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Once the message was sent to the fleet, things moved quickly.

I showed them to the place that Doror had marked on the map. Since it was my first time heading there in person, it took awhile. But my memory held true and successfully found the place that Doror was talking about.

There was a small spot that resembled a beach where the fleet could make port. Surrounding the beach was a trough valley, a U-shaped formation of rock that surrounded the entire place like the inside of a crescent moon. The slope wasn’t steep and even the sailors could climb it. More than that, it was full of those ash-covered trees that could be used for repairs. A small hill full of them.

The Church’s Fleet worked quickly. Temporary wooden shelters were the first to go up, raised by the sailors with the help of adventurers. They brought out these large sheets of tarp, creating temporary roofing. The next thing to go up was a basic lumber station, where they’d cut, process and repair the ship with the help of magic. Without magic, it’d take a lot longer than a simple two weeks to finish these repairs.

Of course, my party and I had been reunited. We spent the first three days simply taking care of our own shelter, food and planning out what we’d do on this island.

The decision was unanimous. We’d hunt.

I could see the hunger in Skaris’ eyes when I told him about the underground tunnels full of monsters. Aurora had told me that since most of the Myung-sa babies had gone underground, she saw other monsters beginning to lurk upwards. With the appearance of monsters, the barren volanic island began to change. Monsters began to pick lairs, hunting each other and marking territories. It was teeming with life, and for me and every other adventurer, that meant training.

Except one problem which happened on the fourth day, when all the adventurers were preparing to hunt.

“What the hell do you mean we’re not allowed to hunt?” Delas snarled.

We were all huddled in a small semi-circle around Zenom and Cecilia, sticking close to our own parties. And by we, I mean that every single adventurer that had been hired for this quest that was currently glaring at Zenom.

Zenom and Cecilia stood in the center. Cecilia was trying her best to look apologetic but I knew better. The Holy Knight on the other hand, carefully kept his expression neutral.

“It is a decree from the Bishop. No matter how much you complain, I do not have the power to change this decision.”

“The hell you don’t.” Delas muttered, turning to the others. “You all going to stand for this bullshit?”

Then as one, the adventurers began to murmur amongst one another. It grew louder and louder, the complaints growing in volume and intensity. Zenom frowned, obviously annoyed. It wasn’t just Delas complaining either. Boris had joined in, albeit in a calmer manner. Lety and Clover were speaking on behalf of their party too.

“This does not bode well,” Kyrian whispered to me, beneath the racket.

“Why not?” I asked.

“While the Advance party was gone, the Bishop came to our ship.” Kyrian cast a sideways glance at Skaris and Stole.

Stole wrinkled her nose like she smelt something rancid. “He’s a jerk.”

Kyrian nodded. “For once, I’m inclined to agree.”

“What’d he do?” My curiosity was growing.

Kyrian sighed, sweeping his blonde hair back. It had grown out a lot. In fact, it was so long that he had tied it into a ponytail and it fell below his shoulders. “Nothing of consequence except annoying us. He systemized how we should stand watch and had us run drills.”

“He alsssso went on and on about hissss god.” Skaris said meaningfully.

I understood what Skaris wanted to say immediately.

“He gave a sermon?” I hissed back.

“Everyday.” Stole deadpanned. “Every. Single. Fucking. Day. Twice.”

Provided, the advance party hadn’t been gone for too long. But these guys were adventurers. They didn’t have the patience and discipline of a Priest who had been in training since they were old enough to walk. It required a different type of self-mastery to face monsters. Adventurers with the instincts of a wild animal, sitting in pews and listening to a sermon by the bishop twice a day?

Looking around and knowing what had happened to them, I had a better understanding of why everyone was complaining.

Regardless of the reasons, I continued to watch. I had plans of my own of course but throwing indiscriminate rabble at Zenom wouldn’t change anything. The others wouldn’t know, but Zenom wasn’t a man who was moved by words alone. For a man like him, only actions spoke louder..

“Lock, we were planning to leave this place too. Weren’t we?” Kyrian chimed in. “Are you going to say anything?”

“No.” I answered, “Not yet, atleast.”

Aurora gave me a quizzical look but nodded, almost to herself. Stole made a frustrated sound.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Mr. Lock has a plan.” She reassured Stole.

“How the hell are we supposed to stay cooped up here for two weeks?!” The Elf from Delas’ party spoke out.

