Chapter 290

Kariosa’s cabin was meticulously coated with a transparent waterproof resin on the ceiling, floor, and walls.

Moreover, in one corner of the room, there was a brass drainpipe leading outside the ship, so there were no worries about water overflowing and soaking the floor or the wood becoming damp.

The wooden bathtub was deep enough that when I sat down, the water reached up to my neck, and even when Kariosa and I sat facing each other and stretched our legs out, it was wide enough that we could barely touch our toes.

Of course, neither of us had any intention of playing around by touching fingertips or toes after meeting again after a year.

As water overflowed from the bathtub, my blood flowing from my back and chest stained the water red, the maidservants brought in new hot water to pour, and Kariosa wore a predator’s smile…

As flames erupted and then flickered out several times, Kariosa licked her lips and asked.

“Does it hurt?”

Her pearl-colored nails slid slickly over my abs.

Her enlarged eyes looking at me were quite beautiful.

“Does it hurt?”

Even though my whole body was marked with scratches from her nails and bite marks, it was still a sight to behold.

“Of course it hurts. It’s not unbearable, though. How on earth was that hand made?”

I had burned through everything and my body had become so strong that my soul felt a sense of alienation and screamed.

When using Yongchan’s power, it was possible to withstand a mediocre mana blade with my bare body, and most magic or curses did not work on me, thanks to Az’s stability, making it easy to recover from the powerful warrior’s strikes.

However, whenever Kariosa bit and scratched with her nails, there was a kind of excruciating pain that made me grit my teeth and bear it, my skin as tough as leather armor engraved with the stone skin spell sliced like paper, and the bleeding wouldn’t stop easily.

She hadn’t unnecessarily kept a priest waiting in the next room.

“Bloodline and effort?”

“That’s right. With those two, nothing’s impossible.”

“Right. And I’ve got both.”

Kariosa leaned back, resting her head against the tub and lazily smiling.

Her watery hair seemed to dissolve into the water, swaying in all directions, and the rose-colored bathwater flowed in and out between her slightly parted teeth.

Watching her with an expression resembling that of a lightbearer from heaven, it felt like she had become a completely different person from that charismatic sword mage.

It was refreshing, a little cute, and somewhat frightening, as I didn’t know when she might want to bite my neck and seek something fresher.

Thus, to confirm the authenticity of my last thought, I turned the question around.

“You put an awful lot of bath oil in, huh? And this wooden tub is made of cypress. Does it smell or taste like blood?”

Kariosa nodded as she bubbled.

“I thought you might dislike the smell of your own blood, so I added it. I’m a descendant of Summerlin. Just one drop of blood in a vast lake can be detected.”

“Ha. I didn’t expect it to be that much.”

“Where did that bravado go, asking if you could cut my hair?”

“When your work involves beating down those who challenge you, it’s not that easy.”

“Hmm. That’s a fair excuse.”

I nodded brazenly.

“Sometimes you need excuses, not reasons.”

Kariosa tilted her head slightly.

Crimson droplets streamed down her cheek.

“For example?”

“Just like the reason you called me here.”

She chuckled lightly.

Her eyes still mirrored that of a shark who had finished its feast.

“Right. You really are quick on the uptake.”

* * *

In the cabin where droplets were dripping from the ceiling, and the bathtub filled with all kinds of luxury bath oils emitted a faint fragrance, thick steam covered the bodies of the two.

But if one focused a bit on the scent, one could detect the metallic tang of blood, and if one squinted, they might see the vicious shark teeth and the greedy eyes of a dragon.

Kariosa mumbled as if singing.

“That’s right. Those guys are not your average pirates like the ones I’ve fought off until now. They’re recognized captains of privateers by the noble families of the Eastern Continent. Some of them even hold legitimate titles. They are even conducting migration projects targeting prisoners, itinerant people, and the poor.”

These were things I was already well aware of.

“I didn’t expect you to tell me directly.”

She rolled her eyes lightly.

“Since you already knew everything.”

It was a remark that left me speechless.

“Our Asenorta family’s territory extends to the eastern coast of the Empire, and the Nayt Archipelago has always been an untouched area. Whoever plants their flag first becomes the owner. And those guys planted their flag first.”

Kariosa smiled icily.

“That’s not good.”

A tension crept back into my previously relaxed body.

“The kings of the Eastern Continent can handle both the refugees and the pirates, which is good for them, and the pirates are pleased to be recognized, while the refugees are happy about the new land. And all of that is bad news for me.”

It was all so obvious, like watching a fire.

I let out a deep sigh.

“The kings of the Eastern Continent will use the Nayt Archipelago as a base to exert pressure on the eastern regions of the Empire, and that pressure will involve sending pirates to joyfully plunder every port city. The taxes paid by the settlers of the Nayt Archipelago will simply become supplies for the pirates.”

Kariosa nodded.

“I also need the Nayt Archipelago. I have to bring serfs from the growing Eastern inland to the Nayt Archipelago. I need to drain the power of the new vassals and impose order. I will build fortresses and station fleets in the Nayt Archipelago. This will be my kingdom. Then I can quell the Undersea People from both the Sea Serpent Archipelago and the Graveyard Archipelago.”

Steam continued to rise from the water.

But I felt a chill somewhere.

“Then you’ll have to kill everyone on that island? Leave no one alive. You have to claim the land and plant people.”

The thought of hearing her answer was frightening.

At the moment of confirmation, and the instant I did not stop that, I would be taking on responsibility as well.

Without hesitating, Kariosa replied.

It was as if she was responding to a question about whether the sun rises in the east.

