As soon as we left the beach, the fishy tang and salt stink of the sand gradually faded, and damp earth and roasted meat began to creep past the tip of my nose instead.
The farther we got from the pier, the quieter the sound of the waves became, replaced by the clamor of the village.
Along the roadside, perhaps having heard news of the battle, residents had gathered in twos and threes, murmuring among themselves.
Guards carrying spears occasionally moved between us and the villagers, gauging the mood, and forcibly turned back curious children trying to head toward the beach.
“It’s pretty lively here.”
Sairun said, sweeping his gaze around.
Just as he said, the village on Kron Island felt less like a simple fishing village and more like a small trade port.
Every shop sign was decorated with seaweed or seashells, and windmills spun vigorously on the roofs of each house.
‘The village is rather big.’
I hadn’t noticed when viewing it from the front, but perhaps because the island was broad from side to side, the terrain was quite spacious.
No wonder it also served as a border region.
Baldik gradually slowed his steps and asked,
“Should we find lodging first?”
“We should. We need to see to our equipment, too.”
As we turned out of a narrow alley, a two-story inn sign came into view at the edge of my sight.
Waves and a sailing ship were painted on the wooden sign, and beneath them the words “Harbor’s Lamp” were crudely carved.
‘Judging by the fact that there’s writing, is it an inn run by a merchant?’
“That place should let us sleep comfortably for a night.”
When Ranson said that quietly, Baldik grinned.
“And we can have a drink, too.”
On the road leading toward the center of the village, a messenger already carrying news of the battle was galloping away on horseback, and behind him several sturdy men headed toward the beach with spears and shields.
We brushed past them and stopped in front of the inn.
From beyond the door spilled warm lamplight and the smell of freshly grilled fish.
When we opened the inn door, warm air wrapped around us, enough to thaw the skin that had gone stiff in the sea breeze.
The crackle of firewood burning in the hearth and the savory smell of seafood stew cooking rushed over us all at once.
“Welcome—”
The innkeeper, who had been wiping his hands with a towel behind the counter, raised his head, and his eyes widened.
Then he strode over and looked me and the rest of our group over.
“Could it be… are you the people who saved me on the ship?”
“…Ah, you were on that ship?”
When I nodded, the innkeeper’s expression brightened completely.
“I don’t know how to repay this kindness. For today, please leave the lodging and the meal entirely to me!”
With those words, he guided us to an inner table, then generously brought out stew, freshly baked bread, and even fragrant liquor.
“If I’d known this would happen, I should’ve saved you earlier on the ship.”
“Pfft, you barely did anything.”
“What—do you know how much I suffered?”
Sairun and Baldik were already tilting their cups and chatting.
Ranson politely offered his thanks.
That night, we rested quietly in the glow of the fireplace and the comfort of full stomachs.
As though the fishy smell of the beach and the noise of battle had faded far into the distance, the room was filled not with waves, but only with the sound of calm breathing.
***
The next morning.
Outside the window, the merchants in the market were already busily raising their voices.
Along with the smell of freshly baked bread, the sound of a ship’s horn from the harbor announced the start of the day.
I opened the window and took in a breath of sea breeze, then gathered my equipment and woke my companions.
Starting today, it was time for our real work on Kron Island to begin.
‘We need to leave quickly.’
On the road from the inn to the checkpoint, the scent of the waves had seeped into the stone path damp with morning sunlight.
The village had regained its energy, and people moved busily, as if yesterday’s tragedy had never happened.
But then.
Dudududuk…
Something beneath my feet rang out strangely.
The calm ground trembled subtly for a moment, like a heartbeat.
“…Did you just feel that?”
Baldik stopped and narrowed his eyes.
Without realizing it, I held my breath and looked around.
The people nearby were also looking at one another with bewildered faces.
Dududududududuk—!
This time, the ground definitely shook hard.
Signs rattled, and the water in buckets rippled and sloshed as if about to spill over.
“Don’t tell me…”
The moment Sairun muttered—
Bwooo— bwoooooo—!
A sharp alarm horn rang out from the direction of the distant harbor.
“Monsters! Monsters at the beach again!”
An officer atop the gate shouted.
