Chapter 78

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After confirming that the Deep Sea King wouldn't turn back to attack, Zyhark returned to the deck of the Endless Dream.

"Nicely done, King," he commended, patting King on the shoulder. The timing and accuracy of that cannon shot were spot on.

Despite the gap between the meticulous control required for gaming and reality, King's success with the cannon on his first try was beyond Zyhark's expectations.

Maybe developing King's skills as a cannoneer or sniper could yield unexpected benefits. Zyhark pondered this possibility.

"It was just good luck. To be honest, I had no confidence before firing the cannon, since I've never used one before," King admitted, scratching his head modestly.

"Don't be modest, King. I didn't expect not only strength but such mastery over the cannon from you!" Aqua expressed her unabashed admiration. She had been entirely focused on the Deep Sea King and hadn't noticed King's struggle with the cannonball.

"And Aqua, your timing with the power boost was spot on," Zyhark turned to Aqua, shaking off the seawater from his hair.

Ignoring the fact that she was the main cause of the trouble and her comedic antics in between, her contribution was crucial in quickly dealing with the Deep Sea King.

It was their first coordinated combat as a trio, and it went rather well.

"Hm? Zyhark, am I to take that as a compliment?" Aqua was momentarily taken aback before proudly straightening up, basking in her supposed glory.

"I must say, your vocabulary really is severely limited. If you're going to praise a goddess, you should use richer language and a more sincere tone! At the very least, 'worthy of the great Goddess Aqua' would suffice."

"As you are my number one faithful follower in this world, Zyhark, I think it's essential to educate you on the basic qualities of a follower. Otherwise, you might be looked down upon when we're out, and that would be a real shame..."

As Aqua, a bit too delighted with just a sliver of praise, went on, Zyhark realized his mistake. Sorry, my error for even mentioning it!

Having no intention of dealing with Aqua any further, he and King, sharing the sentiment, pushed the heavy cannon back into the storeroom without looking back.

"Eh? Eh! Why are you leaving?!" Aqua realized only after Zyhark and King had disappeared down the stairs, following them in a huff.

"Aqua, could you dry off my clothes?" Back at the dining area, Zyhark pointed to his drenched attire. Such a task was trivial for Aqua, the Goddess of Water.

"Hmph, like the beauty of nature, this is not a skill to be lightly displayed," Aqua was still riding high on her brief moment of pride. "Of course, Zyhark, if you beg with sincerity..."

"Enough with the nonsense!"

"Yes, Zyhark-sama!" Aqua quickly reached out with her pale hand, lightly touching Zyhark's chest.

Buzz~

A faint blue light glowed, and Zyhark's seawater-soaked clothes dried at a visibly rapid pace, becoming as light and airy as if they'd been aired out in seconds!

Indeed, on matters of little significance, the idiot goddess always managed to demonstrate impressively useful abilities...

With that, tranquility returned to the Endless Dream as it continued toward its destination, Loguetown.

Feeling the strain of loading the cannon, King grasped the 10kg dumbbells with renewed determination and vigor, mista'king'ly believed by Aqua to be some sort of leisurely stretching exercise.

After all, from her perspective, a powerful being like King would surely need tons of iron to train, right?

The reaction when she discovers this is King's limit would surely be priceless!

After attempting the "leisurely exercise" for three minutes, the lazy goddess quickly abandoned the dumbbells.

Just as she was about to settle down with chips and soda, Zyhark, after inspecting the Endless Dream, assigned her to repair the ship's side fence damaged by the Deep Sea King's collision.

Given her capability and being the cause of the incident, plus her knack for intricate craftsmanship, even while repairing damaged walls, Aqua had no choice but to don a white work suit, a sun-protective cap, and grab a toolbox to start her repair work on the second deck.

As the journey on the sea resumed its course without boredom, a group of sea merchants attracted by the ship's reputation visited.

Admiring Zyhark, King, and Aqua's act of justice against pirates, they indulged in a feast, leaving generous payments and exquisite jewelry as gifts, a small token of their appreciation.

Zyhark thanked these kind-hearted people. It's the unpredictability of sea voyages that makes them enjoyable, never knowing what interesting encounters or delightful gains lie ahead.

For instance...

"Help me, please, save me!"

Not long after the merchants departed, desperate cries for help reached the Endless Dream. A disheveled, thin man was spotted struggling on a piece of driftwood near the ship.

Zyhark, recognizing the man who seemed vaguely familiar, halted the ship to allow him aboard.

"Thank you, thank you so much!" The man, in his early twenties, was visibly shaken, continuously expressing his gratitude.

Upon closer inspection, various scars marred his cheeks, arms, and legs.

"Aqua, get him some water," Zyhark instructed, placing an empty cup before the man.

Understanding the cue, Aqua flicked open her fan she happened to hold.

Whoosh~

Crystal clear water immediately flowed out, filling the empty cup.

The man, astounded by such an unseen method, momentarily forgot to hydrate himself until Zyhark prompted him. He then eagerly gulped down the water.

"Tell us, who are you, where do you come from, and how did you end up adrift at sea alone?" Zyhark inquired.

The man's eyes filled with dread as he began to recount his harrowing tale.

(End of Chapter)