Liberi Reader

Tch... the further in we go, the more Sea Terrors there are.

It's getting dangerous...

......

Maestro... how do I become like them...?

Gkh...

Seaborn?!

(It's the same one we saw on the deck. The Hunter's attacks didn't do any damage?!)

......

(How will it come at me? With its limbs? Its fangs?)

(My handcannon... I need to create distance—)

......

Wait.

Wait a second! What's that on your belt?!

Why would you... could you be...?!

Graaaahhhh!!

Argh! *Cough*

(What strength! I barely managed to block it!)

...I...

......

Do you have something to say, monster?

I can't go down here... I won't!

I'm an Inquisitor of Iberia!

*Cough*...

It has taken too long to burn away the nethersea brand.

The situation's not looking good.

(Numerous slithering sounds)

(I can see what's going on down there from here.)

How many hours have passed? How much longer can he hang on?

I... if I... no, don't think about it, Jordi. Focus!

The Inquisition... Hurry...

Is that all?

Grr...

Listen to your friends wail. The flower of Sal Viento at least had its beauty, but what about you?

As my first dance lesson after waking up, I must say you're underwhelming.

Gkh!

It's getting away!

I'll go after it. You go find the little Iberian bird.

How are you feeling?

Better than ever. My memories are tumbling down like a waterfall from the heavens. It'll take a while for the full picture to emerge, though.

And some of my more recent memories are rather embarrassing.

I'll go. Your mind is still unstable.

Oh? Trying to steal my prey?

It'll try to escape to the sea.

Of course it will. But it wasn't running just because it couldn't win.

What did it find?

We don't have time—

......

*cough* I'll never get used to handcannons.

Hey, where are you—

Huh? The Abyssal Hunters?

Hello, Irene. I see you've brought us more prey.

Did you just call me Irene? Have you... have you regained your memories?

Not entirely, but I know I'm in a great mood right now.

This is not the time.

That's the one from the deck. It's fast enough to dodge the captain's lunge.

I really must tip my hat to you, Irene. For chasing it all the way here without taking a scratch.

I can't take credit for it. It hardly even attacked. Look, it's still not, even now.

I see... I thought it wouldn't be able to resist if we chatted like this and showed it an opening.

......

Your friend just left, you know. It's not too late to go after them.

Or are you a pacifist too?

......

(Kazimierz, a landlocked country where Skadi stayed for a time. A place of sprawling grasslands and forests, the Land of Knights.)

(Knights...)

Is it a coincidence? Or did something draw him there?

This ship, Breogan. What did you intend to leave behind for your homeland? Where have you hidden the answer?

...Hmm.

(Sea Terror carcasses? And not only that...)

(The wounds are clean and precise. They show no signs of resistance. Scents mingle in the air. The air here is stale.)

(What else is there on this ship?)

——

Your belt and pocket watch are undoubtedly human in origin, and even in the Iberian style!

What are you?

......

It's stalling for time.

This will get complicated if the other one gets back to the ocean.

......

Still not attacking? What a passive dance partner.

I'll take the lead, Skadi.

Right.

—Guh!

Guh... grrrr... gah...

Come on, fight back already. I'm starting to feel like the bad guy.

...No!

It's not stalling for time!

The sound of bells?! What?

(Sharp screech)

Did you hear the bells, Ulpianus?

It's a miracle that anything works on this ship at all.

Here, the bells signal the start of the hunt.

But who's the hunter, and who's the prey?

The children of the ocean don't care. If they consider Alfonso to be their kin—albeit weakened—they're willing to offer their own flesh and blood, all to ensure the survival of the strong.

......

A Hunter approaches.

Gladiia. She's too sharp. The skills I learned on land will only work for so long. She'll detect me soon.

What will you do?

What will YOU do?

Answering a question with a question? I... I'm interested in your choice, Ulpianus.

I never expected to become interested in the Abyssal Hunters again, but Laurentina fascinates me. I see so much possibility in her.

And you, you've made your choice of your own accord, while retaining your sanity. Have you noticed? More and more, you're becoming like one of us.

......

Can you reach the truth? Cast aside revelation, lay open the body of god, and learn the truth of the gods of the sea?

The answer you're seeking is tantalizing. Heh, look at me, showing curiosity. Perhaps there's something human in me yet.

The revelation is imprinted upon the instincts of god's children. Our ways of thinking couldn't be more different.

Oh my.

You sound even more like a Seaborn than I do.