Chapter 157

Chapter 157. The Tower (2)

Yul ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍had no intention of waiting for word of mouth to spread among the humans of the Continental Ocean visiting this place.

He ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍revealed his true form and headed toward the Kingdom of Frangia.

This ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍time was different from usual. Quite grandly, he flew toward the royal castle of Frangia slowly and leisurely enough to be witnessed by humans across the entire continent.

-Yo, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Lui. Been well?

Wearing ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a magic signal converter, he greeted Lui.

“This ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is interesting. What wind blew you here in that form this time? You never liked revealing yourself like that under normal circumstances.”

-I’ve got some interesting news, so I stopped by for a promotion.

“Promotion?”

-I’m planning to hold an interesting event. I’ve built a massive tower on my island. In adventurer terms, I suppose I should call it a Mystic Realm.

“……!?”

-I’m thinking of telling the King of Britain and the King of Aragon as well.

“……Is Frangia not enough?”

-It’s no fun without competitors. And there’s another piece of information I need to pass on to them as well.

“Another piece of information?”

-How much do you know about Mythic rank  Seaborn?

“Mythic rank……?”

Yul went on at length, first explaining Mythic rank creatures and the methods to awaken them.

It was information so absurd that it was enough to make the normally lazy Lui jump into action.

“My goodness.”

-I’m off.

The moment Yul departed for Britain, Lui immediately convened his ministers and, at the same time, issued a proclamation to the adventurers.

[The birth of a new Mystic Realm!!]

[The Tower of Trials!]

[A place where wealth and honor await those who reach its end has appeared in the southern seas!]

[Seek it! Head forth! To the Island of Boundaries!]

And to the Kingdom of Frangia’s navy—rather than adventurers—a different secret order was issued.

[Find the temple somewhere in the sea where a Mythic rank Seaborn exists…….]

* * *

Unlike the Kingdom of Frangia, which reacted swiftly, the Kingdom of Aragon ended up committing one horrific mistake.

“Gyaaah! It’s a monster!”

“What is that gigantic Seaborn?”

“A Seaborn flying through the air?!”

Seeing Yul moving slowly as if swimming through the sky, the Grand Duke of Aragon, after receiving the king’s authorization, proceeded to attack without even attempting a conversation.

-At least let’s talk…….

“Beyond this point lies the royal castle. Do not retreat under any circumstances! We must protect His Majesty the King!”

As the Grand Duke of Aragon, Sanchoros, shouted with his long mustache bristling, the human troops below roared in response.

“Die, you monster!!”

“Artillery, fire!”

“Mages! Hold your positions!”

-……I was clearly trying to pass on information.

It wouldn’t be difficult to demolish the royal castle of Aragon, but he had come with goodwill to deliver information, only to get entrance-killed right from the start. Ungrateful bastards.

Yul retreated while evading their attacks, pulled out a piece of paper he had written on from his bag, and dropped it casually onto the ground before disappearing. Read it or don’t—he didn’t care.

Yul swam leisurely through the air.

The army of Aragon boasted loudly, claiming they had driven the enemy away.

In the meantime, the one who picked up that piece of paper was a member of the Battalion Mercenary Corps, which happened to be staying in the Kingdom of Aragon.

The Battalion Mercenary Corps. A force that roamed the southern regions and made a name for itself, its influence so massive that it possessed power on the level of a count.

Soon, the information on the paper was delivered to the mercenary captain, Ruggiero.

“If that gigantic creature had hostile intent, it would’ve razed the coastline on its way in. It even tried to talk. That stupid grand duke bastard.”

“What should we do, Captain?”

“Hand me the paper.”

Ruggiero read it, then curled the corner of his mouth upward.

“Who brought this?”

“A low-ranking member.”

“Dispose of him.”

‘This information is absurd. But if we could get our hands on this Mythic rank Seaborn……’

Starting with the Battalion Mercenary Company, multiple mercenary groups began to involve themselves in maritime affairs as well.

* * *

The main event was Britain.

This side did not attack like Aragon. That was because they already had information about Yul.

At the royal castle of Britain, Professor Quentin Blackmoore happened to be staying due to an investment matter.

The King, who liked strange things, favored him, and Quentin Blackmoore intended to persuade him here and secure a budget.

“What? The creature flying in the sky right now…… is a student of our magic academy?”

“Yes. A third-year student, Yul.”

“Ha?”

Edward von Lightbringer, known as the Great King of Britain, asked again, unable to comprehend what he was hearing.

“Professor, I’ve known you for a long time, but this is the first time I’ve heard such a novel piece of nonsense. A Seaborn flying through the air is a student of Weimar Wigma?”

“At Weimar Wigma, there is probably no one who doesn’t know him. Call the Prime Minister and talk to him. He will know as well. As it happens, his son is currently enrolled at the academy.”

Robert Melburn arrived shortly thereafter and confirmed the professor’s words.

“That’s correct. He is a Seaborn, and at the same time, an academy student.”

“How could a Seaborn become a student at the academy?”

“Because he can use Polymorph.”

“Explain in more detail. Since he’s flying in slowly, he doesn’t seem to have hostile intent.”

For the first time in a long while since becoming king, a sharp light entered Edward’s eyes.

It was the most exciting story he had heard since the news that the Empire had fallen.

“The son of Archmage Ian Beltaine is Lucian Beltaine. A genius in the field of magic engineering. He has skills good enough to graduate already. He is currently on a leave of absence, sailing and adventuring across the Great Azure Ocean.”

