“Guys! Have all the supplies been loaded?”
“Yes!”
“Good! Then let’s set sail!”
With the sailors’ loud cheers, the ship carrying us began to move slowly.
Perhaps because it was an old ship, the hull shook violently, and the world spun around.
“Ugh…!”
Looking back, this was the first time I had ever been on a sailing ship.
Small boats had been fine, but I realized large ships could cause seasickness.
The unrelenting rough waves made the ship sway, and it felt like the entire world was spinning.
“Are you all right?”
“I didn’t know I was someone who got seasick this badly.”
“Here’s some water. I recommend rinsing your mouth with it.”
“Thanks…”
I rinsed the lingering stomach acid from my mouth with the water and spit it out.
After hydrating, I felt slightly better, though only marginally.
“This is a big problem. We’ll need to fight the sea dragon in this condition. Can you manage it?”
“If worst comes to worst, we might have to turn the ship around.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ll get used to it over time.”
“Please let me know if it gets too much! I can take care of the sea dragon hunt myself!”
I nodded slightly and lay down on a bed inside the ship to steady myself.
As I closed my eyes, trying to calm my seasickness, a strong impact at the bow of the ship sent me flying into the air.
When I landed, I rolled off the bed and hit the floor below.
At the same time, hurried footsteps approached, and one of the sailors burst into the room, frantic.
“Something’s wrong!”
“What’s going on?”
“It’s the sea dragon…! The sea dragon has appeared!”
“But we just set out an hour ago! Didn’t they say it would take at least two days to reach the sea dragon’s territory?”
“Yes, but for some reason, it has left its territory and is heading toward us!”
Thanks to the unexpected appearance of the sea dragon, I wouldn’t need to endure the ship for long.
The problem was that it had shown up before my seasickness had subsided, leaving me in no shape to give my best.
I couldn’t decide whether to be happy or upset about its early arrival.
“You’re still having trouble, right? Let me handle this instead!”
“No, I’ll go.”
“Are you sure about this?”
“Yeah, if I move my body, I think the seasickness might subside a bit.”
Forcing myself to stand, I followed the sailor’s lead up to the deck.
If the sea dragon went on a rampage, the ship could break apart at any moment.
We needed to take it down as quickly as possible.
“There you are!”
“Everyone, drop the anchor and stand back! Helmsman, stay on the wheel in case we need to change direction!”
“Aye, aye!”
The captain’s quick orders set the sailors into motion.
They cleared the deck to give me a space to fight, removing anything that might get in the way.
Now alone on the deck, I stood face-to-face with the sea dragon, which had appeared near the bow.
“What an overwhelming scale.”
The sea dragon was massive, large enough to swallow the ship in one bite.
And only half of its body had surfaced; I couldn’t even begin to imagine its full size.
Although I had confidently volunteered to hunt it, a tinge of worry crept in.
“Well, I have to try.”
I slowly stepped forward, drawing my sword from its sheath.
The sea dragon watched me intently, showing no signs of hostility or sudden movements.
It seemed calm, as if carefully observing me.
[Sheathe your sword, reincarnator. I have not come to fight you.]
A beautiful voice resonated in my mind.
Startled by the tone that seemed to know exactly who I was, I hurriedly looked around.
But there was no one else on the deck.
While I was still puzzled, the voice revealed its identity.
[Reincarnator, I am right in front of you.]
“If you’re in front of me, don’t tell me…”
I looked straight ahead, and the enormous sea dragon nodded, confirming my suspicions.
To think that the one who knew my identity was the sea dragon itself—I was so shocked that my mouth hung open.
The unexpected situation, combined with my lingering seasickness, made my head spin.
How was I supposed to react in a moment like this?
[Calm yourself. As I said, I have no intention of fighting you. I have come only to deliver a divine oracle from Impertrial.]
“An oracle? I’m not even religious.”
[I am not here to convert you. Besides, if you’re not an aquatic being, it wouldn’t mean much to serve Impertrial anyway.]
“So there’s a religion even the creatures of the sea follow? Alright, what’s this oracle about?”
[You must leave the kingdom and head to the empire immediately. If you don’t, a great calamity will befall you.]
Just hearing the message made me frown.
I had left the empire and chosen to be part of the kingdom.
Now they wanted me to abandon the happiness and love I had found in the kingdom and go back to the empire, becoming a shameless traitor?
Even if it was a divine oracle, I had no intention of following it unless it came with a compelling reason.
Besides, why would a sea god care about human affairs?
