"Saber, you!"
Everyone in the Black Faction looked at Siegfried in shock, Astolfo included.
None of them had expected Siegfried to be willing to sacrifice himself for the homunculus after meeting him only once.
But Siegfried himself didn't seem surprised. After all, this was simply who he was.
Gordes, clearly uneasy, was worried that Siegfried might act exactly as he had in the video. His hand twitched as he prepared to use a Command Spell to restrain him, but Darnic stopped him with a sharp look.
Darnic: "Saber, I assure you that what happened in the video will not happen again. I ask that you think carefully before you act."
Siegfried: "...I understand."
Darnic's voice grew more stern. "I hope you truly do."
Siegfried said nothing, but the tension in the air was palpable.
Darnic couldn't afford to lose him. Siegfried was their strongest combatant, second only to Vlad. To lose him inexplicably—like in the video—would be a devastating blow.
The Black Faction had already lost their Assassin early in the war. Though they'd captured the Red Faction's Berserker to make up for it, losing Siegfried in turn would be a monumental loss.
[Astolfo: "Saber, you…"]
[Jeanne: "You sacrificed yourself… for him?"]
[Siegfried: "Sacrificing one life to save another, it's a fair trade."]
[Jeanne: "...Why would you do something like that?"]
[Jeanne couldn't comprehend Siegfried's willingness to go to such lengths.]
[Siegfried: "I don't want to fulfill the wishes of others. This time, I want to fulfill my own wish."]
[For the first time, a smile broke through Siegfried's usually stoic expression.]
[Siegfried: "It might seem selfish or shallow, but it's something I can't let go of."]
[Siegfried continued, his voice growing stronger. "Just this once, I want to save someone out of my own free will. I want to take pride in my actions."]
["Even if no one makes a wish for me or prays to me, I still want to do this."]
["Even if no one acknowledges me or sings my praises, I just want to protect what I believe in."]
["Not for anyone else, not even for myself, but for what I believe in."]
[Siegfried then turned to Jeanne, his tone earnest and sincere. "Ruler, I know this may be asking too much, but I hope you can give this child his freedom."]
[Siegfried bowed slightly and said slowly, "Please."]
[Jeanne was silent for a moment, then gave him a solemn nod. "...I'll do my best."]
[Siegfried turned to Astolfo. "Rider, please apologize to my Master for me."]
[Siegfried continued, "Tell him that I am not fit to be his Servant."]
[Astolfo: "Don't say that…"]
[Siegfried smiled faintly. "Thank you for helping me discover my wish."]
Shakespeare: "Ah, what a beautiful and noble wish!"
[Astolfo: "Please don't go stay us."]
[Siegfried smiled in satisfaction. "I have no regrets."]
[With those words, his body began to dissolve into particles of light, scattering into the air before finally vanishing.]
[Siegfried, exit.]
[Jeanne d'Arc watched as Siegfried disappeared and whispered, "Goodbye, Sir Siegfried. I've never known a hero quite so kind as you."]
Sisigou: "I never thought the first Servant to leave this Holy Grail War would go out so dramatically."
Kotomine Shirou: "Yet, he was a worthy opponent."
Achilles: "Yeah… Siegfried, I apologize for how I treated you in the video."
Siegfried: "There's no need."
["Don't forget…"]
[In the dark recesses of a dream, the homunculus stumbled deeper into a cavern. Suddenly, a scorching flame erupted before him, illuminating the darkness. A dragon-shaped mark burned itself onto his left hand.]
[As he stared at the mark in confusion, a massive black dragon emerged from the flames, its fiery maw wide open as it lunged forward, swallowing him whole.]
[The homunculus awoke with a start, gasping for air. It had been a dream, but one that left his chest pounding and his thoughts racing.]
[Though he had been at death's door just moments ago, Siegfried's heart had saved him, allowing him to survive.]
[Homunculus: "What… what am I?"]
[Astolfo's face lit up with relief as he rushed to the homunculus's side, pulling him into a tight hug. "You're alive! You're okay!"]
[Jeanne stepped forward, clearing her throat. "Alright, let me examine him."]
[But Astolfo, still clinging to the homunculus, seemed unwilling to let go.]
[Jeanne, exasperated, finally pushed Astolfo aside, sending him rolling comically across the ground.]
[Astolfo landed in a heap, looking both embarrassed and endearing.]
