While Shati prepared the meal and Zebeck fetched water, Scott and Azadin focused on strengthening Azadin by absorbing white magic from the copy of the Book of the Divine King.
It felt like trying to fill a leaky bag with water.
If the mana stored in the copy of the Book of the Divine King was properly channeled into Azadin's body, Beauty of Nature, Kazas Haeseo, would grow stronger as a whole. However, that mana would gradually dissipate over time, and the strength would eventually return to its original state.
Injecting white magic would temporarily enhance him, but as time passed, the effect would wear off. According to Scott, though, this repeated process would gradually strengthen Azadin's entire grimoire over time.
Then Scott made an unexpected suggestion.
"Honestly, Captain, in the long run, it might be better to use the white magic from the copy of the Book of the Divine King to erase your Kazas Haeseo altogether—that is, your incomplete grimoire, Beauty of Nature."
"What are you talking about?"
"You already have a natural affinity for magic. Your sensitivity to mana is excellent. With a proper grimoire, you could become a formidable mage."
"You mean if I remove the incomplete grimoire from my body, I'd be able to study magic properly?"
"Exactly."
"But I'd need a new grimoire, wouldn't I? The Book of the Divine King hasn't been deciphered yet. I can't use that. What about in the meantime?"
"You'd be weaker, sure. But you'd recover soon enough. And I could teach you a new grimoire to replace it."
"You mean black magic?"
"What's wrong with that? Necromancy? It's convenient and useful. It may not suit the dull minds of humans, but there are plenty of human necromancers out there. Even if you reached just the level of my pinky toe, you'd stand out among them."
"..."
"Actually," Zebeck cut in, "the Scripture of the Light of King's Virtue, which we holy knights use, is a lower-tier grimoire derived from the Book of the Divine King. Why not learn that instead?"
"It's not a bad plan," Azadin admitted, "but we don't have the time. How long would something like that take, anyway?"
"Well, it's your body, so I can't say for sure," Scott replied, "but at least six months of weakness, I'd guess."
"I can't afford to be powerless for half a year. And that's just the minimum—it could take even longer."
Azadin rejected Scott's proposal.
"For now, enhancing myself with the Book of the Divine King's power is enough. Besides, I have the Azure Steel sword now. And the Wendigo dagger is an excellent weapon, too."
As he spoke, Azadin drew his sword. The bluish blade emitted a chilling cold aura.
Because of his intense fighting style, most of Azadin's swords were treated as consumables. That's why he usually carried a variety of weapons in the saddlebag of his mountain goat.
But even for someone like him, this Blue Steel Sword, forged from Azure Steel, was a captivating weapon.
"It was obtained through illegitimate means, so if I ever meet someone it rightfully belongs to, I'll return it. But until then, I'm using it. I should give it a name, even temporarily. From now on, you'll be called 'Bluey.'"
"..."
Everyone's gaze shifted to Azadin. Was he serious?
"What? Why?"
"Does it have to be that name?"
"It's just temporary, since I'm borrowing it."
At that moment, Shati, who was cooking, shouted out.
"Hey! A ship is approaching!"
"What?"
A small coastal triangle-sailed vessel had come to a stop, and someone aboard loosed a warning arrow toward them. The arrow sliced through the air with a sharp whooshing sound.
"They're not Aragasa."
Judging from the distance the warning arrow flew, Azadin concluded they weren't Aragasa, the Herald Clan.
If they had been, the arrow would have flown twice as fast and twice as far. Still, the fact that they shot a warning arrow meant they likely had business with Azadin's group.
Azadin waited and saw them lower a small boat and row toward them.
"Who are they?"
"Don't recognize them."
But judging from their gestures and shouts in this direction, it looked like they had come specifically to meet Azadin's party.
"Are they from the Herald Clan?"
"Doesn't seem like it. That arrow didn't fly nearly far enough."
Then three men stepped off the boat.
"You're safe, Herald Clan member."
"And you are?"
"Hmph. Haven't you seen my human form before?"
"Ah."
Azadin clicked his tongue as he recognized the figure.
"Nagaraja?!"
It was Dehares, the Nagaraja of the Water Snake Tribe, appearing before Azadin in human form.
"Yes. You said you'd return my signet, didn't you?"
No wonder he'd recognized them from afar—he must've enchanted the signet with a tracking spell.
"You made it. Shati, return the signet."
"Ah, yes. It's… it's an honor, Raja."
"Why is this naga traveling with you?"
"We've grown attached."
"Attached? Ah. That kind of attachment?"
Dehares nodded, glancing between Azadin and Shati.
"I get it. Carnal ties are strong."
He seemed to believe Azadin and Shati were in a physical relationship.
Since the days of the Naga Empire, nagas had frequently formed attachments with humans. Mating among nagas themselves required risking their lives in a full 24-hour ordeal. But with humans, it was easy and pleasurable—and humans, in turn, found naga partners even more enjoyable than their own kind.
