Chapter 73

It felt as if the blade of the Book of Gambling Apocalypse was about to be shown from Margareta's head. It almost made it to the opening, but barely stopped.

She held it with her little finger, gripping it tightly. It seems she was afraid that I might change my mind and let go of my finger.

'Why did it have to be this?'

My heart aches from the terrible misunderstanding. I couldn't even tell my family that I had become a secret inspector and had to leave the capital immediately. It must have been the same feeling for officials who couldn't tell anyone and had to leave the capital right away. If I reveal the secret of the casino, it would be over, but it's a matter I can't bring myself to speak about.

If I get caught going to the casino again, Margareta will shiver with betrayal. She might even try to cut off my fingers while crying.

"Tanian, don't go anywhere else. Let's go around together. It seems like there are many good places."

"Of course. I just went to the casino to take a look. It doesn't seem like a place I want to go twice."

I heard Louise and the ringleader talking beside me. I thought Ryutis was the devil's mouth, but maybe I judged too quickly. Perhaps all the members are problematic, but I haven't observed them yet.

You can't tell if someone is the devil's mouth until you experience it yourself. It's like Schrödinger's cat, which you can't be sure of until you observe it, or the third prince of the back palace...

I tried to glance at Tanian, but Margareta cleared her throat, so I turned my gaze forward again.

"We plan to go to the beach tomorrow. Will Kal Young-sik go with us?"

"Ah, I'm sorry. I have to be away from my seat starting tomorrow."

Margareta's expression, which had just started to smile, hardened again. The timing was definitely not good. I should have told her earlier that I would be away from my seat starting tomorrow.

It was harder than I thought to calm Margareta, who was trembling, thinking I was going to the casino again.

The next day, I finished all the tasks I needed to handle before the boat trip.

- I pray for your safe return.

I also told Villar that I would be away from my seat starting today. I explained it as a work issue, so he didn't ask further. After all, I promised before coming to Boyar that I wouldn't get involved in anything. It would be reassuring if Villar were ten people.

I told the members to tell Villar if any problems arise while I'm away, so nothing should go wrong.

'Right?'

Still, I doubt he would forget or ignore it even if I mentioned it by name. I hope he doesn't go to some strange place for fun without me knowing.

I'm worried about Ryutis, who is far above Villar, but for now, I can only trust. I don't like relying on luck, but what can I do?

"Have you arrived?"

When we reached the port, the head of the mage corps welcomed us. The caravel visible behind him looks like the ship we'll be relying on for a while. A caravel is good for quickly moving with just the necessary crew. There are even three of them.

"The preparations for departure are complete. You just need to board."

"The captain must have prepared early."

"The captain said he would put in his best effort since you're boarding."

I smiled at the head of the mage corps's joking words and boarded the flagship. The person who used to lead a galleon must have come out early to prepare for the caravel.

"The requested items are ready."

"Ah, thank you."

"It's nothing. But is this enough?"

I nodded at his worried words. It's hard to catch a creature that pops out and disappears quickly with just a sword or a punch. I have to send it away as soon as it appears.

"Yes, it's enough."

On the ship, I saw three spears leaning against the railing, where the mages had settled. They are the perfect shape for throwing, and this should be enough. I even asked for more, considering the possibility of missing.

"The key is when to find it."

It's not a matter of whether I can catch it or not, but when I find it.

"Perhaps it might notice that someone is trying to kill it and hide even more."

"Haha, if it's that smart, there's nothing we can do."

I laughed in response to the head of the mage corps's joke. It's his way of saying let's do our best together. And if it really has that level of awareness and intelligence, the game of hide and seek will take longer.

Thinking about it, it's the creature that went into hiding right after its parents turned into octopus stew. It definitely has intelligence, even if it doesn't have awareness.

'Will words become reality?'

That would be troublesome.

***

There's a place called Emerald Beach. They say the sea shines like emerald, hence the name. It's a crude and straightforward name, but it fits perfectly, they say.

The resort staff said it's one of the places you must visit if you come to Boyar, so we decided to go. Originally, we planned to go with the princess, but her brother is busy... Even Irena couldn't come. Irena has never seen the sea, and I wanted to see it with her.

"It's a bit empty without the torturer."

"I didn't expect to do work even here."

Lather muttered, and Erih, who was beside him, agreed. Indeed, we didn't expect her brother to move around even in this distant Boyar. Still, it's a school trip, so it would be good for him to rest for a while, right?

