"Now you want to talk about this too?"

Lawkey sighed slightly as he looked his new dwarf friend in the eyes.

"Tis important that I know." After some silent deliberation, Alviss spoke again. "Why are ya after the leviathan? Ya seekin' revenge?"

The direct questions made the cursed human furrow his brows, the heat rushing to his face.

"That's none of your business." Lawkey said coldly, his pupils constricting. "Just tell me if you know something about it!"

"I've been wonderin' 'bout somethin' ever since the ghost started talkin'. Where did yer care-free attitude go, friend?" The dwarf stroked his beard, unaffected by the cold tone directed his way.

"..."

Seeing that his human friend looked away, Alviss simply gave in.

"... Fine, I'll talk first. I'm part of a small party that is also huntin' the leviathan." He explained slowly. "If ya're also after its head, why don't ya join us? We'd surely have better chances as a team."

WHOOSSHH!!

"!"

Just as Alviss finished his words, shadows erupted from beneath the cursed human, swirling violently around him. The wind quickly picked up around them, the waves moved backwards, and a chill took over the air.

"No! It's my responsibility!" Exclaimed Lawkey, his emerald eyes glaring at the dwarf.

Alviss gulped, his entire body feeling a weight pulling him downwards.

What's with this pressure?! He thought, his wide eyes fixed at the one affecting the surroundings around them.

Having such killing intent and fighting aura thrown their way, any fighter might have immediately reached for their weapon to defend themselves. However, Alviss wasn't just a simple fighter, he was a warrior who understood what kind of situation he was in.

He closed his eyes for a moment, then spoke calmly again.

"Look friend, I know ya're a tough bastard, but ya think ya can slay the leviathan by yarself? We're takin' 'bout one of the most fearsome and dangerous creatures the world has ever seen! Frankly, it would've been better if they had stayed extinct!"

"..." Lawkey narrowed his eyes, slowly regaining his composure and deactivating his shadows.

As if reacting to his state of mind, the surroundings began to regain their natural flow once more.

"Are ya worried 'bout what that little ghost said?" Alviss added after a momentary pause. "Did ya actually believe him?"

"I don't know… I never really thought everything that had happened to me in the past was because of a curse. Or At least, I didn't want to believe that." Lawkey lowered his gaze, turning his head to the side. "I always blamed myself instead, I think I still do. My existence alone puts others at risk, the reason didn't matter. It's me, it's always me. I'm the problem. And knowing about the full extent of the curse now… I can't put the people I care about in danger again… That's all it reminded me of. I have to walk this journey alone. That's my responsibility."

Curse or not, the facts didn't change anything about Lawkey's understanding of himself. In the end, it was he who put everyone in danger in the past, and who will continue to do so if he stuck around others.

Even though he had made promises, even though there were loved ones waiting for his return…

"Agh! There is just too much to process at once!" Lawkey finally gave in, clenching his head in his hands, almost falling to his knees.

"..." Alviss looked down for a moment, waited, then raised his head again before speaking. "I realized somethin' as the little ghost kept ramblin' on. How come ya were able t' help the merfolk on Sweet Scylla if ya were cursed? Hykings aren't known fer helpin', ya know!"

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Lamia and Salil's faces flashed into Lawkey's mind. The merfolk's gratitude, having regained their hopes and dreams for the future. Their smiles and tears of joy as they bid him farewell.

Riana assured him she and Sana were okay now. She made him promise that he would keep going no matter what.

The Undine Clan was saved, and although it had not been without its sacrifices, the merfolk race will be able to stand on their feet again, to prosper once more.

"Just do what ya think is right, friend!" Alviss added with gusto, raising his voice. "It's pointless t' worry 'bout somethin' that might or might not happen!"

The cursed human narrowed his eyes softly, taking it all in.

It's true that the merfolk are better off now… He thought inwardly. But what if they would have been even better without me there?

Although the thought had come from him, it made him close his eyes and shake his head slowly. He knew the alternative would have been much worse. Had he, Frido and Alviss not been there… He didn't even want to think of what kind of future would have awaited Sana and Riana, and even the Undine Clan as a whole.

"Heh… That's not like me at all." Lawkey suddenly sat down on the ground and scratched the back of his head, a nervous faint smile appearing on his lips. "I really let that sleazy ghost get to me, didn't I?"

"?"

"You're right!" The cursed human reclined and eventually laid on his back, facing the sky. "Whether I'm cursed, destined, or fated, all of that doesn't matter!"

He raised his right hand and aimed at the moon with his usual grin plastered on his face. His emerald eyes took on a new gleam.

"I'll forge my own path!"

