"So they spent this life force to keep you alive?"

"Mhm, I was hurt really badly during the attack. Luckily we damaged it enough to make it run away but it had already destroyed the mast, when we ran aground they carried me to the island. I was in and out of consciousness at the time, but when I finally woke up they were gone. Only their clothing left in piles remained."

"I didn't know there was such a thing."

"Mhm, it's somewhat of a secret. But you seem trustworthy. You didn't even respond to my advances last night."

"Enough about that, this life force?"

"Hmm, it's similar to a human's mana. We of course also have mana but life force doesn't regenerate the same way mana does."

"And when it's all expended?"

"Exactly. Not even a body remains. It's an incredibly powerful energy though. It was able to restore me from certain death. But at the heavy cost of my comrades."

"I'm sorry."

"No, it's my fault for being a princess," El says with a self-deprecating smirk.

"I have a question."

"Go ahead, I told you I would answer all your questions didn't I?"

"Right, but well. it's a personal question so feel free to not answer it if it's rude or something."

"You are curious about my age?"

"Mhm, you appear the same age as Mirna but I assume that's not the case. If elves are long lived I wouldn't be surprised if you are hundreds of years old."

"Meh! I'm not some old granny, I'll have you know I've been alive for eighteen years next month."

"Oh, younger than I thought."

"So rude!"

"Ah, sorry sorry. It's my first time meeting an elf after all."

"Ah well, you are forgiven since you rescued me. You know, now you will be someone who's loved by the World Tree Spirit. They say if a noble hero saves an Elven princess it becomes like that. You should be happy!"

"Ah, another guardian spirit. Good."

"What's that mean?"

"Nothing, nothing."

~ ~

"Lunch is good, good work Mirna."

"Mhm." She says with a satisfied nod.

It seems after having it for the past three meals everyone decided they wanted something different. Mirna seemed to have an idea what to make so I left it to her. I had been slowly putting more work to her during dinner prep so I was sure she could properly handle it.

She came back a half hour later with Skewered chunks of Sea Dragon steak with a similar mix of herbs as the burgers. She seems to have adjusted a few of the ratios though and it suits the chewy meat perfectly.

She surpassed me in an instant, didn't she? I checked her stats on the menu and sure enough, her points were dedicated to cooking and agility surprisingly.

Though thinking about her monkeying up the mast it seems to make sense. El, on the other hand, was interesting. level 12. She must have had it rough on the island. Her points are unusually high, yet evenly distributed with a natural racial increase to perception.

She claimed she was naturally suited for high places so she mostly sat on the top of the mast. I told her to stay in the crows nest but she said it wasn't high enough.

Earlier after watching her struggle to keep her hair under control due to the wind I sent Mirna up to give her the Bandana I purchased a few days ago. I couldn't hear them but I watched El happily wrap it around her head and then Mirna sent me a thumbs up before magnificently sliding down a rope to the deck.

They were an energetic bunch.

And they eat a lot apparently. I swear there was an extra skewer for me. I glance around the table on the deck and they each look around nonchalantly whistling.

They seem to all be in on the heist. I suppose that's the only way for them to be sure everyone would remain silent. It's truly the perfect crime.

I chop each in turn before standing and turning back to the sea.

"How long do you think?"

I hadn't asked anyone in particular but all eyes went to Rou.

"Mm, the wind is no longer ideal. But we're really not far away. Though if we go west we will probably catch some good wind, might cut off a few hours."

"I'll leave it to you."

"Yes, Captain."

~ ~

She really was a great navigator.

Just as predicted, when we set our bearing we suddenly caught a good wind and our pace quickened.

The thing I'm worried about is something El said, this seems to be the same direction they were coming from when attacked. She claimed it had tentacles so I assume it's some sort of Kraken-like creature. Honestly, I'm not sure how we would handle that. Fist's alone might not do it.

I want defensive measures, not just for me but the girls as well. I have been a fool really. I figure I can just rely on my strength for everything. But the close call with Mirna was too much. I need weapons. Sea based weapons.

I explain to the group that I'm going to be working in my cabin they all seem curious but they nod and continue their work.

