[Fiore: "The battle is not over yet. Hey, homunculus, you transformed into Saber during the st battle. That means you are..."]
[Sieg: "That doesn't mean I'm your ally. I'm here to save them!"]
["No! If you are the Saber of Bck, then I am your Master!"]
[Gordes, visibly agitated, lunged forward and grabbed Sieg by the colr.]
["Why, Saber! Why would you commit suicide! And for a homunculus, no less! If you didn't want to fight, then you're no longer a hero! Are you so dissatisfied with being my Servant? Answer me, Siegfried!"]
[Gordes shouted before colpsing to the ground.]
[Siegfried's suicide had dealt a devastating blow to him.]
---
Waver: "I can't believe Siegfried's suicide has hit him this hard."
Tohsaka Tokiomi: "It's self-doubt. For a proud magus, having their Servant commit suicide is a massive blow."
---
[Sieg: "...Unfortunately, my becoming Saber is only superficial. I don't know why he entrusted his heart to me, nor do I know what he was dissatisfied with when it came to you."]
[Gordes: "Is it my fault? I was just confused because the situation was too chaotic! But if you think I'm wrong, then just tell me, and I'll fix it! I, I..."]
["What are you talking about? Didn't you just tell him to shut up? Of course there's nothing he could've done about it."]
[At that moment, Astolfo arrived on the scene.]
---
Tohsaka Rin: "No wonder Siegfried was so quiet. That expins everything."
Waver: "Maybe he was worried about his identity being exposed. But that seems a bit far-fetched."
---
[Fiore: "Rider, your Master..."]
["Oh? My current Master is Sieg."]
[Astolfo nonchantly made the shocking announcement, tossing out this explosive revetion as if it were nothing.]
[Fiore's expression grew grim. With Chiron absent, she knew she was no match for Astolfo's anti-magic abilities.]
---
Illya: "Oh wow, this just got interesting."
Waver: "The situation is completely reversed now."
---
[Astolfo: "I say, isn't that enough? None of the homunculi here are willing to fight. If that's the case, there's no point in forcing the issue."]
[Fiore: "...That won't work."]
[Her cold eyes betrayed her suspicions. Having no knowledge of what had transpired earlier, she couldn't help but wonder if Astolfo had been the one to kill Celenike.]
---
[Astolfo: "If this were just an offensive and defensive battle, fine. But hasn't the Holy Grail already been taken away?"]
[The Bck faction collectively lowered their heads.]
[Indeed, under these circumstances, was there any way to salvage the situation?]
---
[Astolfo: "Mr. Gordes, you told Siegfried not to speak. You feared that revealing his true name would be a fatal vulnerability. So even if he knew you were wrong, he couldn't say anything aloud."]
["Wuwuwu..."]
[Gordes slumped, his shoulders heavy with frustration.]
["I... I was afraid. Siegfried's weakness was too well-known. Even though he was such a great hero, I couldn't trust him completely. I always worried he'd be stabbed in the back like he was during his lifetime..."]
[Fiore: "...Uncle Gordes."]
[Gordes: "Forget it, Fiore. Let's release all the homunculi. We've already lost."]
---
Tohsaka Rin: "Wow, he's actually starting to reflect on himself. I see him in a new light now."
Emiya Kiritsugu: "The hardest thing is admitting when you're wrong, especially for someone as stubborn as a magus."
Waver: "Yeah, magi are notorious for refusing to admit their mistakes."
Kayneth: "Waver!"
Waver: "Uh, sorry, Teacher. I spoke too much again."
Iskandar: "Why apologize, kid? You didn't say anything wrong."
Iskandar: "Or, Kayneth, are you really that kind of person?"
Kayneth: "..."
---
[Fiore stared at Sieg and the newly rescued homunculi for a moment before turning away. "...I understand. I will grant the homunculi their freedom. From now on, you're free to do as you like."]
[At her words, the homunculi collectively sighed in relief.]
---
[Caules: "So, Sister, what now? Should we send an envoy of surrender to the Mage's Association?"]
