Chapter 192: The Expedition Sets Sail

The Cerulean Expanse — Waters Near the Marquis’s Territory

The sea stretched endlessly beneath the overcast sky, its surface a restless expanse of grey and white. The harbor of the Marquis’s territory was already fading behind them, swallowed by the horizon, and the three ships cut through the waves in tight formation.

The lead ship was a pirate vessel, sleek and predatory, its black sails trimmed with crimson. Behind it followed the accommodation ship, bulky and utilitarian, packed with supplies for the long voyage ahead. And at the rear, keeping a measured distance, was the noble’s ship, elegant and white-hulled, its flags bearing the crest of the Marquis.

On the deck of the lead ship, Luna Charlotte stood at the railing, her black hair whipping in the wind. Her blood-red eyes were fixed on the receding coastline, her expression unreadable. The wind carried the salt of the sea and the faint taste of freedom.

She didn’t turn when she heard the footsteps behind her.

Jooquin sauntered across the deck, his grin as sharp as ever, his unbuttoned shirt flapping in the breeze. He stopped beside her, leaning against the railing, his yellowed teeth flashing.

“Why so quiet, young lady? Already missing the land?”

Luna’s eyes flicked toward him, cold and assessing. Then her lips curled into a faint, polite smile.

“Oh, aren’t you the famous Skull Cruiser? It’s an honor to meet you.”

Jooquin laughed, his head tilting back, both hands resting on his hips.

“Hahaha! You’re not bad yourself, missy.”

Luna let out a soft, dismissive breath, her blood-red eyes still fixed on the distant horizon.

“I’m just a new court mage,” she said quietly. “I’m hardly worthy of being compared to someone like you.”

Jooquin’s grin widened, clearly pleased by the flattery. He straightened his back, resting both hands on his hips with the swagger of a man who had been praised one too many times.

“But I heard you reached Fifth Circle in almost no time at all,” he said. “And at such a young age. That’s incredible. Truly.”

Luna’s expression didn’t change, though something flickered behind her eyes. She turned slightly, letting the wind catch her black hair.

“I was just lucky,” she said, her voice smooth and modest.

Jooquin barked another laugh and gestured broadly toward the ship beneath them, its black sails snapping in the wind.

“Luck or not, with a mage of your caliber on board, this expedition is bound to succeed!” He spread his arms, encompassing the vessel, the crew, the open sea ahead. “This ship, the Skull Cruiser, has weathered more storms than most captains have seen sunrises. And now, with the legendary Great Tartarus waiting for us? We’ll make history.”

Luna’s gaze drifted across the water, toward the endless expanse ahead.

“I still can’t believe it,” she murmured. “That I’ll actually see such a legendary place with my own eyes.”

Jooquin nodded, his grin softening into something almost genuine.

“It’s a rare opportunity indeed. The kind most people only dream about.” He glanced at her sidelong. “You’re very fortunate, my lady. Who knows? You might even find something rare and valuable on that shell. Treasures that haven’t been touched in centuries.”

Luna was quiet for a moment. Then she smiled, slow and cold, her blood-red eyes gleaming.

“Perhaps I will.”

A group of figures approached across the deck, their footsteps measured and deliberate. At the front walked a knight in polished silver armor, his posture rigid, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. His face was sharp and youthful, his eyes the pale grey of a winter sky, and his dark hair was cropped short beneath his helm.

Behind him followed several mages in dark robes and two more knights, their expressions carefully neutral.

The knight stopped a few paces from Luna and Jooquin, his grey eyes flicking toward the pirate with barely concealed disdain.

“Forgive my rudeness, Master Jooquin,” he said, his voice clipped and formal. “But I would ask that you not stand so close to our court mage.”

Jooquin turned toward him, his grin never faltering. He looked the knight up and down, then let out a low whistle.

“I won’t do anything,” he said, raising both hands in mock surrender. “Especially not to a beautiful lady like her.”

William’s jaw tightened. His hand twitched toward his sword, and his grey eyes narrowed with barely restrained irritation. He opened his mouth to speak—

“Calm yourself, William.”

Luna’s voice was soft but sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade. She didn’t turn to look at him, her blood-red eyes still fixed on the horizon.

“He hasn’t done anything. So don’t be rude to him.”

William froze. His mouth closed, and after a moment, he bowed his head.

“Forgive me, Miss Luna. I thought you were being harassed.”

Luna finally turned, her gaze sweeping over him with cool indifference.

“I wasn’t.”

William straightened, his expression composed once more, though a faint flush of embarrassment colored his cheeks.

