The scent of earth and vegetation filled the Artificial Lifeform's nostrils. The scene before him gradually blurred. It seemed his nervous system was beginning to fail as well.
And so, the nameless Artificial Lifeform had been born into the world without meaning, only to die just as meaninglessly...
Suddenly, the mage stopped beating him.
"Master, please stop."
An armored hand pressed down on Gordes's shoulder. Its tremendous strength, palpable even through the armor, left him unable to move.
Gordes turned his head in disbelief. Saber had actually defied his orders, released Rider, and even restrained him instead?!
Siegfried's words, in particular, made him doubt his own ears:
"Saber, what did you just say?"
"I asked you to stop. If possible, I would like you to treat him."
"Stop making these ridiculous jokes, Saber!"
Gordes's voice trembled, seemingly from excessive rage. He had even forgotten to put an expression on his face.
Even so, Gordes took a deep breath and spoke with what little "dignity" he could muster as a Master:
"You want me to treat him? And then what? Will you demand that I let him go next? We're not a charity, Saber. Why are you doing this?"
"Master, I am appealing from my 'conscience' to yours. Even if we let him go, we would lose nothing."
"Enough! Shut up!"
"Master..."
Siegfried wanted to continue persuading him, but Gordes cut him off brutally:
"Shut up! Shut up, shut up, shut your mouth! You're nothing but a familiar! What gives you the right to order me around?! Your job is to keep your mouth shut! Just follow my instructions!"
Gordes's tirade made Siegfried frown. Now that things had reached this point, his Master clearly harbored intense hostility toward him.
But Siegfried was not indecisive. Having resolved to live for the justice