"Is this the place? Nessa."
"Yes, it's here."
A small hut located on the outskirts of the Yggdmillennia castle, guided by Nessa. It was a house hidden by Deirdre's magecraft. When we opened the door and entered, that child was there.
"You are..."
"Nice to meet you, Sieg. I am Fergus mac Róich."
Sieg.
A homunculus who awakened as a magus, a boy who received Siegfried's heart. Although he hasn't awakened yet, if he awakens the Dragonkind Reactor Core, he is a boy who can transform into Siegfried. In a way, he is an existence born as a variable.
"I heard you asked to protect me."
"Yes, that's right. I thought I should save you since you said you wanted to live. Homunculi are fundamentally the property of their creator... but that only applies when they have no sense of self. Yggdmillennia, which inherited Einzbern's technology, gave birth to homunculi with human self-awareness. That's the problem... If they have no personality, they can be called robots or tools like golems. However, from the moment they have self-awareness like you, they are equal beings to humans."
"So you think of me that way..."
"Yes, originally in my era, there weren't really any homunculi. Even if there were, they were extremely rare, so I never saw one directly. And..."
`Berserker~! Look at this! A flower bloomed!`
"In the past, I also met a child like you. Although that child was never born in this world..."
"I see. I don't know the details, but you see homunculi as human. You're like Rider..."
"Well, besides that, my daughter is a homunculus, you know? Although I haven't been acknowledged as a parent yet."
"Really? ... Hang in there."
"Haha. You still don't understand emotions well, do you? That's natural. You'll gradually come to understand emotions. And... the wish you desire is to liberate the homunculi, right?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"So, what will you do after that? What will you do for them, who have no status or money?"
"That is..."
"... Honestly, even I can't do anything about that. Homunculi like them exist subtly more all over the world. As visitors, we cannot help you. Because we cannot take responsibility for what comes after."
"Is that so...."
I understand his wish. I want to help him... but the aftermath is the problem. The improvement in their treatment happened because the magus-like individuals died and those who remained in Yggdmillennia were the personable Gordolf, Fiore, and Caules. Others probably wouldn't acknowledge it. I am also in a position of neutrality. There are many complicated things when it comes to improving the matters of the Black Faction.
"Well, let's talk about that later, bit by bit. In my opinion, I think their treatment will improve on its own later. Especially because among them, there are those who treat homunculi like humans and cherish them."
"... Yeah, I'll try to believe that."
Because Gordolf, that flashy guy, exists. Gordolf is like that because of his pride and position in Yggdmillennia, but he is actually quite a personable man, though not as much as his son Gordolf. He might have gotten along well with Siegfried. It's fortunate he didn't follow in Kayneth's footsteps.
"Hey, can you tell me if Rider is safe?"
"He is safe. He's not being tortured or anything, and although his Master is a sadist, there's not much she can do to him since he's a heroic spirit."
Aside from sexually desiring him... there's nothing.
"If a war between Red and Black breaks out, a lot will change. Please wait here, Sieg. For you, Sieg, fighting in the war would be too much."
At Nessa's words, Sieg nodded slowly, seeming somewhat dissatisfied. He'll probably jump in anyway... well, what can you do.
By the way... if he doesn't end up with Jeanne, will he eventually end up with Astolfo? He's not a twink, but... whatever. Maybe my eyes are weird, but in a way, I think Sieg is closer to the Astolfo type.
"Well then, if anything happens, please call me anytime."
"Okay."
Leaving the hut, we took a walk.
"It's been a while since we took a walk like this, just the two of us, Nessa."
"It has... To be so cozy, just the two of us... fufu."
Nessa linked arms with me and leaned on my shoulder. Maybe because it's been a long time since we took a walk with just the two of us, it feels nice. Aífe and Scáthach are the wives I've been with the longest, but Nessa, who has been with me since childhood, has a special relationship.
Yggdmillennia has a pretty good garden. It's a perfect space for a walk. But...
"Oh my, that child is..."
"Is she sleeping?"
From a distance, I can see Frankenstein sitting in a flower bed...
As if sensing our presence, she jolts awake in surprise. Maybe because she's a Berserker, or because she's an artificial human... She's a bit of a spacey kid.
"Nice to meet you, Berserker. Good morning, right?"
".... Uu."
"I see, you're reluctant to converse with us? Is that because of your Master? Or is it your own will?"
"Uuu.... Uu."
"Both, huh... This is troublesome. I want to be friends with you. As I said before, we have no hostility towards you all. Especially you, you seem like the person I'd get along with best here?"
"That's certainly true, right? She reminds me of children, she's cute."
"Right?"
"Uu...."
She says she's not cute. A monster...
"A monster, no way? You are a beautiful human. A monster is someone like me."
"!"
When I showed my magical energy, Frankenstein flinched in surprise. I am both an idolized and feared monster of Erin. Fran a monster? Ha, Victor Frankenstein was a fool like Conchobar.
"What does it matter that you're an artificial human made from human corpses? There are dragons, demigods, and heroic spirits born as real monsters. You are not a being that would be called such an outstanding monster even in the heroic spirit world. So have some confidence."
"...."
"Well, my child is similar to you, you know. She was treated as a failure... I'm her new father, or rather new mother? But I haven't been acknowledged yet. Perhaps, could I ask for your advice? The advice from my wives alone seems insufficient..."
"... Uu."
"You don't know... That's a shame. Ah, how about playing with those girls?"
"?"
Crash!!!
Jack jumps at Fran, and soon the two are rolling around in the flower bed.
"Uu... Uu!!!"
Zap zap!
"Ababababa!! It, it's tingling...!!!"
Fran emitting a weak electric current and Jack enjoying being electrocuted. Perhaps they're a good match too? At first, they seemed to be bickering, but later, as if they got along well, they started playing with faint smiles.
"Ooh! What overflowing love! A splendid sight!"
"Indeed. I'm glad Jack made a new friend."
Reika and Spartacus, who came out for a walk with Jack. Soon Jack waves her hand and calls for Spartacus too.
"Mister, let's play together!"
"Excellent! I, Spartacus, shall show you my love!"
Spartacus lifts up Jack and Fran. Jack laughs brightly, while Fran seems uncomfortable and struggles out of his grip to get down.
"Uu, Uu!"
"Hmm? No, Spartacus is your compatriot!"
"Uuu... Uu!"
Fran gets angry, saying he's an enemy because he's an enemy Servant. My my, she's a stubborn kid. Compared to Sieg, Fran is more like Illya.
"Ooh, do you dislike this Spartacus? Even so, it is fine! I, Spartacus, shall embrace you with love!"
"Uuu...!"
Even though she releases lightning saying she hates it, Spartacus, with his Endurance EX, ignores it and runs to give her a hug. Fran runs away saying she hates it, and Jack spreads her arms wide and laughs while riding on Spartacus's shoulders. A peaceful day.
"So, what business do you have with me? Chiron."
"There is something I wish to discuss with you in private."
"Alright."
Tonight, the Red Faction will attack. But before that, the sage of Greece requests a private audience with me. I wonder what he's thinking?