The only human in Arione and Clover’s party, a girl with Orange-hair, an Akka Xalud if I wasn’t mistaken, also spoke up. “You are a fool. This island is crawling with monsters. You’d have us just sit here and waste it?”

A chorus of voices agreeing with the Scion spoke out, descending into an unintelligible mass of voices. Cecilia winced, shying away from the noise.

“Is there an issue?”

The voice carried, each word pronounced perfectly and the pitch a standard tenor, striking through the noise.

The Bishop approached us, followed by his two masked guards.

Briefly, I fingered my new sword, [Snow Scream], and wondered how strong those two guards were.

Because by the end of all this, I’d have to kill them too.

It wasn’t anything that I had taken seriously until I got to this island. Perhaps because I knew there was a huge gap between myself, Zenom and these bodyguards as well. It was like running a race –you don’t even entertain the possibility of winning until you’re near the finish line with no one running ahead of you. In the same way, I had an inkling, almost like a sixth sense, where I wondered exactly how much ahead these guys were.

That told me they weren’t too far ahead.

I could catch up.

I looked at my Party, each of them calm –unlike the rest of the crowd. I could sense the trust they had in me. Skaris looked bored while Kyrian buried his nose in his book. Aurora and Stole whispered softly to each other.

We would catch up.

I turned my attention back to the scene.

“It was on my orders that Sir Saintred has ordered the adventurers to remain here.” The Bishop’s wrinkled face looked at Delas with disdain, gaze briefly running over the non-humans in his party. “Who will protect the camp if we are attacked?”

“There is no danger of being attacked, and that’s what the auxilary forces are for.” Borealis stepped in, which surprised me. But he was an adventurer just like all of us. He too, didn’t want to waste this chance of getting stronger. “If we are to raise the chances of us succeeding on this mission-”

“We are not in control of our own Fate! We will succeed because the Light, Flame and Shield wants us to! Not because of the efforts of… of you all!” Once again, his eyes rolled over the non-humans in the group.

“I get it now.” Kyrian muttered.

I raised an eyebrow at him.

“He wants to keep Zenom’s forces weak.” He said, looking at me. “He wants to steal the mission, right from underneath his nose.”

“Truly?” Skaris suddenly looked sharp. “Issss thisss human politicssss?”

Kyrian sighed. “Actually, I wouldn’t be surprised if he has already sent word ahead of the fleet, with a group of adventurers ready to replace us at the Trader’s League.”

“Mr. Lock… did you know this?”

I finally shrugged. “I suspected.”

“Then I presume that your plan accounts for this variability?” Aurora asked.

I grunted. “We’ll see.” Then we turned our attention back to the Bishop.

“I have heard about the evil curse on this island. That the curse attacks your mind, breeding anger from all the dark things. No doubt, the work of monsters!” The Bishop continued. “Surely, with a less disciplined mind, you will all fall prey!” He shook his head dramatically. “It is for your own good.”

“We can fix that easily with the fruit.” Clover turned to Arione. “It staves off effects of the Special Field.”

The Bishop turned to Clover, somehow angry that this was an era where a female Beastman could speak back to him without being whipped. “Do you not have a mind, Beast Child? Think! If we spare fruits for the adventurers, then we won’t have enough for the Sailors! Do you mean to spend this time furthering your own goals when we could use the time to repair the ships quicker?! Do not forget why we are here!”

His thundering voice quieted the crowd.

I watched everyone’s faces. Especially the non-humans. Open disdain was the majority but the others? They had faces full of dejectedness. Rejection and hopelessness.

There’s something you have to understand. Beastman were slaves in this world but it doesn’t end there. At one point or another, every single non-human race was subject to either genocide or oppression by the Turinan Empires. This version of MSS might be in the future but it wasn’t necessarily far enough so that those racial memories were forgotten. If anything, I’d say it was stronger because there was something that made them so desperate.

Hope.

The beastman tasted freedom. The Dwarves felt what it was like to have their home and the Elves experienced what it was like to have a non-aggression treaty with the humans. The orcs formed vast hordes, threatening the Turina Empire with military might –something that none of the other races had managed yet.

These children of slaves grew up, being fed with dreams of freedom. Of adventurer –that they could send golds and riches back to their parents. Their parents who worked in the sewers, cleaning waste and living day to day at the beck and call of humans. Because let’s admit it, what were recently freed slaves going to do? Hit oil?

