In the forest on the outskirts of Millennia Castle.
Astolfo, restrained by Siegfried, struggled incessantly.
Looking at the homunculus slowly collapsing under Gordes's attack, he desperately roared, "Stop, Saber! Hurry, take your Master...!"
Siegfried remained silent to Astolfo's cries. Astolfo strained with all his might to push Siegfried's arm away, but it wouldn't budge. Astolfo stared straight into his eyes and shouted, "We manifested to fulfill wishes! But can we tolerate everything because of that!? Have you forgotten the deanor of a hero?"
"I hate this! I am indeed Rider, but before that, I am Astolfo, one of Charlemagne's Twelve Paladins! I won't abandon that child, I won't abandon them!"
Siegfried's arm trembled. Astolfo's words deeply stung
his heart. This brought about a change in him.
"Stop, Master!" Siegfried grabbed Gordes's shoulder firmly. Gordes turned back with an incredulous expression. Ignoring the command to suppress Rider, Siegfried stood face to face with Gordes. Taking advantage of this gap, Astolfo frantically rushed to the homunculus's side.
"Saber, what did you just say?"
"I told you to stop. I wish you would heal him, then free him."
"What are you saying?" Gordes's voice trembled. He was surprisingly furious, seemingly forgetting even to make an expression. Even so, he took a deep breath and said with a Master's authoritative voice: "Don't play silly gas, Saber. Heal him and then free him? Why should
we have to do such a thing?"
"Master, I am appealing to your conscience. Even saving him will not lead to any disadvantage."
"Enough, shut up!"
"Master!" Pointing a finger at Siegfried, Gordes shouted, spitting: "Shut up! Shut up, shut up, shut up! You are a Servant who should obey my commands!"
"At best a familiar, daring to offer advice, do you think that's allowed? You just need to silently obey !"
By this point, Gordes openly showed hostility towards Siegfried. This was a lion with a bug inside, a dangerous Servant who defied his Master. He deeply regretted and lanted those two Command Spells from the bottom of his heart.
What hero, what Heroic Spirit, what Servant! A simple command and he couldn't even manage one.
"Are you not going to save him?"
"I told you to shut up!"
The next mont, Gordes lost consciousness. Siegfried punched him in the abdon. Gordes fell to the ground, but Siegfried didn't spare him a glance, turning his back.
In his line of sight was Astolfo, holding the homunculus's
hand.
"Saber?" Without responding to Astolfo's call, he walked closer to the two, shedding his magic-woven armor and sword, and even his clothes, exposing his upper body.
Then, he knelt before the dying homunculus.
Astolfo, tightly clutching the homunculus's hand, glared at Siegfried with angry eyes: "It's too late, too late! Why didn't you make up your mind sooner!? You could have stopped him! Before that idiot did anything!"
Astolfo's lant was natural. Siegfried rely regretted not being able to stop his Master sooner. No matter what, his Master shouldn't be so foolish as to use a Command Spell for sothing like this. If he had stopped him with all his might, the homunculus wouldn't have died. Siegfried nodded sorrowfully: "Yes, yes. I, once again, walked down the wrong path. In confusion and doubt, I chose the worst step."
Just like that ti. Just like believing the battle was over. He always made crucial, decisive mistakes at critical monts. Stubbornly clinging to his own desires, turning a blind eye to the weak cowering before him. He didn't seek help. So he turned a deaf ear to the cries of the weak, abandoning them. How ugly, how evil. That was never the goal he pursued. Having gained a second life, did he still want to repeat the sa mistakes?
Regret and self-loathing filled Siegfried's chest.
"However, even so, it should still be in ti; it's not all over yet." Siegfried, having made up his mind, reached for his heart, about to plunge his hand in. At that mont, Shirou suddenly appeared and grabbed Siegfried's arm.
"While it's improper to interrupt a hero fulfilling his wish, the Black Faction still needs your presence, Siegfried!" Glancing at Gordes lying on the ground, Shirou continued, "Don't let the consequences of that fool's actions fall upon all of us."
"Leave saving the homunculus to !" Seeing Siegfried nod, Shirou released his arm, then summoned Yoisigure and began to treat the homunculus. Looking at the homunculus, who was regaining vitality, Shirou couldn't help but think. How wonderful it would have been if I had such abilities when Sakura died! But unfortunately!
"That's great, he's alive again!" Feeling the homunculus's regained vitality, Shirou said calmly, "Since he's well
now, let's go back!"
"Go back? Where? Millennia Castle? No, Caster is looking
for him!" Astolfo was utterly unwilling to accept Shirou's suggestion. Even Siegfried subtly conveyed the sa sentint. Looking at the two uncooperative individuals, Shirou said helplessly, "Even if you send this child away, what then? He has no ability to live on his own."
"And modern society requires identification. Does he have any?"
"He'll starve to death quickly after going out and being unable to move an inch!"
"So instead of sending him away, it's better to take him back. Using the Yggdmillennia family's magecraft, his life can probably be extended even further!"
"But what about Caster?" Although Shirou was right, Astolfo was still worried about Caster's presence!
"Don't worry, leave it to ! Since I've suggested taking him back, I naturally have a way to ensure his life."
"Or do you not trust ?"
"No, of course we trust you!" After all, Shirou had just saved the homunculus. Without him, the homunculus would have died!
Shirou nodded in satisfaction, then smiled, "Since you trust , let's take this child and go back quickly!" Just as Astolfo picked up the fallen homunculus and was about to head back, the sound of soone walking through the forest slowly drifted over.
"Did you two have an argunt?" Jeanne, erging from the woods, looked at the three Black Faction Heroic Spirits and the unconscious Master, and couldn't help but wonder.
"There was indeed a slight disagreent, but nothing serious."
"But Miss Jeanne, why are you here?" Shirou asked with a smile, looking at the suddenly appearing Jeanne.
"? I sensed Servants clashing, so I hurried over, but it
seems I was still late!"
"Then it must have been difficult for Miss Jeanne to run half the night. Would you like to rest at Millennia Castle?"
"No, I'm fine!"
"Since your battle is over, I should head back too!" With that, Jeanne turned and began to walk away.
"In that case, goodbye again, Miss Jeanne!" After exchanging greetings, Shirou and Jeanne went their separate ways.
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