[You’re looking at me with skepticism. I understand. It’s natural to question Impertrial’s intentions, given how rarely they involve themselves in human matters.]
“If you understand, then tell me! Why are you specifically telling me to go to the empire? And why is it that only I can prevent this calamity?”
[Unfortunately, I cannot reveal everything. If you were to know too much, it might alter the course of the future.]
“Then I’ll have no choice but to ignore this oracle.”
[I will not force you. But if you wish to prevent the calamity, you will have the chance to make a choice. Regardless of your decision, Impertrial has assured me that your future will be filled with blessings.]
It seemed that gods everywhere liked to speak in vague terms.
They never gave clear instructions, only bits and pieces of information.
If their words were misunderstood or misinterpreted, we humans were the ones who bore the consequences.
[However, I can share why Impertrial is aiding you.]
“And that is?”
[Though often called the Mother of the Sea, Impertrial also governs opportunities and devotion. She granted you a second chance after your tragic death in your previous life and supports your love. Please do not resent her for this.]
I learned more about the one who had given me this second life.
While I still didn’t know why I needed to go to the empire, it was hard to ignore the will of a god who seemed to genuinely support me.
It felt like a mother’s scolding—annoying in the moment, but ultimately for my own good.
“Tell me one thing: am I fated to live in the empire for the rest of my life?”
[There is no such thing as a fixed destiny. One’s path is always shaped by their choices. For now, I am merely advising you to go to the empire to avert the calamity.]
“So, after preventing this calamity, I can return to the kingdom if I want to?”
[That decision will be yours to make.]
I felt I had gathered as much information as I could.
Some questions remained unanswered, but I supposed I’d figure things out once I reached the empire.
I had come here to hunt the sea dragon, but now it felt like I had been handed a homework assignment instead.
“Oh, that reminds me. There have been many reports of you appearing along trade routes and causing casualties. Can’t you do something about that?”
[Shameless humans! I only punished those who trespassed into my territory and engaged in illegal fishing! I have never committed senseless slaughter!]
“I heard the completely destroyed ships weren’t fishing vessels but cargo ships.”
[That is misinformation, or perhaps someone who attacked the cargo ships used me as an excuse!]
“That’s not impossible.”
It was hard to say the sea dragon was lying.
If it wanted to, it could easily destroy every ship passing through its territory and disappear without a trace.
Why would it need to make excuses?
Moreover, there was genuine frustration and indignation in its voice.
“So, you’re saying it wasn’t your doing?”
[I can swear before Impertrial!]
The enraged sea dragon slammed its tail on the water, creating massive waves.
The anchor kept the ship from being swept away, but the violent shaking worsened my seasickness.
“Alright, alright! I believe you! Now, please leave. Your mere proximity to the continent terrifies people. And for now, stay within your territory. If anyone trespasses, we’ll deal with it.”
[Understood. I trust you to handle this amicably.]
The sea dragon bowed its massive head before submerging once more.
Its sheer size caused waves to surge as it dove.
I leaned against the railing, trying to calm my seasickness, when the sailors gathered around me.
“Wh-what just happened?”
“You seemed to be speaking earlier. Were you… talking to the sea dragon?”
“Is it really okay to just let it go like that?”
“Quiet, all of you!”
The barrage of questions created chaos, but thankfully, the captain quickly restored order.
Not long after, Retia emerged from the cabin, sensing the sea dragon’s presence had disappeared.
“Are you alright? You’re not hurt, are you?”
“I’m fine. I didn’t even fight the sea dragon.”
“You didn’t fight it? Didn’t you say you were going to slay it?”
“Well, about that…”
I revealed part of my conversation with the sea dragon, explaining the truth behind the casualties and suggesting that pirates might be exploiting its name.
Some sailors seemed skeptical about the idea of talking to the sea dragon, but the captain immediately accepted it.
“Think about it, everyone. Would a sea dragon just leave quietly for no reason? I even saw it nodding. That means communication happened.”
The captain’s concise explanation finally convinced the sailors.
I realized that such judgment was what made him a great leader.
The next step would be to spread the word, crack down on illegal fishing vessels, and hunt down the pirates exploiting the sea dragon’s name.
Since I had told the sea dragon to lie low, it would likely overlook us encroaching on its territory during these efforts.
Though the trade issue was resolved, a new problem awaited me.
“Zenith.”
“You called for me?”
“This might seem random, but have you heard any rumors from the empire lately?”
“Are you referring to the civil war that broke out a few days ago?”
“…What?”
Before I even realized it, the empire was plunging into chaos.