The journey continued for several more days. The sea remained calm, and no more nymphs appeared.

One evening, as the sun was setting, Lian called everyone to the deck.

“We should reach land by tomorrow morning,” he announced.

Everyone cheered at the news. After their harrowing experience with the nymphs, they were eager to set foot on solid ground again.

“But remember,” Lian continued, his expression serious, “the land won’t be any safer than the sea. Be prepared for anything.”

His warning cast a shadow over their excitement. Rosé looked at him, wondering what dangers awaited them on land.

That night, unable to sleep, Rosé opened her skill window again. She stared at the skills granted by the Grandfather of Water.

What was she? Why did she have these abilities? And what connection did she have to a Creator God?

As she pondered these questions, she gazed at the stars reflected on the dark sea surface. Tomorrow they would reach land, and perhaps find some answers.

Or perhaps face even more questions.

Small Horn of Abundance (Lv. 15)

This small horn pours out gold coins and food. The horn’s size may grow depending on the amount of divine power.

Use
Cancel

Lewd Play (Lv. 19)

Puts a lewd hypnosis on males. However, duration varies depending on the amount of divine power and the target male’s rank.

Use
Cancel

“What is this……”

Rosé’s jaw dropped weakly. Except for ‘Small Horn of Abundance,’ they were all skills with unknown purposes.

Seducing males and putting lewd hypnosis on them….. Wasn’t this exactly what the nymphs had been doing earlier?

“Miss. Are you alright!”

Lian rushed to Rosé’s side as she stared blankly at the skill window. Rosé nodded without turning to look at him.

Wait a minute, but using ‘Small Horn of Abundance’ would produce gold coins…..

〈SYSTEM〉 Insufficient divine power. Replenish divine power through the skill ‘S*men Absorption (Passive)’.

“Oh, come on!”

Rosé’s already chubby cheeks puffed up like they might burst. She thought she could get money, but absorbing s*men? What nonsense……!

“Miss. Are you looking at the system?”

“Ah, no!”

Rosé flinched at Lian’s concerned question and quickly closed the window. Somehow, she felt like a child caught doing something wrong by her dad.

Divine power, Horn of Abundance, whatever—moving the ship took priority right now. Besides, if using skills required s*men absorption, with this little body now…..

‘Ha, that’s impossible.’

It was useless, just like the age-restricted d*ldo sword.

“Just now, did you perhaps use a sword, Miss?”

Rosé rolled her eyes from side to side before nodding hesitantly. The situation wasn’t right to talk about the newly appeared skill window.

The unknown Transcendent named Grandfather of Water, and skill names that looked suspicious at first glance….. Whatever it was, it wasn’t normal.

“I see. Thanks to you, the ocean currents seem to have returned to normal.”

Lian sighed in relief and glanced at the knight who lay unconscious and n*ked on the deck.

Unlike the others who were safe, he had given everything to the nymph. If there was any consolation, it was that his life wasn’t in danger.

“……Hey, Lian.”

Rosé glanced sideways at Lian. Actually, she had been concerned since he rushed to her earlier.

After hesitating, she picked up a cloak lying next to the box and handed it to him.

“Why don’t you put this on?”

Lian looked down at the black cloth in her small hand, then opened his mouth with an “Ah.” His gaze shifted to his completely bare upper body.

“……I apologize.”

Blushing belatedly, he covered his well-defined chest and arms with the black cloak. The two turned their heads away from each other for a while, then simultaneously turned around at the sound of Peon calling them.

“Land is visible!”

Rosé and Lian, who had been exchanging glances, checked where Peon was pointing without waiting for each other. There, land truly existed. It was land discovered after two days of sailing.

“……Something is strange.”

While everyone cheered and patted each other’s shoulders, Lian alone stared at the land with a serious expression. But Rosé somehow understood what he was thinking.

They had moved away from Antemosa Island barely a few minutes ago. Even considering the darkness from the storm clouds, they hadn’t sailed long enough to suddenly see land.

Checking the map, Rosé hardened her voice and said,

“Someone arrived before us.”

The red dots indicating ship positions on the map. Three red dots were attached to the land. Three ships had arrived before them.

