Chapter 36
After several months, Ethan returned to State Island.
Compared to his last visit, the changes in him were drastic. The once frail fisherman boy had transformed into a mage apprentice, someone who had begun to grasp the mysterious forces of magic. His new equipment ensured that he could travel the Sea of Tranquility freely, no longer needing to constantly fear for his safety.
"So, this is State Island?"
Arthur stood on the ship's poop deck, looking out at the bustling port in curiosity. Behind him, Ethan was negotiating with the port's staff about docking and other formalities.
This time, Ethan had arrived with two ships. One was slightly smaller, and he planned to sell it back to the Adventurers Guild. The larger ship, which had once belonged to Angus, would be repaired and refurbished for his own use. He had already decided to rename it The Goddess of Dawn and register it under his name.
"This time, let's make it something that lasts a bit longer," Ethan muttered to himself.
Unlike his last fleeting visit, he knew he'd be staying on State Island for quite some time.
There was much to do. The cargo on the ship needed to be unloaded, sorted, and sold, which alone would take days. The larger ship, meanwhile, needed a thorough inspection and repairs. Ethan wasn't even sure how long Angus had used it without proper maintenance. The condition of the hull made it clear that it had been neglected for far too long.
He couldn't afford to risk sailing a poorly maintained ship. Out on the open sea, even minor problems could quickly turn fatal. Ethan decided he would spare no expense and have the vessel undergo a complete overhaul.
"And make sure the old name is removed," Ethan added to himself.
"Do you already have a new name in mind? And where should it be engraved?" asked one of the staff.
Ship names were usually engraved onto a removable wooden board and then affixed to a designated spot on the ship. This made it easier to change the name without damaging the hull itself.
State Island's shipyard handled all the shipbuilding, repairs, and maintenance work in the Sea of Calm. It was a monopoly, but one with a fair reputation. The prices were reasonable, and their craftsmanship was excellent—unsurprising, given that nearly every ship in the region was built there. Adventurers often lacked the skills to maintain their vessels themselves, making the shipyard indispensable.
As soon as Ethan's docking was cleared, the shipyard sent a young man in his twenties to meet him. The man, Margo, would oversee the inspection, confirm Ethan's requirements, and ensure everything was recorded properly to avoid disputes later.
Ethan appreciated the professionalism. "Seems like this shipyard actually knows how to do business," he thought.
"The name will be Goddess of Dawn," Ethan said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Engrave it on the stern. Oh, and there's one more thing."
Margo tilted his head slightly, waiting for Ethan to continue.
"I want a figurehead added to the bow," Ethan said. "A statue of a praying goddess."
Margo blinked in surprise. His expression, previously neutral and businesslike, finally shifted.
"Figureheads are purely decorative," Margo said cautiously. "Most people don't bother installing them anymore, and they do add to the cost."
"I know," Ethan replied with a faint smile. "But I still want one. Can it be done?"
Margo hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, of course. We can arrange it."
While figureheads had fallen out of fashion, they were still an option for those willing to pay. For most sailors, they were an unnecessary expense with no practical purpose, but Ethan had his own reasons.
For him, the figurehead wasn't just for decoration. Over the past few months, Ethan had learned and practiced a great deal at sea. Now, he wanted to take his experiments to the next level.
His plan was to inscribe magic circles onto the figurehead, turning it into a conduit for magical energy. If successful, it could grant his ship unique abilities—essentially transforming it into a magical warship. The figurehead was a test, a relatively safe component to experiment on without risking damage to the hull.
If the experiment worked, it would be a game-changer.
As Ethan explained his request, Margo couldn't hide his curiosity. For a shipbuilder, such a task was unusual, and he couldn't help but wonder why Ethan wanted something so specific. Still, it wasn't his place to question a paying customer.
"Understood," Margo said, pulling out a notebook to record the details. "Anything else you'd like to add?"
"Not at the moment," Ethan replied.
As Margo jotted everything down, he glanced again at Ethan, his initial routine demeanor now replaced by genuine interest. A ship with a custom figurehead, especially one as elaborate as this wasn't something he dealt with every day.
Margo couldn't help but feel a little surprised when he saw the ship—The Mad Dog of Angus. The vessel had a reputation on State Island, and as part of the shipyard responsible for maintaining nearly every vessel in this sea, Margo had seen it multiple times before.
Of course, while the Mad Dog was known, its reputation wasn't exactly stellar. To people like Margo, who were familiar with the sea's bigger players, the ship was merely average. It wasn't shocking to hear that Angus had met his end, whether due to bad luck, crossing the wrong person, or simply overestimating his strength.
But what intrigued Margo was the fact that this young man, Ethan, not only intended to keep the Mad Dog for himself but also planned extensive renovations. It was clear that Ethan wasn't just strong; he also had considerable resources at his disposal.
"Is there anything else besides the bow figurehead and routine maintenance?" Margo asked, his professional curiosity piqued.
He glanced around the ship. Though it bore the scars of battle, the damage was superficial and didn't require major repairs. Still, Margo saw an opportunity. If this young man had the funds, why not offer additional upgrades?
"What kind of modifications do you offer?" Ethan asked.
Margo's face brightened at the question. "Oh, there's quite a lot we can do," he replied enthusiastically. "I won't be able to list everything here, but if you're interested, I recommend visiting the shipyard in person. We have a detailed catalog, and we can even show you samples of the modifications. That'll give you a better understanding of what's possible."
Ethan was surprised by the shipyard's level of service but nodded in agreement. "I'll stop by after the cargo is unloaded."
Satisfied, Margo made a note in his ledger. Since Ethan was willing to visit the shipyard, there was no need to linger. For now, all he needed to do was record the necessary details and wait for the ship to be brought in after the unloading was completed.
