act17side

*gasp* —!

Over here!

Hurry! Grab my hand!

A single, solitary boat.

How far is it from the Eye of Iberia? How far is it from Gran Faro?

Ah, um, okay—!

Irene grabs onto his hand.

There is no difference between the hand of an Ægir and that of a Liberi.

Um— S-Sorry, I'm not very strong...

It's... fine...

I was scared out of my wits when I saw the ship explode in the distance! Are you all okay?!

As long as you're fine, Irene. Adjust your breathing. You know how to swim, right?

Luckily for us, the waters are pretty calm right now.

*gasp*... *gasp*... Where are the others?

...I need to check on a few things.

Just now, was that... Ægir? This close to us? Has the Stultifera been circling above an Ægir city this entire time?

We might've been able to find a way in to check out the city on our own, but you never would've made it.

Plus, the squad captain didn't seem keen on just going home happily ever after. And no way would there be a city this close to land; I don't remember anything like that.

*cough* *cough*... *pant*...

So, are you going to head back to that city?

No. Gladiia said this place is also Seaborn territory. The city must be a refugee village.

What?

The Ægir you people call Islanders are refugees from the collapse of the cities closest to land.

...We should go help them.

Two things.

Ulpianus isn't dead, but he refused to work with us.

And there are still other Seaborn nearby, drawn here by that spurt of evolution. The entire swarm is extremely restless.

We can use this opportunity to get back down there, but we wouldn't be able to leave.

So... we finally found a city from our homeland, and now we're just going to turn around and leave?

Gladiia wordlessly glances at Skadi.

She hides it well. Just as she did herself, in all those silent moments when she gently rubbed her neck.

We don't have a choice.

Why?!

There shouldn't be a city here.

We... We should head back to shore and regroup.

Our duty is to defend Ægir, not to 'go home.'

How'd you manage this?

Huh? Oh, are you talking to me? What do you mean?

This ship is even more bare-bones than ours was. And how did you find us? The sea is incredibly vast.

I... I compared each of the signals from the Stultifera Navis to her location... and discovered a pattern. So I thought, um, it might be worth a shot...

Worth a shot? What kind of deviation was there in that pattern?

Umm, two to three hundred nautical miles?

That can't even be called a pattern. If you had bet wrong, you would've had slim to no chance of meeting up with us, and died out at sea on your own.

...You're a lunatic.

Yes...

But... I wanted to ask a question... So please don't laugh at me, ma'am.

I can't laugh anymore.

...Am I a great person?

Your grandparents, your parents... two generations of Gran Faro gave everything they had for this blueprint. Their greatness should have been immortalized forever.

...Hah.

I wouldn't go that far.

Maybe a lucky one.

Haha... Is that so?

Maestro... and my other colleagues in the Inquisition, always held this belief:

Only those who've sacrificed themselves are worthy of the word, 'great.' In every moment where we're fighting for Iberia and struggling to survive, we are nothing more than ordinary people, striding forward with enormous responsibilities.

And it's not that Inquisitors enjoy belittling ourselves. We've simply chosen to deal with Iberia in the harshest way possible because the moment we let our guards down, we will be undone.

But until then, as long as the will of man is enough to ignite this lantern, then I believe... there isn't any difference between us.

We're just like all those citizens struggling bitterly in their own ways. As long as we have goodwill to spare, they too are soldiers willing to lay down their lives for the restoration of their homeland.

...Just like the laborers of old Gran Faro.

Jordi, luck won't be on your side forever. If you have a chance to contact the Inquisition again... Um, what I mean is, if you want to work with us—

—You'll definitely have that opportunity.

Haha... Well, I actually... Um, just out of curiosity...

I see you've brought back some of the Stultifera's timeless knowledge. Might you actually be—

You managed to rescue three Hunters in a single breath. As an Ægir, your actions might be worth a medal from the consul herself.

Swimming back would've been very hard. And who knows what could happen right above their nest?

I have no idea what compelled someone like you, born in Gran Faro, to go this far, but good job.

On behalf of the Ægir... and the Iberians.

...Mhm.

Then let's head back home!

Welcome back, Hunters. And Irene, of course.

The High Inquisitor, he...

How did you know?

We've already sorted through his relics. Including those of our comrades who died beneath this lighthouse.

We won't be able to deal with them properly until the Penal Battalion arrives though.

These lowly Sea Terrors could not defeat High Inquisitor Dario, but in order to protect the Eye of Iberia, he chose to lay down his life to buy time.

Inquisitors have no time to grieve, Irene. Dario had great expectations for you, and you must move forward.

...Yes, sir!

However...

His lantern remains intact, and I've placed it over there.

Go now.

Yes, sir...

Seems like the Penal Battalion ran into some trouble. So much for the great naval power of Iberia.

...So the Stultifera Navis has sunk. This isn't quite the outcome we were expecting either.

Indeed. Even for us, this is a significant setback.

But we learned quite a few things, and—

You found an Ægir city.

Kal'tsit has already shared her conjecture with me, so perhaps you will wish to hear it too.

The Inquisition has always believed in maintaining control. From Sal Viento to the Stultifera, we will gradually recapture the glory that rightfully belongs to Iberia.

But we are forced to admit that, perhaps, even preserving the status quo is enough to... stretch our forces thin.

Madame Consul—

What did you witness aboard that ship?

This is his lantern... The High Inquisitor's lantern... Scorched black, thick with the stench of Sea Terrors.

I... High Inquisitor...

Maestro!

I completed the Inquisition's mission! I found the Stultifera!

Unfortunately, it ended up sinking! But... aboard the ship, every single Iberian! In their own way, they were fighting until the very end!

High Inquisitor!

I now... understand the significance of passing judgment! I understand the enemy we face!

I— will not hesitate, nor will I falter!

For Iberia's prosperity, for Iberia's defense, and for Iberia's orderliness and integrity, I shall raise my sword and my light!