Amiru, approaching them with a sense of excitement, captured their attention.
"Good morning, young master Cale and young lady Athanasia," Amiru greeted them warmly.
Both Athanasia and Cale turned their attention to Amiru, waiting to hear what she had to say.
Amiru continued, her excitement evident, "I came here early to tell you both something amazing! Do you have any idea what it is?"
Athanasia's mind raced, her thoughts forming a clear connection, "Isn't it about the whirlpools? Yep..." She glanced at Cale, her gaze seeking confirmation.
Cale responded truthfully, "Not a clue."
With a gleam of excitement in her eyes, Amiru revealed the news that had brought her to their doorstep. "The whirlpools in front of the central island have disappeared! Overnight, without a trace!"
As Athanasia's thoughts mirrored her surprise, she realized the implications of Amiru's words, "Cale did that....
Cale's thoughts I did that," he thought to himself, a subtle smirk tugging at his lips.
on the other hand, centered on Toonka
Toonka to speak up, his tone tinged with disappointment.
"How disappointing. I wanted to jump into that whirlpool. Should I just jump into a different one instead?"
Athanasia's facepalm, though internally, spoke volumes of her thoughts, "He's really crazy..."
Cale's own assessment mirrored Athanasia's, "He's definitely one crazy bastard."
Amiru's purpose, however, remained steadfast. She steered the conversation back to its initial course. "To repay the Henituse family's investment, I would like to show you a mesmerizing sight. Lady Athanasia, you're welcome to come along as well. We're heading to the peaceful Ubarr Sea scenery on the central island. Will you both join me?"
Athanasia turned her gaze towards Cale, seeking his input.
Cale inquired, "Is everyone going there?"
Amiru confirmed, "Yes, everyone will be there."
Toonka, making his presence known, approached the group. Amiru acknowledged his appearance, "Ah, this is your first time meeting him, right?"
Athanasia continued to stare at Toonka, her curiosity piqued by his appearance.
Amiru proceeded with the introduction, "This is the person who almost got caught in the whirlpool. Mister Bob, this is Cale Henituse and Athanasia Levine."
Cale and Athanasia were taken aback by Toonka's unexpected alias. Their thoughts aligned, "Bob?"
Athanasia added a mental commentary, "What an interesting fake name to pick, Bob."
Toonka introduced himself with a friendly smile, "Nice to meet you both. I'm Bob."
A smile tugged at Athanasia's lips as she regarded Toonka's choice of alias,
while Cale's thoughts resonated with her assessment, "Using Bob as an alias really does suit him."
Amiru provided further context, "Bob is from the Whipper Kingdom. He lives in a small seaside village. He said he went out fishing and somehow ended up shipwrecked."
Toonka, in turn, elaborated on his story, "Yes, I live a simple life, fishing by the village. I don't really know how I ended up like this."
Athanasia's observant eye didn't miss the scars that adorned Toonka's body, but her thoughts indicated her understanding that his story might not be as straightforward as he claimed, "What a lie..."
Cale, too, noticed the scars, his skepticism evident as he thought, "Simple life, my ass."
Amiru continued the narrative, "That's why he boarded the boat and helped us investigate what happened last night."
The guards, who weren't quite as fond of Toonka as Amiru, approached with less friendly intentions.
Cale reflected on the situation, "There are people who don't like him, unlike Amiru."
Toonka's gaze landed on Cale, prompting him to address the young master. "Young Master Cale, I heard you used a large shield in the capital to protect everyone. I asked Lady Amiru to bring you here because I heard you are a very strong person."
Both Cale and Athanasia sensed the tension escalating, realizing the situation was becoming more dangerous.
Athanasia anticipated the potential outcome, thinking, "He always wants to fight someone strong... It's troublesome, but I'm waiting for his character development."
Cale offered an explanation to Toonka, "That's why I'm still recovering."
Toonka probed further, "Recovering?"
Cale confirmed, downplaying his strength, "Uh, it's not exactly a strong power. It's quite weak."
Amiru chimed in to provide context, "Young Master Cale overused his power to save everyone, which is why he's still recovering."
Toonka's assessment of Cale was discerning, his gaze traveling up and down, silently assessing him before looking away.
Cale's own thoughts acknowledged Toonka's scrutiny, "Yeah, that's how Toonka should act. Good."
