"What recklessness… those people. But… it seems they've been preparing for this for a long time already."
At this moment, Gordes also understood…
"Is that so, Sister?"
Caules turned to look at his elder sister…
"Mm… I'm afraid so. In that case, just like Uncle Darnic—no… more importantly, right now we must find a way to deal with the situation before us."
Fiore quickly shook her head, casting aside distracting thoughts. Lowering her gaze to think briefly, she then raised her eyes again—
"Roche, give orders to the remaining automatons to repair the fortress."
Facing the boy before her, she issued the command with firm tone!
"Understood~ Acting head~!"
Roche playfully gave a salute before leaving the room.
Next, she turned toward Gordes.
"Uncle Gordes, please contact our kin across the lands."
"Eh… ah… I understand."
Confronted with his niece's undeniable tone and command, Gordes was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly agreed and rushed out of the room.
Fiore looked to her younger brother.
"Caules, gather the surviving automatons and homunculi from the battlefield, though I doubt many are left."
"I understand, Sister!"
Caules gave a slight bow, then left the room as well.
The only ones remaining were the Shogun and Fiore herself… Once again, silence filled the room.
"..."
The Shogun glanced at the fortress floating in the sky, then turned to head outside. She wished to provide support.
"Um… Shogun… please wait…"
Hearing the girl's plea behind her… she stopped her steps, turned back, and looked at the other. Her tone, completely different from when she had been giving orders, was now soft and gentle.
"…Shogun, could you remain in the castle? The defenses here are extremely thin… If you leave, it will be as fragile as paper. I fear the Red Faction may seize the chance to attack. Without you, we would be defenseless."
Though only speculation, it was still necessary to guard against the worst.
"So… I beg you… Shogun…"
The girl, seated in her wheelchair, bent forward and bowed deeply to her, her voice warm with gentle pleading.
"…I understand. And you need not perform such a courtesy. Just now… this vessel was most pleased."
The Shogun shook her head, urging the other to straighten, and spoke with praise…
The girl's earlier demeanor as a leader had truly impressed her. Indeed, this was someone worthy of being her Master.
"Shogun…"
Fiore lifted her head, meeting her eyes.
"Now, you are this vessel's Master. This vessel… shall follow your command."
"Mm!"
Encouraged by the Shogun, Fiore's eyes grew firm once more…
The outcome had yet to be decided. As Yggdmillennia's Master, as the Shogun's Master… she would not let the goddess she adored be disappointed!
She had believed that, after this, all would proceed as she had planned—restoring Black's forces. Yet once again, fate was unpredictable.
One hour later…
"Sister!"
Caules burst into Fiore's room in panic…
"Caules… what of the task I gave you?"
Fiore looked up from the list of Red Faction members in her hands, meeting her gasping brother's eyes with concern.
"It's bad! The homunculi… they've rebelled!"
Caules, bracing himself against the desk, caught his breath before hurriedly reporting.
"…Eh? Rebelled…?"
Fiore froze for a moment, stunned…
At the window, the Shogun also turned her gaze toward them.
"Ugh, I can't explain it here. Both of you, come with me at once!"
...
The creation of homunculi was Yggdmillennia's exclusive technique. First, they served as servants. Second, they acted as the mana supply source for Servants—essentially a kind of magical equipment.
Indeed, as "mana supply sources"—that was the reason they had been made.
Yet now, these magical tools were rebelling against them. No one had foreseen this. Truly, all manner of strange events could occur at such times.
In a certain area of the fortress was the underground chamber where the mana supply tanks were housed. All homunculi were born from here. The entire chamber glowed faintly green, rows of life-support pods arranged like tombs. Some had already been shattered by the rebelling homunculi.
Bang!
The next second… the underground chamber's doors were roughly pushed open. Four entered—the leader was Gordes, followed by Caules, Fiore, and the Shogun.