"Well then, Ethan of the Dawn, I'll take my leave now."
"Goodbye," Ethan replied.
As Margo departed, Ethan returned to overseeing the unloading process. The workers hired by the port administrator had already begun moving the cargo—ore from the ship's hold—onto ox carts. Watching the workers, Ethan learned something new.
The ore he'd recovered was a type of raw ore containing multiple metals, including iron and copper. Though it wasn't rare, it was highly in demand. Even the islanders who didn't sail relied on a steady supply of these metals for daily needs, ensuring the ore's value remained high.
"If we unload all of this, we won't have to worry about money or supplies for quite some time," Ethan mused.
The ore was so valuable, in fact, that even the shipyard was willing to accept it as payment for repairs and modifications. While the total cost of the renovations depended on what Ethan ultimately decided to do, he was confident the ore would more than cover it.
"Are we sending all of it to the guild?" Arthur asked.
"Yes. It'll be stored there for now," Ethan confirmed.
The Adventurers Guild had already sent a representative to oversee the transaction. Such a large amount of ore naturally drew their attention.
"Do you want larger accommodations this time?" the guild clerk asked. He was a shrewd man and knew that someone bringing in this much material deserved extra attention.
"As long as it's close to the guild," Ethan replied. "By the way, does the guild have a place where people can train?"
"There's a public training ground," the clerk answered. "It's free to use, but it's a shared space, so it can get crowded. Sometimes, unpleasant encounters happen."
The warning was vague but clear enough. Ethan nodded. "That's fine. Just make sure our accommodations are close to the training ground."
"Understood."
The guild representative's job wasn't just to arrange lodging. He also recorded all of Ethan's property under his name and ensured it was logged in the guild's database. This allowed Ethan to use his stored assets to access guild services, purchase supplies, and trade for items he needed.
While the Sea of Calm's guild still relied on barter rather than currency, it was far more convenient than carrying everything personally.
"I'm glad I joined the guild," Ethan thought. The advantages were undeniable. Without the guild's resources, he would've spent far more time and effort managing his materials.
The more wealth an adventurer contributed to the guild, the more benefits they received. The clerk even explained some of the perks Ethan could now access: priority information, new ship availability, rescue assistance in emergencies, and basic materials to help recover from bankruptcy.
"The more you bring to the guild, the better the treatment you'll get," the clerk added with a smile.
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "That includes information on the Sea of Storms and what lies beyond?"
The clerk's expression shifted slightly, and he leaned in, lowering his voice. "Yes. That's something you can access through the guild as well."
Ethan's interest was immediately piqued. He'd planned to gather information during his stay, but this revelation made things significantly easier.
"Interesting," he murmured. "I wasn't expecting such a well-timed opportunity."
Still, a question lingered in Ethan's mind. Why were the clerks so eager to share these details with him? This wasn't the first time he'd noticed a guild representative subtly feeding him useful information.
"What's their angle?" Ethan wondered. "Are they just being helpful, or is there something they want from me?"
Unable to puzzle it out, Ethan set the thought aside for now. By the time the unloading was finished, the ore and remaining supplies had been handed over to the guild for storage or sale. The leftover food and water were used to pay the laborers, and anything surplus was converted into longer-lasting goods and added to Ethan's account.
With everything handled, Ethan and Arthur headed to their assigned room for some much-needed rest.
"We'll check the guild's archives tomorrow," Ethan said after a quick shower.
Arthur nodded, and the two settled in for the night. As Ethan sat cross-legged on the floor, practicing his mental control, a wry smile crossed his face.
"I didn't expect Merlin to leave me another challenge, even in something like this."
Chapter 37
--
Before Arthur arrived in this world, Merlin had given him a collection of items, an assortment of oddities that seemed to lack rhyme or reason. Without guidance, they were a puzzle waiting to be solved.
If it hadn't been for the frustration caused by Keno's escape, Ethan might not have thought to finally sift through those items. And without that effort, he wouldn't have discovered something hidden among the collection: a small, seemingly insignificant piece of metal that turned out to be exactly what they needed to solve Arthur's language problem.
The talisman was so ordinary in appearance that it was easy to overlook amidst the clutter. Yet its function was extraordinary, it could transfer knowledge from one person's mind to another. Essentially, it was a tool version of the magic Merlin had once used to instill language into Ethan.
On the surface, it seemed simple: activate the talisman, and Arthur would instantly learn a new language. But things were never that easy.
The talisman wasn't a standalone device. It was merely an auxiliary tool, designed to stabilize the casting process. The actual magic still required a mage's direct control, and in this case, that responsibility fell squarely on Ethan's shoulders.
"So, it's more of a safety net than a shortcut," Ethan muttered as he inspected the talisman.
With his current level of mental strength and magical control, casting such a spell was challenging. The talisman wouldn't do the work for him but would ensure any mistakes he made wouldn't harm either him or Arthur—a safeguard, not a solution.
"Another test from Merlin," Ethan sighed.
It was clear now that this was part of Merlin's design. First, Ethan had to recognize the talisman's importance among the countless trinkets. Then, he needed to rely on his own magical ability to make it work. If he succeeded, not only would they solve Arthur's language problem, but Ethan's own magical skills would improve significantly.
"It's just like the training regimen in the Book of Inheritance," Ethan realized.
The book's mental exercises operated on a similar principle: presenting Ethan with reachable but progressively challenging goals. Each time he succeeded, he grew stronger, and the incremental victories kept him motivated. This approach ensured he never grew complacent or overwhelmed.
