Another World Reincarnation Chronicle

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At Lupen’s Port, numerous ships were docked.

From large trade vessels to fishing boats heading out to catch fish.

There were truly a variety of ships, but naturally, the one that caught the eye was the luxurious cruise ship flaunting its impressive appearance.

Of course, I couldn’t board that ship. Its destination was not the Karma Empire.

I was able to gather various pieces of information from the sailors.

One ship bound for the Karma Empire was scheduled to depart today, and if I missed that ship, I would have to wait an entire week to catch another.

Naturally, I set out to find the captain of the ship departing today.

He was holed up in some tavern, and as I approached, he welcomed me as if he recognized me.

“Ah, aren’t you the Ogre Slayer!”

With exaggerated gestures and a loud voice, the attention of the tavern turned toward me.

Most looked on with curiosity.

“Ogre Slayer?”

I frowned at those words.

Ogre Slayer, huh? It wasn’t I who put an end to the ogre, but rather a knight named Lycan.

Just as I was about to refute that remark, the captain began to hum a strange rhythm and sang:

“Oh, Seris, the small and beautiful wizard, if you provoke her wrath, your heart will freeze in the cold chill~”

It seemed he was making up a song as he went along.

The sailors around began to tap their glasses and tables in rhythm with his humming.

I crossed my arms, watching quietly, wondering how far he would go.

The captain burst into boisterous laughter at my demeanor and continued the song.

In the song, I was a proud wizard of the mage tower, locked in an unusual bond with an unnamed knight.

Yet the song showed no sign of ending.

Sighing, I spoke to him.

“How long will you keep this up?”

“Ah? Was it not fun? I’m sorry then.”

The captain chuckled lightly and calmly sat down.

His demeanor was in stark contrast to the lively singing from before.

The surrounding crowd was still pouring out nonsensical songs, making his calm feel out of place.

“Well, did you come looking to board the ship?”

“How did you know?”

“If a stranger seeks out the ship’s captain, there’s only one reason.”

“Um, yeah. I came looking to board the ship.”

Hearing that, the captain beamed and jumped up from his seat.

He stood up so suddenly that the chair he was sitting on tipped over.

He donned a triangular hat that had been folded on the table and said to me,

“With a noble guest in sight, we shall have a smooth sailing. Are you ready to embark on a long journey?”

“Is there anything I need to bring?”

“Of course! Do you really believe you can just cross that rough sea without preparation?”

The captain informed me of the items needed for the month-long journey.

He mentioned personal food and drinking water, spare clothes, and advised particularly to bring preserved foods rich in fresh fruits and similar nutrients.

He even cautioned me that ignoring his advice could lead to a terrifying disease that could result in death.

In other words, if I didn’t want to contract scurvy, I should ensure I had enough vitamins.

Though I felt a bit uneasy since I had been drinking before the voyage, he definitely had a solid knowledge of sailing.

I followed his advice and gathered the necessary items.

However, a problem arose. I couldn’t carry the heavy ogre leather and the items I would need for a month all by myself.

Using mana to enhance my body could allow me to make a few rounds between the inn and the ship, but it’s terrible to waste mana like that.

When money increases, spending tends to loosen.

I went out onto the street and handed a few sturdy-looking men some money, asking them to move my items to the ship.

They readily agreed to my request, and thankfully, there were no ill-intentioned people trying to run off.

Arriving at the large trade ship with the porters, I approached the captain to ask about the fees.

But he laughed heartily and refused to take any money.

“Money? No thanks. A mad captain wouldn’t charge a mage for a ride. Just come to aid with magic when need arises.”

“What kind of help are we talking about?”

“Like when we encounter pirates, or when the sea god gets angry, whipping up a fierce storm!”

I wasn’t sure about the storm, but I could likely lend a hand if we ran into pirates.

I nodded in agreement.

With that, my boarding was fully decided, and the captain joyously extended his hand for a shake.

His big, rough hand reeked of alcohol, so I hid both of mine behind my back.

“Indeed. Just as the rumors said.”

The captain didn’t seem bothered; he merely nodded, saying I was just like the wizards in the tales.

My belongings were moved to a small room. It was separate from the crew’s quarters, and when I asked the captain, he explained it was a room reserved for special guests.

