Land Ahoy (Part II)

"It's the sea!" Janis exclaimed, her disappointment fading as we finally reached the island's eastern shoreline after a six-hour tour.

Honestly, the ocean appeared rather ordinary. In a fantasy world, one might expect to encounter colossal sea creatures or mystical beings near the coast, but nothing particularly noteworthy caught my attention.

"This would make a nice place for a vacation." It was like a beach. Except it was in the wild, where any creatures could arrive to interfere at any time. I wouldn't mind our long travels if this place were managed well.

"Roy, you never did tell me why we came here," Janis remarked, her gaze fixed on me as we stood hand in hand, silently taking in the scenery.

The silence was calming, and seeing that neither of us needed to speak to break this silence was already a great sign. Now that we had arrived at our destination, Janis naturally wanted to know why I wanted to come here.

"I wanted to do some investigation. Remi stumbled upon an item from my hometown, and I'm curious if there are similar artifacts to be found. She mentioned finding it on this shore, so I thought it was worth exploring." I explained it to Janis.

"So, a treasure hunt?" Janis's thinking was optimistic. However, she was right about what she thought.

"Essentially," I said as I searched for washed-away items on the sandy coast.

"Janis, take a look at this." As our search began, I spotted a gleaming object partially buried in the sand. It would have easily gone unnoticed had I not been so attentive.

"That's an ether plate. It's one of the most efficient energy sources. It's mostly used for tools that require a large amount of energy. I wouldn't be surprised if it were used for a sunken ship that floated to this small island." I put it in my storage bag, as this plate was now mine.

Surprisingly, when hunting for washaway items, there were many new things I had never seen before. This was pretty exciting and profitable. Sadly, this method would be at least a once-a-week practice, as new washaway items wouldn't often appear. At least we would find something if we waited.

"Qiii!!!~" While we were searching, finally, a creature of the sea landed on the shore.

For a creature that sounded cute, it was wailing around disturbingly. What we found was a squid-like creature. Its body was blue and somewhat transparent, like that of a jellyfish. The triangular top had shown its guts, and that's why I find it alarming.

"Janis, what should we do about this creature?" I felt bad killing it. Touching this was not an option when I did not know about it.

"This little thing?" Janis approached it and immediately sent a razor wind, cutting the squid into five slices.

"What the heck!" Watching how Janis destroyed it like it was nothing, I couldn't help but be surprised.

"Don't be fooled by how pitiful it looks. Because of their evolution of being prayed upon, these little monsters are poisonous to the point where you can die if injected with their ink. Being sprayed once would do the job."

"Yikes..." I was glad I was cautious about it.

After that disappointment, hours slipped away without any progress in finding the items I had hoped for. While a part of me felt a twinge of letdown, deep down, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.

Since we've been in the sun for hours, we're wearing swimsuits, and, not to lie, Janis was looking great in them. Because of her influence, I felt my mind becoming more corrupted each time we spent more time together.

"This scene is beautiful." Watching the sunset, I lay in between her chests as we rested. We had decided to leave in a bit, but before we did, enjoying the sight of the sun going down was relaxing.

"Janis, do you see that?" I asked, noticing a faint silhouette emerging from the setting sun. As our attention shifted toward it, the small dark dot became increasingly evident against the colorful background.

"It's a ship..." Janis's voice carried a concern as the silhouette gradually took shape against the fading light.

"Could those be pirates?" I quipped half-seriously, trying to lighten the tension.

"No, it's a battleship, likely from a more developed nation," Janis responded solemnly, her expression growing somber.

As the ships drew nearer, their immense size became increasingly apparent, instilling a sense of unease in me. The mere thought of their potential aggression made me flinch.

"Shouldn't we leave?" Uncertainty loomed over us, unsure of the ships' intentions.

One thing was certain: engaging with battleships would be a reckless gamble. I could discern at least five vessels from a distance, with the central one towering above the rest. The sheer magnitude of their presence was daunting, capable of unleashing unfathomable destruction.

"I need to inform Merilyn about this. Roy, we must depart immediately." Janis seized my arm, urgency propelling us into action as we sprinted from the shoreline.

Realizing the inefficiency of our pace, I swiftly urged Janis to let go and keep up. She adjusted her speed to match mine, ensuring I wouldn't tire out.

"Janis, go on ahead without me. I'll manage to make it back. Your priority should be to alert the village," I urged, grateful for her presence but aware that urgency outweighed companionship.

"But..." Janis hesitated, reluctant to leave me behind, yet my stern gaze conveyed the situation's urgency. I silently insisted that she shouldn't concern herself with my well-being. The news of approaching warships demanded immediate attention.

We might have been overreacting, but the sight of ominous-looking vessels was undeniably unsettling. With the intentions of the people aboard unknown, taking any precaution seemed justified.

Before long, my solitary journey led me back to the village, fortunately without losing my way. As I approached, I couldn't help but notice a shift in the atmosphere compared to the tranquil ambiance I had left behind. Had Janis successfully conveyed her message? I could only hope that was the case.

"Stop right there!" A commanding voice rang out as I neared the village, compelling me to halt in my tracks.