Chapter 44: Finding the Crows Part 5

"...."

"...."

"...."

Everyone was left speechless by the overwhelming sight for a while and as a result, the ship fell silent.

"How… How did this happen…"

The silence was broken by the captain who was leading the ship.

And then starting with the captain, murmurs began to spread.

"Good heavens. What did I just witness?"

"I've been at sea for over 30 years, but I've never seen anything like this."

"Was some kind of magic cast?"

"Idiot! It's the druid, the druid!"

The noises of chatter gradually faded away.

"Ugh… Ugh!!! Blargh!!!"

Clutching the railing, I vomited right then and there. It was due to a sudden depletion of magical power combined with seasickness. Perhaps because I had rapidly expended too much magic at once, even potions didn't seem to work properly.

"Master! Are you alright?!"

"I'm… I'm fine… Ugh!!!"

"I'll bring you some water! Just a moment!"

I heard El running off somewhere in a hurry.

I clung to the railing with my hands drenched in cold sweat and waited for EI to return. Beside me, Ayla made worried whimpering noises and kept nuzzling her head against my waist.

"Huff, huff…"

As I gasped for breath,

-Prrr.

The little creature that had been in my arms all this while fluttered up and perched on top of my head.

-Beep?

And with a curious chirp,

-Whoosh!

Suddenly, a rush of air as fresh as a forest's dawn breeze filled my lungs. Thanks to that clean refreshing air, my head cleared and the tension in my body eased.

"This is…"

-Beep?

It felt similar to the time when the creature had transformed my bathwater into water brimming with life.

This little rascal is always full of surprises…

However, at that moment, my gratitude for the creature overshadowed any doubts.

After rinsing my mouth and quenching my thirst with the water El had brought, I felt significantly better and managed to stand up.

"Theodore!"

The merchant who had been hiding in the cabin rushed out and embraced me.

"As expected, I was counting on you all along!"

"Haha…"

"So, it's true what they say; you're a druid blessed by Lynshaka! I've never seen anything like this in my life!"

"Please, don't shake me…"

I had just been vomiting after all.

I leaned against the railing and let out a long sigh.

"As soon as we reach the Echaits Union, I'll report this to Lady Katharina. With you on our side, navigating the eastern seas will be no problem!"

The merchant rambled on excitedly as if he was totally unconcerned about my well-being.

Did he think I was in no trouble after what had just happened?

I had strained myself to use [Beast Summoning].

Pirates were a ruthless bunch who would swing their swords without discrimination.

Deals and negotiations aside, the likelihood of dying without having tried was far higher, so I forced myself to use that skill.

Even then, it was only because the opponents were "human" pirates that such a tactic had worked. Against the Krakens of the eastern seas, this method would prove utterly ineffective.

Those creatures roamed in packs, and currently, the only being I could summon was a single Deep Sea Blue Whale.

And that too was possible only when I pushed myself to the limit.

But I simply lacked the energy to explain all this to the merchant right now.

I quickly popped a piece of honey candy into my mouth.

"I apologize, but I'm not in a state to talk right now. I wish I could help in healing the others, but I simply don't have the strength. May I take a moment to rest?"

"Of-of course! Certainly! Please, make your way down to the cabin and rest. We will take care of everything else."

"Thank you."

With El's support, I made my way down to the cabin.

"Damn it…"

As soon as the cabin door closed, my legs gave way and Ayla was there to catch my collapsing body. I managed to lie down on the bed and stare at the ceiling with my eyelids drooping heavily. My body felt incredibly heavy.

-Beep beep?

Despite the strange healing acts performed by Beepy, there was something that it couldn't alleviate.

[Beast Summoning] was a skill that only applied to beasts that could be summoned within the caster's magic power.

I had indeed intended to summon the largest creature, but…

I never expected that summoning a creature of the Deep Sea Blue Whale's caliber was possible.

It seems my magical power's quantity and quality were more exceptional than I had anticipated.

All the diligent training had finally shown its worth.

If only that old woman could have seen this…

That was my last thought.

According to El, I had been asleep for nearly a week. No matter how much they tried to wake me up, I wouldn't stir which was quite alarming.

"We were really worried you might pass away without eating or drinking anything…"

"Haha, is that so?"

"Don't laugh. Ayla and I were so worried."

"Well, here I am, awake now."

"Beepy kept doing something by your bedside the whole time. Maybe that's why you're safe now?"

"Well, maybe that's the case."

I glanced down at Beepy who was sleeping soundly in my arms and shrugged. Could Beepy really be a hidden pet? Without something like a status window, it was impossible to tell. What a mystery.

"Anyway, they say we'll arrive in two days."

"Already?"

"It's already been ten days since we set sail. I can't wait to set foot on land again. I'm quite over the sea by now."

"And to think you once said it was much better than the desert."

"Now, I find myself missing the desert."

