Chapter 72
It feels like the gambling apocalypse was about to stream right on Marghetta’s head. It seemed like it was about to roll into the opening but then came to a screeching halt.
Uff!
She carefully grasped my pinky finger with all her strength. She probably thought I might change my mind and release that finger.
Of all the moments to get caught!
My heart ached from this terrible misunderstanding. Was this how secret royal inspectors felt as they left the capital without being able to tell their families they’d become inspectors? If only I could spill the casino’s secret, it would all be fine… but that was a matter too taboo to utter.
If I get caught sneaking back into the casino, she’d feel completely betrayed. I might even have to watch Marghetta attempting to sever my hand while sobbing!
“Tannian, don’t go off elsewhere. Stick with us! There seem to be loads of interesting spots around.”
“Of course! I merely popped into the casino for a quick peek. Not planning to go there again.”
I caught snippets of the conversation between Louise and the mastermind beside me. Up until now, I thought Rutis was the bigmouth of the bunch, but maybe I’ve been too hasty with my judgments. Perhaps all the team members have issues I just haven’t noticed yet.
You won’t truly know if someone has a loose tongue until you experience it firsthand. Like Schrödinger’s cat—uncertainty until observed…
Just as I was about to sneak a glance at Tannian, Marghetta cleared her throat, prompting me to shift my gaze forward once more.
“We’re planning to head to the beach tomorrow. Carl, would you like to tag along?”
“Ah, I apologize. I have things to take care of starting tomorrow.”
The slight smile on Marghetta’s face fell again. Yep, definitely bad timing. I should’ve let her know in advance about my plans!
Calming Marghetta down turned out to be far harder than I anticipated. She trembled like a leaf, fearing I was headed back to the casino.
The next day, I wrapped up all my tasks before embarking on this unpredictable boat ride.
Please return safely!
I let Villar know that I would be away starting from today. I casually explained it as work-related, so he didn’t pry any further. I’d promised him I’d ensure nothing went awry in Boyar, and that made my heart a bit lighter. It would be great if I had ten Villars!
I instructed the members to inform Villar if any issues arose in my absence, so everything should be okay.
Right?
Surely they wouldn’t dare wander off somewhere strange without telling Villar.
I was somewhat concerned about Rutis, who held a much higher standing than Villar. But for now, I have no choice but to trust him. Leaning on luck feels quite iffy, but what can I do?
“Welcome!”
As I arrived at the harbor, the Head Magician greeted me. The caravel in the background looked like it would serve as my temporary vessel. Caravels were quite handy for a swift journey with just the right number of crew, and look—there are three of them!
“We’re all set for departure. You just need to board.”
“It seems the captain was preparing early this morning.”
“He mentioned he should put in extra effort since the Executive Manager is on board.”
I chuckled lightly at the Head Magician’s banter and hopped onto the caravel. I guess transitioning from a galleon commander to this smaller vessel required a bit of additional preparation.
“We’ve got what you asked for ready.”
“Ah, thank you.”
“It’s nothing major. But… is that sufficient?”
I nodded at the hint of worry in their tone. Catching a creature that makes a quick appearance and disappears is tough with just a knife or a punch. You’ve got to send it packing the moment it shows its face.
“Yes, it’s enough.”
Once on board, I spotted three spears propped against the railing among the mages taking their positions. Perfectly crafted for throwing—this will do just fine! I even requested extras just in case!
“The key is when it decides to pop up.”
The question isn’t whether we can catch it; it’s all about when it shows up.
“It might realize someone’s come to finish it off and hide even deeper.”
Haha, if it’s smart enough for that, we just have to wait.
I replied with a laugh at the Head Magician’s joke. That was his way of saying, “Let’s do our best.” If it truly were a creature that clever, the chase could drag on quite a while.
Come to think of it, the Kraken had hidden as soon as its parents became giant squid stew. It certainly reflects some intelligence there.
I hope my words won’t come back to bite me!
Now that would be inconvenient…
*
They say there’s a place called Emerald Beach. Apparently, it got its name because the water sparkles like an emerald. A straightforward yet perfectly fitting name for this place!
A resort employee insisted it was a must-visit spot while in Boyar. Originally, the Duke’s daughter was meant to join, but her oppa is busy… Not just him, but Irina didn’t come either! She’s never seen the ocean before, and I wanted to show it to her.
“It feels empty without the Advisor.”
“I didn’t think he’d be working all the way out here.”
Lather murmured, and Erich beside him agreed. I certainly didn’t expect my oppa to be running around while we were in Boyar. But hey, can’t he relax during a school trip?
“Let’s just consider it a preliminary reconnaissance mission. If he finishes early, we can bring him back.”
At Rutis’s suggestion, I absently nodded. During our previous trip, oppa had scouted the location beforehand, so this time we’re taking the lead! Surely he wouldn’t be out and about the entire trip, would he?
