Having resolved Drake's curse, Shiomi and Artoria returned to the ship with the unconscious Olga Marie and Skadi, escorting them back to their respective rooms.
After that, Shiomi did not return to his own quarters. Instead, he went to the Magical Workshop and placed the Sea God's divine core onto the apparatus for scanning and analysis.
"What does Tenkei plan to do with that divine core?" Artoria asked from behind.
Shiomi thought for a moment before replying, "Whether by luck or by strength, Captain Drake took Poseidon's divine core. Enraged by that act, Poseidon cursed her."
"For mortals, the divine is an unbearably heavy matter," Artoria nodded in agreement. "If one cannot truly strike down a god, it invites a wrath no one can endure. For her to keep her life at the cost of losing the ability to sail was already fortunate."
"Then… if you were a god whose divine core had been taken, yet you did not die, what would you do?" Shiomi asked.
Artoria followed his line of thought and considered it carefully. "That would mean I possess more than one divine core. But losing one still means losing an important portion of my power. Whether emotionally or rationally, reclaiming it would be necessary."
"Exactly. Now that the core is in our hands, if Poseidon can sense it, that makes us a very conspicuous marker. But if you can sense it—" Shiomi narrowed his eyes.
"Tenkei plans to make use of this divine core?" Artoria understood at once.
"After all, it's the core of a god and an obstacle blocking the road to Olympus. While we still have it, gathering as much data as possible will be essential for breaking through Poseidon's traps later," Shiomi said. "And since Poseidon wants his core back—"
"Then you'll give it back to him?" Artoria couldn't help but laugh. "But Tenkei won't guarantee that the core he gets back will still be in its original state."
"I'm quite curious what would happen if a damaged, or even cursed, divine core were to return to a god's body," Shiomi said as he turned and leaned against the console, laying out his plan.
Artoria couldn't help but feel a little sympathy for Poseidon. "Turning a precious divine core into a ticking time bomb…"
…It seemed the Sea God of Olympus was in for a hard time.
"You're not expecting me to swallow this thing and obtain Poseidon's Authority, are you?" Shiomi shook his head. "Leaving aside the risks, power beyond one's own limits is never reassuring. And besides—"
"Tiamat would be displeased," Artoria pointed out the concern he was avoiding. "After all, if you truly sought greater Authority, it would be far more reasonable to ask her directly for a blessing."
"That's exactly it," Shiomi said, snapping his fingers.
The two of them shared a knowing smile.
"Analyzing the core will take some time. I'll send the data to Romani tomorrow and ask him and the others to help decipher it," Shiomi said as he raised his hand and rested it against Artoria's cheek. "Why don't you go rest first? You drank quite a bit earlier. The tavern lighting was poor, so I didn't notice, but your face is a little flushed."
"That liquor distilled from Magical Beasts really has quite a kick. I'm sober now, but I still feel a bit heavy-headed," Artoria tilted her head naturally, feeling the warmth in Shiomi's palm. "Still, I'd like to stay with you a little longer."
"Artoria…"
"It's been a while since we were alone like this." Artoria held the hand against her cheek, breathing in its familiar scent as she drew closer to Shiomi.
Understanding what she meant, Shiomi pulled her into his arms and gently lifted her face.
Artoria closed her eyes without hesitation, her soft pink lips parting as she accepted a kiss tinged with the scent of strong liquor.
From passive to active, and then to mutual seeking, her already hazy mind grew heavier, yet her thoughts became all the clearer.
"I can taste the wine," Shiomi murmured.
"Mm… it does feel different from our usual kisses."
Artoria answered dreamily. Without realizing it, her arms had already slipped around Shiomi's neck. Her full breasts pressed tightly against him, as if she no longer had the strength to stand on her own, leaning softly into his embrace.
"The Lostbelt has good wine too. Let's take some before we leave. When we have time, we can drink together like today, all right?" Shiomi suggested.
"If you're with me, even the poorest bulk wine would be enough," Artoria said. As she spoke, her breath grew hotter, brushing against Shiomi's cheeks and neck, slowly setting his body alight.
Then came another tempest of kisses and whispered caresses. When he came back to himself, the King of Knights was already wearing nothing but her underclothes.
She seemed not to care at all, seeking only Shiomi's warmth.
"Don't be so impatient. The night is long, and I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere," Shiomi said gently.
"Once we bring down Artemis and restore the land's leylines, we'll need more strength to attack Olympus, won't we?" she said.
"Mm, so—"
"If the Knights of the Round Table answer the summons to aid Chaldea, we probably won't have this kind of leisure anymore," Artoria whispered.
"Well… that doesn't mean you have to be the one handling the summoning," Shiomi said helplessly, trying to soothe her. "Chaldea has more than one Master."
"Private matters are private matters. Public matters are public matters." Artoria's cheeks were flushed. "Every bit of extra strength makes this battle against the gods of Olympus steadier and more certain."
"True," Shiomi agreed with a low laugh.
As always, if the Knights of the Round Table were to see the King of Knights as she was now, and sense her state of mind, they would likely split into two factions and argue endlessly, just like during the Camelot Singularity.
Different knights held different expectations for their king. Whether those expectations could allow a king to harbor a heart that sought the happiness of ordinary people was something no one could easily answer.
"But then," Shiomi said with a trace of teasing in his voice, whispering into Artoria's ear, "how should I thank you for always thinking about these things, for all the effort you put into securing victory?"
Her legs had already gone weak. From her dry throat, she could only squeeze out a single, alluring whisper.
"…Please… hold me tight…"
As his words fell, Artoria was scooped up by Shiomi in one swift motion and set down on the workbench behind him.
After that, she remembered nothing at all.