"Merlin and this book must be in cahoots," Ethan muttered with a wry grin.
This time, the goal was clear. If he could master this spell using the talisman, not only would Arthur gain fluency in the local language, but Ethan would gain a valuable new tool for future use.
The spell itself wasn't overly complex in principle, but its potential applications were vast. As Ethan traveled to different planes, encountering countless languages, the spell would allow him to bypass communication barriers with ease.
"It could be the perfect solution," Ethan thought. "I'll make a 'language pack' spell and hand one out to any new recruits. Problem solved."
It took him most of the morning to fully understand the talisman. By noon, he had unraveled the mechanisms behind it and had begun practicing the accompanying spell. By the time evening rolled around, Ethan was still hard at work, his determination unwavering.
When he finally called Arthur over for dinner, his progress was noticeable but far from complete.
After they ate, the two decided to check out the guild's training ground. Ethan had envisioned something well-equipped, with various tools and sections for different types of practice. Instead, they found a barren expanse—a giant open space with no divisions, no equipment, and no real infrastructure.
"That's… underwhelming," Ethan said flatly.
The guild didn't provide weights, weapons, or even training dummies. If adventurers wanted to train, they had to bring their own gear. The field was simply a public area for exercising.
Arthur shared his disappointment, but neither lingered on it. After a brief and routine session, they left the training ground, finding little reason to stay.
Their next stop was the guild's reference room. Ethan spent the rest of the day combing through archives and documents while Arthur practiced basic language skills. The young knight worked hard, diligently memorizing vocabulary and pronunciation, but the process proved grueling.
Learning a completely new language isn't easy, especially one so different from your own. After half a month, Ethan had successfully mastered a small spell called "Knowledge Sharing." Meanwhile, Arthur was still struggling, miserably relying on a handful of hastily scribbled notes with basic vocabulary.
Arthur was smart, and his memory wasn't bad, but because he didn't train mental power like a mage, his memory was far from photographic. Just memorizing the pronunciation and common vocabulary of a new language had driven him nearly insane. After a few attempts, he barely scraped by. And that wasn't even counting the challenge of proper pronunciation. In the end, Arthur gave up and simply waited for Ethan to perfect the spell.
Finally, the day came when Ethan told him they could try it, and Arthur breathed a long sigh of relief.
"Not being able to speak was honestly torture."
Ethan couldn't help but laugh at that. To avoid raising suspicion, Arthur had pretended to be mute this whole time. Whenever there were other people around, he had to suppress the urge to speak to Ethan.
The Sea of Calm only had one common language, and while there were slight differences in accents, they didn't affect comprehension. Arthur's situation, however, was completely unprecedented. If he suddenly started speaking but didn't understand the world's language, people might grow suspicious. If they dug deeper, Ethan's biggest secret could come to light.
To stay safe, Arthur claimed he'd recently injured his throat and couldn't speak. Pretending to be mute wasn't ideal, but it was a necessary precaution since it wouldn't be long before communication would become possible.
Today, however, those miserable days were finally coming to an end.
"Don't celebrate too soon," Ethan warned. "My control over the spell might not be perfect yet. There's still a chance it could fail."
Arthur's smile was radiant. "I believe in you! You'll succeed."
But in Ethan's eyes, Arthur's optimism was almost blinding, like sunlight so harsh it might burn.
"Alright then, I'll make sure to succeed!" Ethan declared, somewhat exasperated.
Oddly enough, it suddenly didn't seem so intimidating anymore.
Avoiding Arthur's overly enthusiastic gaze, Ethan focused all his attention on mobilizing his mental power to cast the spell. This particular spell didn't require mana but instead relied solely on precise mental energy. However, manipulating mental power directly came with significant risks. Any mistake could cause irreversible damage to both the caster and the recipient. The process required extreme precision, like performing delicate surgery, with no room for error.
Thankfully, the amulet provided by Merlin acted as a safeguard. If Ethan made any mistakes, the spell would be halted immediately, and his mental energy would be "returned" in a relatively gentle manner.
As for Arthur, he was even safer. Once the spell succeeded, the amulet would record the knowledge and transfer it directly to Arthur without complications. Essentially, as long as Ethan succeeded in casting the spell, Arthur had nothing to worry about.
Ethan's brows furrowed as sweat began to bead on his forehead. Arthur, sensing that the critical moment had arrived, held his breath. He didn't dare make a sound, afraid of distracting Ethan while he concentrated.
But if Arthur had been able to read Ethan's thoughts at that moment, he would've likely drawn his sword on the spot, demanded a duel, and taught Ethan a proper lesson.
"Huh? This is easier than I expected."
"Everything's going so smoothly… Have my mental control abilities improved?" Ethan mused as he stared at the glowing amulet in his hand, momentarily lost in thought.
"Maybe it's because Arthur and I discovered the amulet a bit late? After all, we didn't check our inventory immediately after arriving at the Sea of Tranquility, and we were drifting for quite a while."
Unable to come to any solid conclusions, Ethan looked up and saw Arthur anxiously watching him. He smiled brightly. "It worked. The rest is simple from here."
Arthur let out a deep sigh of relief. His days of pretending to be mute were finally over.
As Ethan promised, the rest of the process was straightforward. He managed to transfer the language knowledge to Arthur successfully. Ethan briefly considered passing on the other languages he knew, like English and Chinese, but the sight of Arthur rubbing his temples in a daze made him reconsider.
Arthur's mental strength was incredibly resilient, but he wasn't a mage. The difference in their mental capacities was vast. Receiving such a significant influx of new knowledge all at once was taxing, and Arthur needed time to process and adapt before they could try again. Overloading him could cause real harm.
