Chapter 790 - 136 - 143

Chapter 136 – The Goal is the Port (2)

However, on the first night of his departure from Sipoto, Theodore had no choice but to admit his prediction was wrong.

The first one to recognize the presence wasn't the almost master level swordsman, Randolph or the 6th Circle magician, Theodore. On the roof of the carriage, the crow, Hugin, cried out as it discovered something strange on the horizon.

Kyaack-!

Thanks to the summoning magic, the image which Hugin saw was burned onto Theodore's retina. Simultaneously, Theodore closed the book he was reading and shouted at Randolph who was in the driver's seat, "Randolph, stop the carriage!"

"What? Why?"

"Hurry!"

Randolph sensed Theo's urgency and tugged at the reins. Thanks to the well-trained horses, the speed of the carriage reduced without any impact, and it stopped 30 meters from the point where it had first started to decelerate.

Randolph tried to ask about the sudden order, but there was no need as immediately after that, the ground near the back axis of the carriage began to shake.

Ku ku ku kung…!

"W-What, this feeling?!"

"-Mitra!"

Unlike the confused Randolph, Theodore had a helper who could let him know the underground situation. The little girl appeared at Theodore's feet and asked, [Deo, you caw?]

'Yes. I'm sorry, but can go you straight into the ground? I need to know what is going on.'

[Yes! I noe!] As always, the girl replied with short words before diving into the ground with her distinctive hoing.

'…Okay, there are two of them.'

As Mitra dug into the ground, the presence of two beings entered Theodore's mind. One was 'Hugin's eyes,' watching something on the horizon. The other was 'Mitra's vision' which had just entered the ground.

His mind was confused by the two scenes, but Theo kept his composure. It was thanks to his mental training to handle Umbra. Eventually, the source of the shaking ground was revealed.

"No way. Sand worms?!" The name emerged from the lips of Theodore, who was in shock.

Sand worms were a type of insect monster which lived mainly in the desert. Their bodies were several dozen meters long and were capable of quick movements because their weight didn't match their bodies. However, their skin was soft, so they couldn't move in places where there was hard ground. The ones Mitra was showing Theodore, ignored these constraints.

Kududuk! Kudududuk!

The sand worms continued advancing despite the rocks, gravel, soil, and sand rubbing against their skin. They didn't care about the blood which poured down occasionally or their internal organs which sometimes fell out from scratches on their body. It was a wound which living sand worms wouldn't have been able to endure.

"Undead. Using zombie sand worms as a means of transportation… Isn't this quite creative?"

It was as he said. A zombie sand worm could move anywhere under the surface of the ground, no matter how painful the journey was. According to some researchers, a sand worm could move at a speed which was equal to 60km/h. Furthermore, it could run without feeling any fatigue because it was an undead.

This way, it wasn't unreasonable that the followers had caught up with Theodore. As they arrived at a point just ahead of the party's carriage, the movement of the sand worms caused a tremor which was close to a small earthquake.

The sand worms broke through the surface of the ground, causing blood to soar and splatter.

Kuuuuoh…!

It was a frightening roar. Of course, Theodore and Randolph weren't scared of sand worms, but they couldn't prevent their expressions from changing into shocked expressions after seeing the sand worms' appearance.

This was because undead started pouring out of the body of the sand worms.

[Kill… them…]

[Living… but…]

[Die… together…]

Contaminated with black magic power, the bodies were already closer to metal than biotissue. This was the intermediate-ranked undead which could reproduce some of their original physical abilities and skills. They mumbled, so that meant there was some intelligence remaining.

Which kingdom had they been soldiers of when they were alive…?

In their formation, the skeleton soldiers, armed with armor and spears or swords, started advancing toward Theodore. This wasn't the chaotic assault of a corrupt group but a corps with proper tactics, and there was someone controlling them from behind.

"Sheesh, this type of offensive is annoying," Randolph grumbled as he moved forward.

"Then I'll increase the number of allies."

"Eh?"

Theodore tapped his index finger instead of answering.

Clack! There was a sharp sound as the bracelet around his wrist sparkled. The bracelet was the artifact created by the Yellow Tower Master and borrowed from Kurt III. Six living armors suddenly appeared around Randolph, who laughed and twisted his double swords as he felt their incredible presence.

"Ohh, then this is a different story."

Going from one to seven, the total sum of combat power itself hadn't changed much, but the advantage wasn't light as it reduced the pressure of being surrounded.

Randolph's role was to act as Theodore's escort. It was the magician, not the swordsman, who played the protagonist in these types of battlefields. The essence of Theodore's ability as a magician was to dominate the battlefield with overwhelming magic power.

"Please escort me well, Captain Randolph."

Theodore pulled out his staff, which he had never used before.

* * *

Kaack!

With an eerie sound, the neck bone of five skeletons were severed. They were reinforced with black magic, but they still couldn't endure Randolph's aura.

He wielded his two falchions like he was jumping into a flock of sheep. Any shield or armor hit by his weapons were broken and scattered into pieces. It was impossible for intermediate-level undead to resist Randolph's aura.

As a result, over 100 skeleton skeletons were turned into grey ash.

However, that wasn't all. The six living armors Theodore had summoned were quite successful. The poison infesting the skeleton soldiers' weapons were made of black magic and only affected the living, so the living armour blocked the undead army from reaching Theodore by becoming a steel wall.

"…Isn't this flowing along easier than I thought it would?" Theodore muttered as he raised his staff.

'Memorize. All Slots Open. Fire Ball Sixfold.' The magic was invoked without speaking. If another magician was here, they would be foaming at the mouth.

Theodore's fire magic, enhanced by his high sensitivity and max fire attribute affinity, was already beyond the standard of the circles. There were six fireballs, each one having the power of a 4th or higher level circle. Additionally, he received the assistance of a staff which he didn't normally use.

The undead fell apart under the catastrophic bombardment.

―――――――――――!!

In a second, charred bones became ashes, and those in the center of the explosion were destroyed by the fire. It was the result of pure destructive power. There were only six rounds, but the scale was enough to shake the entire battlefield. If it were ordinary 3rd Circle magic, a skeleton soldier would be able to endure half a dozen of them.

However, Theodore's eyebrows twitched when he saw the result.

'What the hell are these guys? Why are they so weak?'

If the warlock in the distance heard Theo's mumbles, he would be shaking in shock. The skeleton soldiers the warlock led were the remains of the elite army of an old kingdom. It was an army strong enough to compete with senior undead such as the death knight or dullahan.

This was a force much stronger and more capable than the corpses Theo had previously encountered at the Miller Barony.

'No, is it just my perspective that is different?'

After all, Theodore was 10 times stronger than he had been at that time.

Kwaang! Kwang! Kwaang!

He simply shot fireballs at 10 second intervals, but the number of undead was rapidly declining. The sight of the skeleton soldiers collapsing like scarecrows in the rice fields must be a nightmare for the maker.

The stalemate was increasingly pushed as gaps appeared between the countless soldiers. The headcount might seem unlimited, but in the end, all warlocks had a limit.

Not long after that, Randolph had nothing to do.

"Ah, Young Master is still absurd."

The skeleton soldiers were destroyed faster than those emerging from the sand worms. Thus, the front line was pushed back, and the need to protect the front of Theodore disappeared. Randolph just watched mournfully as fireballs shot at the enemy constantly.

However, it was at this moment that…

Ku ku ku kung…!

Another sand worm suddenly soared up behind Theodore. It was different from the other sand worms; this one was meant to be a 'ghoul' instead of a 'zombie.'

"What?!"

Therefore, the reactions of Randolph and the living armour were late. The speed of the ghoul worm, which was better than its physical capability in life, was comparable to a killer whale in the ocean.

The snout of the worm opened, and a warlock in black robes popped out. "-Kuhuhu! You weren't alert, you fools!"

Randolph was able to realize it right away that the warlock standing in the distance was a fake, while the real one had hidden in order to catch Theodore unaware. He stepped forward, but the black magic spell was completed several beats faster.

"Evil spirits from the abyss, slay him…!"

The black magic curse, Doom Wight, summoned wraiths which couldn't even be compared to specters or banshees. The warlock had formed the curse by gathering at least 10,000 spirits. This was a mass of malice which could kill any living creature just by touching it. The most frightening thing about it was that defense magic or physical resistance was no use against it.

The fatal drawback was that despite such a high cost, it was a disposable thing which could only be used once.

'Dangerous!'

The moment that the reddish black magic power sprang up like lightning, a drop of sweat rolled down Randolph's neck.

'…That son of a bitch was watching Young Master's abilities.'

Theodore had torn apart the undead army with fireballs and showed no signs of fatigue despite the constant bombardment. The warlock had seen this and didn't hesitate to ambush Theodore. He then prepared a spell dangerous enough that he was certain he could kill Theodore. Was it possible for Theodore to survive this surprise attack?

Of course, it was.

"Was this why you wanted me to wait?" Theo muttered.

Had Theo gone crazy after seeing the impending death before his eyes? The warlock scoffed when he heard Theodore muttering to himself.

-That's right. I was waiting for this.

However, Theodore was talking to someone else. With Alfred's sensory perception and Mitra's detection ability, very few things could surprise him. Nevertheless, there was a reason why he had waited for the warlock to reveal himself and allowed the warlock to complete the spell—Doom Wight, a black magic spell composed of 'evil spirits.'

It meant…

"Eat."

It meant this was Gluttony's prey.

