"Your Majesty, is it not natural for humans to help other humans? I had compassion and the means to act—shouldn't such a trivial effort be made? So I followed my heart and did it. Does that warrant fault?"
Li Mo spoke plainly.
Did saving people need a reason?
If he lacked the ability, he would have silently watched—because his first priority was his own family. But now, with power in his hands, he had unwittingly become someone elevated above others.
So, he saved them because he wanted to. No further reason was needed.
"I see. As a human, you cannot bear to watch others die. What a loving child you are."
"Your Majesty, my next words may be somewhat impolite. Could you explain yourself and this land? Giant kin of divine blood still roam the surface, humans struggle to survive in this frozen wasteland, and you share the same appearance as Scáthach, the Queen of the Land of Shadows." Li Mo pressed further.
He acted as if he knew nothing.
He was feigning weakness. On the way to the castle, he had pondered what position he should take, his thoughts clashing until the last moment when he settled on this approach.
Scáthach-Skadi faced all living beings in the Lostbelt with benevolence—including him, who had only just arrived in this world.
"Scáthach? The Celtic Queen of the Land of Shadows? She is but one of the components that shaped this body. Unfortunately, I am not familiar with her." Scáthach-Skadi declared, "The one standing before you is a god—the one and only god."
"If mastery over all creation makes one a god..."
"If wielding power beyond mortal ken makes one a god..."
"Then I am a god. I am the only god."
"This land is what remains of Norse mythology after its calamity—Midgard in the wake of Ragnarök."
Her voice was majestic, unveiling her identity and the story of this world. The answers Li Mo sought flowed from her lips, aligning with the knowledge in his mind and granting him deeper insight into the Lostbelt.
Now, the final question remained:
How far had the story progressed?
Feigning ignorance came at a cost—he couldn't outright ask whether Chaldea's forces had arrived.
But someone would tell him.
A third set of footsteps echoed in the hall, followed by a fourth.
A woman wearing an eyepatch appeared in the palace.
"Ophelia, my new daughter. What brings you here?" Scáthach-Skadi spoke the newcomer's name.
Ophelia Phamrsolone—a mage with Jewel-rank Mystic Eyes, former member of Chaldea's A-Team, and now one of the Crypters.
"Your Majesty, we still know nothing of this strange mage—where he comes from, or why he is here. He is highly suspicious." Ophelia immediately cast doubt on Li Mo, distrust plain in her voice.
This white-clad youth—what was his purpose here?
Li Mo spoke first. "You are... Ophelia of Chaldea, correct?"
"You know me?" Ophelia's gaze sharpened.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am a participant of the Fourth Holy Grail War, a mage from the Far East—Li Mo."
"That's impossible."
The words left Ophelia's lips almost reflexively.
The Holy Grail War—every member of Chaldea knew of that ritual.
The former director of Chaldea had only established the organization after winning his own Grail War.
Li Mo smiled. "In this world, perhaps. But what of parallel worlds? The multiverse is like a tree, with countless similar branches. In the timeline I experienced, the Holy Grail War had occurred four times. Sadly, Marisbury Animusphere, Lord of the Department of Astromancy at the Clock Tower, showed no interest in our version of the War."
"If you are from a parallel world, how do you know the events of our timeline? You're lying, aren't you?" Ophelia's voice carried tension.
A variable had appeared.
This mage, who claimed to have participated in a Grail War, knew her—and seemed privy to many secrets.
No, the fact that he recognized her at all was suspicious.
But soon, she realized the reason.
Her voice trembled. "Mystic Eyes?"
She could see it—the young mage's eyes had turned a translucent gold.
"What rank of Mystic Eyes could perceive other timelines?!"
"That is my secret. As a mage, isn't it natural to have secrets? Your Majesty, my arrival in your land was merely coincidence." Li Mo bowed respectfully.
The deciding factor in whether he could stay was not Ophelia—but the queen, Scáthach-Skadi.
"A child from another world? I bear no ill will toward your origins. Do you intend to return, or will you remain in my domain?"
"For now, I may have to trouble Your Majesty with my presence."
The ruler of this Lostbelt was not Ophelia—it was Scáthach-Skadi. Once the Ice Goddess made a decision, none could overturn it.
Not even Ophelia.
"Ophelia, would you kindly escort our guest to his quarters? Perhaps the room next to yours? As fellow humans and mages, you must have much to discuss."
Ophelia responded stiffly, "As you wish."
The two, along with their Servants, left the palace and entered the corridors.
The hallways mirrored the palace's style—walls of ice gleaming in hues of white and blue, beautiful despite the cold they emanated.
Li Mo glanced at Ophelia and her Servant, smiling. "Ophelia, if you ordered your Servant to kill me now, it's still not too late."
"I will not defy Her Majesty's orders."
"You seem to despise me so much, I thought you'd want me dead. Honestly, facing such a powerful Saber would be troublesome even for me. It reminds me of the Saber from my Grail War—King Arthur, though she was a girl. Not that I discriminate—that King Arthur was exceptionally strong. Left quite an impression. I wonder how your Saber compares."
Li Mo's gaze shifted to her Servant—Sigurd.
Sigurd spoke coldly, "Would you like to test that, mage?"
"No, no. A mage foolish enough to challenge a Servant wouldn't live long." Li Mo shook his head. "Then, Miss Ophelia, please lead the way. There's no need for such hostility. I have no interest in your Crypters' plans. By the way—is Chaldea still in Antarctica?"
"None of your concern," Ophelia snapped.