Chapter 215
Chapter 215
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 215
>Chapter Title: The 31st Horse Overturns the Game Board
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
A long time after Kang Seol's group departed.
A blood-soaked handkerchief covered Shuro's burst-open head.
It looked as if it were meant to spare others the horrific sight.
Shuro, who wouldn't die unless his throat was slit.
Interpreted inversely, it meant he would die if his throat were cut.
Twitch...
But then.
Twitch...
Just now, Shuro's hand jerked like a fish through which electricity had passed. It almost resembled postmortem rigidity.
Ssslruk...
Shadows slowly gathered toward Shuro's head, reconstructing his cells.
This was something no one—not Kang Seol, not the world, not even anyone from the Church of Eternal Life—could have anticipated.
Regenerating even after his head exploded.
If Bria had seen this, she would have been delighted yet felt a chill.
She might have even suspected that the Immortal in his prime had returned by possessing Shuro's body.
The scene resembled a realm beyond mere bodily regeneration, reaching complete restoration.
Shuro should have died from that blow just now.
Ssslr...
However, various strokes of luck had worked in favor of the man who should have died.
First, the prior incident where his body had been bisected in the duel with Karuna.
The situation of regenerating half his body had dramatically boosted Shuro's regenerative power in one go, and now he was repeating what he had done once before.
Moreover, the deadly poison stabbed into his heart had been a stroke of heaven-sent fortune.
The poison had spread throughout his body, activating bodily regeneration even before death.
And when his head exploded amid that, he could immediately attempt regeneration.
Wriggle...
That had created this miracle.
"Puhahaaaa!"
No one witnessed Shuro's resurrection.
"Huff... huff..."
Pak-!
Shuro tore off and flung away the blood-soaked handkerchief covering his face.
"Keu..."
Shuro chuckled, his shoulders shaking.
"I survived... I survived again this time!"
Shuro grew stronger the closer he came to death. This incident had propelled him one step further.
"If we fight next time... I can win."
He gazed in the direction Kang Seol had vanished, smiling.
"I am the Immortal."
* * *
The maritime nation of Freyon.
When naming trade hubs in southern Nebeia, Freyon was always first on the list.
Not only did it provide abundant maritime resources, but Freyon's vast free port allowed ships and goods to flow in and out year-round.
Splash...
"It's Freyon!"
"It's the sea... Isn't this Your Highness's first time seeing it?"
"Yes!"
Splaash...
They needed to reach the port city where they had arranged to meet with the Kingdom of Jonia.
Since enemies would likely pursue on horseback, Kang Seol's group also needed to procure horses here.
Kang Seol said to Liona.
"There's a stable nearby, so I'll go fetch some."
"Be careful."
"You're not even looking back."
"S-Sorry..."
The stable was about a ten-minute walk from here.
Kang Seol walked alone along the beach, intending to buy horses there.
Whirlic-!
Whic-!
Karuna and Karen leaped out simultaneously to gaze at the beach.
Karen gaped at the crashing waves.
"I can't believe it..."
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
"It's all... water?"
"Yeah, all water."
"C-Can I touch it?"
"Sure."
Karen dashed over and dipped her hand in the seawater.
Kang Seol couldn't help but smile faintly.
"It's pretty..."
"I wanted to show you this sea specifically."
"Yeah! I like it! It would've been such a shame to die without even knowing what the sea looked like. Oh! I already did die, though."
Splaash...
Karen picked up a nearby conch shell and grinned broadly.
"I like the sea!"
"The fishy smell doesn't bother you?"
"That's nice too! It's different from land."
Karen turned to Kang Seol and Karuna.
"Thanks... for bringing me here."
Karuna conveyed his gratitude to Kang Seol as well.
"Thank you for leading us here, Master."
Kang Seol scratched his nose awkwardly.
- Well... she wanted to see it.
- I didn't do much...
- Want to ride a duck boat? That's fun too.
- Why does it feel like a farewell?
- I'm scared!
Karen and Karuna's first wish had been fulfilled.
If they were vengeful spirits, it wouldn't be odd for them to pass on now. The atmosphere felt strangely fitting.
"So... what now?"
"My desire upon revival was solely to bring you here."
"I know, that's why I'm asking. Karuna, what should we do now?"
When arriving at a deserted beach with no one but oneself, one often fell into thought.
Waves rolled in and receded, thoughts surging in and then ebbing away.
What thoughts were they having?
Karen tilted her head briefly before smiling.
"I decided! I'll stick around forever!"
"I just decided the same."
"See? We really are in sync."
- No!
- Please leave the house already!
- Snowman is human too, human!
Karen and Karuna looked at Kang Seol simultaneously.
"We want to stay together. Is that okay?"
Kang Seol met their eyes and replied.
"As much as you want."
"Whew... Glad you approved. I was going to stick around even if you refused."
Lament clicked his tongue from within the lantern.
