◈Episode 44 Pray and pray again (2)
The ship sailed for just three days due to storms and food problems and returned to Grutelz. The port we returned to wasn’t much different from before we left.
“It takes a while to count the heads, so please wait a moment.”
We captured 8 pirate ships over the course of three days. Each ship had approximately twenty to forty sailors, and I opened the battle on all eight ships.
Later on, he even knocked out about half of the warships before they could attach to the pirate ships, so I think he would be paid a decent amount of compensation.
The soldiers and adventurers even begged for their help, saying they had nothing left to do.
“Looking at it this way, it looks like the conservatives will be swept away by the knight.”
Dev was talking next to me about how jealous he was. He had a lot to say about the fact that he only picked out famous people, such as the captain, vice-captain, or first mate, and received separate bounties.
“They said I wasn’t an official adventurer and took half the money.”
“Even though I’m not an adventurer, I guess I got half of it.”
“Ha, what do you mean by last place total here?”
“…! “I’m just not greedy for money…!”
Regardless of whether the two of them were talking about tiki-taka or not, I took a table at a bar run by the guild. Anyway, it was time for dinner.
“So that means I won’t be in last place?”
“Oh, but I caught more.”
“Aren’t they all minnows? “I only got high-level positions, right?”
“Is that bragging? All I did was hide and wait for an opportunity and seize it!”
I dipped the bread into the tomato stew. The squishy consistency and red color reminded me of the sack I had handed over to the guild earlier—containing the severed head of a pirate—but it was soon buried by hunger.
I was really hungry because I hadn’t eaten much in the past three days due to motion sickness.
“I’m proud of it! “Do you think it would be easy to wait for an opportunity in a melee and kill the target you want?”
“Oh, you’re like a robber who doesn’t even know what’s fair and square!”
“What is fair and square in a fight?”
“Salad came out.”
Burr.
I finally lifted my fork towards the salad and saw the tip of the fork shaking slightly. bang. At that moment, the Inquisitor hit the desk.
“As expected, it’s despicable—.”
“You two either shut up or get out of my face before I cut out your tongues.”
What are you doing at the dinner table, guys? If it’s an argument, you shouldn’t hit the desk. What if the food spills?
“I’m sorry.”
“I never had cancer.”
“You!”
“Are you the only one who can do anything like you?”
I sighed inwardly as the second game seemed to start with a close match.
I have to feed the kids. An extremely Korean mindset filled my brain for a moment, but the concept took precedence.
Sigh.
“Wow!”
“Oh!”
“Is what I said funny?”
I kicked two people’s chairs under the desk. Dev is first, and Inquisitor, who is slow to understand the situation, is second. The two people’s chairs fell backwards, sending their owners falling in their respective ways.
“Isn’t that too much, Nari?”
“Because of you, even me…!”
Guys, why are you doing this when you know my temperament?
I sighed inwardly, but with blood on my face, I silently placed my hand on the hilt of my sword.
The two people who were grumbling finally quieted down.
“There is a truce during meal times.”
“Good.”
…Didn’t they actually eat Jjinchin?
“I should have told you to fuck off.”
Separately, the ceasefire is already too late. Go to another table, you bastards.
“We were eating… Why are we all eating separately?”
“Ah, Archmage.”
Did you spend your meal time quietly like that? The Archmage came and asked with a somewhat shocked look on his face. I could clearly see that it was because we were separated into three tables and were seated far away from each other.
“Why? “It’s because of that stuffy guy.”
“You probably haven’t done anything well either!”
Inquisitors have a higher frequency of arguing, but it was largely Dev’s fault that fights lasted longer, so it wasn’t entirely wrong. The Archmage will have a headache either way.
“…Well, it looks like we’ve almost finished eating, so please gather to one side.”
The Archmage said that and sat down at my table.
I tried not to move when I sat somewhere else, but now I can see right through this. As expected, the wizard understood the concept well. Except for the part where I over-interpreted and misunderstood!
“Things have progressed quite a bit while you were away.”
Regardless, she calmly explained what had happened.
The lord of the castle, who believed in the sea dragon, was half-confident and hesitant, and the magic tower announced that it would step forward reluctantly, and it was said around that only the temple was doing its job properly.
