Chapter 506: The One Who Binds Spirits
The nearby waters shimmered in a clear emerald green, while the distant sea stretched out in a deep blue. The sky was a soft azure, dotted with white clouds. Unlike the pale gray clouds that often hung over Kanum, this sky felt different.
“It’s refreshing, but a bit blinding,” Retze said, shielding his eyes with his hand.
It was a beautiful view, but I could see how it might wear on you after a while.
“Let’s move to Captain Cat’s ship. I’ll head over first and have a chat,” I said, starting to walk toward the vessel.
The area was dotted with rocks that looked like they had been eroded, and with the sun high in the sky, the shadows were short. The only places where the tall Haulon and Retze could find some respite from the heat were either inside the ship or in its shadow.
At the port, repairs were still underway on the ships. One of Captain Cat’s vessels, which had been dismantled, was now nothing but a memory. The wood had been repurposed, transformed into parts for other ships. The work was ongoing, though.
“Hello,” I called up to Captain Cat, who was sitting on the edge of the ship.
“You made it. Aren’t you supposed to be working?”
“I haven’t been given a deadline. I plan to get started as soon as possible, probably tomorrow. But first—can I bring someone over? I’d like you to meet them.”
Captain Cat’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried strangely well. Still, looking up to talk was tiring, and more importantly, it made it hard to have a private conversation.
“…Come aboard,” he said, gesturing with his chin before twisting his body and slipping down onto the deck, disappearing into the shadow of the ship.
“Okay, we can go up now,” I turned to Retze and Haulon.
“He’s really a cat, huh…”
“He was indeed a magnificent ginger tabby, just as the rumors said,” the two murmured, staring at the spot where Captain Cat had been.
Yes, he’s a cat, a brown one at that. And now that I think about it, I’m not actually speaking in cat language, am I? Captain Cat talks normally, right?
He seemed to communicate just fine with his crew, so I figured it was all good. But a twinge of anxiety crept in.
I climbed the rope ladder and stepped onto the deck. I remembered how difficult it had been the first time I climbed a rope ladder, each step making it sway and wobble. Now, I had gotten used to it.
Retze was quite nimble; even while climbing together, the ladder didn’t sway much. I thought it was impressive how the Butler and Retze managed things that didn’t require strength or speed. The Butler was on another level entirely; the ladder didn’t budge at all under his weight.
“I’m not dressed for climbing,” Haulon said as she came up last.
Her trailing robe was definitely not suited for the rope ladder. Despite being called the Great Sage, she was surprisingly muscular. How did she train? I struggled to gain any muscle even with push-ups.
“It’s hot, so let’s move inside,” Captain Cat said, looking like he had just been basking in the sun.
I followed him toward the ship’s cabin.
“Bringing someone unfamiliar here makes it hard to hide. I’ve already bound you with a contract, but you have some power to move around, don’t you? If it turns out you can bring others along, you might end up in a lot of trouble,” he said as we reached the room I had been shown last time, jumping onto a drawer by the bedside. Was this his usual spot?
Unlike last time, there was no sickly woman lying on the bed. Had she improved enough to move? I felt anxious seeing her in my mind, but I also felt uneasy at the thought of her suddenly disappearing.
“Ah, the woman who was lying there has gotten much better, so I sent her away,” Captain Cat said with a huff.
He was clearly not being straightforward, considering he had taken on the job of curing the woman with scurvy without even hearing my conditions.
“That’s so obvious…” I nodded at Haulon’s words.
“Once recognized, it’s all out in the open,” Retze chimed in—was he talking about me!?
It’s fine; I could just push everything onto Haulon.
“Are you the master of this one?” Captain Cat asked, looking at Haulon.
Retze stepped back a bit, positioning herself slightly behind Haulon, almost half-hidden in her shadow. This was typical behavior in front of strangers or at the Adventurer’s Guild. Was she trying to blend in?
“Yes,” Haulon replied, forcing a smile.
Wait, she needed to be clearer about that!
“I’m Haulon. Some of the Mail Wheat transported by Captain Goat comes to me. I’m referred to as the Great Sage or the Great Mage,” she stated, revealing her identity with ease.
Since we were about to make a deal, it made sense to introduce herself. Karn’s Country was famous for having a Great Sage, and once people learned about Karn, they would be amazed! But for now, Haulon was the one with the greater reputation.
“I see, the Great Sage Haulon.”
Oh, Captain Cat accepted that without hesitation.
“As you know, I’m Captain Goat. It’s an honor to meet you, but being in a half-master and half-apprentice relationship means that even a Great Sage can’t bind everything,” Captain Cat said, his ears flicking down for a moment before returning to their upright position.
“Bind?” Retze asked.
“I’ve heard that the Great Sage Haulon binds spirits with her magic and commands them. Is that not true?”
“That’s not incorrect, but what exactly is it that cannot be bound?” Haulon replied, a hint of annoyance creeping into her tone.
“Spirits of the Spirit King,” Captain Cat said.
“I certainly wouldn’t dare to meddle with such a being!” Haulon frowned.
Wait, that topic is still alive!? And does that mean my perception of spirits hasn’t changed since I’ve been around someone who commands them?