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Chapter 263: How to Get to the Oceanic Academy

There are two main ways to reach the Oceanic Academy.

First, you can transfer when the “moving island” of the Oceanic Academy approaches the shore. Second, you can use the Gate connected to the Oceanic Academy.

The first option is incredibly popular as it allows you to witness the massive island approaching. However, the usage inevitably skews towards the second option.

Although the island comes near the shore at regular intervals, its erratic movement makes it impossible to know where it will dock.

Even someone like Yeon-woo couldn’t possibly know where the Oceanic Academy is heading next, so using the Gate was the only choice.

Honestly, I’d love to call up the ghost ship and ask for a lift, but I’d get shot at for being thought of as some monster approaching the island.

You can’t always ride in style! Sometimes, you have to take public transport like this…

“Speaking of which, this is my first time going to the Oceanic Academy.”

“It’s your first time, Dad!?”

“Mom, sister, me, and even Dawn are all going for the first time! What a coincidence!”

As Yeon-woo was about to poke fun at the fact that those four were obviously first-timers, they quickly covered their mouths.

Finding some commonality in their childish way, she held back the urge to sassfully question Tae-oh about why he treated the children so differently than Namgung Seong.

Yeon-woo resisted the urge to spill the words that nearly escaped and playfully tugged Tae-oh’s cheeks while beaming brightly.

“Right, it’s just a coincidence!”

“Ah haha! Let’s go, let’s go!!”

Tae-oh giggled gleefully. Wondering why he was acting like that suddenly, I couldn’t help but smile.

“It’s because Tae-oh is cute! What else?”

“Hehe! Heheh!”

“Why are you two the only ones playing!? Let me join!!”

As Shar joined in, the three of them started pulling each other’s faces, while Nea watched them with a warm smile. It was a look that suggested she viewed Yeon-woo as a child too.

“I see you’re having quite the day, my lady.”

“What can I say? They’re all just so adorable.”

As Dawn and Nea exuded a friendly atmosphere like a harmonious family, a polite knock echoed from the tent flap.

“Five individuals, please step into the Gate.”

“Okay. We’ll be right out.”

Nea replied cheerfully to the staff’s voice and clapped her hands, gathering everyone’s attention.

“Alright, let’s go! We need to get to the Oceanic Academy, right?”

“Wait, we’re done already? I thought the line would take longer. Did you hear that, guys? Let’s go!”

“Super excited!!”

“Tae-oh, let’s move out!! To the moving island!!”

As the two excited kids were about to rush outside the tent, Yeon-woo barely managed to catch and pull them back. The startled kids stared at her.

“Don’t you know you need to stick together? I told you not to run off on your own!”

It’s like our kids both listen and don’t listen all at once, and that childishness can be pretty cute.

*

Unlike the Gate leading to the Transylvanian fortress, the interior of the Gate leading to the Oceanic Academy was exceptionally clean. The ample maintenance crew was likely responsible for that.

Thanks to that, we ambled slowly, taking in the views, and it’d hardly taken us 20 minutes to reach the exit gate.

“When this gate was first discovered, there was nothing but an endless ocean out here.”

“Really? But why do we have a path now?”

Shar pivoted sharply at Yeon-woo’s brief explanation. Just as she had said, a path unfolded between the seas on both sides.

It seemed as though the path had always existed, but that wasn’t the case.

“It was made by bringing in dirt from outside. They sprinkled it in and then the mages worked their magic. There’s a bottom to this ocean of the Gate, you know.”

“Y-You made it using such a simple-minded approach!?”

“Yep, it’s a completely mindless method!”

Shar and Tae-oh chuckled at Yeon-woo’s resolute nod. The takeaway here is that sometimes, simplicity is the answer.

That said, the idea of filling in an absence of a path with dirt seems a bit excessive.

“Alright, let’s cross over.”

With that, Yeon-woo dived into the Gate leading to the Oceanic Academy.

Like a soldier, she bravely immersed herself in the Gate, and moments later, a subtly different scent of the ocean wafted in.

Lately, I feel a deepening connection with the ocean. As I pondered this, the light dispersed, revealing our surroundings.

“Welcome to the Oceanic Academy!”

Standing there was Dang Sa-ryeon in a green dress, giving a courteous greeting, alongside a man who was even taller than he appeared with a sword sheath at his waist.

It was Raymond, the instructor who had visited during the last Academy competition.

He waved one hand cheerfully like a child, grinning widely.

“Hi there!”

“Sir, maybe a bit more formality would be nice for guests from outside.”

“Come on, it’s vacation. Do I really have to go that far? Anyone would think you were the instructor.”

Raymond patted Dang Sa-ryeon’s stiff shoulders, who responded with a sigh of disbelief.

“How did you even know to come out here?”