"Well," Ethan said, "it looks like we'll need to wait a while before transferring another language to you."
Arthur, still slightly dizzy, nodded in understanding. He hadn't expected such serious side effects, and now he just wanted to rest.
"I think I need an early night," he muttered, bidding Ethan farewell before heading off to recover.
Ethan, however, wasn't ready to sleep just yet. With Arthur's language issue resolved, it was time to deal with his own priorities.
He turned his attention to the guild's database. Over the past few days, he had skimmed through its extensive directory and identified the information he wanted to study or record. Unfortunately, much of the content couldn't be removed from the premises and could only be accessed within the archive. With that in mind, Ethan planned to spend the night in the reference room.
"I'll bring the Book of Inheritance to copy anything important for future use," he decided. While his memory was exceptional, he wasn't at the level of elite mages who could recall every detail effortlessly. Occasionally, even he found himself struggling to remember specifics.
In simpler terms, his memory was just that of an ordinary person with some enhancements. To ensure he didn't overlook anything vital, recording key information in the Book of Inheritance was the safest option.
Just as he stepped out of the accommodation area, he overheard two middle-aged men standing nearby, their conversation immediately catching his attention.
"Did you hear? Hand of Fire Sean is dead. His name and his equipment have been passed on to Keno, his former first mate."
"Oh? Are you sure?"
"Word around the port is that an adventurer encountered the Flame Sovereign and had to sacrifice half his supplies just to escape."
"Damn. So even with a new owner, the Flame Sovereign is still as ruthless as ever."
"Exactly. Best to steer clear of the Flame Sovereign in the future. I hear he's been raiding adventurers returning from the sea lately in these waters."
"Really now..."
Chapter 38
As Ethan slowly walked away, the voices of the two men faded into the background, becoming barely audible.
Outwardly, he seemed indifferent, as though their conversation hadn't piqued his interest. Without hesitation, he moved on to focus on his own tasks.
But when he entered the reference room and sat down in front of the documents and records he'd planned to study, he found himself mulling over whether he should take the initiative to act.
"If I only stock food and water, the Caravel- sailboat will be at its fastest and most agile, making it hard for Keno to catch up in a sea chase," he thought.
However, after considering it further, he realized this strategy left him vulnerable to Keno's magic cannons. If his recently repaired and even remodeled ship sustained heavy damage, it would be a serious setback.
"Last time, they ran because they were out of ammunition," Ethan recalled. "But who's to say they haven't restocked by now?"
After weighing his options, he concluded that fighting on the open sea would still leave him at a disadvantage. Waiting until Keno and his crew came ashore would be a smarter approach. It would eliminate the threat of magic cannons and negate the lack of naval combat experience on his part.
"They can't stay at sea forever. Patience is key," he reminded himself.
A good hunter must know when to wait. Impatience only gives prey a chance to escape—or worse, to counterattack.
Repeating this mantra in his mind, Ethan forced himself to refocus. He took a deep breath and began sifting through the information in front of him. Soon, he was completely absorbed.
Through the data stored in the guild's archives, Ethan learned an interesting fact: the Sea of Tranquility was connected to another ocean on the far side of the Sea of Storms.
The existence of a "passage" through the Sea of Storms wasn't exactly a secret. However, for most adventurers in the Sea of Calm, navigating this passage was a daunting and dangerous challenge.
Stronger, more experienced adventurers with better ships—sometimes outfitted with advanced magical technology Ethan was only vaguely aware of—had managed to traverse the passage. While it was still risky for even the most seasoned sailors, it wasn't an insurmountable obstacle for them.
These elite adventurers, however, rarely returned to the Sea of Calm. The primary reason was its lack of resources. Compared to other regions, the Sea of Calm was barren, earning it the nickname "The Barren Sea" among more powerful adventurers. For them, it wasn't a place worth staying in. At best, it served as a training ground for rookies to learn basic navigation and survival skills.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Ethan felt his suspicions confirmed. The Sea of Calm really was a "beginner's zone." There was no point in trying to dominate it. His ultimate goal had to be breaking free of this sea and reaching the next one as soon as possible.
The guild, as it turned out, was even more expansive than he had expected. It wasn't just the central hub of life in the Sea of Tranquility; it also had a presence in the neighboring ocean.
A significant portion of the supplies collected by the guild in the Sea of Calm was transported to their stations in the next sea. There, these resources were exchanged for items more useful in this region—things like food, basic necessities, and low-grade magic stones.
High-quality magic stones, on the other hand, were incredibly rare in the Sea of Calm. A major reason for this scarcity was the guild itself, which collected these stones and shipped them out to the next sea. Few adventurers in this area had the wealth or power to hoard high-quality magic stones anyway. Most were more concerned with acquiring daily necessities. Food and water, in particular, were always in high demand.
Ethan reflected on his own situation. If not for the time-space pointer—a "cheat" of sorts—he would've struggled with the same issues. Learning the water-conjuring spell had been a game changer, solving the critical problem of drinking water. Even food, which could be sourced from the sea in emergencies, wasn't as essential as water.
Once again, Ethan realized just how fortunate he had been. Time and again, he had managed to acquire exactly what he needed most.
Unconsciously, his gaze shifted to his left hand.
"Once or twice might be luck," he murmured. "But three or four times? Maybe this isn't as random as I thought..."
This was proving difficult to navigate. With no new space-time energy to replenish his reserves, there was no way for Ethan to continue practicing.
After making sure no one else was around, he summoned the time-space Orb. He wasn't expecting anything extraordinary, certainly not to stumble upon new space-time energy in the middle of the night while still on the island. He'd mostly brought it out to pass the time.
But surprises always came when least expected.
