Chapter 115
The afternoon gradually slipped into evening.
The damaged section of the hull had finally been repaired.
The glowing barrier Vendetta had created slowly faded away, leaving behind newly reinforced wooden planks.
One of the sailors knocked firmly against the repaired hull before smiling.
"Solid."
"It'll hold."
A small wave of relief spread among the crew.
---
Golden sunlight stretched across the sea as the ship continued its journey north.
Near the stern...
Marco stood beside Guinevere, watching the horizon.
For several moments, neither spoke.
Finally, Marco broke the silence.
"...After we meet Lord Dev..."
"...we should return to Lumivale."
Guinevere nodded almost immediately.
"I was thinking the same."
Marco folded his arms.
"The Monessa Worshippers have become far bolder than we expected."
"They found one of the Four Souls."
"They nearly succeeded."
"And now..."
"...they know the Blood of Peace has begun moving."
Guinevere's expression grew more serious.
"They won't stop."
"No."
"They'll become even more aggressive."
A cool breeze swept across the deck.
Marco looked toward the sea.
"Our kingdom needs time."
"To prepare."
"Strengthen its defenses."
"Warn the King."
"Reorganize the army."
Guinevere quietly agreed.
"The kingdoms can no longer pretend the threat is distant."
Marco sighed.
"...But...im still worried about princess"
"...what she gonna do next."
For a moment...
Neither spoke.
The peaceful sea before them felt strangely deceptive.
Almost as if it were hiding the coming storm.
---
Night slowly settled across the ocean.
One by one...
Lanterns were lit throughout the ship.
Their warm light reflected across the dark waves.
Near the center of the deck, several sailors gathered around a large iron fire bowl.
Dinner was finally ready.
The delicious aroma of fish stew and fresh bread drifted through the air.
Soldiers quickly began forming a line.
Captain Bochy was first.
"As expected."
He proudly accepted the largest bowl available.
A nearby sailor laughed.
"You haven't even asked if everyone else has eaten."
Captain bochy looked completely serious.
"I require energy."
"For protecting everyone."
Marco walked past him.
"You require a second dinner."
Captain bochy looked offended.
"Those are completely different things."
Several nearby soldiers burst into laughter.
Even Esabell couldn't hold back a giggle.
---
Before long...
Nearly everyone had gathered around the fire.
Some sailors sang old sea songs.
Others shared exaggerated stories from past voyages.
One elderly sailor proudly claimed he had once punched a sea monster.
"No you didn't."
"I absolutely did."
"It was the size of this ship."
"...Every time you tell that story, the monster gets bigger."
Laughter erupted around the circle.
It wasn't loud.
But after everything that had happened...
It was enough.
Across the fire...
Chris carefully glanced toward Guinevere.
She sat with the officers, calmly eating while reviewing tomorrow's sailing route.
"...She's working during dinner..."
he muttered.
Marco heard him.
"Go tell her to rest."
Chris nearly dropped his spoon.
"...Why me?"
Marco smiled.
"You were concerned."
"I wasn't concerned."
"You literally just said it."
"...I was making an observation."
"Mhm."
Chris sighed dramatically.
"...You're impossible."
Marco grinned.
"And yet I'm right."
Chris looked toward Guinevere once more.
For a brief second...
Their eyes almost met.
Chris immediately looked away so quickly he nearly gave himself whiplash.
Marco watched the entire thing.
"...Incredible."
"What?"
"I've seen recruits with more courage."
Chris buried his face in his bowl.
"...Please eat your dinner."
Marco laughed.
From across the fire...
Guinevere happened to notice Chris's unusually flustered behavior.
She couldn't hear what Marco was saying...
But judging from Chris's expression...
She could guess enough.
but her expression bearly readable..
Only the quiet fire continued crackling beneath the evening sky.
Above them...
Countless stars slowly appeared one after another.
For tonight...
The ship carried no fear.
Only laughter.
Only warmth.
And a brief moment of peace...
Before the journey toward Lord Dev finally reached its end.
And
Far away...
Beyond the endless sea...
Beyond the territories of Lumivale...
The Kingdom of Stonehaven carried on with another ordinary day.
Gray clouds covered much of the afternoon sky.
The capital remained busy despite the hardships brought by the Curse.
Merchants called out from worn wooden stalls.
Blacksmiths hammered rusted weapons back into usable condition.
Children chased one another through the narrow streets, their laughter occasionally cutting through the heavier atmosphere.
Not every face smiled.
Many buildings still bore the scars of monster attacks from years ago.
Several homes stood abandoned.
A line of weary refugees waited outside a church, hoping for another bowl of warm soup.
Even so...
Life continued.
It always had.
---
Among the countless people walking through the crowded streets...
A lone man moved quietly beneath a dark hood.
His long cloak concealed almost everything about him.
Only a pair of worn leather boots could be seen beneath the fabric.
He neither hurried nor slowed.
His footsteps remained steady.
As though he already knew exactly where he was going.
...
Behind him...
Another pair of footsteps appeared.
Soft.
Careful.
Keeping their distance.
The hooded man continued walking.
