Shadows of the Sealed Island
Partly thanks to the daily bonuses, but my growth had been massive from the string of battles. And before I knew it, I'd turned another year older. Twenty-one, huh... If I'd still been back there, would I have enlisted in the military by now?
I sat idly on the ship's railing, playing a donsu flute I'd made from guardian tree wood. There were all sorts of instruments you could craft from bamboo, and processing it right could probably fetch a nice price. But the guardian tree had its own ego or something, and it seemed reluctant to let anyone else use it.
Circe said you could even make a leaf flute from bamboo leaves, but unfortunately, the only thing I could play was the donsu. A druid wielding spirits through a flute? Way too fantasy. Next thing you know, some constellation would dress me in hanbok.
Speaking of which, was I really going to get tangled up with that Maou candidate Kesera Sera Sera again? I recalled the documents Hornigold had left behind.
The shocking part was that the red-haired Levitfoot I'd run into so often was on her side. Were all those freak weather events her doing? And what about the human from Gardriel Island, where humans were supposedly wiped out in a massacre ten years ago?
The only info anyone had was that it was a remote island where humans lived together. Even the All Gods Temple and Adventurer's Union didn't know much. But Nex Hades Mortis was definitely hiding something, I figured.
Maybe that "dead" human had come back to life like the Hands Collector? Or maybe he was the one who massacred the island's residents?
Even if she was a Master Sorcerer with a fragile body, it was clear she had the strength to go toe-to-toe and take the witches hostage to push through. Fighting a human for the first time... Did he have some divine blessing too? Or was there a horrific twist like hero bloodline?
Captain Eggy was the real problem. I'd married three heroes already—one widowed, one with a daughter but a total disaster in every sense... With Captain Eggy's wife count in the triple digits, maybe he was the root of all evil?
It might look petty grumbling to myself like this, but all I could do was hope he'd consider my position—where marrying humans was taboo, and having multiple wives was common sense.
"Exactly twelve years ago now—the island massacre. What on earth happened? Off goes our detective hero to solve the mystery!"
"A hero using one man's karma for her sake? Chicks dig that style. Oh my, hear they're stacking karma with every kid? Hero multiplies wives, tickets multiply too?"
"A man's romance and dream, right? Don't let norms hold you back~"
Why was our goddess so obsessed with romance? Pushing matchups like a street hawker.
She'd slipped me two Constellation Tickets and two Reroll Tickets as a wedding gift for Circe. Whispering that three more if I added another. What kind of karma buildup earned this much? The weight of a man's life?
Unfortunately, it wouldn't go according to her plan. I already had plenty. One lifetime partner was more than enough—why add more when I couldn't even care for myself properly? You don't collect people to cherish with your lower half instead of your head.
I ignored her "Curse that Clear Mind constellation!" whining and paced the deck.
My current tickets: two Skill Transfer Tickets, four Reroll Tickets, ten Constellation Tickets.
Finally, a golden chance to grab three abilities at once. But with ten bombs potentially dropping, I'd wait till after investigating Gardriel Island.
Even daily bonuses during rest often exploded into disasters, worsening injuries. I'd long since abandoned faith or expectations in the constellations.
They all came with flashy penalties—no gratitude from the recipient. Sure, some gave solid, good stuff... but now it was clear: no info-sharing among them.
'Only two Skill Transfer Tickets left.' No way I'd pass bad skills even if I had good ones to give. I had Skill Deletion, but after 500% ally buffs, would they even be breathing?
I spammed sixfold buffs myself, but the recoil—ripping bones and muscles—never got easier. Couldn't put my comrades through that.
My only hope was rerolls... but still, no thanks. 'As long as it's not forced-use, just don't use it?'
I prayed thanks to today's donor of the safe Chicken Summon. Without no-skill-linking, self-destruct nightmares would've killed me. Or skills harming the goddess or comrades. Like humans toying with ants.
Could I really get strong like this...? Isekai year two. The skill-gifted hero was now a magical girl crossdressing bunny-eared greatsword warrior hero. What horrific hybrid... I transformed and fought, so no room to complain, but the self-loathing was inevitable.
"We're here."
As the ship docked, Nex Hades Mortis fetched me from my sky-gazing brooding.
Stepping off revealed a desolate dock, untouched by anyone. At least pirates hadn't claimed the island—small mercy?
Adventurers had investigated the twelve-year-old murder for clues, but it ended as an unsolved case, perpetrator unknown.
