Chapter 569: Chapter 569

"Looks like it," Ian replied quietly.

Even at a glance, the cracks running across the talisman were all too clear.

As Yog’s laughter-tinged whisper echoed, Thesaya pouted and put on a woeful face.

"I think it’s my fault. I pushed too much magic into it earlier, and it must have strained the talisman."

"Well, it would have ended up eventually anyway," Ian said calmly.

His mind flashed back to the information window he’d checked when he first got the talisman. He hadn't paid it any mind then, but its durability hadn’t been high by any stretch of the imagination. Of course, if they had been more careful, they might have gotten another use or two out of it, but in the end, it was bound to break .

"You think so?" Thesaya asked, staring down at the cap in a deflated voice.

Ian only shrugged in response.

"Row—" Sanford’s shout rang out.

As Hashim’s commands boomed in succession, Sanford added, "Elder! Sir! Are you alright?"

"Yeah! We’re fine!" Thesaya immediately replied.

Sanford let out a hearty laugh and added, "Excellent! Then once more—"

"But the talisman isn’t fine!"

"... I beg your pardon?" Sanford asked a beat later in response to Thesaya’s addition.

Thesaya, after letting out a deep sigh and glancing at Ian, shouted, "The talisman broke!"

"No... what do you mean..." Sanford stammered for a moment before raising his voice again. "P-Please wait just a moment! I’m coming up!"

It’s not like anything will change if you come up here.

Ian looked toward the bow.

In any case, the ship was moving forward with powerful oar strokes, its speed still fast. Even without the spell’s help, they should be able to maintain this pace for a while. As Hashim’s commands continued, seeming to encourage the rowers, Sanford appeared, staggering, at the top of the stairs. Dıscover more novels at novel·fire.net

"The talisman — may I see the talisman?" Sanford gasped, having rushed across the deck to a stop.

Thesaya readily held out the cap in her hand.

"Insane... no... how did this happen..." The face beneath his crooked leather patch twisted in disbelief. He took the cap and reached for the talisman, looking utterly devastated.

Of course, that couldn’t put the already shattered talisman back together. In fact, the moment his hand touched it, it cracked even further, and a part of it crumbled into dust and scattered.

Thesaya, watching Sanford’s reaction, awkwardly said, "Sorry. I didn’t do it on purpose."

"This is no time for despair." Ian, naturally taking over the conversation, looked at Sanford and added, "From now on, we have to fight our way through with our own strength."

"Well, I suppose so," Sanford murmured desolately, still looking as if his world had ended.

Ian shrugged. "It won’t change much. You knew the hull was under strain, didn’t you?"

"Of course. It could’ve endured a few more times, but only that," Sanford replied, finally closing his eye in resignation.

Watching him return the cap with the talisman fragments to his coat, Ian asked, "How far until we reach the strait?"

"It’s not exact, but just over an hour would have been enough. Until a moment ago, that is."

"How do you know that?" Thesaya asked, blinking.

Sanford answered, "I checked when we crested the wave. The coastal cliffs are close enough to be seen with the naked eye."

So while we were looking behind, he was looking ahead.

Nodding, Ian asked, "So how long now?"

"It will take more than twice as long now," Sanford replied immediately, then glanced at the sea beyond the stern and added, "Though we’ll be caught by the fleet before then."

"So, two hours at best. If we can just hold out that long, will we reach the shallows?"

"I can’t be certain. Um..." Sanford stopped his reply, turned his head, and faced Ian again. "No— I mean, yes. We can. We have to."

Ian smiled as he saw the renewed sense of reality in Sanford's eyes.

"Good. Then you just focus on sailing. We’ll handle the rest somehow."

Thesaya nodded as if in agreement.

Sanford, glancing at her, hesitantly said, "I’ll do that, but... what are you planning to do?"

"What else? We fight," Ian replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, then subtly shifted his gaze to the side.

Sanford also followed his gaze and turned his head, likely because he too had heard the footsteps running up the stairs.

"Sir Ian! The talisman—did it really break?" Mask pulled low, cloak clinging damp to her shoulders, Lucia staggered onto the deck.

Thesaya nodded. "It is. Sorry."