Chapter 137 – The Goal is the Port (3)

Of course, the Doom Wight wasn't so common as to fall under the same standards as other evil spirits. It was an evil spirit made from thousands of souls and refined to be full of malice. Despite being a disposable summons, it was difficult to survive against the Doom Wight unless the other person was of the master level.

Unfortunately, the Doom Wight encountered the wrong person.

Jjeok.

The tongue emerged from the hole in Theo's left hand with a creepy sound. The image of terror, Doom Wight, was astonished to see the greedy tongue. Beyond the greedy tongue was the abyss where Death's Worship, the grimoire which ate grimoires, was stored. Anything which fell into the category of magic was a gift for it to devour.

…Krr.

Forgotten emotions were revived in the evil spirit which had been born for the sole purpose of slaughter. It was the primal feeling which prey felt when they were about to be eaten. The evil spirit's instincts understood that it was facing a predator, a being on a higher tier of the food chain.

'Fear.'

Kiaaaaaaaaa―! The shadow retreated. It continued retreating desperately, even refusing the warlock's command. However, a magical force was tying it up. If not, it would've escaped to the horizon at lightning speed. As a shadow without any impurities, it knew exactly the risk that it was facing.

Goblins and ogres…?

Orcs and dragons…?

Ants and elephant…?

There was no analogy which the despairing Doom Wight could use to express the difference. As Gluttony looked at the fearful Doom Wight, it praised the evil spirit's quick reaction.

–Hoh, you can grasp what is happening? You are better than a flea. However, that enlightenment can only make you unhappy.

A flea wouldn't understand what was going on, but the beast who grasped the hierarchy would be the one who felt fear. The Doom Wight was tied down by the warlock's orders and couldn't even run away.

Gluttony ridiculed the Doom Wight before stretching out its tongue.

Kwack!

The tongue captured the miserable Doom Wight.

[You have consumed the Doom Wight, a collection of grudges.]

[Your vessel has become slightly fuller.]

[Gluttony has removed the curse left in the Doom Wight.]

"…Hah." Theodore could only smile as he watched.

His senses had given off a wild alarm, indicating that it was dangerous with his current capabilities. Despite that, the Doom Wight had been taken care of in one bite, making Theo wonder about Gluttony's limits.

However, Theodore's surprise was nothing compared to that of the person who had summoned Doom Wight, the warlock.

"W-What? What happened to my Doom Wight?!" The warlock was panicked, as he had lost his treasure for nothing. He stared at Theodore, even forgetting to flee. However, the warlock didn't know what a big gap that meaningless action of his had caused.

Theodore gazed at the warlock with cold eyes and flicked two fingers.

Piing!

There were two flashes of light, and the warlock's thighs were pierced.

"Kuaack!"

A fool who didn't have much practical experience in the field wouldn't be able to endure this. The warlock lost the ability for both of his legs to function, causing him to fall to the ground. It was a bonus that his forehead was injured as he struck the hard ground.

The ghoul worm belatedly responded to its master's pain, but Theodore's casting was faster. He cast a large fire attack magic which could crush even large monsters.

'Blaze Burst.'

Unlike ordinary magicians, he didn't need to chant, and the formula calculations ended 10 times faster due to Theo's intelligence. Theodore completed the 5th Circle magic in just a few seconds.

Kukukung…!

This was the masterpiece of his teacher, Vince Haidel. The fire pillar emerging from the ground turned a part of the ghoul worm's body and head into ashes.

It wasn't a damage which could be sustained by an undead, even a ghoul undead. Fire magic which completely killed biological tissue wasn't fatal to the undead, but Theodore's output was several times higher than normal.

Hence, the ghoul worm lost half of its body in an instant and collapsed.

Kuwuong.

The ground shook intensely, causing the warlock to regain consciousness. The warlock quickly tried to move his body, but,..

"Where are you going?" Randolph's double swords were placed at the warlock's neck. If the warlock tried to chant even one syllable, the swords would cut his carotid artery.

Theodore might've intended it, but Randolph had been caught off guard and his employer almost paid for it. So, Randolph was reflecting on his mistake, making his swords seem more eerie than usual.

Theodore checked the boundary and then approached.

"What the hell are you?" The warlock asked first. "I don't know what you did, but you annihilated a Doom Wight. You are also a 5th Circle magician at this age. A person like you can't live in obscurity!"

"…You seem to be misunderstanding something," Theodore replied coldly to the question and kicked the thighs of the warlock which had been hit by Magic Bullet. There was a loud sound and blood trickled down.

The warlock was struck with terrible pain! His face distorted at the damage dealt mercilessly to his wound.

"K-Kuooooock…!"

However, Theodore didn't stop at just one kick.

Bam!

The warlock moaned as the pain continued. It was to the extent that blood had flooded down his thigh and covered Theodore's shoe. Theo looked at his shoe before glancing at the warlock's distorted face.

"My role is the questioner, and your role is to answer. Do you understand?"

"…Don't make me laugh."

"What?"

The warlock should've been in significant pain, but he just sneered as he alternated looking between Theo and Randolph.

"This body is a warlock who explores death and indulges in pain. Do you think I will open my mouth because of such flimsy torturing…? You might have skills in magic, but you are still a kid." The taunting words contained their own confidence.

Warlocks would suffer from severe torture when captured in order to find out the names of other members of their organization. Therefore, warlocks were methodically trained to handle torture, including a procedure which allowed the nervous system to tolerate magic attacks.

So, even a professional torturer couldn't open this warlock's mouth.

Theodore also knew this fact. Subjugating warlocks was one of the duties of a war mage. He knew that torture magic had been made useless by warlocks long ago. Warlocks had a technique which nullified torture by paralyzing their nervous system, and they could ignore pain below a certain level.

"Kuk." However, Theodore laughed at his confidence. "Hey."

"…W-What?"

Theo mourned the misfortune of the warlock he caught.

"Have you ever heard of Separating Muscles, Reforming Bones?"

* * *

According to Lee Yoonsung, who had been born in the East, this technique hadn't originally been used for torture.

Unlike in the continent where all sorts of recovery magic and potions were developed, there was no way for the east to heal wounds rapidly in the East, causing detailed research on the human body to be carried out. The research was on the bones, muscles, nerves, and how mana flowed through the blood.

Separating Muscles, Reforming Bones was a treatment based on that type of knowledge.

Separating Muscle meant literally separating the muscle fibres, while Reforming Bones meant mixing up the framework.

It was a technique which loosened the muscle fibers and restored broken bones to their original states. This technique was for treating the internal wounds which weren't seen on the surface, and it became a must for any healer in the East to learn.

'There was one drawback that couldn't be improved.'

The technique caused truly terrible pain. The pain which occurred when muscles and bones were affected wasn't at a level that anyone could endure. Therefore, when Separating Muscles, Reforming Bones was used, it was common to use an anesthetic medicine or to paralyze the spinal cord in order to make the patient unaware of the pain.

However, there were those who exploited the technique maliciously.

"―――――!" The warlock couldn't even scream. Whenever Theodore's fingers twisted the warlock's muscles, the warlock's body would spasm. Only a weak breathing flowed from the warlock's vocal cords to his mouth.

It was a 'humane' torture because it was treating the victim.

"Ah, I stabbed the wrong place."

"―――――――?!?"

Of course, fatal mistakes could happen in the process. Fortunately, the warlock's insides didn't break. The unfortunate warlock trembled with a tearful face and runny nose.

After just 30 minutes, the warlock gave up all resistance.

"Agent Isaac sent you?"

"…Yes, that's right."

"You are just the person sent in advance, and there is still a team to come?"

"…Inde…ed."

"What is the name of your organization?"

"…I… don't… know."

It didn't take long to finish the questioning. The warlock answered whatever Theo wanted to know after Separating Muscles, Reforming Bones was used. Whenever he hesitated, Theodore would raise a finger, and the warlock would reply in a flash.

Furthermore, the warlock, called Oldun, was of a low rank and didn't know much about the organization.

Theodore asked one final question, "The black magic you used last time, can you use it one more time?"

"…Doom… Wight… Is that correct?"

"Is it a spell that calls evil spirits?"

"Yes… but… it's disposable… magic…"

If so, he couldn't use it again. Theodore aimed his finger at the warlock without any hesitation.

Piing!

There was no way for the tortured warlock to avoid it, causing his body to lie down neatly. Theodore didn't stop there as he burned the body with fire magic. A necromancer might be able to find out information from any body parts left behind.

Randolph clicked his tongue as he watched from the side. "Hah, I didn't know Young Master would use such a cruel method."

It was true. Torture gave mental pain to the person doing the torturing, as well as the one being tortured. Theodore wasn't born with that type of desire in him. Still, he hadn't hesitated to torture and kill the unknown person.

In this sense, he had grown. However, Randolph couldn't help feeling some regret as he remembered the past.

Theodore shook his head with a wry smile. "Randolph, do you know the 10 Commandments of the Red Tower?"

"What? Of course, I don't know."

"Then I will use this opportunity to tell you a little bit."

The 3rd commandment of the Red Tower was that trash could sometimes be recycled, but human trash was generally not recyclable.

The Red Tower's 8th commandment was that a good warlock was a dead warlock.

The Red Tower's 9th commandment was that the method of death didn't matter as they were still going to die.

Randolph shook his head with a stunned expression. The Red Tower was famous among the mercenaries, be it for good or bad reasons. However, he hadn't imagined such drastic guidelines. It was fairly crude, but it wasn't a bad creed for Theodore to follow.