I want to do this in private because I don't want to be asked to many questions. This will probably appear weird.

I shut the door and bolt it. I sit down at the table and open the menu, holding a piece of paper behind it so I can properly see the text.

I've kind of gotten used to doing it this way, it's basically the only way to trick my head into thinking I'm actually reading.

Oh, I have many options. Oh, and more points. I'm up to 330. What am I getting them for though? I explore a few submenus before finding a [Completed task] page.       

[Move an unmoveable object.] - 100

[Hire a crew member.] - 10

[Discover a shipwreck.] - 20

[Rescue an elf.] - 200

El, thank you. I'm sorry for not believing about the blessing. Now I truly believe.

A few grayed items in the purchase tab are unlocked.

[Spear] - 15

[Cannon] - 150

[Flintlock rifle] - 75

[Spear Gun] - 100

But I'm really more excited for [50 Caliber turret] - 15,000

There are various types of swords and nets for cheap as well but I barely glance at them.

I choose a Spear gun. It appears on the table and drops with a soft metallic clunk.

It seems to be from this world, it's powered by some sort of magic stone. Or at least that would be my guess.

I prick my finger on the spear tip. It's not exactly sharp but I suppose at high speed it won't matter.

I continue flipping through the menu.

I notice, now that I have something onboard that I plan to sell, a new tab has appeared. [Merchant], with its own stupid point system. The tab has various categories of trade goods. Hundreds of tabs of different items. I only have 15 of the Merchant points but there seem to be tons of items available at that price. Fabrics, Glassware, Spices, the list is seemingly endless. And then I spot one that can't possibly be what I imagine.   

I enter the [Elements] tab and get a shock. It's real, I can actually buy individual elements from the periodic table. They are not all there of course, and many are extremely expensive but, this is interesting. I'm not much of a chemist but I can probably work with this a bit.

I choose potassium. It's a simple element, but it's fun. It's an alkali metal and it feels like putty. Not that you should touch it with bare hands.

I get some proper rubber gloves and a couple grams of the soft metal.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

It's larger than I thought so I carve off what I need. I make sure the spear tip is moisture free and begin my modification.

It's fairly simple. an explosive payload on a spear. It will explode on contact with water. It is a dangerous item to have on a boat but if I keep it in storage there won't be an issue. I purchase an additional spear for the gun and prepare a slightly smaller payload with the leftover scraps.

I place the dangerous item away and unbolt the door returning to the deck.

~ ~

"Is that a log?" Mirna asks pointing in the distance while the rest of us watch the sunset.

"Hm?" I ask looking where she points.

El follows suit and squints her eyes a bit. She turns quickly and with a few bounds is at the top of the mast standing and peering in the direction of the bogey.

She jumps down landing in a crouch and reports her findings, "Shark."

"Shark?" I ask, curious if this is the same kind of shark I know.

"Oh wait a bit." Aqua says pulling out the leather binding and flipping to a tab labeled 'S'. "Here."

She places a request in my hands. 'Shark fin gather request. Subjugate Bluetooth shark and collect fin.'

So such a thing exists here as well. But the image (Drawn by Muscleman) looks a lot fiercer than sharks I'm familiar with. It seems to have scales covering the rear of its body while its front is nothing but rows of teeth. It would be hard to damage. Only a few spots look weak.

"It definitely noticed us, it's following us after all."

She was right it looked to be drifting closer while maintaining forward momentum in order to keep up with us.

"Starboard!" Rou shouts from the other side of the deck.

I look in the direction she's pointing and see another similar shape. This is our lucky day I guess.

~ ~

"Set the sail too full, for now, we will try to out run them if that fails I will do something about it."

""Roger""  Aqua and Rou run to work while Mirna and El continue watching the beasts edging closer.

"Do you really think you can?" El nervously asks looking at me.

"Captain can do anything. Two battalions of Knights couldn't move this ship but Captain did it with a single hand. He can do anything!" Mirna proudly counters patting my back with motherly pride or something.

"Was it really Two battalions? To me, it just sounds like they were lazy."

"No, it's because Captain is strong!"

"Right, right."

Rou and Aqua interrupt the talk and report that we are losing the wind. It really is our lucky day I guess.