"There’s nothing for you to apologize for," Lucia said, stopping.

She spread her arms slightly as if to balance herself and added, "Even a relic-grade talisman would be strained if it were used for such a powerful spell consecutively. To be honest, I had expected this to some extent."

"So that’s why you came running up here? To check?" Ian asked.

Lucia pushed her mask up and replied, "No. I came to finish what I was about to say earlier."

"Then, please, feel free to talk." Sanford, who had been watching them nervously, subtly stepped back.

"Captain, you need to hear this too," Lucia quickly added.

"Ah, okay." Sanford gave a reluctant nod, his eyes already filled with worry about what she might say.

Lucia, paying him no mind, looked at Ian and Thesaya and said, "I’m thinking of setting up a makeshift brazier on the deck."

"A brazier?" Thesaya repeated, blinking.

Lucia gave a small nod. "Yes. To call upon the goddess’s blessing. Fortunately, I can still feel her warmth. Of course, to maintain it, I’ll need to stay on deck."

She then looked at Ian, who was now wearing a strange smile, and added, "Under the circumstances, I think it’s more necessary than ever, Sir Ian."

"Right. You’re not wrong," Ian replied with a calm nod.

If the blessing was bestowed, it would be a great help to the rowers. It might even help protect the ship from the attacks of the enemy ships and sea beasts. Even a makeshift brazier should be enough to spread its influence across the ship.

—Just imagining it makes me sick... Do you really have to, Lucy?

As Yog whispered with distaste, Ian added, "So, what are you going to make the brazier out of?"

"The carriage. Actually, I asked Mukapa to prepare it before I came up. He should be getting it ready now." Lucia replied.

So you were planning to push it through one way or another.

Amidst the howling wind, the sound of the waves, Hashim’s commands, and the rower’s ragged breaths, he caught the faint sound of something being smashed apart and dragged away.

"Wait. You mean you’re going to burn our carriage?" Thesaya narrowed her eyes, unwilling to part with their carriage even in this madness.

"No, we’ll use Master Simon’s carriage. His horses have injured their legs, so they can’t pull it anyway. Of course, I also got his permission. Though I’m not sure he was in his right mind when he said it," Lucia said, shaking her head.

"Oh, really? That’s a relief." Thesaya finally smiled in relief.

"Excuse me, Priestess—" Sanford, who had been listening blankly, finally said, "So you’re saying... you’re going to burn a carriage on the deck?"

"We’ll break the ceiling and walls, but yes," Lucia replied nonchalantly.

Sanford’s brow furrowed. "No... even if it’s wet, the sails could catch fire. The ship itself as well."

"Don’t worry, Captain. The ship will be unharmed. If you can’t trust me, then trust the Blazing Goddess."

Lucia, having silenced Sanford, added, "The area behind the main mast looks good. Could you clear some space?"

"Well, we’ll be shifting the sail soon anyway, so I suppose it’s possible...."

"Then let’s do that. We’ll need to open the wall again to get the carriage out," Ian interjected.

"Y-Yes, I’ll do that," Sanford replied with a reluctant face.

Ian didn’t take his eyes off him.

Finally, Sanford, after a furtive glance, added, "Is there something else you need?"

"No. Just wondering why you’re not moving."

"Ah." Sanford let out a short gasp and immediately turned and ran.

"Hashim— Send your men up to the deck! We’re turning the sails! You, open the wall! They’re taking the carriage out!" he shouted urgently at the deck.

As Ian watched his retreating figure disappear down the stairs, Lucia said, "Sister, could you help me inscribe the prayer runes?"

"Of course. It’s no trouble at all," Thesaya replied immediately and looked at Ian. "But even with our best efforts, I don’t think we can hold out for two hours, Ian."

"Yeah, I guess. Still, let’s buy as much time as we can." Ian replied, smacking his lips, then turned toward the stairs.

"I’ll finish the brazier as quickly as possible," Lucia added, following behind Ian.

Ian nodded as he entered the stairwell. "You just focus on maintaining the brazier, Lucy. That alone will be dangerous enough."

At least she answers well.