【Tch! I thought you'd finally be gone this time, you nuisances! What a shame!】
"I'm never leaving because of you!"
Karen grabbed Lament's cheeks and stretched them out.
【Hahaha! Stop it!】
Clop clop clop...
Kang Seol's group had just arrived at Raben, the port city in Freyon they had set as their destination.
[Rest base changed to Raben.]
[Base relocation. Rolling travel luck dice.]
[Travel luck dice rolled a 5.]
[Excellent fortune.]
[Adventures conducted near Raben will proceed smoothly.]
[Adventures conducted near Raben will proceed at easy difficulty.]
[The probability of selected adventures near Raben being forcibly replaced by random adventures is somewhat low.]
[If a random adventure occurs, luck will apply.]
[Good fortune for adventuring nearby.]
Chadolf tethered the horses near an inn by the docks and said.
"Rinne, wasn't it good that you didn't give up?"
"Yes, really."
Count Brispin shrugged.
"We made it somehow. It's nothing short of a miracle."
Liona glanced at Kang Seol as she replied.
"Yes, what I experienced was nothing short of a miracle."
"Let's go. They said the ship is docked at pier 18."
No time for sightseeing or even a sip of water—they headed straight to the wharf.
Their desire to achieve their goal burned fiercely. The burning wish to return to Jonia, no matter what.
Pier 10...
Pier 12...
Pier 15...
Their breaths quickened with each numbered pier they passed. Especially Princess Liona's.
"Haa... haa..."
No, it can't be, she shook her head, running on.
But her hopes shattered.
There was no ship at pier 18.
"......"
"...This is."
"Rinne, I'll look into it."
Caw...
Caw...
Only seagull cries echoed at the pier.
A man with a bandage over one eye approached them.
"Princess... Liona?"
"Who..."
"I'm Sikorge. The captain sent from Jonia to escort you. Or rather, I was."
"What do you..."
Sikorge bowed his head in shame.
He led them to a quiet place. In a dingy-smelling inn room, Sikorge spoke softly.
"The ship was docked at the pier as scheduled."
"Then why..."
"It's all because of those bastards..."
"Those bastards?"
Sikorge closed his eyes, his face grim.
"Some guys made an absurd offer to buy our ship."
"...Who were they?"
"I don't know. They wore masks, which was suspicious, but they hid their identities, so I didn't even want to talk further. I told them we had no intention of selling and never to mention it again. And then..."
Thud-!
Sikorge slammed the table.
"A few nights ago... the ship burned."
"......"
"Probably... their doing. The crew tried to put out the fire, but the ship was already..."
Kang Seol wanted to stop Sikorge's words.
'This is a bit...'
Hearing this, Liona's heart must feel like it had plummeted to the ocean depths.
He hoped she wouldn't despair.
At that moment, Liona asked Sikorge.
"Was that why you got hurt too...?"
"It's just a minor burn."
"And the other crew...?"
"No one was seriously injured."
"That's a relief. What's the headcount?"
"About twelve..."
"You all must have worked hard."
"Princess..."
Liona responded to Sikorge with a bright smile.
"So now we just need to get a ship, right?"
"......"
"We'll all... make it back safely. Don't worry."
Liona tried to reassure Sikorge, but everyone there knew.
It wasn't that simple.
'With pursuers on our tail, we can't move by any means other than ship... We can't find a vessel to carry over a dozen people at once, and even if we did, we'd need to depart today...'
It was an insanely dangerous situation.
"So... what do we do now..."
The group's gazes naturally turned to Kang Seol. The golden eyes beyond the raven mask always saw beyond.
The words from the raven's mouth were, as ever, the same.
"There is still a way."
"Really?"
"But it will be a bit dangerous."
Liona nodded.
* * *
Where there's sweet honey, bugs are bound to gather.
Among them are diligent honeybees carrying nectar, but also wasps tormenting those bees and all sorts of pests.
In Raben, the smugglers and pirates were precisely those pests.
The place Kang Seol's group had now arrived was the "Dangerous Street," practically the hideout of Raben's pirates.
Brothels inevitably present wherever ships docked, liquor of unknown origin, forbidden goods circulating—this was that place.
Finding the way here straight was exhausting in itself.
"Princess Liona. I hope you haven't forgotten the rules of this place I mentioned earlier."
"Yes..."
The largest tavern even on this licentious street, "Wet Boot."
Kang Seol's group entered.
Creaaak...
"Uahaha!"
"You crazy bastard, you're joking, right?"
"No, I'm serious. Come on! Pay up quick."
"It was sleight of hand!"
"...You wanna go?"
Crack-!
Chairs flew, hot food and drinks soaring through the air nonstop.
'All small fry.'
Kang Seol could tell from the auras emanating from them.
A hooded pirate spotted the princess.
"Whoa! She's really pretty! New girl?"
"Idiot! She's obviously nobility!"
"Aha! Nobility? Nobility?"
"Nobility?"
