The Saint? I Have Some New Ideas

Homunculi are human creations—there is no doubt about this. Whether it's clones, AI, or intelligent robots, as long as their creators don't experiment recklessly with self-learning or unpredictable evolutions, they should be controllable in theory.

If the creator sets up a "read-only" mode in the fundamental framework, meaning the creation can only receive instructions but not modify or store them, it will usually remain a tool without consciousness.

Of course, all this assumes there is no outside interference.

In this particular case, whether by coincidence or some other factor, one unique homunculus in the underground magic workshop of the YggdFortress of Millennia developed self-awareness.

A homunculus that had neither been possessed by some soul traversing time and space, nor granted the ability to think by its creator, had miraculously begun to contemplate the meaning of its existence.

Though it wasn't a true human, having been created through artificial means, the homunculus had awakened to the fundamental instinct found in human DNA—or rather, in all living creatures: the will to survive.

Ever since gaining self-awareness, this particular homunculus had begun processing information at an astonishing rate, quickly absorbing and understanding everything around it.

Originally, "he" had been created as a mana-supply model, using his body's magic circuits to provide energy. But for some reason, his ability to comprehend information was developing just as quickly.

He saw humans in white-and-gold uniforms walking by; specialized combat-type homunculi, different from himself, also passed through...

"This is the ace of the Yggdmillennia family! Homunculi embedded with the maximum number of magic circuits! Though their lifespan is short, the mana they can provide during their brief existence is immense!"

"With their power, the Servants will never need to worry about lacking mana..."

These fragmented, source-less memories echoed in his mind. The voice that enthusiastically delivered those words belonged to a middle-aged man with slicked-back golden hair, a bristly mustache, and a rotund, bloated figure.

Standing beside that man, a composed young man with long, dark blue hair watched the homunculi, including him, with an emotionless gaze, as if viewing livestock ready for slaughter.

After that... he encountered more and more individuals.

The most terrifying of them all, though, was the "monster" created from the mana he and his fellow homunculi supplied!

Humans watched with indifferent eyes as he and the others were treated like tools; the other homunculi outside moved about mechanically, silent and emotionless...

But the "monster" was a butcher! (At least, to the homunculi like Sieg, it was a butcher.)

"Teacher, none of the homunculi from the previous experiments have been successful."

Standing before him was a frail young boy speaking to a strange magus wearing a golden mask. Despite the boy's youthful and lively tone, his words were chillingly cold.

This boy, named Roche, and his teacher were frequent visitors to the workshop, having taken countless "brothers and sisters" for their experiments!

"Roche, Her Majesty has asked me to assist with the invasion by Red Servants. I have a feeling we need to speed up the process... Let's try this one next."

Roche nodded in response. "Understood! I'll make the necessary preparations for the core experiment right away. Everything will be ready when you return!"

...

Suddenly, in one of the homunculi incubation tanks in the underground mana-supply basement, a male homunculus opened his eyes.

Recollecting the fragments of memories in his mind, he realized that he had been chosen! The mere thought of this felt like a death sentence, suffocating him. It was as if an invisible hand were tightening around his heart.

He had been able to breathe while unconscious, but now that he had self-awareness, the water inside the tank made him choke and struggle violently.

"No... no, I don't want this...!"

"Move... I need to move..."

"──Guidance system, activate!"

Driven by an instinctive reaction, the homunculus severed the mana-supply connection set by his creators. The advanced magic circuits embedded in his body surfaced, converting mana into the most efficient and minimal force required for destruction.

Crack! Boom!

The glass wall of the incubation tank, glowing faintly with emerald light, shattered, and the nutrient liquid that had sustained the homunculus spilled across the floor with shards of glass.

Collapsing to the ground, the homunculus gasped for air, coughing violently. "Cough... gah..."

His throat burned, and the strong smell of the air caused his lungs to spasm with pain, but he knew he had to get up! He had to leave this place quickly, as staying here would mean certain death.

As he tried to move, he realized how weak his body was. With the strength of a newborn, even standing up took immense effort.

Driven by a vague yet powerful motivation, the unique homunculus finally stumbled out of the dark and silent mana-supply chamber.

But before he could gather his thoughts, he heard the sound of heavy, synchronized footsteps approaching from the corridor. In an instant, the last of his strength left him, and he collapsed in the hallway.

"Avicebron, is that the core you've chosen?"

Seeing the homunculus collapse in the hallway, struggling but unable to muster any strength, Selene turned to Avicebron with a strange smile.

The homunculus lay on the ground, wearing nothing but a pair of white shorts. His body was so thin and frail that at first glance, one couldn't even discern his gender. His skin still glistened with the thick fluid from the incubation tank, indicating he had just escaped.

"Huh? The core? Your Majesty, the special homunculus is still in the basement... What?! How did he escape?!"

Black Caster Avicebron's voice grew louder as he shifted his gaze past Selene and saw the homunculus lying there.

"S-save me..."

The homunculus's weak plea for help stopped the moment he saw Avicebron behind Selene. Though he didn't understand much, a sudden chill shot down his spine, freezing him in place.

"It seems your castle's internal security leaves much to be desired."

Ignoring the homunculus's weak cries for help, Selene waved her hand, and a golden-armored soldier casually lifted the homunculus with one hand, as easily as picking up a doll.

"Roche, does your homunculus workshop have no guards? No surveillance either?" Selene asked, glancing at Caster's bewildered Master.

This homunculus, who would later be rescued by numerous benefactors and eventually turn against his creators, the Yggdmillennia family, was nothing short of a product of extraordinary coincidences.

