Secrets of the Moving Island
The person standing behind the open door was none other than Bucket Serpent. And trailing right behind him was Harun. Judging by their disheveled appearances, the father-son reunion must have been quite intense.
“You know the location of the Abyss treasure?”
“I don’t know the exact location. But it’s connected to why I came to the archipelago while evading the duchy.”
“Hm?”
Bucket pulled a small box from his bosom.
“My reason for coming to the archipelago wasn’t just to escape the duchy’s pursuit.”
All eyes turned to the box.
“Sir Adel, you have ties to Ruinxen, don’t you? If you can reach the Queen Spider, I believe you could obtain more precise information.”
Inside the box lay a single weathered sheet of paper: an indecipherable pattern, coordinates, and a map too damaged to read clearly.
“I acquired it by chance from a relic dealer in Ruinxen.”
“Why would someone from a duchy family go to a free city?”
“We’re engineers. Even in the duchy, not every material is available. Only freedom satisfies personal greed, wouldn’t you say?”
Bucket shrugged.
“Most of what Ruinxen’s relic dealers sell is junk, but this caught my interest because of the pattern drawn here.”
The map was too worn to make out properly, but the pattern he pointed to was clear: sharp teeth and a thick jaw, tough back scales, and an elongated lizard-like face.
“……A dragon?”
Kasla murmured, peering at the pattern.
“No. This is closer to a crocodile.”
Adel replied.
“Correct. They live anywhere—from rivers and lakes on land to the salty sea.”
Bucket brought the map closer to Adel.
“Have you heard of it? An island that floats on the ocean and moves.”
Adel’s eyes widened at that.
“The Sea Chart Guild, Leviathan.”
“Yes. A guild that roams the world, charting maps. Their base is literally a moving island. It merges with land at times or submerges to become the sea itself.”
“I see. So this is Leviathan’s emblem?”
“Yes. Whether by chance or fate, my Serpent family had a faint connection to Leviathan.”
Bucket nodded.
“Before leaving the duchy, I was fortunate to meet one of their guild members. He said this map marks paths through the deep sea.”
“Deep sea…… That word definitely refers to the Abyss.”
“But finding Leviathan won’t be easy. They wander endlessly, after all.”
“Well, it’s not entirely impossible. They have a fixed outpost, at least. We can confirm there whether Leviathan holds clues to the Abyss.”
Adel tucked the map Bucket had given him into his bosom.
In my past life, those two gods never revived. But if I can bring them back, I’ll gain powerful allies from the sea.
Securing sea routes was crucial for gaining the upper hand in war. The central Nine Kingdoms were currently entangled with each other, but the moment the desert threw down its gauntlet, those former enemies would band together against it like it was nothing.
They’ll tear each other apart in their own game, but they won’t tolerate a new player entering the board.
The Nine Kingdoms were all inland realms, naturally. Facing all nine meant confronting enemies across the entire continent.
Of course, that would make movement on the continent increasingly difficult.
In war, the three most vital elements were strength, information, and speed.
A 9-versus-1 fight.
Even with Kalderet, war wasn’t a solo endeavor. The Ulan Tribe dominated the desert, but they’d be outmatched in national power against the full coalition.
When strength is overwhelmingly disadvantageous, you prioritize information and speed.
That was Ruinxen and Cratel. Ruinxen controlled the continent’s underworld, while Cratel’s slave networks spanned everywhere. With information secured, all that remained was speed—and Adel intended to find it at sea.
Especially the Siren’s Blue Gemstone, a relic of the Abyss. Beyond summoning sea gods, it holds immense value on its own.
It was a treasure that commanded one of the sea folk, the sirens, and granted the wielder a special ability: Sea Song, which temporarily plunged foes into confusion and silence.
Sea Song amplifies in the ocean. And it’s plenty useful on land too.
Regular battles relied more on ordinary soldiers than high-spirited knights with strong mental barriers. No attack was more effective than mental disruption.
The fact that the two gods hadn’t revived in his past life meant their relics were never found. Mere rumors swirled around them, but if he could locate even one, it would be the key to upending the war.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Adel gazed at the red dot marked on the map.
“Treasures are always hidden in the ocean’s depths, after all. It’s all about who finds them first. And right now……”
All eyes turned to him at his words.
“The Archipelago King’s treasure. We can’t ignore the warehouse where he stashed his pirate haul, can we?”
Bucket lowered his gaze and nodded.
“Urgh…… You’re after that too?”
“Lady, such greed. Were you planning to swallow all that treasure yourself?”
“You gave me the archipelago—don’t you think you’re taking too much?”
“I said I’d give you the archipelago, not everything else.”
“Ugh……”
Adel flashed a grin at Rania, who was grimacing.
“Don’t worry. I’m not greedy. Take whatever you need. I just plan to fill my belly a bit.”
“Fill your belly?”