“Well, that gate falls under the jurisdiction of the Oceanic Academy. When someone as famous as you passes through, they’re bound to bring it to my attention. Good to see you, Choi Yeon-woo! You’re that old man’s student, right?”

“Raymond, you look older than that old man, though…”

“Oh boy, you wouldn’t believe how he manages to look so young. It gives me chills every time I see him.”

Raymond chuckled at Yeon-woo’s jest. After all, he’s typically a friendly fellow. Considering how most renowned figures tend to be stiff, that personality stands out even more.

The first thing that came to mind when mentioning him was that flowy, laid-back attitude.

“Thank you for bringing your party along. Now, let me guide you to your accommodations.”

“Sure, please do.”

Like a dignitary’s visit, Dang Sa-ryeon led the way, and we followed.

Even though we were students from different academies, being linked to a Dragon Contract holder was reason enough for the Oceanic side to treat us with respect.

For Yeon-woo, it also wasn’t a bad gig. After all, she had something to discuss with Dang Sa-ryeon, and meeting Raymond, a renowned swordsman, was a must for her too.

“Anything unusual happen at the Academy?”

“Well, it’s pretty much the same old neighborhood. I was surprised to hear a Kraken showed up over there! What’s it doing here?”

“Oh, I wish it had shown up here! We could have gotten some interesting materials from it.”

Though the statement seemed nonchalant, Yeon-woo could sense it was born from confidence.

Receiving information about the Kraken had been possible because the Oceanic Academy had fought and bested it during its founding days!

Yeon-woo was starting from scratch looking for a boat, but the Oceanic Academy had strong vessels and excellent sailors.

Moreover, most hunters who specialize in hunting sea monsters were concentrated here at the Oceanic Academy, making it entirely feasible to take down a Kraken if it were to appear.

“Guess that old man’s prized student is catching some serious attention, huh? Are you really fifteen? You’re not hiding a fortysomething seasoned hunter inside, are you?”

“What are you talking about? It’s all thanks to my bond with Shar.”

Caught off guard by Raymond’s sudden remark, Yeon-woo feigned calm. Acting nonchalantly was no big deal at this point.

“I can do it too, you know.”

With Raymond praising her, Dang Sa-ryeon muttered this, revealing a hint of rivalry. Laughing, Raymond replied.

“Yeah, you might be able to, but if you did, the East Sea would be ruined, wouldn’t it?”

“…Ugh.”

Dang Sa-ryeon shrank back, as if he had no argument against that.

Well, that wasn’t entirely false. If Dang Sa-ryeon unleashed her poison, she could very well create something lethal enough to fell a Kraken.

However, there was no doubt that a dead Kraken’s body would pollute the sea.

“I’m not dismissing your abilities, you know? I repeatedly say that if you decided to fight for real, I’d probably be scared to face you.”

“…That’s, um, quite the compliment.”

Though pretending to be humble, Dang Sa-ryeon’s ears were turning red from being praised by the renowned swordsman.

They say the Oceanic Academy has a strict atmosphere, but whether it’s Raymond’s character or because it’s vacation, it seemed a tad looser today.

Nonetheless, Nea had been oddly quiet. I could occasionally hear the kids’ cheerful voices as they explored the Academy, but why wasn’t she joining in?

Thinking that, I turned around to see Nea, staring vacantly at the ocean, startled when our eyes met.

“What are you doing?” I mouthed to her, and she placed her finger to her lips and winked. I had no idea what that meant, but it was incredibly cute.

“We’ve arrived. Let’s unload our luggage first and see what we want to do after that.”

“Okay, I’ll be waiting by that cafe over there.”

With that said, Raymond and Dang Sa-ryeon walked away. Following their lead, we headed to our rooms.

It wasn’t a suite, but they had secured quite a luxurious room for us, and the key sparkled as we held it.

After placing our bags and items in the room, Yeon-woo approached Nea, who was gazing out the window.

“What’s up? Have you found a dragon yet?”

“Hmm, how should I put it?”

Nea wore an ambiguous smile at Yeon-woo’s query. Clearly, she had found something.

“It’s impossible not to find it. I can sense the presence of a dragon all over this island.”

“…Could it be?”

At Nea’s words, a thought formed in Yeon-woo’s mind. Nea nodded, as if confirming that suspicion.

“It seems the entire island is a dragon. It appears to be sleeping, but I’m trying to wake it up, but it seems deeply slumbering and won’t respond.”

Nea chuckled with a troubled smile. I thought it was just a unique moving island, but it turned out to be a dragon…!?

“No wonder it makes sense to refer to it as a dragon. There’s no way a mystical island could be moving around for no reason.”

Not just any island, a moving island. A typical island should connect to the earth, and the idea of it moving on its own is kind of terrifying.

It’s way more plausible to say it’s a massive dragon disguised as an island.

As Yeon-woo’s realization shifted her thoughts, Nea looked at her in utter disbelief.

(To be continued in the next episode)

 

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