Chapter 379: Chapter 379: Atlante (2)

After Amelia joined us, we first looted the bodies.

After all, one of them had fallen into the sea.

You'll be punished if you waste money like that.

“Navigator, sail the ship.”

“Where to…?”

“Pione Island.”

We returned to Treasure Island after the naval battle ended.

It was practically impossible to continue sailing without repairs. It had been a close call even getting here.

‘The ship is in worse shape than I thought…’

We had to constantly bail water as we sailed back, using the sails and oars since the mana propulsion device was destroyed. It seemed like it wasn’t the only thing that was damaged.

“…Finally, some rest.”

“It was a fun experience.”

Huh? Fun? She has strange tastes.

But it was a good experience, regardless of whether it was fun or not.

Erwen had even figured out how to use the water spirit to reverse the flow of water and bail it out.

We wouldn’t have to go through trial and error next time.

‘Right, that’s how you become a veteran explorer.’

Anyway, we returned to the island, unsummoned the ship, and then went inland and summoned all the damaged ships.

And this time, I checked their condition properly.

None of them were intact.

“…Emily, what do you think? Would it be more profitable to repair them and sell them, or just sell them as they are?”

“Well…”

Even Amelia, who was usually good at buying and selling, couldn’t give me an answer.

It meant that it was difficult to estimate their value.

“They’ll still be worth something. The materials alone are expensive for ships like these.”

“That’s true, but… Hey, navigator!”

“Yes!”

“Repair the ships.”

It wasn’t a question, but an order.

The navigator tilted his head, confused.

Damn it, he’s hopeless.

“Can’t you do it?”

The navigator flinched and then shook his head frantically.

“I’ll try… No, I can do it!”

His answer was filled with determination. He must have thought he would be abandoned like his companions if he was useless…

“Good, tell me if you need anything.”

“…Thank you!”

The navigator then ran towards the ships and started examining them carefully.

He seemed to be figuring out how to repair them.

I left the ships to him…

“Mage.”

“…Yes?”

“I want to transfer the ownership of the ships. Can you use that magic?”

“I can…”

Oh, really?

I had a hunch, seeing him hanging out with those pirates, but I didn’t expect him to actually be able to use it.

It was a rare magic.

“Good, then get ready.”

“Alright…”

“Wow, that tone… You don’t want to do it?”

“No! I want to!”

You should have just said that from the beginning.

I transferred the ownership of the ships after persuading the mage.

The first one was the flagship, whose owner had died, and then the two ships owned by the other two men.

But…

“I can’t transfer this one.”

“What? Why?”

“It’s too damaged…”

It was the ship that was hit by the ‘Lightning Spear’ that was amplified by 300%.

“The core magic circle is broken. It’s impossible to—”

“The magic circle is broken? But summoning and unsummoning worked fine.”

“Honestly, I don’t even know why those functions are still working…”

“Then we have no choice.”

I had to give up on one of the ships since the expert said it was impossible. We needed materials to repair it anyway.

The navigator, who had been looking at the flagship with a dejected expression, suddenly ran towards us.

“Um… can I take some planks from this?”

“Go ahead.”

“And… can I also have some help…?”

“You can have all three of us.”

“Thank you…!”

The navigator then started repairing the ships after receiving manpower support and consulting with the mage.

And we…

Swoosh.

…started organizing the loot we had dumped on the ground.

“This is… a jackpot.”

I wouldn’t know the exact amount until we sold it in the city, but the equipment was all high-quality.

Well, he was a 6th-floor explorer, so it was only natural.

Anyway, this should be enough to pay off the debt and even buy another mansion…

‘Is it… really this easy to make money?’

It felt surreal, remembering the days when I mined magic stones worth a single rock by killing goblins.

I felt a strange mix of emotions.

“Mister… then we don’t have to sell our house?”

“Of course not! Let’s get a better bed too.”

“A, a bed?”

Beds are important.

They improve your quality of life.

“Then can I get a new weapon too? There’s something I’ve been wanting…”

Amelia also mentioned something she wanted to buy, sensing an opportunity.

“…Of course.”

“This was worth it.”

“But… how much is it?”

Amelia glanced at Erwen and then whispered in my ear.

“…stones.”

It was double what I expected.

“……!”

I gasped but didn’t take back my words.

“Okay, buy it.”

It wasn’t a waste to invest in my companion…

“Huhu, so you’re going to forget about leaving me behind on the ship.”

…and I owed her a lot.

____________________

It took two days to repair the ships.

I didn’t know if it was fast or slow, but they were repaired perfectly.

Having a mage to assist with the repairs and the fact that the navigator had experience working at a shipyard were big factors.

‘He even has some repair skills…’

He seemed like a decent asset.

“Hey, what’s your name?”

“A-are you talking to me?”

“Who else?”

“It’s Auyen Lokrob…”

Okay, at least it wasn’t Hans.

He passed the screening.

“That’s a good name. Good work, Nguyen.”

“It’s Auyen…”

“Ah, is that so?”

I patted the navigator’s shoulder, praising him for his work, and then we launched the repaired ships.

And…

“What are you waiting for? Get on board.”

“…Yes.”

The navigator boarded the ship with a look of dread.

The mage was next.

“You too.”

“…Alright.”

The remaining two looked at me nervously after the mage boarded.

I had brought them to the island alive because they had the Ship Summoning engraving. I couldn’t kill them on the ship because their ships would be released.

But I had only taken their equipment and left them behind because we needed help with the repairs…

“We’ll get on…”

“Yes, me too…”

They sighed and headed towards the ship as I stared at them.

But…

“Stop.”

“…?”

“You two can’t come with us.”

They weren’t skilled enough to join us.

Thud.

They stopped, blocked by my shoulder, and looked at me with a strange expression.

