Chapter 152 – Pangaea (18)

A half-failure.

But depending on the interpretation, this could have a completely different meaning.

Especially in a situation where failure was the expected outcome.

“Then are you saying the other half wasn’t a failure?”

“First, hold out your hand.”

It would have been nice if he just gave me a straight answer.

As I extended my hand according to Jenolf’s words, a piece of paper flew and landed softly in my palm.

Instantly, all my senses were on high alert.

The aura of mana transmitted from the paper to my fingertips.

The texture was also certainly familiar.

“This is… could it be?”

Jenolf answered resolutely.

“Don’t get your hopes up too high.”

But it was impossible not to have expectations.

“Is it really a map?”

“Yes. A map is a map.”

The result surpassed my expectations, and my fists clenched on their own.

“Are you saying it’s really a map that leads to that red dragon’s nest?”

Jenolf nodded.

Of course, since Jenolf had described it as a half-failure, this map probably wasn’t a complete item.

But something that had only been theoretically possible had actually been created. That fact was what mattered.

“Honestly, this is a more moving event for me than it is for you. No matter how much of a genius mage I am, unparalleled in all of history, I never thought I could actually create this! Although it’s not a complete product, this is truly a revolution in the world of magic!”

Jenolf’s tone was agitated.

For the time being, I listened silently to his story without any reaction.

I didn’t want to break his spell of being utterly engrossed.

And above all, the most important part hadn’t even been mentioned yet.

What I wanted to know was whether I could truly meet the red dragon Devrias through this map.

If the ‘half-failure’ part was related to this, I would have to start searching for a method from scratch again.

“But this map, as you might expect, has a not-so-small restriction placed upon it.”

This was the part.

In fact, just by looking at the blank paper with no markings, I could have guessed as much.

“What is this restriction?”

“The fact that this map doesn’t work just on its own.”

“Meaning it requires special conditions.”

“You catch on quick. And those conditions are very tricky.”

For now, that was a relief.

I didn’t know what the conditions were, but the essence of the map leading to the nest was not compromised.

“Then, those tricky conditions are…”

“Promise me you won’t get angry after hearing everything.”

“I promise.”

Just what was he trying to say that he had to lay the groundwork like this?

“As you can see, this map is incomplete. I believe it requires a series of shocks to become complete.”

“Shocks?”

“Yes. But I don’t mean physical shocks. It’s a bit of an abstract story, but it would be best to describe it as the shock that comes from a situation where time and space are distorted. Is this perhaps a bit difficult to understand?”

“I’ll keep listening for now.”

“Think carefully about the essence of this object called a map. Doesn’t it connect two different dimensions? This map needs the power to cause such an effect.”

“Then the shock you’re talking about is…”

“The force that acts when moving from one dimension to another. That is precisely the shock this map needs. And it needs quite a lot of shocks at that.”

As he said that, Jenolf let out a dry laugh.

“Yes. I know too. What you’re thinking right now. You want to ask what kind of bullshit this is, don’t you?”

“…”

“That’s why I told you beforehand. Not to get angry after hearing everything I had to say.”

“For now, I’m not angry.”

“Then did you understand what I said?”

“Yes.”

“Lies.”

It wasn’t a lie.

Because something that exquisitely corresponded to the expression ‘shock’ that Jenolf had been using all along had come to mind.

“Is it true that this map will be completed if it receives shocks multiple times?”

“I can guarantee that.”

“Then that’s fine.”

“You’re acting cool while not even understanding what I’m saying.”

“No. It’s a simpler method than I thought.”

The meaning of the word ‘shock’ that Jenolf was talking about was the force that acts when moving from one dimension to another.

In fact, it was something I had already experienced countless times.

Through the quests of the Abyss.

‘Clearing quests.’

There was definitely an unknown force at work here, and it fit well with Jenolf’s explanation.

It was just a hypothesis for now, but I had a feeling.

“To be honest, even I, who explained it, find the concept somewhat vague. So you don’t need to pretend you understand.”

“Yes.”

I simply responded with a smile.

[Current Merit: 67]

I had already gained great things here in Pangaea.

From Count Berwood’s treasury, I obtained an ancient swordsmanship manual written by a dragon, and although it was incomplete, I also acquired a map leading to the red dragon Devrias’s nest.

All of these far exceeded my expectations.

What remained now was to fill up my merit points and return to the Abyss of Earth.

There were several alternatives for this.

I could go back to Count Berwood and help him with his work.

Or I could find the 3rd Princess at the Imperial Palace and perform work for the Empire.

Or else, I could remain at the magic tower and assist with Jenolf’s research.

All of these would be recognized as merit here in Pangaea, but what attracted me the most was something completely different.

The ‘door to a new world’ open somewhere in the sea.

It was the Abyss discovered in Pangaea.

I already knew its coordinates, so what we needed was a moderately sized ship and a skilled navigator. It was a task that required considerable expense, but fortunately, it wasn’t a major constraint.