"Space-time energy?" Ethan murmured, staring at the Orb, which clearly indicated a single direction. With a wry smile, he added, "I must've been overthinking it before. It's probably just dumb luck."
The discovery caught him completely off guard. Without hesitation, Ethan decided to leave the reference room. He'd already used the Book of Inheritance to copy the documents he needed, so there was no pressing reason to linger. Besides, the mysteries of space-time energy still eluded him. There was no pattern to their appearance—not in location, intensity, or timing. It all seemed utterly random.
Returning the documents to their proper places, Ethan left the archives.
By now, it was the dead of night.
The moon hung high in the sky, round and luminous, casting its pale glow over a nightscape dotted with countless stars. It was breathtakingly beautiful, like a scene painted by a master artist.
Unfortunately, Ethan wasn't in the mood to appreciate it. He fixed his gaze on the direction indicated by the pointer and began to follow it. After walking a short distance, he paused to double-check the pointer, ensuring he stayed on track while confirming no one was watching.
"I wonder if it's still on this island," he muttered to himself.
Based on the single arrow on the pointer, the energy wasn't far, but he couldn't rule out the possibility that it might be just beyond the island's borders, out at sea. If that were the case, tonight's search would be in vain.
His luck, however, seemed to hold steady. Ethan had barely left the guild archives—he hadn't even exited the guild complex—when the pointer led him straight to the space-time energy.
"There it is," he said, slightly surprised. "Doesn't seem like much this time."
Fortunately, Ethan no longer needed to absorb the energy on the spot, which had previously triggered the activation of the teleportation circle. Those moments had been both conspicuous and passive, forcing him into action.
But now, after some practice, his control had improved. He could absorb the energy into his body without immediately triggering the magic circle. Once absorbed, the energy concentrated within the intricate circle etched on the back of his left hand.
The magic circle began to faintly glow, a clear sign that it had been activated. While the energy didn't overwhelm his mental faculties, its presence was undeniable, like a tightly contained storm waiting to be unleashed.
Ethan studied the glowing circle and mused aloud, "The last time I trained with this, the energy was stable because most of it had already been spent during the initial teleportation. What remained was calm, making it easier to practice.
"But this new batch is much more volatile. The intensity is lower, and there's less of it, which is the only reason I've been able to suppress it. If it were stronger, I might've been teleported away against my will."
Satisfied that the energy was temporarily under control, Ethan decided not to strain himself further. Instead, he returned to the dormitory and knocked on Arthur's door.
He expected a delay. Arthur, after all, had been dizzy earlier due to the knowledge transfer spell, and most people would be in a deep sleep at this hour.
But to his surprise, Arthur appeared fully dressed and ready for action shortly after the knock. The young king stood before him, armed and alert, with not a trace of exhaustion on his face.
"You're quick," Ethan commented.
"If you're knocking on my door at this hour, something unexpected must've come up. When I rest, I keep all my gear within arm's reach. Makes things faster," Arthur replied.
Ethan nodded approvingly. Given their current circumstances, staying vigilant was a necessary habit.
"There's no need to rush," Ethan said. "Take a moment to double-check your gear and meet me in my room. We'll talk there."
Arthur shook his head. "No need. My equipment's packed. Everything I might need is in this bag." He gestured to a heavy backpack at his feet. "Let's go now. I'll have time to wash my face on the way."
Ethan couldn't help but smile at Arthur's preparedness. Together, they walked to his room. Once inside, Ethan locked the door and braced it with a chair for good measure. A fleeting thought crossed his mind that the setup seemed overly cautious but considering their situation, it wasn't entirely unwarranted.
Arthur, now fresh-faced after a quick rinse, stood with his backpack still slung over his shoulder, waiting for Ethan to explain.
"I found space-time energy on the island," Ethan began. "We might be looking at another plane trip."
As he spoke, Ethan raised his left hand, revealing the faintly glowing magic circle. Arthur immediately understood why he'd been called in the middle of the night.
"There's space-time energy on this island?" Arthur asked, intrigued.
"This is my first time finding it on land. I thought it only appeared at sea, but I guess it can manifest on floating islands too. Something to keep in mind for the future."
Arthur nodded thoughtfully. Given that Ethan had only experienced a handful of plane shifts, there was still much to learn about space-time energy and its quirks.
"Well then," Arthur said, his tone steady, "let's get to it."
Unlike Arthur, Ethan took a few moments to double-check his equipment before activating the magic circle.
As the teleportation began, the now-familiar brilliance of the magic circle enveloped them, though it felt less overwhelming than before. Ethan's growing control over the process ensured the release of space-time energy was more restrained, no longer like a blazing beacon in the dark.
When the light finally faded, Ethan and Arthur found themselves standing in an entirely new environment. However, the large, ominous sign in front of them immediately soured Ethan's mood:
"Welcome to Raccoon City!"
Chapter 39
Ethan stared at the signboard in front of him and felt a sudden urge to turn around and walk in the opposite direction.
"Raccoon City."
A name infamous to anyone familiar with Resident Evil. Whether directly or indirectly, it had appeared in nearly every entry in the series, synonymous with catastrophe.
Ethan frowned, considering the possibilities. The first question was: which version of the story had he stumbled into?
If it was the game version, Raccoon City should be a small town in the northwestern United States, not a sprawling city. In that timeline, Umbrella Corporation had established a secret research facility here that went undiscovered for years.
In this case, Ethan wasn't overly concerned about his or Arthur's safety. Despite the terrifying nature of biohazard outbreaks, they were usually contained within specific, manageable areas. As long as they avoided the immediate epicenter, the rest of the world would remain relatively safe and not all that different from the Earth Ethan had lived on in his past life, albeit slightly more advanced in technology.
