Mermen

Charles paid no heed to the words from behind him.

He took it as nothing more than the barking of a defeated dog.

In another half month at most, he would advance to a Third-Rank Wizard Apprentice. Then he could move straight into the upper cabins.

Foolish child.

Besides, they were all weaklings. There were even bootlickers among them. He would be safer on his own.

After entering the deep-sea region, the waves grew even larger. Even though the ship was big enough, it began to sway more violently.

During this time, practically everyone could only remain trapped in their rooms, listening to the raging wind and waves outside.

Charles had originally thought that, by staying on guard like this, they would be able to cross this stretch of sea.

But starting from the second day, security aboard the ship became much stricter. During meals in the dining hall, knights even appeared and had everyone collect dry rations.

For the next few days, they were to avoid leaving their rooms whenever possible. If they could stay inside, they were to stay inside.

Even an idiot could tell that something was wrong now.

After collecting his rations and water, Charles hurried back to his room.

Looking at the things in his room, he planned to start barricading the door with miscellaneous items tonight.

But before he could begin, there was a knock at the door.

Charles never took off his light armor. At the sound of the knock, he immediately drew his dagger and asked coldly, "Who is it?"

Molly stood outside. She carefully glanced around, and only after making sure no one had noticed her did she whisper, "It's me. Can you open the door?"

Charles recognized Molly's voice, but his vigilance did not lessen. He asked, "At a dangerous time like this, why aren't you staying in your room? What are you doing here?"

Molly said softly, "I don't feel safe in my own room. I want to team up with you. Is that okay?"

Without even thinking, Charles said, "No!"

"And didn't you already join a team?"

Molly hurriedly explained, "I... I don't think they're reliable."

"Charles, I still think I'll be safer with you. I can help too."

Charles still refused. "No. I don't want to team up with you. Go back now."

Molly had been rejected again, and she felt indignant. But for the sake of her own safety, she still said in a low voice, "I'm willing to pay. If we safely cross this stretch of sea, I'll buy you a bottle of Mental Power Potion."

"Really?"

Charles immediately opened the door, startling Molly badly.

Gritting her teeth, Molly said, "Really!"

Charles looked Molly over. "When will you give me the potion... no, when are you moving in?"

Molly snorted, then pushed Charles aside and looked around. Only after seeing nothing disgusting did she say, "Of course, I'll give it to you after we safely cross this stretch of sea."

Upon hearing that, Charles grabbed Molly by the collar with one hand and started hauling her outside. "Then you can leave. I'm still safer by myself."

Molly immediately struggled, wrapping both arms around Charles's arm. "Don't, don't!"

"Then what do you want?"

"What if you take the potion and I still end up in danger?"

Feeling two soft masses pressing against his arm, Charles raised an eyebrow.

Molly really was well-endowed!

Since there was an advantage to be had, Charles was in no hurry to throw her out. He said, "How about this? Give me Magic Stones worth half the price as a deposit. Once we've crossed this stretch of sea, you can give me the other half."

"I don't want the potion anymore. Magic Stones will do."

Molly gritted her teeth, but ultimately nodded and agreed to Charles's terms.

Not long after, she carried her luggage and sneaked into Charles's room. She was also wearing a set of ill-fitting leather armor.

After Charles closed the door, he asked, "No matter how I look at it, you don't seem like the sort of person who carries armor in her luggage. Where did you get that armor?"

Molly lifted her chin. "That's none of your business."

"Here's your deposit. Make sure you protect me properly from now on!"

Charles accepted the five Magic Stones with a broad grin, not caring about Molly's attitude in the slightest.

Seeing Molly about to spread her things over the bed, Charles quickly stopped her. "Hold it. What are you doing? Planning to sleep with me?"

Molly looked at him disdainfully. "You wish. Of course I'm sleeping on the bed, and you're sleeping on the floor."

As she spoke, she puffed out her chest and declared righteously, "If we were sleeping together, would I still have to give you Magic Stones?"

Charles stared hard at her chest twice before saying, "Even if we sleep together, you still have to pay what you owe."

"With my looks and physique, if I went out to sleep with someone, wouldn't that woman have to give me some Magic Stones?"

"Stop talking nonsense. I'm sleeping in the bed. I need to make sure I get enough rest and preserve my strength. Otherwise, if danger comes, are you going to take the lead?"

After hearing that, Molly was so angry that she panted heavily. But in the end, she roughly took her things off the bed and obediently made herself a bed on the floor.

Charles put away the Magic Stones, then used the miscellaneous items in the room to barricade the door.

Over the next two days, he did not even practice the Knight Breathing Technique, all to keep himself in peak condition.

Just when Molly began to feel that she had wasted her money, a voice suddenly rang out from the upper cabins of the ship:

"Everyone, listen up! Hide in your rooms and do not make a sound! Take out your weapons and prepare for battle!"

"Mermen are attacking!"

Molly and Charles, who had both been asleep, instantly woke up at those words.

In the dim room, with the doors and windows sealed shut, Charles and Molly looked at each other, but neither could see a thing.

Charles slowly rose to his feet while Molly took deep breaths.

Charles first lit a candle, greatly startling Molly. She hurriedly lowered her voice and said, "W-what are you doing?! Won't lighting a candle expose us?!"

Charles pointed at the bed. "Get up there."

Molly was shocked. "At a time like this, you're still thinking about that!?"

A dark expression crossed Charles's face as he snapped viciously, "The Mermen are attacking. Darkness barely affects them, but it affects our ability to fight."

"And get your mind straight. Take a piece of cloth and stuff it in your mouth. I don't want you screaming from fright later and exposing our location!"

Molly was badly startled by Charles and quickly covered her mouth.

Ignoring Molly's resistance, Charles directly pulled out a strip of cloth and gagged her.

By candlelight, Charles drew his knight's sword and sat in a chair with both hands resting on its hilt, quietly watching the door.

Molly leaned against the cabin wall, covering her mouth and not daring to make a single sound.

"You insolent Mermen! You dare attack a wizard ship? You're courting death!"

A wizard's roar came from above, accompanied by the explosions of spells. Every explosion made Molly's body tremble on the bed.

Charles also rose to his feet and gripped his knight's sword tightly, ready for any threat that might appear.

Besides the explosions of spells, they could hear dense rustling sounds and even the gurgling cries of Mermen.