Chapter 878

The number of ships had been reduced considerably, and their condition looked terrible, but they had survived nonetheless.

Perhaps they had escaped disaster thanks to Raskagin sacrificing its own followers.

“How in the world... did they end up here?”

"No matter how I look at it, their destination seems to be the same as ours."

Sanford's and Nehat's voices reached Ian's ears a few seconds later. Neither had taken their eyes off the fleet that was gradually pulling ahead at an angle.

"That's right. Hector's lieutenant has business with the Witch of Barnaso," Ian replied as he continued walking.

Nehat whips her head around.

"With Ohara? No... even so," Sanford stumbled over his words, then turned toward Ian. "They saw the souls of the corrupted ones being sucked away. They saw the world darkening and the sea growing violent as well.... And yet they didn't flee into the inner sea?"

Ian stopped in front of them as he answered, "Who knows? Maybe that's exactly why they couldn't just run away."

Meeting Sanford's bewildered gaze, he tilted his head slightly. “Despite appearances, he's still an apostle of a god. And he's stubborn enough to survive in the Black Isles without falling to corruption.”

At last, Sanford nodded. "Ah, I see. You're saying he simply couldn't bring himself to ignore it..."

He turned another thoughtful look toward the fleet beyond the railing. "Perhaps they were returning to the archipelago, learned of Your Grace’s victory, and changed course."

"Whether that's true or not, we'll have to hear it from them directly. For now, it's only speculation." Shrugging, Ian followed his gaze and added, "Though it looks like we'll have to wait until we reach Barnaso before that happens."

Hector's fleet, drifting farther away on its diagonal course, showed no signs of slowing down or changing direction. If anything, the distance between them was still increasing.

They had clearly failed to spot the smuggling vessels. Then again, the people aboard had likely been pushed to their limits.

It would hardly be surprising if they were focused solely on the sight of land, advancing toward it with everything they had left.

"Ugh... bloody hell..."

A groan drifted up from below.

Lily, who had been standing quietly beside Ian, immediately turned her head. Miguel emerged into view, clutching the railing with a trembling hand.

"Looks like you've had a rough time from both ends," Ian said with a chuckle.

Miguel turned toward him with hollow eyes. "Don't even start... I feel like I'm dying. Never again... never again am I spending this long on a ship..."

"There should still be some of the charcoal the Saintess gave us. Go inside and rest while warming yourself with the sacred flame. If it gets too bad, ask Nila for help."

Though whether Nila was in any condition to help is another question entirely.

Ian glanced down at Lily before jerking his head toward the rear. "I'll take over command from here."

Miguel nodded weakly. "Then... I'd appreciate it...."

Supported by Lily, who had hurried over to him, he slowly shuffled away. His left hand remained pressed against his stomach.

"Warm up some watered wine over the sacred flame and drink that too," added Ian.

Miguel and Lily nodded almost simultaneously.

Do they both think they're the caretaker here?

The thought drew another chuckle from Ian.

Then Nehat's calm voice spoke beside him. "It'll be no more than half a day before we reach land, Great Warrior."

Ian nodded. "So we'll be arriving in the middle of the night. Let's make sure everything is ready for disembarkation beforehand."

"Forgive me for speaking out of turn, Your Grace, but if a ship that size docks, there might not be any space left at the dock," Sanford said cautiously.

"Really?" Ian glanced toward the distant coastline stretching beneath the dense storm clouds and shrugged casually. "Don't worry about it. I'll take care of that."

***

Torches flickering throughout the darkness illuminated the grimy face of the harbor of Barnaso, the lawless city of the frontier.

As expected, ships were already packed at the docks. Even at this late hour, countless people were moving about, busy with maintenance and repairs.

"Drop all anchors!"

Sanford brought the ship to a halt along the shoreline to the right of the docks.

The Silent Storm was pulling in beside it as well.

"Those people can't possibly be..."

"Lu Solar... good heavens..."

"Q-Quickly! Bring our lord here at once!"

Small waves of commotion and astonishment spread among the soldiers stationed throughout the harbor and aboard the vessels.

Workers stopped what they were doing and turned to stare.

"You've all worked hard."

Standing at the bow, Ian finally turned toward the main deck.

“Once we're docked, gather your belongings and disembark. Someone will guide you to your lodgings, but we'll need to set up campsites. If you don't want to sleep aboard the ships, then work together and prepare them.”

His gaze slowly swept across the piles of supply crates, and the fairies and beastfolk gathered around them.

Every single one of them stood paired with a partner. Under the direction of the Great Chieftain and the Acting Regent, they had formed new bonds and become a new community of shared fate.

"We'll be staying for two days, so get some proper rest. Recover as much strength as possible. The frontier is currently one of the most dangerous places on the continent."

The beastfolk and fairies nodded one after another. Unlike the beastfolk, whose eyes shone with anticipation, the fairies wore oddly stiff expressions.

It wasn't merely tension. After all, the frontier had once been the fairies' land.

"And make sure that idiot doesn't wander off somewhere."