With that thought, we set off for Emerald Beach. Just in case it isn’t as fantastic as rumored, we can prevent my oppa’s precious time from going to waste. Yes, we should check it out thoroughly first before making the call. That’d be better for him too!
“It’s beautiful! Like a gift from the heavens!”
“Yeah, so pretty…”
Once at the beach, the magnificent scenery left even the usually quiet Tannian in awe. Before arriving, I simply thought it would be a green sea, but seeing it in person—it felt different. It was inherently green, yet something beyond that was evident.
Even the three ships drifting in the distance sparkled against this picture-perfect setting. It’s genuinely gorgeous…
I absolutely want to show this to my oppa. He’s surely going to love it! He enjoyed cherry blossom viewing, so he’d likely appreciate this sea just as much. I hope next time Irina and the Duke’s daughter can come along too!
*
This damned sickly green sea is really getting on my nerves.
We set sail at noon and have been racing through the Kraken’s territory, but results? Zilch! Naturally, I didn’t expect to find it right away, but lounging around on the ocean waiting is simply pointless!
The Head Magician, who had already been living life on the waves even before I got to Boyar, was lying sprawled out on the deck, looking exhausted. Is he resting? Wait, he looks like he might be passed out…
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“Ah, Captain.”
I was staring at the nearly comatose Head Magician when the Captain strolled over to check on me. Since the navigator or helmsman was likely piloting the ship, I guess he had stepped out for a moment. I hadn’t even managed to greet him yet, and then he appears just in time.
“Are you all right? I was mesmerized by the scenery.”
“Is that so? Good to hear! The Head Magician tends to pass out the moment he steps onto a ship, so I worried my sailing skills might have taken a nosedive.”
“It’s quite difficult for a magician to adapt to the life of a sailor.”
Hahaha! That’s the truth!
The Captain may have been proud of his navigating prowess, yet seeing a passenger knocked out probably weighed on him. He must have felt relieved after confirming he wasn’t the problem.
As if my matching his sailor mood slightly bumped up the Captain’s fondness for me. He edged closer, leaning against the railing as we gazed out at the green sea together.
“This is Boyar’s pride. Many among the people would readily sacrifice their lives for this sea.”
“Really? Yes, it certainly is beautiful.”
Putting their lives on the line for the sea? Maybe having an inland perspective is just different.
“It’s not just beautiful—it’s productive! Supposedly, the fish yield here is quite high. That’s why so many have ventured out on these waters since ancient times.”
Ah, that makes sense! From the standpoint of the coastal residents, a trusty fishing area is as precious as life itself. Although nowadays, Boyar isn’t solely dependent on fishing.
Casting a sidelong glance at the Captain, I noticed a nostalgic look wash over his face as he stared at the sea. Sure, it’s been ages since the Boyar residents concentrated mainly on fishing, but it seems he likely has ancestors who committed their lives to this very pursuit.
“And the ones who lost their lives? Neither the sky nor the sea took them. It was the Kraken.”
Oh, so this is the setup!
“Back in the day, the Kraken was an unstoppable disaster.”
“I’ve heard that! It was once revered as a Sea God, right?”
Hahaha! It’s more reminiscent of a God of Disaster than a Sea God.
Then the Captain fell silent, his eyes wandering towards the distant shore.
“Now the Kraken is just an annoying monster. But to ordinary folks, it’s still a force that could disrupt their daily lives.”
“It seems His Grace the Gold Duke was also concerned about the residents’ routines.”
“Yes, he’s indeed a remarkable figure. He even worries about the lives of the lowest citizens.”
A blend of emptiness and anger replaced the nostalgia in the Captain’s gaze. It felt like the life claimed by the sea wasn’t some distant ancestor, but closer to home—perhaps even recent family. And it seemed not by their own choosing.
“Honestly, hearing that you accepted His Grace’s request brought me joy.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s a job with proper compensation, after all.”
At that, the Captain chuckled and shook his head as if it were a trivial detail.
“From the perspective of those being protected, such details aren’t crucial. What matters is the outcome.”
“Let’s hope many residents can enjoy that result.”
“That’s easy enough!”
And with that, the Captain pointed toward the coastline he’d been observing. A dark shadow started to emerge from the green sea.
Ah, so it’s already surfacing!
“Moreover, it seems there’s someone needing the Executive Manager’s assistance.”
With that clarification, I looked closer and spotted a figure resembling a person sitting on the sandy shore. Really? Here? Now?
Wait—if you don’t cast magic in the sea, that creature wouldn’t normally show itself. So, is this person serving as bait?
Cluck!
As I clicked my tongue in irritation, the Captain handed me one of the spears leaning against the railing.
“I’ll leave the task to you.”
“Of course!”
If anyone gets harmed over something like this, I would definitely not feel good about it.
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