The loud crash of the doors drew the gazes of every homunculus inside. Seeing the arrivals, they instinctively stepped back, raising clubs in their hands—or even axes and swords scavenged from outside—staring at them warily, ready to charge at any moment.
Like slaves, sick of oppression, desperately seeking to be "free."
In an instant, silence fell over the room, broken only by the sound of breathing. Beneath that silence simmered the tension of imminent conflict, thick with the scent of gunpowder.
But… the Shogun could see it. The homunculi were trembling faintly. Even if they wished to resist… they could not erase their fear.
"…" ×N
Both sides remained in silence…
"…What are you doing?"
The first to speak was Gordes… This uncle clearly preferred to charge ahead alone. His tone carried heavy hostility.
"Isn't it obvious… release them."
The leading homunculus stepped forward. Far from being cowed by Gordes' aura, he retorted calmly.
"What did you say? Do you know what you're doing?!"
"Of course… We're rebelling against you."
Facing Gordes' roar, the homunculus still answered coolly. Behind him, many companions nodded in agreement, making the atmosphere unbearably awkward.
"…Haa."
Fiore felt a wave of exhaustion… If this went on, it would never end. She wheeled herself forward, stepping in front of her uncle. At this moment, by her position, she was the leader among the three, and thus she had to step forth.
Coming face-to-face with the homunculi, she lifted her slightly cold blue eyes.
"—Artificial lifeforms, why are you doing this? Please, give me a convincing reason."
Her voice was cold, her tone that of a magus, devoid of anger or emotion. At this moment, Fiore only wished to hear the truth.
"..."
Perhaps because the girl's demeanor was so icy, the homunculus hesitated for a second. But in the end, he voiced his reason.
"After our mana is drained, we simply die like this. It's too miserable… We don't want that."
"Isn't that the role you were created to fulfill?"
Fiore responded without change in expression, calmly asking back.
"But… there's no need to always play this forced role."
The homunculus argued back…
"Forced? This is the meaning of your birth here… Do we need to force you to fulfill it?"
Fiore questioned again.
"That's why! We must reject that meaning! No one wants to watch their companions die!!"
The homunculus' composure cracked under Fiore's words, his voice rising with agitation.
"What nonsense!! Don't think just because you've gained awareness you suddenly have wings to fly! I—"
"Uncle Gordes, please calm yourself."
Fiore, weary, closed her eyes slightly, halting her uncle's roar once more…
"Ugh… tch…"
Choked, Gordes glanced at Fiore's expression and could only fall silent again.
Fiore opened her eyes, looking at the agitated homunculus before her…
"I understand your reason… But please also understand us. We are in a dire situation right now and need your help. Not all of you—just a few would suffice. In that case, will you agree?"
The production of automatons, and Caster's plans—everything depended on the homunculi's supply of mana. Now, these very beings wanted freedom. It was throwing their plans into chaos.
"…No. I cannot agree. Even a few are lives… they are our comrades. As I said, I will not allow a single one of them to be sacrificed!"
"I—I don't want to die!"
"Me neither!"
"Why must we be the ones to die?! Why don't you go instead?!"
The homunculi behind him began shouting as well.
"See… I cannot turn a blind eye to people crying out that they don't want to die."
The homunculus answered firmly.
"You bastards—!!"
"Uncle Gordes!!"
Fiore's patience broke as she raised her voice sharply.
"Fiore… can you really endure this rabble's nonsense?!"
"Sister…"
Caules turned toward her as well.
"..."
Fiore lowered her gaze slightly into silence… To be honest, she wavered.
It was truly a dilemma. If she let them go… Black would suffer tremendous losses. But if she didn't… they would resist, and she would be forced to annihilate them. Yet…
Looking at these lives, struggling desperately to survive in their despair… To kill them all would weigh heavily on her with guilt.
A few seconds later…
"In that case… let there be a 'trial by combat.'"
"!" ×N
Hearing the cold, elegant voice beside her… Fiore widened her eyes, slowly turning to look at the woman in the kimono at her side. The others did the same.