After staying the night at Nidou, Milowina spent the following morning strolling through Kaina Village.
"Tell us a story, Auntie!"
"Oh my, alright then."
Along the way, she was cornered by the village children. Each time, she shared various tales with them—mostly old legends passed down within the Former Leonard Kingdom.
"Whoa, really?"
"How long ago was 'long ago'?"
"That's so cool!"
Milowina seemed to genuinely enjoy interacting with the children, and to Jin, she looked more vibrant than ever.
"It’s likely the first time she’s ever even seen a child," Jin remarked.
On the Moon... inside the Uni facility, there probably hadn't been anyone younger than Milowina herself.
"Mm, you're right."
Elsa watched Milowina, who looked truly happy surrounded by the kids.
"Elsa, how is Milowina’s health holding up?"
"Mm, she seems very well. Since coming here, it’s almost like she’s grown younger."
Elsa suggested that being here was having a positive psychological effect on her.
"I hope so."
"Mm."
Watching Milowina tell folk tales to the children, Jin and Elsa both felt that way from the bottom of their hearts.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Indeed, according to what I've heard..."
Milowina had apparently found something that piqued her curiosity, as she was currently speaking with the Village Chief, Giebeck.
"...There are stories that our ancestors came here by crossing the mountains to the east."
"...I thought so."
As she listened to Giebeck discuss the village's history and its ancestors, a look of quiet conviction settled on Milowina's face.
Jin suspected she had realized something significant, but he refrained from prying until she was ready to speak of it herself.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Say, Jin-kun, would you mind taking me to the Leonard Kingdom?"
Once they had finished lunch at Martha's house, Milowina made her request.
Jin had no reason to refuse.
"Certainly... where specifically would you like to go?"
"Let's see. The site of the capital, I suppose."
Milowina requested to visit the former capital, Diaa, the same place Jin had visited once before with Hanna and the others.
"Understood. I have a fair grasp of that area."
They decided to make the trip aboard Konron 3.
The distance was roughly 300 kilometers, so they would arrive in about an hour. Elsa, Reiko, and Kai would accompany them, with Edgar at the helm.
Anticipating potential trouble, Jin had Laojun dispatch twenty units from the Land squad to scout the area ahead of time.
The former capital of Diaa was unchanged from Jin's last visit.
"So this was the capital..."
Standing there on her own feet rather than looking down from the sky clearly evoked a special kind of emotion. Milowina stood in silence for a long time.
After perhaps ten minutes, she turned back toward Jin and the others. Jin wasn't imagining things; her eyes were clearly glistening with moisture.
"Thank you, Jin-kun....Now, where was that basement you mentioned?"
"Ah, right. This way."
Jin led her toward a sturdy two-story building that appeared to be a museum. Milowina followed, with Kai staying close by her side.
Elsa and Edgar brought up the rear. Reiko took a skirmisher position, staying slightly apart from the group while keeping a sharp eye on their surroundings.
The entrance, where the vines had been cleared away during the previous visit, remained open.
Once inside, they were greeted by a series of murals. Jin lit a Light Ball to illuminate the room.
"Oh my..."
Milowina gasped in surprise.
"This is... the creation myth. And this one must depict the lives of the people. And there..."
She moved from one mural to the next, examining them slowly. Contrary to Jin's concerns, she seemed to be enjoying herself.
Once she had finished viewing the murals, Jin spoke up.
"Shall we head down to the basement as well?"
"Yes, let's. The Messenger is down there, isn't it? Please, lead the way."
"Understood."
Jin signaled Reiko, who channeled mana into the activation magi-stone.
Jin and the others cast barriers just in case, but the passage to the basement opened without incident.
"Alright, let's go."
With Kai in the lead, Jin and Elsa each took one of Milowina’s hands to help her down the stairs. Reiko brought up the rear.
『Welcome, everyone.』
The voice of the Messenger echoed through the room.
"So you are the Messenger. I am a descendant of the citizens who escaped."
『...!!』
The Messenger's audio cut off abruptly. Then:
《Welcome home.》
A clearly different voice spoke.
《You are indeed a direct descendant of the Leonard royal family.》
It must have read Milowina's magic pattern through some internal sensor.
In place of the Messenger, another magi-brain had awakened.
《It has been 235 years since my construction. Finally, the one I must serve has returned.》
"Are you a magi-brain as well?"
《Indeed. I am known as *u@k+.》
"What was that?"
《I am *u@k+.》
The name portion was unintelligible, sounding like a burst of static.
"I can't understand your name."
《That is a trivial matter. Now, please, give me your orders.》
"Orders for what?"
《Orders to reconstruct the Leonard Kingdom upon this land once more.》
But Milowina shook her head.
"I have no intention of doing that. I am the only one left."
《Therefore, you need only subjugate the continent and stand at its pinnacle.》
"I have no desire for such a thing."
《No, you must become the pinnacle... Her Majesty the Queen, by any means necessary.》
"Stop this nonsense."
《It is not nonsense. With my power, it is entirely possible.》
"I told you, I have no intention of doing that!"
《Regardless, this is my mission.》
"Please, stop!"
《The world shall be in your hands!》
At that moment, the room vibrated with a light tremor.
"What was that?"
As Jin looked around warily, a report came in from Reiko.
"Father, it seems magical beasts have appeared on the surface."