Chapter 177
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 177
Chapter Title: Slayer Coastal Island (1)
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Jun explained the field they were currently heading toward to his companions.
"It's in the middle of a raid?"
"Yeah."
Eleanor was already giving off an uneasy vibe.
However, her anxiety didn't last long.
"It's already well underway. By the time we get there, it'll be almost over."
"Then the entrance is probably already sealed."
"Exactly."
Layer 4, Slayer Coastal Island.
It was a rare field in Blackout with an ocean backdrop, made up of islands as the name suggested.
"By the way... an ocean? Really?"
"Ah, you've never seen the sea before, have you?"
"Me neither."
"Same here."
Out of the four members, no one except Jun had ever seen the ocean.
Jun recalled the scenery of Slayer Coastal Island from his days as 'Lee Jung-jun' in the game and said,
"This place was famous as a tourist spot... no, it is a famous tourist spot."
But describing the in-game scenery was tricky in many ways.
"A tourist spot? You can see oceans anywhere on the surface, right? Who comes all the way to Blackout just to sightsee when they've got nothing better to do?"
"That's how special the scenery is."
"How amazing can it possibly be?"
"Spoiling it now would ruin the fun. You'll see for yourself when you look with your own eyes."
Even Jun was looking forward to it deep down.
The island's highlight had been the talk of player communities.
'The problem is I never got to see it in the game.'
Slayer Coastal Island.
In the game lore, it was a field already destroyed by the Heavenly Firmament Sect.
The first mention of Slayer Coastal Island in the game came early on, in a newspaper sold by a shop NPC.
-Famous tourist spot, Layer 4 Slayer Coastal Island! Vanishes overnight!
Most newbie players glossed over it, but lore enthusiasts realized this was when the Heavenly Firmament Sect started showing its teeth.
'Though that's still a few years away.'
Of course, with Jun's involvement, many things were already set to change.
The Heavenly Firmament Sect would likely get involved here too.
'But all I know is that big headline from the paper.'
There was no way to know exactly how the sect destroyed the island.
'For now, all I can do is stay cautious.'
The hopeful part was that the sect's tech was concentrated in the future.
'In that sense, all the Heavenly Firmament Sect members I've killed so far were pretty high-profile in terms of tech.'
They'd probably set the sect's progress back a few years.
It was somewhat reassuring.
Anyway, talking more about Slayer Coastal Island risked a slip-up, so Jun changed the subject.
"By the way, Prince Javier's been awfully quiet lately."
It had been on his mind anyway.
For some reason after the recent incident, Javier had holed up in his room without showing his face.
Even now, he stayed inside the carriage, handling most matters from there.
"Ahaha... yeah. He had this really stiff expression, like he was deep in thought or something."
"In thought?"
"Yeah. I asked him a few times, but he just said it was his own business..."
"Hmm."
Now that the venomous monk who'd tampered with Javier's mind was dead, the major issues were mostly resolved.
Venes, Javier's mother, was still a lingering concern, but...
'Is this a good change?'
Someone might argue holing up and cutting off the outside world wasn't positive.
But in reality, Javier's external activities had all been at his mother Venes's command.
In other words, if he was resisting her orders enough to brood like this...
'This could be a chance to break free from Venes's shadow.'
But people's hearts were fickle as reeds, and meddling might backfire.
'I'll talk to him once he comes out on his own.'
Dexter agreed on that point.
"I've never seen Javier act like this before."
"Really?"
"Yeah. No matter how sad something was, he never refused Lady Venes's orders."
"True... but this is the farthest he's been from her, isn't it?"
"Sure, but her eyes don't just vanish here. Javier knows that well."
Jun was horrified inside upon hearing that.
'Ugh. The life of royalty really sucks.'
Mother's surveillance following everywhere.
Family or not, he'd get chills if it were him.
"Well, all we can do is watch and let Javier sort it out himself. Anyway, I'm looking forward to it. Did you know? They say sirens live along Slayer Coast!"
"Sirens...?"
"Rumor has it they're stunning beauties."
"Hm."