A second shadow joined the first.
Then...
A third.
...
Without turning around...
He had already counted them.
Three.
Perhaps four.
He continued forward as though completely unaware.
The marketplace gradually became quieter.
The crowded streets gave way to narrow stone alleys between old buildings.
Fewer people passed by.
The sounds of merchants slowly disappeared.
Finally...
The hooded man stopped.
Silence.
The followers arrived moments later.
One stepped into the alley.
Then another.
Then another.
Their escape route had already been blocked.
The first man smiled.
"Looks like you've finally cornered him."
The hooded figure remained silent.
Another stepped forward.
"You've made this easier than expected."
Still...
No response.
The alley became quiet.
Then...
The hooded man slowly raised one hand.
He pulled back the hood.
Black hair.
Calm eyes.
An expression completely devoid of fear.
John.
The three pursuers froze.
"...You."
John looked at them calmly.
"You've been following me for nearly twenty minutes."
His voice remained perfectly even.
"If you intended to attack..."
"You should've done it somewhere less predictable."
The men exchanged uncertain glances.
Then...
A slow clap echoed from above.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
John lifted his eyes.
A young woman sat casually atop the old stone wall.
One leg dangled over the edge as though she hadn't a single concern in the world.
Bright crimson hair danced in the wind.
Sharp scarlet eyes sparkled with amusement.
She wore a black coat trimmed with crimson patterns.
A confident grin spread across her face.
"...Still as annoying as ever."
She jumped lightly from the wall.
Landing effortlessly before him.
The three followers immediately stepped back.
"...Lady Setsu."
She ignored them.
Her attention never left John.
"So..."
"It's been a while."
John looked at her.
"...Miss Setsu."
She smiled wider.
"I'm impressed."
"You recognized me immediately."
"You haven't changed."
John answered simply.
"Neither have you."
Setsu laughed.
"Oh?"
"I think I've become much prettier."
John remained expressionless.
"I was referring to your personality."
Her smile twitched.
"...Still rude."
John corrected her.
"...Honest."
Setsu clicked her tongue.
"I forgot how irritating you are."
She folded her arms.
"So..."
"Let's stop wasting time."
Her smile disappeared.
"Come back."
John remained silent.
"Our side still welcomes you."
"You belong with us."
No answer.
Setsu sighed dramatically.
"Really?"
"You're still pretending?"
"You know perfectly well where you belong."
John looked at her quietly.
"I've already made my choice."
"...No."
"You abandoned it."
Her playful tone gradually faded.
"The Goddess won't forgive this forever."
John's expression never changed.
"I didn't ask for forgiveness."
Silence.
Setsu stared at him for several seconds.
Then laughed again.
"...You're serious."
"I thought eventually you'd come crawling back."
John turned slightly.
"I'm leaving."
He had barely taken one step—
"You still refuse to explain."
John stopped.
"But I won't."
His answer was calm.
Almost indifferent.
Setsu's patience finally snapped.
"...You really are impossible."
A crimson aura erupted around her body.
The air itself trembled.
The three followers immediately retreated several steps.
Even they looked nervous.
Setsu slowly cracked her neck.
"...Fine."
"If words don't work..."
"...I'll drag you back myself."
She disappeared.
BOOM—
The stone beneath her feet exploded.
She appeared directly before John.
Her fist shot toward his face.
John didn't move.
CLANG—
A black sword suddenly appeared in his hand.
The dark blade effortlessly intercepted her strike.
The shockwave blasted through the alley.
Dust rose into the air.
Several nearby windows shattered instantly.
Setsu's confident smile disappeared.
"...That sword."
John said nothing.
The black blade absorbed the crimson energy surrounding her fist as though swallowing it whole.
Setsu immediately leaped backward.
Landing several meters away.
Her expression had become far more serious.
"...So..."
"You're really using it."
John slowly lowered the sword.
The ancient black blade reflected almost no light.
It felt...
Wrong.
As though darkness itself had taken shape.
Setsu narrowed her eyes.
"So the Goddess of Earth truly entrusted it to you."
She let out a quiet laugh.
John remained silent.
Setsu looked at him for a long moment.
Then smiled again.
This time...
There was no warmth behind it.
"...You've chosen rivalry."
John didn't deny it.
"...Yes."
Setsu slowly turned away.
"Then remember this."
"When the tables finally turn..."
"...don't expect mercy."
She glanced back over one shoulder.
"The Goddess is going to be very upset."
"And when she comes..."
"...everything you've protected until now..."
"...will be taken back."
John's expression never changed.
"I know."
Setsu stared at him for another moment.
"...Then you've already accepted what's coming."
John quietly sheathed the black sword.
For the first time...
Setsu had nothing left to say.
She clicked her tongue.
"Tch..."
"What a waste."
Without another word...
She vanished into the shadows.
Her followers hurried after her.
Soon...
Only silence remained inside the narrow alley.
John stood there alone.
The wind drifted quietly through the empty street.
After several moments...
He pulled his hood back over his head.
Then continued walking.
As though nothing had happened.
...CHAPTER 115ENDS...