For the first time in a while, I shared a meal with El and Ayla. The captain had informed us that we were nearing the waters of the Echaits Union and that we wouldn't face any more threats.

Thanks to that, I was able to enjoy fishing leisurely for the next two days. Somehow, my seasickness had vanished after waking up which allowed me to roam freely without the need for seasickness candies.

The occasional small catch was tossed to Ayla as a snack, while something bigger, like a seabream, became a meal for El and me. This was the joy of sailing. Perhaps my father had wanted to share experiences like this with me. It was only now that I began to understand his feelings, and it brought a pang of regret to my heart.

When I return, I must…

I resolved to invite my father to go fishing.

It felt like a distant promise, but I made a firm commitment as I gazed beyond the horizon.

***

"We've arrived."

The land felt solid under my feet; it was a sensation I hadn't felt in a long while.

El and Ayla burst into joyous runs around us the moment they disembarked. Those kids, really…

"It's a pity, Theodore."

"Haha, I'll be sure to visit soon."

"Don't forget; make sure you do."

The merchant offered us accommodations at the merchant guild's lodgings, but I politely declined. I didn't want to incur any more debts, and staying at the guild's lodgings would certainly come with its own set of restrictions.

I'd have to be mindful of so many things.

Even without the company's lodging, we had more than enough money to find a decent place to stay.

"Alright, then shall we look for a good inn?"

One with delicious food would be even better.

"Can I carry your bag?"

"I'll carry it for you!"

"No, let me!"

It seems every city has its share of kids like this.

A swarm of children rushed in all at once, each clamoring to snatch away my luggage.

"Will you not get lost?!"

Of course, El was not about to let them off easily.

Rather than behaving like a noble lady, El threw punches at the kids like a village ruffian. I watched this unfold until the children nearly scampered away, at which point I intervened to calm El down just enough.

Whether they knew I was the one with the money or not, the kids looked at me with sparkling eyes. I pulled a silver coin from my pocket and tossed it into the air before catching it as it shimmered in the sunlight.

What's the most important thing about an inn?

The "food" of course.

"I'll give this silver coin to the one who takes me to the inn with the most delicious food. However…"

I plucked a fruit hanging from a drooping branch and used [Breath of the Forest] on it. The fruit immediately rotted away, leaving only the seed behind.

"If anyone lies to me, they'll be cursed."

It was, of course, a bluff. Curses aren't something you can just throw around lightly.

But such things tend to work well on children.

The kids who had confidently raised their hands began to hesitate and lower them after seeing the rotten fruit. However, there was one among them who did not waver, who did not lower their hand at all…

"Alright, you there. Lead the way to the inn."

I tossed a silver coin to the boy who stood steadfast with his hand raised and followed him.

The inn we arrived at was a worn building bearing the marks of time, yet it was bright and clean inside. Despite its small size, the dining area on the ground floor was bustling with quite the large crowd.

"Welcome!"

A friendly innkeeper greeted us.

"Do you have your largest room available?"

"You're in luck! A guest just checked out yesterday, and we've finished cleaning up nicely. Charlie, show them to their room!"

"Yes, Mom."

We settled into the largest room at the end of the upstairs hallway. Though it was the largest room, it only contained two beds and a single table.

"Wow, actual beds instead of swaying hammocks!"

El seemed quite pleased with just that.

After unpacking, we went downstairs for a meal.

While the food provided by the merchant during our journey was decent, it wasn't "good". The limitations of being at sea played a part. Sometimes, the packed lunches I had prepared in advance were even better.

We secured a small table for ourselves. The dining hall was cramped, and as the days passed, it became increasingly difficult for the ever-growing Ayla to join us for meals. It was unfortunate, but there was nothing to be done about it.

"What would you like to have?"

"Please, something you're confident in making."

"Haha! That's an interesting order!"

"We've just completed a long and tiring journey. We need something special to commemorate it."

"It will be served shortly."

The innkeeper exuded confidence. My anticipation just grew.

The first dish to arrive was a cream soup made with fresh peas and bacon. The taste was exquisite, both salty and smooth. Was goat's milk cheese added to it? I marveled at the soup as I devoured it, and so did El.

Next came freshly baked pumpkin bread and a whole roasted goose. The goose, smeared with butter and sprinkled with salt and pepper, emitted a tantalizing aroma. The accompanying carrots and potatoes were so vibrant and fresh that they seemed to exhibit a hint of sweetness.

I sliced a fried onion flower in half and shared it with El's plate. As I placed a tender leg of goose on top, El looked at me with an expression that couldn't wait any longer.

"This meal commemorates our first voyage. Let's eat."

I smiled broadly before biting into the juicy leg of the goose. The rich flavor was a reward that made up for all our recent hardships.

"Bring us some beer too!"

Ah, this is what makes surviving in another world worthwhile!