It was very realistic to mess things up. So much so that it reminds me of the nightmare of university group assignments.
“Don’t worry too much though. “Once the dragon hunting plan is clearly established, they will no longer be able to leave.”
Is it because my expression is so dirty? The Archmage hastily added an editorial.
“okay. “Is the plan well-organized?”
When Inquisitor Hana asked with an innocent look on her face, she was speechless for a moment. Rather than saying I was caught off guard, what should I say? At that moment, his face was struck by Hyunta.
Thanks to this, I understood the situation in an instant. Just looking at it, you took on the role of group project leader.
“…Aren’t these very harsh conditions? “Everyone is looking into ways to make it as safe and effective as possible.”
That means nothing has been decided yet.
“So… I’d like to hear your opinions. Aren’t we the ones who have to deal with the dragon on the front lines?”
What this means is that they didn’t do too much or said whatever they wanted. That’s why the lesser Archmage asked us for help.
Maybe if a good opinion comes out here, they’ll take it there and shove it into the mouths of those who don’t do their work.
“For now, I have two things in mind.”
“…and Archmage, did you work alone?”
“Hmm. “I have quite a few things to consider.”
“You really look like you’re wearing a really saree.”
Dev, who immediately understood the Archmage’s situation like me, had sad eyes, and the only Inquisitor who accepted it straight away tilted his head.
He probably doesn’t even know why the word ‘sarinda’ came out.
“What plans have you considered?”
“One is to fight at sea, the other is to lure them to land.”
But thanks to that, it didn’t leak out.
The Archmage took out a scroll from his chest and unfolded it. It was a map depicting only this region.
“If you want to lure them, this place, Gamakman, would be good. “It has coastal cliffs on both sides and a sandy beach in the middle.”
“Sure… it would be effective if we attacked from both sides.”
“But is it an incentive?”
“So you must be worried. Although there are eyewitness accounts, there are no records of anyone who has encountered a sea dragon. “There is no guarantee that it will be an incentive.”
In other words, the only information we have about sea dragons is their appearance. You don’t know anything about the skills to use or the characteristics that have patterns?
Wow, that’s a total header. In addition, it is a perfect heading pot for annihilation that divides the team members.
“Above all, what is usually lured is to incite anger… There is no way there is a ship faster than a sea dragon in the sea, right?”
“Hmm.”
“But if you put it that way, isn’t fighting at sea similar? “If the sea dragon turns the sea upside down, I think we’ll all be buried.”
“So that’s the problem.”
She shrugged and said that if there was a fight at sea, then it would have to be a mass battle. Dozens of ships would attack by surrounding the dragon.
It was a reasonable opinion, as a single flick of a dragon’s tail can sink a ship. Cities and magic towers that have to supply all that manpower would hate it.
“Either way, a ship that can withstand the dragon will be important.”
“Yes… So I emphasized that part, and fortunately, the Magic Tower arranged for a ship. “It is a warship designed directly by the Magic Tower at the order of the lord of Canabeth Castle. Although it was not built for the purpose of fighting dragons, it is said to have similar functions.”
Where is Canabeth again? My head was pounding with new place names popping up frequently these days. I was a person who couldn’t even remember the names of all Korean cities.
“…Do you have one?”
“Aren’t such ships commonly built?”
“But…”
“But it’s better than nothing. “I don’t know how such a warship was built when it wasn’t even meant to slay a dragon.”
“Kannabeth is the city most troubled by Yabad pirates. “It was probably built to catch privateers.”
I don’t know anything else, but I do know that it’s a coastal city that’s in trouble because of pirates. That was enough.
It will be mentioned again later if necessary. With pirates popping up one after another, it seems like they will be involved again in the near future.
“Canabeth is willing to give it up? “They must have paid for it themselves.”
“I would like to say that it has to be that way since it is the entire West Sea… but that is not the case. You’ll probably have to give something from the castle lord or the magic tower. But why should we care about what we give in return?”
“Well, that’s enough.”
As Dev said, that’s fine. If we don’t pay money, it doesn’t really matter. cancer cancer.
“Is Archmage here?!”