"What? Oh, haha! You think I'm just into women?"
"Pardon? No, not at all."
It wasn't about that.
He tried to clear the misunderstanding, but Dexter cut in.
"No need. Truth be told, I'm quite interested in the female form. Not sexually, mind you. Purely aesthetic curiosity."
What fresh nonsense was this?
"Don't tell anyone, alright?"
"Uh... sure. Got it."
What was he about to say?
"Actually, I sculpt as a hobby."
"Sculpting?"
"Yes."
As expected of twins: his sister Natalie painted, and Dexter sculpted.
'Must be some artistic talent in the family.'
Unlike Natalie, who had innate artistic leanings, Dexter's interest was acquired.
"It started when I was young. Embarrassing to admit, but royal sword training costs a fortune. One method involves practicing against models mimicking humans or monsters."
Swinging at those models and analyzing weak points naturally drew him to sculpture.
"And the most beautiful curves? The female body."
"I see..."
"They say sirens have exceptional looks. As an art lover, how could I not be intrigued?"
"Hm..."
"Ahem. Give me some credit! It's not like that!"
Sure it wasn't...
'Rumors about sirens' looks are just that—rumors.'
The truth was, they stemmed from sailors hallucinating under the sirens' [Allure] skill.
Real sirens looked like terrifying hybrids of dried fish and humans.
'Should I shatter the prince's illusions or let them be...?'
Not wanting a repeat of last time's drunken lamenting—with side glares from the knights—Jun decided to stay quiet.
'Listening to complaints while taking knightly side-eye!'
"Th-the smell is really unique!"
"The view... it's so open..."
"Whoa. All this is water? Eugh! Ptoo! So salty!"
They'd finally arrived at Layer 4, Slayer Coastal Island.
The group marveled at the surroundings.
Water everywhere you looked.
Aside from the islands, there was no land to be seen.
Fishermen plied the waves for fish, while on one shore, people dried seawater into salt.
True to its tourist fame, it was filled more with nobles and their escorts than adventurers or mercenaries.
"So, what's this unique ocean view only found here?"
"Hm. Others might not see it. Can't you?"
"Huh?"
Eleanor turned to where Jun pointed and recoiled in surprise.
"Wh-what is that? A typhoon? Why's the mana so twisted?"
"Hahaha. You'll figure it out when you see it up close later."
Treated like a natural disaster, but those who witnessed it were awestruck rather than terrified.
Such beauty lay there.
'In the game, it turns hellish.'
Jun hadn't seen it himself yet, so anticipation filled him.
As the two royals entered the island, crowds of noble tourists cheered their arrival.
Word had spread, and the lavish banquet halls here naturally facilitated such encounters.
'Those over there are the White Whale Mercenary Corps?'
'Breaking through to Layer 5 in just a year...'
'There've been plenty who climbed layers fast.'
'But none grew their skills that quickly.'
The two royals drew attention, but the White Whale Mercenary Corps guarding them had value that tempted many nobles.
"Ugh... this sucks."
"Don't whine. Time to get used to it."
"If I run again, you'll dump homework on me like last time?"
"Obviously."
"Argh."
Eleanor, who'd once fled and gotten buried in assignments from Jun, sighed heavily.
Aiden just gave an awkward smile.
"How's the raid going?"
"Haha. We're putting our all into it. With extra effort this year, we expect resolution within a month barring issues."
Viscount Bolettic.
The imperial noble overseeing Layer 4, aligned with the emperor's faction.
'No info on this guy.'
In the game, he perished with the island, so it made sense.
"Good. That's a relief. Since we're here, I'd like some peace and quiet."
"Haha, perfect timing then. Warm sun, safe beaches, and that view. No better resort anywhere."
From a 20-story building woven with magic—the pinnacle of luxury—the ocean vista matched Viscount Bolettic's pride: utterly grand.
"So that's what I saw earlier."
Eleanor murmured from a balcony, gazing at the scene.
A colossal vortex churned deep in the sea, too vast to gauge easily.
The raid entrance for Slayer Coastal Island, known among folk as the sea god's wrath.