The atmosphere was tense, so Theo changed the topic. "They still don't know my identity but sending out these troops… It seems like the Orcus Company is quite big in the organization."

"I think so as well. This warlock might've fallen easily, but they aren't simple opponents. We can't ignore it if these guys come on a daily basis."

"That's right. So, I was thinking…" As Randolph waited, Theodore pulled out a map. He unfolded it on a flat spot in the carriage and pointed as Randolph came to his side. "We need to change our destination."

Randolph looked at the point where Theo's finger had stopped at.

"Ramos?"

"Yes, it is one of the few port cities in Kargas."

"…Ah, I understand. Rather than sticking to land, we should take a ship?"

"Yes, that's correct."

Randolph grinned as he understood what he was seeing. Theodore almost smiled while rolling up the map.

The undead were vulnerable to sunlight as well as to the sea. Unlike under the ground where not many predators existed, there were all types of fish and marine life in the ocean. Additionally, the strong waves would apply pressure to the bodies of the undead.

By using the simple method of going by sea, Theo could tie up the hands and feet of those using methods of transport like the sand worms.

Randolph was convinced and climbed into the driver's seat instantly. "Then which direction is Ramos?"

Theodore gauged the distance before opening his mouth to say, "If we run all day and night… we will probably arrive in a day."

"Okay, a day is good." Randolph gathered the reins of the two horses and started the carriage with a look of excitement. The plains, which had been filled with the undead a while ago, now only showed faint traces of the zombie worms.

"Hiyah!"

This time, the carriage moved forward without any interruptions. They headed toward the horizon where nothing was visible yet, as the rush for the pursuers to catch up soon began.

Chapter 138 – Unusual Passenger Ship (1)

Since ancient times, cities had flourished nearer to the center of the country and declined as they moved further away. Of course, some cities close to the border had a strategic value, but Ramos wasn't one of them.

Nevertheless, Ramos had a geographical advantage. It was part of the coastline called a 'cape,' a terrain which stretched from land to sea.

It was a port city. Yes, Ramos was one of the few port cities in the middle of the wide central continent. The area was too narrow to be used as a strategic point, but there were no problems with transportation using the sea route. Furthermore, it was also famous for being a shortcut to the eastern part of the continent.

For these reasons, Ramos evolved into a level comparable to that of other metropolitan cities, despite being on the edge of the kingdom.

The day began in its usual manner.

"Hey, the youngest! Open the door at once!"

"Yes! I understand!"

The youngest guard assigned today, Hanson, ran toward the pulley controlling the gate.

As with any city, Ramos controlled any night time admissions by locking the gate. It was a considerable distance from the habitat of the nearest creatures, but there was no harm in being careful. Then in the morning, the gate would open as the sun rose.

Dururuk…dururuk…

Hanson arrived at the pulley and started opening the gate with his thick arms. The walls weren't very high, so the gate wasn't that big, but a few soldiers were supposed to open the gate together. Yet he was being asked to open it on his own. This was the hazing style of the Ramos guards.

"Kuoong…!"

Unsurprisingly, Hanson's face flushed red, but he couldn't open the gate. However, he had considerable strength for a human who couldn't use aura. The senior guards, who were watching him, whistled as they were startled that a fairly good newbie had entered.

But that relaxed expression didn't last long.

"Uh, who is coming from over there?"

"What? How long until they arrive?"

"They're coming soon. Based on the dirt, it is a small but pretty high-end carriage?"

The guards watched the horizon from the walls every day, so their eyesight was similar to that of a good hunter. They noticed the presence of a carriage coming from the western horizon and quickly determined the identity of the approaching carriage.

It was okay up to here as it wasn't rare for guests to come early in the morning. However, the problem was that the speed of the carriage was more than imagined.

"W-What? Why is it so fast?!" The veteran guards belatedly noticed the seriousness of the situation and hurried down the wall.

A high-end wagon meant the guest was a noble or from a top business company. It wasn't a situation where they could be late because they were hazing the newbie. Hanson, who was already exhausted, kept turning the pulley firmly with his seniors.

Durururuk…! The gate opened at a super fast speed. Shortly afterwards, Theodore's party stopped in front of the gate. The guards, who had passed through the crisis, became nervous again as they saw the carriage.

"H-Heok!"

"Blood marks…?!"

It was impossible to find the original appearance of the carriage, which had been shiny at the time of purchase. The carriage looked as if it had passed through the middle of a battlefield. This was natural. Theodore turned away from the surprised guards toward the forest they had just passed through. There were still thousands of undead inside.

'Dammit, it was much more annoying than the first night.'

After killing the warlock who attacked first, Theo had been vigilant but hadn't seen any shadows at all.

To be hidden from Hugin's detection, the other warlock must be hiding a few kilometers away. In the meantime, their purpose of trying to stop the carriage had been revealed. It was why the enemies only used low grade undead, unlike on the first day.

In the end, Theo and Randolph gave up on fighting the undead and just concentrated on breaking through.

Flop.

Finally, one of the horses started foaming and collapsed to the ground.

"…I am really sorry."

Theo had repeatedly used Haste and fatigue recovery magic on the horses, which meant the aftermath was terrible. The other horse was just barely standing. It would've died as well if it had run a little longer. Theodore used simple magic to bury the horse that died. Then he turned towards the nervous guards.

Theo had a convenient means of not having to answer any questions.

"I am from the Polonell Company."

The sentence and the plaque were enough to make the Ramos guards step out of the way.

* * *

"We will split up here."

"Yes, I'll see you at the port later."

After entering Ramos, the two of them split up according to their roles. Randolph would dispose of the wrecked carriage and remaining horses, while Theodore would see if there were any ships heading toward the Soldun Kingdom.

'I hope we can leave today.'

He had entered the city somehow, but that wasn't enough to stop the Orcus Company from attacking. Theo and Randolph could only shake off the rabble… It would be hard if two senior level undead like the death knight appeared.

The Doom Wight had been taken care of thanks to Theodore and Gluttony, but it would've been fatal for Randolph if he had been alone. The force behind the Orcus Company was much stronger than expected, so he needed to escape that power as quickly as possible.

However, the answers Theodore heard weren't optimistic.

"There are no ships left?"

"Yes, I'm sorry, but they are all booked…"

It was a mistake Theodore made because he had never seen the sea or a ship in his life.

"It will be similar even if you ask another shipping company."

Basically, all the ships were booked. There was an obvious limitation to the number of guests a boat could hold, and it was difficult to show flexibility, unlike traveling over land. Moreover, he was looking for a ship heading to another country.

There were occasions when there was a vacancy, but luck wasn't on Theodore's side this time.

He was talking to Belf, a member of Luere Shipping.

"During this period of time, most ships are going to the south or north, so there are only three ships heading to the Soldun Kingdom. If you book now, you will probably have to wait a month."

"Even for someone from a top company?"

Belf eyes narrowed as he saw the mark that Theodore held.

"Oho, you are from the Polonell Company."

However, Belf didn't hesitate to shake his head. Despite Theodore's status or money, there were really no places left.

On the sea, the Polonell Company's name didn't play a big role. The Polonell Company's influence was mainly based around the land routes to the north, which meant it didn't have as much influence in the distant areas on the Central Continent. Ramos was among them, since it mainly operated via the sea.

Theodore bit his lip at being blocked in an unexpected place.

'If I can't get a ship here… do I need to obtain a carriage and run to the western border? No, it is tough due to the time spent here. I also need a carriage good enough to break through the undead's siege… Should I go into hiding?'

He was cornered. Theodore recognized this fact and looked at the floor with a grim expression.

Although he had the knowledge, brains and experiences of several great people, Theodore was still young. Veronica would've overcome this adversity with her strength, while Vince would've booked a ship in a port city from the very beginning.

It was at this moment that…

"Umm… Did you say you are called Theodore?"

"Ah, yes."

"As I said, it is impossible with a normal ship. However, it might be possible with a special ship."

The depressed Theodore scrambled at those words. "Special ship?"

He could pay no matter how much the extra charge was. Thanks to the duel bid, the money he'd spent at the underground auction wasn't that big. However, instead of explaining the implications, Belf placed a finger to his lips. "However, there are two conditions."

"What are they?"

"First, you must agree to maintain the confidentiality of the ship. You will know the secret after boarding."

"…I understand."

Theodore wanted to complain, but he wasn't in a position to be picky. He needed to fend off the pursuers and arrive at the Soldun Kingdom. As long as he could achieve his purpose, Theo didn't care about the surprise.

Belf then told him the second condition. In some ways, the condition was what Theo had expected.

"Then I need a deposit."

"Do you mean I have to pay extra?"

"No, not that."

Theodore looked confused, making Belf smile and whisper loudly, "Is there someone in the group other than Theo?"

"Yes, two people including me."

"Then 20 gold is required. If you pay 10 gold each, you will know why eventually."

Did he mean the rest of the money would be collected after boarding? Theodore tried to ask, but Belf was adamant that he couldn't explain any more.

'Che, it can't be helped.'

Due to his circumstances, Theo had to take a submissive attitude. In the end, Theodore accepted Belf's offer. He handed over a few gold coins and received two boarding passes. Thanks to the bronze mark of the Luere Company, it was difficult to make counterfeits of the boarding pass. Perhaps this wasn't a one-time thing.

"I will arrange a room for two people. The departure time is this evening."

Theodore looked down with a worried expression and asked Belf something he had almost forgotten, "How long will it take to get to Soldun Kingdom? I heard that we can arrive as early as four days."

