REFDL 94

11. The Ilba Archipelago

Before I left for the archipelago, I received a crash course on the Ilba Archipelago.

Nitan was a talented teacher. He only gave me the summary and precautions, but I perfectly remembered the information.

Overall, the area’s maritime resources were abundant. Some uninhabited islands even had raw stones or iron ore deposits. He said the reserves were quite high. In particular, the medicines gathered from the seabed and the dragon herbs that only grew on one specific island were worth whatever price the sellers asked.

They moved actively inland before the Sea of Trees cut off trade. After the sea route closed, they continued the sea merchants’ legacy by trading among the islands.

The islands that made up the region numbered over 300, including small and large uninhabited ones. More than 30 of them were inhabited. Usually, people used the name ‘Ilba Archipelago’ to refer to the twelve large islands that looked like ‘coastal cities’ plus one giant central island.

“The reason for the name Ilba Archipelago is that the Ilba family’s rule over those thirteen islands lasted for a long time.”

The structure was simple. The Ilba family’s direct line managed the central island, while the branch families ruled the other twelve.

Nitan added that the Ilba Lord’s influence and authority was strong even today because of that structure, despite the geographical distance between the islands.

“The terrain is perfect for a ruling [stolen content]power unrelated to the family to emerge, but they’ve held on. I’m curious about their secret.”

Nitan, the star instructor, emphasized three things.

Don’t cause trouble.

Don’t cause trouble.

Please, don’t cause trouble.

“……Ah, isn’t that too much?!”

How much trouble did I even cause!

Honestly, didn’t I just take the kids out for some fresh air during the Founding Festival? Besides, the kidnappers were at fault, not the person who got kidnapped. Where did he learn such rude behavior, blaming the victim?!

“It means you shouldn’t act immaturely. The place Lord Yuram is going isn’t Firmus.”

“I know.”

“When I heard you were going with just the two of you…ha.”

“…….”

Wait. Didn’t I just say that I know?

I gave him a sour look. Donon, who stood next to me like a piece of furniture, pushed a cookie toward me.

Wink.

He even winked with one eye.

Uh…sure. Thanks. I’m grateful, but…yeah.

“How about you form a formal delegation even now?”

“Then it becomes a ‘formal visit,’ and the procedures take longer. They’d have to prepare for a delegation, hold a welcome banquet, and write separate documents……”

In short, this visit was unofficial.

I don’t know how it’s different from burying one’s head in the sand, [Read on]but I had to follow since the higher-ups said so.

I counted on my fingers to estimate the time since Odan entered the dungeon and looked at Nitan.

“I don’t want to leave Odan in such a place for even one more day. Even now, I’m holding back the urge to break everything down and bring him out.”

“…….”

Nitan sighed but didn’t say anything else.

***

Assuming that we were going to the Ilba Archipelago via Rojuta (a terrestrial species, similar in appearance to a raptor, very fast runners and favored by messengers) and Aro, the trip would take fifteen days one way.

With the Pensilta and Aro combination, it would take six days.

Even if a Pensilta took the shortest route inland, we’d still have to spend three days on the sea in a boat pulled by an Aro.

But I’m different. Two days inland, one day at sea. I can reach the islands in three days total.

Nitan was worried and suggested I just take a boat from the port with Kaelus. He said if I fell into the sea because I pushed myself too hard, visit our sitethere wouldn’t be a more futile death.

[It’s fine. I can do it.]

It might be impossible for a Pensilta, but I’m different.

My agility, endurance, and all other abilities were superior to a Pensilta’s, just like my huge size.

Most of all, I was confident.

[I told you. I don’t want to leave Odan in such a place for long.]

“…….”

I insisted on my plan. Eventually, I crossed the inland in my original form and arrived at the port.

After I had a good night’s rest, I flew into the sky before dawn.

I saw the blue sky and nothing but water below. The vast landscape shown by the planet’s curved side stole my entire focus.

The sunset I met in the middle of the sea was fantastic.

It felt like God held a brush and paint. The sky was bright blue, then red spread through it, and then pink, purple, and indigo colors blended like exploding fireworks.