"No choice then. Drop the sail. To battle!"

""Roger!""

"El, keep watch up top just in case we lose sight of them."

"Roger," El says noticing the salute and mirroring the gesture perfectly.

"Mirna, as it is my duty to protect you, I request you retire to the Captain's quarters until the battle is complete."

Mirna, looking somewhat nervous from the turn of events say. "I guess, I have no choice then."

She then quickly dashes towards the door before pausing and looking back at the three of us.

"Aqua do you mind?"

"Understood."

Aqua follows behind Mirna, to which Mirna smiles and happily links hands before shutting the door.

"Can we really fight them?" Rou asks from beside me.

"No problem. I have a new trick up my sleeve."

"It's ramming!" El shouts from the mast.

Rou and I run to the direction she pointed and watch the fin begin to glide towards us increasing speed and popping its face above the water for a moment before gaining another burst of speed.

*Crack*

A large vibration shuttered through the ship. El held tightly to the mast as it shook and tilted. I heard the sound of splintering wood. Ah, no. Not this soon.

I ready the spear gun as the shark drifts backward slowly. It shakes its head a few times to regain its senses from the attack and then begins to turn to make another attack.

*Shlink*

The spear fires out with a gust of wind. I aimed high and it began dropping as expected. The shark thrashes its tail, shifting its body faster than I anticipated, and making the head shot impossible.

The spear strikes a scale shattering it, but not fully embedding into the skin. Will it be enough though?

"Another Another!" Rou shouts pushing on me as I watch the spear.

It fizzles lightly under the water, it's luckily jammed up with the fragments of the scale. "Just wait. It should work."

My confidence isn't 100% though, had I used the wrong element? Was the reaction lower with salt water? Would it react at all?

*BOOOOOM*

Rou leaps backward at the sound before looking down at the corpse of the shark floating beside the boat.

"How?"

"We aren't finished yet!" El shouts from the mast pointing in an arc around the boat.

The fin was at a distance but it was slowly circling the boat curiously. It would likely attack in a similar way, but we can't take another hit like that.

The shark circles two times at a distance as we sit tensely. I have loaded the lower firepower spear but I'm concerned. The first one only worked because it was the strong spear. This one must hit its target. I have no third chance. Or if I do it's just a normal spear, I have no more merchant points.

"It's moving," El shouts.

It seems to detect the blood from the first shark, it cautiously nears the corpse. It begins to open its jaw.

I need that fin you bastard don't bite that. I aim the spear and compensate for its movement this time.

*Swish*

The spear flys and each of us bait our breath.

It flies true and begins to swirl gracefully in the air. It hits dead on in the center of the shark's open mouth. Not an actual damaging hit, but the real work begins now.

*Bam*

The shark expands for a moment, ceasing its movements and forcing it to drift and bumping into the first's corpse.

"It's over." I step onto the banister of the deck and leap off the ship onto the first shark's corpse. It's a little hard to balance but it's not a problem. I take the rope Rou tosses down and tie it around the tail.

"Ah!" El Shouts from halfway down the mast.

I turn to the second shark and see it beginning to recover from the blast. These things are sturdy. I thought the shot was sure to kill it.

I step off the shark I'm currently balancing on and onto the half dead wriggling one.

I grip the fin firmly and pull. It gives little resistance to (129). The shark's movements stop. A glimmer of the setting sun catches something near the base of the torn fin. Sitting there, nearly encased in the flesh is a large blue stone, about a quarter the size of the Sea Dragons.

I tie the second one and climb the rope ladder up to the deck.

I set the fin down and brush my hands to dry them. Rou hands me a towel after a moment but she seems strange.

"Everything Ok?"

"Just, kind of incredible to see."

"Mhm Mhm," El says nodding beside her.

"Well, we can get to that later, let's pull these things up."

"Right."

The two girls get behind me and pull the rope until the sharks are a few feet above the deck. Rou pulls another rope and the sharks begin moving towards the cargo hold. El holds the trap door and I lower them down slowly.

I place the two Shark fins in storage so they will stay fresh. I'm sure the requester would prefer that.