With a low snort, Ian looked down at the deck below. As Hashim came running and unfastened the latches securing the stern wall, Sanford was swinging his right arm near the auxiliary sail near the bow.

"Pull harder! Harder! Use your whole body, not just your arms!"

The sailors were straining to pull the rope that connected the mast to the deck, likely trying to turn the sail that was sticking up like a shark’s fin sideways.

By the time Ian reached the center of the deck, the stern wall was slowly rising. Hashim was turning a pulley fixed to the side deck.

"What a mess," Thesaya murmured, standing beside Ian.

The scene revealed beyond the wall was exactly as she described. Food crates and barrels of alcohol were strewn about next to the stairs, and on the other side, the wreckage of a broken carriage was scattered.

Of course, the carriage hadn't gotten that way because of the mad sea-sprint. An orc warrior standing beside it was literally dismantling the carriage with his bare hands. Not only one of the doors and a wall, but more than half of the roof had been torn off.

"You’ve come." The middle-aged knight, Brennen, who was standing in front of the stairs, spotted Ian’s party and bowed his head. His slightly pale face was, of course, due to Mukapa.

Mukapa, who had just torn off a piece of the roof wreckage and tossed it aside, also looked at Ian.

"Yes, take Sir Brennen and step back," Ian said, gesturing for Thesaya and Lucia to wait.

Mukapa readily got off the carriage and approached Brennen, pointing toward the bottom of the stairs.

As Brennen readily backed down the stairs, Hashim, who was standing a distance away on the side, let out a low gasp.

Ian had performed the miracle of pulling a large battle hammer from within his cloak. Ian, who had walked forward without stopping, swung the battle hammer he was gripping with both hands at the front wall of the carriage.

The large hammer shattered the wall in a single blow. As Ian retrieved the hammer, the carriage roof, now less than half its original size, tilted sideways. Ian, gripping the hammer a little shorter, brought it down again. Not only did the roof shatter, but the carriage sank to the ground as if collapsing. The axle securing the wheels had come off.

"As expected, you’re quite the spectacle," Thesaya said, clapping her hands gracefully.

As Mukapa also watched with an impressed expression, Ian, who had lowered the hammer, asked, "Should I just smash the whole thing?"

"No, that should be enough," Lucia said, pulling her mask back on. In her right hand, she was now holding a dagger.

So, she plans to carve the prayer with blood.

Clicking his tongue, Ian leaned the hammer against the inner wall and looked at Mukapa, who was standing in front of the stairs.

"Let’s drag this thing forward together."

"Yes," Mukapa replied. Striding forward, he lifted one end of the broken axle with ease.

Ian, who had grabbed the other pole, backed up, pulling the carriage out.

Brennen, who had poked his upper body over the top of the stairs, let out a short gasp. It was unclear whether it was because of the wretched state of the carriage or the two men dragging such a carriage with their bare hands.

Without stopping his backward steps, Ian looked at him. "Could you gather the wreckage and bring it nearby? We need firewood."

"Understood, Sir." Brennen, though still unable to hide his surprise, readily climbed up the stairs. As he caught sight of the battle hammer propped against the wall, another gasp escaped him.

"Just a little more... yes, that should do."

The two men, who had been moving at Lucia’s hand signal, finally set the half-demolished carriage down. Thesaya, who had been waiting back, darted forward to help, tossing the scattered pieces of wreckage out onto the deck as quickly as she could.

"You already know what Lucy is trying to do here, right?" Ian asked as he returned to the inside of the wall.

As Brennen, with a piece of wreckage in his hand, passed by, Mukapa nodded. "Yes."

"I’ll probably be quite busy. So, I’m entrusting Lucy to you."

"Yes, understood," Mukapa replied immediately. It was short, but for that very reason, all the more trustworthy.

With a slight smile playing on his lips, Ian stepped into the space and bent down. "But that dagger of yours is far too small for fighting sea monsters."

Picking up a shard of wood from the floor, Mukapa looked at him.

Ian, who had also picked up a fragment, tilted his head to the side. "Use that instead."

Mukapa followed his gaze, eyes widening at the sight of the weapon. After staring at the giant battle hammer leaning against the wall for a moment, he finally broke into a grin, revealing his tusks.