"Ruler, although this isn't something I should be asking of you, I hope you can give that child freedom afterward." Before vanishing after giving his heart to the Homunculi youth, Siegfried made this request of Jeanne.
Though his heart had prolonged the Homunculi youth's life, without anyone to protect him, it would have been impossible for him to leave Yggdmillennia's sphere of influence.
"I will do my utmost."
Jeanne had been deeply shocked by Siegfried's sacrifice and immediately agreed to his request. In theory, as a Ruler, Jeanne could not interfere in Yggdmillennia's affairs. But Siegfried's heroic act had earned her respect.
"Then I can rest easy." Upon hearing Jeanne agree, a trace of happy relief appeared on Siegfried's face in the final moment before he vanished. Saving the Homunculi youth had been Siegfried's own choice, not a request from anyone else.
For Siegfried, who had never made his own choices in life, this decision was, in a sense, the fulfillment of the wish that had answered the Holy Grail's summons. Of course, the bigger reason was that his Master was simply too useless. Siegfried would rather disappear than keep following him.
"What happened here?"
While Astolfo wore a conflicted expression, Yggdmillennia's Masters and Servants all arrived. The scene before them came as a great surprise, and Darnic in particular glared viciously at Gord lying on the ground. As members of the same faction, they naturally knew that Siegfried had vanished.
"Well, this is what happened."
Astolfo then briefly explained everything. He was naturally happy that the Homunculi youth could survive, but he was also deeply saddened by Siegfried's sacrifice. The mixture of joy and grief left his expression conflicted.
"Take him back."
Now that things had reached this point, no matter how furious Darnic was, he could not bring