Toonka's gaze shifted to Athanasia, his eyes locking onto her for a brief moment.
Athanasia's own internal reaction was a mix of unease and curiosity, "Why is he staring at me?"
Toonka complimented Athanasia, "You look strong."
Both Cale and Athanasia were taken aback by the unexpected comment.
Cale's inner monologue conveyed his bemusement, "Athanasia's strong. She can use magic. But if Toonka knows that..." He stole a glance at Athanasia, seeking her reaction.
Athanasia, flustered by Toonka's comment, sent a mental plea, "Toonka, I have a weak body. Don't fight me; fight someone else!" She accompanied her thoughts with imaginary tears.
Athanasia downplayed her strength, sharing in Cale's sentiment of recovery. "Ah, I'm weak too… and I'm also recovering," she offered, hoping to deter any notions of a potential match.
Toonka's demeanor remained enigmatic as he examined Athanasia from head to toe. "Weird… I thought she's strong. I smell a strong aura from her," he mused internally, though he chose to leave it be.
A sigh of relief escaped Athanasia as Toonka finally left their vicinity, his interest seemingly waning.
Cale's thoughts lingered on Toonka's fixation on strength, a characteristic that defined him. "Strength… he's only obsessed with that. He's the person who ignores the weak, even kills them if they get in his way. That's why he's called a tyrant."
Amiru interjected, signaling their next move. "Shall we go?"
Cale glanced at Athanasia, silently seeking her confirmation.
Athanasia responded with a smile and a nod, indicating that she was ready.
Amiru prompted the group to take action, "We've finished our preparations already. Everyone, get on the boat."
Toonka's sudden remark broke the silence, drawing attention once again. "That's weird.
I was sure I smelled someone strong again just now," he mused aloud, his instincts seemingly honed to detect the presence of power.
Cale immediately realized that Toonka's instincts were sharp. Two of their companions, Zaphyr and the dragon, were invisible and floating in the air.
The dragon retorted, "I'm not smelly."
Zaphyr nodded in agreement, adding, "Yeah, we're not smelly."
Athanasia let out a small sigh, acknowledging Toonka's keen perception. She thought, "His instincts are even better than the beast people. Well, it's Toonka—what do I expect?"
As the boat set sail, Athanasia positioned herself beside Cale, her attention captivated by the vast expanse of the sea.
Amiru spoke up, sharing more details about their investigation, "We are currently investigating why the whirlpools may have suddenly disappeared. My father and our territory mages will all arrive soon to assist."
Upon hearing this, Athanasia side-glanced at Cale, knowing full well that he was the reason behind the disappearance of the whirlpools.
Cale responded casually to Amiru's information, "Is that so? That's good. It would be nice to quickly find out what happened."
Zaphyr chimed in with his thoughts, "What a good liar."
Athanasia struggled to contain her amusement at the situation.
Cale continued, expressing his hopes, "It would be nice if the other whirlpools disappeared as well."
The dragon pointed out, "And another lie."
Athanasia couldn't hold back her laughter at the face Cale was making while telling these half-truths.
Amiru responded to Cale with optimism, "Yes, we will definitely figure out what happened and get rid of the other whirlpools as well. With such an opportunity in front of us and many people helping, we need to grasp this opportunity completely."
Athanasia. "I'm sure you and the Ubarr family will definitely accomplish it, Young Lady Amiru," she remarked with confidence.
Amiru's smile brightened. "Thank you, Lady Athanasia. Hearing you say that reassures me."
As their conversation flowed, Athanasia's attention was diverted by a sensation—a gaze fixated on her.
She turned her head slightly and found Toonka staring intently in her direction. An involuntary shiver ran down her spine, and she couldn't help but think, Please stop staring at me, Toonka. It's creepy.
After the boat came to a stop, Athanasia continued to observe Toonka, who was still staring at him. Ignoring the unsettling feeling, he joined Amiru and the others in conversation. Meanwhile, Cale had gone ahead to explore the island.
While engrossed in conversation, Athanasia's attention was suddenly captivated by a streak of motion – Toonka sprinted at full speed, wielding a club, toward the direction Cale had gone earlier.
Athanasia watched in bemusement and sighed softly, "Well, I guess that's good. Toonka finally stopped staring at me."
