Chapter 157 : Chapter 157

Chapter 157

With ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Rachel’s brief explanation concluded, the first day’s expedition came to an end, and the expedition team began descending the mountain without even having time to cool their sweat.

As ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍mountain trails always were, everyone stretched out into a long single-file line as they headed down. For some reason, Cha Yeri—who had been near the front—left the group and moved all the way to the very back, where Do Minyeong was.

Considering ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that Ji Seokhyeon was in the middle, it was an exceptionally unusual move.

Watching ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the others’ reactions, Cha Yeri cautiously spoke to Do Minyeong.

“It ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍looks like the expedition is over with this, does it not?”

“Yes. ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍And?”

“What are you going to do now, Cadet Do Minyeong?”

Do Minyeong’s expression turned as if the question had come out of nowhere.

“Since when have you taken an interest in me?”

“I did not ask with ill intent. In truth, I was considering proposing a strategic cooperation.”

“A strategic cooperation?”

“Yes.”

Cha Yeri flicked her gaze toward the front line.

Do Minyeong noticed and naturally slowed her steps.

“What sort of cooperation do you mean?”

“Do you know Jeong Soyun from General Ability Academy?”

“She was the thief in Catch the Thief during the Spring Scholastic War, and also the final victim.”

“I am glad you remember.”

“Of course. I was a victim as well. I have not properly spoken with her, but we do exchange greetings.”

“Then this will be easy. During this expedition, I intend to serve as a bridge between Ms. Jeong Soyun and Cadet Gwon Chihun.”

“A bridge? Are the two of them in that sort of relationship?”

“No. Ms. Soyun likes Cadet Gwon Chihun unilaterally.”

“…?”

Do Minyeong stopped mid-step.

Then, as if dumbfounded, she asked,

“Are you referring to that executioner I know as Gwon Chihun?”

“Yes, unless there is a cadet who changed his name over the summer.”

“My goodness.”

“I was surprised as well.”

“But what does that have to do with cooperation?”

“Because Cadet Ji Seokhyeon is involved in the reason she developed those feelings.”

“…How so?”

Cha Yeri let a brief silence hang.

There was no rhetorical device more effective than the pause before sharing important information.

As expected, Do Minyeong blinked several times as if craving the answer.

“Ms. Soyun believes that the one who deduced Catch the Thief was Cadet Gwon Chihun.”

“What? That is absurd. I watched Seokhyeon deduce it right there. And the other cadets should know that as well…”

“It is obvious. Cadet Gwon Chihun exaggerated the story to the students of the 4th Scholastic District and boasted about it. Unfortunately, Ms. Soyun got swept up in it. Since she was the victim, it must have been even more effective.”

“Wait. Does Seokhyeon know about this?”

Cha Yeri nodded at once.

“He does not care at all. He says the truth is not important anyway.”

“Then what about Ms. Jeong Soyun?”

“I did not tell her. It seemed unnecessary. In fact, I agree with Cadet Ji Seokhyeon to some extent. Whether the truth is revealed or not, it will not greatly change her feelings. However…”

“…?”

“If Cadet Gwon Chihun rejects Ms. Soyun coldly, it could become rather complicated.”

“You mean she might develop feelings for Seokhyeon.”

“Yes. The reason she felt romantic interest in Cadet Gwon Chihun was likely a kind of admiration.”

Do Minyeong fell into thought.

The distance between them and the expedition team had grown quite large.

If they delayed any longer, an advisor like Yun Jeongseop would come to fetch them.

“So that is why you want to have them meet. Even if the connection began with a misunderstanding, it is better if things end well.”

“Exactly. I also thought there was no one better than you at understanding the situation. And no one better at helping, either.”

With that, Cha Yeri subtly invited her to join the plan to tie the two together.

Do Minyeong replied as if it were only natural.

“That works out nicely. I happen to have time. Tell me the plan first.”

***

After an expedition that was little different from sightseeing ended,

the expedition team was granted free time under the pretext of adjusting to the time difference.

According to the advisor, starting tomorrow, the mornings would be for exploration, while the afternoons would be filled with academy unity activities befitting a resort.

“That must be why they sent an official notice saying we had to participate with an appropriate number.”

From what I gathered, whichever academy performed outstandingly in the unity activities would receive a corresponding reward.

Unless something extraordinary happened, Hero Prep would likely claim it.

The unity activities suited a resort, meaning they were mostly physical, and the theme of mystery exploration was far removed from Hunters, so most participants were students unrelated to combat, like Jeong Soyun.

“Still, it really shows we came from the 4th Scholastic District. We came all the way to a resort, only to hold another Spring Scholastic War.”

The unity schedule was roughly beach volleyball on the shore.

Surfing, competing in speed by releasing mana.

Along with other summer-themed sports and minigames that involved forming teams with students from other academies.

Naturally, a barbecue party was scheduled every evening.

Even on the rugged slopes of Mount Wol-dal, we had roasted an unknown monster whole, so there was no chance a feast would be omitted after coming all the way to Crystal.

“These are events that can only be described as youth itself.”

After the expedition, the moment the students returned to the hotel, each of them began indulging in their own freedom.

Some set off like tourists to visit famous spots, others chattered noisily with newly met students, and some sprinted straight toward the nearby sea…

I, too, left the hotel to enjoy my free time.

Of course, I did so while using Stealth so that no one would notice.

The Mystery Club members and the students from other academies were all desperate to speak with me.

What surprised me slightly was that Do Minyeong and Cha Yeri did not bother me.

Even if Cha Yeri was busy trying to tie Gwon Chihun and Jeong Soyun together, why was Do Minyeong nowhere to be seen?