No one there understood what he meant. Adel merely patted the chest of his armor lightly.
* * *
“Here it is.”
“You sure know the Archipelago King’s secret spots well.”
Bucket led the group to the edge of the archipelago, where wrecked ships lay clustered. It was a true ship graveyard, with shattered pirate vessels piled eerily atop the sea. Even the archipelago’s pirates rarely ventured here.
“Nothing to brag about, but every ship in the Garam Archipelago has passed through my hands. Broken pirate ships still have usable materials, naturally.”
Bucket rowed, weaving past floating debris into the depths.
“Pirates don’t bother reusing them, but I hated seeing good materials wasted, so I’d come scavenge now and then.”
“And that’s how you found it.”
“Yes, exactly.”
“Did the Archipelago King know?”
“Of course. But he left it alone. I never coveted his plundered goods anyway.”
“You knew his secret and lived to tell? Lucky guy.”
“To him, I was useful. For repairing and reinforcing his pirate ships.”
“That talent saved your life.”
“Nothing honorable about it.”
He gave a wry smile at Rania’s question.
“……”
But while their conversation flowed, Adel silently stared at the drifting shipwrecks.
“Bucket.”
“Yes, speak.”
“You said the Archipelago King left it alone even after you found his secret warehouse?”
“That’s right.”
“Hmm.”
After confirming once more, Adel nodded ever so slightly.
Kiiiiek—
The boat halted. Amid the countless similar wrecks, Bucket expertly located one.
“Here.”
He tied the boat to a nearby rock.
“I’ve never gone inside, so I’m not certain, but I saw the Archipelago King come out from here.”
“Indeed……”
Rania licked her lips lightly, eyes gleaming with anticipation as she peered into the ship.
Thud—!!
He leaped from the rowboat onto the wreck.
“The helm and captain’s quarters seem intact. Adel, which first?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“What’s with you? Sounds like you’re not even interested, with the treasure right here.”
“No, let’s go.”
Rania tilted her head at Adel’s lukewarm response. But she soon held her breath and dove into the half-submerged lower deck.
Splash—!!!
Kasla and Harun followed her into the water, and Adel nodded at Bucket’s words before jumping in.
“I’ll wait here.”
* * *
“Puaah—!!!”
As Rania said, the helm was half-flooded but miraculously clean inside. She swam in first, skillfully prying open the door with her prowess.
“Oh……”
Crates filled the helm room. She cracked one open. The sturdy lock was no match for her strength.
Clunk—!!
Inside brimmed with gold, silver, and jewels—so dazzling it hurt the eyes. Rania’s lips twitched at the sight.
“That’s more like it. A king’s treasure, pirate or not. Clearing this out would fetch a fortune.”
She hummed as she opened the next crate.
Clunk—
Weapons and gear filled the second one.
“Oh…… Nice.”
She drew a sword from the pile.
Shing—
Incredibly, the gear was pristine despite the wreck. A clear ring echoed from the sheath as the sharp blade gleamed even in the gloom.
“Ha, this is a surprise. That griffon emblem on the hilt? It’s from House Ralph, one of Azal Kingdom’s three great noble houses!”
She shouted excitedly to Adel.
“You know it, right? House Ralph—home to Kun Ralph, the only one with the title of Grand Swordsman.”
“Of course I know.”
Adel nodded.
“But that sword probably has little to do with Kun Ralph. The Archipelago King wouldn’t steal a grand swordsman’s blade. Besides, he’s never even been to sea.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Kun Ralph…… can’t swim.”
Rania stared at him, wondering how he knew that.
Thud—
But instead of answering, Adel took the Ralph house sword from her hand.
“Not sure if it’ll satisfy my hunger, but this should do for now.”
Vrrrrm……
To their shock, the chest of Adel’s black armor split open like a gaping maw.
“……?!!!”
“……?!!!”
The three couldn’t help but gape.
Shooooaaa—!!!!
Ignoring their astonishment, the black armor—Dragon’s Gluttony—devoured every weapon in the crate.
Crunch……!
Munch……!!
After consuming the pile, red light flickered at the armor’s joints before fading. It looked just like gulping down a meal.
“Wh-what the hell……”
Rania alternated between the empty crate and Adel’s armor, dumbfounded.
“Don’t be too disappointed, Lady. Like I said, I’m not greedy. These are all mediocre anyway.”
“No, that’s not what I……”
She scratched her head, bewildered.
“Gluttony doesn’t seem fully satisfied…… but at least it’s fed. Now, let’s see the Archipelago King’s real treasure.”
“The king’s real treasure?”
“You think the lord of Garam Archipelago called this pocket change and junk his treasure?”
Rania blushed, embarrassed by her earlier excitement.
“Let’s go.”
Adel’s lips curved into a smile as he opened the wreck’s door.
“Time for the true reward.”