Amiru's call snapped Athanasia back to the task at hand. She turned her gaze to Amiru, offering a smile, "Okay."
The group resumed their journey, walking toward the island where Cale had ventured. Athanasia and Amiru engaged in conversation, the camaraderie and shared purpose evident in their exchange.
However, a sudden disturbance caught Athanasia's attention – a figure was flying toward them. Amiru's voice carried concern as she exclaimed, "What's going on?!"
Athanasia's mind raced as she tried to piece together the situation. Realization struck when she spotted a whale and a girl with blue hair—Witira—approaching. She understood that Toonka was causing this commotion, likely due to her neglecting a crucial detail from the novel.
Toonka's booming voice resounded, "Kuhahaha! Make sure to block it well! My body's pretty tough, so you might get hurt!"
The atmosphere shifted as preparations for defense began, revealing the group's readiness to handle Toonka's unconventional antics.
, Athanasia debated using her magic barrier. However, she knew Toonka would likely become suspicious if she displayed her magical abilities. and Zaphyr's timely intervention with a shield barrier, however, provided a solution that bypassed suspicion.
She spotted a shield barrier appearing and quickly deduced that Cale had intervened.
Toonka was taken aback, exclaiming, "What the...?"
Others appeared surprised as well. Athanasia glanced toward Cale, who was standing up and attempting to support himself on a rock. He lost his balance momentarily.
Amidst the unfolding chaos, Athanasia's quick glance in the direction where Cale's shield barrier had appeared revealed his intervention. He had intended to stay hidden and observe from the sidelines, but his concern for her safety had prompted him to act.
Cale's inner thoughts were a mix of regret and understanding, "I was gonna cheer them on, hiding in the sidelines, but then I noticed Athanasia is there. I know Athanasia can protect herself and others with magic, but the problem is Toonka." A sigh escaped him as he pondered the complexities of the situation.
His balance faltered, causing him to lose footing and stumble slightly. "Ah," Cale exclaimed as he instinctively reached out to steady himself against a nearby rock.
Athanasia's immediate response was to run toward Cale. Though she knew his Vitality of the Heart would ensure his safety, her worry for him persisted. As she reached his side, her concern translated into words, "Are you okay?" Her voice was gentle, filled with genuine care.
Cale's gaze met Athanasia's, his stoicism still present, but a faint twitch at the corner of his mouth betrayed his thoughts. He assured her, "I'm okay. Don't worry."
A soft sigh escaped Athanasia, a mixture of relief and exasperation. "I know, but don't overwork yourself too much. It's not healthy for your body," she cautioned, her worry a reflection of her affection for him.
Cale's expression remained stoic, but there was a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth. He mused to himself, "You're saying that to me, but Athanasia, you're always the one overworking your body to the point where you're unconscious."
" He considered denying her concern, but his too lazy to explain, so he simply nodded in agreement.
Their moment was interrupted by Amiru, who approached Cale with visible concern. Her voice carried a mix of scolding and genuine care, "Young Master, you didn't have to use your power like that! Why are you drenched?" Her reproach was rooted in her understanding of his ongoing recovery.
Amid the conversation, Athanasia couldn't help but glance toward Witira and Paseton. The revelation of Cale's actions appeared to affect them in some way.
Amiru's concern didn't waver as she continued, her tone exasperated, "You're here to recover your health, so what will you do if you get sick, Young Master? Really…" She sighed in exasperation, her sentiments reaching Witira and Paseton, who shared a moment of shared guilt.
Cale, pragmatic as always, responded with his rationalization, "Isn't it fine if no one got hurt?"
Amiru's sigh resonated with a hint of resignation. Her gaze shifted between Athanasia and Cale as she muttered, "Young Master, I swear, I really don't understand you."
With a change of focus, Amiru directed her inquiry toward Witira and Paseton, curiosity evident in her tone, "Who are you people?"
Similarly, Toonka, known as Bob, faced Amiru's scrutiny. She turned her gaze to him, inquiring, "Who are you?"
As the tension and curiosity mounted, Athanasia's attention was momentarily diverted by Cale's sudden sneeze
prompting a collective gaze from the group.
Cale, unfazed by the attention, simply suggested, "Ah, let's go back for now."