Episode 241

With just a single word, they faced the backlash of dozens.

Those who had been toiling away, swallowing their tears and building the ship, finally voiced their modest concerns.

“Wouldn’t it be okay to rest for just a day?”

“Yes, that’s right. Since it’s come up, when else would we drink if not on such a day?”

Despite their earnest pleas, their hopes were mercilessly crushed.

Ray silently shook his head, trampling on their tender wishes.

At this point, one might consider physical rebellion, but the men simply whet their appetite by carving wood, and the women sigh softly as they prepare food.

Seen in this light, they could not be anything but loyal subjects.

Another day passed as they built the ship.

As evening came and they lit a bonfire, brightening their surroundings, they prepared food and oars for hundreds.

The work progressed smoothly, and now, with the food prepared, they were ready to set sail.

While adding logs to the fire, Iriel approached.

Sitting down after straightening her skirt, she looked around and said,

“It looks like we can start to depart soon. With this much food, we can be at ease for a while even after heading out to sea.”

“That would be nice. Though setting out to sea is the problem.”

“Didn’t Elder Hael say we should break through the waves in a straight line? Isn’t there a more gentle method?”

Ray shook his head at Iriel’s question.

“There is a way to navigate by finding water paths in curves, but we don’t have enough time for that. If only we had at least a week…”

Though he did not show it outwardly, he was also anxious.

They needed to set sail within two days to reach the trade port on time.

Considering the ship might break apart, the tension couldn’t be higher.

Iriel leaned her head on his shoulder, watching him.

“If this doesn’t work out, it might be our last time.”

“Well, dying at sea would have a certain charm, wouldn’t it?”

Charm is one thing, but becoming fish food leaves no room for atmosphere.

Yet, Iriel, amused by the joke, burst into laughter.

“Hehehe. That’s true. If we arrive safely at the Holy Kingdom, let’s go to the village and have a celebratory drink together.”

He, a legendary drinker and lover of alcohol, readily nodded.

“You’re buying the drinks.”

“Let’s ask Lord Zik to cover it, shall we?”

It seemed Zik, who wasn’t present, was going to be stuck with the bill.

As they were about to disperse and gather everyone, Iriel tightly grabbed the hem of his sleeve.

“……?”

Though he looked at her as if to ask if she had something to say, she just lowered her head, saying nothing.

Only the trembling of her grip on his sleeve was palpable, along with a small shiver.

Raising her head after a small breath, Iriel seemed to have something to say, her lips quivering.

But soon, the trembling stopped, and her characteristic smile spread across her face.

“…Please take care of me tomorrow.”

The day the ship was to set sail arrived.

People with stern faces gathered one by one, eventually numbering in the hundreds.

With the Elf Chief, who had been unseen till now, and three elders including Hael joining, it was almost time for everyone to be accounted for.

“Launch the ship into the sea. We depart immediately.”

Those remaining on the island were no longer a concern for him.

Erasing them from his mind entirely brought a sense of relief.

Following Ray’s command, as they boarded the ship, the last to board, the Elf Chief and the elders, nodded lightly in acknowledgment.

“Building a ship of this size was no easy task. On behalf of my tribe, I express our gratitude.”

Ray, who had done nothing more than glance at the map a few times or take a nap in the shade, took the credit.

“If you’re thankful, why didn’t you help? My whole body is sore from all the hard work. Ah, my shoulders.”

“Hmm. I, too, had my duties. That aside, I don’t see the other elders… Was there an issue?”

As the tribe’s leader, yet oblivious to its affairs, he inquired, and Hael answered on his behalf.

“They chose to stay on the island. They pointed out the risks associated with using the ship and were adamant, leaving us no way to convince them otherwise.”

“That’s troublesome. This island will soon be closed off…”

Ray queried at his muttering.

“Closed off? What do you mean?”

“I’ve been inspecting the magic circle engraved on the island. Having destroyed the main circle, the sea’s power will be disrupted for a while, but it will soon run wild. Then, those remaining on the island will be trapped.”

“Hmm.”

It’s none of my concern.

They must find their own solutions with their strength.

Hael seemed to agree, adding to the Elf Chief,

“The people did not heed even the Elf Chief’s command. They seem to have their own thoughts, so it might be best to leave them be.”

“Hearing Elder Hael say that is somewhat unexpected.”

“Please, board the ship. We are about to depart.”

After a brief look around the island, he nodded and boarded the ship.

Thus, all were aboard.

It’s time to say goodbye to the island of slaughter and power struggles.

He lightly caressed the ship.

As mana began to fortify the ship, he climbed aboard and chanted the activation word.

“Psychokinesis.”