“Understood.”

Jooquin watched the exchange with obvious amusement, his grin sharpening. He leaned back against the railing, crossing his arms.

“Well, well. The court mage has her own guard dog. How charming.”

Luna placed her right hand gently against her chest and bowed her head slightly, her black hair falling across her face like a curtain.

“I hope you can forgive their behavior,” she said quietly. “They are simply being cautious.”

Jooquin waved a hand dismissively, his grin as wide as ever.

“It’s no problem. Because I’m a generous man, I’ll forget this ever happened.”

Luna lifted her head, her blood-red eyes meeting his.

“Thank you for your kindness.”

Jooquin’s gaze slid past her, landing on William, who was still glaring at him with barely concealed hostility. The pirate’s grin sharpened.

“Besides,” he said casually, “if I killed you all now, it would just reduce the workforce. And that would be inconvenient.”

William’s hands clenched into fists at his sides. His knuckles went white, his jaw tight with the effort of holding himself back. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, through gritted teeth, he forced the words out.

“Thank you for your kindness, Master Jooquin.”

Jooquin tilted his head, studying the knight with renewed interest.

“You’re Fifth Stage, aren’t you? And your subordinates… average Third and Fourth Stage.” He let out a low whistle, shaking his head with what might have been disappointment. “The Marquis is stingier than he looks.”

William didn’t answer. He didn’t trust himself to speak.

In this world, strength was not exclusive to mages. Physical fighters could also cultivate their bodies, refining their flesh and bone through training and mana absorption until they could rival mages in combat. And just like the Circles of magic, there were Stages for those who walked the path of the body.

First Stage was barely above an ordinary soldier. Third Stage was a seasoned knight. Fifth Stage was a force to be reckoned with, a warrior capable of matching a Fifth Circle mage in direct combat.

And Jooquin had just dismissed Fifth Stage like it was nothing.

Luna folded her hands calmly in front of her, her expression composed despite the tension lingering in the air.

“That’s because the Marquis’s territory is currently short on capable people,” she said. “So please, be understanding.”

Jooquin shrugged, his grin not fading in the slightest.

“Well, I don’t expect much from knights anyway,” he said. “I’m putting my hopes on you, my lady. This mission requires a talented mage like yourself.”

Luna smiled. It was a small, measured smile, polite and distant, the kind she had perfected in noble courts and academy halls.

“You flatter me,” she said. “I’ll do what I can.”

Jooquin nodded, and then he leaned against the railing, his grin settling into something more thoughtful as he gazed out at the open sea.

“You see, these waters aren’t like the ones near the coast,” he began, gesturing broadly toward the horizon. “The routes here shift with the seasons. Currents change. Migration patterns shift. One month, the safest path is straight through the middle. The next, it’s a death trap.”

Luna tilted her head, listening.

“What determines the shift?”

“Monsters,” Jooquin said simply. “The big ones. When a leviathan moves into an area, everything else scatters. Smaller predators flee. Prey follows. The whole ecosystem rearranges itself overnight.” He paused, scratching his beard. “I’ve seen it happen. One day, a route is clear. The next, it’s crawling with things that would swallow this ship whole.”

Luna’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

“And the Sun Eater? Did it affect the routes as well?”

Jooquin let out a short laugh.

“The Sun Eater was different. It didn’t just affect the routes. It was the route.” He spread his arms. “For decades, that thing patrolled the deep waters like a king. No ship dared sail within a hundred miles of its territory. Trade routes collapsed. Ports went bankrupt. Entire fleets vanished.” He shook his head. “Now that it’s dead, the seas are opening up again. But that also means every predator that was too scared to hunt in its territory is now moving in. The balance is shifting. And shifting waters mean shifting dangers.”

Luna nodded slowly, absorbing the information.

“So the monsters we’ll encounter will be different from the ones the Marquis’s maps show.”

“Exactly.” Jooquin tapped the side of his head. “That’s why you need someone like me. Thirty years at sea. I know the signs. I know when a route is about to turn. I know which creatures to avoid and which ones to fight.” He glanced at her sidelong. “And I know when to ask for help from a talented mage.”

Luna allowed herself a small smile.

“How reassuring.”

Jooquin laughed again, clearly enjoying her dry humor.

“Stick with me, my lady. By the time this voyage is over, you’ll know these waters almost as well as I do.”

Then a shout came from the crow’s nest.

“Monster approaching! Off the port bow!”

Jooquin’s grin widened. He turned toward the open sea, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

“Speak of the devil.”