Dur paused for a moment before continuing.
"Later, we also heard that it was only because of your opinion that Lady Fiore was willing to liberate the artificial lifeforms of the Thousandth Tree Clan—
"Only then were we able to gain our freedom."
As she said this, the silver-haired girl revealed a faint smile.
"Lord Saber, we wanted to repay your kindness... That's the only reason we stayed behind."
"...I see."
Dur nodded and said somewhat proudly, "The only wish we found during our brief lives... was to fight alongside you.
"So no matter how much the Red Saber tries to stop us, we won't back down."
Little Mo... you really became the villain again, Shirou thought.
"Um... Was what I just said a little too arrogant?
"Wanting to fight alongside a Great Hero like you... Wasn't that too presumptuous of us?"
The girl asked shyly, and Shirou shook his head.
"Of course not. Thank you."
Dur and the surrounding artificial lifeform girls all smiled.
Just then, Shirou raised his head and looked toward the sky.
"There don't seem to be many stars tonight... I suppose that's what you'd expect from a small town. The night sky is much darker than the city's."
"Lord Saber, let's return to the castle."
"Ah, all right."
Thus, Shirou returned to the castle surrounded by the artificial lifeform girls.
The moment he stepped into Milenia Castle, an ominous feeling crawled up the back of the boy's neck.
"This is..."
His Instinct activated.
An attack by the Red faction?
No, that wasn't it... This was...
Shirou observed the scattered people in the Meeting Room and widened his eyes.
Jeanne and the others had made a mistake!
The plan to leave and hunt down Lancer had been wrong from the very beginning—
How could the arrogant