“Oh ho. So the son of a genius is a genius as well, is it? But why is that relevant here?”

“The Seaborn belonging to Lucian Beltaine is him.”

“Then that means he’s a magic engineer, a Sinker, and a captain all at once. Hahaha. Even one of those is difficult, yet he can do all three?”

Edward, who had been listening with interest, asked again.

“Then why is he flying here?”

“That, I do not know either.”

“Then let us wait.”

Yul flew in slowly. Seeing that there were no troops at the royal castle and that there were familiar faces, he decided this worked out better and immediately used Polymorph.

“It’s been a while, Professor.”

“As expected, it is you.”

Professor Quentin Blackmoore, Prime Minister Robert Melburn beside him, and King Edward Lightbringer at the center were gathered together, drinking tea.

And next to an empty seat, a place had already been prepared for Yul to sit.

They had known in advance that Yul was coming, so this would make the conversation easier. He offered a light bow.

“A pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty.”

Quentin was someone worth speaking to with respect. He had created a new culture in a world where none existed.

But a king was merely a position that could be replaced at any time, so Yul spoke lightly.

“And Prime Minister Robert Melburn.”

The core power figure of Britain, currently exterminating pirates. A man who moved practical affairs.

“Now then, please sit. Let us hear what you have to say.”

It was a discussion about Mythic rank creatures, and at the same time, about the Tower of Trials.

* * *

The Island of Boundaries.

Those staying on this island had now surpassed ten thousand and were approaching fifteen thousand.

They were people who had outright acquired homes here and settled down permanently.

Most of them had been here from the beginning. Although the Rejection Phenomenon had been cured, they remained because of their faith in Yul, living here and using it as their base.

Some had departed alongside Arurion, but an even greater number of sea elves continued to arrive.

There were also humans. Quite a few humans who had lived in the Rainini Archipelago were here, and some of those who had lived at the place of origin of the Sea Succession Church had also crossed over to this island.

Because of that, the island’s jungle regions were steadily disappearing, and undeveloped areas were continuously being developed.

The floating population was far larger still. There were those who came to witness the World Tree, and those who, after having the Rejection Phenomenon cured, boarded ships and left immediately.

Elves came on pilgrimage with the World Tree as their goal, while the humans of the Archipelago Ocean came on pilgrimage with Yul’s Wave Church temples as their destination.

And now, something new had been added to that.

A gigantic tower that had appeared one day without warning. A massive black pillar visible from the northern reaches of the Archipelago Ocean.

The closer one got, the more it shone brilliantly in five colors. That tower, called the Tower of Trials, attracted not pilgrims, but adventurers seeking tangible gain.

Soon after, countless adventurers boarded ships and arrived from the region commonly referred to as the “Continental Ocean.”

Endaira, who rode around on a massive dinosaur, approached Aranmas and spoke.

“Grandpa Aranmas, they say unknown ships have appeared in the north. And there are tons of them!”

“They’ve come.”

All of the powerhouses of the Island of Boundaries were currently climbing the Tower of Trials.

Just as Yul had warned, they were outsiders, humans from the Continental Ocean.

Some sea elves had already learned their languages, so there were no issues with interpretation.

Thus, the newcomers were categorized and recorded.

As the person in charge of the island, Aranmas commanded the soldiers and maintained public order.

“I’ve come to climb that tower. What do I need to do?”

“Please follow the procedures required to enter the tower.”

“I heard there’s a trading post in the central district. That’s my destination.”

“There are more islands to the south?”

Most issues were manageable.

However, some were different. Since people had been gathered from all kinds of places, problems inevitably arose.

“Hey, procedures? Who the hell decided that?”

“Do you want to die?”

“What? Try killing me! I’m a baron of Frangia—hiiik!?”

“Whatever your status may be there, on the Island of Boundaries, you are merely a visitor.”

Noble or not, no one was given leniency. Aggressive visitors were shot dead by sea elf soldiers, imprisoned, or sometimes expelled.

“If you kill me, my kingdom will—”

“This is an island ruled by the God of Waves, Lord Yul. I don’t care about your petty kingdom.”

In addition, as the population began to grow, criminals who outwardly caused no trouble but lay in wait for opportunities also started to flow in.

“Heh heh heh. An island full of pretty elves. Just kidnapping one would—”

“Don’t move!”

“Huh, what? Why? I haven’t done anything yet!?”

“You are exiled!”

Strangely enough, such people were exposed almost instantly, before they could even commit a crime, and were either imprisoned or, in severe cases, summarily executed.

‘Hmm. This should be sufficient.’

Behind all of this was Yul. He, who possessed divinity and the ability to observe humans.

Moreover, he could even dominate the island’s soul, allowing him to monitor every corner of the island, no matter where he was.

Once he designated someone, any chance of causing trouble vanished.

‘Automation will be necessary.’

Karma was steadily filling up again. Each time Arurion dealt with sea elf princes, karma surged, and the same happened whenever new elves visited the World Tree.

“O-oh! To think the lost Mother Tree is here!”

Sun Elves—adventurers who had crossed over from the Middle East—also recognized the existence of the World Tree and worshipped it. When that happened, faith and karma rose together.

After producing equipment imbued with the power to see the truth and handing it over to Aranmas, Yul planned to automate the island’s management to a reasonable degree.

‘Then there won’t be any need to stay on the Island of Boundaries for too long.’

After that, he could rejoin Lucian’s ship and return to adventuring.

However, that became difficult because a message came from Kaiman.

-It’s awakening now.