The movie version, however, was a completely different beast. If this was that timeline, it wouldn't matter if Ethan and Arthur turned around and left immediately; the virus would inevitably spread and spiral into a global disaster.
Unfortunately, even if he wanted to escape, he couldn't. When they'd crossed into this plane, Ethan had strengthened his control over the energy, ensuring that it was stored safely within the magic circle on his left hand. The downside was that the energy was now locked, and Ethan couldn't trigger it again to send them back to the Sea of Calm, not until the energy stabilized. All he could do was ensure it didn't overflow or dissipate.
Ethan turned his gaze toward the city in the distance. The silhouettes of towering skyscrapers gleamed faintly in the moonlight. Their presence alone was enough to confirm which version of Raccoon City this was.
"I'm pretty sure the game version didn't have cities this advanced or so many skyscrapers," he muttered to himself.
Turning to Arthur, who was standing quietly nearby, Ethan's eyes caught on the gleaming armor the young king was wearing.
"We'll need to change clothes first," Ethan said.
"What?" Arthur looked confused. He understood that Ethan had the ability to travel between planes but was still unfamiliar with how prepared Ethan seemed to be for these journeys. "Is this world dangerous?"
Ethan hesitated. Explaining this fully would mean revealing secrets he hadn't shared with anyone, things he preferred to keep buried deep in his heart. Instead, he vaguely replied, "We're more likely to attract attention dressed like this."
"Then should we wear something simpler?" Arthur offered.
That question immediately gave Ethan a headache. The casual clothes he had with him were all of ancient designs, just as conspicuous as Arthur's armor. In a modern city like this, they'd stand out no matter what.
After thinking it over, Ethan sighed. "Forget it. Let's stick with the armor."
If anyone asked, they could simply pretend to be two teenagers heading to a comic convention. Such events were common in this world, particularly in this part of the world, rivaling those in Asia. With Ethan appearing to be under eighteen and Arthur looking around fourteen, it wouldn't be too strange for people to assume they were cosplayers.
The only issue was making sure no one got too close and realized their gear was the real deal.
"Where to now?" Arthur asked, his voice calm and focused.
"There," Ethan replied, pointing toward the edge of the city faintly visible in the distance. "That city is Raccoon City."
Just as they were about to head out, Ethan stopped and turned to Arthur. "How's your dizziness?"
Arthur shook his head. "Still there, but it won't affect me in a fight."
Hearing that, Ethan abandoned any thoughts of using the spell to teach Arthur English. For now, Arthur would just have to pretend to be mute. Feeling slightly dejected, Arthur followed Ethan as they began their trek toward the city.
Ethan knew they could leave the area entirely. Even if the Resident Evil crisis was inevitable and could escalate into a global disaster, it wouldn't happen overnight. The spread of the virus would take time. He could easily avoid the worst of it simply by staying away from the main outbreaks and departing this plane long before it reached apocalyptic levels.
But that wasn't why he traveled between planes. He didn't do this just to scavenge food or water. That would be a waste of his abilities.
No, the true purpose of his plane-hopping was to collect unique resources from each world and use them to grow stronger. The Resident Evil universe might be rooted in science fiction, but that didn't mean it lacked anything useful to him as a mage.
The viruses developed by Umbrella Corporation, for example, could be valuable raw materials in the hands of a mage. Ethan was particularly interested in the T-virus from the movie version, which had a small but real chance of significantly boosting spiritual power. How could he not be intrigued?
His only concern was whether the virus might taint or corrupt spiritual energy. Other side effects weren't as worrisome, his magical training in potion-making allowed him to extract specific traits from raw materials. He could isolate the mental power-boosting properties of the T-virus while discarding the undesirable ones.
At least, that was the theory. Whether it would actually work remained to be seen. First, he needed to acquire a sample of the virus. Second, he had to determine the current timeline to understand exactly what stage of the story he'd landed in.
From what Ethan could observe, Raccoon City was still functioning normally. The increasing number of cars and pedestrians confirmed that the Resident Evil crisis hadn't yet erupted.
"By the way, did Merlin prepare any gold or valuables for you when you left?" Ethan asked Arthur as they walked. They were in a functioning city, and surviving here would require money—especially since they needed food, clothing, and a place to stay.
"A little gold," Arthur replied.
Merlin had indeed been thoughtful. He had anticipated that copper and silver coins wouldn't hold much value in other worlds, so he had given Arthur some gold instead.
But even in this world, converting gold into usable currency turned out to be more troublesome than Ethan had expected. Regular stores wouldn't accept gold from two teenagers without proper identification, especially gold of unknown origin. Finding someone willing to buy it came with challenges.
After some searching, they located a few private shops willing to take the gold off their hands, though at terrible prices. The low offers made Ethan's stomach turn, but he sold it anyway. They urgently needed cash, and bargaining with profiteers wasn't a luxury they could afford right now.
Unsurprisingly, selling gold so openly attracted unwanted attention. Even after completing the sale, Ethan and Arthur were still carrying cash, which made them prime targets. Before long, a group of burly men surrounded them, clearly intent on robbing them.
The result was predictable. Ethan and Arthur didn't hesitate, and the fight was over quickly.
If not for Ethan's desire to avoid interactions with Raccoon Town's police, those men wouldn't have been let off so easily.
One unexpected benefit of the encounter was the handgun Ethan found on one of the thugs—a Beretta, fully loaded with fifteen rounds.
"As expected of the so-called 'Land of the Free,'" Ethan muttered, inspecting the weapon before putting it away.
