The Three Musketeers

On the fourth floor of the tower, Ian sat cross-legged on the carpet, silently looking down at the little crystal vial in his hand. A drop of red liquid floated gently inside, radiating a faint spiritual aura. It was a drop of Lesser Life Water.

There was a drop of Lesser Life Water every three days. If nothing unexpected happened, the Life Well Pendant would produce a second drop tomorrow.

It wasn't particularly precious to Ian, and he had no use for it at the moment.

Ian couldn't help thinking of the wanted notice at the Bounty Hunter Guild. The Whaling Group was looking to buy a potion that could dispel curses. He guessed it might be for Lia.

The first time he'd seen Lia, he'd sensed that the black, twisted scar on her face was unusual. It constantly emanated an unpleasant aura of negative energy. Come to think of it, an ordinary scar wouldn't trouble an Extraordinary.

As far as Ian knew, the Seven Major Churches of the Righteous Gods were very good at dispelling curses of this kind. Was the Whaling Group going out of its way to avoid them because it had a poor relationship with the Church, or because it thought the price was too steep?

At first, Ian had planned to use the drop of Lesser Life Water and the warship as bargaining chips to invite her to join him.

But that would have been a lowbrow tactic, and it went against Ian's values. The idea had barely occurred to him before he dismissed it.

Although Lia had done a good job of shutting herself off, Ian thought she was a sentimental person. If he invited her while giving her the water outright, he might have a better chance of success.

Suddenly, a familiar rhythm came from the Spiritual World.

The corner of Ian's mouth lifted, and his resolve instantly firmed.

"I needn't explain myself to anyone for the way I live my life."

Having lived a second life, Ian just wanted to follow his heart.

It might sound childish, but Ian didn't want to live like he had in his previous life, agonizing over every little decision for fear of making people jealous or upsetting them and causing trouble.

The path to becoming strong would inevitably attract all kinds of attention.

Ian put the crystal vial in his bag, then let his consciousness sink into the Spiritual World.

A new "star" glittered in the void canopy that obscured the "sky."

It had arrived right on schedule.

As the "star" flew closer, a green card appeared in front of Ian.

Gray-green patterns adorned the card's edges. It depicted three musketeers in a triangular formation, eyes gleaming as they aimed their muskets ahead.

[Card: Three Musketeers]

Three Musketeers: Three Extraordinary Class Inheritance Scrolls: Musketeer.

Weapon: Spiritual Musket (soul-bound); cannot equip other Spiritual Equipment.

The Three Musketeers shared a spiritual connection, worked together seamlessly, and were skilled marksmen.

Requirements: Must not have taken another Extraordinary class.

Class Abilities: [Musket Mastery], [Balanced Steps], [Precision Intuition], [Calm Thinking], [Powder Master].

This was a new type of card that had never appeared before. Ian temporarily named it a Retainer Card.

Ian knew what a musketeer was. As long as someone had a musket, whether a Mana Pistol or an Alchemy Flintlock, they could call themselves a musketeer.

But that was more of a label than an Extraordinary class.

This [Three Musketeers] card clearly offered an Extraordinary class, and even came with a Spiritual Musket. It seemed to be a new kind of Extraordinary class that used muskets as its primary weapon. He just didn't know how strong it was.

It didn't mention its sequence number, or even explain how to improve one's strength.

Ian noticed that the requirement was "must not have taken another Extraordinary class." Did that mean ordinary people who hadn't awakened their spirituality could use it, too?!

If so, that was outrageous.

After all, in Aiolanga, awakening one's spirituality was a prerequisite for taking an Extraordinary class!

Ian excitedly paced back and forth on the fourth floor. This Fate Deck was getting more and more interesting.

The next day, just as dawn began to break, Milta hurried off to take care of the rigging.

After the last battle damaged the fifth floor of the tower, Ian had it patched up, but never furnished it. Now it served as his alchemy lab.

Ian stood on the observation deck, quietly watching Milta bustle around the warship by the shore, going in and out as he worked.

The two of them had breakfast after the tavern delivered it. Then Ian stopped Milta, who was about to clear away the dishes.

"Milta, do you want to become... Extraordinary?"

Milta looked up at Ian instinctively. Ian's expression was solemn.

Milta suddenly grew flustered and swallowed. "O-of course I do. I dream about it..."

Ian smiled slightly. "Then I'm giving you a chance!"

Ian reached out and clenched his right hand in the air before him. A card radiating a faint Shimmer appeared in his grasp.

"Of course, there's a price!"

Ian gazed at Milta's bewildered eyes.

"The price is everything you have! We're employer and employee right now. If you accept, we'll become master and retainer. You must be loyal to me for the rest of your life, until your dying breath!"

Before Ian had finished speaking, Milta dropped to his knees with a thud. His whole body trembling, he bowed and said in a shaking but resolute voice, "I'm willing!"

"Won't you think it over?"

Ian waved the card in his hand. "Once you accept, there's no turning back. Your life and death will be in my hands."

Milta felt as if electricity were coursing through him, and he could hardly control himself. How could he hesitate? An opportunity that would be beyond his reach even after several lifetimes was right in front of him. Milta couldn't help wondering if he was worthy—if he deserved Mr. Trist's regard!

"Milta! I'll be loyal to you forever—"

Ian pulled Milta to his feet. "Sit down and focus."

Ian flicked his right hand. The card turned into a streak of light, entered Milta's head, then quickly flew back out.

One of the Three Musketeers had vanished from the card.

Milta shuddered, shut his eyes, and toppled backward. His ragged breathing gradually settled, and his excitement gave way to calm.

At that moment, a tiny musket model quietly appeared on a branch beneath the canopy in Ian's Spiritual World.

Awakening one's spirituality and embarking on the path to the Extraordinary wasn't something that happened all at once.

Ian closed all the doors and windows and returned to the room downstairs. He couldn't leave for a while, just in case anything went wrong.

Near noon, the sound of hooves rang out beyond the tower entrance.

Ian smiled faintly as he meditated. He could sense a familiar spiritual fluctuation.

Lia had arrived.

On the first floor of the tower, the Enchanted Weapon Oil that had been brought down ahead of time was piled on the table. Lia and Ian sat across from each other.

After exchanging brief greetings, Lia began counting the Enchanted Weapon Oil. Then she placed a bag of magic coins on the table and pushed it toward Ian.

Ian had been staring intently at her ever since she entered.

Lia did her best to act as if nothing was wrong, but her exhausted expression and tormented eyes told Ian that something was troubling her.

Ian spoke first. "After this deal, our partnership is over."

Lia paused, but felt relieved. She had just been wondering how to tell him that their partnership was ending.

Ian continued, "I'm going out to sea."

Lia placed her hand on the table and looked out the window toward the distant sky. The day had finally come.

She felt disappointed, yet also somewhat relieved. It was probably for the best that he left. He could get away from this place of trouble and avoid being dragged into it.

Ian suddenly straightened up and gazed at Lia with a distant look. "Would you be willing to come with me?"

The abrupt invitation caught Lia completely off guard. She was utterly stunned!