Multiversal Ascension-Chapter 61: Aboard the Ship

Mikael's reasoning was straightforward. Although the locals didn't provide a clear indicator of the sea beasts' strength, the Records had stated that the enemies could reach up to Peak Tier 1. He concluded that a sea beast measuring 10 meters long would likely fall within that range. Of course, he acknowledged the possibility of being wrong, but even if he underestimated their power, he wasn't afraid to face stronger opponents. Nevertheless, he resolved to remain cautious—after all, he now had someone to return to.

The group continued their walk while the middle-aged man introduced himself. He was the vice captain of the ship they would be protecting, Ruimis Cybuvius. He continued to provide additional information, though not as critical as the initial details. Mikael made sure to take note of everything, though. Soon, the group arrived at a port.

The port was unusually quiet, with only a small number of people present, each wearing a tense expression. Most of those around were dressed in similar sailor attire to the vice-captain, with flintlock muskets strapped to their backs. Despite the calm atmosphere, the sight of the large ships docked at the port was striking. Each vessel appeared durable and of exceptional quality, but one at the center commanded attention like no other.

This towering behemoth of wood and steel dominated the scene. Its reinforced hull gleamed faintly in the light, with iron bands interwoven with dark oak, giving it an aura of unmatched strength. Massive masts stretched high into the sky, their sails neatly furled, while intricate carvings of mythical beasts adorned its bow. The ship dwarfed its neighbors, casting long shadows over the smaller vessels, which seemed almost insignificant in comparison. It was the crown jewel of the port, a testament to power and craftsmanship.

Peeking through small, evenly spaced openings along the sides of the ship were rows of cannons, their dark barrels a silent testament to the vessel's formidable firepower. Multiple tiers of these weapons lined the ship, arranged in vertical rows that maximized their coverage and efficiency. These cannons, poised and ready for action, emphasized both the ship's defensive and offensive capabilities, imbuing it with the aura of an unassailable fortress upon the water.

The group approached the ship, which immediately drew the attention of the nearby sailors, who quickly recognized the vice-captain.

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One sailor stepped forward and saluted. "Welcome back, vice-captain... These are...?"

"They will be protecting the ship during this dangerous trip," Ruimis replied.

At his words, the sailor's expression turned uncertain, skepticism clearly etched on his face. After all, the only reliable means of protecting a ship were firearms and cannons, and even those were often insufficient against the ferocious sea beasts. The notion that these young adults, some clad in armor and other in weird clothes, could defend the vessel against such threats seemed highly improbable. Human strength alone appeared far too limited in the face of the sea beasts overwhelming ferocity.

Ruimis added, "All of them are sorcerers."

At his words, the sailor's eyes widened in fear. Eight sorcerers would be with them? If they were offended by his earlier doubt, they could curse him!

He profusely bowed, sweat trailing down his brow. "Sorry for doubting you, my lord and ladies."

The group waved it off; after all, he hadn't said anything, and no one in the group was a true young master who would take offense at a disbelieving look.

Seeing his reaction, Ruimis smiled and added, "Officer, I want you to pass the message to all the mates that these eight behind me are sorcerers and that they will be responsible for protecting us. I don't want any misconduct. Understood?" His tone became more serious.

The officer nodded and immediately left to carry out his task. The middle-aged man turned to answer the unasked question. "I said you are sorcerers. It's a rare profession in our world, one with a great deal of prestige. It will serve as your official identity with the common folk, as they don't know about the existence of the Akashic Records."

As they approached the ship, Mikael was able to fully appreciate its immense size. It towered above him; he estimated that it was at least 30-40 meters high, and as for its length, he couldn't be sure, but it appeared to be at least 150 meters long! This size was truly impressive, especially considering that, from what he had seen, the technological level of this world seemed to be around the 18th century.

At this moment, some sailors on top of the ship noticed them and lowered a retractable ladder. Mikael probably could have jumped the 30-40 meters to reach the ship, but it would have been difficult and would have required him to use the explosive style to boost his jumping power. Not wanting to deal with this hassle, he simply climbed the retractable ladder like the others.

Once onboard, the group saw a bustling environment, with sailors attending to their various tasks. Some were tending to the sails, while the majority were transporting crates marked with fragile signs. The group of nine attracted some attention, but with the vice captain among them, no one dared to bother them.

They soon approached the ship's helm, where a middle-aged man in the same sailor uniform, though of higher rank, with a captain's hat, was behind the wheel, occasionally giving orders. Noticing the group of eight oddly dressed individuals, the captain approached them, clearly curious.

"They are..." he began, but the vice captain answered the unspoken question.

"These lords and ladies are indeed from the Akashic Records," he replied.

The captain, having expected this, gave a small bow. "It's a pleasure to have you on our ship, my lord and ladies."

He politely asked, "Would it be possible for you to stay here for a few minutes while I gather the rest of the crew so I can introduce you to them and avoid any unnecessary problems?"