“…Again?!”
“Damn it, what the hell is wrong with this island?”
Baldik ground his teeth.
Soldiers hurriedly grabbed shields and ran toward the beach, while residents panicked and scattered in every direction.
The guards shouted.
“Everyone except the reserve forces, get inside the village! Able-bodied men, to the beach!”
Keeping my gaze fixed on the harbor, I drew short breaths.
Baldik clenched his teeth.
Sairun was already touching his quiver, his expression grave.
Ranson’s words were entirely realistic.
I quickly organized the situation in my head.
“Hyungnim, what are you going to do?”
Sairun asked.
“With the checkpoint blocked, there’s no other way.”
“Then…”
“We join them.”
Sairun hung his head low.
Until yesterday, though many soldiers had been wounded, they had managed to hold while maintaining their formation.
But if it continued today, that was a different story.
Exhausted soldiers, reduced numbers, and deep-sea anglerfiends still writhing out there.
It was only a matter of time before the defensive line collapsed.
In the end, if the beach was breached, unless we got on a ship—no, unless we planned to swim.
We would have no choice but to be trapped on this island.
“…For something on this scale, support should be coming from the homeland by now.”
Ranson’s murmur seemed to speak for the current situation.
I rubbed my forehead once and looked back at my companions.
“Fine, then—”
That was when it happened.
“Mage-nim! There you are!”
Hearing a breathless voice from behind me, I turned to see the noncommissioned officer who had guided me to the watchtower yesterday running toward us with two soldiers.
His armor, tangled with sand and dust, was scratched and dented here and there, and beads of sweat that had no time to cool streamed down his forehead.
“What’s going on?”
As soon as he stood before me, he caught his breath and said,
“They’ve… appeared again. This time, their numbers are far greater. The commander… ordered me to bring you without fail, Mage-nim.”
“Has the defensive line already broken?”
“Not yet. But it may break soon. Half our forces are combat ineffective after yesterday’s battle, and we don’t have enough reserves either.”
The noncommissioned officer’s eyes were desperate.
“That magic from yesterday… please use it again today. The commander is waiting for you as well!”
I had been planning to go anyway, and if they were going to pay us too, all the better for us.
I nodded to the noncommissioned officer.
“Very well. Lead the way.”
His expression brightened in an instant.
“This way!”
I followed the noncommissioned officer back to the watchtower.
When I stepped onto the shaky, poorly made ladder and climbed up, the rough sea breeze brushed against my face.
“Ah…”
Standing there was the officer I had met on the beach yesterday.
With his arms crossed, he had been looking down toward the sea, but when I climbed up, he turned his gaze to me.
“You came.”
It was a brief greeting, but his voice held a strange mix of relief and tension.
Given the situation, he had clearly been waiting for me.
“How many are there…?”
At my question, the officer’s expression hardened.
His eyes already told the situation in place of an answer.
Because beyond the sea, the same waves as yesterday were swelling strangely.
The officer nodded toward the sea.
“Look.”
I followed his gaze and looked down at the sea.
Above the horizon, the same bizarre ripples as yesterday were gleaming and rising.
But this time, the range was far wider.
“…All of that?”
“Yes. More of them are coming today.”
As if the darkness beneath the sea were boiling, enormous shadows tangled together and surged toward us.
Between the breaking waves, tentacles and dorsal fins appeared in brief glimpses.
“They haven’t reached the beach yet.”
“They’ll be upon us soon. But…”
The officer glanced sidelong at me.
“This time, we have even fewer troops than yesterday. Wounded and deserters have been coming out in droves.”
I let out a short breath.
This was not a simple battle, but a fight to hold onto a defensive line that was bound to collapse.
“So that’s why you called me.”
“That’s right. Can you do it one more time, like yesterday?”
Below the watchtower, soldiers moved busily, carrying spears and shields.
In the distance, the sound of alarm bells rang out across the village, which was still quiet.
I slightly lifted the tip of my staff and looked at the officer.
“…Let’s discuss the terms first.”
The corners of the officer’s mouth stiffened slightly.
The sea breeze blew fiercely, sending sand from the beach below flying upward.
It did not seem like it would be long before they arrived.