Inside the small room stood a bed, a chair, and a table barely big enough to fit a single bag.

With my items piled up in that room, it felt cramped.

The captain introduced me as a wizard to the sailors who were busy moving my belongings.

Of course, some sailors raised their eyebrows in skepticism.

“Is this really a wizard?”

“Oh, definitely! This person is, of course, speaking on behalf of the lord’s knight. You think it’s a lie?”

“But… they’re not wearing a robe like other wizards…”

Before I could respond, the captain answered for me.

His face turned red as he unleashed a torrent of insults at his crew.

It was hard to tell whether he was angry or just tipsy, but either way, it didn’t change the fact that he defended me.

“Yes, a wizard.”

Anyone who can use magic is indeed a wizard.

I lightly raised my hand. The starlight mana whirlpooling in my heart rushed forth, flowing from my hand and creating a gentle breeze.

The faint wind carried subtle starlight, undulating like the Milky Way in the night sky.

From the sailors’ and captain’s reactions, I could tell how it looked.

“What is this…”

With this direct display of magic, I hoped their doubts would be resolved.

I scattered the faint breeze and smiled lightly.

“See? I’m a wizard, right?”

“Ah, yes…”

The sailors nodded blankly, as if their souls had been snatched away.

Time passed, and when the sun sat high above, the ship unfurled its sails and lifted anchor.

The large ship pushed forward without a hitch, creating tiny waves behind it.

Standing at the ship’s bow, I gazed at the receding port city.

It had been a short time, yet so much had happened there. Had I not met Rain, I wouldn’t have even felt the power of mana, nor would I have faced the ogre.

I didn’t believe in fate, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I would meet her again.

Remembering Rain’s faint smile, I chuckled lightly.

The meeting of the line of the sky and the line of the sea is called the horizon.

And now, as the ship left the land, it was surrounded entirely by the horizon.

No matter where I looked—east, west, south, or north—only a vast, green world existed.

A liberating feel with no obstructions in sight.

The cold sea breeze brushed past my skin like a blade, but even that felt pleasant.

Amidst my tousled brown hair danced faint traces of gold.

It was a sign that the dye had begun to wash out.

I closed my eyes and felt the mana around me.

The broad and calm mana resembled the blue sea and possessed an exceptionally soothing quality.

As I concentrated on feeling the mana, the surrounding sounds faded away.

It felt as though I was sinking into a sea made of mana.

The quietly flowing mana began to form a new circle.

It was the completion of my third mana circle.

*

On the seventh day of the voyage.

I was out on the deck, enjoying the breeze as usual when suddenly the bright sky darkened.

The properties of the mana around me began to shift dramatically in response.

“Huh…”

At the sudden phenomenon, the captain sprinted out to gaze up at the sky.

The clear blue sky was overshadowed by thick black clouds, looking as if it might rain any second.

“This looks like it might rain…”

The captain remarked that the movement of the winds felt ominous and commanded the sails to be lowered.

Following his command, the crew hurried to prepare for the approaching storm, but the anticipated storm never came.

The change began with the sea.

Crack— crackle—!

From deep beneath the sea, a massive mana thrashed about, freezing the seawater almost instantly.

The ice spread rapidly. As if foreshadowing a sinister storm, the usual swell of the sea froze solid, halting the ship’s movement.

I looked over at the captain.

Not just me. All the sailors aboard were looking at the captain.

Surely, with his long years at sea, he would have the knowledge to overcome this dire situation.

However, contrary to expectations, the captain was left speechless.

I asked him:

“Is this perhaps the sea god’s wrath?”

“… It could be.”

“Has the sea freezing over happened often?”

“There’s no way that could be the case.”

“So what should we do now?”

The captain fell silent at my question.

His expression conveyed confusion, as though he had never experienced the sea freezing before.

The captain called the crew together, quickly working to assess the situation.

He decided to step off the ship and peer beyond the ice.

He first threw a heavy object to test if the ice was safe, and even when he hurled a hefty log, the ice didn’t break.

Having confirmed that it was safe, the crew began to disembark one by one.

I followed suit, stepping onto the frozen pathway of the sea.

The hardness and cold chill were palpable. This was real ice, not an illusion or a fake.

Moreover, beneath the ice, I could see fish frozen stiff in their swimming positions.