"Ah, I'm sorry. My explanation is late." Belf scratched his head at the question before replying, "The ship makes a little 'detour,' so it will take more than a week. Do you have any urgent business?"

"…No, it is okay." Theodore though for a moment before putting the two boarding passes away. The most important thing was getting rid of the chasers from the Orcus Company, not arriving at the Soldun Kingdom quickly.

The advantage of going by sea was that he didn't need to be worried about raids from the warlocks. The zombies, ghouls, and other low level undead couldn't withstand the pressure of the sea currents or the sea creatures.

However, Theodore was skeptical about the special nature of this ship.

'Let's meet Randolph and tell him the news.'

Theodore left the Luere Company and headed toward where Randolph would be waiting. As the leader of a mercenary group active in the central continent, Randolph might know the secret.

Chapter 139 – Unusual Passenger Ship (2)

"Hmm… I'm sorry, but I'm not sure."

However, Theodore's expectations were burst. Randolph had been active as a mercenary on the central continent for nearly a year, but he didn't know anything about the secret ship.

Randolph gave his reply with a frustrated expression while eating his grilled fish. His stomach was empty after the two day pursuit, so he was transforming this fish into energy.

Randolph chewed one more time before continuing to speak, "I certainly came to the central continent earlier than Young Master, but the scope of my activities wasn't that wide. At best, I moved from the midwest to the center of the south? I never went close enough to the east to see the coastline."

"…I see."

"Well, even if I was active in the east, it is unlikely that I would know this information. Based on Belf's story, it seems to be a pretty secretive ship."

Randolph laughed as he drank his cup of beer, stating that the job of a mercenary wasn't one where they would be trusted with anything confidential.

It was natural. Mercenaries were those who would kill someone for a few gold coins or throw themselves onto a battlefield they had nothing to do with. Those types of mercenaries had no sense of belonging and would regard secrets as nothing more than a contribution to their well-being. Who would want to share secrets with people like that?

It went without saying that merchants were well aware of this habit.

"We'll just have to see," Theodore muttered while putting down his empty plate.

No matter what trap was hidden on the ship, both of them needed a way to get out of Kargas quickly.

Come to think of it, it had only been two days. As soon as they left Sipoto, they had been attacked by undead on a nightly basis, and Theodore and Randolph had barely gotten any sleep. It was clear they wouldn't last much longer while traveling by land.

Regardless of the trap, it was like child's play compared to what they were facing, so the opinions of the two people were unanimous.

Jingle.

"I ate well."

They paid for the food just as the sun was setting. It would soon be the departure time Belf mentioned.

Thanks to that, Theodore didn't have to wait and moved straight to the marina. The distinctive fishy smell of seawater tickled their noses as they got closer to the sea. It was a new experience for two people who had lived on land all their lives.

Theodore kept moving as he looked at the number on his boarding pass.

'This is Number 3… If it is Number 5, we have to go a little further.'

Fortunately, there were signs all over the marina, so they didn't get lost. The two people soon arrived at Bay 5, in front of the ship indicated on the boarding pass Theo purchased from Belf. Then their mouths dropped open.

"…Young Master, isn't this pretty big?"

"…It isn't just big."

The ship was enormous. Unlike the military ships which required agile movements, passengers had more value the larger they were. That was because they could hold more guests and facilities. If this was the case, the ship in front of them would be considered one of the best in the industry. What was the 'secret purpose' of this ship? Theo felt a burning curiosity about its purpose.

Despite being unable to think, the two of them approached the ticket inspector at the entrance to the ship.

The inspector asked them in a blunt manner, "A passenger?"

Theodore answered with his boarding pass, and the inspector stepped aside after examining the contents, indicating they could go inside the ship. Theo and Randolph crossed the plank connecting the ship to the pier and entered the enormous passenger ship with worried expressions.

Randolph grumbled at the unfriendly treatment, "What, there isn't a guide for such a big boat? Aren't they going to let us know our room?"

"Is it really like that?"

"Eh?"

Theodore looked at the number engraved on his boarding pass. There was a three digit number which wasn't the boarding date or departure time. In this situation, it was likely to refer to only one thing—their room number. Thanks to the indoor maps placed all over the ship, Theodore could easily find their room, Room No. 306.

Randolph stepped forward first in case there was any danger and opened the door. At the same time, he let out a sound of admiration, "Ohh."

Theodore belatedly looked inside and had the same reaction. 'I truly can't believe this is a ship.'

Some of the famous passenger ships in the Soldun Kingdom had banquet rooms inside, but that wasn't the case in Meltor, where shipbuilding wasn't very developed. However, what about the interior of the room before them?

There were luxurious sofa beds and furniture made out of wood which wouldn't be easily corroded by the sea breeze. A chandelier hanging from the ceiling didn't use real fire, but was a magic light which could be turned on and off by pulling a string.

The ship was several times more luxurious and functional than those in the northern continent. However, these differences were inevitable.

The two powers in the north, Andras and Meltor, couldn't afford to develop their shipping businesses. In the past, they had tried to make ships to enter each other's territories, but the ships were sunk by the harsh currents. Moreover, they had developed small merchant ships and fishing boats, but they weren't able to invest more due to the wars.

"Phew, I feel better now." Randolph looked around the room before falling down on the couch. This meant there was nothing that could be a problem. It was the same with Theodore. He used Hawkeye to examine the ship, but no issues were found.

However, Theodore still felt suspicious. "…It is too plain."

"Huh? Isn't it good if it is plain?"

"No, it is 'too' plain." Theodore shook his head and rejected Randolph's words. "I thought this would be a pleasure ship, a gambling ship, or even a smuggling ship. Those are the only reasons to operate a ship secretly. Rather, this is just a passenger ship."

Nevertheless, this ship was too plain, but it wasn't in a particularly good or bad way. Theodore was able to confirm this because he used vision penetration magic on the whole ship.

The guests in the rooms were all dressed, and their behaviour wasn't frivolous. They were nobles, or at least nouveau riche. If so, there should be something on this ship which could squeeze their wallets.

'No. I looked around a few times and such a facility doesn't exist.'

There were no places for gambling or parties. The structure of the guest rooms and dining rooms were completely faithful to its function as a passenger ship. Apart from the guests, only the crew were on board.

Theodore knew that the world wasn't so clean, so he couldn't let go of his doubts so easily. However, Randolph's way of thinking was a little different. "Well, why don't you think about it later?"

Just like magicians, mercenaries had their own rationales.

"Besides, there is no one on the ship who can threaten me or Young Master. There is no point worrying about the problem with no answer."

"…Aren't you too relaxed?"

"I am a mercenary. Young Master's head is part of your assets. You should use this time to have a break."

Randolph's words were a mess, but in the end, Theodore was convinced. As he said, there weren't enough clues to reach an answer. It wasn't too late to make a judgement after seeing the ship for a few days. Right now, it was time to recover from the chase which had lasted two days.

'…I'll close my eyes this once.'

Theodore climbed onto the fluffy bed and closed his eyes as he felt the shaking of the ship. The sound of people shouting and rowing indicated that the ship was about to depart. It also meant they had escaped the Orcus Company's pursuit.

Chwack…chwack…

As he listened to the choppy sound of the waves, Theodore fell asleep.

* * *

A few days passed by.

Unlike the doubts which Theodore had on the first day, the passenger ship continued its voyage. There were no disruptions on board, and the others guests spent their time walking around the deck or in their rooms.

At first, Theodore was busy looking around. However, his expectations were soon defeated and he started to study. He had reached the 6th Circle, but Theodore hadn't had the chance to learn many 6th Circle magic due to being chased.

'If possible, I wanted to learn space magic first but…'

Theodore looked at some of the stacked books with unhappy eyes.

The difficulty level of space magic was beyond awful. He hadn't expected to reach the same level as the White Tower Master. However, just learning to travel long distances like Shugel would require staying in a room for years and raising his proficiency at calculating space magic.

He didn't know if the White Tower Master had written any books, but right now, Theodore's understanding wasn't good enough. The only source of comfort was that the expansion of his vessel was going smoothly.

"…Hmm."

At that moment, Randolph opened his eyes from where he was meditating in a corner. On the first day, he had rested without thinking. However, after that, Randolph hadn't missed a day of training.

He had already become a master in terms of swordsmanship and physical abilities, so the only task remaining was to awaken his Aura Ability. Randolph had kindly explained that meditation was required to gain an image of that ability.

However, today's meditation had no results.

"Damn, it is visible but not visible. I felt like I can almost reach it if I stretch. However, I really don't like meditation," Randolph grumbled as he loosened his muscles which were stiff from sitting.

The two of them had never left their room since the moment the ship departed until to now. Meals were called to the room, so apart from when they went to the bathroom, they only trained.

Randolph finished his grumbling and finally looked at Theodore.

"Ah, that reminds me Young Master."

"Huh?"

"You seem to have learned an interesting martial art since the last time I saw you. Do you want to have a quick spar? It will be a light one with just bare handed fighting."

"Umm…" Theodore thought for a moment, but he also felt a stiffness from being stuck in one place. He placed a bookmark in the book he was reading before responding to Randolph's suggestion.

"Then let's do it lightly."

Chapter 140 – Unusual Passenger Ship (3)

As he answered, Theodore's legs spread to the proper interval, balancing his center of gravity so that he could move from side to side as he wanted. The expression in Randolph's eyes became serious as he looked at Theodore's reaction, one which only a skilled person could show.

