Ch.351Chapter 351 – Into the Sea (1)

After finishing our meal, we headed straight for the deck.

“…It’s the open sea.”

“Indeed.”

To be precise, there was something that looked like an island.

However, since it was at some distance from here, unless we went closer to it, we were essentially in the middle of the ocean.

“Before you all arrived, I had the crew take a boat to investigate, and apparently it’s an island where this ship can dock.”

Diana quietly explained what she had investigated while we were away.

Actually, since this ship can be reduced in size when not in use, the criteria for whether a ship can dock or not should probably be applied a bit differently.

“Then why aren’t we docking there?”

“I was going to, but it’s better to be certain, isn’t it?”

Diana said she hadn’t docked the ship yet because she planned to ask us first and then move.

That was certainly the right call, so I looked at Chris.

Chris nodded with a serious expression and said,

“You thought well, Lady Diana.”

“If it’s okay to dock there, would it be better to anchor at that island?”

“No.”

Chris stared down at the floor of the ship.

“It’s below here.”

“Below…?”

“We need to go straight down from here.”

Obviously, there wouldn’t be a seal at the bottom of this ship.

Yet if she’s saying we need to go down, then the destination Chris is referring to is…

“You mean underwater.”

“Yes.”

Chris nodded at my words.

“I could tell when I concentrated. It’s below us. The path I need to take.”

Chris continued to stare at the ship’s floor as she spoke.

“Do you have any idea how deep we need to dive?”

“Probably almost to the very bottom…”

I nodded at Chris’s words and looked at Diana.

Diana immediately called over a crew member to hear what they had to say.

And she became slightly flustered.

“You’re saying it’s difficult to dive to the bottom?”

“The men who investigated reported that the current gets stronger the deeper you go, making it hard to swim straight… it would be dangerous for a person to hold their breath and dive to the bottom.”

The crew member answered with a somewhat troubled expression.

“And, I’m sorry to say this, but please bear with me. We’ve been playing and diving in the sea since we were kids, so we’re far better than average people at diving. Even we think this is impossible, so it would be even more impossible for you all.”

“…Then did you properly check under the sea?”

“They said they couldn’t confirm because it was too dark. I think where we are is deeper than we thought.”

It seemed the crew had already checked beneath the ship just in case.

‘This one isn’t easy to approach either, I see.’

We need to dive into a place that even experienced veterans say is impossible to dive into.

Considering the seals we’ve encountered so far, this one might seem somewhat ordinary, but that doesn’t mean it’s easier to access than the others.

Of course, I could summon the dragon armor and enhance it to move freely underwater, but that would be an exceptional case.

‘I suppose the approach is just slightly different this time?’

The first seal, which we reached by using a method passed down only in Countess Metis’s family—Eve’s birth family—and then breaking through the guardian.

The second seal, protected by a labyrinth filled with special magical techniques inside the World Tree, which elves consider sacred.

And the third seal, guarded by the powerful Red Dragon Rubrum, who had even survived a battle with the Hero.

Compared to the seals protected by powerful guardians and special magical techniques, this seal seemed to be challenging us to break through nature itself.

‘Perhaps it’s a test?’

Reach the exact location in the middle of the vast ocean, then dive into the invisible depths through strong currents.

It felt like a test to see if those seeking the seal could meet all these conditions.

In fact, without Chris, we wouldn’t have even reached this location.

‘For now, moving forward is the priority.’

Thinking about it further would only lead to the same conclusion—that approaching the seal is difficult.

Just as you have to enter the tiger’s den to catch the tiger, it was now time to confirm our method and put it into action.

‘They must have set things up this way because it’s actually accessible.’

They couldn’t have created a seal in a place they themselves couldn’t reach.

Getting there shouldn’t be impossible.

With that positive thought, I looked at Chris.

“Chris, can you enter the sea floor?”

“…If I use holy magic to deploy a barrier properly, I think I can get in.”

