Nautilus's Makeover
With the magic realm nucleus removed, the abnormally dense water mana dissipated, and the water pooled atop the hill came cascading down. This triggered a massive flood that swept into the lowlands of Chromore's hills in an instant, but the residents inside the castle walls cheered at the sight.
Not only had Chromore's highest hill spared them from the deluge, but the vanishing of the mana-induced anomalies signaled that the root cause had been eradicated.
"Wahaha! Look at that—we're saved!"
"Haha, it's draining away nice and clean!"
As the waters that had risen nearly to the castle walls receded, the monsters that had lurked within, eagerly awaiting human prey, were either swept away or flopped helplessly on the exposed ground. The people laughed at one another, pointing them out. The quick ones were already grabbing spears to spear the stranded fish monsters, while others released the sheep they'd brought inside the walls.
Meanwhile, the lord of Chromore sighed in relief at having averted his territory's near-destruction, but he paced anxiously over future woes. They'd prevented the land from turning into a magic realm, but the costs of recovery made his head spin. Ordinary floods wouldn't have caused such widespread ruin, leaving reconstruction expenses impossible to tally.
Most of the territory's wooden buildings were rotten through with mold and mushrooms sprouting everywhere, demanding full replacement—but quality timber was scarce nearby. On top of that, they needed to replace spoiled food, repurchase rusted and corroded weapons, and buy new sheep to replace the dead ones. Everything beyond the territory's survival screamed despair.
Daiyen approached with a smile. "You look like you've got a lot on your mind, my lord."
The lord eyed her merchant's grin—equal parts hope and dread of the debt feast to come. But what choice did he have? Without funds, recovery would falter, and without recovery, the territory would wither slowly. A lord had no room for refusal.
"Haa... what do you want?"
"Well, how far have you looked into it?"
Her smile deepened.
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A massive ship plans every detail before setting sail. It maps supply stops, docking ports, sales, and purchases in advance, with contingencies for every deviation. That was standard procedure.
Daiyen had been waiting for Suhyun as he emerged from the public showers in the communal sauna after extracting the magic realm nucleus and returning to Nautilus. She insisted on plotting Nautilus's course by that logic.
Suhyun had envisioned a hot shower to warm his body, then burrowing into warm blankets for a nap. Instead, Daiyen practically kidnapped him to the bridge. He shot her a wordless protest, but nodded at her persuasion and scanned her prepared itinerary.
"Heading north is best for selling wool and sourcing timber suitable for Chromore's rebuild."
North of Chromore lay Bostain territory, shielded by windbreak forests from the frigid blizzards of nearby magic realms. Its timber was prime for construction, and its harsh cold drove up wool prices.
The sharp elliptical route started at Chromore and ended at Bostain, with stops at other territories to maximize profits. Suhyun nodded in easy agreement.
"Do you really need me to draw up the plans?"
Daiyen had already mapped the path, stops, and trades. Suhyun wondered aloud if his input was necessary, but she replied matter-of-factly.
"You're the only one who knows Nautilus's speed and can pilot her. Of course I need you for rest schedules and positioning. You're the heart of Nautilus. I'm just hitching a ride, leveraging her strengths for trade. If you wanted to head somewhere else, could I even say no?"
Her words left Suhyun a bit uneasy. When he'd tagged along on her caravans as hired help, he'd just done her favors and minor tasks. Now she worked for him on Nautilus, and decisions carried weight.
Alone or as an employee, he'd rested or moved on whims. But with Daiyen and her workers aboard, impulse had no place.
"Yeah, you're right."
He realized he couldn't operate as before. Suhyun was no longer a mere grad student—he was the captain of a colossal vessel.
"Let's allot two days to this territory. Six hours sailing per day, then rest."
"Right, like this trip to Chromore—no way you can man the bridge all day every day."
"Did you ask the laborers about new facilities for Nautilus?"
"A tavern topped their list. Building one inside means recouping their wages from their own pockets—not a bad deal for us."
"What about a brewery?"
"That works too. Plenty of space, so one more facility won't hurt."
As Suhyun showed captainly enthusiasm, Daiyen laid out her preparations.
"Do we need a bathhouse?"
"Hygiene matters if they're living solely inside Nautilus."
"Keeping hot water constantly? Isn't that too luxurious? Cold water works fine."