Vroom—

With a resonating sound, a tremendous force lifted the ship into the air, eliciting screams from all around.

“The ship, the ship…!”

“The ship is flying! Hold on tight, everyone!”

“Saint! This wasn’t part of the plan…”

Someone’s nervous remark was the cue for the ship to be hurled into the sea by a powerful force.

With the speed of a whirlwind, it skimmed the water’s surface, flying effortlessly.

“Aaaaah!”

“Please, save us!”

The ship flew at a tremendous distance.

Those onboard were in agony.

The violent shaking and incredible speed were enough to make them seasick.

Yet, there was one who found joy in it.

“Hahahahaha! Straight to the trade port!”

Was this what a straightforward breakthrough meant?

Though the method was questionable, it significantly reduced the time needed.

That’s because they had already left the island far behind them.

Having launched the ship filled with mana, the outcome was inevitable.

After flying for a while,

The moment the exhausted ship hit the water, those outside started vomiting.

“Bluargh!”

“Aaargh!”

They resembled patients poisoned by a potent toxin.

Ray looked at them and smiled.

“Fun, isn’t it?”

At that moment, a surge of murderous intent emanated from them as they glared at the Saint.

“What kind of sailing is this! If it was going to be like this, why did we even bother making oars!”

“Give it back! Give me back my anticipation for the sea!”

Ray shrugged his shoulders in response to their complaints and said,

“Calm down. The voyage hasn’t even started yet.”

Contradicting his words, a giant wave crashed over them.

Faced with a wave that turned their faces pale, those who had been vomiting quickly grabbed their oars and began to recklessly unleash their sword energy.

Swoosh!

Slash—!

There’s a saying about cutting water with a knife, but when multiple sword energies combined, it became possible to slice through the waves.

After completely pulverizing the wave, they eagerly rowed as the next wave approached.

For a moment, they felt a sense of self-disgust for having made the oars for this very purpose.

The arrangement of the ship’s front and back was completed.

On the deck, there were those who crushed the big waves, while the front and back were in charge of watching the nets and adjusting the rudder.

Despite sweating profusely due to the constantly changing sea currents, they moved diligently.

“Saint! No, Captain! The ship can’t withstand much more of this!”

“The waves are slowing us down!”

Ray stepped out onto the deck to give orders amid the continuous situation reports.

“Lower the sails! It’s now or never!”

“But the wind is too strong; the sails will tear apart in no time!”

“That’s what reinforcement magic is for! Don’t worry and lower them!”

Following his command, the deckhand hurriedly lowered the ropes and unfurled the sails.

Then, the ship, which had been relatively still until now, began to move forward at an astonishing speed.

As the ship swiftly turned right, he was taken aback by the sight of the approaching tumultuous waves.

He shouted down below, seeing the fierce waves looming,

“Are you crazy? Turn the rudder! Not this direction!”

He quickly changed the situation and went back down.

Those who had never sailed before merely followed his orders in a panic.

However, the anticipated problem occurred right from the start.

A young man in charge of the engine reported with a pale face,

“The rudder, it won’t respond!”

“It seems to be blocked by something!”

“This is crazy.”

Something was caught in the ship’s rudder, apparently extending up to the mast being used to steer.

If this continued, they would end up circling right back to the island.

Without hesitation, he ran to the deck and leaned over the side, channeling mana.

The ship’s structure, reinforced with magic, became clear in his mind, and he felt something stubbornly stuck to one side of the rudder.

That must be why the rudder wasn’t moving.

As he prepared to descend with a rope enchanted with magic, Iriel and Hael rushed out.

“What a commotion. What’s happening?”

He briefly explained the situation in response to her question,

“Something’s caught on the back. Someone needs to go down and remove it.”

Despite speaking as if it were someone else’s problem, he was tying the rope around himself, indicating he intended to do it himself.

Iriel frowned and shook her head,

“It’s dangerous. Isn’t there another way to turn the ship without using the rudder?”

“No. This is the best and fastest way.”

“To go down in these waves is madness!”

“Madness is my specialty.”

Even after saying so, he had a point.

Hael, equally concerned, suggested,

“The wind is strong now. How about trying to use the sails to get out?”

“A ship without direction will be swallowed by the waves. It might work with moderate waves, but not in a situation like this.”

The waves were large enough to engulf the ship.

They attempted to fend off the waves with oars and slice through them with sword energy, but it seemed insufficient.

Seeing them silently watching, he reassured them by pointing at the rope,

“Don’t worry too much. I’ve applied reinforcement magic.”

Holding a frayed rope and chuckling, it did little to inspire confidence.

“Be careful.”

“If you break our alcohol promise, I won’t let it slide.”

With a word of caution from each, he carefully descended below the ship along the wall.