Chris said quietly.

“Should I try taking everyone with me?”

“No. That’s not necessary.”

I answered softly to Chris’s suggestion.

“You might need your holy power once we’re inside, so you should conserve what you can. And…”

“And?”

“The crew members said it can’t be done with human power, right?”

I smiled at Chris as I spoke.

“If it can’t be done with human power, then it’s time to borrow the power of tools.”

I turned my gaze to Sera.

“Sera.”

“It might be a coincidence, but…”

Sera said with a bright smile.

“As it happens, I have just the right thing.”

It was a confident smile.

+

Sera briefly went back to the cabin.

When she returned, she was holding what looked like a small whistle and some beads.

Sia immediately pointed at the tools Sera had brought and asked,

“What are these?”

“This is a tool that forms a barrier filled with air when you blow into it underwater.”

Sera demonstrated by putting one of the whistles in her mouth and blowing.

No sound came out, but a slight blue energy flowed and formed what looked like a barrier.

‘Is it pre-charged with magic?’

Sera didn’t appear to have infused it with magic herself.

The small whistle itself must have been pre-infused with magic.

While I was analyzing the whistle, the barrier that had formed briefly popped, and Sera smiled as she explained,

“It burst almost immediately because we’re on land, but underwater it will work as I described.”

“Why can’t it be used on land?”

“I wanted to prevent it from malfunctioning on land and becoming unusable in the important underwater environment… but truthfully, I just haven’t adjusted it to work on land yet.”

Sera seemed a bit embarrassed that she had focused on the primary purpose and set aside the additional functionality.

While it’s best if a tool works properly where it needs to, I’m sure she wanted to make it as perfect as possible.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

She probably didn’t have much time anyway.

If it works underwater, that’s sufficient.

“Is there a time limit?”

“Yes.”

Sera quietly answered Eve’s question.

“It stores air along with magic during normal times. …When the pre-stored air runs out, the barrier automatically disengages.”

“If that’s the case, it would be difficult to use it once and then create another one.”

Since it needs to be charged with both magic and air.

While a person could infuse magic, they couldn’t blow in air while underwater.

Continuous use would be difficult too.

“But the barrier is sturdy enough that the air inside won’t leak out. And it will protect your body sufficiently.”

“How sturdy is it?”

“I think it could withstand even a sea dragon ramming into it once.”

Saying it could withstand “once” might sound weak, but the comparison was to a sea dragon.

If it could withstand a sea dragon’s body slam underwater once, it meant the barrier wouldn’t break from most ordinary incidents underwater.

“You’ve made something incredibly sturdy.”

“Safety first. …Fortunately, I had enough materials left.”

It seemed that although expensive and rare materials were used, she had enough stored away to make it work.

“What about these beads?”

“If you put them in your mouth, they allow you to breathe the air stored inside.”

Sera explained without hesitation.

“However, they can be used for a shorter time than the tool I showed first. Please think of them as for emergencies only.”

“They’re a contingency for when the barrier breaks, right?”

“Exactly.”

Sera nodded at Eve’s words.

“I think using these two together should make diving no problem.”

“You’ve worked hard, Sera.”

I had thought Sera would be prepared, but she was even more prepared than I expected.

I wasn’t the only one who thought so, as Kara smiled and said,

“You’ve prepared quite a lot in such a short time.”

“Originally, these were all prepared as countermeasures against sea dragons, but now they’re proving useful.”

Sera had originally prepared these tools to fight sea dragons.

Ironically, that sea dragon was dragged to Florence or the royal palace by someone and died there, so there was no need to use these tools against sea dragons.

Still, Sera’s preparations were now proving valuable here.

“Now that we have a method, next is deciding who goes in.”

After saying this, Beatrice glanced at me slightly.

“What are you going to do, Helmet?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you planning to go to the seal?”

“Of course.”

I nodded at Beatrice’s question.

