Angor replied to Roman’s arrogant look with a cold stare, “If you say so, allow me to FULLY handle this.”
Roman kept smiling as if he just won a fight. He didn’t believe an ordinary level-3 apprentice could take on a stronger sea monster alone. As he observed in these days, this middle-aged man called “Padt” didn’t even have a proper bloodline infused. How could someone with such a squishy body compete with a supernatural predator?
He’s going to kneel and beg for his life... Roman couldn’t help smirking. And that’s when I can take everything from him.
“Ahem.” Roman tried to fake a friendly and determined look on the outside. “If you’re in trouble, Mister Padt, I’ll do my best to provide support from behind your back.”
Angor didn’t answer. That man’s malevolence was so obvious.
“Heh. No thanks, Mister Roman. It’s just a petty vermin. Please tend to your wounds.”
Roman’s smile froze.
Playing stubborn, eh? Fine, if the snake kills him, it saves me a lot of effort.
“I’ll be gladly waiting for your victory then.” Roman crossed his arms and pretended that he was well out of this.
The serpent already reached The Limpet, and there was no doubt that one single bite from it would penetrate the side of the ship.
Escaping sailors, a pair of bloody and sharp fangs... Time seemed to be slowing down to allow a painter to capture the perfect timing to create a masterpiece.
The story should have ended with The Limpet breaking down into drifting planks, while the mortals sank either into the water or the monster’s belly. However, a loud and sharp bird call changed everything.
Roman saw something of grayish color sweeping past his view. The serpent’s body was suddenly launched into the air as if a cannonball hit it from below.
The same call was heard again, along with a gray flash of lightning, which pierced the monster’s head before it could react.
White and red brain fluid rained down and washed the deck.
After losing its head, the serpent’s body squirmed for several more seconds before it began to fall.
That was less than two seconds. Two seconds, and the hunter became dead prey.
Before the giant corpse could hit the ship, the gray lightning ran into it again and stopped its falling momentum.
This was when Roman finally recognized the gray figure, which was a strange-looking seafowl wearing some kind of suit. As he gazed in great confusion, the bird slowly descended and landed on Angor’s shoulder.
Meanwhile, the snake corpse also landed slowly on the ship while covered by a cluster of gray fog.
What-what was that? Roman felt his arms trembling. And what about my plan? That filthy a-hole should die in front of me so that I can take his stuff! Something ruined it!
Also within two seconds, Roman felt as if he turned from a smart conspirator into a clown who played a part in the plot he was writing.
While still trembling, he slowly looked at the strange bird again.
He knew what it was since that Padt man took the animal onto the ship. But according to his observations, the bird only showed insignificant energy signatures like those low-leveled messenger familiars.
It was common for wizards to use animal-like familiars to help with minor chores. Roman thought the bird was only one of those creatures. However, if what he just saw was real, the bird maimed a powerful level-3 apprentice-level monster almost instantly, which meant... it was at wizard level, or very close to it.
So that’s why this Padt man didn’t want any of the monsters I killed? He didn’t need them!
Roman noticed that when he stared at the bird, it also looked at him with a pair of red beady eyes that showed... Was that pride and disdain?
Thankfully, his robe hid his clenching fists well. His only choice right now was to display another friendly smile to Angor, but with a completely different mindset.
“If I had known that your partner is so strong, I won’t be wasting everyone’s time minding the monsters by myself.” Roman tried to strike a conversation, only to receive another cold sneer.
Of course, Angor didn’t plan to chat with this scheming fool. He simply disregarded Roman’s words and leaped onto the deck below.
Behind him, Roman’s expression turned dark as great hatred and jealousy burned brightly in his heart.
I spent my whole life working so hard to reach my level. That pathetic slacker achieved the same thing at such a young age! I need to fuc*king risk my life just to fight for a destiny to prolong my life of a supernatural, and that b*stard... all he needs to do is toss a chick around, and he can get everything!
WHY?!
Affected by his fanatical beliefs, his initial hatred against Angor slowly became uncontrollable resentment.
He clenched his teeth as he looked at Angor skillfully dividing the serpent corpse before handing the energy-rich meat chunks to the mortals around. Then he stomped back to his room and locked the door.
Angor almost sensed the intense hostility directed at him.
“Sir-sir, can we really have these?” a sailor with a red bandanna asked him. Even as mortals, they knew how valuable the monster meat was.
“Go ahead.” Angor left most of the corpse to the sailors while only keeping a small part of it as an extra ration for the Krakoks. The meat didn’t seem to be a very high-leveled material, and it would spoil pretty fast. Might as well fully utilizing its purpose; meaning, eating it.
The sailors cheered. Some of them already started dreaming of becoming talented apprentices just by eating the monster meat.
“Don’t forget to ask your chef to prepare some roasted snake for me. It’s so hard to enjoy a proper meal on the ship,” said Angor.
“Not a problem, sir! Guys? All hail meat and wine!!!”
“Let’s do a party out on the deck! Everything tastes better after we escape from death!”
Everyone agreed to the suggestion. It was difficult for these seafarers to find things to pass time, and today was a perfect chance for it.
The horror brought by the attacking monster was almost forgotten. The entire ship was bathed in delight and the smell of a festival. Sailors and chefs brought their cooking stands and wine barrels onto the deck. Singing, munching, yelling, and arm wrestling... Even Toby failed to hold back the urge and joined the sailors. His terrible singing voice didn’t sound so bad when combined with the gruff tones all around the place.
Angor quite liked the happy sight. Although he wasn’t going to get in there—he simply watched quietly.
After a while, most sailors lay sprawled out on the deck when the alcohol kicked in, leaving only several more faithful ones attending to their jobs.
Angor found Toby and was going to bring the drunk bird back to his cabin. But he saw Helen leaning against the entrance to the cabin area.
“Thank you for what you did, sir,” Helen greeted him as she flipped her black hair away from her eyes.
“Again, your job is to take the ship to the right destination, and that’s the best reward,” said Angor as he headed into his room.
Helen suddenly lowered her voice into a whisper as she said, “Please watch out for Mister Roman. The way he looked at you... It isn’t right.”
Angor gave her a reassuring smile and closed his door.
Well, at least she’s a woman with a sharp mind... which is pretty rare in this world now.
The ship once again spent several days in peaceful weather. Angor was expecting Roman to do something to relieve his rage, but it never happened. The man shut himself in the room and never showed up.
And this forced Angor to be more cautious.
As most people were unaware, the Month of Looming Frost arrived.