No, instead being slaves through force, they became slaves through economic means.

And here were the offsprings of those times, trying to make a different life for themselves.

And once more, they were at the mercy of a human.

“Fuck this.” Delas whispered, kicking at the ground. But there wasn’t any fight left in his voice.

The Bishop smiled and turned. “If that’s all-”

“I have a suggestion.” I said quietly.

And as one, everyone turned to look at me.

I don’t like being the center of attention. I never did.

Especially with eyes that seemed to think that I could do something. That if it was me, I’d surely get us out of this trouble. I knew for a fact that Arione’s party didn’t like me, but that orange-haired Scion Girl was staring at me with shining eyes. Lety was smiling faintly too and the list didn’t end there.

Borealis’ party had the same expression –especially Dorocian and Gurran. Delas’ party too. Every single face, even fucking Zenom and Cecilia, was looking at me like they had been waiting for me to say something.

The bishop narrowed his eyes, glancing over my neck where my slave-scars were.

“You may speak.” He said.

Those three words sounded like he was giving me permission to speak. It brought me to a time when I was enslaved by the Orcs and I think I sympathized more with the non-humans than I thought. How did I know? Because I wanted to wring his skinny little neck.

But I reigned in my temper. I had a goal and anger was an unnecessary distraction.

I think I saw Arrosh nod to himself.

“We don’t have enough fruit to last for the whole of the trip. Let us go out and gather more.” I gestured to the adventurers. “Unless you’re planning to send out the sailors.”

“The priests and Holy Knight will take care of it.” The Bishop replied without missing a beat.

Of course, my suggestion was too easy.

“You mean they’ll be giving themselves Blessings to stave off the effects of the curse to search for fruits?” I asked.

“Sir Saintred has informed me that-”

I interrupted him with a laugh.

He frowned.

God, it felt good to annoy him.

“Sir Saintred is not a good example for this.” I waved in Zenom’s general direction. “He’s strong. The other priests aren’t at his level. But even them, Zenom wasn’t of much help in the fight against the Grade-5 Myung-sa when it came to, because he was channeling his Blessing. It was a distraction. In an island like this, eating the fruit and forgetting about the effect is vastly superior to a Priests’ blessing.”

“You dare-”

“I’m simply saying it’s impossible to repair the ships on time because we’re going to run out of fruit.” I took a step closer, ignoring one of his bodyguards stiffening and the other loosening up. I walked free of the crowd, so that I was close enough to Zenom, Cecilia and the Bishop. “Then you’re going to order us adventurers to go out and get more fruits anyways. But by then, we’ll have run out of fruits so we’ll be going in there exposed to the Island’s curse.”

I smiled at him, watching my reflection in his eyes. “It’s better now for the adventurers to go out, take a fruit each, and come back with more fruits. That way, the adventurers can hunt and still replenish our stock of fruits.”

The Bishop looked at me, then turned to Cecilia.

She bowed her head. “His words are correct. We were going to inform you during dinner, there is just enough stock of fruit to last us for the next 5 days. But the repairs will take at least one more week.”

The Bishop turned to me this time, eyes flat. Then the corner of his lips curled up. “Despite your humble upbringing, you have a penchant for problem-solving. The Light bless you, Child. Still, before I give my blessings on this endeavor of yours, I have but one question.”

“How do I know that you, the one who speaks for all the adventurers, has the strength necessary to do such a thing? That you won’t fall victim to the dark beasts that haunt this island?” He paused for effect before continuing. Show off. “How strong are you, to suggest such things, Child? If you can satisfy me, I will listen to your strategem.”

There were many things I could’ve said. After all, everyone knew about my knowledge of monsters. Everyone knew how I led the advance party and found the fruit. I could talk about the random attack on the ship in the beginning of this quest, or even the fact that I could use [Aura].

While I was thinking of what to say, my mouth moved first.

“How strong?” I pointed at his bodyguards.

“I think… just strong enough to go through your bodyguards and kill you.”

He opened his mouth, trying to say something but no words came out. Eyes becoming the size of saucers, his body frozen like a statue, he took a step back involuntarily.

It wasn’t just him.

Even with my enhanced [Hearing] stat, I didn’t hear a single person breathe.

Finally, the two bodyguards leapt into motion, standing in front of the Bishop. They both drew their weapons, aura flickering between their blades.

I gave him my best smile, ignoring the guards. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

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