[Karna: "Do you intend to run away?"]

  [Sieg: "...Before that, I want to ask you something. Why did you save them?"]

  [Karna: "Is it strange that I would want to save them?"]

  [Sieg: "Not strange, but… why?"]

  [Karna: "They were once my Masters. That alone is reason enough. I couldn't protect them. Even as a Servant, I failed to complete my mission. Even if they have escaped the Holy Grail War, I still want to save their lives. I suppose this desire is a bit excessive… even arrogant."]

  [The three of them were stunned. How was that arrogant?]

  Waver: "No matter how humble you are, you should at least recognize your limits."

  Karna: "Is that so?"

  [Karna: "Even so, I have no choice but to live this way. And… this way of living is surprisingly enjoyable."]

  [Caules: "I understand, but the two of us alone can't take on five people."]

  [Karna: "There is a room that allows teleportation to the ground. If magic is used, even I can send you back safely."]

  [Caules: "Wait a minute. Does that mean anyone could do this?"]

  [Karna nodded, confirming that was indeed the case.]

  [Caules turned to Fiore and said, "...Sister, that's enough."]

  [Fiore nodded slightly and said, "Yes. We need to contact Uncle Gordes and ensure they are properly protected and managed. We must return to the ground."]

  [Chiron was dead. She was out of the Holy Grail War.]

  [Caules: "Only my sister is going back. I intend to stay here."]

  [Fiore: "Huh?"]

  [Caules: "Didn't I tell you? I want to witness the final outcome of the Holy Grail War, as a member of Yggdmillennia."]

  [Fiore: "But…"]

  [Caules: "Red Lancer, please take us to the teleportation room. We need to get these Masters out of here."]

  [Karna: "Understood."]

  [Karna carried three people, while Sieg and Caules handled the remaining two. The four of them proceeded forward and soon arrived at the teleportation chamber Karna had mentioned.]

  ["Caules, please… you have to come back alive."]

  ["I know. I'll do my best."]

  [As the door closed, Fiore felt the surge of magical energy around her. Instinctively, she shut her eyes. When she opened them again, she found herself on a small hill.]

  [Fiore immediately contacted Gordes, requesting a vehicle to pick them up.]

  Sisigou: "I didn't expect you'd choose to stay."

  Caules: "After all, the Bck Faction is still a participant. Someone has to witness the end of this."

  Frankenstein: "Mmm…"

  Fiore: "And what if you die, you idiot? Then what was the point of me giving you the Command Seals?"

  Caules: "It's fine, sister. We knew what we were getting into when we decided to go up to the Hanging Garden."

  Fiore: "Idiot… That just makes me look like a useless sister. I went up there and came back without accomplishing anything."

  Caules: "Well… in a battle of this scale, I'm just grateful to be alive in the end."

  Sisigou: "Yeah..."

  ["Thank you. I can finally set aside this burden."]

  [Karna expressed his gratitude to Caules and Sieg, then said, "Now, let us decide the winner as agreed. I'd like to change the venue, would that be acceptable?"]

  ["Yeah," Sieg nodded.]

  [Karna led them to a rge auditorium, pushed open its heavy stone doors, and stepped inside.]

  [The dimly lit room was extraordinarily spacious. The ceiling and far walls were nowhere in sight, it was clear that magecraft had been used to expand the space.]

  ---

  Waver: "I thought the buildings in the Hanging Garden were just for decoration, but they're actually fully functional?"

  Semiramis: "Of course not. This is my greatest masterpiece."

  ---

  Karna: "If we fight here, no matter how much destruction we cause, it will not matter. Magus, please stand as far back as possible."

  [Caules: "Understood."]

  [Karna then turned to Sieg.]

  [Karna: "Let us begin."]

  [Sieg: "I have a request."]

  Karna: "Speak."

  [Sieg: "I took the name Sieg from the man who gave me life and silently told me to 'live on.' So, I ask that you call me by that name. In return, I will fight with everything I have. It may only be three minutes, but I will fight as the man who was meant to battle you."]

