Chapter 581

The interior of the carriage, shaken along with the hull, slowly regained stability. However, the Vantruian boy, Shahin, remained motionless under a blanket on the floor.

"Hashim— Status report! Now!" Sanford’s shout faintly pierced into the carriage. His hoarse voice was the only thing that could be clearly distinguished amidst the chaotic noise outside.

"

Whew...

" A sigh finally escaped Shahin’s lips.

He had been sure he was about to become fish food. He ached from being thrown around inside the carriage, but he had no complaints.

"Damn it! Move the seriously wounded to the rear! Replace the broken oars! Hurry!"

Of course, it was clear the danger had not yet passed. Hearing Sanford’s voice cut through the echoing monster shrieks, Shahin bolted upright.

"Get a grip, you bastards! We’re almost there! We just have to get through this!"

He had to find out what was happening outside. The ship could sink at any moment. He had been certain he was a dead man just a moment ago, and he didn't want to die without knowing why.

Shahin, who had been about to open the carriage door, tilted his head. Something was blocking it. A strange chill emanated from it, despite the warmth that still filled the cargo hold. The door on the opposite side didn’t open properly either. Opening the small window, Shahin realized the carriage was pressed right up against the wall that concealed the stairs.

Then why is the right side blocked?

Turning back, Shahin nodded to himself. He figured it had to be the carcasses of the horses piled up. The carriage had been thrown violently from side to side; the crude partitions of the makeshift stable wouldn't have held. Since several horses had hurt legs, they probably all got crushed. He realized he hadn’t heard them breathing for a while now.

I’ll have to go through the window, then...

Opening the small window, Shahin froze. Something pitch-black obscured the bottom half of the window. It wasn't just black; metal armor plates were embedded in it, and an ominous violet light seeped like steam from between the gaps. It had to be the source of the chill. An ashen mane flowed over the top.

"What... is this..." Shahin, who had been muttering blankly, froze again.

The ashen mane passed by, revealing a black head that looked as if it were wearing a helmet, and the glowing violet eyes of a beast.

Grrrr...

With a breath that seemed laced with a curse, the eyes stared directly at Shahin. Shahin couldn’t even breathe. The gaze and the sound seemed to freeze his very soul. Yet he sensed no killing intent in the beast’s eyes. It was merely observing him.

"Mo... ro?" said Shahin, after what felt like an eternity. He had realized that the gaze and the shape of the armor were strangely familiar.

Grrk.

The creature huffed as if in reply, then its gaze shifted away. Its massive body then rose in front of the window.

Clank— Clank—

With the sound of metal-shod hooves, the creature that had been blocking the window moved forward.

Shahin’s mouth hung open. "By Lu Solar... my goodness..."

He realized the monster was, in fact, Moro.

The Vanturian boy from the slums had no way of knowing that this wasn't even the creature’s true form, or that it was shrouded in chaos only to resist the divinity.

Did it fall to the madness of the Black Wall I’ve only heard stories about?

He could only stand in silent shock at the sight of the paladin’s steed, now a creature from a nightmare. As Shahin debated what to do, Sanford’s shout echoed between the sound of hooves.

"Elder! Are you alright?!"

A magically amplified shout immediately followed from somewhere above the carriage. "Not alright! There’s a very serious prob—"

Thesaya was cut off as if someone had clamped a hand over her mouth. Her shout continued only after Moro had completely moved past the window. "It’s nothing! Just get us moving! They’re coming!"

"You heard her, you bastards! Finish up and get in position! We need to turn the bow to starboard!"

As Sanford shouted, Shahin pressed his face to the window. It wasn't just Moro's large, powerful form that was now fully visible. The horses also became visible, sprawled on the floor of the chaotic cargo hold. Only the wild courser was still on its feet, pressed against the wall, its belly on the floor.

Grrr...

