Chapter 74
Shwaaaaak---!!!
The ship carrying Adel and his companions sliced through the strait at high speed.
"Urp... Urp..."
"Kasla. If it's that bad, just puke it out. Holding it all in your mouth like that is only gonna make it worse."
"Sh-shut... Urk...!!"
She tried to snap back at Harun but ended up doubling over, clutching the deck railing as she heaved.
"Ahem, cough..."
Harun patted her back and cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Lie down for a bit. We've still got time before we arrive. Gonu says it'll take at least ten more days."
"Ten days? You mean I have to go through this for ten more days? I'm never setting foot on the ocean again, even if I die and come back to life."
Kasla, having emptied her guts spectacularly, collapsed onto the deck with a pale face and groaned.
"Unicorn powder. Good for seasickness. Settles stomach."
A man stood before her prone form, holding out a paper packet filled with pale powder.
"Forget it, Gonu. It's been ages since unicorns vanished—there's no way you still have powdered horn. You got scammed. Just toss that junk."
"Unicorn powder. Good for seasickness. No headache."
"...Sigh, fine. Fine. Talking to you just gives me a headache."
Kasla sighed at Gonu, who kept repeating the same lines.
He was the captain of the ship Faye had arranged, hailing not from the continent but from the archipelago. His speech was clumsy and simple, but his eyes for reading currents were unmatched.
Every time I see one, it's fascinating. To think there are still sea folk alive.
Kalderet leaned against the railing beside the collapsed Kasla, eyeing Gonu.
His appearance differed slightly from ordinary folk—his fingers were webbed like flippers, fused together between the joints. And his ears fluttered like gills every time he spoke.
"Gonu, forget that guy. Just do your thing. She'll be laid out either way, even if she takes the powder."
"Unicorn powder. Miracle cure. Better soon."
Adel smirked at Gonu, who stubbornly chanted about the unicorn powder despite his kindness.
He looks bizarre, but he's one of the blessed by the sea. Before I was sealed, they didn't suffer that clumsy curse. Pity.
Kalderet gazed at Gonu as he spoke.
Curse? They were cursed?
Adel peered at Gonu again with curiosity at his words.
Adel had always assumed the awkward speech came with the monstrous looks, like some sea beast mimicking human tongue. But a curse? That piqued his interest.
Yeah. It's a curse, alright—and they were all but wiped out. This Gonu got lucky.
What kind of curse?
Nothing special. Greed brought it on. Adel, you know about the sea gods?
I know one thing. They're the only gods with two high gods for one domain.
Right. Unlike the endlessly serene land, the sea can be calm one moment and devour everything the next with its ferocity.
Pola, god of the radiant sea. Abyss, god of the dark sea.
The seas governed by these two rival high gods churned endlessly where their powers clashed, birthing waves and tsunamis.
The sea folk originally worshipped Pola. But they craved greater power. The strength to venture into deeper waters.
Adel nodded in understanding.
So they tapped Abyss's power. Earned Pola's wrath.
Exactly. They lost their gills for breathing underwater and their claws for swift swimming.
I see. Gods can be cold. Their betrayal was wrong, sure, but to abandon devotees like that...
You mean Abyss?
Yeah.
Kalderet snorted.
Hmph. That opportunist never does anything that harms him. He'd ignore the sea folk entirely.
"Hmm..."
Adel rested his chin on his hand, listening to Kalderet as he watched Gonu help Kasla into the cabin.
"True... Gods are opportunists and selfish, far from perfect. But they never abandon their followers outright."
Oh? Talking like you know gods better than me, a god myself.
Kalderet smirked.
"Followers are extensions of a god's power. And the sea has two gods. Pola and Abyss are brothers, but they've vied for sea dominance for ages. Every devotee counts."
So you're saying Abyss left something for the sea folk?
"Probably. Even if few remain, he wouldn't abandon them entirely."
Hmm... A gift from Abyss. The one I remember wasn't so generous. Even if he did, how would we find it in the vast ocean?
Kalderet buried his chin deeper into his paws.
"Where else? In the sea, obviously."
So casual. How do you plan to search the endless waves for Abyss's treasure? You always say we don't have time.
Kalderet stared at him incredulously.
"True. We don't have time."
Kalderet blinked at Adel's easy agreement.
"But we have guys who can find it for us."
Guys? Who?
Adel gazed steadily at the distant horizon.
"They're right on schedule... Gonu, we're nearing the reefs soon, right?"
"Yes. Reefs close. Waters dirty."
"Yeah, I think so too."
Gonu, having settled Kasla in her cabin, nodded and rummaged for something.
He drew a massive spear from the deck.
"Harun. Ready your bow."
"Huh? Why?"
Kwagagagang--!!
Kwagang--!!!
It happened then.
As if anticipating an ambush, the bombardment rang out the instant Adel's words ended.
"Wh-what the hell?!"
Harun yelped in shock, yanking out his greatbow and ducking below the deck as he shouted.
