Chapter 166

< 167th Chapter > Central Sea System (2)

*

The ship cutting through the waves with a rumbling vibration.

In the sea, pieces of the barrier were floating like buoys, glowing at regular intervals.

It was the gate above the sea, protecting the ship from the Chaos Beasts below.

‘So it’s also serving to indicate the route at the same time.’

Meanwhile, Yusera sat quietly on the deck, her expression not looking too good.

‘Seasickness.’

No matter how sturdy a hero’s body Yusera possessed, there was no escaping seasickness.

“Yusera.”

“Yeah?”

“If you’re having a hard time, just say so.”

At that, her ears turned red.

She smiled and said, “I’m feeling a bit… uncomfortable, I suppose…”

I don’t know what she was expecting, but that wasn’t exactly a cheerful solution.

“If you’re going to throw up outside, I’ll hold you.”

“No, actually, I’m fine.”

Yet she was trying hard to suppress it.

On the other hand, the blue-haired hero, Lucy, was quietly gripping the helm.

Seeing her, I spoke to Albert.

“You saw that woman get off the ship, right?”

­Of course.

“Then you roughly knew this ship belonged to her.”

­Yes.

What a cheeky response.

So I asked him, “Then why didn’t you tell me?”

­It was so I could witness the touching scene of you fighting to protect me, Master…

“First of all, the term ‘Master’ is banned.”

Of course, I was the owner of the sword he was bound to.

But it didn’t sound pleasant.

It wasn’t simply because I was a man or because he was a God; it was that I owned a sword with an identity but didn’t want to own the identity itself.

­But don’t I have the freedom to call you ‘Master’?

He showed no intention of changing his ways.

‘By the way…’

Putting aside the trivial issue of titles, I was back to thinking about Lucy.

For now, I was on the ship because of her, but there were still many questions left.

‘First, why did she come out to meet me?’

Wasn’t it just a coincidence that she was inland?

No, the ship had seemed to be docked at the port for several days.

And during that time, she wasn’t doing anything in particular, just holed up on the ship.

As if she were waiting for someone.

As soon as she recognized me, she set the ship in motion.

That meant she had indeed been waiting for me.

And there was also another solid piece of evidence that confirmed this.

‘Didn’t you mention the machinery sinking beneath the sea?’

­Yes, that is correct.

‘And it hasn’t been long since they sank?’

­Given that there isn’t much sand accumulated on top, it seems so.

So it was.

The machine ships that had been docked here were intentionally sunk by someone.

Of course, there was only one person who could have done that.

‘Lucy.’

The one calmly gripping the helm ahead.

This girl had been meticulously planning to get me on this ship from the start.

Yet the reason I got on her ship so willingly was that I trusted her to some degree.

‘Though it’s a bit extreme, she’s on the side of good for now.’

Still, I couldn’t figure out why she had taken such actions.

Why had she come to meet me at the risk of sinking all the nearby machines?

What intent did she have?

‘In truth, her intent is likely minimal.’

She was probably just following someone else’s orders.

The identity of that someone was already fairly clear.

There was only one person who would give her such a troublesome command.

The problem was that I didn’t know that person’s intent either.

Just then, Yusera pointed ahead and exclaimed, “It’s the barrier!”

What she pointed to was a barrier colored blue, resembling a dome made of water.

It was none other than the Central Sea System’s barrier.

‘That’s probably related to what’s going on inside.’

It was about time to ask.

“Lucy.”

As soon as I called her name, Yusera looked surprised.

‘Why are you surprised?’

In contrast, Lucy remained calm and focused on the helm.

“Alan, do you know her?”

“No, this is the first time I’ve seen her.”

“Then how…”

I couldn’t exactly say I had trained her.

“She’s a high-ranking hero, you know.”

A character who would have naturally reached the rank of a high-ranking hero just by leaving her alone.

Her abilities and talents were powerful without any tricky conditions, unlike Elsie and Gwen.

‘Training difficulty is easy.’

In some ways, she might even be easier than Gwen.

However, due to the fun of training itself and primarily the character’s story, she wasn’t particularly recommended for beginners.

When she was first released, there were countless posts complaining about the script team.

“A high-ranking hero…”

In contrast, Yusera admired it.

However, I too was a high-ranking hero, and she was in a position to be promoted to a high-ranking hero herself if her achievements were recognized.

Still, there was something more important to clarify.

“Lucy, answer me. What’s the situation in the Central Sea System right now?”

This was the most important question.

Lucy replied in a cold voice, “Are you seriously asking that now?”

“Now, of all times?”

At that moment, she suddenly turned the helm.

As a result, Yusera and I, who had been reassured by her steady steering, were thrown around on the deck.

“Lucy? What’s going on…!”

­Master! Brace your hands! I don’t want to get cold in the sea!

In that instant, the scenery beyond the deck came into view.