"Nobility here?"
Dangerous Street was a zone even Raben had abandoned managing.
Murders, robberies, arsons, plundering happened daily, so they recognized the need for control, but the power of those entrenched here surpassed Raben's own.
Thus, they compromised by designating the zone and letting it be, as long as it didn't encroach on civilian areas.
Anyway, nobility brazenly appearing in such a place was incomprehensible without madness, so everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at the princess's group.
Someone asked the princess.
"Hey, what's your name?"
Rule one for visitors to Dangerous Street: Never lie to their questions.
If caught lying, it's over.
"Liona."
"What?"
"Liona?"
"Puhahaha! Isn't that the fugitive princess?"
"Yeah? Same name."
"No, her face..."
"Damn, it's really her."
Liona said calmly.
"Yes, I'm Princess Liona, exiled from Nebeia."
"......"
"She's insane."
For the first time in a while, something entertaining was happening, drawing all eyes.
"It's real..."
"Why'd you come here?"
"You're dying anyway, last suicide...?"
Then, a thick voice came from the curtained second floor.
"All of you, shut up."
"......"
"......"
Kang Seol inwardly sighed in relief.
'At least one decent one, huh?'
Only heavyweight pirates acknowledged here could ascend to the second floor of Wet Boot.
The curtain hid who was behind, so only voices revealed them.
"What's your business?"
Liona said firmly.
"I'm looking for a ship to Jonia."
"Specifically a pirate ship? Didn't Jonia send one?"
"Well..."
No lies.
"Someone burned our ship."
"Oh dear, who did that?"
One pirate said.
"Those bastards! The ones who tried to buy our ship with big talk!"
"Ho... where are they now?"
"At the seabed. Daring to eye our ship? It's old but still runs fine."
"Hahaha!"
Liona continued.
"So I'm asking for your help..."
Pak-!
An egg flew and hit Liona's head.
Raw egg yolk dribbled down her hair.
Chadolf's eyes turned red as he reached for his sword, but Kang Seol placed a hand on him.
'Don't draw it.'
Rule two for visitors to Dangerous Street: Endure any insult.
"Get lost."
"Puhahaha!"
The pirates roared with laughter, mocking her.
A weaker person would have burst into tears right then.
Perhaps the Liona from early in their exile would have.
'Can't cry.'
Rule three: Appealing with tears means immediate expulsion.
Pirates who exploited even tears despised any show of weakness.
"...Why?"
"I hate nobility. They reek of impudence."
"Haha! Right, reeks of impudence. Makes me nauseous!"
Undeterred, Liona smiled up at the second floor.
"I see. But now it's covered in egg smell, so that should be fine, right?"
"......"
That one line silenced the pirates' laughter.
The heavyweight who threw the egg hesitated before replying.
"I'm not interested. Die or don't, whatever."
As Liona bit her lip, another voice came from the second floor.
"I'm interested now. Liona, was it?"
A woman's voice.
But not a friendly one.
Kang Seol noted unusually that it was a woman.
'Another heavyweight? A woman? ...No way.'
Kang Seol had a hunch about her identity.
In the pirate world, only one woman he knew had risen to heavyweight status.
"Why cross to Jonia? Just to avoid dying?"
A wrong answer here, and no more chances. Lose interest, and no help.
"Well..."
"Answer."
Liona turned toward the voice.
"I plan to challenge for the throne."
"......"
Jonia's king was selected uniquely.
Likely banking on that to claim the throne.
But wrong answer.
"Hmm, too bad. Not interested."
Then Kang Seol spoke toward the curtain.
"I have news for you, Julia."
"...How do you know me?"
"Not many pirates can look down from there. Especially with that voice."
"But I'm not curious about any news."
"No, you are."
"I'm not."
The pirates grew rowdy.
"Don't play tricks, get out!"
"Flirting with Lady Julia, are you?"
Kang Seol said calmly to the presumed Julia.
"Santos is dead."
"......"
The tavern fell silent again.
"If you take the princess to Jonia, I'll tell you his end. Refuse, and you'll never know."
"...How do you know that?"
"Because only I do."
Santos was, as Kang Seol said.
He recalled him as a ridiculously absurd pirate.
And he was connected to Julia.
Swoosh...
The curtain parted, and Julia appeared.
One of her legs was a wooden prosthetic.
Clack...
Thud...
As she descended the stairs, she asked.
"That worthless bastard... died after all. How... did Santos die?"
Kang Seol tilted his head.
A gesture questioning why not accept the offer.
Julia, trembling, gripped her pipe.
Calm now, she said with seductive eyes.
"Money."
Toss-!
Kang Seol threw a coin pouch from his breast. With money overflowing, this was an acceptable loss.
Confirming the platinum coins inside, Julia left the tavern, murmuring lowly.
"We're setting sail."
At that instant, vicious-looking pirates poured out from the tavern's back.
"Setting sail!"
"Julia says we're sailing!"