Chapter 1039

‘I’ve seen a kraken a few times before, but….’

Raon let out a heavy breath as he looked at the kraken hidden beneath the brown sand.

‘This is the biggest one I’ve ever seen.’

He had seen krakens before when he was on Aris’s ship hunting Mad Dragon Kaibar, and when he stayed in Montiro to destroy the Black Tower.

The krakens he saw back then were also large enough to easily destroy a Galleon, and they were still just monsters.

‘But this one is different.’

The kraken now in his sight was so far beyond the norm that it could carry a city on its back.

‘And it has Blood Energy too.’

The kraken possessed not only the terrifying power and speed produced by its massive body, but also a chilling, sinister Blood Energy.

He wouldn’t be able to face that thing easily in the sea.

– “Moreover, it’s using stealth.”

Wrath frowned, saying that even with his Grand Master-level Aura Sense, it would be difficult to find the hidden kraken.

‘That’s not stealth. It’s a characteristic of octopuses.’

Raon shook his head as he looked at the brown sand.

– “Huh? Octopus characteristic?”

‘Octopuses have special pigments and muscles that let them change the color and texture of their skin to match their surroundings.’

The kraken hiding by blending into the sand wasn’t due to sorcery, but the octopus’s own ability.

– “Of course, it’s harder to find than a normal octopus.”

He could only see it by using the Azure Mind’s Eye, so it seemed to be erasing even the slightest traces by using the Mana and Spell of the sea.

[That’s a kraken….?]

Roenn swallowed hard, seemingly shocked by the kraken’s unimaginable size.

[Is that really a kraken? I’ve never seen one so big!]

Evelyn had seen many krakens, but she blinked blankly, saying she had never seen one of that size before.

[I don’t know if it was grown with sorcery or if it was born that way, but we shouldn’t think of it as a normal kraken.]

That thing wasn’t the kraken they knew, but a true monster from myth and legend.

[And that makes sense.]

The reason there were no sea monsters or fish in this valley, or from where Turtle Rock had disappeared, and the fact that the White Blood Cult’s main base was located beneath this underwater valley, could all be explained by the existence of that monster.

[This won’t be easy.]

Roenn bit his lip as he watched the sand tremble ever so slightly with the kraken’s breathing.

[I’m not even sure I can dodge the kraken’s tentacles.]

He groaned softly, saying he would have to use Aura to avoid the tentacles, which would reveal his location to the White Blood Cult.

[Me neither.]

Evelyn grabbed her wetsuit with her fingers and let out a short sigh.

[It’s impossible to break through that sorcery barrier without leaving a trace, even with magic.]

She lowered her eyebrows, saying the sorcery was so densely connected that it wasn’t easy to interpret.

Grrr.

The Spirit of the Sea trembled all over, seemingly afraid of the kraken. No—judging by its gaze, it seemed more afraid of the White Blood Lord inside the White Blood Cult’s main base than the kraken.

[Let’s retreat for now.]

Raon stroked the Spirit of the Sea’s back and turned his head.

[Already?]

Evelyn’s eyes widened in surprise. She seemed to want to stay and examine the sorcery and Formula further.

[If they’re guarding this thoroughly, they might notice our presence because of the fish we threw earlier. We’ve obtained important information, so it’s best to retreat now.]

He wanted to examine the surroundings a little more, but he didn’t know how the White Blood Cult would react, so it was right to pull back and observe the situation for now.

[I agree.]

Roenn nodded and raised his hand.

[I’ll take the lead again.]

He said they should move immediately and turned back the way they had come.

[Let’s go too.]

Raon grabbed Evelyn and followed Roenn up the sea valley.

[Can’t we come here every day?]

Evelyn’s purple eyes turned to him.

[It’s so nice to feel your body heat.]

She let out an excited breath, saying she wanted to be this close every moment.

[Today is the last day.]

Raon said he wouldn’t support her next time and gently pulled Evelyn away.

Whine.

The Spirit of the Sea seemed to have stopped trembling as it left the valley, and let out a thin breath with its legs draped over his shoulder.

[Good job.]

Raon smiled faintly and stroked the Spirit of the Sea’s head. He had already decided to retreat, so he didn’t linger and quickly moved back to the beach near the harbor.

