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*cough*—

Phew. That woman nearly got me—

C-Cassia? I've been looking for you forever! Where'd you run off to earlier?

Lucilla?

What are you doing here, child?

The city unit framework needs servicing; it's a standard combat duty. But... look at the beacon tower... What happened inside the city?

The Seaborn have broken into Milliarium. That tower has become one of their nests.

Leave this to me. You should get out of here, quick.

It's too risky. I'll stay here with you.

No need to—Urgh.

Are you hurt?!

Yes.

It must have been the Seaborn as you came over—

Wait, no, a scratch like this couldn't be left by a Seaborn...

Did someone attack you?

*cough*!

Wait, why are you pulling out the safety valve?

Hey, don't push it! It'll cut off the ground level self-diagnostic system, and the city framework will stop working—

No, you know that way better than I do...

You've been trying to do this all along, Cassia? Are you... with the Church of the Deep?

When the Sea Patrol investigated Tullia, you deliberately turned them against her? Don't tell me it was you who made her disappear—

What's this you've put on my neck?

Longbeard combtooth grass. Something made by a friend in charge of raising road-side coral. Don't move. You'll die if its bristles pierce your skin. Quite painfully, if I may add.

Now—*cough*—Leave this place, child. Once it senses you've gone far enough, it'll fall off by itself.

You want to leave, don't you?

To be honest, before we became coworkers, I happened to see your assessment at the Institute of Development Planning.

You care so much about that data scientist because you've never forgotten that evacuation of Milliarium, have you?

You watched as the distant lights of the volcanic power station went out, surrounded in endless darkness, with only strange rumbles and rustling carried to you by the currents...

The ocean as it once was.

At that very moment, you were the closest to the ocean out of all of Milliarium. You, standing at the mezzanine of the dome, all alone.

The IDP assessment was that there was too great a psychological burden, which is why they agreed to transfer you from the dome system to ground level. Your so-called 'fear of heights' was just a little joke of yours.

I'm afraid that you yourself don't even realize what lies deep within your heart.

The remaining Seaborn will soon discover that this route is still open. You wouldn't want to meet them again.

Go, quickly, before it's too late.

Cassia grips the safety valve and continues to push it. She no longer looks at the joke-loving colleague by her side.

The valve stops abruptly, releasing an ear-piercing shriek. She can push it no further.

A pair of slender hands are pushing back from the other side.

Lucilla?

Hah, in any other situation, I'd definitely give you a piece of my mind, or stuff this whatever-grass into my ink bottle and tell you this sort of practical joke is beneath you.

But it's so bright... the light from where the tower sank in, from the dome above us... Every Seaborn on the whole continental shelf is rushing towards Milliarium, right?

Just what is behind those strangely colored lights?

You're not wrong, Cassia. The Seaborn have eroded away at our lives. I've experienced the truth of that myself, and I'll never forget.

I envied Tullia. Our experiences were so similar, but she was able to protect what she treasured all along. An amazing woman, really!

And look at me, I escaped the dome and got back to the ground. Before you arrived, I was even thinking of escaping from here, too.

But where would I go?

I can't let you break the framework, Cassia. I can't let the Seaborn get into any other Milliarium's unit, even if this grass thing kills me in the process!

Because... Because there's no going back for me.

*cough*...

You really are strong, child.

Laurentina's parents once told me that while the dome may be beautiful, this transparent structure is actually the true eye of the city.

In fact, I've been asking myself recently... Since we're at war right now, shouldn't the eye be on the lookout for danger?

She forces herself to look ahead, the strange colors reflecting in her pupils. The roar of the tides and the whispering of the ocean's progeny resound in her ears.

The young Ægir presses hard against the safety valve. She does not let go. She dares not let go.

Only once a firm hand presses down on her shoulder, forcing her stiff muscles to relax, does she come back to her senses.

You can let go now, Lucilla.

Cassia, she...

Temporarily paralyzed. I only managed to graze her with my shot, which is why the paralytic took so long to take effect.

Sorry for putting you at risk.

This is Consul Clementia. Citizens of Milliarium, heed me!

Once the city unit containing the beacon tower has been fully ejected, the rest of the city shall break through the Seaborn encirclement and move towards dry land!

Reactivate the linkage mechanism in the city's framework and perform a structural reorganization. Force fields at full power! We'll stop the Seaborn tide from setting a single tentacle onto land!

Legions VIII and X, along with the Sea Patrol: send all operational warships out in turn to escort the city!

It might be more appropriate if you were the one to handle the report regarding Cassia, Lucilla.

I see. You should be heading straight to the port now. The mission just declared by the consul is more urgent.

Cassia's already subdued. I'll take her to a doctor first, and then... she should be punished.

And if the city is going to undergo structural reorganization, the dome system will be the focal point of the force field to hold off the Seaborn. So they could probably use some extra hands up there...

Maybe I should submit an urgent application to return to my old post.

You're very brave, Lucilla.

Oh, so you heard all that earlier...

I did. Before you submit that application though, you ought to see a doctor yourself. Longbeard combtooth grass does in fact contain a potent neurotoxin.

Ah. Right, I will.

Ramming armor, check. Ship cannon mounts, check. Monitors, check. Camouflage coating, check. Propulsion system, check. All system diagnostics complete, ready to launch.

We'll be heading to the designated waters at full speed to block the Seaborn tide from the north.

All weapon system permissions granted. No need to hold back. Don't let them get near Milliarium.

We'll do everything we can.

You're just part of the first sortie. We'll be sending the rest of our ships into battle after you.

You're to escort Milliarium in shifts while it's reorganizing, serving as an extension of its 'Great Wall' and preventing the Seaborn from making landfall.

So remember, the moment you get the order to change shifts, you must return to resupply immediately.

Understood.

Seaborn spotted!

The remaining Seaborn in the city are attacking the port! Do not let them approach the warship docks!

(Pained convulsions)

Not content with ambushing us in their nest, they made a sneak attack on our city, too?

...How annoying.

(Rapidly flaps fins)

Wrapping around a statue? What, have the Seaborn developed a taste for art since entering the city?

That said, the Sorrowdrinker is hardly a masterpiece, so I won't feel too bad when I've reduced it to rubble.

Honestly, I think it's got more charm with an arm broken off.

Thanks for the glowing review, Skadi. Are you feeling better now?

Yeah, ever since we left the nest.

Good to hear.

It's the Hunters!

The Abyssal Hunters have safely returned to the city!

Swordfish.

Captain Gladiia, you've met...

Yes.

I saw him.

We've arrived at the right time. You must have heard Secunda's report over the emergency frequency.

Infiltrating Milliarium, breaking into the beacon tower's control room, murdering the weapons technology advisor of the Waterway Program, and finally, choosing to return to the ocean with the Seaborn.

Ulpianus has not made it easy to clear him of suspicion.