It was certain. The situation differed from 29 years ago. No, time itself seemed twisted. Sensing something unusual, Lian habitually reached for Rosé’s hand.

“When we reach land, people will try to target you, Miss.”

“……Because of that quest?”

“Yes.”

The quest called ‘Error Elimination.’ Its reward, ‘Feather of Resurrection,’ suggested usefulness by name alone. For those risking their lives to climb the tower, no item could be more attractive.

Lian spoke to Rosé, whose complexion had changed.

“I will protect you without fail.”

His voice sounded so familiar that Rosé unconsciously smiled faintly. However, in a corner of her memory, unsettling dreams surfaced.

— Dad, Dad……! No……! Don’t abandon me!

— You said you’d stay with me. You said we’d go back together. Hnngh……!

In her last memory of the top floor staircase, Lian stood with his back turned to her.

— God. My wish is…….

What had Lian wished for then? The small smile on Rosé’s face gradually disappeared.

The land drew closer. Would she find answers when they reached it? In a corner of her heart, anxiety began to sprout.

* * *

The ship arrived at land before night fell deeply. Lian dropped anchor and quietly surveyed the surroundings. There was no particular movement from the other docked ships.

The area remained quiet except for the occasional sound of leaves rustling in the wind and waves. It seemed like no human foot had ever stepped there.

“There are no footprints.”

Peon and the knights, who had scouted the vicinity first, crossed their arms in an X shape to signal those remaining on the ship.

No footprints were visible. But they couldn’t let their guard down, considering someone might have erased their tracks.

The rest of the group disembarked one after another. Beth came down the ladder last, supporting the injured Lunan.

〈SYSTEM〉 Notice regarding the starting point

Welcome, new adventurers who have stepped onto the starting point!
You can now enter the ‘staircase’ to climb the tower. Please refer to the map for the staircases’ location.
However, each staircase entrance has a limited capacity. Be careful, as terrible punishment awaits if you exceed the capacity!

Another notice appeared.

Lian quickly picked up Rosé first and remained vigilant of his surroundings. Now that the notice had appeared, others would know they had arrived.

Similarly, Peon and the knights drew their swords and prepared for battle. A moment of silence. But the silence didn’t last long.

Whoosh—!

“Arrows! Everyone take cover behind the trees!”

The knights barely managed to raise their shields to defend against the incoming arrows. The arrows were coming from the docked sailing ship.

There was an archer there. The biggest problem was not knowing how many more people might be hiding.

“D*mn them!”

“Over here, Lian!”

Beth and Lunan, who had found shelter first, gestured to Lian. Lian, who had been lying on the sand to protect Rosé, quickly hid behind a tree.

At that moment, an arrowhead grazed his left ankle and stuck in the ground. Fortunately, it only tore his skin slightly.

Catching his breath, Lian reported what he had observed until the last moment.

“Three on the deck, two in the crow’s nest, one on the ladder, six in total.”

Six people on one ship. But they couldn’t guarantee there weren’t people on the other ships. They might be at a numerical disadvantage.

Another issue was whether guns were present. Without Podrick, none of them could counter firearms.

“Everyone out!”

“Push!”

“Find the child first!”

Lian tightened his grip on Rosé’s hand. So their goal was indeed the quest.

The reason they hadn’t disembarked from their ships. Like the people 29 years ago, they too were after the quest reward.

“D*mn it! And they call themselves human!”

Beth gritted her teeth. Her common sense couldn’t comprehend killing a child just for a reward.

“I never knew dealing with people would be harder than monsters!”

Her ability was to teleport ‘monsters.’ Similarly, Lunan’s ability was to amplify Hex.

In other words, unlike Podrick’s invisibility or Mingus’s physical enhancement, they couldn’t use their abilities in combat against humans.

“What should we do? We’re at a disadvantage in numbers.”

Beth looked at Lunan, who was leaning against a tree trunk with his injured arm. They couldn’t expect much help from him in this state.

“Mingus, can you handle this?”

Lian asked, keeping his eyes on the ship. Mingus, who had been silently observing the situation, nodded.

“I’ll try.”

Mingus closed his eyes and concentrated. His ability, physical enhancement, could be applied to himself or others within a certain range.

Soon, a faint blue light enveloped Lian, Peon, and the Ramford knights.