I had enough money to rent a vessel for a while and hire a navigator.

And so, we were now on the sea.

The voyage had already been going on for about a week.

It wasn’t a short journey, so I couldn’t afford to waste this time.

As it happened, I had a task to do.

The ancient swordsmanship manual left by the dragon.

I had to make the insights contained within it completely my own.

‘I have no choice but to admit it now.’

That the swordsmanship of the dragon who left this book was clearly a level above my own.

With each piece of enlightenment that filled me, I came to naturally accept the feelings I had tried so hard not to acknowledge.

The meditation of the past week brought me a small but significant leap.

And now I could be certain.

If I could just recover all of my past mana, Seo Ji-han would be stronger than Johan Raven ever was.

‘If I were to compare myself to Devrias…’

But then I quickly shook my head.

Right after my reincarnation, I thought the gap between me and the red dragon was just a hair’s breadth.

That if my sword could have reached him by just one more hair’s breadth, the outcome of the fight would have been different.

But now I had come to realize that the level of my swordsmanship was still a little distant from the ultimate.

The distance I had to go further was not just a single hair’s breadth.

I didn’t know how many more steps I had to take, but I could feel that the ultimate of the sword was still in a place I couldn’t reach.

In that respect, I was very lucky.

Because the path that some grateful dragon had paved for me had given me a great awakening.

It was a bright moonlit night when I was feeling such elation.

A pleasant night breeze blew ceaselessly on the deck.

The sound of the cool waves added to the refreshing feeling.

The navigators, finding me meditating on the deck all day long strange, would sometimes strike up a conversation, but as this had continued for a week, their reaction was now one of acceptance.

Today’s meditation had also been going on for several hours already, when at some point, I couldn’t help but snap my eyes open.

Because far out at sea, I could feel beings that harbored an ominous aura.

‘The pirates of Karsein.’

As the coordinates of the Abyss were getting closer, encountering pirates was not a strange thing.

The pirates of Karsein were the ones who had discovered the Abyss faster than anyone else in Pangaea.

I immediately called for Yoon Joo-hee.

“You called for me, Unit Leader.”

“Yeah. We’ve run into pirates again.”

“What should we do? As far as I know, there is no one among the navigators who can fight.”

“That doesn’t matter. I’ll deal with the pirates by myself.”

“What? By yourself, Unit Leader? Then I…”

“You stay on this ship and protect the navigators. When the distance to the pirate ship closes, I’ll take a boat and infiltrate immediately.”

At my words, Yoon Joo-hee hesitated for a moment before answering.

“Understood, Unit Leader.”

“Why? You don’t like it because it feels like you’re just tagging along?”

“N-no, sir!”

“You’ve already more than pulled your weight, so you don’t need to think that way.”

That quiz Jenolf had given. If it weren’t for Yoon Joo-hee, I would still be unable to find the answer, so for her, that alone meant she had fulfilled her quota.

“And you don’t have to swing a sword to be active. If you can’t protect the navigators properly here, you know what happens to us, right?”

“Yes, I understand!”

The pirate ship was approaching quickly.

Their fighting strength, whether in numbers or mana, was far superior to the pirates we had encountered on our first voyage.

Since cannonballs could fly towards our vessel, it was necessary to launch a preemptive strike.

I immediately had a small boat prepared.

Since our mothership was not very large, it was a fortunate thing that we could respond flexibly to the pirate ship’s movements.

The navigators, too, were all skilled and experienced people hired with generous pay, so I could be at ease about this part.

‘In the end, I just have to do well.’

I raised the corners of my mouth slightly.

The small boat, charged with mana, cut through the water and sped forward.

A moment later, the grand majesty of the pirate ship revealed itself.

Their fighting strength was just as I had already grasped through my perception.

Pyung!

Pyung!

They seemed to have spotted me from over there as well, as arrows flew at me indiscriminately.

The archers’ skills were praiseworthy.

Without missing by much, the arrowheads were aimed at the inside of the boat.

Chaeng!

Chaeng!

The power wasn’t bad either.

The energy transmitted through the sword each time I deflected an arrow was quite decent.

When the distance to the pirate ship was somewhat close, I kicked off the bow of the boat and soared up.

Of course, the pirates did not readily allow my approach.

Pabababababat!

Until the moment I set foot on the port side of the ship, a volley of arrows poured down.

Kwakakaaang!

I, too, responded with a volley of Sword Qi.

It had been a long time since I had unleashed this much energy.

The flying arrows fell helplessly.

Tak!

I leaped once more from the port side of the ship.

And so, I finally set foot on the deck of the pirate ship.

I looked at the pirates and smiled.

“You guys, are you on your way back from the Abyss?”

I asked, pressing mana into my voice.

“…”

A silence hung over the sea.

And a moment later, what came back instead of an answer was a shout filled with murderous intent.

“Strike!”

Chaeng!

Chaeng!

The pirates drew their swords in unison.

Since they seemed to want to see blood, I had no choice but to play along for a while.

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