Setting aside the laughable inadequacy of the Fortress of Millennia's internal security, there were three key factors at play. First, you'd need to encounter a well-meaning, naive Servant like Astolfo—someone cursed with Evaporation of Reason (i.e., poor decision-making).

If this homunculus had met a more level-headed Servant, or one with a stronger desire for victory, this homunculus, later named Sieg, might not have survived.

Second, a powerful Servant would need to see the homunculus's will to live and be willing to sacrifice their life to save him, giving him a strong foundation of abilities in the process.

Third, a black-robed referee would need to step in with various high-sounding reasons, temporarily halting any pursuit of the homunculus's creators, only to then turn around and blatantly break their own rules.

All three conditions were necessary. If even one were missing, the story would have been very different.

Now, if Selene were on the Black side as a mere observer, she might not care at all. So long as they didn't interfere with her plans, she wouldn't even offer a sigh. It would simply be their business, no matter how wild the events became.

But as a Servant of the Yggdmillennia family, Selene had to take responsibility. Her perspective and actions had to be different. Her character—proud, cold, yet one who kept her promises—had to be maintained.

Coincidentally, Selene had several new ideas and experiments she wanted to conduct. After all, hadn't Jeanne d'Arc, the Ruler, inexplicably taken special interest in this homunculus?

Selene could add a few twists to the situation and see if Jeanne would risk everything to save him. If she didn't have the opportunity, Selene would create one. No matter what happened, it would be interesting to watch.

And if nothing came of it? It wouldn't matter—it was just a side project. Selene wanted to see if Jeanne, as the impartial Ruler, would lose her sense of fairness in the Holy Grail War due to a tragedy like this.

"...I'm not sure. The homunculus breeding program is under my uncle Gordes' supervision," Roche stammered, his body stiffening under Selene's scarlet gaze.

"Your Majesty, we should hurry—"

Just then, someone interrupted. "Your Majesty! Captain Dalrenster has returned, and... he's brought back the Ruler."

"Oh? So he didn't encounter Red Lancer Karna but managed to bring back something interesting anyway," Selene said, motioning for Avicebron to follow her.

"The legendary Patron Saint of France, Jeanne d'Arc, has arrived."

...

"Welcome back. Thank you for your efforts in the ambush, Lord Vlad." At the grand entrance to the Fortress of Millennia's garden, Darnic greeted Lancer Vlad III with a formal bow.

Next to Darnic was the former Red Berserker, Spartacus, who was now tightly bound by stone golems and deep in sleep. His circuits had already been severed and converted, forcibly binding him as a new Servant under Darnic.

"Protecting my people and land is my duty as a king," Vlad replied calmly, glancing at the captured Red Berserker. "So this is the Red Servant that Her Majesty captured? What of the other one?"

"Her Majesty has her reasons for keeping him. We dare not question it."

"But..." Darnic glanced at the intact group of Black Servants, including Vlad, Chiron, Fran, and Siegfried. Even he couldn't hide the smile spreading across his face.

"A clean two-for-zero trade, and we've drained Red's command seals. We hold the advantage now!"

At that moment, heavy footsteps echoed through the garden.

"Darnic! By Her Majesty's command, I sought out Red Lancer Karna but failed to locate him. Instead, I encountered the Ruler, so I brought her back."

Looking up, Darnic hurried over to greet the approaching golden-armored soldier. "Ruler? Where is she?"

As he asked, the sound of a rolling wheel and a strange metallic scraping noise reached his ears.

From behind the towering soldier emerged a young blonde girl. Although dressed in Servant armor, she was awkwardly dragging behind her a badly damaged, war-torn suitcase.

The girl tried to hide the suitcase's burnt exterior behind her as best she could, but the sharp-eyed Masters and Servants immediately spotted a pink corner peeking out. Coughing, they politely turned their heads away.

"Ahem... Well then, Ruler, welcome to Fortress of Millennia. I am Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia, leader of the Black faction."

With a slight blush, Jeanne d'Arc—Ruler—repressed her embarrassment and responded, "I am Ruler, Jeanne d'Arc, the adjudicator for this Holy Grail War. I look forward to working with you, leader of the Black faction."

"Jeanne d'Arc? The French hero who liberated Orléans during the Hundred Years' War... Saint Jeanne of France," muttered the group of Servants and Masters standing behind Darnic, including Celenike, Gordes, and Fiore.

"Ruler... possessing numerous privileges over Servants."

"But isn't she a Servant? Why is she dragging a human-sized suitcase? And inside it...?"

"Doesn't Ruler have some special circumstances compared to other Servants?"

"That's because she's in her 'pseudo-Servant' form. In your Church's terms, it's called 'Saint Possession,'" a familiar, clear voice interjected.

Hearing this, Vlad and the rest of the Black faction immediately bowed as Selene appeared at the gate.

The soldier beside Jeanne—Captain Dalrenster—dropped to one knee. "Your Majesty, I—"

"Stop. I know what you're going to say."

With a wave of her hand, Selene used mana to simulate gravity, pulling everyone back to their feet. Dressed in her silver-white armor, Selene walked up to Jeanne, gazing down at her from her taller height as she spoke.

"This 'pseudo-Servant' form doesn't manifest as a fully realized Servant entity, but instead relies on borrowing the body of someone with whom the Servant's soul wavelength and compatibility align. Using that person's body, they act in this world."

"Am I correct, Ruler Jeanne?"

From the crimson, diamond-shaped pupils of this towering Servant, Jeanne sensed an undisguised arrogance. While there was no malice, the mockery and... enjoyment(?) in her gaze made Jeanne uneasy.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Jeanne replied.