“The gate?”

The pieces of the barrier were widening.

The ship was drifting away from the gate.

“Lucy!”

I shouted, trying in vain to keep my balance on the floor.

I still couldn’t grasp what she was trying to do.

Clack.

At that moment, Lucy suddenly let go of one hand from the helm and pulled a sword from her inventory.

It was a greatsword almost as big as she was.

Then she turned her body towards Yusera and me.

“Lucy?”

There was unmistakable killing intent in her eyes.

However, it wasn’t directed at me.

“Everyone, get down!”

With her shout came a shadow leaping from the sea to engulf the ship.

It was a Chaos Beast.

Yusera was in a precarious position, her balance lost on the floor.

Only Lucy and I could face the Chaos Beast.

‘Then…’

At that moment, I grasped Albert tightly.

Lucy launched herself from the helm.

With tremendous strength, she swung the greatsword.

Boom!

With an explosive sound, the Chaos Beast was obliterated.

At the same time, the debris of the Chaos Beast that started to fall was deflected by my Wind’s Power.

Thud.

Lucy, who had leaped up, landed lightly back on the ship.

And she adjusted the helm, stabilizing the tilting vessel effortlessly.

I quickly checked if Yusera was okay.

Considering her state, she would’ve likely been ejected from the ship when it tilted.

“Gueh…!”

Fortunately, she was still on the deck.

Though she looked like she was barfing everything up.

Still, after doing that, she should feel a little better.

‘For now…’

There was something more urgent.

I aimed my sword at Lucy, who had begun steering again, and asked, “What the hell are you doing?”

In response, without turning to look at me, Lucy concentrated on steering and answered, “The one who deceived even the High Priest, Allen Pleuk.”

Suddenly, she spat out an unbelievable story.

“You say I deceived the High Priest?”

The words she said before we took off flashed through my mind.

It was as if she painted me as a notorious swindler.

‘If it were a lie, only someone as shameless as Allen Pleuk could lie this boldly.’

If that were true…

“You deceived the High Priest saying you’d go to the Central Sea System. Then you didn’t show yourself at all until now.”

Apparently, it seemed to be true.

Somehow, I had become a notorious swindler that even the High Priest had been fooled by.

But there was not just one strange point.

No, even before pointing out the oddities…

‘In the first place, I never deceived the High Priest, did I?’

I had clearly told the High Priest that I was headed to the Leim Kingdom.

And although I did leak false information about going to the Central Sea System afterward, I never thought someone at the High Priest’s level would prioritize that over what I directly told him.

Yet for some reason, the High Priest chose the latter information.

‘Wait, even if that’s the case, that’s not deception, is it?’

It could just be seen as a mere ‘misunderstanding.’

But to say I deceived him?

“Did the High Priest himself claim that?”

It was hard to believe.

After all, he stood at the forefront against the Demon Kings.

I never imagined that he would suddenly turn hostile towards me.

“Besides, it’s not too late to arrive at the Central Sea System now, is it? Isn’t that what counts?”

I hadn’t just sat idly by, I had saved the kingdom.

There could certainly be grounds for mitigation.

Yet Lucy was delivering the cold reality to me.

“It’s already too late. A warrant has been issued for you in the Central Sea System. If you get caught, no matter the excuse, you will definitely be escorted to Saint City Hailen.”

That’s why she had taken such drastic measures.

“Ultimately, you can’t enter the Central Sea System through a proper gate.”

Once again, she turned the helm sharply to evade the approaching Chaos Beast.

“So let’s take the other route, even if it’s a little risky.”

We were currently circling far from the gate, around the barrier of the Central Sea System.

Indeed, as she said, it would be dangerous to boldly enter through the gate right now.

I also had some idea of where she was headed.

‘To Library Island, perhaps?’

That place was somewhere I needed to visit at least once, so it wouldn’t be a bad choice.

But…

­The path seems quite dangerous, though?

“Know that and help if you can.”

Lucy shouted, dodging the oncoming Chaos Beast with a sharp turn of the helm.

“Ugh…”

Yusera’s face had turned even more pale from the tumultuous movements of the ship.

Seeing her, I grasped Albert tightly.

‘Is it unavoidable?’

­Yes, it seems so.

To be honest, I couldn’t fully trust Lucy’s words.

I’d have to grasp the situation thoroughly only after entering the Central Sea System.

However, it wasn’t that I couldn’t trust Lucy; I just couldn’t fully believe her words.

‘Anyway, she’s risking her life for me right now.’

She looked calm as she turned the helm vigorously.

But that was only due to her talent; it didn’t mean she wasn’t in danger in this situation.

I couldn’t just ignore Lucy, who was putting her life on the line to get me into the Central Sea System.

‘Wind’s Power.’

The wind started to swirl around Albert.

On the ship swaying along the waves, drops of seawater began to scatter with the wind.

*