Sea of Despair

"This sea's balance is upheld by a single man, Hornigold."

"He sank slave ships, stole away the slaves—"

"and turned the nobles who sought to enslave them into slaves themselves."

"The ships carrying elves were burned right there on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the spot. For those who could no longer move, he granted them peace."

"He branded those who refused to worship the Hero as heretics and passed judgment on those who wielded force against them."

"He is a ruthless, merciless, cold-blooded pirate... but to the inhabitants of this sea's islands, he is also a guardian king."

"Hero, I have always respected your will. If it's painful, you can cry. If you feel like giving up, you can abandon it all. But you won't, will you...?"

"Now, it's time to rise. I'm sorry, all I, a goddess, can offer is this much."

...

Sunlight poured through the window slits alongside the cries of seabirds. I carefully tucked the blanket around Circe, who was sleeping while hugging me from inside it, and got up.

As soon as I stirred, the Sea Triton's polearm jumped toward me like a jiangshi, clinging as if begging to be held. Grasping the spear, I felt mana rapidly circulating through my body. I could even sense the hot blood flowing through my heart.

Black waste oozed from my skin via the Sea Triton, purging the filthy stagnation. The problem was that it was all premium elixir material—its thick aroma jolted Circe awake, and she quickly collected it with magic into a potion vial.

"!!"

Her eyes wide like a rabbit's, Circe buzzed with childlike curiosity about what kind of potion this was. I stroked her tousled hair as she grinned sleepily.

According to her analysis, it was a deadly poison that could kill if ingested. Come to think of it, I recalled the elixir having such components.

Then she pointed to the desk. "Ticket."

Now that she mentioned it, I'd dreamed of the goddess. She always appeared when I was troubled, cheering me on. No matter what choice I made, she watched over me.

I pocketed the whopping six tickets. Was this the start of some massive tide of fate?

If the Pirate King died, the sea's flow would turn into total lawless chaos. His charisma and strength, plus his undying immortality, kept the pirates in check. No faction dared touch the tyrant who rampaged without a care. His overwhelming might maintained a delicate balance.

If he vanished, the Empire would enslave again. The Holy Eagle Kingdom would slaughter nonbelievers. And the elves... would use lives as expendable tools without regard...

"...Haa..."

What if we'd met under different circumstances? The merciless pirate himself—he probably never intended betrayal from the start. For some reason, my gut told me that.

As I left the room and walked the corridor, I checked my two Constellation Tickets and four Rank-Up Tickets. More of the latter probably because they came from the goddess, not the constellations.

Should I save them? No point hoarding when there's no margin for error—you'd just die in a pinch like this.

Tear the Constellation Ticket first.

I prayed for an AoE skill or something defensive, if possible.

"...?"

Why a spoon...? And if I feel the pain too, at knuckle-rap level, isn't it basically useless...?

I immediately cast [Chain Devil Summon].

A grotesque human-shaped demon wrapped in iron chains rose from black smoke surging from the floor, revealing itself. It stared at me as if asking who to torment... but honestly, it seemed utterly impractical for combat. Chains dangling everywhere, yet holding a spoon in hand.

"...Bro, you're up? Who's this guy?"

"Chain Devil. It's a demon."

"Wha... No demands for souls or weird contracts, right?"

"Nah... It's just... a demon that hits with a spoon..."

"Totally useless. Isn't this just the constellations telling you to eat shit?"

"Nah, this is decent."

I ordered the demon to clean the deck. It obeyed without complaint and got to work. Lemon Hyacinth cheered "waa," clapping in delight. Free labor!

It ignores pain resistance for damage, but useless against tough-scaled foes. I'd just end up hurting. Still, tireless manpower changed everything. It took a chunk of power to summon, but worth it.

"What's that?"

"A demon."

"Hmmm... Doesn't matter, I guess. If it's a constellation skill, you must have a plan, Radamu-nim."

Priestess Mortis felt an odd discomfort and disliked it, but pitied it as a poor demon toyed by the gods upon hearing about the spoon weapon—casting sympathetic eyes. It only hit with spoons; other tasks used normal tools. Good thing it wasn't scrubbing the deck with a spoon.

I tore the next ticket to check the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠skill.

'Why dice again, damn it.' At least it means I can learn [Fireball]...?

Hoping, I summoned a Fireball magic primer. A book appeared with a pop.

...Selling this primer would make money, right? Can I summon any magic I want?

Opening it unleashed dazzling light; a glowing die rolled across the cover.

Lord... thank you...! I did it, damn it!

But a doubt arose. I can't learn [Skills]. Meaning, get magic skills from constellations first, then learn via primers.

The book was packed with complex, incomprehensible content... but if anyone can learn it, maybe sellable. Great for training party mages' skills.

...But Circe was already Master Sorceress, so pointless. No clue on learning time either. I pocketed it for now.

'Enhancement's the same issue...' The [Enhancement] skill's first mega-success remained my life's worst trauma. Unless dealing with that Dice constellation, no way I'd touch it.

I tore all four Rank-Up Tickets at once. Honestly, whatever ranked up was fine now.

'Ugh...'

Elder Romance seemed okay—favor's fine, and long-lived races abound.

Succubus Pheromone? Maybe useful someday. Now nullifies skills too.

Outer God Fear... AoE on all hostiles now. Issue: draws attention without disabling foes. Might knock out weaklings from pressure, but not Pirate King or elves.

Last... Organic Matter Conversion got vicious. Any holdable organic? Even small kids into beef chunks?

Cold sweat at the brutality. Does ego remain in beef? Instant death? Or becomes beef from start...?

Probably never use on enemies. Better to kill outright—can't eat or discard beef easily.

'Better than nothing.' Bound to find a use eventually.

Standing among crew watching the deck-cleaning demon, I crossed arms pondering the half-wrecked galleon Neptunus. Any way to repair it?

Prince Castella scouted by air but shook head—no islands even. Inhabited ones might lend a ship, but this was a tree-sea, no materials.

"ᛁ ᚺᚨᚡᛖ ᚨ ᛒᛟᚨᛏ."

To me, she said she had a boat—with reluctant expression.

A king's ship from her fallen kingdom, sunk in the deep.

"...Isn't that precious?"

But with lives on line, she'd offer it up. I couldn't speak, gazing at Circe's wistful sea-view.

Sailing like this, we'd get caught eventually.

"What kind of ship is it?"

"ᚠᚨᛏᚺᛖᚱ'ᛋ ᛗᛖᛗᛖᚾᛏᛟ ᚨᚾᛞ ᛏᚺᛖ ᛟᚾᛚᚤ ᚱᛖᛗᚨᛁᚾᛁᚾᚷ ᛏᚱᚨᚲᛖ ᛟᚠ ᛏᚺᛖ ᚴᛁᚾᚷᛞᛟᛗ."

Father's memento, the kingdom's last trace to her.

She'd use it for me.

"...No other way? If it's that precious."

"ᛁᛏ'ᛋ ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ᛟᚴᚨᚤ, ᛒᛖᚲᚨᚢᛋᛖ ᚤᛟᚢ'ᚡᛖ ᛒᛖᚲᛟᛗᛖ ᛗᛟᚱᛖ ᛈᚱᛖᚲᛁᛟᚢᛋ."

—It's okay.

—Because you're more precious.

Restored my arm, saved from evil god, doesn't shun her as witch. To her acknowledged mate who'd given even [Sea Triton], nothing to regret, she beamed.

If truly sorry, rescue Riko safe and whole, return. She took my hand, saying no need to worry.

"...Dunno what she's saying, but feels like Larirure-sis's position's shaky."

Damn, Hyacinth's sharp when it doesn't matter.