At my words, the officer gave a faint laugh.
“Terms? Isn’t that amusing? Right now, there isn’t a ship on this island to escape from them, and the sea is in that state… In the end, you have no choice but to fight with us, don’t you?”
His expression said it was only natural.
As if the very idea that I was in a position to bargain over the price of my life was ridiculous.
“…That’s true.”
When I readily nodded, the officer’s expression briefly stiffened in surprise.
“However, that does not mean I will fight for free.”
I lowered my voice and added firmly,
“If there is no compensation for risking my life, you’ll be able to summon me the same way next time as well.”
“Hmm…”
The officer narrowed his eyes for a moment and looked me over.
“So what do you want?”
“I’m not asking for much.”
I steadied my breath and glanced toward the sea.
Beyond the horizon, strange currents were slowly approaching between the ripples.
“Treat me the same as you did yesterday. That will be enough. And—”
I turned my gaze back to the officer and said,
“When the operation is over, let us pass the checkpoint, inspection or whatever it may be, without delay.”
After a brief silence, the officer exhaled.
“Fine. Provided you survive this time as well.”
The sea breeze blew fiercely again.
In the distance, a massive column of water surged upward.
It was the signal that they had nearly arrived.
***
Boom!
“Kuaaaagh!”
A deep-sea anglerfiend’s tentacle slammed into the front line, sending mud and spray flying in a tangled burst. The soldiers were pushed back and staggered, and the spearmen waiting behind them hurried forward.
“Hold the line! Don’t show them a gap!”
The officer’s shout from atop the gate cut through the wind and rang out.
Recalling the contract from moments ago, I raised my staff high.
Seawater was already soaking my wrists, and within it, my mana hummed as if boiling.
[Water Bomb]
Kwaaaaaang!
A column of water rising from the sea swallowed one deep-sea anglerfiend.
The creature let out a terrible scream and was hurled backward.
The soldiers did not miss that opening and thrust their spears in all at once.
“One of them is down! Keep pressing them!”
Tentacles lashed in from every direction again, but this time I was used to it.
With a brief gesture, I lifted two spheres of water into the air and detonated them in sequence.
The bursting water pressure tore away the monsters’ shells and flesh, and blood spread across the sea.
The battle continued for over an hour.
In the end, we succeeded in repelling them that day as well.
But the joy of victory lasted only a moment, as the checkpoint was firmly closed again.
“Not today. The village needs to be restored as well.”
The officer left only those words behind and turned away.
And so, leaving behind the officer who had broken his promise, we had to return to the inn once more.
***
The next day.
The day after that.
And the day after that, too.
Every single day, they came crashing in.
Some days two or three times, some days from morning until sunset.
Each time, we had to go out to the defensive line.
The officer delayed the checkpoint every time, citing reasons such as cleanup, waiting for reinforcements to arrive, and reorganizing the troops.
Meanwhile, the sea before the checkpoint was stained day after day without rest by blood and corpses.
Bang!
Baldik slammed the table in the inn’s dining hall roughly.
“Damn it, why the hell do we have to suffer like this?”
Sairun threw down his spoon as if tossing it aside and shot back,
“Exactly. They said reinforcements were coming, and it’s already been three days, hasn’t it?”
Without a word, I swallowed a spoonful of cold soup.
The broth, not even hot, slid down my throat, but for some reason it only made my stomach churn more.
It had already been over a week since we were stranded on this island.
During that week, not a single day passed without us being called to the battlefield.
‘This… isn’t simple coincidence.’
The fact that they came every day, and the fact that the inspection kept being delayed.
It was as if someone was deliberately trying to keep us trapped on this island.
The moment my thoughts reached that point, a crawling sensation crept up my spine.
That was when it happened.
Bang—!
Outside, the windows suddenly rattled, and people’s screams erupted.
Baldik sprang up, chair and all.
“What is it, those bastards again?”
Sairun looked out the window, and his expression hardened.
“…No. This time, it sounded like it came from inside the village.”
In that instant, the innkeeper’s face drained of blood.
“Inside… does that mean they crossed the walls?”
I slowly rose from my seat and gripped my staff.
Something was happening inside the village.