The confinement cells aboard Storm Border restricted the personal freedom of the two captured Crypters, Kadoc and Ophelia, but there was no mistreatment of any kind beyond that.
The cells themselves were well equipped. Nemo sailors from the ship came by regularly to clean and collect laundry that needed changing.
Aside from being a little stuffy, there was nothing to complain about.
For Kadoc and Ophelia, Chaldea's treatment even felt lenient to an almost absurd degree.
Today was no exception.
After mealtime, Kadoc sat in his cell reading, while Ophelia did the same in the cell across from him.
Then the door suddenly opened, making him pause in surprise. He looked up and saw that the opposite cell door had opened as well. Ophelia rose from her bed and walked toward the entrance.
Two people were standing outside: Tenkei Shiomi and Skadi.
"You both look to be in good spirits. I'd like to talk with you about something," Shiomi said, gesturing with his hand. "Come on out."
"…Whatever it is, can't you say it here?" Kadoc asked, tensing slightly.
Even though Shiomi showed no hostility at all, his strength was already far beyond what Kadoc could comprehend as a Magus.
"Doesn't it feel stifling in there?" Shiomi asked.
Skadi also spoke to Ophelia. "The weather at sea is quite nice today. Why don't you come up on deck and get some fresh air?"
It wasn't an invitation they couldn't refuse, but the sheer level of leniency in their attitude made Ophelia agree first. Kadoc then realized that if he didn't follow, he might be left alone with Teacher Shiomi, so he nodded along as well.
It wasn't that they felt pressured. Rather, Shiomi's sudden decision left both former Crypters unsure of his intentions.
They followed behind Shiomi and Skadi, passing through the ship's winding corridors as they headed toward the deck.
"To be honest," Shiomi said calmly, glancing back at them, "after all this time, I don't think it would have made much difference even if you hadn't been confined."
Kadoc touched his neck, where Primordial Runes were engraved.
"Runes that suppress Magic Circuits and physical ability… with something like that in place, which we can't remove, it really doesn't matter whether we're locked up or not."
"And you've both been good children, behaving yourselves the whole time," Skadi added with a smile. "Once this Lostbelt is resolved, Chaldea will allow you to move about freely."
"…Did Lord Kirschtaria lose?" Ophelia asked.
She hadn't seen the battle at sea, but the surge of Mana that day had been so intense that even those confined in their cells could feel it.
And yet, after that overwhelming Mana reaction, Storm Border carried on as if nothing had happened.
"We haven't lost yet. It's just that his overconfidence, his plan to wipe us out in one stroke, ended up failing."
Shiomi opened the hatch leading to the deck, and a sea breeze carrying a hint of salt rushed in.
"At present, the forces of the Atlantis Lostbelt have completely pulled back and are now concentrated near the gateway leading to Olympus."
Following their lead, the group stepped onto the deck. From there, they could see the beach beside the battleship. Quite a few people were strolling along the shore, admiring the view or chatting in small groups.
The giant tree stood in the distance.
Skadi spoke up at that moment.
"That man, Wodime, is far more cautious than he appears. Not only did he arrange sufficient forces to intercept Chaldea, he also summoned Crypters from other Lostbelts."
"Other people?" Kadoc froze.
"When you say others, it's really just Peperoncino and Yu Mei-ren," Shiomi said with a relaxed smile, facing into the sea breeze. "Daybit is the only one who didn't come."
Ophelia thought for a moment.
"Probably… Lord Kirschtaria decided it was enough to have Daybit continue managing the South American Lostbelt."
"That seems about right," Shiomi said, resting one hand on his hip. "But even with his allies gathered, I don't think the overall combat strength of this Lostbelt has changed much. Before long, you'll be reunited with them, won't you?"
"Is that so?" Kadoc replied noncommittally. "Then why bring us out here, Teacher Shiomi? What did you want to talk about?"
Skadi shook her head and gave a faint smile.
"It doesn't really matter what we talk about. It's just to let you take another look at the scenery of this Lostbelt. Soon, it will be excised like the others—"
"If…" Ophelia's voice suddenly grew more urgent. "If you hadn't cooperated with Chaldea, Queen Skadi, the Scandinavian Lostbelt could have accomplished so much more."
In her free time, Skadi would visit Ophelia every so often. Their relationship was no longer that of a Lostbelt king and a cooperating Crypter, and they got along fairly well.
The one thing Ophelia couldn't quite come to terms with was how easily Skadi had let go.
"She simply chose the option she wanted from among the choices available to her," Shiomi said, frowning slightly, his tone still calm. "Or would you have preferred Skadi to end up like that princess, dying by my hand?"
"…No." Ophelia's expression shifted. That was never what she meant.
Kadoc, standing beside her, darkened his gaze slightly, but no further resentment was directed at Shiomi.
Anastasia had made her own choice. Right or wrong, since she chose that path, all Kadoc could do was accept it.
"Don't be too hard on them, Tenkei," Skadi said softly, offering a gentle word of restraint.
"I'm sorry."
This time, Ophelia was the one who spoke first to apologize.
"Alright, alright," Shiomi said, shaking his head. "I brought you out here to get some fresh air, not to start an argument."
Then he seemed to recall something.
"By the way, how much do you know about Hinako Akuta?"
"Hinako?" Kadoc blinked in surprise.
"As for Hinako…" Ophelia fell into thought. "From what I remember, she usually held a book and pretended to read while secretly observing humans. Other than training, she rarely engaged in any deep conversations."
"That's about right," Kadoc said bluntly. "Group A was a gathering of oddballs to begin with. For a Magus, acting a little strange isn't surprising."
Shiomi nodded in understanding, then continued.
"Then do you know her actual combat ability? Not using Magecraft from the Plant Department, but fighting directly with weapons in close combat."
"What?"
Both of them were startled in turn.
"Looks like neither of you knows," Shiomi said, letting the matter drop. "I just have a feeling there's something odd about her."
"When it comes to Hinako, Lord Kirschtaria probably knows the most," Ophelia said. "He was always very attentive toward the others who were first assigned to Group A."
"Why does that make it sound like I was being excluded?" Shiomi laughed.
"In the end, you were just carrying out your duties back then, weren't you?" Kadoc pointed out. "You never really intended to form close ties with us."
Faced with that remark, Shiomi could only spread his hands, conceding the point without argument.