At that time, someone came in, forcefully opening the guild hall door. I think wizards have similar attire to archmages.
“Did you come looking for me?”
“ah! “There you are!”
The young wizard hurriedly approached and held out something. It was several scraps of paper.
I think there are issues that are so important and urgent that we don’t even bother to look at them.
“Oh my…”
And that was proven by the Archmage’s frowning brow. The white lion’s long mane flowed softly.
“Is there a problem?”
“It looks like the dragon is inside Yongulmun Gate.”
In fact, I knew it because I heard the young wizard’s cute words without having to look at the Archmage’s eyebrows.
“yes?”
“Considering that a dragon was discovered there, they asked us to prioritize searching there… It appears that was true. Although they were unable to enter the inside of Yongulmun Gate, it was clear that corruption was flowing out from within.”
“Wait a minute. Didn’t you say that no sailor in his right mind would come here?”
“…Yes, you are correct.”
“then…?”
“We need to find a captain.”
Separately, I realized that one of my premonitions was correct.
“A captain who can go in and out of Yongulmun Gate.”
The name Yongulmun Gate says it’s a special place, so let’s put it aside. No matter how you look at it, it looks like we need to bring in this guy who is a descendant of the predecessor of the sea or something.
“Fighting with a sea dragon is tantamount to suicide, so is it really right to go to a place that even sailors who have lived on the sea their whole lives don’t go to?”
“It’s not certain, so don’t worry ahead of time.”
“Because the possibility is high.”
“That’s true.”
“Ha, are you really afraid?”
“Then you’re not afraid? “I don’t have any special powers like you do?”
“…I don’t have the courage.”
After all, there’s no way the game would have created a character in vain. As I was praising myself for my success in fighting, Dev held his head with a pale complexion.
It seems to me that it can be solved by just remaining on earth, but it seems like he is secretly buying it and having a hard time.
“You can remain on earth. “I’m not ignoring you, but your aptitude is dealing with people, not fighting beings like sea dragons.”
“…That’s true.”
“Instead, there is something I would like to entrust to you.”
“…?”
“Aren’t you one step ahead of me when it comes to finding or chasing people? “I will do everything I can to find out, but if you help me, I will be able to find the person more easily.”
The corners of Dev’s mouth became somewhat subtle at the Archmage’s words.
“That’s my specialty. But is that okay?”
“That’s not it, that’s it. “If we don’t find the captain, we won’t even get started.”
“…All right. “It’s something I should have done in the first place.”
“Make sure to tell them that compensation will be paid as requested, and that the small reef will survive because the ship is equipped with protective devices.”
“Then it’s a bit easier. “Don’t worry.”
Dev stood up with those words. The hem of the green hood fluttered once.
“Is there anything else I need to know?”
“Oh, I should also add that you can also deal with sea dragons.”
“That’s natural. “There’s nothing else besides that, right?”
“For now, yes.”
“If you do, I will leave the room.”
It’s almost night, let’s go now.
Well, that’s not what I’m saying. How many times have I moved without distinction between day and night? From his perspective, the night will be comfortable.
Dev soon disappeared from the guildhall.
“What do we do?”
“The Inquisitor… is still on standby. The temple is cooperating sufficiently. So, you can help me find the captain, or you can do something else like this.”
“Is that so…”
The Inquisitor seemed very sad that he couldn’t help with the preparation process, but I was rather happy about it.
To be honest, I don’t think he’s a good candidate for the Inquisitor or my concept or search for people in politics or business. Even if I exclude the concept, I’m not very confident about this.
“What do you have to say about this?”
“Oh, you have one.”
Oh wow. There is?
“Apart from this matter, if you come in contact from the Magic Tower, never listen to or accept anything they say. If they want to use force, it’s okay to attack them. I am saying this with all future journeys in mind. “Never enter the Magic Tower without my suggestion first.”
…I don’t know why force is even mentioned, but I figured it out. But really why? Have I become enemies with the Magic Tower?
“There’s nothing more to it than that.”
I don’t know why the Archmage talks like that about the faction he belongs to. However, there seemed to be no intention to provide detailed information.
So what can you do? All I can do is just keep it in my memory and move on.
