I Became an Evolving Deep-Sea Creature-Chapter 43

Chapter 43. Trade Between Kingdoms
The moment they left the Continental Ocean, they plotted a course straight toward the Arctic. Yul had plenty to worry about.
First, he had no experience to know whether the ship’s durability could withstand his speed, or whether anything would happen to the crew.
At least everyone had been given fur coats in advance.
Normally, sailors had to prepare such things themselves, but Yul had purchased everything for them.
“Fur coats?!”
“These were all bought out of the shipowner’s own generosity. One for each person—hand them out, navigator.”
“Offer your prayers of gratitude to our orca shipowner.”
“Damn. First time in my life I’ve ever been issued a fur coat.”
“Be grateful when you put it on.”
Listening to their chatter, they seemed to be praising Yul as extremely generous.
Thus, the cold problem was solved.
And then came the issue of the ship’s durability.
Creak, creak.
Hmm. So it can handle this level of speed.
Gradually increasing the output of the Horn of the Sea King, Yul stopped once he sensed that going faster would no longer be safe.
He eventually found the sweet spot between mana consumption and travel speed—about 8 knots, roughly 15 km/h.
“Look at this insane speed. Feels like we’re going at twice our usual cruising rate.”
“So this is how fast you can go when something is towing you from the front?”
“Hey! Watch your footing! If you fall here, you’re really dead!”
Even this pace was praised as about twice as fast as the early-model sailing ships they’d been using until now.
There was a sudden drop in speed. They were sailing smoothly with a good tailwind, but in one section, a complete headwind blew.
Because of this, the speed instantly dropped, and Yul was surprised by the sudden jolt of pressure on his body.
It felt like carrying a massive burden on his back. Just then, Captain Marchand stepped in.
“Headwind!”
“Tack! Forty-five degrees to port!”
“Tighten the sails!”
Fortunately, the crew knew how to advance even against a headwind. By zigzagging the sails, they reduced the drag and allowed forward movement.
The Sun King had praised their excellent seamanship, and it had not been a lie.
The unprecedented sight of a merchant vessel pulled by an orca reached the Arctic about a month later.
“Lord Yul, is this the place?”
‘Yes. The Arctic has a long strip of land jutting south, that’s the entrance.’
It was summer when they arrived, so the sea wasn’t frozen. In fact, this land was only navigable for trade in summer.
“So this is the Arctic?”
“L-look over there, some strange birds.”
“Those black-and-white things….”
“They’re holding weapons!”
While the sailors nervously watched from the deck, Yul went ahead to speak with them first.
-I brought goods as requested by King Adol of the Penguin Exile Island.
“Ah, welcome. His Majesty is currently in the north.”
One penguin stepped forward to greet Yul and the humans. He wore a white, plate-like hat on his head, but removed it while speaking with Yul.
-Why? Has the Sorcerer King appeared in the north again?
“N-no, nothing like that. We’re building a long wall in preparation for an invasion. A massive ice wall called the ‘White Barrier.’ We’ve hired frost giants, and His Majesty is personally overseeing the construction. So I am acting in his stead.”
-Ah, really? And your name?
“I am Girthil, Duke of the South.”
-A duke? That’s a high rank, isn’t it?
Yul had thought he was just an ordinary merchant, but he turned out to be a high-ranking noble.
“Though, to be fair, I was appointed only recently. Do you remember the village chief who lived on the southern island?”
-Ah. I remember.
Back on the island, there had been an elderly penguin chief with white feathers who led the penguins.
“I am that chief’s grandson. My grandfather passed away recently, and the remaining islanders rely on me. His Majesty recognized that influence and granted me the title of duke.”
Since the transition from tribe to kingdom was still recent, their class system didn’t seem rigid yet.
If the king appoints you, you’re a duke or a count—just like that.
If Adol maintained his rule long-term and stabilized the foundations, this stability might last for quite some time.
-Good, Girthil. I brought goods from the human kingdoms.
“Yes, I saw. It is strange that they travel aboard such a massive object.”
-Humans aren’t very good at swimming.
“Ah, I see. Anyway, please unload the goods at that pier. But are the humans hostile?
-They tend to be, yes.
It was impossible to say otherwise, even as a courtesy. There’s a reason the term “humans are troublesome” exists.
-But if you remain moderately cautious, they won’t cause trouble. I carefully selected the ones I brought.
“They do look disciplined.”
-Hmm?
They were moving in sharp, orderly lines. Yul suspected they were just stiff with tension while watching the penguins.
“Would payment in gold and furs be acceptable?”
-Oh? You have gold?
“Originally, our trade was purely barter, but since we began trading with humans, and coincidentally discovered a gold mine inside the White Barrier, we now have gold.”
-Perfect. I’ll take gold, then.
The Penguin Kingdom had only just begun mining gold, so gold was relatively cheap here. Small in volume, ideal for trade.
Inflation would rise a bit once gold circulated, but it would be minor, and not Yul’s problem anyway.
Meanwhile, the sailors unloaded the trade goods: food, iron, cannons, gunpowder—everything that had been ordered.
“Lord Yul! Offloading complete!”
-Good. They’ll be paying in gold and furs. Go collect them and bring everything back.
“Yes, Lord! Third Mate Yole! And sailors Josh, Marco, Hank! Follow me! Boatswain, you stay here and stand by.”