["Of course not. Liberating the homunculi doesn't mean we've lost the Holy Grail War."]
[Fiore spoke firmly. "Uncle Gordes mentioned that Caster's Noble Phantasm is an A-rank anti-army weapon. With that, we can formute new strategies."]
[Caules: "But even so..."]
["Enough."]
[Fiore interrupted him, then approached Sieg. "As the Master of Rider, and someone who can essentially summon Saber, will you lend us your aid?"]
[Astolfo: "Ah! That's too shameless! You're too shameless!"]
[Fiore shrugged indifferently. "How is it shameless? We've already made the concession of liberating the homunculi. Isn't it fair to expect some help in return?"]
[Astolfo: "No, no, no! Sieg wants to live a peaceful life!"]
[Sieg raised his hand to stop Astolfo. "Rider, I don't mind. Now that I've become a Master, I'm prepared to join the Holy Grail War."]
[Astolfo: "But..."]
[Sieg: "Besides, I'm concerned. This Holy Grail War seems to be more than just a battle between Bck and Red."]
[Astolfo: "Huh?"]
[Sieg: "Ruler said that her very summoning indicates something unusual is happening."]
---
Jeanne: "Sieg, you..."
Sieg: "It's fine. Since I can't avoid it, I won't run away."
Sieg: "Besides, I want to help. I want to do something meaningful for you all."
Jeanne: "Thank you, Sieg."
Bluebeard: "..."
---
[At that moment, the castle's half-functional surveilnce system detected two Servants approaching.]
["Archer and Caster?"]
[Fiore sent out a voice transmission and soon received Chiron's response.]
["Are you all right, Archer?"]
[Chiron: "Yes, but Lancer and his Master, Lord Darnic, have fallen. And Caster has defected."]
[Fiore: "What?!"]
[While they already knew Darnic was dead, they had no idea that Avicebron had switched sides.]
[Roche had kept it a secret that his contract with Avicebron had dissolved.]
["Avicebron has joined the Red faction. I've seen him preparing to unleash his Noble Phantasm. Is Caster's Master, Roche, still with you?"]
[Fiore: "Caules, find Roche immediately!"]
[Caules: "Understood!"]
[Though he didn't fully grasp the situation, Caules left without hesitation.]
[Fiore turned to the homunculi. "I know I promised your freedom, and I'm truly sorry. But I need your help. Please, find Caster's Master, Roche. Search every corner of the castle."]
[Realizing the gravity of the situation, the homunculi nodded and dispersed.]
[However, despite searching thoroughly, they found no trace of Roche.]
[Chiron: "Master, did Lord Darnic ever tell you about Caster's Noble Phantasm?"]
[Fiore: "He said it was a massive golem requiring a core to activate. But nothing beyond that..."]
[Chiron: "The core is a magus."]
[Fiore: "What?!"]
[Chiron: "Caster originally intended to use Lord Gordes as the core. I heard this from Lord Darnic."]
[Fiore: "But Uncle Gordes is here!"]
[Chiron: "Then it's obvious who Caster chose as the core."]
---
Waver: "No way."
Kayneth: "We underestimated Avicebron. He's more treacherous than we thought."
Tohsaka Rin: "How vile! I thought Avicebron's condition with Amakusa Shirou was to protect his Master. I didn't expect this!"
Emiya Kiritsugu: "He wasn't protecting his Master, he was protecting his sacrificial core."
Sisigou: "He's really the same thing as those crazy magus."
---
[The scene shifts to Avicebron.]
[Everything was as Chiron predicted.]
["Teacher, what is this..."]
[Avicebron calmly held Roche by the neck, the tter staring in disbelief.]
[Roche, despite understanding the situation, was still clinging to denial, his voice trembling as he spoke.]
["You can't mean... Teacher, am I...?"]
[Avicebron: "Haven't you realized it by now, my Master? You are the core."]
[His tone was calm, as if he were expining an undeniable truth.]
***
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