Hoshino watched them chat, her gaze bouncing between the children. These future members of Rhodes Island were currently being corrupted by adult films and dramas, yet none of them objected. Some even seemed to enjoy them.
Rhodes Island truly was a free place.
Hoshino closed her eyes, watching Stygian Nymph's unlock progress and feeling the repeated sensation of something winding around her hand. She smiled awkwardly yet gracefully.
"You really know your films."
"So do you."
Feater offered her heartfelt praise, while Lumen displayed impeccable, restrained courtesy.
And with that, the small talk ended.
Hoshino checked the time. About five minutes had passed, and the unlock progress had reached seventy percent. It was just a tiny bit away.
"Not interested in films anymore?"
"No. The characters' emotions, their growth, the development of the plot... those are all things I like." Lumen sighed. "But now... any attacks from outside will be blocked by this barrier, right?"
Hoshino nodded.
Lumen took a deep breath, and the world before her seemed to come alive all at once.
She wanted to try something different.
Talking with people, laughing loudly, forming bonds... even street racing, bungee jumping... a series of dangerous acts flashed through her mind like lightning. She still loved films, but they no longer seemed like the most important thing in her life.
That was more like it.
Her old life had been like that of a bird in a cage—far too unhealthy.
"I want to try that..."
"Huh?"
They arrived at the helipad on the deck, where aircraft that had not yet been moved into storage were parked. A pilot was cleaning one of their hulls with such delicate movements that it looked like he was bathing his wife.
Lumen wanted to go skydiving.
"No. Aircraft are valuable equipment. Every flight is