"Trial… by combat?"
The homunculus froze for a moment, then repeated the unfamiliar phrase in confusion.
Not only her, but the rest of the homunculi, as well as Fiore and the others, were equally puzzled. Why had the Shogun suddenly said such a thing?
"Shogun?"
Fiore was the first to ask her.
The Shogun stepped forward, folding her arms, giving the homunculi an air of contempt.
"Yes. A trial by combat. This is the rule set by this vessel—under the witness of Narukami, life and death are to be decided by duel."
Her cold voice carried into everyone's ears. The entire chamber seemed frozen by the sheer sharpness of her aura, leaving them unable to move.
"!" ×N
Hearing her declaration, the homunculi felt a sense of dread. They instinctively stepped back, trying to distance themselves from the kimono-clad woman radiating such suffocating majesty.
"The rules are simple… you divide into two groups and duel. The victors shall leave freely—we will not interfere. As for the defeated…"
The Shogun raised her gaze, sweeping slowly over the fearful homunculi before continuing.
"…It means your strength is insufficient, and you shall reap what you've sown. You will remain here, accepting the fate that awaits you."
That "accepting fate" was an implicit way of saying: continue doing the work you were created for.
After finishing, the Shogun fell silent, maintaining her stance, waiting for their response. To the homunculi, it sounded like a cruel game—a game of death.
"Wh-what kind of… joke is this?!"
"We'll never agree!"
"Didn't we say already?! We won't abandon our companions!"
"Yeah! We'd never kill each other! Absolutely not—!"
They shouted back in protest, repeating the same cries as before—about not abandoning comrades, not wanting to die, and so on.
The Shogun's expression did not change.
"If you refuse… then you shall all suffer divine punishment."
Bzzzzt!
Thunder loomed. Blinding violet light gathered over her body as she raised her hand, summoning Musou Isshin, her words ringing with the dread of death itself.
Mana surged like a tidal wave, bursting out around her in an instant!
Everyone present struggled to breathe.
"Ahhh—!!" ×N
The homunculi recoiled in terror, retreating several steps at once. Some even collapsed to the ground, paralyzed with fear. The leading female homunculus broke into a cold sweat.
"Demon… demon!!"
"What god?! She's nothing but a devil!!"
Faced with their insults… the Shogun did not bother replying.
"You wish to live? Then prove it through your actions. To desire survival without cost, to taste sweetness without bitterness? Hmph… what fool's dream is that?"
She ended with a derisive laugh, spinning Musou Isshin into a flourish.
"Duel—for survival. Pay the rightful price. This vessel shall honor its promise and let the victors leave."
Silence fell again…
"Shogun… you needn't—"
"It is fine…"
Hearing Fiore's concern, she only shook her head slightly.
"I know the conflict in your heart. That is who you are—and I am satisfied with it. So, leave all of this to me. You needn't torment yourself further."
"Shogun…"
Why was she so gentle with her? Why think for her sake? She herself was but a half-measure, utterly unworthy of this woman before her… unworthy even of being her Master.
"This method is good! Quite fair, too!"
Gordes agreed readily, even praising the Shogun's proposal.
"Ugh…"
Caules covered his face in exasperation.
As the Shogun had foreseen, the homunculi finally raised their weapons, standing against one another under the rules she had set. Such was human nature—even in homunculi. Before the mountain of death, few could uphold selfless ideals. Most would choose survival. Those earlier declarations of "never abandoning companions" were nothing but empty words.
Heh… so they wanted to stir trouble? Then let there be trial by combat~!
And this was her holding back. In a true trial by combat, the losing side would be struck down by her own blade. That said, hardly anyone ever dared to propose such a deadly contest themselves… hardly. Not never. There had been, perhaps, one exception before…
After several minutes of clashing blades… the outcome was decided.
The victorious group rejoiced, some even bursting into tears of relief. The defeated lay collapsed in despair, while a few, knowing their weakness, accepted their fate calmly. Only the leading female homunculus wore a face full of grief.
"It seems it's over… This vessel keeps its promise. The victors may leave."
The Shogun pointed her blade toward the nearby doors, signaling to the winners.
"Let's go!" ×N
Excited, weapons still in hand, they hurried out of the chamber. Indeed, they were now free.
"Victory belongs to the strong, defeat to the weak. I expect the losers to honor their word and serve the Black Faction."
"No way! How could I… die here?! I won't die miserably here!! Ahhh!!"
One homunculus suddenly malfunctioned, screaming wildly as he seized a weapon and charged at the Shogun in hysteria.
"Shogun!"
Fiore cried out instinctively in worry.
"…Hah."
The Shogun sighed helplessly, already expecting this. She was about to knock him unconscious when—
"Stop!!!"
At the shout, all eyes turned to a young homunculus running over—Sieg.
He quickly placed himself in front of the deranged homunculus, shielding him. Lifting his gaze, he met the Shogun's eyes.
"Sieg…"
The female homunculus brightened upon seeing him, as though glimpsing a savior.
"Leave the rest to me…"
Sieg reassured her before turning back toward the Shogun, then glanced at the Masters behind her.
The Shogun's violet eyes narrowed dangerously.
"!"
The killing intent made Sieg falter, but he steadied himself again. With no other choice, he revealed his trump card.
He raised his hand, showing the back of it before the Shogun, making sure the others saw as well.
"This is—?!"
Gordes was the most shocked.
"Eh?"
Fiore was also surprised.
"…."
The Shogun showed no reaction, her expression blank as she regarded his display.
Etched into the back of his hand was the mark of Rider's Command Spells.
"I have words for Yggdmillennia. As Rider's Master, I should have the right to speak with you, shouldn't I?"
Sieg spoke solemnly, raising his hand.
"Wh—?!"
Gordes' face twisted in disbelief.
Fiore fell silent for a moment before speaking…
"Forgive me… but I don't understand. Rider's Master is supposed to be Celenike. Why are the Command Spells on your hand?"
"She's dead."
At that moment, Astolfo walked up to Sieg's side, answering for him.
"Eh? Dead? Why?"
Confused, Fiore pressed further. Rider scratched his head awkwardly.
"…Did you kill her?"
The Shogun's voice was low, her hand tightening around Musou Isshin, ready to cut them down in an instant. She remembered clearly—she had only knocked that woman unconscious, not killed her.
"Huh?! No, no, no!! Of course not! We didn't kill anyone!!"
Terrified of her killing aura, Rider frantically waved his hands, desperate to clear the misunderstanding. He had already been beaten by her once before and did not want to face that wrath again.
"She died by accident… I was going to drag her back to the castle, but the whirlwind from Red's fortress was too strong… It swept her away. I chased after her, but…"
His voice trailed off into silence.
"When we found her, she was already crushed beneath stones… beyond recognition."
Sieg quietly finished the explanation for him.
"I… I see…"
Fiore leaned back weakly into her wheelchair, her voice faint. The very thing she had feared most had come to pass.