“Yes. I will kill them all. Just as they did to me in my territory, my protectorate.”

I tightly shut my eyes before opening them.

The sight of a mountain of stacked corpses and the Eastern shark pack howling atop it was vivid in my mind.

My hatred for pirates seemed deeper than I had realized, and I was at a loss over how to rescue Tarti.

“…I will likely be needed. After going that far, I will face scrutiny from the Eastern Continent, and to counter that, the blessing of the Holy Emperor will be necessary. I need to be seen not as Kariosa, the independent queen of the Nayt Archipelago but as Kariosa, a powerful vassal of the Holy Emperor.”

Once again, she answered without hesitation.

“Exactly.”

Her voice held a hint of laughter.

Kariosa turned her body toward me and reached out her hand.

Her hand, shining as if covered in scales, once more explored my abs.

With a shadowed face, she smiled dreamily and said.

The fact that that dream could be a nightmare for someone else only provoked the sadistic nature flowing through our blood even further.

“I will become a queen.”

“Right.”

I allowed her to bind me.

“I’ll fight, win, and grasp the fruits of victory. I will bestow immortal glory upon my family and name.”

“Right.”

“I will gain the power worthy of living with the Elder Brother in the Imperial Family.”

“Right.”

“I heard from Lanzo. It’s quite different from the rumors, isn’t it? The Valencianus that didn’t kill the enemies they could have. Will you do the same this time?”

Gray eyes pierced through me.

I hesitated to answer.

“…”

Knowing that no matter what I said, she wouldn’t blame me, knowing she wouldn’t push me away, I found myself speechless.

If I tried to stop her, she’d knock me down, and if I said I wouldn’t stop her, she’d be pleased.

If I suggested we should send the refugees back to their homeland… I knew better than anyone how they would meet their fate as itinerant people, being corroded or dying.

Gray eyes bore into me.

That gaze I had endlessly envied, that I still envied now.

The ambition that made me challenge Jeilliris, saying I would once be an emperor, that fervor, that courage, that bravado, that desire!

It was both enviable and terrifying.

I decided to withhold my response.

“We’ll think about such matters after sweeping away the pirates. After that, I’ll assess the number and health of the refugees, and the soundness of their thoughts. Decisions about treatment will come afterward.”

Kariosa smirked.

“A retreat? That’s different from before.”

I smiled brazenly and shook my head.

“There might not be enough refugees that have come over yet, or it might turn out that erosion has already begun, leaving no choice but to wipe them all out.”

“Hmm.”

“There might be more land available for cultivation than we expected, or there might be capable individuals among them. Let’s confirm the situation and then think. We govern reality, not words.”

Right.

What would happen if I, the one needing to deceive the subjects, ended up being the one deceived?

If one is to be bound by people, then let not one be bound by words.

Let’s not worry about things that remain unverified.

Let’s only handle what is actually happening.

Let us not be governed by thoughts.

Let us not assign meaning to reality.

If I do not act, who else will?

Who could deceive the subjects from the fears of a world that may crumble at any moment?

First, let’s assess the situation, weigh the pros and cons, and only then act.

The most important thing is to return with as much wealth and fame as possible to dedicate to Jeilliris.

That is how I must live, how I want to live, and how I have lived.

Perhaps I had some mental contamination due to Eric Jan Benedict.

Realizing that cleared my mind considerably.

I brazenly smiled at Kariosa.

Kariosa showed a captivated expression.

The way she licked her lips was both mysterious and alluring.

“Do you know I like that expression?”

I nodded.

“I do. Is it enough for the answer I withheld?”

“You caught on well. It’s good.”

She smiled, then yawned leisurely.

“Well, that’s fine.”

I leaned forward, indirectly asking if I should slowly get up, and she nodded.

“Go ahead first. I’ll stay a bit longer and come in later. I don’t think I can get up today either.”

“I thought you’d try to bite me if I tried to leave first.”

Kariosa casually crossed her legs.

“Where else would you go besides my ship? Don’t try to scheme. Get a grip, Valencianus. You’ve already been consumed by me.”

That’s right.

I envied that honest demeanor.

“Indeed.”

As I stepped out of the tub, Kariosa’s maidservants and attendants wiped the moisture from my body.

“What about my clothing…?”

“Oh. I brought it.”

“Huh?”

I lightly manipulated mana.

With a whoosh, white threads spurted from every part of my body, and an authoritative uniform was draped over me, as it had been born anew.

It was the new uniform made for me by Jeilliris.

Kariosa’s eyes widened, the attendants gasped, and I smiled lightly as I exited the cabin.

* * *

I was slowly making my way back to my cabin, crossing the corridor.

I sensed a presence around the corner, and from the breath alone, I recognized the identity of the other person.

Probably a gender-neutral soul mage.

“Laurelai. Are you not coming out?”

“….”

“I’ve met even the High Necromancer Sycarioius. My sense cannot be deceived.”

A moment later, a boy with orange hair stepped out from around the corner.

His face tightened with fear and tension.

With a hesitant tone, he asked.

“Duke Valencianus.”

“Speak.”

“Are you… in a deep relationship with your sister?”

I nodded, and Laurelai clenched his eyes shut before reopening them.

“Could you… keep some distance for a while?”

“First, I need to ask the reason.”

It had already been dawn when I collapsed, and the sun was high in the sky.

The voices of the knight officers chatting over the spoils could be faintly heard from the signboard overhead.

In that instant, a deep shadow cast over Laurelai’s face.

“I saw the aura of Duke Valencianus’ soul. You… are not human. I cannot allow someone dangerous like you to be near my sister.”