The Book Eating Magician Chapter 143:

Chapter 143 – Pirate Archipelago (3)

Jack looked at Theo with surprise .

“T-The ruler?”

The boy’s reaction was good for his age, but he wasn’t lucky today . Randolph and Theodore read the falseness in Jack’s voice .

In actual history, the war hero, Alfred Bellontes, was recorded as a ruthless person when it came to questioning prisoners . Theodore had inherited the experience of such a great man, so his eyes saw that Jack was hiding something .

However, it was too early to startle the snake in the bush .

“Is the question that surprising? This is like a village, so wouldn’t the Pirate Archipelago have a boss? I don’t think the pirates would have a democracy . ”

This was why Theodore took a step back . The guide was just a boy . The amount of information which could be obtain through forced means was limited . It was better to gather clues from the story than pushing through haphazardly .

“Oh, that is what you meant . ”

“It is my first visit, so I have a lot to ask you . I’ll give this to you if you answer me . ” As Theo spoke, he pulled out two five gold coins, making Jack’s eyes shine .

Jack’s worries didn’t last long . This was the Pirate Archipelago, an island of outlaws who ignored law and ethics . In this place, the most important thing was power . Those who had more power, either through violence or power, would have the upper hand . The tip of 10 gold was absolutely fascinating for a boy who had been born and grew up on the Pirate Archipelago .

Jack’s lips parted slowly, “…Should I tell you?”

As if he was holding great information, Jack put on an exaggerated expression and looked around .

Theodore nodded .  Then the boy started to whisper, “There are a few people on the island who behave as if they are kings . First, weren’t you guided by some pirate ships when you came to this island?”

“Yes . ”

“Did you see a man with one eye, who is wearing accessories made of human skulls?”

As soon as Theo heard the description of the skull ornaments and eyepatch, a scene flashed in his mind .  The man who had been chatting with the captain of the passenger ship fit that description . Jack noticed his expression and nodded .

“‘Captain’ Virtus, that is what the islanders call him . ”

Jack seemed hyped up by the story as he continued in an excited tone . According to the boy, there were four people on this island who had full authority . Apart from the captain who led visitors here, the island was divided into three zones . The lips of the boy, who smelled the scent of money, moved in a quick manner .

Red Light District’s Queen Bee, ‘Queen’ Maeve .

Godfather of the Casino, ‘Gold Toad’ Todd .

Stolen Goods Big Spender, ‘Thief’ Lupian .

Each one was responsible for one axis of the Pirate Archipelago . They had thoroughly divided their roles and areas, so they didn’t get into conflicts with each other .  It was a fairly orderly structure for a lawless zone . Well, if this order hadn’t existed, the island of criminals would’ve already collapsed .

“How interesting,” Theodore whispered before flicking a gold coin . “But that isn’t all, is it?”

“Huh?”

“Even if the people you described are in balance, that is only the story for the present time . It would be strange for there to be no conflicts when the four organizations were being established . ” As he rolled the remaining gold around between his fingers, Theodore met Jack’s greedy eyes . “Is there perhaps someone on top of those four people?”

Theo finally got to the main point . He had invested nearly 30 minutes of listening to a useless story for this reason .

The story of the four criminals was good, but it wasn’t what he needed . From the very beginning, Theodore had been wondering about the identity of the person who had created a barrier around the islands and achieved the paradise of criminals .

“T-T-That…” Jack followed the moving gold coin with his pupils before closing his eyes . Perhaps he knew nothing, or maybe he was unable to speak . “I-I don’t know . ”

Was it up to here? Theodore was about to put away the gold coin with a regretful heart when…

“B-But! I will tell you everything that I do know!” Jack called out half a beat later, in a desperate attempt to stop Theodore’s hand .

 

*     *     *

“One gold for a single room and two gold for a double room per day . If it is a special room, one gold is added to each one . ”

The innkeeper looked at the two people with a greedy expression as he rubbed his palms together .

It was a few times more expensive than accommodations on land, but this was the listed price for the Pirate Archipelago . Anyway, it wasn’t that overpriced for visitors to the island . Randolph’s eyebrows twitched at the absurd amount, but Theodore handed over the gold coins without any objections .

The two of them were able to get two rooms, where they would be staying for the next 10 days .  Randolph took off his heavy armour in the room and spoke first, “So, Young Master, what are you doing to do now?”

“I’m not sure . ” Theodore smiled wryly at the question and sat down on the bed .

It might’ve cost 10 gold, but the information he got from Jack was worth the cost . He didn’t know about Jack, but both Theodore and Randolph thought so .  There was a legend which the four zones and rulers of the Pirate Archipelago had in common .

“It is a problem if there really is a ‘sea **** . ’”

Sea god… If a church had heard it, Theodore might be accused of blasphemy .