“Since we don’t know what dangers there might be, it makes sense for as many capable people as possible to go, doesn’t it?”

“Kei, are you sure your condition is okay?”

Eve asked carefully.

“Fortunately, thanks to Chris, my condition is excellent.”

After all, I had received intensive treatment.

I thought I could manage without any issues for a few days at least.

“…I guess it can’t be helped.”

Beatrice said quietly.

“The nun girl and I are here. Even if the helmet’s condition suddenly worsens, we can handle it somehow.”

Chris goes without saying, and Beatrice can improve physical condition by correcting the flow of magic.

She was saying that even if a problem suddenly arose, they could solve it.

“Just don’t overdo it. If you collapse, this place will quickly turn into a funeral.”

“I’ll be careful.”

At my words, Beatrice seemed about to say something but then stopped and stepped back.

Similarly, Eve, Sera, and Chris were all looking at me, and after glancing at each other’s faces, they quietly nodded.

“Everyone’s so worried.”

“Conversely, wouldn’t you be concerned if someone else’s life was in danger?”

Sia said with a smile.

“Accept it gratefully, and now let’s prepare to go.”

“Right.”

I was already grateful without having to say it.

What matters is how to repay that concern.

With that thought, we were each receiving a pair of tools from Sera when—

“I’m going too.”

“Kara?”

Kara stepped forward.

“I want to see this seal with my own eyes at least once.”

“You know this isn’t a pleasure trip, right?”

If she was coming with a casual attitude like going for a walk, I honestly wanted to stop her.

And of course, Kara knew we weren’t going for fun.

“Of course.”

Kara spoke quietly.

“I’m fine even if it’s dangerous. Despite appearances, I have some skill in combat, so I can be of help.”

Kara grinned.

“And if I go, it will reduce the burden on Chris and that magician a bit.”

“Really?”

“Despite how I look, I am called a saint. I’m not completely ignorant about healing arts and treatments.”

Kara said with a smile.

“I’ll be helpful. Take me with you.”

“…If Kara is coming too, you’re welcome.”

Eve said this and then looked at Sera.

Sera nodded and distributed Kara’s share of the tools.

“The distribution is complete. I’ve also prepared some for our return.”

“Then all that’s left is to enter.”

Now we just need to jump off the ship’s railing and activate Sera’s tools.

“I’ll lead the way. Don’t worry about getting lost, just follow me closely.”

“And don’t worry about falling behind. I’ll watch the rear.”

Chris and Kara each said their piece.

The others also started to briefly arrange the order in which we would enter and move.

Diana quietly approached us.

“What is it?”

“Nothing much. Seeing you all organizing and preparing to move on your own just reminded me of old times.”

Diana said with a smile.

“All I can do is wish you a safe journey.”

Diana said with a bitter smile.

“If I were 30 years younger, I would have gone with you.”

“Your concern alone is enough.”

I smiled at Diana as I spoke.

“Going together isn’t the only way to help. Just keeping our return point safe is something we’re grateful for.”

“Thank you for seeing it that way.”

Diana said lightly.

“…Maybe it’s my age. When sending young ones to dangerous places, I can’t help but want to stop them.”

“I see.”

“Does it seem like I’m meddling too much to you young ones?”

Diana asked carefully.

I smiled at her and said,

“Not at all.”

“On the contrary, you’re worried about us. We should be grateful.”

Sera joined the conversation with a smile.

Then Chris and Kara approached.

“Please take care until we return.”

“See you soon, Diana.”

“Just hurry back. …I want to hear what happened over dinner.”

Diana said with a small smile.

“Go now. And don’t forget to return safely.”

“We will.”

Everyone smiled lightly at Diana’s words.

Then we lined up again at the ship’s railing.

“Ready?”

“Anytime, just give the signal!”

I nodded at Chris’s spirited response.

“Let’s go.”

As soon as I finished speaking,

We all jumped into the water.