Published: July 5, 2025
"I bypassed the Western Nations and came straight to the dark continent."
"Bypass?"
"Yeah... without stopping?"
"That's right."
"What should we do?"
"There’s nothing we can do. Well, we were planning to go to the dark continent eventually... and after that, we can head to the Western Nations. It's just a matter of changing the order."
"Are you being broad-minded or just not thinking at all? If the king is like this, it's the people around him who will struggle."
"I don't think it’s right for Ryo to say that."
Ryo shook his head with a troubled expression, while Abel shrugged his shoulders, looking somewhat offended.
"Your majesty, what do you wish to do?"
Captain Paulina asked for Abel's decision.
Abel was not an adventurer.
He held a position of responsibility over more than a hundred people.
Paulina too was in a position of responsibility over her crew beneath him.
"Captain, I’m sorry, but we’ll head to the dark continent first. After that, I’d like you to head towards the Western Nations."
"Understood."
"I've heard that only the coastal areas of the dark continent are inhabited?"
"Yes, that’s correct. The only place that has trade with the Western Nations is the northern coastal area of the continent. The island of Vamos, which will be visible tomorrow, is an independent island nation, but beyond that, the Eastern Provinces and the Western Nations Federation govern most of the coastal areas. If we go a bit inland, there’s Oasis City, which is said to have towns and small nations that are not under the control of the two great powers... but for us from the Western Nations, we have very little knowledge about that."
"I see. Then, let’s circle from Vamos Island to the Eastern Provinces and the Western Nations Federation along the coast. After that, we’ll head towards the Western Nations. Is that possible?"
"Understood."
Thus, King Abel's journey to the West was significantly altered from the start.
After that decision was made, a red elderly man and a coffin arrived at Ryo and Abel's side.
"Child of the fairy king, and King Abel, I have come to ask for leisure."
"Ms. Marlin?"
"Did you say leisure?"
Ryo and Abel asked back, not understanding the meaning behind Marlin's words.
"Indeed. The ship will be stopping at the dark continent, right?"
"Yeah, sorry, it’s become that way."
"That’s fine. I’m the one being taken along. I just tested it a little earlier, and it seems that from here, I can teleport to my dungeon."
"Oh..."
Ryo exclaimed in surprise.
"Also, actually, I don’t want to land on the dark continent."
"Why’s that?"
"Because there's a troublesome golden fellow there. I don't want to get close."
Marlin smiled wryly at Abel’s question.
Ryo interpreted it as implying that there was a demon on the dark continent that didn’t get along with Marlin.
"And so... I understand Ms. Marlin, but..."
Ryo glanced at the coffin next to Marlin.
"I will also teleport with Marlin."
"Always complaining about me, but only at times like this..."
The coffin—rather, Regna—declared, as Marlin grumbled.
"After that, I plan to travel around the Western Nations."
"I see."
Ryo nodded at Regna's words.
Although he nodded, he suddenly felt a question.
How would they travel?
Surely they wouldn't remain in the form of this coffin?
No way, that couldn't be the case...
"This box is comfortable."
"Ah, yes..."
Everyone has their own way of living.
"If you stop by the West Dungeon, call me. I will treat you to some good coffee."
"I hope to see you somewhere before I disappear."
As Marlin and Regna said this, they left Skizblaznil via teleportation.
The next morning.
Ryo and Abel stood at the bow of Skizblaznil, looking through the telescope.
"Indeed... I can faintly see land."
"That must be Vamos Island."
"Isn't it amazing, these sailors?"
"Huh?"
"Because they determine where they are based solely on the position of the stars in the vast ocean where nothing else is visible, right? In a world without GPS."
"Jii-pie-es?"
Abel encountered a term he did not know.
At that moment, Captain Paulina approached them.