Of course, under the laws of the Naga Empire, any human bonded through affection was supposed to be killed and eaten. But many nagas violated that rule, sparing humans out of emotional attachment.
"Um, Lord Raja…"
Shati tried to clear up the misunderstanding, but Azadin stopped her and handed the signet back to Dehares.
"Yes, the signet served me well. Are you satisfied with the outcome?"
"…It's great that the Sea Snake Nagas got screwed over, but something unexpected happened. A new empress, huh? Damn. Would've been nice if you gave me a heads-up."
Dehares' voice lowered. The fact that Aldis had claimed the throne and declared herself a descendant of the Emperor was not good news for the Nagas.
For the Nagas, who worshiped the Pantheon of the Kurt Divine Clan, the rising power of the Yaegas Clan was hardly something to celebrate.
"You might find this hard to believe, but I didn't know either—at least not until everything blew up."
"You didn't know?"
"The one who ascended the throne this time wasn't Arael, but a woman named Aldis. A different faction from the one working with the Nagas snatched the moment."
"Ah, I see. Thanks for telling me. But… seeing you heading this way—are you by any chance going to Bruma?"
"..."
"If you don't mind, as a token of thanks, why don't you ride our ship the rest of the way? We're headed to Seramba Port of the Kingdom of Bruma. We'll take you there."
Seramba Port was one of Azadin's destinations, a ten-day journey on foot.
But to board a Water Snake Tribe naga vessel… At present, Azadin was carrying about one-eighth of the entire copy of the Book of the Divine King.
"We should refuse…" Zebeck said, but Azadin nodded instead.
"Then I'll gladly accept the offer."
"Haha. Wise choice. I was short on someone to talk to anyway. You can keep me company on the way."
Dehares signaled with a warning arrow from their ship, prompting them to lower additional boats to help load Azadin's group, their horses, and even the mountain goat onto the naga vessel.
***
Nagaraja Dehares was a curious soul.
He asked many questions about the Herald Clan before they came to the continent of Hubris, and also about their ancient faith—worship of the Angel of Justice, Arael.
"The Eyeless Evil Dragon Azadin and the Angel of Justice Arael, huh? Wait, didn't you say the head of the Arael's faction is also named Arael? You named someone after the god you worshiped?"
"It means we've moved away from our old faith."
"Amazing. To abandon one's faith so easily…"
"Well, isn't that just how it goes? The Sea Snake Nagas seem more devoted to the Nether Reapers than the Cobra Queen these days."
"Ah, that's true. Hm. Fascinating stuff. Say, why are your bows so powerful?"
In this way, Dehares asked Azadin many questions about the Herald Clan throughout the voyage, while in return, Azadin asked about the Nagas. Dehares readily shared what he could—especially about historical matters.
"As for where the Naga Empire is now, and how many of us remain—that's strategic information, so I can't share it. I believe you've been avoiding similar questions yourself, no?"
"I have."
"Let's keep it fair, then."
Three days into the voyage, Dehares' subordinates approached him with uneasy expressions and whispered in the naga tongue.
"..."
Dehares' expression soured.
"You. Every morning, you've been doing something strange with that orc and the Book of the Divine King, haven't you?"
"I have."
Even aboard the naga vessel, Azadin had continued absorbing mana from the copy of the Book of the Divine King.
With little else to do, Azadin, along with Scott and Zebeck, had dedicated themselves to studying and training with the white mana flowing from the book.
Was this what the nagas were murmuring about?
Azadin figured it was inevitable. The Book of the Divine King was a supreme grimoire even the Cobra Queen coveted. No matter how high his status, Dehares would not be immune to its allure.
But that wasn't what Dehares was concerned about.
"This is rather embarrassing to admit, but when we took you aboard, we expected that the horses and goat would consume some of our hay. We accepted that loss. But…"
"But?"
"That orc of yours eats too much. My crew wants to throw him overboard…"
"..."
So the amount Scott was eating was more concerning than the animals? Just how much had he devoured?
"S-sorry. We'll disembark."
"Your friend, the holy knight, is fishing diligently to restock supplies, but… I feel bad about this. I really meant to take you all the way to Seramba, but at this rate, we'll run out of food."
Dehares genuinely looked regretful about having to drop them off early.
***
In the end, Azadin's group had to disembark at a coastal cliffside about three days' travel from Seramba Port.
While they were preparing to get off the ship, Shati hesitantly approached Azadin and asked,
"Um… would it really be okay if I stayed here?"
Her voice was light, as if she were saying it in passing, but her internal conflict was clear—she wanted it badly, yet didn't want to hurt Azadin's feelings.
Shati dreamed of becoming a retainer of the noble Nagaraja Dehares.
Though it might seem strange for a Dryland Tribe naga like herself to serve a Water Snake Tribe Nagaraja, she had already lost the copy of the Book of the Divine King and failed her mission. Returning to her tribe was no longer an option.
If she went back, she'd face severe punishment. But Dehares—he might understand her situation.
However, Azadin refused to let Shati go.