“Could it be that Cha Yeri told Do Minyeong about Jeong Soyun’s situation?”

The possibility that Do Minyeong had joined Cha Yeri’s plan…

I could not be certain until I met her directly, but neither of them had any romantic experience. How, exactly, did they intend to help Jeong Soyun?

My head shook on its own.

In any case, the place I headed after leaving the hotel was a district where locals lived, a little removed from the tourist attractions.

Since it had only been thirteen years since the island rose from the sea, calling them locals felt rather absurd, but it was still the most suitable place to gather information about the island.

“For example, abnormal rumors that circulate only among those who live here.”

The reason I wanted to investigate Crystal was simple.

A very strange scent hung over it.

Especially that woman named Rachel, who oversaw the investigative team.

Whatever scheme she was harboring, the way she looked at me was anything but ordinary.

“Since it was an island that did not exist in the original work, it was a place created with a ninety-nine point nine percent probability by the Avid Reader’s personal will.”

Naturally, that target would be the main characters: me, Do Minyeong, and Cha Yeri.

While the two of them busied themselves with their romantic enterprise, someone had to keep a clear head.

With that heavy sense of responsibility, I found a tavern that was doing quite brisk business.

True to a resort, it was crowded even in broad daylight.

There was nothing better for gathering information than listening to the drunken ramblings of middle-aged men with thick body hair and protruding bellies.

“Of course, there is no way an awakened individual would have a belly.”

The tavern was neither large nor small.

It was decorated with an interior that matched the island’s distinctive atmosphere, and the floor was smeared with spilled liquor mixed with scraps of side dishes.

A true “local favorite.”

I squeezed through the crowd and barely reached the bar counter.

The bartender, reading the situation, spoke to me at once.

“You are from outside, I see. You have come to the right place. There is nowhere better than this for tasting proper liquor in Crystal.”

“What do you have on the menu?”

“Anything. We do not have a menu. Most of our customers are regulars, so what they drink is mostly decided. Tell me what you would like.”

A custom service tailored to regulars?

I glanced over the surrounding shelves, spotted a familiar-looking drink, and spoke.

“Do you have liquor made from carbonated coffee?”

“Oh? Of course. It is our house signature. I did not expect an outsider to order that. Please wait a moment.”

Liquor made from carbonated coffee was their signature drink?

It was remarkable that this place had not gone out of business.

While the bartender prepared it, I let the surrounding voices pour into my ears.

I spread out my mana, ensuring I would not miss anything that might prove useful.

As I listened, I caught a conversation between locals mingled with tourists like myself.

“The reason the seafood caught around Crystal is considered the best is simple. There is less damage from monsters.”

“So you are saying there are no monsters in the sea around here?”

“Yes. I do not know why, but the sea monsters cannot come close to the island.”

“Is that even possible?”

“How would I know? Even the clever ones who live here full-time cannot come up with an answer. But thanks to that, fish definitely gather near the island. They flee from predators only to be caught by humans instead. Heh.”

That there were no vicious marine monsters around Crystal.

It was a rather intriguing claim.

In this world, one might question the very notion of sea monsters, but they did exist in the ocean.

After the Great Rift, small and large rifts began opening across the world, and the sea was among those places.

In other words, a rift opened in the deep sea and monsters poured out.

If the monsters could not breathe underwater, they would have died immediately, but if they were creatures that had lived in the sea even beyond the rift, the story was different.

It was like releasing a single tiger into a forest inhabited only by herbivores.

They roamed the world’s oceans without interference from awakened individuals and without being affected by water temperatures.

Even now, eighty years after the Great Rift, ships could not set sail without accompanying Hunters.

And yet those creatures did not live in the waters around Crystal…

“Well, there are many folk tales about it. The most common one says there is a monster that swims through the volcano’s lava, so the others cannot approach.”

“It is not a folk tale. I saw it with my own eyes. A creature like a dinosaur was calmly swimming through the lava.”

“Come on, not that again. How could anything swim through lava?”

“Do you not know the saying that nothing is impossible with superpowers? It was enormous. Because of that creature, monsters do not appear in the sea—or even on the island.”

“Wait, are you saying no rift has ever opened on this island?”

“None that anyone knows of. I have lived here for seven years already, and I have never seen one.”

“That is strange. It is like the sky over Seoul. There must be something on this island…”

As I eavesdropped, the bartender returned with the drink.

It was a similar color to ordinary carbonated coffee, but the sharp scent of strong alcohol stabbed at my nose.

It was obviously potent.

The moment I took a sip, it proved strong enough to serve as the signature drink of a tavern packed with rough seafaring men.

“It is delicious.”

“I am glad you like it.”

“Ah, how much is it?”

“It is fine. I would like to refrain from taking money from you, specifically.”

The bartender dipped his head toward me and continued in a whisper.

“We are all always grateful for the Special Affairs Division’s hard work.”

So he had recognized me.

I had been careless because this was not Seoul.

“…Very well, then.”

“More importantly, is there a reason you came all the way to a place like this?”

“I wanted to feel the local atmosphere… is a lie. I wanted to know more about Crystal.”

“So you are investigating. Indeed, there is no better place to gather information than somewhere like this.”

“In that case, are there any oral traditions or rumors passed down around here?”

“Oral tradition… The island’s history is short, and technology is so advanced these days that such things are rare. Still, I cannot say there are none. Have you heard it? That those who are stranded on the mountain at the center of the island occasionally return as idiots.”

It was what Rachel had said in the morning.

A clue that might pierce straight through the island’s secret.

“Is there more to that story?”

The bartender nodded and lowered his voice further.

“There is one rumor that only the residents who first settled here thirteen years ago talk about.”