Walking further along the dock led to the village: cobwebs everywhere, storm-collapsed, ruins barely standing.
"Radamu."
Circe tugged my sleeve, leading me. Curious, I followed to a cliff inside the mountain where she stopped.
Absolute cliff—swung my Bopal Weapon just in case: plain rock.
"Here, seal, magic."
Circe pointed at the wall in Common so Mortis could understand. Snapped her fingers—rune flew, hit the cliff.
"ᛗᚤ ᛗᚨᚷᛁᚲ ᚹᚨᛋ ᚢᛋᛖᛞ ᚺᛖᚱᛖ"
⟨ Magic was used here ⟩
Circe saying her magic was cast here. No reason she'd come.
Someone had used her arm to break the mighty seal here.
We three—including Mortis—trudged over temple ruins. An intact monolith stood like a pillar.
Bad monolith memories made me grimace approaching—blocked by invisible barrier.
"......Looks like this village secretly sealed something without telling anyone."
"Any idea what?"
"Hm... These wall carvings look hero-made. A seal stone by four heroes."
"......"
What the hell did four heroes seal here? And the island humans kept it secret, double-sealing and guarding it?
Odds were high that Kesera's human comrade from this island massacred the residents. He knew the seal, needed Circe's arm to break it.
Couldn't with other Master mages, so he needed her?
"...Maybe they're seeking something to shatter this seal stone's barrier."
"Like what?"
"Daegomgei's Dispel Sword against the evil god Brainlight Dragon. Nothing else comes to mind."
"Why?"
"Lightning-wreathed, lightspeed storm incarnation. A fallen god transcended to divinity, crashing to earth. Protected by infinite mana from the dragon heart. He stabbed Dispel Sword into its heart, cut mana, sealed with the evil god. Probably too tough to fight otherwise."
"......"
Lightspeed dragon god. Demon sword sealed with evil god. I sighed, guessing why they wanted the evil god free.
Lightning-faster charge, light-speed attacks, storm-bodied dragon evil god. Daegomgei soloing and sealing it? Unbelievable.
So what the hell was under this four-hero seal stone?
★
"Alright! Spiritual medicine slurp's amazing! Ahem, my stats hit 1,090!"
Po'runga boasted a 340 jump from 750 total. Larirure Larirarion sorted letters, mumbling "Oh, really?"
Stats were relative. Newborn top species could hit 10,000—obsessing numbers meant no real strength.
B-rank and still like that? Larirure sighed endlessly. But Radamu's return soon cheered her.
Would he hug his hardworking base-tending wife? Curious about Circe too.
Not selling arms per se, but upgrading party gear, honing skills, using Radamu's mining skill for pricey ores—kept, gems sold—building childcare funds in peaceful days.
"Oh yeah, Darsirk Guild said come by. Warrior guild... maybe Leona learns something?"
"Her? Say you don't wanna go alone."
Leona meditated center training ground, taming blazing sun-mana. Ears perked at her name, eyes open, head tilt.
Nearly 11, upper Feridae Amur lion, sole survivor Reinhardt royal of fallen kingdom: Leona Dice.
To be a daughter Radamu wouldn't shame, she studied sleepless, trained, crushed strong foes, grew power.
Feridae elites had sky-high pride. "Weak is sin" mindset ingrained.
Reinhardt king too; she inherited, raised in it. But she was the "weak" one, so not too scornful.
Sweet-natured, kind, great adoptive parents, better than kingdom—her total stats: 2,583.
Divine arts honed, at 10 she matched mid B-rank adventurers.
Nothing to teach—Po'runga lived by her glances, bitter life. She wasn't weak; Leona's rocket-growth was insane.
"Leona's a martial artist too! Let's go? Got a commission!"
"Fix taking commissions first, Po'runga sis."
"Guh...! But...! Guild master's personal quest! Big score!"
"This lizard-brain dies without big scores? Sigh..."
"I'm fine, Mom. Be back."
"Aigoo, good girl. Ditch if shit. Deynous lose limb, still live."
"We'll see."
"Heartless brats..."
─Weeks before Radamu Dice's return.
Leona headed north gate with Po'runga for Darsirk Guild master's quest.
Rumored muscleheads unable to stand atrophy, magic-proof muscles, brains of meat, sweat-stinking freaks.
Entry: guy plummeted from second floor, smashed table—Leona winced.
"Po'runga sis boyfriendless for a reason..."
"Why personal attack, brat?"
One smack...? No, hold manners. Tell Radamu everything later.