Pretending not to notice, Ian turned around and glanced between Nehat and Miguel before subtly nodding toward Sanford, who stood beside the central staircase.

That gambling addict still owed a debt to the Witch of Barnaso, not to mention he had to pay the other captains their commission fees.

Now that the job had been completed successfully, it wouldn't be surprising if he started plotting something.

"Got it."

"Don't worry. I'll drag him there by the neck if I have to."

After Miguel, who looked considerably healthier now, Nehat added her assurance.

Ian nodded slightly. Then, in the next instant, he broke into a sprint.

Tap, tap, tap! Whoosh—

Launching himself from the bow railing, he soared through the air. Black seawater rushed beneath him.

The muddy shoreline surged closer in an instant.

Rumble—

Adjusting his posture midair, Ian landed in a smooth glide. The last thing he wanted was to roll around in that foul-smelling mire.

Just as he settled to a stop without losing his balance, a golden streak shot out from the Silent Storm. It was Charlotte, clad in her relic armor.

The corner of Ian's mouth curled upward as he casually stepped aside.

Boom!

She crashed into the middle of the muddy beach like a cannonball.

Immediately straightening from her crouched landing, Charlotte declared, "It's only natural for a lieutenant to follow her lord, Ian. Palmer and Diana are more than enough to manage the ship."

Chuckling, Ian walked past her toward the docks. "I didn't say a word."

Only then did he realize the sudden silence around them wasn't his imagination.

"Good heavens... Lu Solar..."

"He's really... completely unharmed?"

Soldiers throughout the harbor stared at him in a daze. The moment Ian's gaze swept over them, many trembled as though struck by lightning and collapsed to their knees in succession.

"G-Glory to the Radiant Light!"

"May the heavens above shine forever!"

Panicked voices rang out in no particular order. Of course, by now, such reactions no longer surprised him very much.

Continuing forward without slowing his pace, Ian asked, "Is Hector at the witch's inn?"

The surrounding voices died off as though cut short by a blade.

"Y-Yes, Demigod! One of the guards has already run ahead to inform him of the situation!"

The commander's trembling reply came a beat later.

Ian nodded. "As you can see, I have people who need to disembark. I'd appreciate it if space could be prepared at the docks."

"Of course! What are you all standing around for? Move!" The commander sprang to his feet and shouted at those around him.

Only then did the soldiers aboard the ships and throughout the harbor begin scrambling upright.

"Everyone off the ships and onto the docks!"

"Untie the mooring lines! Hurry!"

"The center! Clear out the center immediately!"

The docks exploded into frantic activity.

Ian didn't spare them another glance. He simply walked past the harbor, heading deeper into the filthy, foul-smelling city illuminated by scattered torchlight.

His gaze lingered on a familiar building rising in the distance.

"Looks like they knew you'd defeated Raskagin," said Charlotte once they had fully entered the city.

Apparently, the crew of the Silent Storm had been discussing it as well.

Ian nodded casually. "Well, they saw the storm clouds clear."

"And even then, they didn't run. That's surprisingly bra—" Charlotte cut herself off.

Farther down the muddy road, the doors of a two-story inn suddenly burst open.

A man with a limp came hurrying out. It was Hector Drapier, his hat pulled low over his head. Not only was his gait awkward, but one of his legs had been replaced by a steel prosthetic.

He froze the moment he spotted Ian approaching.

"Ha... Hahahaha! Good heavens! To think you'd return this alive and unharmed!"

Laughing as though he could hardly believe it, Hector spread both arms wide and turned to the people around him.

"Everyone, get outside right no—"

"Hold it." Ian cut him off. At the same time, he casually reached out with his will and seized Hector in place.

After studying the frozen man for a moment, Ian released him and added, "Let's let everyone rest tonight."

"That was shortsighted of me. Your Grace must be exhausted from the journey as well." Hector nodded, his voice considerably calmer now.

Turning around, he urgently gestured for the people who had begun following him outside to return indoors.

Theodore and the soldiers, who had frozen in place, quickly turned around and hurried back inside.

"Looks like you already know what happened." Ian continued walking at an easy pace.

Hector naturally fell into step beside him. With both hands, he politely gestured toward the inn.

"I know Raskagin manifested and that Your Grace was victorious. However, I cannot help but feel some regret."

Smacking his lips lightly, he fell into pace beside Ian and continued, "If we hadn't been swept away by that enormous wave, we might have witnessed that magnificent battle ourselves."

"The enormous wave? Ah. Right."

One of Ian's eyebrows rose slightly. The memory of the tidal wave that had surged across the Black Sea and toward the islands flashed through his mind.

"So it really did sweep across the entire archipelago."

"After that, the currents went completely wild. We were tossed around helplessly. By the time the storm clouds cleared and the touch of heaven began to reach us, all of us were already completely exhausted," said Hector.

Limping ahead, Hector opened the inn's door and added, "Let's continue the rest of this conversation inside."

They entered a hall crowded with soldiers who had risen to their feet.

“Let's postpone the rest of this discussion for a moment.” Ian's lips curled upward as he spotted a familiar face standing behind them. "Reporting to the client comes first, after all."