"Let's think of it as a preliminary survey. They said it might end early, so we can bring him then."

I nodded unconsciously at Ryutis's words. In the past, her brother checked the place in advance for school trips, so let's think of it as our turn this time. Surely, he won't wander around outside during the school trip.

With that regret, we headed to Emerald Beach. Well, if it's not good, it might just waste her brother's precious time. Let's check it out thoroughly and bring him if it's good. That would be better for her brother.

"It's beautiful. It seems like a gift from the sky."

"Yeah, it's pretty..."

When we arrived at the beach, the quiet Tanian was amazed by the beautiful scenery. I thought it would just be a green sea, but seeing it in person was different. It's definitely green, but there's something more.

Even the three ships passing in the distance blend into this picturesque landscape, shining. It's really beautiful...

I want to show it to her brother. He would surely like it. He enjoyed cherry blossom viewing, so he would enjoy this sea too. It would be nice if Irena and the princess could come too.

***

This damn green algae sea, it's driving me crazy just looking at it.

After setting sail at lunchtime, we quickly searched the area where the kraken is known to appear, but there's been no success yet. Of course, I didn't expect to find it on the first day, but just waiting on the sea is not a good feeling.

The head of the mage corps, who has been living at sea since before I came to Boyar, is already exhausted and lying on the deck, resting. Is that rest? At first glance, it looks like he fainted.

"Is there anything uncomfortable?"

"Ah, Captain."

Seeing the head of the mage corps, who looks like a corpse (really), the captain approached to check on me. The navigator or helmsman will take care of the sailing, so he must have come out casually. I was worried about not greeting him yet, but he came just in time.

"Is there anything uncomfortable? I was so absorbed in the scenery."

"Is that so? That's a relief. The head of the corps is always like that when he boards a ship, so I was worried that my sailing skills had declined."

"It's hard for a mage to adapt to the life of a seafarer."

"Ha ha ha! That's true!"

'They're just weak,' the captain nodded in satisfaction. He was proud of being the best driver, but with a passenger in that state, he must have been a bit worried. Now that he got recognition from me that it's not his problem, he must feel better.

As a reward for boosting the seafarer's mood, the captain, who approached me leaning against the railing, also looked at the green sea.

"It's the pride of Boyar. There are quite a few people in Boyar who would risk their lives for this sea."

"Is that so? It's definitely beautiful."

I wonder what it would be like to risk one's life. Maybe it's different for someone from the inland.

"It's not just beautiful. To be honest, the catch is quite abundant. Thanks to that, many people have relied on small boats and ventured out to this sea since ancient times."

Ah, then I agree. From the perspective of coastal residents, a guaranteed fishing ground is no less than life itself. Boyar today is not just a place that lives on fishing.

Glancing at the captain, he was looking at the sea with a nostalgic gaze. Although the people of Boyar have been dedicated to fishing since ancient times, it seems that he has ancestors who risked their lives for the sea.

"And the ones who took their lives were not the sky or the sea, but the kraken."

This is how the buildup goes.

"At that time, the kraken was an unstoppable disaster."

"I've heard that it was once revered as a sea god."

"Ha ha, a god of disaster would be more fitting."

After a moment of silence, the captain turned his gaze to the distant shore.

"Now, the kraken is just a troublesome monster. But for ordinary people, it's still a disaster that can destroy their daily lives."

"His Excellency the Golden Gong seemed worried that the daily lives of the people might be destroyed."

"Yes, he's an excellent person. He cared about the lives of the people at the very bottom."

The captain's eyes, which seemed to be recalling something, now had a mix of emptiness and anger, not just nostalgia. It seems that the person who risked their life for the sea was not a distant ancestor but a close relative of the captain, and not by choice.

"And I was honestly happy to hear that you accepted His Excellency's request."

"That's nothing. It's a job with compensation."

The captain shook his head with a smile at my words, as if it were a trivial matter.

"From the perspective of those whose daily lives are protected, that's not important. The result is what matters."

"I hope many people can enjoy the results."

"It's an easy task."

Then the captain pointed to the shore he was looking at. A black shadow appeared on the green sea and gradually darkened.

Oh, it's already out.

"Besides, there's someone who needs you."

At his words, I carefully examined the shore and saw a small dot that looked like a person sitting on the sand. Oh, just at this time.

No, this creature doesn't come out unless magic is cast on the sea, so maybe this person is acting as bait?

I clicked