The gun reminded him that this world had an abundance of firearms, many of which could be very useful to him. Back in the Sea of Tranquility, no one had the means to counter firearms. Collecting a few could significantly increase his combat options.
After dealing with the gangsters, Ethan and Arthur found a small hotel nearby. Without any form of ID, they had to pay extra to secure a room, which made Ethan realize a glaring issue: when entering modern worlds, establishing some form of identity would be essential in the future.
Over the next few days, Ethan focused on preparing for their stay. He bought modern clothing for himself and Arthur, as well as various conveniences this world offered.
Having lived in a world reminiscent of ancient times for years, Ethan found himself missing the practical luxuries of modern life. Every new item he came across sparked a desire to buy it and take it back to the Sea of Calm.
Of course, he knew this wasn't realistic. Many modern conveniences wouldn't work in the Sea of Calm, and consumables like toilet paper couldn't be stockpiled indefinitely.
He also spent time at Raccoon City's library, using the Book of Inheritance to copy vast amounts of modern knowledge. He focused particularly on books about navigation, ship design, and engineering—information that could prove invaluable back in his home world.
Initially, Ethan planned to visit the outskirts of the city at night to search for the mansion that served as the entrance to Umbrella Corporation's hive facility. However, as he was leaving the library one afternoon, a woman stopped him.
She had short brown hair, wore dark blue tactical pants tucked into black boots, and paired it with a simple blue T-shirt. Her face looked familiar, and after a moment of study, Ethan recognized her.
Jill Valentine.
The name clicked in his mind. Jill Valentine, a key member of the Raccoon City Police Department's elite Special Tactics and Rescue Service, STARS.
Ethan's impression of Jill was stronger from the games than the movies, which was why it took him a moment to identify her, she wasn't wearing the iconic skirt from the film adaptation.
"Raccoon Police, Jill Valentine," she introduced herself, holding up her badge before gesturing for Ethan to step aside for a private conversation.
"Alright, officer," Ethan said amiably, moving to the side. Once there, he glanced at her curiously. "Is there something you need?"
"You've been accused of causing bodily harm and theft," Jill said bluntly.
"Excuse me?" Ethan blinked. He had half-expected trouble stemming from selling the gold or using cash at the hotel without identification, but assault and theft?
The gangsters.
Ethan immediately thought of the men they had beaten up earlier. "Really…" he muttered, at a loss for words. Apparently, those thugs had decided to call the police out of spite.
Jill narrowed her eyes. "I'd suggest keeping your thoughts to yourself. It's easy to see from your expression that you're considering… alternative solutions."
Ethan looked back at her and shrugged. "I didn't say anything, and I haven't admitted to anything. You say someone's accused me. Are you here to arrest me?"
"No," Jill said, her expression serious. "I know exactly who those guys are. I want to know who you are."
Chapter 40
"Who am I?" Ethan repeated the question, pretending to consider it seriously for a moment. "My name is Ethan."
Jill continued to stare at him, clearly expecting more. Her expression made it evident that she wasn't going to let him off with such a simple answer.
After a brief pause, Ethan smirked and added, "I'm the savior of this world."
Jill's gaze changed almost instantly. Gone was the sharpness, replaced by a look of someone trying to humor a delusional fool.
"A savior?" she repeated, as if testing the absurdity of the word.
Ethan spread his hands nonchalantly. "You asked who I am, and I gave you an honest answer. Whether you believe it or not is up to you. If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way."
Without waiting for her reaction, he turned and walked off.
Those words weren't entirely nonsense. Ethan had long since set his sights on the T-virus hidden within the Hive. If his plans went smoothly, he might very well stop this world's apocalypse. Calling himself a savior wasn't completely unfounded.
As for whether Jill believed him? That wasn't his concern.
He didn't know her, after all. Any fondness he might have had for Jill came from the version of her character in the original games, not the movies. That faint affection wasn't enough to make him go out of his way for her.
--
The next few days passed uneventfully. Ethan continued to gather information, using every opportunity to deepen his understanding of this world. Once Arthur's dizziness subsided and his energy returned, Ethan used the Knowledge Sharing spell again to teach him English.
"This is awful," Arthur groaned, clutching his head. "Why do I have to go through this twice in such a short amount of time?"
Ethan shrugged, his expression helpless. "Because you don't want to be a permanent mute in this world."
In truth, Ethan himself was dissatisfied with the spell's current limitations. When Merlin had used it on him, his mental power had been no better than Arthur's now—perhaps even worse. Yet when Merlin cast the spell, it had been almost instantaneous, with no significant side effects or aftereffects.
In comparison, even with the talisman to assist him, Ethan's casting left Arthur dealing with lingering dizziness and fatigue. This discrepancy only highlighted how much Ethan still needed to refine his technique.
"Maybe I could alter the transmission process into a segmented system," Ethan mused aloud. "Instead of dumping everything in one go, the spell could transfer knowledge piece by piece. That way, it wouldn't overwhelm the recipient and could avoid these side effects."
Arthur nodded in agreement. "That sounds like a much better approach. Even though it would take longer, it's safer. If something happened now, my current state would absolutely affect my ability to fight."
"You're right," Ethan admitted. "It's a risk we can't afford."
Still, adjusting the spell would have to wait. For now, Ethan focused on his immediate goal: collecting resources and knowledge.
At the public library, he couldn't simply scan every book into the Book of Inheritance. That would have drawn too much attention. Instead, he used a subtler approach. He selected a few useful books each day, stacked them with the Book of Inheritance at the bottom, and let it quietly copy the contents over several hours. Though slower, this method avoided the conspicuous flashes of light and shadows that accompanied the spell's faster casting.