"Here they come. The ones who'll find it for us."
Even amid the deafening blasts, Adel grinned.
"Gonu, you see the ship's markings?"
"Yes. See it. Orca on sail. Yepel pirates. Strong foes. Good at close combat."
Harun peered at the horizon at his words.
"You see that?"
Harun gaped at the dot-like ship. Even with hunter-sharp eyes, he saw nothing.
"Impressive. Better than Kasla. Wanna follow me?"
"Gonu. Likes sea. You. Desert man. Hate sand."
Adel chuckled as Gonu shook his head.
"Who knows. The sea might become my domain too. And Dagger Harbor's just rivers compared to open ocean, right?"
"Gonu. Likes sea. If you become sea lord, Gonu has place to go."
"A place? Where?"
"Clan land. Sunk. Under sea."
No way?
Adel's lips curled involuntarily.
He sensed Abyss's treasure lay in the sea folk's sunken land.
"Yeah? Not impossible. But how do we find your clan's land?"
"Have key."
"...Key?"
"Clan key. Opens sea paths."
Pola's Key? Yeah, that exists.
What's that?
Literally a key that opens sea routes. Only Pola's contractors can use it. On the ocean, it guides the fastest path anywhere—like a navigator's relic.
"Never heard of it."
Even Adel, with his past life, didn't know of it.
Sea folk had relics from both radiant and dark seas? Greedy bunch. No wonder they sank.
Kalderet marveled.
"Where's the key? You have it?"
"No. Stolen."
"By who?"
He pointed at the approaching ships.
"Clan key. Archipelago King has it."
Shwaaaaak---!!
As if answering Gonu, three ships cleaved the waves at breakneck speed.
"Perfect."
Adel nodded.
"They were on my to-do list anyway."
Kwadududuk---
He slowly drew his bow.
Veins bulged on his arms; the taut bowstring quivered as if about to snap.
Pang---!!!
Releasing the string unleashed a thunderous boom as the arrow streaked forth.
"Not bad."
Adel eyed the flying shaft.
It was a gift from Nazan, since he'd returned the Lion Bow for his mission. No blessing engraved, but it was pure Black Crow craftsmanship.
"Hit. Deck guy. Head exploded."
Gonu shaded his eyes and reported.
"Good."
Adel nodded and nocked another arrow.
Saaaaaak……!!
Kalderet's power seeped into it.
Chwaaak……!!
Kagang……!!
The arrow hurtled with explosive speed.
Far beyond the last shot.
Puuung--!!!
It slammed into the lead ship—not with arrow force, but a ferocious blast.
Crack……!
Fwoooosh……!!
Black-red flames erupted on the vanguard vessel.
"Argh! Save me!!"
"Snap out of it! Extinguish the fire now!!"
"Water! Get water!!"
The pirates panicked at the sudden blaze.
"Nice vibe. Gonu, you take left?"
"Got it. Gonu. Hunts necks."
"...Uh, yeah."
With that, Gonu dove into the sea without hesitation.
Spear at his waist adding weight, yet his flipper-like arms propelled him across the waves at insane speed.
"Tempting."
Adel thought, watching the sea folk's prowess.
Past life, no sea ties meant no Pola or Abyss contracts. If Gonu speaks true about a key that parts sea paths... maybe I can claim it this time.
Adel eyed Gonu nearing the pirate ship, recalling a past-life miss.
Siren's Blue Gem.
Sea folk were gone by then.
Obviously, so no knowledge of Pola's Key.
No way to find it.
But with top scouting and a free-roaming sea key, Abyss's treasure might be within reach.
Gulp.
Adel swallowed unwittingly.
The vast ocean felt like a treasure trove.
"Invading Yepel's domain, are you?!"
"Hand over everything!!!"
"Kill them all!!"
Peng-!!
Peng--!!
Puuung--!!!
Cannons on the pirate ship's flanks roared, shells arcing toward them.
"Barrier up."
Adel murmured at the incoming barrage.
The crew yanked deck ropes in unison; massive square shields rose along the hull.
Kwajik……!!
The special glaze on the shields repelled the shells without igniting.
"What the...? Battle shields?"
The pirate crew couldn't hide their shock.
"C-captain! Isn't that Dagger Harbor's flag?!"
"No way... Queen Spider here?"
Adel drew his bow through the shield gap, eyeing their paling faces.
Pubuk---!!!!
His arrow pierced a pirate's throat dead-center.
Chik-!
The arrowhead bloomed like barbs.
Juuuruk--!!!
"Hmm."
A line tethered the grapple arrow; Adel yanked hard, dragging the corpse sliding across the deck to snag on the rail.
"C-cut the line!!"
"Now!!!"
The pirates shouted in frenzy.
But Adel had already leaped, gripping the taut line.
Whoosh……!!
He landed lightly aboard the pirate ship, vaulting the rail.
He faced the pirates and spoke.
"Alright, who wants to die first."