Chapter 258: Chapter 296: Astolfo Does Not Play by the Rules
[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 Black 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 large 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 alarm, only to wince in pain.]
[He quickly reached for a weapon, his sword was given to Sieg, so he reached for his lance 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 blame 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 play by the rules."
Illya: "Astolfo is hilarious."
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 last 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 palace with a clear objective.]
---
[At that moment, Atalanta had caught up to Jeanne, attempting to ambush her with Silent Hunting, but Jeanne's intuition allowed her to sense the attack in time.]
["Atalanta…"]
[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: Atalanta is eliminated.
C: Jeanne d'Arc and Atalanta fall together.
D: Jeanne d'Arc escapes.
E: Achilles is eliminated.
F: Achilles and Atalanta fall together.
[Please answer within 1 minute. Exceeding the time limit will result in forfeiting your response.]
***
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