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The seashell stabs her hand, leaving no marks at all.

Your stance isn't elegant enough. Let me show you.

Gladiia presses the seashell against Skadi's chest, pushing her up against the wall.

How many times have we danced together, Skadi? Twice, maybe thrice?

You are a good dance partner.

Where is she?

You care about her.

Should I not?

She is rather safe for the moment.

Proof?

I didn't know you were in the market for something so pointless.

This is making me think your time on land has ruined your nose, Hunter.

Your whole body reeks.

Trust me. I want to vomit far more than you do right now.

She's with you alright.

Looks like your nose hasn't gone completely bad.

Fortunately, it seems you haven't quite fallen to the level of those land-born cubs just yet. At the very least, you haven't come crying to me, asking me why I would take her away and what I am doing here.

Asking questions has never been a way of solving things. Not for us.

'Us?'

I don't even know if you are still one of us.

Looks like you have a lot of questions on your mind.

(Strokes case)

If you aren't sure, you might want to think twice about picking a fight.

Otherwise, you'd just be giving your enemy an opportunity.

You are not my target.

Then what did you come all this way for?

Don't you already know?

You've been looking for her, but will your doubts really go away when you finally find her?

Her memory's shot. She can't tell me much.

Take a look at yourself. You are barely better than being locked in a cage.

You may not be working for me anymore, but let me teach you one more thing.

Remember this. A hunter chases her prey because she must hunt it down. Chasing blindly will bring you only emotional comfort.

Are you so weak now that you are chasing after these phantom illusions, Skadi?

How long has it been since you danced? You've walked too much. Your skin is very dry. Have you forgotten the proper rhythm for your breathing?

Let me ask you again. What are you here for?

Skadi looks at the bishop.

The bishop stands only a short distance away. He looks at Skadi as well, his gaze piercing through the crowd.

Skadi tightens her grip on her box.

A courteous and gentle smile appears on the bishop's face. He points in a direction and gestures invitingly.

Not going to make your move?

I thought you two were together?

I don't really care.

Doesn't seem like I can say that about you, though. You are the one who needs that weight off your shoulders, not me.

One by one, the inhabitants walk up to the bishop with food still in their arms. They greet the bishop as though he is truly their brother and friend.

—Just like a normal afternoon in your average Iberian town.

Skadi slowly lets go.

Stop with the mysteries! Who is he?!

I could tell you, but would you believe me?

Skadi looks at the chapel on the top of the hill.

Beneath it, the bishop is waving goodbye to the inhabitants.

Uh... Ughh...

Slowly. Careful not to trip.

Did you hear that? The sound of the waves. Thump, thump, thump, just like our heartbeats.

The food you eat and the water you drink are all gifts from the sea. My brothers and sisters, do you feel the energy in you surging throughout your body and on to your heart?

Embrace the vastness before you! This is your hope for rebirth!

Skadi looks at the people onshore.

The crowd has started to disperse. The girl has picked a basket full of seafood. At last, she looks up from the ground and begins to search for someone on the empty shore.

Huh? Where's the singer?

I took my eyes off her for just a moment, and she disappeared again.

*Sigh*.

Oh well, she knows the way back. She's probably looking for her friend again.

Let's go, Bench. Let's bring the food back.

Uhh...

Bench, I want to sing. Let's sing together.

Do you remember the song that the singer sang? It's okay if you don't. I mean, you don't know how to talk. How about I sing it for you?

With homeland left a mile behind♪

Yea...

His path lies ahead♪

Ahh...

Why are you stopping me? *Sigh*. You think it's terrible, don't you? I think so, too.

Of course I can't sing as well as the singer!

But if I keep at it, I will get better, right?

Hehe... His path lies ahead...

I need to go now. If I don't get going, he will be suspicious.

Captain! What are you planning?

Is it a teammate you're looking for? Why didn't you say so?

Or is it an enemy you want? If you were my enemy, you would've killed me when I tried to kill you with the seashell just now.

Gladiia shakes her head.

You need to understand what it is that you want first. A hesitant hunter can't spot traps and will only find herself the prey of others. Is that what you want?

Singer, your eyes seem a little different.

Hm?

When you looked at us before, it felt no different from when you looked at the monsters from the sea.

But now you are willing to teach me how to make seaweed alcohol, and you sing for us.

Of course you are different from the monsters.

Monsters wouldn't keep pestering me to sing for them. Monsters can't even speak. Most of the time, they are dirty and dumb, and they know nothing other than to eat.

S-So... will those monsters from the sea eat us?

If they are hungry, they will.

So they come ashore for the same reason we go out to the sea. They are looking for things to eat.

Are you sympathizing with them?

Going hungry is tough.

I don't think that's how the ones who get eaten see it.

Right... I don't want to be eaten by the monsters like this either.

I've never thought about it before, but now... Uh, I want to listen to your songs just a little longer. I want to teach Bench how to sing too, just like how Grandma taught me so many things.

In that case, you need to live as long as your grandmother.

Yep! At the very least, I'm not worried about anything right now.

And that's because... Singer, you are still here. You will help us, and fight off these monsters, like, bam bam bam!

Gladiia has left.

Skadi looks out at the sea.

Unlike the dead silence of the day before, its waters are filled with living creatures. They cling onto each other and pile on top of one another. The creature at the very top stretches out its limb. It camouflages itself as a part of the sea waves, while striking the shore's reefs with each beating wave.

Atop the hill, the chapel doors are wide open.