"What are you doing?"
Lin Yan turned around at the sound and saw two combat Homunculi staring at him with reproachful expressions. What are you doing? You should be fighting too... Is that what they meant?
"No, no, stop."
Hearing Lin Yan say that, the two could not help exchanging confused looks.
"If you want to die, I won't stop you. But if you still want to live, go back quickly. Once you're back, go save our companions. Whether they're the ones being drained of magical energy or anyone else, you are all beings free from any restraints."
"But... that would go against orders."
"That's right. Our orders are to eliminate the Servants and their followers."
"You should understand that those orders cannot be carried out. Besides, what obligation do we have to obey such orders?"
After hearing Lin Yan's words, the two exchanged looks again. As though trying to interrupt their conversation, a Dragon Tooth Warrior swung its sword down at Lin Yan.
Lin Yan swiftly drew Black Rider's sword and slashed upward from the side of its abdomen to its neck. The Homunculi coordinated with his attack, using their battle axes to smash the Dragon Tooth Warrior's skull and both legs.
Lin Yan declared once more:
"Do you want to die, or do you want to live...? We must choose between the two."
This was his final warning. One of the Homunculi accepted his plea and returned toward the stronghold. The other said, "Even so, I must obey orders," and returned to the battlefield.
That's enough... Lin Yan thought. As long as they had room to choose, the Homunculi had no choice but to make a choice. Their thought circuits had not become so muddled that they could not understand even that.
Punishment
From birth, they had been