Jack had never been there, but the island at the center of the Pirate Archipelago seemed to have a temple dedicated to the sea **** . In the end, it was nothing more than a rumour which floated around . Nevertheless, both of them sensed it .

The sea **** was the true ruler of this island .

‘If the sea **** created that fog… we can’t afford to go against it . ’

Theodore had encountered several master class and legendary brings in the past, so he guessed it easily . There was only a little bit of power left in the fog, but his whole body had gotten goosebumps .

The sea **** had control over the sea . As for how much strength it had, the present Theodore couldn’t even imagine . It was an ability that was the exact opposite of a magician, who produced results efficiently . This was a limitless power which could twist reality .

“…It is just a guess, but I don’t think the opponent is a human . ”

A human with such power wouldn’t use it in such primitive ways . Just the fog covering the Pirate Archipelago exceeded the magic of an elder class magician . Theodore wasn’t of a common standard, but he wouldn’t be able to endure half of it .

In order to maintain the fog so naturally that it was like breathing, a minimum of eight circles would be needed .

Randolph accepted Theo’s assumption without questioning it . “I think so as well . I have seen a few of the empire’s Seven Swords from a distance, but the presence on this island is from an entire different category . ”

“The whole island seems to be its realm, so the environmental conditions are disadvantageous to us . It isn’t something we can face, even if we combine our powers . ”

“Right . Then what do we do?”

Theodore shrugged . They didn’t come here with the tremendous mission of subjugating the Pirate Archipelago . It was just a coincidence since they were running away from the Orcus Company .  There was no reason to recklessly go against an opponent they had no animosity with .

“Our top priority is hiding from the Orcus Company . I don’t think they can chase us to the Pirate Archipelago . Well, anyone who does chase us will be blocked by the fog . ”

If he looked at it differently, this island was a fortress . No uninvited guests could wander through the fog, so there was no need to reveal their identity . The presence of the being which ruled the island was scary if it was an enemy, but it was reassuring for those in hiding .

“It is a rational choice . I understand . ”

Of course, Randolph might be tempted to call Theo’s choice cowardly . However, Randolph was a mercenary, not a knight .

Rather than risking his life in a meaningless battle, he would step back and wait . Just like in the case of the elder lich, it was unknown if there was an exit, so there was no point gambling . He didn’t have a hobby of crawling toward death .

The two men finished their consultation and entered their rooms .

Theodore, whose mind had been busy racing, starting breathing calmly . The choice of fighting the sea **** was dismissed, so what should he do with this time?

‘My goal of escaping the Orcus Company’s hands is achieved . ’

At least, as long as they stayed in this Pirate Archipelago . It would also take some time for the next cruise ship to arrive .  Based on Jack’s explanation, the cruise ship stayed for around 10~14 days before leaving for the original destination . Theodore thought about what he could do during this break .

“Gluttony . ”

This was a chance to find out more about the ‘Transmission’ feature .

–You called .  As always, the voice came from the hole in Theo’s left palm .

“You spoke to me last time about Transmission . ”

–Um .

“You said that it is different from what I went through with Alfred, and that there is a process . Gradually assimilating the soul, or something like that . ”

Gluttony had only quickly mentioned it, but Theodore’s extraordinary memory recalled every moment of that time, without missing a single detail . In the end, Gluttony answered the question .

–Yes, that’s right .

“Teach me how to use Transmission . This is a question regarding your function, so it doesn’t count as a question and answer . ”

-…Okay .

Theodore carefully listened while inwardly suppressing his delight .

–First, ‘Transmission’ is my 4th stage function . It was designed as a means of using ‘Overwrite’ more efficiently .  If the author’s soul is loaded, you can use that ability be absorbing the soul .

He knew this much . After using Transmission on Alfred, Theodore had suffered terrible pain as the soul was absorbed .  If Superbia hadn’t attacked, there might’ve been a chance of his ego collapsing and he would’ve died . Soul fusion was a dangerous and unstable act .

However, according to Gluttony, it wasn’t originally like that .

–As you’ve experienced before, mixing the souls directly is a great risk .  So, there is a separate process in Transmission .

“Process?”

–Yes .  That process is called a Quest .

As Theodore rolled the word ‘quest’ around in his mouth, Gluttony continued explaining .

–User can talk to the authors of the eaten original books and absorb the fragment of soul by solving the desires that they’ve left behind .

“…In other words, do something for them?”

-That’s right .  If you want, you can ask them their wishes right now by calling ‘Lee Yoonsung’ or ‘Satomer . ’

-Who do you want to call first? Gluttony asked .

Theodore replied, “The author of [Battle Song], Lee Yoonsung . ”