"Soaking in hot water's worth it."
Suhyun puzzled over her ideas, and she over his.
"A brothel inside Nautilus?"
"You'd be shocked how much laborers crave it. Half their earnings go to booze and women. Cooped up so long, their energy builds up—if we don't provide an outlet, they'll cause trouble ashore."
"Still, a brothel's a bit much."
"Then support them settling down with families."
"Let's go that route."
"But taverns need female servers."
"Don't they... work nights too?"
"Prejudice. Though, yeah, most do."
"Haa."
Through Suhyun's compromises, they finalized Nautilus's initial refit plans.
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While Nautilus was docked, laborers slept aboard to save on lodging, spreading rumors among the locals.
They saw no need for secrecy. Some lured naive girls or seduced widows with tours of Nautilus, only to get frisky in secluded spots.
"It's true! The warehouses are huge—bigger than the banquet hall in the lord's castle!"
Jane, who worked at the castle, stunned the villagers. Nautilus sounded like Daiyen's fancy carriage at most—vast, sure, but not larger than a hall seating eighty. It defied common sense.
Yet as women who'd toured with laborers added consistent testimonies, belief grew.
"The corridors are all stone-paved and spotless!"
"Indoor baths with drinkable water!"
"And that massive building moves?"
"Yeah! Laborers said it took under two days from way out there."
"No way."
"Then how do you explain the endless rain turning our land into a magic realm?"
"...Fair point."
Rumors bred awe and envy. In a world where most never left their village, traveling territories on a moving fortress under a mighty mage who quelled magic realms was the stuff of dreams.
"Perfect, it's working."
Daiyen, who'd orchestrated it, cheered inwardly at the free folk idolizing Nautilus.
Space was vast, but carrying unskilled deadweight was waste. She targeted artisans and experts—but buying their passage outright cost a fortune.
Frame it as a rare privilege? They'd pay to board.
Thus, she lured brewers, carpenters, shepherds—Chromore's skilled free folk—and commissioned Suhyun to refit spaces to their specs.
Suhyun toiled ceaselessly during the stay but secured many aboard.
"It's just a loan—pay the rental fees on time."
To marrying laborers, she offered cheap newlywed homes to encourage settling. With passenger numbers swelling, Daiyen prepped for departure.
Meanwhile, Suhyun visited mage Lutisat's workshop in Chromore.
"Daiyen kept asking favors, so I escaped here."
Mages bonded easily over magic talk, unburdened by personal ties. Lutisat already liked Suhyun for saving his second home, Chromore. Suhyun's broad interests built quick rapport, making it a handy hideout from Daiyen.
"Time to shove off soon, eh?"
"Yeah, gotta source timber for Chromore's rebuild."
As Lucy brought tea and pastries, Lutisat broached it.
"You hadn't found a baker for Nautilus yet, right?"
"Yeah, Chromore's bakers won't join. Daiyen tried but gave up."
"How about taking Lucy?"
"Me? Master?!"
Lucy startled mid-serve. Lutisat explained.
"Lucy's no fit for Ifrit's Hearth—too gentle for fire's ferocity. She prefers baking over destruction. These pastries are hers."
"But with you injured..."
"No worries—Ifrit's sending a trainee mage. You always wanted to bake when starting magic."
"Master..."
"Mage Suhyun's exceptional. You'll learn much, travel widely on Nautilus, chase dreams and grow as a mage. If I were younger, I'd go myself—but I'm too old."
"No, Master."
"Nonsense. I'm at an age for guarding, not gaining. You're not."
Suhyun blinked as master and apprentice assumed he'd take her—no pitch to him, just to her. Mages warranted recruitment, sure, but Lutisat's presumption baffled him.
"Mage Suhyun, care for my disciple?"
The old man's earnest gaze tugged at Suhyun's Confucian roots—respect elders. Lutisat's oddly generous gifts sealed it. No loss, but he felt oddly hard done by.
Social reflexes kicked in. "Lucy Hitman, disciple of Mage Lutisat? I'd welcome her."
"Thank you."
Having built her workshop and bakery, Suhyun dragged his weary body to the captain's chair on Nautilus's bridge before departure.
"All listed passengers confirmed aboard."
"Then we're shoving off!"
The newly installed conch horn blared as Nautilus began to move.