Moro was nudging the fallen horses, pushing them aside. The blade-like horn that protruded from its snout looked menacing. The horses, of course, couldn't even breathe, let alone resist. Whether dead or unconscious, even those still rasping for air were no different. They were all too terrified to make a sound.

Was that why it was blocking the carriage?

Shahin blinked, watching the scene unfold. It occurred to him that perhaps Moro had been trying to keep the horses from being crushed beneath the carriage.

"H-Help! Help me! Sir Brennen!" A stifled cry reached Shahin’s ears.

It was undoubtedly the young master from the capital. It was also clear that his voice wasn't loud enough to reach Brennen, who would be with the rowers.

"I-I’m coming!" Shahin shouted instinctively and threw open the door, running outside.

Moro merely glanced at him without charging. As the beast lowered its head again to push the horses further into the hold, Shahin flew toward the stairs.

"W-we’re all gonna die! We’re dead, I tell you!"

"Shut your mouth, you brat! Get to your seat already!"

"Sit down, unless you want to die!"

Faint shouts echoed from the far wall. Ignoring them, Shahin descended the stairs and let out a gasp.

Crude cabins, once separated by flimsy wooden partitions, were now a complete wreck. The planks had all collapsed, and the wooden bunks were smashed and piled up. The shaking of the ship, as if it would capsize, wrecked everything.

"Damn it! Timber! Eddie! Please answer me!"

Hearing Simon’s stifled cries from within the mess, Shahin entered the hold. "Young Master, where are you?"

"Here! Here, boy, no, Shahin."

The voice was coming from under a tilted plank further inside. Pushing through the wreckage, Shahin found the blond-haired noble pinned beneath an overturned bunk.

"G-Get me out of here. My whole body is wet, and my butt hurts!"

Simon, who was shouting with only his head turned to the side, had his blond hair matted and tangled. Filthy seawater also covered his face below.

Pushing aside the debris, Shahin asked, "Where are the others?"

"Timber shoved me out of the room, and Eddie dragged me inside. After that, I don’t know... I was so confused—" Simon babbled incoherently, but Shahin offered no comfort.

Having cleared most of the wreckage, he approached Simon. "Take my hand. I’ll pull you out."

"All right. Easy now—

aaagh

!"

As Shahin heaved with his weight, Simon came free with a scream. Shahin, who had fallen on his rear, caught his breath.

"This was my favorite outfit...," Simon murmured, looking down at his ruined clothes.

Shahin immediately asked, "Are you hurt anywhere?"

"My heart. My heart is hurt."

Shahin nodded and quickly stood up again. "Then let’s look for the other two. I’ll go further in."

"Y-Yes, right. All right, boy!"

As Simon unsteadily got to his feet, Shahin stepped over the wreckage and moved forward. He had only looked around for a moment before he let out a low gasp. "This is..."

He had found the attendant sprawled among the debris. The attendant was lying unconscious, bleeding from one side of his head. Realizing the man was still breathing, Shahin exhaled in relief.

"Young Master! I found him! Help me!" Shahin shouted with all his might, but Simon neither rushed over nor replied.

"

Nngh...

" After painstakingly clearing the debris, Shahin grabbed the attendant’s arm and pulled him out. It was a good thing he was unconscious; one of his legs was clearly broken.

Shoving himself under the man’s left armpit, Shahin finally turned back.

"Young Master!"

Simon, who was slumped in a corner by the stairs, finally turned his head weakly. "Timber... is dead."

As Shahin’s eyes narrowed slightly, Simon burst into tears. "P-poor fellow! He was a good man."

"Could you finish crying while helping me hold him up?" Shahin muttered.

Meeting Simon’s gaze, he went on calmly, "Otherwise, this person might die, too."

"Th-That can’t happen!" Simon shook his head, panting. As he tried to stand, he paused, then reached out and tore something free.

Shahin frowned. "I don’t think this is the time to be looting the dead."