He had noticed it during the chase, but Randolph once again realized that Theodore was completely different from one year ago. In the tense atmosphere, Randolph took the first step.

"Go."

His fist stretched out as his voice faded away. Even if he didn't use aura, the physical abilities of an aura user was a weapon in itself, allowing him to break bones if his fist made contact. An ordinary person couldn't even see the afterimage, but fortunately, Theodore wasn't an ordinary person.

Bang!

Theo's arm formed a semicircle as his fist also stretched out. It was a high level Shift Energy technique found in the eastern continent which emphasized 'firmness' and 'domination.'

'…I couldn't get rid of everything. He's faster than I expected.'

Theodore shook his palms and prepared for the next attack. It was twice as fast as he'd expected. He wanted to raise his palm to defend, but Randolph's next fist came before he could do so.

The dual wielding swordsman, Randolph Clovis, was as fast and sharp as his swords. He punched and prodded at any gaps.

Bang! Pit! Paang! Bang!

The fist and palm hit each other, causing the air between them to explode. As Theo's palm moved away, his fingers swelled, and a few drops of blood fell, causing a spot on the floor to turn red.

Understandably, it was Randolph who was superior in this confrontation, while Theo was just sufficiently maintaining a defense. A swordsman wasn't just about using swords. Rather, the body needed to be trained as much as possible to handle aura. A body which had been trained for decades was truly terrifying.

Randolph wasn't an opponent that a year's worth of training could beat.

'No, what is this shameful situation?'

However, it was Randolph who was bewildered by the situation, not Theodore.

In fact, he was going to teach the dangers of melee combat by suppressing Theodore with his first attack. A magician who had learned a little bit of martial arts naturally couldn't compare to someone who had been professionally trained in close combat.

However, he hadn't expected for his first attack to be blocked and to then exchange a few blows. Randolph looked at his employer with a frightened expression. 'Where did he pick this up?'

There was no explanation for it. The human body rarely improved rapidly, even if it went through systematic and rigorous training. Some of those who had a hereditary lineage would occasionally inherit their ancestor's superior abilities, but this wasn't the case with Theodore.

There must've been an extraordinary opportunity for Theodore's poor body from last year to grow like this. However, that wasn't the only reason Theodore was difficult to deal with.

Paang!

His palm moved at the correct timing to deflect Randolph's fists. Theodore's moves were never wrong, as if he had done this more than a hundred times. Additionally, He didn't get caught by Randolph's feints.

Randolph tried all types of feints, but Theodore filtered out the real and the fakes, defending against the real one. Randolph didn't know, but it was because Theodore's sensory perception was so sensitive.

'Amazing. There is no chance of winning in a close combat match.'

However, like Randolph, Theodore was also shocked. Despite Lee Yoonsung's physical abilities, his martial arts, and Alfred's super sensory perceptions, Theo was only able to maintain his defense without counterattacking.

Of course, it would be different if Theo used Umbra and other means, but Randolph hadn't even used his aura yet. At this moment, Theo realized that a close combat match with a master class was reckless.

Randolph had achieved his goal, but he continued to swing his fist unconsciously. He predicted that this confrontation wouldn't end so easily.

Tak.

Then at the next moment, Randolph retreated three steps and formed a fist. It wasn't impossible for Theodore to anticipate the retreat, but the retreating movements were too quick. This was the strength of a person who dominated 'speed.' Randolph could fight at any time and withdraw a any time.

"It is admirable. You are a magician. Becoming like this in a year… you truly are a genius. I grew up hearing that I was a genius, but I'm nothing compared to Young Master."

"…You are just complimenting me."

"No, this isn't enough. If you were born in the Andras Empire, isn't it possible for you to become the youngest of the Seven Swords?"

Randolph didn't know about the grimoire, Gluttony, so the only reason for the incomprehensible achievement was Theodore's talent. Of course, Theodore smiled bitterly because he wasn't actually a genius and yet Randolph just thought he was being humble.

Randolph blamed the unfair world with a few words before forming two fists. His right fist was raised to his shoulder, while his left fist moved down to his waist.

Jjirak. Theodore felt an extreme sense of caution. It was impossible to understand the meaning of it, but his senses were giving him the maximum level of a warning.

"Fortunately, I still have something to teach you." Randolph smiled when he saw Theodore's stiff response.

Then Randolph moved.

..Paang!

The sound was one beat late. By the time the sound was heard, Randolph's fists had already reached in front of Theo's eyes, and there was no time for Theodore to react to the attack. If Randolph had intended to kill Theodore, Theo definitely would've stopped breathing right then.

Theodore couldn't move his feet. Pure physical power against trained martial arts… the winner and loser were decided in a moment.

"Well done."

"Good work, Young Master."

It was a phenomenon which couldn't be understood, but Theodore didn't forget his courtesies at the end, and Randolph accepted it. However, the question wasn't resolved. Theodore's eyes looked like those of a beast demanding an explanation, causing Randolph to stutter.

"W-Well, I had a thought. It was truly correct." Randolph's cryptic words scratched at Theodore's nerves.

"What did you think? And why were you right?"

"I found out what Young Master is lacking."

Theodore listened quietly. He had absorbed Lee Yoonsung's experience, but it wasn't perfect. Randolph was close to being a master, so his advice would definitely be helpful. As Theodore calmed, Randolph's expression turned serious.

"The basics are good. You know how to distinguish real attacks from fakes, meaning your discerning eye is better than that of ordinary knights. You won't be easily caught by a surprise attack in a melee."

"…Then?"

"The problem is what comes next. Since you only know the basics, you don't have an answer when a technique like the one I used at the end shows up."

Theodore silently accepted it. Randolph's last technique was literally ridiculous. It was a technique using an aura user's massive physical abilities and couldn't be easily understood. Randolph called it 'Hidden Meaning.'

"Well, the name varies. Whether it is 'Hidden Meaning', 'Vision', 'Secret Technique', or 'Mystic Arts'… the important thing is its nature, not the name. It's a decisive martial arts blow that can only be demonstrated after faithfully accumulating the basics."

Randolph drew his swords and took on a posture to deal a deadly blow that didn't show any errors.

Kakiing!

The blow couldn't be seen. The acceleration wasn't even shown as Randolph's blow broke a ball of dust in the air into two pieces. This was the swordsmanship of the Clovis family, at one time a member of the prestigious Seven Swords of the Empire.

Randolph put the swords away without any boasting and said, "I don't know who taught you martial arts, but if you have time, you should learn the rest. Otherwise, you won't be able to beat 'real' people in close combat. Of course, Young Master is a magician, so there is no reason to do that."

"…Thank you." Theodore bowed respectfully.

The knight's and magician's paths were different, but advice to reach the next level was always useful. After thanking Randolph, Theodore was left to ponder about something he had forgotten about—Transmission.

To put it bluntly, eating the book 'Battle Song' was getting in the way of Theodore's Battle Song. The synchro rate was high, but his physical abilities were low, which meant he failed to reproduce even half of Lee Yoonsung's skills. It would take a few more years if he wanted to search his memories and pursue those afterimages.

However, the story was different if he could fully absorb the soul with Transmission. It would be like with Alfred, where Theodore could use all of his abilities. The words Gluttony had spoken also proved the possibility.

–Transmission isn't normally used in that way.

In the past, when Alfred's soul had been absorbed, Theodore had almost died. However, according to Gluttony, there seemed to be a more modest way of using Transmission. Anyway, it was necessary for Theo to keep in mind the expansion of his 'vessel' as he started thinking about new possibilities for Transmission.

Then at that moment…

[Deo!] The childlike voice ringing through Theo's head got rid of his thoughts. The refreshing voice belonged to the ancient elemental Mitra, who was contracted with him.

'Mitra? What's going on?'

[Here baba!]

'Huh?' Theodore turned his head and found the party involved.

"…Mitra, don't bother Hugin."

The girl with light brown skin and hair like ripe wheat stood on the head of the crow.

Of course, the girl was Mitra and the crow flapping his wings was Hugin. She was an independent entity, but Mitra's essence was still an 'earth elemental.' Her range of action was limited on a ship crossing the sea.

[Fwen!]

Therefore, Mitra made a new friend with wings.

Kyaaack!

…Of course, it was unknown if her friend was thinking the same thing.

'I'm sorry. I'll feed you well later.'

Theodore looked at Hugin with sad eyes before turning to Mitra, who had called him. She might've called him to play as usual, but it felt like that wasn't the case today.

Mitra's eyes flashed as she spoke again, [Deo! Here baba!]

"Huh? Aren't I looking at it now?"

[Eung? No! Not see it!]

'What is she saying?' Theodore was perplexed by her words, and Mitra suddenly banged against Hugin's head.

[Bwack sail! Bwack sail!]

Kuwaaaack!

It might not seem like it, but Mitra had the power of an intermediate level spirit. Not long after, the flying Hugin let out a cry, and 'Clairvoyance' was invoked. Simultaneously, the horizon appeared before Theodore's eyes. Theodore was confused by the sudden sight but he had already experienced this several times, so he focused his senses calmly.

There had to be a reason Mitra was showing him this landscape. Unsurprisingly, Theodore peered out with a pinched face.

"…Black sails."

Those who didn't know the sea might say that the colour of the sails didn't matter. However, the sailors would scoff at them.

The color of the sails revealed the purpose of the ship. White represented passenger ships and domestic trade vessels, blue represented international trade vessels and ships carrying delegations, while other colours symbolized the military vessels of various countries.