The group agreed.

Afterward, the captain's previously pleasant demeanor shifted. He walked toward the balustrade that overlooked the rest of the ship and, with a serious and authoritative tone, shouted, "Guys, come here!"

Hearing the captain's command, no one dared to delay, and soon the crew gathered below him. The crowd fell silent, waiting for him to speak. He waited a few moments longer for the latecomers to arrive.

When a significant portion of the crew had assembled, he began speaking loudly. "I have an important announcement! As you know, the journey ahead is extremely dangerous, which is why we have received some help." He made a hand gesture signaling the 'sorcerers' to step forward.

They advanced and became visible to the crew below. "These eight will be responsible for helping us protect the ship from attack," the captain continued. He quickly crushed any doubt. "All of them are powerful sorcerers, and because of them, the difficulty of this journey has been reduced. So, I expect you to be on your best behavior with them. Treat them like you would treat me. Understood?"

"Yes, Captain!" The crew responded in unison, more out of habit than true understanding. But as the seconds passed, their excitement grew. The journey, which had previously seemed almost hopeless, now felt much safer with eight sorcerers on their side. The tense atmosphere that had dominated earlier began to dissipate, replaced with a sense of relief. After all, who wouldn't be happy about an increased chance of survival?

The crew's once curious gazes toward the eight oddly dressed individuals were now filled with respect.

The captain, satisfied with the crew's response, said, "That will be all for now. You can return to your duties." At his command, the assembled crew began to disperse.

Turning to the group, the captain spoke again. "I want to thank you sincerely. For you, it's probably just another mission, but for us, it's the difference between life and death. If we were to make this trip alone, our chances of survival would be less than 50%. But with you here, we have a much higher chance of returning. For that, I'm truly grateful." He finished by giving a deep bow, which the vice captain beside him also mirrored.

Tristan stepped forward. "Don't worry. It's our duty to protect you."

"Yeah," the rest of the group agreed.

Mikael merely nodded with a "Hmm," observing the group. Using a mix of his observation skills and instincts, he concluded that Tristan wasn't as gentle as he seemed. He was simply playing a role to improve his image. While Mikael could have done the same, he found it too bothersome to bother with. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that it was a good strategy.

The two middle-aged men stayed in position for a few more seconds before they both stood up from their bows.

The captain continued, "We have prepared luxurious rooms especially for you, knowing you would come. If you would please follow me."

The group of ten descended from the helm to the main deck. The nearby sailors wanted to steal glances at the sorcerers but dared not and instead focused intently on their tasks.

The captain led them near the captain's quarters, where several unused cabins were located. "These ten cabins are unoccupied and the most luxurious aboard. You may choose whichever you like. We will remain in port for a couple of hours before departure, so you can rest during this time. Afterward we will count on you for the defense." With those words, the captain and vice-captain left.

Mikael chose a random cabin and stepped inside, prompting the other seven to follow suit, each selecting a cabin and entering.

The interior of the cabin was a luxurious bedroom, its furniture exuding an old-world charm that would have been considered antique on Earth but was regarded as modern in this world. A small bathroom adjoined the cabin, but Mikael paid it no mind. Without hesitation, he moved straight to the bed and began training his control.

'Five days of protecting this ship... I can't afford to waste all that time,' he thought. Training his control seemed like the best use of his time, so he focused on that.

Hours passed uneventfully as he practiced. His enhanced hearing picked up the sounds of sailors moving about on the deck. Eventually, the activity intensified, and he felt the ship begin to move.

At that moment, he stored his advanced control puzzle in his inventory and left the cabin. As he stepped out, he noticed other members of the group exiting their rooms, having also sensed the ship's motion. Mikael ignored them and made his way to the main deck, heading toward the helm where the captain stood.

The captain shot him a questioning look, but Mikael simply nodded and made his way to the rear of the ship. There, he positioned his arms on the railing of the quarterdeck. From this vantage point, he could see the ship's back, as well as its left and right sides, though the front remained out of view.

The ship was now steadily moving away from the port, which gradually shrank on the horizon. Mikael stayed vigilant for a possible sea beast attack but quickly realized a limitation even with his enhanced stats.

'I can see far and cover three sides of the ship, but spotting sea beasts underwater is a different challenge,' he mused. 'My vision lets me see several meters into the water's darkness, but it's impractical. I can't monitor all sides of the ship from this position.'

He sighed internally before concluding, 'When I return to the Dirarnia world, I need to prioritize my mage studies. Right now, I don't have any "detection" spells or anything similar. I'm essentially blind to when an attack might happen. Worse, if the ship gets damaged, I don't have any repair spells either.'

Determined not to remain completely helpless, he considered his options and devised an action plan.

He moved away from the railing and passed by the captain, who was occasionally giving orders while keeping an eye on Mikael from the corner of his eye. Of course, Mikael could feel the captain's gaze, but he ignored it and descended to the main deck.

Author Note:

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