[Although Karna comforted Sieg and eased his guilt, he left with a smile.]
[The battle was over, but something was wrong with Sieg.]
[He didn't know why, but he felt as if his hands and feet had been torn off, and his mind was feverish. Every time he closed his eyes, a savage, evil dragon would appear.]
[Astolfo: "What's wrong? Are you okay?"]
[Sieg: "...It's nothing, just a little dizzy."]
[Astolfo: "Then let's go."]
[Caules: "Hey, don't forget about me."]
[Astolfo: "Ah, you're here."]
[Caules: "I got here before you! Never mind. Sieg, here, take this."
[As he spoke, Caules handed Sieg a piece of holy cloth from his own clothing.]
["This is the holy cloth I borrowed from Ruler. I don't know what's happening to you, but this might help you feel better."]
[Sieg: "Thank you."]
---
Siegfried: "This is... terrible!"
Sieg: "Mr. Siegfried, what's wrong?"
Siegfried: "I never expected this... It's Fafnir!"
Sieg: "Fafnir? The dragon you defeated?"
Siegfried: "Yes. When I killed it, I bathed in its dragon blood and gained some of its power. But I never imagined that Fafnir's presence would still remain!"
Sieg: "Still remain?"
Siegfried: "You inherited my power and with it, Fafnir's as well. It's already beginning to affect you, just as we saw in the video."
Sieg: "Then... what will happen?"
Siegfried: "You will become a new dragon... perhaps even be possessed by Fafnir."
Astolfo: "What?!!!"
Astolfo: "Why didn't you tell me this earlier?! What do we do now?"
Siegfried: "I'm sorry. I didn't expect this to happen."
Sieg: "It's okay, Astolfo. If it weren't for Mr. Siegfried, I would have died in the video."
Astolfo: "But..."
Sieg: "No matter what I become, I'm still me, right?"
Siegfried: "..."
Waver: "I didn't expect such a development."
Tohsaka Rin: "Then Sieg's sudden strength, could it be because he's starting to transform into a dragon?"
---
[Meanwhile, Sisigou and Mordred were making their way toward the palace.]
[However, unlike Jeanne's smooth journey, they had to be cautious with every step.]
[Since entering the palace, they had passed through six rooms, each nearly identical—a 100-square-meter space enclosed by gray walls. Inside, deadly traps such as bayonets, pendulum blades, pits, and poison gas lay in wait, each room brimming with murderous intent.]
[Mordred: "That old hag has terrible taste! Absolutely disgusting!"]
[Sisigou: "Please calm down. I'm relying on you here."]
[Mordred: "I was hoping you'd be useful for once, Master."]
["Didn't I use my owl's eyes to scout ahead first?"]
[Sisigou sighed helplessly. "But I'm almost out of tricks. If I fall into a trap by accident, I'm done for."]
["The next room is—"]
[Mordred pushed open the door. This time, it was straightforward, inside was a dense mass of Dragon Tooth Warriors.]
[Of course, these puppets were no match for Mordred and were wiped out in less than a minute.]
[Sisigou took out his pack of cigarettes, only to find that there were only two left. With a sigh, he put them back.]
["If I die, I won't get to smoke…"]
Mordred: "Tch, that old hag really does treat people differently."
Semiramis: "Old hag? You certainly have some nerve."
Semiramis: "If we hadn't already left, I'd make sure to teach you a lesson in manners."
Mordred: "Hmph, come and try if you can."
[The two continued forward, passing through a long corridor until they arrived at a massive iron door.]
[Mordred: "Haha, looks like we've arrived."]
[Sisigou: "She's probably furious after your taunting. But hey, you provoked her, so you'll have to take responsibility."]
["I know. No matter what era it is, the king always falls to the traitor's sword."]
[Mordred grinned. "Say, if we win and survive, shouldn't we do something?"]
[Sisigou: "Like what?"]
[Mordred: "A victory banquet, of course. My father never really liked them, but he never skipped one either. Even if there wasn't anything decent to eat, he'd still look pretty happy after drinking himself stupid."]
[Sisigou: "Sounds like he enjoyed himself. You didn't join in?"]