However, there was a colour that didn't belong, and it was the black sail symbolizing 'sin.' There was only one type of ship which flew a black flag—a pirate ship.

There weren't just one or two but five. A passenger ship which had abandoned mobility and combat power in order to raise its size wouldn't be able to go against them.

"Randolph, arm yourself right now."

"I already am."

As a veteran mercenary, his movements were truly fast. He armed himself the moment the words 'black sails' came out. The two equipped men left the room instantly. Theodore continued using Clairvoyance while walking to the deck with Randolph. As the faint smell of seawater and perfume entered his nose, there was a sense of discomfort.

'…Why didn't I get a warning?'

His senses detected all 'enemies', including things like 'evil' and 'spirits', so why hadn't it noticed the existence of the pirate ship? No, it still didn't give off any discomfort despite Theodore realizing the situation. This was a first for Theodore who had gone through many difficulties.

However, his question would disappear in the near future.

Chapter 141 – Pirate Archipelago (1)

Rattle.

As the two people ran onto the deck, there were passengers who didn't know the situation yet. If a battle occurred, it made no difference if they hid inside or outside. However, Randolph and Theodore couldn't understand the nonchalant faces of the weak.

The black sails of the pirate ships were approaching them from the horizon.

"What, did they come as a group?" Randolph looked around with a confused expression.

'…Rather, the atmosphere is strange.' In contrast, Theodore doubted the whole situation.

It was because his sensory perception was silent and the reactions of the surrounding passengers were consistently strange.

The pirate ships were already close enough to be seen by the other passengers. Despite this, the passengers on deck were still busy chatting among themselves while eating snacks and drinking. Meanwhile, the way the two of them were looking around made them seem like hillbillies.

Under these circumstances, the pirate ships continued approaching, and with the wind blowing, the ships were close enough for arrows to fly. If the pirates shot arrows from this position, the deck of the passenger ship would quickly become bloody.

However, arrows didn't come flying, and Theodore heard a voice calling from behind, "Hey, Young Man!"

He looked back and saw a middle-aged man smiling strangely at him. Theodore kept an eye on the pirate ships while cautiously asking the middle-aged man, "…Did you call me?"

"Yes, you are stiff. I'm guessing that this is the first time you and your companion have been on this ship."

"That's right."

"Hahaha! I knew it. People who visit this ship for the first time are always confused by this situation. Pirate ships suddenly appear, but the other passengers don't react at all. People will naturally be confused!"

Just like a fool playing with knives, the middle-aged man chuckled. However, Theodore and Randolph didn't laugh and continued to gaze at him with cold expressions. Thinking the two people were angry at him, the middle-aged man exclaimed hurriedly, "Oh, I don't mean that you are stupid!"

Theodore ignored his excuses and asked, "Then that means this is related to the secret of this ship?"

"T-That's right. I guess I'll explain."

The middle-aged man was pushed by the pressure of the two people and opened his mouth while sweating. It wasn't a direct pressure, but the tense atmosphere of a 6th Circle magician and master level aura 1 was more than ordinary people could endure.

Rather, the middle-aged man was quite good to endure that slight pressure as he started the story.

"Simply put, this isn't a passenger ship but a cruise ship."

"Cruise ship?"

"That's right. While it is true that the final destination is the Soldun Kingdom, the destination on the way is a little special."

The middle-aged man regained some strength as he mentioned its name—the Pirate Archipelago. A group of islands which didn't belong to any country got this name after pirates settled on them. It was off the east coast of the Kargas Kingdom, and a few days northwest from the archipelago was the Solun Kingdom. Those who existed within the boundaries of the law didn't know about this lawless land.

"Pirate Archipelago? In the end, it is just a base for pirates."

It was as they said, but the middle-aged man didn't accept it. "Then there would be no reason for the ship to visit it."

The middle-aged man, who identified himself as a merchant of the Rommel Company, explained the reason. Perhaps it was his hobby to add some atmosphere or because he was shaken by the pressure of the two men, but his voice had a foreboding tone as he told the story.

'Hrmm, I got involved in something more complicated than I imagined,' Theo thought.

If the man's explanation was correct, the Pirate Archipelago only started this 'tourism industry' 50 years ago.

The islands, which had originally been uninhabited, became a gathering place for refugees and outlaws from various countries. Among them were once promising swordsmen and criminals known for their superior dexterity. As they lived together in one place, they turned into a big force and became pirates to make up for the barren soil and scarce animal husbandry. They were villains who raided private houses on the coast, fishing boats, and merchant ships in order to feed their families on the island.

However, the Pirate Archipelago face an unexpected demand. As a lawless zone located on the outskirts of the law, it was charming to some people. Those who dealt with prohibited goods and those who weren't satisfied by money alone started to change the Pirate Archipelago.

"It was the birth of a whole new form of entertainment." The middle-aged man clapped and nodded. "You can enjoy all types of luxuries and things that are prohibited, such as forbidden merchandise or slaves from foreign countries. It is literally the island of pleasure."

"Yes, so…"

Was this the cause of the heated atmosphere? Theodore looked at the passengers with sunken eyes and sighed. The pirates weren't enemies but guides who had come to take the tourists to the Pirate Archipelago. No hostility was felt so his sensory perception remained silent. Theodore's eyes narrowed as he grasped the situation.

'Should we turn this upside down?'

Before that, there was a man who expressed this thought.

[Young Master, should we do something?] Randolph's Hidden Voice growled like a beast, clearing Theodore's head.

Theo glanced at the middle-aged man who had gone to join the others and shook his head.

[That isn't possible. According to him, this ship and the pirates are in cahoots. There aren't many people who don't know the situation, and there is no guarantee any of them will join us. More than anything else…]

[More than anything else?]

[There is no way to survive if the ship sinks from the fighting.]

'Losing' wasn't something the two people worried about. It might be arrogant, but the they were entitled to think that. If they didn't worry about the damage, it would take a short time to sink six ships into the ocean.

However, there was bound to be disapproval from the captain if they asked to move to the shore after that. This was why Theodore avoided a battle at this point. Randolph knew this, but momentary passion had clouded his eyes.

Theodore whispered to him, [Just endure it for now. There is a proverb from the East that is used in situations like this.]

[What is it?]

Before answering the question, Theodore stared at the people in the distance. His keen hearing picked up all the words they spoke, despite the distance in between. The captain of the passenger ship and the leader of the pirate ships… It was a mutual brotherhood that was disgusting.

Theodore gazed coldly at them and replied, [Go into the tiger's den to catch the tiger.]

* * *

After the captain and pirates finished their greetings, they returned to their respective ships and connected unknown chains to the passenger ship. Then the five pirate ships turned and started to pull the passenger ship in one direction!

'What the hell is this?'

Even Theodore, who didn't know much about ships or navigation, thought it was ridiculous.

There were five pirate ships, but the weight of the enormous passenger ship far exceeded the sum of all five. It was said that the burden was reduced by buoyancy, but then it would be better for the ship to move on its own.

In the end, the pirate fleet pulled the passenger ship.

Chwack…chwack…

The wind blowing into the sails slowly added speed to the six ships. The ships increased in speed as they escaped from the heavy waves. 5 knots to 10 knots, 10 knots to 15 knots… It didn't take long form them to reach full speed, and this was with the large passenger ship attached to them!

"T-This is ridiculous!" Theodore was shocked by the incomprehensible phenomenon and approached the front where the chains were connected. Randolph followed behind, but Theodore forgot about him.

'Perhaps there's some weight reduction magic on the chains?'

This question caused Gluttony to poke out its tongue. Despite the tongue sweeping the surface, no information popped up. In other words, this was a pure chain with no magic. However, Theodore kept searching without giving up. If these chains were ordinary, something else might be the cause. A magician's curiosity blazed in his eyes.

'Perhaps?'

How long did he ponder for? Then Theodore's eyes finally noticed something. The pirate ships pulling the large passenger ship with the chains looked like galleys, and they were showing an uncanny pace.

'Gluttony.'

-…Bothering me to work as soon as I wake up.

'Stop complaining. If you stretch out your tongue, can you reach that place?'

–Hmm? Gluttony glanced at the pirate ship and replied in an excited voice, –It is a little dicey, but I can just reach it.

Simultaneously, Theodore stretched out his left hand.

'Appraisal!'

The red tongue quickly popped out from the hole in his left palm. It was a bold attempt, but no one could see it properly. The waves were constantly breaking, creating water vapour and limiting visibility. The tongue stretched downwards from Theodore and succeeded in touching one of the pirate ships.

The information window Theo had been waiting for popped up.

[Pirate Ship No. 17 (Ship)]

[This is a galley built six years ago. It was made by excellent craftsmen from materials which are strong against sea breeze and salt, giving it a long life and high durability. Due to the weight reduction and strength enhancement spells engraved on the surface, it is 30% faster than normal galleys. However, the worth of this ship is due to the 'divine protection' on it.

* This ship is rated 'Rare.'

* It can't be consumed. Please reduce the size. You can eat it if you separate the areas where magic is engraved.

* When consumed, the digestion time is 55 minutes and 17 seconds.

* When consumed, the proficiency of weight reduction spells will increase.

* When consumed, knowledge of 'navigation' will be acquired.

* The blessing of an unknown existence is hanging on it. The ship will gain additional acceleration, and the wind and waves will always be favorable toward it.]

'…An unknown presence!'