“Aye!”
After giving a series of orders, Marchand brought over the goods prepared by the Penguin Kingdom.
The moment the crew saw the gleaming gold, their eyes sparkled just as brightly.
“This is quite a lot.”
“The gold alone is worth more than the trade goods we brought….”
“They say the Penguin Kingdom doesn’t use gold.”
“Ho.”
-Trade really does make money.
Finishing the first exchange filled Yul with confidence.
-Marchand, you recorded the nautical chart, right?
“Yes. The charting is complete.”
-Good. I’d like you to keep selling goods as you make the trips. I can’t always be the one towing you here.
“Understood.”
Since Marchand and the officers had recorded the nautical chart, even if Yul wasn’t present, they could run this trade route like an auto-farm—steady profit, minimal effort.
And that profit would flow neatly into Yul’s bank account.
Just like one of those factory games: set up well in the early stages, and the system runs itself.
-If this trade stabilizes somewhat, I’ll send a ship along this safe route and head south to open a new route. Then I can also go to my own island.
“Understood.”
-And in the meantime, I’ll be away for a while. I’m counting on you.
* * *
The leadership of the Orca Tribe.
Several leading orcas had gathered to discuss recent events.
At the head sat Lancia, the chieftain of the Orca Tribe. Beside her were Nugh of the Warrior Corps, the Traditionalist elders, and Kalsonic of the Ascensionists.
-Let us review what has happened so far.
Lancia spoke first.
-To begin, Syrendron awakened. It happens once every few years, so we assumed it was within expectations.
Periodic awakenings of Syrendron and the orcas suppressing it had long been a routine.
-Next, the Warrior Corps faced the monster of the ice waterfall. Nugh?
-Yes, Matriarch. This is the horn of the ice waterfall creature we killed a short while ago.
It was the monster defeated by Nugh, Tuana, and the rest of the Warrior Corps. Yul had not been aware of this incident.
-And recently, Tuana and Yul defeated a ‘walking barnacle’ at the Starlight Cavern watchtower. Here are fragments of that creature.
Lancia revealed a piece of Barcenoy that Tuana had brought back.
-The patroller on duty at the Starlight Cavern watchtower lost his life.
-……
-These are not ordinary events.
-In fact, if we trace the cause, we must go further back.
The one to speak was Kalsonic, leader of the Ascensionists.
-The Sea Gods’ war, and the ascension of the orca called Yul, these two must also be counted among the ‘abnormalities.’
Surprisingly, one of the Traditionalist elders supported him.
-Regrettably, Matriarch Lancia, even the ascension of Yul, formerly a jelly octopus, is an anomaly. Is there any record of a creature of another species ascending into an orca?
-There is none.
Which meant that multiple unprecedented events were happening all at once, from several directions.
-If something dangerous continues to happen, repeatedly and with an intuitive sense of escalation, then it is indeed grave. Does anyone know what may be causing this?
Lancia looked around. But none of the orcas present could explain why such incidents continued.
Yet one orca stepped forward—Nugh.
-After hearing Tuana’s about the Barcenoy, I immediately went to speak with the Ancestral God. He warned that two more calamities may soon befall the Orca Tribe and told us to be cautious.
-Two calamities….
-He did not specify what they were, but I suspect these events are connected.
Kalsonic of the Ascensionists disagreed.
-No, that is not the case. Abnormal events are not occurring because a calamity is approaching the orcas. Rather, the abnormalities happen first, and the orcas become entangled afterward.”
-Hm? What do you mean?
-I recently visited the temple of the Deep King Tribe, and through the deep-sea pillar connected to Lord Isnael, I received an answer from him.”
-W-what? Is that true?
-To speak with the Deep King Tribe…
-That hasn’t happened in a hundred years.-
The Deep King Tribe—specifically Isnael—occasionally shared his far-reaching wisdom with the orcas.
But such contact was irregular, sometimes occurring once over several centuries.
-He said this is a sign that the world will soon be overturned. Although he said the details are written on a stone tablet.
-A sign that the world will be overturned?
-There is a certain fate, and because of that fate, the world will soon change. He did not reveal who would bring about that change, so I have no idea. But whatever the case, it will be something that occurs once every several thousand years.
Lancia listened quietly before asking.
-Then, what did he want from us?
-He said to prepare for the future. And… follow the ‘light.’
-The ‘light,’ hm….
Lancia, in truth, did not trust the Deep King Tribe at all.
The Deep King Tribe would occasionally give them tasks every few centuries.
Syrendron? That was originally not the orcas’ responsibility. It was something the Deep King Tribe delegated to them.
Likewise, the monitoring over the Starlight Cavern, the countless duties given to the Warrior Corps—all of it originated from the Deep King Tribe.
Lancia found it difficult to shake the suspicion that they treated the orcas as “convenient slaves.”
However, she also had no reason to cling to that resentment.
Unlike the Ancestral God, who could not exert physical influence, Isnael had helped them greatly.
He taught them how to use mantras, and it was Isnael who helped the orcas subtly rise into one of the major powers of the Great Azure Ocean.
Just then, a voice echoed directly into Lancia’s ears.
It was the telepathic call from the strongest warrior stationed at the border of the Outer Ocean.
-Lancia, we have a problem. Send the Warrior Corps immediately.