[Mordred: "Of course not. I can't take off my helmet, so I could only watch from a distance."]
Irisviel: "Eh? There was something like that?"
Artoria: "..."
Lancelot: "It wasn't our fault. She refused to take off her helmet to attend the banquet."
Lancelot: "It's all Morgan's fault."
[Sisigou: "So, you want a celebration party?"]
[Mordred: "Yeah. Is that a problem?"]
[Sisigou: "No, not at all. Sounds like a great idea. What about drinks?"]
[Mordred: "Wine, of course. I'm used to drinking it, whether it tastes good or bad. But I want to try the wine of this era."]
[Sisigou: "In that case, it's whiskey. But can you even get drunk?"]
[Mordred: "I can feel the buzz, sure, but it won't actually mess with my body… probably."]
[The two chatted casually, though it was clear they were setting up a flag.]
Waver: "This really feels like a dysfunctional father-daughter relationship."
Tohsaka Rin: "@Sisigou how could you trick a girl into drinking?"
Sisigou: "Trick? She's the one who wanted to drink!"
Tohsaka Rin: "You still shouldn't encourage it!"
Mordred: "Oi, little girl, do you think I'm like you? I'm already an adult."
Chihiro: "Well… If you count from your birth to your death, technically, you were less than ten years old."
Mordred: "???"
Mordred: "How the hell do you know that?!"
Tohsaka Rin: "Oh? You're just a kid like me, then."
Sisigou: "In that case, no alcohol for you."
Mordred: "I'M NOT A CHILD!"
[Mordred: "Alright, Master, let's go win this fight."]
[Sisigou: "Yeah. We'll win."]
[The two bumped fists lightly. The massive door before them slowly creaked open.]
["You've arrived just in time. Though, I suppose that's not the right thing to say, after all, I was the one who lured you here."]
[Semiramis's laughter sent chills down Sisigou's spine.]
[For a moment, he thought she was under some kind of spell, but no—she was really smiling.]
[It was terrifying. If someone lacked the willpower, they'd probably be drawn in, unable to escape—as if their very soul was being stolen.]
Tohsaka Rin: "I have to admit, Semiramis is really beautiful. Even as a girl, I think so."
Irisviel: "Well, she is the empress said to be the incarnation of Ishtar."
Ishtar: "But compared to a true goddess like me, she's still a bit lacking."
Semiramis: "Hmph."
Tohsaka Rin: "Yes, Ishtar-onee-sama is the most beautiful."
Ishtar: "Hmm."
Chihiro: "Pfft, so this is just a roundabout way of praising yourself?"
Ishtar: "???"
Now that she thought about it, it was true.
Ishtar: "RIN! YOU CUNNING LITTLE—!"
Tohsaka Rin: "Ahhh!!!"
---
[Semiramis: "The Holy Grail you seek is inside. That said, you've fought your way here, so why not enjoy my hospitality?"]
["You call this hospitality? There's not even food on the table."]
[Mordred glanced at Semiramis's shoulder, noticing that her injury still hadn't healed. She smirked and mocked her.]
[Mordred: "Empress, looks like your wound still hurts."
Semiramis: "It doesn't hurt. But my heart is wounded. Fortunately, I know how to heal it."
Mordred: "Oh? Want me to help you?"]
["Thank you very much. Then—"]
[Semiramis raised her right hand with a smile.]
[Semiramis: "Please die."]
["Master, run!"]
[Mordred suddenly sensed an overwhelming danger and immediately shouted to Sisigou.]
[It was the unmistakable premonition of death.]
[Mordred kicked Sisigou out of the way with all her strength, barely slipping through the door herself before it slammed shut.]
[Though Sisigou didn't understand what had happened, he trusted Mordred's instincts. Without hesitation, he activated Owl's Eye to scout the situation.]
[However, the moment he connected his vision to the scene, it felt as if a burning iron nail had been driven into his skull.]
["Shit—what the hell is this?!"]
[Sisigou didn't hesitate. He dug out his own eye without a second thought.]
[The moment his right eye left its socket, it melted away into a pool of highly toxic purple liquid.]
***
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