Theo didn't care about the other information as he gazed closely at the ending words.

Frankly, the weight reduction magic or strength enhancement magic wouldn't increase the speed of the ship that much. The secret of the speed was something which couldn't be comprehended with Gluttony's Appraisal, due to 'someone's protection.'

'Indeed, we are going somewhere strange.'

Even though there was a demand, a large-scale lawless zone like the Pirate Archipelago was bound to experience some damages from this tourism business. Regardless of how many benefits there were, the planners always needed to be alert to the emergence of variables which couldn't be controlled. It was now that the reason finally showed itself.

There was a deterrent that the central continent couldn't touch easily. Just 'who' was the one who blessed the pirate ship?

'I was avoiding trouble and then this appeared.'

Maybe the place they were heading to was more dangerous than the warlocks of the Orcus Company.

1. The author previously states that everything about Randolph is master level, except for the fact that he hasn't awakened the Aura Ability. So the author just calls him master level when it comes to things like this.

Chapter 142 – Pirate Archipelago (2)

Two days later…

Without knowing about Theodore's anxiety, the five pirate ships proceeded smoothly through the waves. It was at a truly terrifying speed. The pirate ships with the unknown 'blessing' always had their sails inflated with wind from behind, and the hard waves never stopped them.

Theodore clicked his tongue as he watched.

'Even the famously quick ships of the Soldun Kingdom wouldn't be able to catch up with these pirate ships.'

It was obvious for a sailor, but the speed of the ship was determined by environmental factors rather than the performance of the ship itself. This meant it was difficult to advance in a headwind or against strong waves, even if it was a good ship. On the other hand, a cheap ship might be able to move faster if it was carried by the wind and waves.

However, these pirate ships moved while maintaining the optimal conditions. It was different on land, but he could see that these ships had the absolute advantage on the sea. This wasn't a speed that human ships could catch up with.

Randolph also realized this despite not knowing much about sailing, as he approached Theodore and muttered, "Hah, it is ridiculously fast."

"You can tell?"

Unlike land which had many indicators, it was hard to determine speed on the sea. There were no trees, hills, or slopes. The only thing which could be seen from the deck was the horizon stretching out in every direction.

However, Randolph didn't hesitate to nod and reply, "The wind pressure, position of the clouds, the sun and angle of the light… Any number of factors can be used as a guideline."

"Indeed."

A veteran sailor could do it, but Randolph was a monster who was half a step away from human standards. His senses were overwhelming despite the lack of experience.

In fact, he was right. It was now five days after departing Ramos and two days after encountering the pirate ships. Nevertheless, the distance they passed in these two days was much further than during the first five days of travel. Using simple calculations, it meant they had sped up by more than two and a half times.

If his calculations were correct, they should shortly arrive at the destination.

"…Eh?"

At this moment when Theodore's expectations had risen, a strange sight was visible on the horizon. It was the sea fog which was notorious for being a reaper in the reef areas. This wasn't a phenomenon which would normally occur in the middle of the ocean, but the crew's response was swift.

"Bring down the sails! Hurry!"

"Stop the oars and wait!"

"Reduce the speed! Leave the anchors alone!"

As the crew members ran around the busy deck, the fog approached at a rapid pace. It felt like the fog was a person approaching them. While Theodore was shaken by the eerie illusion, the six ships entered the fog at roughly the same time.

Chill.

At that moment, Theodore's intuition shook violently.

'T-This isn't a fog…!'

It just had the shape of fog, but not a single drop of moisture touched his skin. This was a fog which couldn't be removed by wind and wouldn't change even when heat was applied.

The fog was a type of boundary line, a ward which wouldn't allow uninvited guests in. Theodore realized it was why the pirate ships were dragging the passenger ship with the chains. Speed aside, it was a necessary way to pass through the enchantment.

Otherwise, the passenger ship would've drifted aimlessly through this fog, never to be seen again. Theodore thought that this fog might be the ultimate barrier protecting the Pirate Archipelago.

"…Young Master, have you come to another dangerous place?" Randolph also realized this, and the always present smile was missing from his face.

Even the master level aura was useless in this fog. He might be able to break through with aura, but it would be a huge challenge. Additionally, they might be able to overcome this fog, but could they overcome the creator of this fog? Theodore dropped the odds to below 2%.

While the two people were tense, the fog lifted.

"Ohh, that place….?"

"It has been a long time…!"

The passengers on the deck burst out with delight. Some passengers admired the view of the Pirate Archipelago they had only heard about, while others were glad to be back. The Pirate Archipelago, an entertainment on the sea which some people would never know about…

The island of sin and pleasure.

* * *

The procedure to enter the Pirate Archipelago was surprisingly orderly.

"Line up in the order of boarding."

A muscular man wearing a tightly fitted suit greeted the tourists politely. The cutlass hanging at his waist was threatening, and tattoos covered his body. Of course, he was nothing more than a clown compared to Theodore's and Randolph��s strength.

"Still, this is pretty good."

"Yes, he is at the level of a first class mercenary."

The individual skill of the pirate was quite good despite his appearance. In a one-on-one duel, an ordinary knight would be quite pressured. If this man was used to greet tourists, the elites must be composed of very talented people. Nobody dared make a fuss for fear that their necks would be slit.

Soon, it was time for the duo to get off.

"It is a 10 gold admission fee for each person."

The 10 gold Belf mentioned would be used here. Theodore pulled out 20 gold, including Randolph's share, and placed it on the man's rough palm. Then the man grinned and bowed down politely. His palms were rubbing together like he had ulterior motives.

Unsurprisingly, he started to speak instead of moving out of the way.

"Welcome! Is this your first visit to the island?"

"That's right."

"Then what do you think about taking a guide? If you add 1 gold, I will introduce you to a nice guide!"

'A guide…' As a visitor to the island, Theodore thought about whether he needed one.

They didn't come to this island for a special purpose, but it was true that they were unfamiliar with this place. It wouldn't be too bad to bring along a guide who could explain everything. Additionally, the cost of 1 gold was too light for him.

Ting.

A gold coin was lightly flicked from Theodore.

"Oh, I received it well! Let me call someone over!"

The man grabbed the gold coins at a fast speed and took the two men somewhere else. It was an alley not far from the harbour where the ship was docked. There were shabbily dressed boys and girls sitting down and laughing. As soon as the man approached, the kids jumped up.

However, the man shouted without looking at them, "Jack! If you don't pop up in 10 seconds, I will hand it over to someone else!"

A cheerful voice was heard in return, "I'm coming now!"

Simultaneously, a boy jumped out of the crowd. He used light movements to climb down a wall like a monkey and landed before Theodore's group. He had dark skin covered with soot and bright eyes that shone with a wisdom beyond his age. Clearly, he wasn't an ordinary boy.

"They are guests who have just arrived. Your share is 50% as always, and you will receive the payment as soon as the guidance is done."

"Yes, thank you!"

The man handed the boy named Jack over to the duo and headed back to the harbor. The rest of the children sat down, leaving only Jack standing as he looked between Theo and Randolph. Unlike his mischievous eyes, he bowed carefully and politely introduced himself, "Hello! Please comfortably call me Jack. I will guide you anywhere you want to go."

"…Yes, please do it well," Theodore accepted the greeting lightly.

He hadn't expected the guide to be a child.

Jack probably noticed Theo's hesitance as he spoke up in a confident manner, "I was born and raised on this island. It will be difficult to find someone who knows it better than me. Is this your first visit?"

"That's right."

"Then I will do the whole tour. If there is a place you want to stop at, just tell me!"

After saying that, Jack started walking in front of them with a nimble gait, a gait which seemed to belong to natives of this island.

At first, the two of them followed with strange expressions, but they soon realized the boy's proficiency. This skill wasn't possible for just being on the job for a day or two. He must've worked as a guide in the archipelago for at least a few years.

The first place Jack directed them to was a casino.

"This is the place where the greatest amount of money comes and goes from our Pirate Archipelago. There is a total of 17 casinos."

As they crossed several bridges, there was the sound of gold coins rubbing against one another, as well as the smell of alcohol, tobacco, and perfume.

Dealers were interacting with guests in half naked attire. Most of the cupboards in the bar were filled with alcohol, and there were drunk people on the ground, while others were caught trying to cheat.

It was like a depiction of the outskirts of a civilized world.

Jack glimpsed the expressions of the two men and started explaining, "Of course, this isn't an ordinary casino. Unlike the casinos on land, there is no limit to the pot, and things that aren't readily available outside can emerge as prizes. However, in the case of cheating, you will have to pay back 10 times the amount as a penalty."

"What if you can't?"

"…It is like that." Jack pointed to a homeless man without any arms.

It was obvious that arms used to be there, so both arms must've been cut off in exchange for cheating. The rules of the world were bloody, but this place was completely ruthless as it was beyond the boundaries of the law.

However, the two of them didn't show any signs of wanting to enter the casino, so Jack moved on with a sad expression. Although it was less than the casinos, there was one place which received a lot of tips.

"I guess both of you aren't interested in this."

However, what about the next destination? Jack gave a wicked smile.

"Hehe, then let's go see my sisters. Both of you are handsome and chiseled, so everybody will like you."

The Pirate Archipelago wasn't called the island of pleasure for nothing. The prostitutes gathered from all over the continent were just as plentiful and high quality as those on land. There were beauties from the North, the Center and the South.

It was the instinct of rich men to pursue power and women. The Pirate Archipelago aimed at this, so it was natural to visit the beauties if they were men.