“Hoo.”

Raon took off his wetsuit and swept back his wet hair.

“Is it already dawn?”

He was so tense about the existence of the White Blood Cult’s main base and the kraken that more time had passed than he thought.

“Ugh….”

Evelyn sat down on the sandy beach and squeezed her eyes shut.

“I didn’t know it would be hidden so deep. This won’t be easy.”

She frowned, saying it looked difficult to break through.

“Yes. It seems we’ll be detected no matter how we attack.”

Roenn nodded, shaking off his wetsuit.

“It’s impossible to assassinate anyone there without inside information.”

He scratched his forehead, saying he’d be caught before he could even enter the main base.

“Let’s call it a day for now.”

Raon clicked his tongue briefly and set the Spirit of the Sea—still clinging to his shoulder—down on the sand.

– “Hmm….”

Wrath stroked his chin and let out a deep sigh.

‘Why are you worried too….’

– “That thing looks delicious. It would be good grilled or boiled.”

He licked his lips, already thinking about eating the kraken.

“Haa….”

Raon let out a deep sigh and approached the Spirit of the Sea.

“It must have been scary. Thank you for coming with me.”

He stroked its head, expressing his gratitude.

Yip!

The Spirit of the Sea licked his hand as if to say it was fine. He could feel the cool seawater on his fingertips.

“Wait!”

Evelyn looked at him and raised her hand.

“What’s that child’s name?”

She asked, holding up the Spirit of the Sea as if shaking off the water.

“Name? I don’t know either.”

“What?”

Evelyn’s mouth fell open as if she couldn’t believe it.

“You treated it so roughly and you don’t even know its name?”

“Rough? When did I treat it roughly….”

“It was rough! That trembling child guided you to that dangerous place, and you don’t even know its name….”

She glared at him as if wondering how he could do that.

“Well, there was no time to ask, and it’s not a Spirit I contracted with, so….”

“Contract? Are you heartless? That’s so mean!”

Evelyn hugged the Spirit of the Sea tightly, saying she was disappointed.

“No, I mean….”

– “Now that I hear it, it is a bit much.”

This time, Wrath interrupted him.

– “This king agrees with the Madwoman.”

He muttered that he hadn’t thought about it at all and was now blaming him.

“Hehehe!”

Roenn chuckled as he tidied up his wetsuit.

“Everyone else is completely under Raon’s control, but Evelyn is the opposite.”

He nodded grandly, saying it was an interesting relationship.

“That’s right. It’s a special relationship!”

Evelyn murmured that he was right and smiled brightly.

“Not at all.”

Raon shook his head firmly and looked at the Spirit of the Sea in Evelyn’s arms.

“Do you have a name, by any chance?”

Yip?

The Spirit of the Sea shook its head as if it didn’t have one.

“Then….”

Raon nodded as he looked at the Spirit whose mane changed color depending on the sea.

“How about Haerang? It means sea wolf.”

Awooo!

Haerang seemed to like the name. It lifted its head like a real wolf and let out a cute cry.

Awooo! Awooo! Awooo!

As Haerang howled three times in a row, a blue light bloomed from its body and its cotton-like fur grew a little longer. Now it looked like a fluffy puppy rather than a wolf.

However, unlike its appearance, the sea energy blooming from inside Haerang’s body had become astonishingly dense. It felt like a shallow sea had become a deep sea.

“What is it?”

Raon let out a puff of air as he looked at Haerang, who was crying happily.

‘It changed this much just by receiving a name?’

He was surprised that it had grown so much just from receiving a name, even though he hadn’t made a contract with it.

“It seems it’s not an ordinary Spirit.”

Evelyn stroked Haerang’s softer fur and narrowed her eyes.

“Well, someone like the White Blood Lord wouldn’t use an ordinary Spirit.”

She nodded, saying it wasn’t ordinary just from enduring the White Blood Lord’s Blood Energy.

“Haerang. I’ll come back tonight, so please help me again.”

Raon told it to rest and set Haerang down by the sea.

Awooo!

Haerang narrowed its eyes and nodded, as if happy to have a name.

“You’re going again tonight?”

Roenn widened his eyes as if to say it was all right.

“Yes. I need to investigate thoroughly. Because it will increase the chances of defeating the White Blood Cult even a little.”