--
Ethan also visited a few gun shops around Raccoon City. True to its reputation as the "Land of the Free," firearms were displayed openly on counters and shelves, available for anyone to browse.
However, there were noticeable restrictions. Larger, more prominent stores carried only civilian-grade firearms, with no sign of automatic weapons. Their selection was limited to pistols, shotguns, and other basic firearms.
Ethan observed a few customers shopping for guns and quickly realized that buying through official channels was a hassle. It required a mountain of paperwork, proper identification, and going through a lengthy process.
On the surface, it seemed like this country was making a genuine effort to regulate firearms. But Ethan knew better.
Behind the scenes, private gun shops often sold "special items" to attract buyers, while mobile arms dealers operated with complete disregard for the law. These dealers would sell anything, no questions asked.
In short, the sheer abundance of firearms in this country was staggering, to the point of hopeless saturation. After observing for a while, Ethan realized he had an overwhelming number of options for collecting hot weapons. It was something he could plan more carefully once he was ready to leave this world.
"If I can't stop the spread of the bioweapon virus, I'll just stock up. If I can stop it, maybe I could... take advantage of the chaos? No, scratch that, there should already be plenty of weapons stored in the Hive."
Having gathered most of the information he needed, Ethan decided he wouldn't return to the library for now. If things went smoothly and he managed to prevent the bioweapon apocalypse, he could always come back and collect more information. But if the crisis couldn't be avoided, he'd have to move on to another city to survive.
Recently, he'd been keeping an eye on Alice, the protagonist of the movie series, and had discovered that she was already living with Spence, the first movie's main antagonist, under the guise of a married couple.
This discovery was a clear sign that the plot was about to begin. Ethan spent his nights staking out the mansion on the outskirts of Raccoon City, waiting for events to kick off.
If the timeline didn't progress as expected and he wanted to access the T-virus, his only option would be to force his way in. But that was far from ideal. Umbrella's security, combined with their modern defense systems, would make the Hive a fortress. Worse, reinforcements could arrive endlessly. Unless he wanted to sign his own death warrant, a frontal assault was out of the question.
"Hopefully, I won't have to wait too long," Ethan muttered.
--
Returning to his hotel, Ethan was surprised to see Jill waiting for him again.
Since their last encounter, where he'd made the bold claim of being the savior of the world, Ethan had assumed she'd written him off as a lunatic. When she didn't follow up in the days after, he figured she'd dropped the matter entirely. Yet here she was, standing in front of his door. The only explanation was that she had been investigating him.
And Jill had, indeed, been looking into Ethan.
Initially, her curiosity stemmed from hearing about a young man under twenty managing to take down a dozen gang members and allegedly "stealing" one of their guns. (The gang hadn't outright accused him of robbery, but the missing firearm was clear evidence.)
Jill even briefly considered recruiting Ethan into STARS. However, their conversation about saving the world had made her second-guess her instincts. He seemed... off.
The more Jill thought about it, the more suspicious Ethan became. She began a personal investigation into him.
What she uncovered only deepened her intrigue.
No matter how thoroughly she searched, it was as though Ethan had appeared out of nowhere. There were no records of him prior to his arrival in Raccoon City.
His outfit had also caught her attention, prompting her to investigate local and regional events. Were there any comic conventions nearby that might explain his strange attire? The answer was no.
Jill didn't believe a person could simply pop into existence, so she concluded that someone had deliberately erased Ethan's background.
That raised even more questions.
Why would anyone go to such lengths to cover up someone's past? What kind of person needed their entire history wiped clean?
Growing increasingly unsettled, Jill expanded her search. She tracked down security footage of Ethan entering Raccoon City, only to find that he had seemingly appeared out of thin air. There was no record of him traveling to the city; he had simply walked in one day.
The pattern was equally strange. Ethan sold gold of unknown origin for cash, checked into a cheap hotel that didn't require ID, and spent his days wandering the city. He spent half his time reading books at the library and the other half aimlessly walking. At night, he returned to his hotel without incident.
It seemed innocent enough on the surface. He acted like an ordinary traveler. But what kind of tourist spent hours buried in a library, day after day?
Unable to make sense of it, Jill decided her best shot at answers was to confront Ethan directly. As for his blond-haired companion, she hadn't seen the boy speak, so she assumed he wouldn't be a useful lead.
--
"Sergeant, we meet again," Ethan said as he approached his room.
"Just call me Jill," she replied, stepping in front of him to block his path. "I've been thinking about what you said before. I'm curious, can you tell me more about your plan to 'save the world'?"
Ethan raised an eyebrow. He doubted Jill actually believed he was some kind of savior. More likely, she suspected he was planning something illegal and wanted to stop him before it escalated.
Still, this could be... interesting.
He didn't intend to do anything harmful. In fact, if his plan worked, he really would save this world from disaster. Having a witness to his actions might even make it more satisfying. And if Jill documented everything, perhaps she'd be motivated to go after Umbrella's surviving leaders once he dealt with the Hive.
"Are you really interested?" Ethan asked, studying her carefully.
"Yes," Jill replied, her tone a little too eager. Her exaggerated curiosity reminded Ethan of a child fawning over a celebrity.
Ethan smirked. "I have to say, your acting could use some work. It's a good thing you're a cop and not an actress—you wouldn't last long in Hollywood."
Waving for her to follow, he added, "If you really want to know, come along. It's not like this is some big secret. I actually need a witness."
"A witness?" Jill asked, falling into step behind him. Her eyes darted around the hall, taking in the surroundings with a professional wariness. "What are you trying to prove?"
Ethan opened the door to his room, gesturing for Jill to enter before closing it behind them.
"Prove that I saved the world."
...
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