Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
When World Conqueror arrived at the port of the city-state of Tephis, Marina and her crew became an instant sensation. This was because a huge sea monster had led the ship into the harbor, shocking all of the people!
Marina let go of the giant squid Koukou and said, “Thank you, Koukou! Now, you may return to the sea!”
All of them stood on the ship and waved goodbye to Koukou. After sailing together for several years, many of the sailors had sentimental feelings for the squid that had protected them. Some of them even began to wipe away a few tears as Koukou’s huge body disappeared into the sea.
Legends of Marina’s traveling around the world on the Legendary Adventurer quickly spread throughout Tephis. The sailors kept talking about the many monsters and dangers that they had encountered along the way, as well as sharing their many escapades in the magnificent Swirl Continent, the Mermaid Kingdom, and the beautiful Yala Continent.
Hence, everyone knew that a woman named Marina Bossay had crossed the dangerous sea and accomplished a feat of crossing three continents! For ordinary people, the mainland of Alan was their whole world. Now, everyone knew that besides Alan, there were many more magical continents out there!
The gems and black pearls that the sailors had brought back from the Swirl Continent, as well as the various crafts of the Yala Continent and the elves’ harps, swords, and bows were all very popular among a large number of businessmen and nobles in Tephis. Hence, all of the sailors became rich overnight! They were even received by the Prime Minister of the Sean City-State Alliance and given the titles of Knight!
This made their stories even more legendary! The chief mate Garnett was particularly proud of himself. In fact, this was the most glorious moment of his life!
Even the children on the street were talking about the beautiful mermaid family, the giant squid Koukou, and the Children of the Sea, pretending that they were also among the wayfaring crew…
“Come on monster! I am the captain of the great Legendary Adventurer. I am not afraid of you!”
“Come on, Koukou! Tear up all of the monsters!”
“I’m the captain! Fire, fire!”
“I am the captain!”
“No, I am!”
As the children were roleplaying in the streets, throughout the city-state of Sean, everyone was talking about adventures, navigation, and wealth. Many sailors and merchants, forgetting the horror and fear of the sea, rushed to join other crews and embark on their own adventures as crewmen. After all, they also wanted to find the legendary Swirl Continent and Yala Continent, bring back huge wealth from the Mermaid Kingdom, and become famous overnight!
At the moment, however, Marina was not interested in all of this hubbub. Instead, she had snuck away to the newly established Alchemy Academy in Tephis. At the top of the castle, Akkad lay in his chair and watched snowflakes flying outside his window.
Unlike the north, Tephis was a warm city, so it was rare to see snowflakes in winter. But, at present, the temperature had dropped sharply, so the fireplace was burning in the lounge.
Marina talked to Akkad about her journey in a very peaceful tone. When she talked about Yala and Wendy and Wolfe, Akkad’s expression slowly changed into one of clear sentimentality.
“Ah! I really miss them!” Akkad was now very old and look tired.
Akkad sobbed a bit, then asked, “Okay, what’s next? Tell me about the wizard tower.”
Marina suddenly remembered something. “Oh! There’s a letter from mentor Catherine…”
A smile appeared on Akkad’s face. “Catherine! Is she okay?”
Marina nodded. “Mentor Catherine reached Level Four. She’s young and beautiful. She asked me to tell you that she misses you very much.”
Akkad laughed. “If she said this about Bohr, he would be very happy. Bohr liked her best then, but unfortunately she married an ordinary person.”
Speaking of this, Akkad sighed deeply. “Poor Bohr. I can’t believe he is dead, and I…I’m dying too!”
Akkad coughed violently. Marina lowered her head and kept wiping away her tears. Akkad then opened the letter and slowly read it, recalling their childhood.
At that time, there were very few wizards, only them. Each of them were filled with longing and hope as they came to the wizard tower. It had completely changed their fates.
As Akkad read and laughed, he remembered the intelligent Bohr, proud and confident Li Weisi, honest Uruk, beautiful Catherine, and Henry, who always followed them. Every one of these first generation of wizards had been so young and full of expectations and dreams for the future! They had looked forward to using what they would learn in order to change the world.
“How young we were back then! I remember that Bohr standing on the steeple of the castle, shouting at the sky, ‘The future is ours!’ Bohr wanted to be a good doctor and Li Weisi wanted to be a real noble man. We secretly liked Catherine because she was the pianist’s daughter. I didn’t tell Bohr that I liked her though. She was born with a temperament that attracted us. Every one of us had a simple dream, as our understandings of the world were so small. We thought we could rule the world!” Akkad kept talking and his eyes grew dim.
He then added softly, “I really miss them, and I really want to be with them…?”
Akkad did not finish his thoughts. Instead, his fingers loosened and the letters fell from his mechanical arm. He then gradually closed his eyes.
The wind blew open the window, allowing a few snowflakes to flutter in. At this moment, the door suddenly opened and all of Akkad’s students came in, each of them looking at Akkad quietly sleeping. Everyone took off their hats and lowered their heads.
—————–
Akkad wandered through the gate of the underworld, where a tall monster was swallowing up those who were not in line. Akkad then approached the Styx River.
After crossing the Styx River on a ferry with a strange man who had bandages all over his body, he saw a familiar figure at the riverside. The figure reached out and pointed his finger to Akkad’s forehead, which made Akkad remember things little by little.
“Anthony!” Lu Zhiyu stood beside the Styx River and looked at Akkad. “I said we would see each other again.”
Akkad looked around and asked, “Where am I?”
Lu Zhiyu said, “In the underworld. Just in front of it, there is a city of souls where all of the dead will go. Some are nailed to the wall, others are sentenced to stay in the underworld, and some can return to the living world again to obtain the afterlife!”
Akkad looked at Lu Zhiyu and asked, “Why are you here, mentor?”
Lu Zhiyu looked at Akkad. “You should have had an idea as to my identity…”
Akkad looked at Lu Zhiyu and suddenly laughed. After that, he asked Lu Zhiyu, “How is my afterlife?”
“You meet up with your friends and lead an ordinary and happy life, just as you expected!” he replied.
“Sounds good!” Akkad smiled.
“Goodbye!”
“Goodbye!”
The two parted ways, both smiling.
