"Oh my, how forgetful of me not to introduce myself," the red-haired girl said with an air of intrigue.

"I am Lvonette Kraus, the eldest daughter of the esteemed Kraus family," she declared.

With curiosity still burning within me, I pressed for answers. "Why are you here alone? And what did you mean by your earlier words? The most brutal path is being trapped for eternity.

"Ah, so many questions! Is it not customary to address a noble lady with a touch of politeness?" She retorted, a tinge of frustration lacing her voice.

Nevertheless, she proceeded to provide an explanation. "I, too, am a Venturer like you. My team of four arrived here just an hour ago."

"I am here surveying the area for potential threats. As for your earlier question, let me enlighten you. Route 64 is the most treacherous and deadly path in this limbo. The survival rate is less than 1%. If you were even slightly ill-prepared when entering this realm, your fate is likely sealed."

Doubt crept into my mind, and I posed another question. "How do you possess this knowledge? If you are a fellow Venturer, then you should be experiencing this for the first time, just like us."

"You are correct. Indeed, this is my first time traversing this route. However, that does not mean I cannot gather information about this place beforehand. My elder brother, the future leader of the Kraus House and a current Paladin, embarked on this very path. He shared with me his harrowing experience of barely surviving. And let me tell you, he was a second-phase glass weaver."

"Reaching the second phase so quickly? And as a glass weaver, he must have been an exceptional talent," Kei interjected from behind me.

Kei’s observation aligned with the knowledge we had acquired. Avery had mentioned that only 10% of sol-weavers managed to reach the second phase, and glass was a rare nexus, indicating exceptional skill.

"You are absolutely correct!" A smile graced Lvonette’s lips, relishing the praise bestowed upon her elder brother.

"Even someone of his calibre barely managed to complete this route. I’m sure you can comprehend the gravity of our situation with this information," she concluded.

I stole a quick glance at my companions, witnessing a mix of hope and despair etched on their faces. I felt relieved that they still held on to hope and confidence in their own abilities.

"What about being trapped?

Before Kei could inquire further, Lvonette halted him with a gesture. "It’s best to witness it firsthand rather than wasting time discussing it here. Follow me, and I will lead you to the shore."

Without wasting any time, we followed her, maintaining our guard.

*

After a roughly 30-minute walk, we finally reached the shore.

If I had to find words to describe it, the title "The Sea of the Devils" seemed contradictory to the realm’s appearance, which can be summarised in one word—enchanting.

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The beauty of this realm surpassed anything I had witnessed before. Kei and Elsie stood in awe, their mouths agape, taking in the breathtaking scenery before us.

The shoreline, adorned with dark blue sand, resembled a place straight out of a fairy tale. However, the true spectacle lay in the sea itself. The water was as clear as crystal, reflecting a myriad of fish and sea creatures gracefully swimming beneath the surface. Even the aquatic plants were visible, as if we could peer into the deepest depths of this sea.

Adding to the intrigue, a curious sight unfolded before us. White boats of various shapes and sizes lined the shore, each with a shadowy figure standing nearby. To my surprise, the row of boats appeared endless, stretching as far as the eye could see—an expanse of seemingly limitless vessels.

I noticed Lvonette conversing with a few individuals who were likely her team members. We approached them.

"These are your team members? And why does he address you as ‘Lady Lvonette’?" I inquired.

"We are not her team members; we are merely her bodyguards. We come from subordinate families of the Kraus lineage. However, our gracious lady considers us equals due to her generosity," the main bodyguard responded with a brisk tone.

"I see," I replied, acknowledging the dynamics.

Lvonette turned her attention towards me and began speaking. "Since your friend complimented my brother earlier, I shall offer you some useful information. Consider it a token of generosity from the most elegant lady—myself."

I couldn’t help but sense a certain complexity within this girl.

"Thank you, kind lady. Now, please enlighten us so that we may survive in this realm. I played along.

"Are you mocking me?" She retorted, her frustration evident in her voice.

After a moment, she proceeded to provide an explanation.

"I will offer you three hints to escape this realm:

The first hint is that the passage to the next realm lies on the opposite side of this realm. You must traverse the sea using one of the white wooden boats provided here.

The second hint is to never set out during the night, as the true nature of the realm reveals itself under the cover of darkness.

The third hint is that the shadowy figures near each boat are boatmen. They hold the knowledge of navigating to the other side and will captain your boat. Treat these entities with respect, as any misconduct may result in them devouring you."

Processing all this information proved challenging, but relief washed over me as I observed Elsie and Kei attentively listening behind me, with Elsie diligently jotting down the details in her notebook.

"What do you mean the boatman will consume us?" I inquired, seeking clarification.

"No more hints. See for yourself. We shall take our leave. Find a boat and set sail before nightfall," Lvonette stated firmly.

Without wasting any time, Lvonette bid us farewell and boarded a nearby white boat with her bodyguards. The shadowy figure known as the "boatman" began rowing the boat, propelling them towards their destination.

"Let’s search for a boat and embark soon," Kei suggested.

I nodded in agreement, followed by Elsie. We made our way to the edge of the shore, scanning the countless boats accompanied by shadowy figures.

After a few minutes, our search came to an end. We discovered a small ship that could accommodate the three of us comfortably, with a room for rest. The boat featured a steering wheel, and the boatman stood nearby, patiently waiting for passengers.

One by one, we boarded the small ship and approached the boatman. Having only seen these beings from a distance, their features were shrouded in shadow. Now, we could finally discern the true form of the enigmatic "boatman."

"Eek!" Elsie let out a small scream from behind me, startled by the appearance of the being.

"Quiet. Lvonette warned us not to provoke them, or we might end up as their meal," Kei whispered, urging caution.

The reason for their unease became evident as we faced the boatman. Simply put, it was not human. It resembled a blackish, octopus-like creature with two white dots for eyes and no other discernible features. It stood twice the size of an average human, its ghastly presence sending shivers down my spine. This confirmed the notion that it was devouring us.

"Um, when do we depart?" I politely inquired, testing whether these beings were capable of communication.

A few moments of silence followed as the creature peered at me, seemingly penetrating into my soul. I cautiously took a step back, prepared to defend myself if necessary. However, it averted its gaze and proceeded to start the ship.

Phew! I exhaled with relief.

With that, our journey across "The Sea of the Devils" commenced.