The android girl will not dream of the fairy knight sister

　Astolfo bent down and looked at the girl's pale face.

　"Can I... really run away? Does this mean..."

　"of course!"

　Astolfo touched the girl's head, and the smooth feeling almost made him immersed in it.

　"But even if I do nothing, it'll only be three years at most. Even if I take this lung into account, it might only be slightly longer..."

　"I

　5

　I can’t do anything, and I can’t leave any traces…”

　The girl supported herself with the sword Astolfo had given her earlier.

　"Listen to me, there's no such thing as an obligation. It all depends on your own will. Wanting to live is the right thing for a living being, and it's also the right thing for a human being. Even though you're an android, you should still be classified as a human..."

　Astolfo scratched his head uncertainly.

　"In short! As long as your heart is beating, you should want to live!"

　The girl lowered her head as she watched Astolfo spinning in circles.

　“Something worth doing...”

　The image of the white-haired knight flashed through his mind. It should have been just a dream, but it seemed so real.

　Kindness, care, and love, these are all things I truly feel.

　Even if it's fictional, there's still a meaning to living for it, isn't there?

　Even if it's for that unattainable dream...that dream cradle...the dream family...

　They all hope to survive.

　Even dreams are telling you to live...

　“Bang…Bang…”

　The entire earth was shaking, and several golems surrounded the two.

　"You're really popular..."

　Astolfo pulled out the Noble Phantasm that had previously knocked the red berserker to the ground.

　Servants, after all, are not comparable to creatures like the automatic golem.

　So when Astolfo finished dealing with it, he understood why there were only these few golems.

　The black side's ace was standing behind him, holding the dragon-slaying sword in his hand.

　With a flash, the two of them were already fighting.

　However, the difference in strength was obvious, and Astolfo was the one being suppressed in all aspects.

　During the escape, my heart had completely reached its limit.

　The girl leaned against the tree trunk, looked at the magician in front of her, and slowly stretched out her hand.

　"To live is the right roar..."

　The magic circuit slowly lit up, and a huge amount of magic power was released instantly.

　There is no skill involved, it is just the simple release of magic power in one breath, which is also the purest magical fighting method among beasts.

　"Saber!"

　The red light on the back of his hand lit up again, and Astolfo, who was wrestling with Saber, fell to the ground as his opponent moved.

　"Are you kidding..."

　Astolfo ran towards the illuminated sky ahead.

　-

　"balmung!"

　The dragon-slaying hero twisted the hilt of his sword without hesitation, and the True Aether from the Age of Gods was instantly transformed and swung towards the torrent of magic power ahead.

　It's not a complete Noble Phantasm release, but rather a simplified version of it activated through the ether stored in the blue gem at the hilt. Even so, it has been given the ability to attack dragons.

　Blood flying sword.

　The girl looked at her blood splattering and slowly collapsed to the ground, the light in her eyes gradually fading.

　"Get out of the way you idiot!"

　Astolfo pushed Saber away, leaving only the upper body of Saber cut open by a deep wound.

　"ha..."

　Gold gasped for breath.

　This is...servent, this kind of reaction speed attack power...

　If I hadn't summoned a hero like Siegfried, with my previous personality... I probably wouldn't even have had the chance to use the Command Seals...

　"sorry Sorry..."

　Tears flowed down Astolfo's eyes.

　Nothing can be done...

　The vows made in the past also turned into nothing at this moment.

　Siegfried remained silent as he looked at the crying Rider, standing there like a statue.

　-

　Are you asking me to abandon all the glory, kindness, and sense of responsibility I had in my life? Can't a servant help others?

　The rider's words echoed in my ears.

　My wish is...

　"Lord Siegfried, the bandits nearby..."

　"Lord Siegfried, please slay the beasts nearby..."

　I am not a dragon-slaying hero, I am just a machine with consciousness that fulfills other people's wishes.

　When did I start to become numb?

　It has simply become a machine, constantly satisfying people's empty desires.

　I have always lived according to the will of others.

　What I really want to do...

　You definitely know what a cyborg is.

　The real desire is to help others by your own will.

　I knew perfectly well that the girl was dying.

　But something is wrong.

　There was a familiar smell, or perhaps a nostalgic smell, hanging around.

　The moment he activated Balmung, he saw the girl's mouth shape, and she seemed to be saying something.

　Try to return

　6

　miss you.

　"I want to live!"

　That's what she said.

　There is nothing wrong with wanting to survive, and neither is she nor Hagen.

　The only thing wrong is this distorted self.

　"Why did you let the Bodhi leaf touch your back at that time?"

　Hagen once asked this.

　I didn't give an answer.

　Now, the answer seems obvious.

　Only you can stop me from falling and wake me up.

　"That's why I hate you for doing this. Follow your heart, you bastard!"

　-

　Embark on a Pilgrimage: II. The Price of Life

　"Follow your heart..."

　When did I start wanting to help others with my own will?

　"Sorry, Master."

　Before Gold could react, Siegfried's sharp hand knife struck his neck with a sound that cut through the air, instantly making him fall into a baby-like sleep.

　"what are you doing?"

　Astolfo looked at Siegfried in disbelief, watching him thrust his hand into his chest.

　Blood filled with surging magic gushed out, and the body bathed in dragon blood tried to heal itself, but what it received was only Siegfried's greater forceful penetration.

　"Stop! What are you doing!?"

　The silence was broken by a third voice.

　A blonde girl emerged from the woods, her golden pigtails hanging behind her and a white phoenix-tail flag fluttering behind her.

　"Ruler? Although it may be a bit rude, I'm very sorry. Please don't interfere. This is... my own choice."

　With the sound of something being torn apart, Siegfried dug his heart out of his chest. Blood dripped down his armor and formed a puddle on the ground.

　"I've taken the wrong path again... I want to abandon someone, someone who didn't beg me..."

　"She didn't think, but instead ignored her right to choose. Doing so might make her bear a fate she shouldn't have to bear, but even so..."

　I also might have something more that could help her survive.

　Siegfried staggered and knelt on one knee in front of the girl, slowly pushing the heart in his hand into her body.

　At that moment, Siegfried saw the last dragon that expanded the border and a brilliant lake light.

　I was kicked out... But I can understand why I did this...

　After all, I just did that...

　"Boom...boom..."

　The heavy and slow heartbeat sounded from the girl's chest again.

　Along with it comes unprecedented magical power.

　"Tear--"

　The iron wings tore through the outer garment on her back, and a terrifying glimmer of light shone from the girl's chest, and the oldest fear engraved in human memory surged into her heart.

　The three of them watched the girl's changes seriously.

　"Next time...I won't let you off..."

　An ethereal voice came from nowhere, and a bloody mark was instantly cut on Siegfried's chest.

　“I’m so sorry…”

　Siegfried spat out a mouthful of blood.

　"One person's sacrifice to save another's life is a very fair deal, and besides, I was the one who made the mistake first..."

　Siegfried took a few steps back and collapsed. Having lost his heart, his remaining time was running out...

　"But then you just!"

　Astolfo looked at Siegfried in disbelief, his eyes filled with panic.