Without a ship.

Without anyone else.

We enjoyed this wonderful space alone as I flew.

The scene must have been quite impressive to Kaelus, as he gazed silently into the setting sun for a while.

Night fell.

I thought it would just be dark, but I was wrong.

God put down the paint and sat at a loom. A delicately woven fabric flowed endlessly along the sky. The sea reflected it like a mirror. Flickering starlight spread in dots over the water’s surface until it filled everything.

It felt as if the stars on the water’s surface were the world’s true owners.

[……Kaelus. Are you sleeping?]

“I’m not sleeping.”

[Then sleep. It’s okay to sleep.]

If I secured him tightly with an extra strap, it wasn’t impossible for him to sleep on my back. It would be slightly uncomfortable, but fatigue and sleepiness would make him forget that.

But Kaelus refused.

I almost felt sulky because I thought he didn’t trust me, but then Kaelus spoke again.

“That wouldn’t be polite.”

His thought was like a passenger who refuses to sleep next to a person who drives long distances.

Just sleep. No. Sleep. No. Sleep. No.

The rest of the night passed while we bickered like that. Ad dawn came again.

I didn’t feel tired even though I flew for a full day. I was a bit hungry, but I could ​unauthorized copy​still endure it. Instead, I wanted this moment to last a bit longer.

It felt like we were the only two people on this vast planet…

“…….”

[…….]

This atmosphere feels like deja vu……

How should I put it?

The air changed.

The atmosphere was soft and nostalgic just a moment ago, but it became subtle.

Naturally, the fake vessel problem came to my mind……

…I can’t speak up since I saw Kaelus’s disappointed face.

It became harder to reveal the truth because I missed the timing.

I suffered in silence.

I flapped my wings using my frustration as fuel. Perhaps that’s why the dark blue horizon ended earlier than I scheduled.

“We’ve arrived. Those islands are the Ilba Archipelago.”

Small islands appeared and disappeared under the clouds. I blinked because I thought I saw them wrong.

They’re…… much smaller than I thought.

They were small even if I considered our high altitude.

But the population density looked excessive. Hundreds of houses were stuck together like barnacles on one island with an area that could barely fit twelve households.

Houses covered every inch of the islands’ ground, except for the vertical mountain tops or cliffs.

The houses’ shapes became noticeably flimsy as they got closer to the islands’ edges. I saw houses with roofs precariously supported by two pillars on a cliff’s edge. Half of the buildings were abandoned houses that lost their function because they were half-submerged in water.

Maybe that’s why many people lived on boats.

This was also different from what I expected. When I heard the description, I thought it was a wealthy country where cold-hearted merchants lived.

Or was the gap between the rich and the poor just large?

I looked closely and saw that the houses in the islands’ centers were luxurious mansions.

I rolled my eyes and passed them with a quick glance.

The sight was interesting, but that was all. I had a much more important purpose.

I passed the outer islands.

The first island was exceptionally small, but the other islands weren’t much different.

The area was maybe one-sixth of Jeju Island’s size. The houses looked like barnacles, and the population density felt suffocating. However, the fact that the luxurious mansions gathered inside the islands was the same.

Kaelus was quiet while we passed the islands, but he finally noticed something strange and tilted his head.

“It’s strange. It’s different from what I saw on the map.”

[Huh?]

“I memorized the Ilba Archipelago’ major islands before I came here, just in case.”

[All of them?!]

I turned my head 180 degrees like an owl in shock. I did this a few times while I flew, and Kaelus was surprised every time. He frowned and gestured forward.

Ah. Right. I should focus on the path when I fly.

“I don’t know why you’re surprised. Isn’t that much natural? It was impossible to memorize the uninhabited islands, but there are only thirty inhabited islands.”

[…….]

Yeah. A person like you would become a Duke, a Knight Commander, and a war hero.

“Anyway, it’s completely different from the map’s details. The difference is severe, even if I account for errors.”

[How different is it?]

“I only barely recognized them by the islands’ arrangement. The land’s area is much narrower than the records say, and the coastlines don’t match.”

Uh. That’s a bit serious.