"Looting? I was taking a memento! You never know!" Simon shouted, standing up and approaching.

Shahin nodded. "So that’s what it was. My apologies, Young Master. I’m an orphan, so I wasn’t taught any better."

"

Uh,

no, you don’t have to put it like that..." Simon muttered, averting his gaze awkwardly.

He then came over to the attendant and slipped under his right arm. "

Ugh

, so damn heavy... Boy, use some more strength!"

"As you can see, I’m a bit short. My apologies."

Simon sighed at that reply and hobbled forward. Just then, a shout echoed from the corridor behind the stairs.

"Young Master— Young Master!"

"Sir!" Simon’s eyes widened as Brennen came hurrying into view.

Spotting Simon, the knight let out a sigh of relief and stopped by the stairs. "You’re safe... Thank the heavens!"

He looked just as wretched as Simon. Not only was he soaked, but one side of his face was covered in blood.

Without stopping, Simon said, "Timber is dead!!"

Brennen’s face hardened.

Under his gaze, Simon’s lips trembled, his expression twisting into a sob. "It’s my fault. He was trying to save me—"

"—Then it was an honorable death. He fulfilled his duty to the very end," Brennen cut him off in a solemn tone. He bit his lower lip, then nodded as if in conviction. "The Radiant Goddess and the Blazing Goddess will have carried Timberland’s soul to the heavens."

"Glory to the Radiant Light and the Blazing Passion," Simon lowered his head, murmuring, one hand pressed firmly to his chest.

"...This man we’re carrying is just unconscious," Shahin added carefully, having been watching them.

Brennen finally looked at him and nodded. "Yes. You saved Young Master. Thank you, Shahin."

"Is the situation outside... that bad?" Shahin asked instead of replying.

Brennen let out a sigh. "It would be a lie to say it isn’t."

As if to confirm his words, Sanford echoed from far away. "Port side! Row faster! Before those crazy monsters get here! Faster!"

The desperate shouts of the rowers echoed chaotically. As the deck rocked more violently,

Simon, who had frozen for a moment, said, "A-Are we going to follow Timber soon, Sir? I don’t want to go to the heavens yet."

"Everyone is doing their best, Young Master. Please do not worry too much."

To Shahin, it sounded like he was telling them to prepare for death.

As the bow of the ship dipped, Brennen looked back at Shahin. "I leave the Young Master and Edward to you. I must be getting back."

"Yes, sir," Shahin nodded.

As monstrous screams echoed from the far left, Brennen glanced at the two of them in turn. "Do not, under any circumstances, come outside. Do you understand?"

"O-Okay. But Sir Brennen." Simon, trembling, stopped at the foot of the stairs.

"Yes, Young Master."

"Don’t die. Come back safely."

"I will do my best." With a respectful bow, Brennen spun around.

Simon watched his retreating figure with eyes full of fear and worry. Shahin, however, wasted no time stepping onto the stairs.

"Follow me, Young Master. I’ll take you to the carriage."

"

Uh

, y-yes!" Simon nodded.

The stairwell was narrow, forcing the small-framed Shahin to turn sideways and lead. Supporting the attendant, Simon shuffled behind him step by step.

"They’re coming— The monsters are coming!"

"Shit, why the hell are they coming from the side too?"

"Pull while you’re talking! Pull—!"

"Goddess— Not today! Please not today!"

Desperate shouts seeped through the walls.

Simon’s already pale face drained to ash gray—partly from the monstrous roars closing in.

"Let me warn you in advance, Young Master—try not to be too shocked," Shahin said, suddenly looking down at him as he reached the top of the stairs.

Simon, following him up, nodded blankly. "Don’t worry. I mean, it can’t get worse than—"

He froze without finishing his sentence. He had spotted the large, black beast standing on all fours beyond the carriage, pressed against the wall.

Grrrr...

Moro turned to them with a low rumble. Simon’s legs gave out, and he collapsed on the spot.