Instead, I think the remaining time can be considered free time… The captain said that Dev would bring him, and the ship was already prepared, and the castle lord and the magic tower temple were also heading out for now.
Then I guess I’ll have to do free hunting too. There was nothing else to do as long as I received my pay, which I had not yet received since I was eating dinner.
I lowered my legs from the desk and stood up.
widely.
Since I couldn’t sit on the chair with it hanging on my back, I leaned it against the table for a while and the two-hander came into my hands.
“Where are you going?”
Oh, I guess I’ll have to drop off the Inquisitor and go.
Now that Dev and the Archmage were away due to their own affairs, it was a golden opportunity to be alone. Now that it is clear that individual activities cannot be done and that they can be done, there is no reason not to give up.
“Me too…”
“Find out what to do with your own head. “Don’t depend on others.”
“…!”
Was my speech too strong? But the concept has to be reasonably damn right.
Sometimes I also have a hard time interpreting my concepts. If it’s a moment where I can get overly immersed, I’d rather write my lines comfortably, but everyday life is very different depending on how you interpret it.
Anyway, the mace didn’t fly at my head and the Inquisitor didn’t follow, so it was okay. I left the guild hall with light steps.
It was my first safe but alone time since entering the game, so I had to make the most of it.
* * *
“Captain, are you okay?”
“What’s not to be okay with?”
The man said that and adjusted his height. Even the moon was obscured by clouds and it was dark, and the sea was not very friendly, but the navigation skill that reached the sky cleverly put the ship into a coastal cliff bay.
Just Gamakman. It was a place that the people of this region knew of its existence but did not bother to use.
“You don’t trust me?”
“I always trust the captain’s navigational skills. “What I asked was something else.”
“Keep your baby anchor.”
He chuckled and took off the tricorn hat and bandana on his head for a moment. After a long voyage, my hair, which was thick, took a moment to get some fresh air.
Meanwhile, the ship had made a perfect anchorage off the coast.
“good. Everyone worked hard. Let’s cheer up a little more. “Aren’t your brothers waiting for you?”
Darkness is a being that likes to spread words, so he lowered his voice to convey his support. There was no sound, but there was clearly a response from the sailors.
“Let’s go and protect the ship as planned, deck captain.”
“yes.”
He lowered a small boat and moved secretly to land. Is it because the work that was attempted at the cost of a lot of loss and sacrifice is coming to an end? Or is it because I stayed up all night trying to elude Vipurit’s pursuit a few days ago?
My rowing hand became slippery with sweat a few times.
“I hope that mercenary stays in the city…”
“Hmm? Oh, are you talking about that then?”
“Okay…”
The man thought of the warship that intervened in the feud with Vipurit a few days ago. To be exact, a warrior went from that warship to a pirate ship and ran wild.
“One person won’t change the situation.”
“I know. But I’m sure it will help the situation quite a bit. One guy like that is better than many chaffs. “More than anything, I think I can hire someone with money.”
I’m not sure because I caught a glimpse of it while I was running away. However, since he was on a navy ship and not wearing a military uniform, he was probably an adventurer or mercenary.
The mark on the warship belongs to the city of Grutelz, so if it returned to port, it would be in Grutelz. That is, unless you left somewhere after returning to port.
“I have enough money, so all I have to do is meet him… I wonder if the sea dragon will protect us.”
“I’m sure there will be.”
“Yes, I hope so…”
The man stood up as he felt the boat touch the sandy beach.
“Otherwise, I wouldn’t have the courage to see my brothers.”
It was time to go to Grutelz.
* * *
“…? Vice captain!”
Meanwhile, on the deck of the ship the man left.
A sailor in the space above the mast called out to the person in command on behalf of the captain.
“what?”
“Is there something like a shark… on the surface over there?”
“what?”
“No, is it a saltwater crocodile…? “The boat is approaching in a moment!”
The vice captain felt deeply uneasy for no reason at his report. It wasn’t that he was scared by the name saltwater crocodile. It was just that his long life of sailing and fighting for survival had rang an alarm in the form of an intuition.
“…Everyone, let’s go!”
thud!
Unidentified beasts began pounding on the lower deck of the ship.