NOVEL NEXT Chapter 0
The utterly tiresome medieval era.
Damn crusades.
False knighthood.
An age where I could only hear the tales of pure-hearted knights through the whimsical heroics recounted by bards.
I, reflecting on the past, stared blankly at the gently swaying blue ocean.
The weather was gloomy, and my mood was no better.
And then my loyal follower, Hans, approached and asked me, “My lord knight, what shall we do since our owners row so poorly?”
“Let them row as if it’s their last breath before they become shark bait, and tell them to address me as captain, not owner. How many times do I have to tell you that I’m not a knight anymore?”
You’re bringing up annoying bad memories.
“Sorry, sorry! Captain!”
“Alright. Are our owners doing their job well?”
“Of course! They’re rowing with sweat pouring off them! They’re truly useless!”
Hans’ face was full of happiness as he answered me with gusto. He seemed to enjoy the task immensely.
“Captain! I think I have a knack for this slave trading business. I want to become a slave trader when we get back!”
Not that.
“Do you want to end up like those owners below?”
“No!”
“Then stop your nonsense and faithfully assist our owners. They’ve brought us this far, so we should repay them, shouldn’t we?”
“Yes! Captain, not Knight!”
The simple-minded Hans rushed into the ship, and I watched him absentmindedly while leaning on the railing, gazing at the vast expanse of the sea.
“Will we see land anytime soon…”
It’s already been over a month since we last saw land.
Although it’s been a month, I haven’t really counted the days properly, so it could have been even longer.
We have enough food to last by tightening our belts, but watching the sea from this swaying ship makes you long for solid ground under your feet.
After all, humans are creatures meant to live on land.
We truly become people when our feet touch the earth made of soil.
“What a fucked-up life…”
Reincarnated as an apprentice knight, only to become the captain of a slave ship after a mutiny in just 2 years.
My rise and fall in status is like a rollercoaster.
Life is truly hard.
“But I’ve reached the end now.”
Scraping all the wealth from those damn slave traders, I’ve amassed enough fortune to live a life of luxury for the rest of my days. My goal was simply to find a remote place, settle down, and live a peaceful life as a wealthy man.
I’m sick of the meaningless holy wars and crusades.
I want to live quietly, far away from any conflict.
“…But somehow the ship is rocking even more violently today.”
Is it starting again?
The ominous premonition I’ve experienced a few times before. I fiddled with the blade I took from a mercenary who served the slave traders and looked up at the sky now turning gray.
“Huh.”
The cloudy sky, the ship swaying as if about to capsize.
Another ominous sign.
After finally grasping the chance for a life-changing turn, am I going to be drowned here?
That can’t happen.
“Hans! Tell them to prepare for full speed ahead! The rowers, get rid of the owners and grab the oars! We’ll all be doomed if we leave it to those useless bastards!”
“What do we do with the evicted owners, Captain?”
“If they seem like they’re not going anywhere, just toss them overboard! There’s no one here who wants to become a crew member of a ghost ship because of some pigs!”
“Wouldn’t a ghost ship be kinda cool?”
What, does this guy aspire to be a nut-case human?
“You’ll become shark bait before you become a ghost ship crew member—get to work! Call George and make him take the helm!”
“Can we really trust that guy?! Because of him, we couldn’t see land for a month! He lied, saying he knew how to steer the ship even though he doesn’t!”
“Well then, you steer it! There’s no one else who knows how to steer except for that guy!”
“I’m sorry!”
“Does being sorry end your life as a sailor?”
“No!”
“Then get to work quickly!”
“Yes! Captain!”
After chasing away the simple-minded Hans, I infused my voice with mana.
A basic usage method to strengthen the vocal cords and amplify the voice.
Like a lion roaring, I shouted at the crew.
“Everyone, hurry up! If we make a mistake, we’ll all become shark bait! Keep your wits about you if you don’t want to meet again inside a shark’s stomach!”
“Yes! Captain!”
“We’ll die with our feet on the ground if we must! Understood?”
“Yes! Captain!”
Moved by my determined command, the former slaves who were now crew members began bustling about. If they hurry up and act efficiently, the situation is still manageable.
“Let’s see what we’re made of.”
We—I, rather we—faced the increasingly rough waves, our eyes wide with determination to fight for survival.
But as if mocking our resolve, a giant wave arose and shook the boat.
“I should have escaped when I was still a prisoner…”
Cold seawater greeted me.
——————————–
“Hmm~ahem~”
Wandering along the sunlit beach in the morning was a daily routine for Hye-ryeong, the sole flower of Haenam.
Walking along the soft sand encasing her feet felt like it helped her meditate better, so she had long adopted this activity as the beginning of her day.
If nothing happened, she would reach the end of the beach and then dash lightly with agile leaps towards Haenam Sect’s training grounds.
But yes, if nothing happened.
“…Huh?”
A lump unusual for the shore caught her eye.
She narrowed her eyes to observe, and there appeared to be something that resembled a human form.
It was half-buried under seaweed and sand, but her expert eyesight could easily discern it as a person.
But this person was no ordinary one.
‘A Colored-Eyed Person…?’
Here of all places?
A look of confusion flickered across her face.
While it wasn’t unheard of for people to wash up on Haenam Island after various accidents, this marked the first time she’d encountered a Colored-Eyed Person.
She approached the man half-buried in the sand with movements as nimble as a rabbit.
‘Is he a martial artist?’
First, she observed his temple, the easiest method to identify a martial artist.
Unless they have reached a profound level, protruding temples are the easiest way to judge the presence of internal energy.
After confirming the protruding temple, Hye-ryeong hesitated for a moment.
‘Should I bring him?’
Hye-ryeong paused, having heard tales of righteous sects getting entangled in debts of gratitude for saving martial artists, sometimes bringing harm to their sect.
While doing good is part of the righteous path, the duty towards one’s sect comes first in the Martial Realm.
After giving it some thought, she finally made a decision.
‘Let’s take him anyway. He’s clearly from afar, being a Colored-Eyed Person, so it’s probably fine.’
Placing her hands under the man’s armpits, she pulled him onto land.
“He’s too bulky…”
Struggling, she carried the unconscious man on her back.
Though his waterlogged body was heavy, it certainly wasn’t enough to hinder someone who called herself a skilled martial artist of Haenam Sect.
Hye-ryeong, carrying the Colored-Eyed Person, began to use her lightness kung-fu towards Haenam Sect.