Within the forest near the Shogun's position, Rider Astolfo was frantically dragging along a frail young boy as they fled, both panting heavily.
"Hah… hah…"
The boy's stamina was far inferior to that of a Servant. After only a few minutes, he could run no longer and stopped, bending over, gasping desperately for breath.
The dark forest was deathly silent. Other than the faint rustle of swaying grass and branches in the wind, even the cries of birds could not be heard. Perhaps the familiars had been driven off, or perhaps the earlier battle between the Shogun and Achilles had frightened them away.
One thing was certain: they had not yet escaped the fortress's bounded field—they were still within its domain.
"Hm? What's wrong? Tired already?"
Seeing the boy doubled over and panting, Astolfo quickly asked with concern.
"Can… I really escape?"
The boy's voice was weak, his body utterly drained of spirit or energy, like a newborn child. His dazed eyes turned toward Rider.
"Of course you can!"
Astolfo declared firmly, hands on his hips.
"But… won't my escape cause them trouble?"
The boy recalled his kin searching frantically for him just moments ago, and guilt welled up in his heart.
"Ah, don't worry about them! We'll just keep running."
Astolfo waved it off casually.
"I see…"
"Mm! Don't you want to live?"
"I… don't know. It just feels wrong… to leave like this, without permission…"
The boy hesitated.
"It's fine~! It's not as if they'll miss a single homunculus or two. Losing one won't matter."
Astolfo had no idea just how important this particular homunculus was to Caster's magecraft. His decision would indeed cause major problems for the Black Faction. But he didn't care. This was simply his nature. Since the boy had said it, he would help him—perhaps out of his own private motives as well.
"So it's better that you live on…"
"Live on…?!"
"What's your name?"
"Name… I don't have one."
The homunculus shook his head faintly.
"Then I'll call you… Sieg."
"Sie… g?"
Boom, boom!
Suddenly, several giant golems appeared around them, conjured by Caster's magecraft. Clearly, their escape had been discovered.
The constructs closed in on them, surrounding them completely.
"Really? So troublesome!"
Astolfo sighed helplessly, but with a grin he lifted his lance, shielding the boy behind him as he charged into the enemy!
Crash! ×N
Half a minute later—
Astolfo clapped his hands proudly over the wreckage of shattered golems.
"Well then… take a little rest—!"
He stopped abruptly. His expression stiffened as he spun around, gaze locking onto the figure who had stepped before him.
"Berserker!"
Frankenstein.
Astolfo quickly gripped his weapon, taking a defensive stance to protect the boy behind him. This was no mere golem—this was a true heavy-hitter. If she was here, it could only mean she intended to stop them.
"Urghhh!"
Frankenstein's gaze passed over Astolfo, fixing upon Sieg. Her eyes twisted with a feral glint as she jerked her chin, gesturing for Rider to step aside.
"Eh… that's not good. Let's talk this over~"
Astolfo chuckled awkwardly, shielding Sieg behind him. The boy, meeting Frankenstein's gaze, shrank back in fear.
"Urghhh… Move…!!"
Frankenstein raised her hammer, giving one final warning.
"Not good… You, run!"
Astolfo's face hardened as he urged Sieg to flee.
"Eh?"
Sieg froze.
Just then, Caules' voice rang out.
"Berserker, restrain Rider!"
Caules had arrived with Fiore, who was now beside him.
"Urghhh!!"
At her Master's command, Frankenstein swung her massive hammer down toward Astolfo!
Crash!
Their weapons clashed violently, locking together in a struggle.
"What are you standing there for?! Hurry and run!"
Rider noticed Sieg still frozen in place and shouted desperately at him, all while struggling against Fran. He was reaching his limit.
"Rider!"
Sieg's voice carried hesitation.
"Don't worry about me! Go! If you want to live, don't hesitate! Run! Run!!!"
Clang!
Fran's hammer slammed down. Rider caught it on his spear, countering fiercely, too pressed to spare Sieg another glance. Fran's assault was overwhelming.
"!!"
Sieg glanced at Rider's desperate figure, then turned away with a pained expression. Clutching the "finest sword of the village" in his hands, he broke into a run toward the forest's edge.
That's it… run…
Rider managed a small smile of relief at Sieg's retreat—until the next instant.
A bolt of lightning crashed down from the sky!
Boom!
"Ah!"
It struck directly in Sieg's path. Dust and thunder forced him back, dropping him to the ground in terror.
"!!"
Rider's face drained of hope. He knew this aura—this power.
"No way… S-Saber?!"
His trembling voice was confirmed as the Shogun emerged. Lightning snaked across the ground, coalescing into a tall, violet silhouette. Step by step, the woman's form took shape, her kimono flowing, each footfall trailing a blinding flash. All eyes were fixed upon her.
Sieg's whole body quivered, retreating on his hands and feet. Born only recently, he felt—for the first time—the true meaning of terror and oppression. Lightning seemed to swallow him whole.
"Don't be afraid!! Run! If you want freedom, run!!"
Rider still shouted encouragement, even as Fran's hammer drove him to the ground. But for Sieg, his legs had lost all strength—the words meant nothing against the crushing weight of the Shogun's presence.
"Don't give up~! Guh—!"
Pinned by Fran, Rider could no longer move.
"Good work, Shogun."
Fiore wheeled closer, smiling softly at the Shogun before turning to the boy.
"You have nowhere to run. Please, don't make this harder. Come back with us."
Her voice carried no malice, only persuasion. Sieg lifted his head, forcing words past the weight pressing down on him.
"I… I want to live…"
"…Live?" Fiore murmured, startled.
"I… I…"
Clutching his head, Sieg trembled. His voice broke into a frantic shout.
"I want to live!!!"
Crackle…
Magic surged violently through his circuits, pouring into his hands. In the next instant, he seized the sword at his side.
"So! I'll—Override! Liberation!!"
Channeling all his power, he swung the blade down at Fiore.
"Sister!!"
Caules shouted, rushing toward her.
"!"
Fiore froze, her hands gripping her wheelchair tight. She hadn't expected him to suddenly lose control and strike at her.
But before the blow could land, an immense pressure crushed Sieg. His body froze as if weighed down by thousands of pounds. With a strangled cry, he collapsed, his sword clattering to the ground. He writhed in agony, clutching at his chest as if suffocating.
Fiore blinked, startled, then turned toward the Shogun approaching her side. Understanding dawned, and she smiled faintly.
"Thank you, Shogun."
Without her intervention, Fiore would have been gravely harmed. Caules exhaled deeply in relief.
The Shogun glanced once at Fiore's relieved face, then lowered her eyes to the prone homunculus.
"Before you speak of living… learn to control your actions."
Her voice was cold, edged with warning. Sieg trembled again, sensing her killing intent. He had no doubt—the strike he attempted truly aimed to kill Fiore.
"Though this one does not wish to shatter your will, your power is far beneath ours. Blind resistance is nothing but folly."
She leveled Engulfing Lightning at his throat.
"!"
Sieg shook uncontrollably, but his gaze, defiant and unwilling, locked upon her face.