After the brief eting on the bridge ended, they stepped out into a side corridor of the Storm Border. Looking out through the glass at the land of Mictlan below, Olga Marie finally brought up what she had wanted to discuss in private.
"When you go to the Third Netherworld, could you take with you?" Olga Marie asked.
"Why?" Shiomi asked in return.
Olga Marie rested a hand on the railing.
"Didn't you say, Teacher, that sothing seems wrong with the 'Alien God' right now? If she really has been affected ntally by feedback from her body's mories, then maybe having co into close contact with her could produce so kind of unexpected effect."
Up to now, Olga Marie had never had any direct contact with the other party. She only knew that she existed.
More than that, the 'Alien God' might not even know Olga Marie existed yet, much less understand the connection between them.
"I get the logic," Shiomi said with a nod. "Are you thinking about Anna and Gorgon back in the Uruk Singularity?"
"It was more that it gave a bit of inspiration." Olga Marie shook her head. "I'm not a Servant, so it's not exactly the sa. If you think it's a bad idea, then..."
"How could I?"
Shiomi gently stroked her hair as he answered.
"If you've thought it through, Marie, then I'm willing to try it with you. But the mont anything becos dangerous, we'll send you back to the ship imdiately. Understood?"
Olga Marie lit up with happiness.
It was not just because she would finally be able to do sothing in the battle against the 'Alien God.' More than that, it was because Teacher understood her so well, supported her within reasonable limits, and would do everything possible to keep her safe.
"Okay!" she answered energetically. "Then I'll go get ready right now. Since we're heading into a desert region, it'd be better to wear Chaldea's Mystic Code, right?"
Without waiting for Shiomi's reply, Olga Marie jogged off, humming so cheerful little tune as she headed back to her room to change into her combat outfit.
Shiomi could only shake his head helplessly. Then he headed for the lounge to discuss with the combat mbers resting and preparing there who should handle the scouting mission.
Though Shiomi knew perfectly well that the mont he brought it up, one certain person would imdiately start competing for the job.
But when he opened the lounge door, he found lusine sitting on a stool, staring straight at Kukulkan. Kukulkan was staring right back.
Both of them were looking at the other with the sa mixture of curiosity and scrutiny.
It was very obviously the attitude of soone who had just run into a rival.
More directly, it felt like one powerful creature encountering another powerful creature inside its own territory.
lusine was the incarnation of the Last Dragon's right hand. Even though she possessed intelligence, monts like this still let instinct sway her a little.
The fact that they were only staring each other down was already the limit of their emotional expression.
The fact that they had not started fighting yet ant reason was still winning.
Then, the mont Shiomi brought up the matter, Kukulkan imdiately dropped the stare-down and agreed without hesitation.
"Scout the Third Netherworld? Sure, no problem. I'm not really fond of desert regions, though. There's basically nothing there, just chunks of land floating in the sky."
As she spoke, Kukulkan casually described the conditions inside the Third Netherworld.
"But there definitely weren't sandstorms this bad before."
"When was the last ti you entered the Third Netherworld?" Shiomi asked.
"Hmm, maybe seven or eight days ago?" Kukulkan thought for a mont, then explained a little sheepishly, "I've been spending most of my ti in xico City lately, so I haven't really kept track."
"I see..."
Shiomi was not particularly surprised.
Kukulkan had an intense curiosity and drive to explore. She always looked at outside things with a sense of freshness.
Especially a place like xico City, which had only been built a year ago and was full of all sorts of new things.
"Wait. If we're scouting the Third Netherworld, then I might be more suitable since I can fly."
lusine imdiately began competing for the mission.
"Ever since we ca to this Lostbelt, all I've done is protect the Storm Border. I know that's important, but I..."
She wanted to be more useful.
She wanted to fight more for Shiomi's sake.
A preliminary investigation of the Third Netherworld was obviously dangerous. Otherwise, Shiomi would not have gone straight to Kukulkan instead of asking everyone what they thought.
But lusine had complete confidence in her own strength. In all of Chaldea, there were only a handful of companions who could compare to her.
So in her mind, this mission was hers by right, not sothing to hand over to a Lostbelt King who had only just begun acting alongside them.
"Ohh, what should I do? I do owe Chaldea's him a favor."
Kukulkan sounded thoroughly entertained as she joined in the competition with lusine.
"And as a companion, I should show sothing for it. Otherwise, it'll be hard for everyone to trust ."
"Then let's settle it with strength."
lusine clenched her fist and spoke with complete seriousness.
"The one who wins gets to carry out the Third Netherworld scouting mission. The loser stays behind."
"That sounds fine to ," Kukulkan replied. "You may be really small, but I can tell you're strong. You're no weaker than xico City's Tlaloc."
"Stop right there! There's no need to start fighting here and waste energy!"
Shiomi instantly went into full exasperated-comntary mode.
"And if you damage the Storm Border, we'll have to go all the way back to Chichen Itza to get it repaired!"
Kukulkan blinked.
"Then how about a more peaceful thod? Like wrestling? No Mana, no special powers, just pure physical strength..."
"Your physical strength alone is enough to tear the Storm Border apart!"
Shiomi covered his face.
"Think about the captain, at least. If the ship crashes, Nemo's the one who'll suffer!"
"Ugh..."
lusine could not argue with that.
She had spent enough ti aboard the ship to know Shiomi was absolutely right.
"Honestly..."
Just as Shiomi was about to continue complaining, Morgan walked in from outside.
"I could hear my husband's passionate speech from the hallway. Since both of you want to take on this mission so badly, then why not go together? Besides the possible presence of the 'Alien God' in the Third Netherworld, there are also Servants of unknown origin there. If you can send back useful intelligence from inside, it will help with our next move."
"Morgan~!"
lusine looked so moved she was practically on the verge of tears.
To her, those words were even more touching than when she had first been given the na Fairy Knight.
"Together?" Kukulkan looked surprised. "But what if we wipe out all the enemies in the Third Netherworld? Then you won't even get a chance to make an entrance."
Shiomi pressed a hand to his temple.
"Wouldn't that be better? As long as I get my authority back, I don't really mind... though I'd feel a little bad for Olga Marie."
Of course, that was assuming Kukulkan could easily kill the 'Alien God,' and would not be held up by those Servants whose situation was still unclear.
"Then it's settled. Please go get ready," Morgan said, patting Shiomi on the back.
Before Morgan had even finished speaking, lusine and Kukulkan had already dashed out one after the other, preparing to jump from the deck into the Third Netherworld.
"Everyone else has rested enough. Return to your stations and carry out the plan as decided."
That was what Morgan finally said to the others in the lounge, who had been watching the whole spectacle unfold.
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