Island of Galliant

It was disappointing that he couldn't open the Schema, but he was too preoccupied with remembering the monstrous strength he had witnessed at the time to dwell on such thoughts.

No, in a way, it seemed even stranger than mastering Schema itself.

Tess smirked and said with a chuckle.

"If I borrow the words of Instructor Kuan, he'd say it's brute strength as dumb as an ox. Do you know what happened at the swordsmanship school? They told him to try lifting a nearby boulder, and…"

"Hey! Why are you so interested in my records?"

Rian hastily cut him off.

He wouldn't have minded if it were anyone else, but it was embarrassing for Shirone to hear.

"Hahaha! But that's just like you."

As the mood lightened, others began sharing their own school experiences.

Although they pursued different disciplines, they were all students, which quickly fostered a sense of camaraderie. Like old friends, their conversation blossomed within the carriage.

The Journey to Galliant

Upon arriving at Creas Port, Shirone and his group searched for a ship bound for Galliant Island.

A large galleass docked at Pier 6 had just completed its preparations for departure.

Since all the schools in the kingdom had their breaks around the same time, there were more travelers than usual.

Swept along by the crowd, Shirone and his friends boarded the ship and settled on the third deck.

The salty sea breeze blew past them, and the ship bobbed with the waves. Only after the port disappeared beneath the horizon did they truly feel they were out at sea.

"How long will it take?"

"I heard it's about five hours by boat from Creas Port."

"I see. If we had been even a little later, we might have had to leave tomorrow instead. There are more people heading to the island than I expected."

As Shirone observed, the deck was bustling with people.

Half of them were merchants, but there were also a fair number of tourists and visitors from foreign lands.

"It must be as famous as Rian said. I wonder what kind of place it is."

"I did some research."

Amy pulled out a notebook as if she had been waiting for this moment.

Now more comfortable with the group, Tess casually spoke up.

"Oh? As expected, meticulous as always."

If there were two types of travelers—romantics and pragmatists—Amy clearly belonged to the latter.

"This is just basic preparation. To start, Galliant Island has an area of 1,500 square kilometers. It's shaped like a crescent moon, with natural cliffs in the north, meaning ships have to dock at the southern port. The western side has both residential areas and resorts, while the ruins of Kergo are on the eastern side. The Kergo ruins are said to be the remains of a temple built by the Kergonians, a civilization that thrived 2,000 years ago."

"Kergonians?"

"Yes. Though they perished, a small number of their descendants still reside in the island's central autonomous region. They have dark brown skin, deeply set eyes, and small pupils. Oh, and they tattoo their faces to honor Anke Ra."

"What's Anke Ra?"

"It's the name of the ancient god the Kergonians worshiped. And… hmm… The natives chew on something called 'Luf,' a tough tree root that induces hallucinations. They call it the divine stimulant. They believed it allowed them to commune with their god while in a trance. While the official cause of their civilization's downfall is said to be religious conflict, some theories suggest that excessive use of Luf led to internal strife."

"That's fascinating. A civilization destroyed by hallucinogens."

"It was probably because they abused it in the name of their god. Oh, right, my brother mentioned that most of the caretakers at the ruins are Kergonians, so we should be able to see them. However, the autonomous region is off-limits to outsiders."

Amy suddenly trailed off, prompting Shirone to ask,

"What about your brother?"

Amy's brother was Ares, an explorer. Given his extensive travels, he was likely well-informed about the Kergo ruins.

"He told me this—'The fall of a civilization is not something a scholar decides. If you truly wish to understand them, you must offer something far more valuable than an entrance fee.'"

His words were cryptic.

"Hmmm, does that mean something even greater than the ruins lies within the autonomous region?"

"I can't say for sure. My brother always talks like that. He thinks speaking in riddles makes him sound impressive."

"Haha! But I find it more interesting this way. 'Something more valuable than an entrance fee'… What could it be?"

Shirone felt his heart race.

Just like Alpheas, Ares seemed to imply that the Kergo ruins were no mere tourist attraction.

Rian straightened himself. If there was an underlying mystery, his duty as Shirone's knight became even more important.

"So, when do you plan on visiting the ruins? You're not going to start exploring the moment we arrive, right?"

"Nope. This is a vacation. We should have fun first."

"Then we need to find a place to stay. Let's head to the resort area when we dock. There's a great beach on the western shore where we can swim. There are also plenty of attractions and famous southern cuisine spots."

Tess clenched her fists, trembling with excitement.

"Ahhh, this is going to be amazing!"

Engrossed in conversation, time flew by. Finally, the island they had been waiting for appeared on the horizon.

"There it is! Galliant Island!"

Passengers at the bow pointed eagerly, and Shirone's group rushed to the front of the deck.

Towering cliffs in the north welcomed them—dense forests split by sheer rock faces, rising like a natural fortress.

The passengers gasped in awe.

"This is incredible!"

"The water is so clear! I can't wait to swim!"

Meanwhile, the merchants remained lying on their cargo, showing no signs of movement.

Since the port was on the southern side, they still had to sail around the island for another thirty minutes.

Galliant Port

The port was in chaos as merchants disembarked and laborers carried cargo.

Shirone's group waited for the crowd to disperse before stepping onto land.

The warmth of the southern climate embraced them.

While Creas had already entered early autumn, summer still lingered on Galliant Island.

As the merchants departed, a new wave of activity took over—hawkers eager to lure tourists into their shops and lodgings.

"Come to the Dolphin Inn! The most affordable rates for an unforgettable vacation! And my wife's cooking is to die for!"

"Looking for authentic southern seafood? Come to our restaurant! We even have carriages ready to take you there!"

"Need help with your luggage? We've got the strongest porters in town!"

The commotion was overwhelming.

Though no one had directly approached them yet, Shirone's group could feel eyes on them.

They weren't adults, which made them easy targets, and their clothing and weapons were clearly of high quality, making them prime customers for any hawker.

Of course, not all of them had honest intentions.

Across the dock, in a shadowed alley, a group of shady individuals scanned the arriving tourists.

"So, who's our mark today?"

A boy named Jis grinned, his eyes gleaming as he and his two friends scouted their next target...