive, you should say something, idiot."]
[Seeing Sieg, the girl pointed at him in dissatisfaction, and the other homunculi joined in agreement.]
[Sieg froze for a moment, then quickly realized what had happened. "Could it be... all of you sensed my death?"]
[Several nodded.]
[The homunculi created by Yggdmillennia shared a connection, similar to the causal link Servants possess. While the connection was weak, it was enough to communicate critical information like death, even across great distances.]
[This connection was why they trusted Sieg.]
[Though lacking strong personalities and displaying limited emotions, they still chose to protect Sieg—even after his escape.]
---
Waver: "I see."
Tohsaka Rin: "What do you mean?"
Waver: "It seems Sieg's emotions were transmitted through their connection, causing these machine-like homunculi to begin developing their own thoughts."
Jeanne: "It's like a savior guiding humanity."
Sieg: "...I'm not a savior, nor am I qualified to be one."
Jeanne: "..."
---
[Sieg quickly calmed himself and began working with the others.]
[They broke the supply tanks, destroyed the magic energy absorption machines, clothed the rescued homunculi, and moved them to a safe area to acclimate.]
[However, not all those they rescued were still alive. Many victims, drained of all their magical energy, appeared among the survivors.]
[The aftermath of the previous battle had been catastrophic.]
[Staring at the lifeless bodies of his comrades, Sieg struggled to hold back his tears—but in the end, he couldn't stop them.]
[There was no time to mourn. Danger was already approaching.]
---
[The door burst open, and the remaining Black Masters Fiore, Caules, and Gordes entered the room.]
[Darnic and Roche were nowhere to be seen, which made Sieg feel slightly relieved.]
[After all, the fewer enemies, the better.]
[Sieg had no idea that Darnic was already gone.]
---
Tohsaka Rin: "The Black Faction is really in shambles. Only three Masters and one Servant—Chiron—are left."
Kayneth: "It's clearly the leader's fault."
Waver: "The Yggdmillennia clan is done for. With Darnic's fall, they're effectively disbanded."
---
[Gordes: "What are you doing here?!"]
[Sieg: "As you can see, we're liberating them."]
[Sieg's expression darkened instinctively as he faced the man who had nearly killed him.]
[Gordes was about to erupt but was stopped by Fiore.]
["Why are you doing this, homunculus?"]
[Sieg: "Draining their magic power until they die is far too cruel."]
[Fiore: "But isn't that what they were created for?"]
[Sieg: "We are not obligated to fulfill these imposed purposes."]
---
["Enough!" Gordes interrupted, his murderous intent palpable. Gritting his teeth, he continued, "You! You're the homunculus who was protected by Rider! Why are you hindering us?! Your duties were decided by us! You exist to supply magical energy! To do chores! To fight! This was all decided long ago!"]
[Sieg: "We are grateful to you for creating us, but this should end here. There's nothing more you can do."]
[Sieg unconsciously exuded an aura that caused Gordes to hesitate.]
---
Kayneth: "His attitude is decent, at least. He doesn't deny that he was created by Yggdmillennia."
Waver: "Yes, he acknowledges his origins."
---
[Fiore: "So what will you do next? To be honest, especially for combat homunculi, you don't have much time left. You won't live long enough to accomplish much."]
[The homunculi holding battle axes lowered their heads.]
[Unlike the others, combat homunculi were specially adjusted for fighting. While their combat power was exceptional, the trade-off was significantly shortened lifespans.]
[Of course, they had likely known this all along.]
---
[Caules: "...Yes, that's true. At this point, there's nothing else for them to do."]
[Fiore: "Caules!"]
[Even if it was the truth, some things should never be said out loud.]
[Caules shrugged helplessly and turned away.]
[Seeing the homunculi reminded him of someone—the shadow of Frankenstein, lingered in his mind.]