"How did things develop to this point?"
Given his own particularity, and to prevent himself from occasionally muttering shocking words during moments of distraction, Li Mo's self-protection measures were still effective.
Scathach-Skadi also understood the concept of privacy and would not probe. But Li Mo controlled himself.
For example, the current confusion he felt.
After a month of development, not only was Ophelia perplexed. Even this Li fellow was confused about how things had reached this stage.
In the sky above, seven-colored rainbows dominated the entire firmament. Countless streams of energy were gathering from all corners of the Lostbelt towards this castle. Their source came from numerous giants standing at the edges of the Lostbelt, continuously absorbing the surrounding flames.
Perhaps it was because they were the giants' own flames, perhaps it was the blessing of the Snow Mountain Goddess, perhaps it was the protection of another cosmic worldview. The world-ending flames of Surtr had no effect on them, being converted into energy, which was then transported via the rainbows.
At this end of the rainbow was the ice castle. This great ice castle was originally a creation of magecraft, but now it had become a reservoir for energy, the "supply" for the only god.
No one understood what the rainbow meant better than Li Mo. Because he was its creator. The "New Bifrost" forged from the remnants of the ancient Rainbow Bridge.
The Bifrost, that tremulous road to heaven, the bridge connecting Asgard and Midgard. It was the bridge for the gods to travel upon, connecting different spaces. Legend says Heimdall stood upon the Bifrost, watching over the land of the giants, guarding against the coming of war. Yet even so, Surtr led the army of fire giants onto the bridge, causing the Bifrost to collapse.
As the last god of Scandinavia, Scathach-Skadi cleaned up the battlefield. In the war, many "pots and jars" were shattered. But many valuable things remained, so anything that might prove useful was stored away.
The remnants of the Bifrost were among them.
Li Mo had not known of the Bifrost remnants' existence beforehand. After he finished modifying the giants and was about to inform Scathach-Skadi of the good news, and began trial operations, she asked how the energy would be transported.
His reply was remote transmission. Although such a method was quite wasteful, its advantage was simplicity. Scathach-Skadi, who had always lived frugally, could not tolerate such extravagance, so she tossed the Bifrost remnants to Li Mo.
It was also his own fault for running his mouth. Li Mo had said then that with suitable materials, efficiency could be increased. So, Scathach-Skati produced something according to Li Mo's request. It was the remnants of the Bifrost.
In the past, the Bifrost could transport the gods of Norse mythology to every corner. Even its remnants held mystical properties, gathering the mystery of space upon them. After modification, they could no longer transport humans, but for transporting energy, they were more than sufficient.
Thus, the beautiful seven-colored rainbow once again appeared over the land of Scandinavia.
A mythological creation reappeared before people's eyes.
"In Skadi's eyes, this means the revival of Norse mythology is no longer a dream."
If possible, who would want to maintain the current situation?
If possible, who wouldn't wish for the development of the human world?
Scathach-Skadi is a benevolent goddess. She is the mother of Scandinavia. As a mother, kindness and deep love are one aspect. But a mother also has a strong, resolute side.
During this month, he had spent his time immersed in overtime work. Using the giant species as energy collectors was the cheapest method, the most cost-effective method, since giants were everywhere in the Lostbelt. But it was definitely not the most efficient method.
At the time, he hadn't been comfortable saying that if the life force of the giants was the price, efficiency could be further improved. Temporarily squeezing some surplus value from them for his magecraft wouldn't be a problem. But, continuously exploiting their full value... wouldn't that be too inhumane?
Combining these two points, Scathach-Skadi chose another direction to increase energy production capacity...
"Hmm?"
"Is that little Ophelia? Since you're here, come in and have a look."
The place where Li Mo was located was his own workshop, currently prefixed with "Second."
This workshop was located at the back of the castle, its style and appearance completely identical to the ice castle. That was a matter of course, because this place was also a workshop constructed by Scathach-Skadi. It was just that the provider of magical energy had changed from Scathach-Skadi to Li Mo himself.
Ophelia stood at the entrance to the workshop. The young woman's expression was cold. Before, she hadn't understood why this magus would grant her permission to enter and exit his workshop. Among magi, such a thing was impossible.
Now, the young woman roughly understood what Li Mo was thinking.
"Li Mo, are we friends, or enemies?"
Without any superfluous words, the young woman got straight to the point.
This direct approach was a last resort, because the magus before her gave her too much pressure.
As a magus, he had built a large, anomalous magical furnace from nothing.
As a subordinate, he had gained even more favor from Her Majesty the Queen.
She was supposed to be the Crypter of the Scandinavian Lostbelt! But now, he seemed more like it than she did!
"Friends? Enemies? Little Ophelia, why do you think you would become my enemy? Isn't your purpose the same as mine, to allow the Scandinavian Lostbelt to continue better, to take root on this Earth?"
After a pause, Li Mo said, "Could it be... you want to help Kirschtaria? That can't be right. Given that man's character, he would want a head-to-head contest between Lostbelts. He wouldn't send his own people to infiltrate other Lostbelts for internal sabotage.
Because, he is Kirschtaria Wodime."
As if very familiar with that captain, Li Mo said with his hands behind his back, "However... it's truly a pity about him. If his Magic Circuits hadn't been damaged, he would undoubtedly have had the potential to become a rare Grand Magus, like Aoko Aozaki, right?"
Kirschtaria Wodime.
The undisputed first among the seven Crypters! His position within Team A was unshakable, like Accelerator's among the espers.
"If you are not my friend, then what is your purpose? The purpose behind helping the Scandinavian Lostbelt. Please don't tell me it's out of a magus's pity."
A magus is an anomaly, an aberration among humans. Human morals and ethics are nothing more than trash to a magus.
A magus is a cruel person. For their own pursuit, they can trample on life, whether it belongs to others or themselves.
That is precisely why someone like Mash, blank as a sheet of paper, stood out so much in Chaldea.
To lend a hand for the sake of suffering humans—is that a virtue a magus should possess?
"It seems talking ideals with you won't work. Fortunately, I'm a realist. I've forgotten my initial thoughts. But now, little Ophelia, shouldn't you have figured it out already?"
"Her Majesty the Queen has opened the great door of her treasury to me. The legacy of Norse mythology—could there be anything more tempting than that?"
Having said this, a greedy light appeared in Li Mo's eyes.