Raon said it was obvious and raised his hand.

“You’re right.”

Roenn smiled gently, as if he had the same thought but couldn’t say it rashly.

“I have a lot to check on the Formula side too. However….”

Evelyn smacked her lips, saying she wanted to interpret the Formula protecting the White Blood Cult.

“How about going not tonight, but in two days?”

“Two days? I don’t mind, but why?”

Raon tilted his head, asking the reason.

“This….”

Evelyn raised her finger and pointed to the wetsuit she was wearing.

“I’m going to improve it a bit.”

===

Knock knock.

While the Tenth Apostle was working, a knock came from the door of his office.

“Come in.”

At his permission, a blonde woman in a white robe opened the door and entered.

“What’s the matter?”

The Tenth Apostle asked without taking his eyes off the documents in his hands.

“Something was caught in the kraken’s barrier a little while ago.”

The blonde woman bowed her head, saying there had been movement from the kraken.

“….An intruder?”

The Tenth Apostle crumpled the documents and raised his eyes.

“No. According to the guards, it was a dead fish. It seems to have been swept in by the current.”

The blonde woman shook her head, saying it definitely wasn’t an intruder.

“Normally, we would have just let it pass, but security is strengthened now, so….”

She bowed again, apologizing for bothering him with something trivial.

“Do fish come around here often?”

The Tenth Apostle unfolded the crumpled documents and lowered his eyebrows.

“They sometimes come in with the current, but it’s rare.”

The blonde woman lowered her voice, saying it happened very rarely.

“……”

The Tenth Apostle narrowed his eyes at the blonde woman.

“For now, give instructions to strengthen security further….”

“No.”

He stopped her and stood up.

“I’ll take a look myself for a few days.”

The Tenth Apostle said he would stand guard himself and observe the situation, then headed toward the door.

“Yes? There’s no need to go that far….”

The blonde woman widened her eyes in surprise.

“No. This is the right thing to do.”

The Tenth Apostle shook his head firmly.

“Now that the Ninth Apostle is dead and the Blood Spirit Ship has been destroyed, Zieghart or the Five Kings might be moving.”

He said it was right for him to check personally, opened the door, and left.

‘The Great Work of that person is not far away….’

The Tenth Apostle clenched his fist as he looked at the main base’s sky, covered in hazy mist.

‘We must not miss even one rat.’

He bit his lip deeply and headed to the outpost where he could observe the outside.

===

“Here!”

Evelyn held out a wetsuit, shining with a deeper blue, before entering the sea.

“What is this?”

Raon blinked as he looked at the new wetsuit she was handing him.

“I added Invisibility magic to the wetsuit.”

“Huh?”

Raon examined the wetsuit Evelyn gave him and let out a puff of air.

“You said before that Invisibility magic was too heavy to use.”

“I improved it.”

“In that short amount of time?”

“I got a hint from the kraken.”

Evelyn smiled brightly, saying she used magic similar to the kraken’s camouflage.

“It’s not perfect Invisibility magic, but you won’t be visible beyond a certain distance in the sea.”

She waved her finger, saying it wouldn’t be easy to find unless a Transcendent was looking directly at it.

“That’s amazing.”

“It is amazing! Magic is always a discipline that creates something from nothing.”

Evelyn straightened her back and lifted her nose, pleased with his compliment.

“Thank you.”

“What are we to each other!”

She waved her hand, saying there was no need to thank her.

“Then let’s go.”

“Hehehe. I understand.”

Roenn patted his shoulder once, as if he liked the new wetsuit, and entered the sea.

Awooo!

As Raon and Evelyn followed him into the sea, Haerang shot out like a marlin, as if it had been waiting for them. It seemed even more energetic after receiving its name and growing.

Yip.

Haerang wagged its tail as if to guide them and moved through the sea.

“Let’s go.”

Raon smiled faintly and followed Haerang back down to the valley where the White Blood Cult was located.

‘I get a bad feeling about this place every time I come here.’

The subtle Blood Energy—difficult even for a Grand Master to notice—was dissolved into the sea, making him feel dirty just by touching the water.

‘Fortunately, they haven’t moved.’