“So… we’re staying here…?”

They looked conflicted, as if they didn’t know whether to be happy or sad.

But one of them was quick-witted.

“…Please take us with you. We’ll be useful.”

Hmm, maybe he would be…

But I didn’t change my mind.

“Just rest here.”

“Damn it…!”

Damn it, how common.

It was probably the most common last words I had heard since coming to this world.

Crack, crack!

I crushed their heads and threw their bodies into the sea. The sea monsters would take care of them.

Now, let’s go.

Splash, splash.

I walked through the blood-stained water, climbed the rope ladder, and boarded the ship.

Everyone else was already on board.

“…!”

The navigator, who had witnessed his former companions being abandoned, trembled as our eyes met.

Geez, he’s so easily scared.

‘Well, it’s good to be a bit tense.’

I patted his shoulder and then took out the map of the eastern sea that they had.

I pointed at a spot with my finger.

“We’re going here—”

“Of course!”

He answered immediately before I could even finish my sentence.

It was a satisfying attitude for a subordinate.

Right, a subordinate should be positive.

Well, I’ll have to fix his habit of interrupting.

Thud, thud.

I walked to the bow of the ship after seeing the navigator take his position at the helm.

And I shouted,

“Set sail!!”

I’ve always wanted to do that.

____________________

The navigator was like a bed.

He improved my quality of life.

“You’re saying we don’t have to stop at any islands?”

“Yes! Only unskilled navigators island-hop to confirm their location!”

He answered enthusiastically, not forgetting to promote himself.

“But I want to stop at these islands.”

“Then I’ll create a new route!”

“Oh, you’re useful.”

“Thank you! I’ll engrave your words in my heart! Forever!”

The navigator quickly created a new route and started sailing.

But could it be that the mage didn’t like it?

“Tsk.”

He clicked his tongue, looking at the navigator.

What, is he saying he’s different?

Mages always have to be superior.

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

The ship sailed through the vast ocean, cutting through the wind.

Erwen and I set up folding chairs and a parasol on the deck and relaxed.

‘This is how you sail.’

Our previous ship didn’t have this kind of space, and I had to constantly check our location and help Amelia.

A navigator made a world of difference.

“Emily, why don’t you come and rest?”

“…I’m good.”

“Why?”

“…Just…”

I tried to call Amelia over, but she just went back to her spot without even answering properly.

For reference, her spot was next to the navigator.

I watched them for a moment, and Amelia was observing the navigator as he steered the ship.

“Wait, why did you turn the wheel like that?”

“Ah, the sail is slightly tilted, see? It’s called an angled wind, and you have to slightly adjust the wheel when…”

Amelia was asking questions and actively engaging in conversation with the navigator.

She even had that look in her eyes.

She was listening intently, nodding her head.

I chuckled.

‘No wonder she looked a bit disappointed when I said I would let her sail the ship from now on.’

It seemed like she enjoyed steering the ship.

Well, she would deny it if I asked.

She would probably say she was just learning the skills for emergencies.

Anyway, time flew by.

It was a peaceful journey.

We sailed with the wind, stopped at islands when the navigator said we had arrived, killed monsters, and then moved on to the next island.

Amelia diligently learned navigation, and Erwen and I fished to kill time.

I found some fishing rods on the ship.

It’s good to experience everything.

You never know, we might have to rely on fishing for food someday.

“Oh! I got a big one!”

Surprisingly, you could catch something even on a moving ship if you left the fishing rod out.

“Wow… you’re amazing, mister.”

Most of the things we caught were ordinary fish.

Well, to be precise, they were 0-grade monsters, like the Deadmen we hunted in the Crimson Fortress.

They didn’t drop magic stones or essences when killed, and their bodies didn’t disappear.

But…

“It’s a Sea Horned Lizard!”

…occasionally, we would catch a monster.

That was why I couldn’t stop fishing.

[Sea Horned Lizard defeated. EXP +4]

Monsters that only appeared in the sea were difficult to encounter, let alone hunt.

It was a profitable hobby.

Anyway, we continued our peaceful journey east and left the starting area.

I heard Amelia and the navigator talking.

“Do you know why the compass stops working from here?”

“Well, there’s a story about a Sea God who plays pranks on explorers who enter his territory, but it’s probably just a myth.”

Hmm, is the Sea God Leviathan?

I would have to kill him someday…

“Anyway, it’s difficult to navigate from here, so the navigator’s skills are crucial. This is where most novice navigators hit a wall.”

“Then how do you find your way?”

“The stars, the sun, the temperature, the weather… they’re all clues. Of course, experience is the most important.”

“That’s fascinating. Can you tell me more?”

“Of course. Ah, we’ve caught the wind. Do you want to try steering the ship?”

“…Is that okay?”

“Of course. I’ll help you if you need it.”

“Okay…”

When did Amelia get so close to the navigator?

Is she trying to recruit him?

‘…Amelia wouldn’t do that.’

I chuckled and then took a nap. When I woke up, the wind had stopped.

We were in a windless zone, one of the special areas in the Great Ocean.

“It’s most convenient to use the mana propulsion device here.”

We passed through the windless zone using the magic stones we had accumulated, without having to row.

Ah, for reference, we had replaced the propulsion device Erwen destroyed, not repaired it. The other three ships also had propulsion devices.

We took all three of them and installed them on our ship.

It seemed like we needed three small propulsion devices to match the original output since our ship was a mid-sized vessel.

“There’s wind!”

After two days of sailing through the windless zone, we reached an area filled with reefs.

The Grand Rock, the easternmost region of the sea, where 99% of the islands were either rocky or volcanic.

I smiled, looking at the sea, which had its own unique charm.

‘We actually made it here after finding a navigator.’

It was time to explore the Submerged Island, Atlante.