[Jeanne placed her hands on the homunculus and carefully examined him. "Siegfried's heart is functioning normally. This has never happened in any previous Holy Grail War."]
[After her inspection, Jeanne extended a hand to the homunculus. "How do you feel?"]
[The homunculus hesitated, his gaze lingering on Jeanne's gentle expression. Slowly, he reached out and placed his hand in hers. "I'm… I'm not sure."]
[Jeanne smiled warmly at him. "It's because a kind hero gave his life for you."]
[She placed a hand over her chest and introduced herself. "I am the Servant Ruler. My true name is Jeanne d'Arc. As I promised Siegfried, I will protect you from now on."]
Bluebeard: "Blasphemy! How dare that abomination act so intimately with my beloved saint!"
Bluebeard: "Unforgivable! He must be punished! Burn him! Burn him to ashes in God's name!"
Jeanne: "It's just a simple gesture, Gilles. You're blowing this out of proportion."
Bluebeard: "No! I must destroy him!"
Siegfried: "Try it if you can."
Astolfo: "That's right, bring it on!"
Bluebeard: "Aaaaaaaah!!!"
The First Emperor, clearly annoyed, used his imperial privilege to silence Bluebeard in their apartment, restoring order to the room.
[Homunculus: "Siegfried, he's… not…"]
[The homunculus struggled to process what had happened. Chiron, having taught him about the Black Faction's Servants, recognized the name Siegfried immediately.]
[Homunculus: "…his heart."]
[After hearing Jeanne's explanation, the homunculus finally understood what had transpired.]
[Astolfo, still bouncing with excitement, crawled back over to the homunculus. "It's okay! You're okay now, and that's what matters!"]
["In short, yay!"]
[Jeanne, about to say something further, suddenly frowned and turned toward the forest. "They're here."]
[Astolfo immediately stepped in front of the homunculus, his cheerful demeanor replaced by a look of seriousness.]
[The Masters of the Black Faction began to gather at the scene. Caules and Avicebron approached from opposite directions, surrounding Jeanne, Astolfo, and the homunculus.]
[Darnic stepped forward, his gaze sharp. "Rider, what happened here? And who is that Servant?"]
[Astolfo scratched his head nervously. "Uh… this…"]
[Jeanne stepped forward, her voice steady. "I am the Ruler, the one responsible for overseeing this Holy Grail War."]
[Darnic frowned. "Ruler? And Saber… his presence suddenly vanished. What happened?"]
[Astolfo lowered his head, his voice heavy. "He chose to sacrifice himself."]
[Darnic's eyes narrowed. "I see. And this homunculus—he has Saber's heart?"]
[Avicebron studied the homunculus closely. Astolfo quickly moved to shield him, his protective stance almost instinctive.]
[Darnic's voice grew colder. "Rider, explain yourself. What happened here?"]
[Astolfo hesitated, but eventually, he told the story.]
[Darnic sighed, frustration creeping into his voice. "Did I lose Saber over something so… trivial?"]
[Caules rubbed his temples. "This is giving me a headache."]
[Avicebron, however, remained calm and analytical. "Darnic, this homunculus could still be useful. He would make an ideal core."]
[Darnic turned back to Astolfo. "Rider, hand him over to me."]
[Astolfo stood his ground. "I refuse."]
[Darnic's tone grew sharp. "Don't make me waste a Command Spell over something so ridiculous."]
[The atmosphere grew tense as the standoff continued.]
[Jeanne finally stepped forward, her voice firm. "That's enough. I will not allow you to involve him in the Holy Grail War."]
[Darnic's expression darkened. "He inherited Saber's heart. He is no ordinary homunculus."]
[Jeanne didn't back down. "Even so, he is not a Servant."]
[She turned to Avicebron. "Caster, you should know this better than anyone."]
[Avicebron nodded slightly. "Indeed. He is still a homunculus."]
[Darnic's voice turned cold. "And yet, he was created for this war. He is an asset."]
[Jeanne's gaze didn't waver. "Perhaps he was created for the war, but he has made his own choices. He has chosen to live."]
[Moreover, there are people who hope he can live and entrusted him to me.]
[Darnic remained silent for a moment before Fiore hesitantly spoke up. "Who entrusted him to you?"]
[Chiron, his voice calm, answered. "It was Siegfried, wasn't it?"]
[Jeanne nodded solemnly.]
***
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