As if responding to his gesture, the normally misty sky seemed to dissipate, revealing the full moon shining its light down.

Isn't that right, Jay? Lawkey thought, keeping his hand up.

Looking up at the shining moon, the words of his late caretaker came rushing into his mind once more.

"Anything is possible! If you wanted to, you could even reach the moon!"

That's just how it should be. His thoughts continued. And if someone gets in danger because of me, I'll protect them myself! I won't let the same thing happen again!

"That's what I like t' hear, friend!" Alviss chuckled, cheering for the previous statement about forging one's own path.

"Thank you, oh great dwarf." Lawkey got up, patting his clothes. "I feel like I'm talking to a wise old man."

Having said that, the corners of his lips curled up a bit, thinking of the actual old man who always helped him like this.

"I'm only 77, but I'll take that as a compliment." Alviss turned away and rubbed the tip of his nose. "Let's get goin' now!"

"Wait, 77?! Really?! You are old!"

"Careful now, friend! I'm in me prime!"

A moment later, Alviss was already pushing the boat back into the sea. Watching him, Lawkey remembered something.

"Where are we going? Where is this party of yours?"

"I'll explain on the way, but ya will definitely be amazed when ya see it, friend!" Alviss turned to him with a wide grin. "Our very own special ship made entirely of sapphire wood, Skidbladnir!"

"Oh? Heh. I look forward to it."

Lawkey looked towards the distant sea for a moment, in the direction of Sweet Scylla. He watched the waves come and go with soft eyes. Then, he nodded to no one in particular, a faint smile stretching his lips.

"Let me give you a hand with that." He joined the dwarf, then chuckled as he pushed the boat with him. "You better keep that promise about pancakes!"

**👑**

Tartarus as a continent was split in two parts by a long river. There were therefore many stops and ports on each side of the water.

On one of these stops docked a giant ship made entirely of sapphire wood. Its color matched the waters around it, and so did the dragon figurehead at its front.

Towards the back of the ship, not so far back to the private quarters, but still on the deck, lights flickered through the windows to an enclosed area. The sound of laughter and chatter leaked out.

This was the infamous new bar, welcoming adventurers to stop and catch their breath on their journeys.

"Jurgen! Can we get a refill here please?" A female customer sitting with three other adventurers around a table called out to the nearest person serving the tables.

"You got it!" Jurgen, a muscular half-elf wearing a white tank top and a colorful bandana, exclaimed with full enthusiasm, then turned towards the bar. "Tilla! Four more orders of that new sake for the gallant ladies and gents on this table here!"

"Luci, can you take care of that, please?" Tilla, the female light elf concocting a drink behind the bar, delegated the task to the nearest second server behind her. She made sure to add. "You should really take off that armor while working!"

"Yes, princess." Luci, the dark elf and the second server, said with a stale tone before making her way out of the bar.

However, before she could, Tilla stretched her arm and pulled her cheek.

"Luci! Didn't I tell you not to call me that anymore?"

"Yes, princess."

"Luci!"

"Oops."

"..."

A female trader sitting at the bar waited in silence, definitely sensing a pattern between these two. Overhearing them, she couldn't help but question the validity of the rumors floating around.

Was Tilla really a princess? And that Luci, a dark elf assassin…? She shook her head slightly for the silly questions running through her mind. Then, she reminded herself. I'm here on business!

"Um, excuse me?" She finally built up her courage to call out, having waited long enough.

"Sorry for the delay!" Tilla took off her pink apron and walked up to the trader. "Do you have what we ordered last time?"

"Yes-?!"

THUUUDD!

"?!"

Before she could respond properly, the door to the bar suddenly flung open, alerting everyone inside. From it, a man holding two pistols ran in, a cloth ink-covered mask covering his entire head.

"Rob! What's wrong?!" Jurgen called out as soon as he realized who it was.

"They're coming!!" Rob shouted through panted breath, his long coat just settling as he lowered his weapons. The ink on his mask flickered around with every breath he exclaimed.

It took him but another moment to send cold shivers through his friends' backs.

"They're coming for us and the ship!! Get ready now!!"

"?!"

Despite only being a trader, who only came here to finish her rounds, the woman sitting at the bar stood up from her chair. She fixed the black scarf around her neck, and with it, the black wooden sword clinging to her back.

An emblem hung in front of her torso, one that clearly showed the Kage Clan logo.

Her blue eyes shook for a moment before she narrowed them. Instinctively, she reached up and tightened the lavender-colored ribbon tying her dark hair in a ponytail.

This was none-other than the best trader of the shadow clan, Jun Kage.

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