Before long, guided by the radar, the Storm Border reached the island closest to the battle zone.
Once they'd docked, Skadi unfurled an invisible Barrier around the warship. From the outside, there was no way to directly spot where the Storm Border was.
"Thanks for the hard work. Jamming the ship's signals and hiding its outline," Shiomi said, offering Skadi his gratitude. "On this ship, aside from Morgan, you're the best at Barrier magic."
"Compared to that sea battle earlier, this is nothing," Skadi replied, a faintly smug look on her face, as if plainly asking Shiomi to praise her a little more. "Besides, you're definitely going to go ashore first to check what's going on here. If the Storm Border can't be kept safe, you won't be able to relax either."
Shiomi nodded. "You really do see right through me. This island doesn't look uninhabited. Let's see if there are people here, or a military camp. Once we confirm it's safe, we can pick up some supplies."
"Then go without worry. Since it's advance scouting, only a few people will go. Everyone else stays on the ship," Skadi said.
"Aren't you coming?" Shiomi asked. "Even if it's a Lostbelt, it's still scenery outside Scandinavia, right? Take a look around. Call it a change of pace."
"No." Skadi tugged lightly at his hand. "On the trip to the Japan Singularity, I got more than enough 'travel' for my taste. If I get the chance again, I'd rather visit the countries you used to live in than wander around someplace unfamiliar."
"Fair enough," Shiomi said, understanding her. She was curious about the outside world, but she chose what to see based on her mood, and the Atlantis Lostbelt clearly wasn't to her liking.
"So," Skadi asked, "have you decided who's going?"
As she spoke, she stood on the rough beach where the sand was half-firm and half-giving, staring out at the sea. Her shoes sank slightly as the wind came in off the water, sending her long hair streaming behind her.
"For now, it'll be me and Morgan, and the Master," Shiomi said. "We just settled it on the deck."
"A lineup picked with combat strength in mind," Skadi said with an amused, knowing smile.
"No, I won't be going." Scáthach came down the gangway from the hatch. "After that vicious fight earlier, the effects of 'Inflaming Divinity' have already faded. I need to rest."
Shiomi blinked, then freed one hand to take his master's, ready to ease her post-battle fatigue—only to realize Scáthach looked completely fine.
"Listen to your master," Scáthach said, smiling faintly.
"You sound like you're soothing a kid," Shiomi muttered, lips tightening. "If you want to stay and keep an eye on the StormBorder, just say so. Don't go claiming you're tired. You nearly made my heart skip a beat."
"Because—" Scáthach lifted a finger, motioning for Shiomi to quiet down.
Olga Marie was coming down the gangway behind Morgan.
"My husband, what do you think about having the Director come with the two of us to scout?" Morgan asked.
"I think someone else should go," Olga Marie said, hesitating as she tried to explain herself to Shiomi. "Even Ms. Touko would be better than me at dealing with monsters out in the wild."
When she noticed Shiomi's hands being held by Scáthach and Skadi, she pretended not to see and casually shifted her gaze toward the StormBorder instead.
At that moment, Shiomi understood what his master was doing.
Even before they set out, Olga Marie had seemed a little absent-minded. He'd noticed it too, and guessed it was the pressure: carrying the responsibilities of the Director while also having to face her fellow disciples head-on as enemies.
Even though everyone was carrying their own burdens, no one was feeling it quite like Olga Marie.
"If it's just fighting, I can handle it on my own," Shiomi said. "But if we run into people on this island, and we can actually talk things out, wouldn't it be better to have someone whose words carry weight?"
"But then the teacher would—"
Shiomi's reasoning was flimsy, and Olga Marie could've shut it down without thinking. But she immediately realized what it really was: Scáthach's kindness, giving her a chance to walk around an unfamiliar place and shake off the stress. She swallowed the rest of her protest.
"…Then I'll do as the teacher says…" She forced a smile, careful not to look too happy about it.
It really was a good thing.
Olga Marie had only wanted to stay on the ship because of her position as Director. But after everything Chaldea had been through, everyone already knew how to handle their own roles. They didn't need the Director glued to her post every second.
Besides, Romani was still aboard. If something came up, he could step in and take over the relevant duties.
With the plan settled, Olga Marie turned back toward her cabin to change into something more suited for trekking through the wild.
At Skadi's invitation, Scáthach went to grab ice cream, planning to eat it on the deck while enjoying the sea breeze.
"Everyone's in a surprisingly good mood," Shiomi murmured.
Even though there was no one else on the beach, he still leaned toward Morgan, speaking in a conspiratorial whisper.
"With no enemies around, it's only natural to loosen up a little," Morgan said as she straightened her cloak. "And the Valkyries are maintaining continuous vigilance overhead. Our arrangement is more than adequate."
Shiomi nodded. "By the way, what are you doing?"
"Checking whether the cloak sits right." Morgan turned around. "Fix the back for me. I haven't worn this in ages. The last time was in Skadi's territory."
"Good thing this Lostbelt isn't in the middle of a hot season," Shiomi said, adjusting Morgan's hood. "Otherwise we'd have to trouble Habetrot to put together something lighter."
Morgan gave a restrained smile. "Whenever it's time to head out and explore like this, I can't help feeling that old nostalgia, like a pilgrimage."
"If you'd said that earlier, we could've slipped off on our own when Master said she didn't want to go," Shiomi said, teasing with a fondness he didn't bother to hide.
"It's not that serious." Morgan shot him a sly look. "I've had plenty of time alone with you. We're not lacking over just a moment."
"You really don't mind?" Shiomi asked, putting on an overly careful tone.
"I don't." Morgan's voice softened as she recalled what had happened before. "Just seeing you turn into that for my sake makes me ache… and yet, it also makes me happy. Even if you'd do the same for them, 'it might happen' and 'it did happen' are worlds apart, like imaginary number space and real number space."
"Alright, alright, I get it." Shiomi wrapped his arms around her from behind, and together they looked out over the sea. "Still… it feels like it's been forever since we came to the shore like this. The last time…"
"Britannia's sea isn't much to look at," Morgan sighed.
"I meant Uruk," Shiomi said. "That time we had to run errands around the Persian Gulf, and of all the timing, you had to stay in the city to watch over the defenses."
"That really was a long time ago," Morgan said, understanding at once. "Before the young Director comes back, stay with me and watch the sea for a while."