  [Karna: "I see. Then, Sieg, let us face each other with our full strength."]

  [Sieg activated his fourth Command Seal. A massive surge of magical energy enveloped him, and he transformed into Siegfried once more.]

  [Karna: "Sieg, I am coming."]

  [Sieg: "Bring it on!"]

  ---

  Siegfried: "Good. You understand this well."

  Siegfried: "Sieg, you are not a mere imitation of me. You are yourself—no one else."

  Astolfo: "That's right!"

  Sieg: "Yeah, I know. Thank you."

  ---

  [Meanwhile, Astolfo, who had been unconscious for some time, finally woke up.]

  ["You're awake?"]

  [A figure appeared, it was Achilles.]

  [Upon seeing him, Astolfo immediately sprang to his feet in arm, only to wince in pain.]

  [He quickly reached for a weapon, his sword was given to Sieg, so he reached for his nce only to remember it was broken. Left with no other choice, he clenched his fists and took a fighting stance.]

  ---

  Tohsaka Rin: "Pfft, this feels like a comedy scene."

  Chihiro: "Haha, Astolfo always finds a way to be amusing."

  Astolfo: "Hey, you can't bme me! I'm used to having weapons, and now I have none!"

  Semiramis: "Achilles, why not take this opportunity to finish him off?"

  Achilles: "Sorry, but I don't like sneak attacks."

  ---

  [Achilles: "...You, are you an idiot?"]

  [Astolfo: "Stop talking nonsense. Your survival means— Ah, you bastard! Archer was defeated, wasn't he?"]

  [Achilles: "Yeah, I defeated my teacher. My long-held wish has finally been fulfilled."]

  [Astolfo: "Damn it, do I have to fight you now?"]

  [Achilles: "I'd advise against it. You can't beat me."]

  [Astolfo: "Who knows? You're covered in wounds, maybe I have a chance."]

  [Astolfo wasn't actually foolish. He had already noticed Achilles' Achilles heel, still bleeding.]

  [Achilles: "You're not as dumb as you act. Unfortunately, I'm in a hurry. Find someone else to fight."]

  [Hearing this, Astolfo casually turned away.]

  [Astolfo: "Oh? Alright then, I'm leaving!"]

  ["...No, wait a minute."]

  [Achilles, taken aback, reflexively called out to him.]

  [Shouldn't he be the one to leave first?]

  ---

  Achilles: "...This guy seriously doesn't py by the rules."

  Illya: "Astolfo is hirious."

  Astolfo: "Hey, thanks for the compliment!"

  Tohsaka Rin: "That wasn't a compliment."

  ---

  [Achilles: "Your Master is just a counterfeit of Siegfried—"]

  [Astolfo: "Don't call him a counterfeit! My Master has a name—Sieg!"]

  [Achilles: "Fine, fine. Your Master, Sieg, is currently fighting our Lancer."]

  [Astolfo: "Probably. The st thing I remember was them starting their fight."]

  ["I see."]

  [Remembering his promise to Chiron, Achilles made up his mind.]

  [Astolfo: "Well? If you're just going to stand there, I'm leaving."]

  [Achilles: "I told you to wait a second. I have a request for you. Just listen, it won't kill you."]

  [After a brief conversation, Astolfo readily agreed and left, while Achilles turned toward the pace with a clear objective.]

  ---

  [At that moment, Atanta had caught up to Jeanne, attempting to ambush her with Silent Hunting, but Jeanne's intuition allowed her to sense the attack in time.]

  ["Atanta…"]

  [Staring at the beast-transformed Servant relentlessly pursuing her, Jeanne finally lost her patience.]

  ["Stop getting in my way!"]

  ---

  [Question: What will be the outcome of the next battle?]

  A: Jeanne d'Arc is eliminated.

  B: Atanta is eliminated.

  C: Jeanne d'Arc and Atanta fall together.

  D: Jeanne d'Arc escapes.

  E: Achilles is eliminated.

  F: Achilles and Atanta fall together.

  [Please answer within 1 minute. Exceeding the time limit will result in forfeiting your response.]

  ***

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