The kraken and the White Blood Cult’s main base remained in place, as if they didn’t know he’d been there two days ago.

‘I need to get a little closer and take a look today…. Um?’

He was about to move with a little more leeway because he’d been there once, but he stopped and clenched his fist to signal Evelyn and Roenn to stop.

‘I can feel someone’s gaze.’

He wasn’t being watched directly, but he could feel a powerful expert scanning the area.

‘Wrath. You feel it too, right?’

– “Of course.”

Wrath nodded as if wondering why he was even asking.

– “It’s not the octopus today….”

He raised his hand and pointed toward the White Blood Cult’s main base.

– “There’s someone inside there watching this place.”

Wrath frowned, saying he was sure.

‘It’s a gaze I didn’t feel two days ago. Then….’

Raon frowned as he looked at the White Blood Cult’s main base.

‘That means they found out about the fish that entered the barrier.’

It seemed security had been tightened because the fish he’d thrown two days ago had been caught.

‘That’s fortunate.’

If he could feel the gaze from this far away, it meant the person was a considerable expert. If Evelyn hadn’t cast Invisibility magic onto their wetsuits, their location would have been revealed immediately.

‘Security is harsher than I thought. Whoever it is, a cold-blooded Apostle is in charge of the defense.’

Judging by the fact that they were strengthening security even with Spell, barriers, and the monster called a kraken protecting the area, it was clear that a cold-blooded Apostle was overseeing defense.

[What’s wrong?]

[Someone is watching this area right now.]

Raon explained the situation to Roenn and Evelyn and said they would have to examine the main base from a greater distance than before.

[As expected, the Five Demons live up to their name.]

Roenn let out a puff of air, saying they were impressive.

[It doesn’t matter as long as we haven’t been completely exposed.]

Evelyn waved her hand, saying she could read the Sorcery and Formula even from this distance.

‘Fortunately….’

Raon nodded as he looked at the subtly glowing White Blood Cult’s main base.

‘We haven’t been caught.’

If their identities had been exposed, the White Blood Lord or the Apostles would have appeared immediately. The fact that security had tightened and a gaze that hadn’t existed before had appeared meant they were still in the stage of suspicion.

‘Then what I have to do is….’

Just gather information.

Raon circled at the closest distance he could safely approach and focused only on how to break through the main base’s defenses.

[……]

Roenn and Evelyn also stared at the White Blood Cult’s main base and the kraken hidden beneath it with serious eyes, as if thinking through what they could do.

[Let’s go back now.]

As he felt dawn approaching, Raon gestured for Roenn and Evelyn to leave.

[Okay!]

[I understand.]

The two nodded as if they had completed their reconnaissance and followed him out of the sea.

“Haa….”

Raon took off his wetsuit and let out a heavy sigh.

“I’ve gathered the information, but I don’t know what to do with it.”

Returning to Zieghart and delivering the information wasn’t difficult, but how to attack the White Blood Cult’s main base still eluded him. Even if it wasn’t the deep sea, it was located deep within the ocean, and breaking through an impregnable fortress protected by Sorcery and a Kraken seemed impossible.

“I feel the same way…”

Roenn furrowed his brow deeply.

“No matter how much I think about it, I can’t see a way.”

He shook his head, saying that even infiltration was difficult, let alone assassination.

Splash.

As Raon smacked his lips, watching Roenn frown—a rare sight—Evelyn and Haerang finally emerged from the sea.

“Thanks, Evelyn. We would have been caught immediately if it weren’t for you.”

Raon extended his hand, saying that he was able to avoid the White Blood Cult’s detection thanks to Evelyn’s improved Wet suit.

“……”

However, unlike usual, she didn’t rush to him but just stared blankly at the sea.

“It might work?”

Evelyn nodded, saying that something might work.

“What do you mean?”

Raon approached Evelyn with wide eyes.

“Attacking the White Blood Cult’s main base…”

Evelyn raised a slender finger and smiled.

“I think it might be possible.”

“Re-really? How?”

Raon’s eyes widened, as he hadn’t even considered it.

“As I said before…”

Evelyn pointed to the Wet suit she had given him today and smiled brightly.

“Magic is the study of creating something from nothing, after all.”

(T/N: I wont be surprised if gramps pushes Evelyn and Raon together lol )