Randolph's nose couldn't help twitching when he heard it.

Bam.

At that moment, Theodore hit him lightly.

"W-What?"

"If you head in the wrong direction, I'll tell Rebecca."

"Heok!" Randolph restrained himself, and his expression became as dignified as his master's.

Theodore smiled before opening his mouth to say, "No, I don't want to go to the brothels."

"Huh? Ah, no. Then where do you want to go?"

"I want to know about a special place."

'Special place?' Randolph and Jack both cocked their heads at the cryptic words, then Theodore opened his mouth.

"Where is the ruler of this island?"

Chapter 143 – Pirate Archipelago (3)

Jack looked at Theo with surprise.

"T-The ruler?"

The boy's reaction was good for his age, but he wasn't lucky today. Randolph and Theodore read the falseness in Jack's voice.

In actual history, the war hero, Alfred Bellontes, was recorded as a ruthless person when it came to questioning prisoners. Theodore had inherited the experience of such a great man, so his eyes saw that Jack was hiding something.

However, it was too early to startle the snake in the bush.

"Is the question that surprising? This is like a village, so wouldn't the Pirate Archipelago have a boss? I don't think the pirates would have a democracy."

This was why Theodore took a step back. The guide was just a boy. The amount of information which could be obtain through forced means was limited. It was better to gather clues from the story than pushing through haphazardly.

"Oh, that is what you meant."

"It is my first visit, so I have a lot to ask you. I'll give this to you if you answer me." As Theo spoke, he pulled out two five gold coins, making Jack's eyes shine.

Jack's worries didn't last long. This was the Pirate Archipelago, an island of outlaws who ignored law and ethics. In this place, the most important thing was power. Those who had more power, either through violence or power, would have the upper hand. The tip of 10 gold was absolutely fascinating for a boy who had been born and grew up on the Pirate Archipelago.

Jack's lips parted slowly, "…Should I tell you?"

As if he was holding great information, Jack put on an exaggerated expression and looked around.

Theodore nodded. Then the boy started to whisper, "There are a few people on the island who behave as if they are kings. First, weren't you guided by some pirate ships when you came to this island?"

"Yes."

"Did you see a man with one eye, who is wearing accessories made of human skulls?"

As soon as Theo heard the description of the skull ornaments and eyepatch, a scene flashed in his mind. The man who had been chatting with the captain of the passenger ship fit that description. Jack noticed his expression and nodded.

"'Captain' Virtus, that is what the islanders call him."

Jack seemed hyped up by the story as he continued in an excited tone. According to the boy, there were four people on this island who had full authority. Apart from the captain who led visitors here, the island was divided into three zones. The lips of the boy, who smelled the scent of money, moved in a quick manner.

Red Light District's Queen Bee, 'Queen' Maeve.

Godfather of the Casino, 'Gold Toad' Todd.

Stolen Goods Big Spender, 'Thief' Lupian.

Each one was responsible for one axis of the Pirate Archipelago. They had thoroughly divided their roles and areas, so they didn't get into conflicts with each other. It was a fairly orderly structure for a lawless zone. Well, if this order hadn't existed, the island of criminals would've already collapsed.

"How interesting," Theodore whispered before flicking a gold coin. "But that isn't all, is it?"

"Huh?"

"Even if the people you described are in balance, that is only the story for the present time. It would be strange for there to be no conflicts when the four organizations were being established." As he rolled the remaining gold around between his fingers, Theodore met Jack's greedy eyes. "Is there perhaps someone on top of those four people?"

Theo finally got to the main point. He had invested nearly 30 minutes of listening to a useless story for this reason.

The story of the four criminals was good, but it wasn't what he needed. From the very beginning, Theodore had been wondering about the identity of the person who had created a barrier around the islands and achieved the paradise of criminals.

"T-T-That…" Jack followed the moving gold coin with his pupils before closing his eyes. Perhaps he knew nothing, or maybe he was unable to speak. "I-I don't know."

Was it up to here? Theodore was about to put away the gold coin with a regretful heart when…

"B-But! I will tell you everything that I do know!" Jack called out half a beat later, in a desperate attempt to stop Theodore's hand.

* * *

"One gold for a single room and two gold for a double room per day. If it is a special room, one gold is added to each one."

The innkeeper looked at the two people with a greedy expression as he rubbed his palms together.

It was a few times more expensive than accommodations on land, but this was the listed price for the Pirate Archipelago. Anyway, it wasn't that overpriced for visitors to the island. Randolph's eyebrows twitched at the absurd amount, but Theodore handed over the gold coins without any objections.

The two of them were able to get two rooms, where they would be staying for the next 10 days. Randolph took off his heavy armour in the room and spoke first, "So, Young Master, what are you doing to do now?"

"I'm not sure." Theodore smiled wryly at the question and sat down on the bed.

It might've cost 10 gold, but the information he got from Jack was worth the cost. He didn't know about Jack, but both Theodore and Randolph thought so. There was a legend which the four zones and rulers of the Pirate Archipelago had in common.

"It is a problem if there really is a 'sea god.'"

Sea god… If a church had heard it, Theodore might be accused of blasphemy.

Jack had never been there, but the island at the center of the Pirate Archipelago seemed to have a temple dedicated to the sea god. In the end, it was nothing more than a rumour which floated around. Nevertheless, both of them sensed it.

The sea god was the true ruler of this island.

'If the sea god created that fog… we can't afford to go against it.'

Theodore had encountered several master class and legendary brings in the past, so he guessed it easily. There was only a little bit of power left in the fog, but his whole body had gotten goosebumps.

The sea god had control over the sea. As for how much strength it had, the present Theodore couldn't even imagine. It was an ability that was the exact opposite of a magician, who produced results efficiently. This was a limitless power which could twist reality.

"…It is just a guess, but I don't think the opponent is a human."

A human with such power wouldn't use it in such primitive ways. Just the fog covering the Pirate Archipelago exceeded the magic of an elder class magician. Theodore wasn't of a common standard, but he wouldn't be able to endure half of it.

In order to maintain the fog so naturally that it was like breathing, a minimum of eight circles would be needed.

Randolph accepted Theo's assumption without questioning it. "I think so as well. I have seen a few of the empire's Seven Swords from a distance, but the presence on this island is from an entire different category."

"The whole island seems to be its realm, so the environmental conditions are disadvantageous to us. It isn't something we can face, even if we combine our powers."

"Right. Then what do we do?"

Theodore shrugged. They didn't come here with the tremendous mission of subjugating the Pirate Archipelago. It was just a coincidence since they were running away from the Orcus Company. There was no reason to recklessly go against an opponent they had no animosity with.

"Our top priority is hiding from the Orcus Company. I don't think they can chase us to the Pirate Archipelago. Well, anyone who does chase us will be blocked by the fog."

If he looked at it differently, this island was a fortress. No uninvited guests could wander through the fog, so there was no need to reveal their identity. The presence of the being which ruled the island was scary if it was an enemy, but it was reassuring for those in hiding.

"It is a rational choice. I understand."

Of course, Randolph might be tempted to call Theo's choice cowardly. However, Randolph was a mercenary, not a knight.

Rather than risking his life in a meaningless battle, he would step back and wait. Just like in the case of the elder lich, it was unknown if there was an exit, so there was no point gambling. He didn't have a hobby of crawling toward death.

The two men finished their consultation and entered their rooms.

Theodore, whose mind had been busy racing, starting breathing calmly. The choice of fighting the sea god was dismissed, so what should he do with this time?

'My goal of escaping the Orcus Company's hands is achieved.'

At least, as long as they stayed in this Pirate Archipelago. It would also take some time for the next cruise ship to arrive. Based on Jack's explanation, the cruise ship stayed for around 10~14 days before leaving for the original destination. Theodore thought about what he could do during this break.

"Gluttony."

This was a chance to find out more about the 'Transmission' feature.

–You called. As always, the voice came from the hole in Theo's left palm.

"You spoke to me last time about Transmission."

–Um.

"You said that it is different from what I went through with Alfred, and that there is a process. Gradually assimilating the soul, or something like that."

Gluttony had only quickly mentioned it, but Theodore's extraordinary memory recalled every moment of that time, without missing a single detail. In the end, Gluttony answered the question.

–Yes, that's right.

"Teach me how to use Transmission. This is a question regarding your function, so it doesn't count as a question and answer."

-…Okay.

Theodore carefully listened while inwardly suppressing his delight.

–First, 'Transmission' is my 4th stage function. It was designed as a means of using 'Overwrite' more efficiently. If the author's soul is loaded, you can use that ability be absorbing the soul.

He knew this much. After using Transmission on Alfred, Theodore had suffered terrible pain as the soul was absorbed. If Superbia hadn't attacked, there might've been a chance of his ego collapsing and he would've died. Soul fusion was a dangerous and unstable act.

However, according to Gluttony, it wasn't originally like that.

–As you've experienced before, mixing the souls directly is a great risk. So, there is a separate process in Transmission.

"Process?"

–Yes. That process is called a Quest.

As Theodore rolled the word 'quest' around in his mouth, Gluttony continued explaining.

–User can talk to the authors of the eaten original books and absorb the fragment of soul by solving the desires that they've left behind.

"…In other words, do something for them?"

-That's right. If you want, you can ask them their wishes right now by calling 'Lee Yoonsung' or 'Satomer.'

-Who do you want to call first? Gluttony asked.

Theodore replied, "The author of [Battle Song], Lee Yoonsung."