Chapter 86: Dock 17

A month in Idea, and Ion’s visits had been limited to ruined mage towers, human and fairy villages, war-preparing command bases, a child’s oversized mansion, and small mountain hamlets with a few dozen residents. His impression of Idea was a world crumbling under the war with Giants.

But now…

Seagulls squawked, snatching snacks from passersby. Children laughed and ran, chased by bustling adults. Some held parasols to block the sun; others slathered oil to bask in it. Ships lined the docks, their horns blaring. Shellfish clung to pilings, and gentle waves sparkled under the sunlight.

Ion had to revise his view of Idea.

“Idea’s a thriving world…” he muttered.

“Obviously. Your world doesn’t have places like this?” Sevi asked.

“Earth has plenty of tourist spots. It’s just… this is the first lively city I’ve seen in Idea,” Ion said.

The people’s faces radiated ease and peace, as if the war ended a century ago. Elidivi Lake had seventeen docks, shared by eight bordering nations, each managing two. Dock 17, a jointly built hub, offered tax exemptions, drawing massive crowds.

Doesn’t this area spawn fields? Ion wondered, but soon saw otherwise. Signs for “Field Emergence Alert Stones” and disposable communication magic tools dotted the area. Offices with user party banners confirmed active field operations.

“Dam Ion, you’d faint in the Imperial Capital. I’ve been there. I’ll take you someday,” Sevi said.

“Thanks. Have you met the Emperor?” Ion asked.

“Yup! Remember the pony doll? That was from her,” Sevi said.

Even the Emperor had apparently charmed the naive dragon for favors. Ion headed to the docks to find a boat to the central island. Baba, perched on Sanse’s pot, asked, “Where you going? No food?”

“No time to eat. Gotta find a boat,” Ion replied.

Baba flew to Sevi. “Sevi, know cotton candy? Sweet, tasty, fluffy. Like a cloud. Candy cloud.”

“Candy cloud…?” Sevi’s face lit up.

“Dam Ion, I need cotton candy now!” Sevi declared.

Ion palmed his forehead. Baba added, “Sevi, cotton candy’s a snack. Gotta eat a meal first.”

“Dam Ion, I need food now!” Sevi said.

“Yeah, it’s mealtime…” Ion muttered, glaring at Baba as he turned toward the food district. Sevi scampered after, grabbing Ion’s robe with wide, glistening eyes.

“Dam Ion, don’t wander alone—you’ll get lost in this crowd. Stay close,” Sevi warned.

“Right…” Ion said.

“I’ll hold your hand. Stick with me!” Sevi insisted.

“…Thanks,” Ion replied, shifting Sanse to one arm. A small, soft hand gripped his tightly. Baba chirped happily.

The restaurant was packed, with a 20-minute wait. Ion, who ate half an adult’s portion, ordered modestly, but Sevi, with a dragon’s appetite, ordered enough for eleven. Sevi’s money covered it.

“Two guests?” the waiter asked.

“Yes,” Ion said.

“You ordered for eleven…”

“We’ll eat it. Please place the order,” Ion said.

The waiter eyed the robed boy, child, bat, and potted plant suspiciously but sent the order to the kitchen.

“Dam Ion, I’m hungry. Mana Sulfur,” Baba said.

Ion, expecting this, pulled some from a leather pouch, now using Teacher’s Compressed Space Pouch spell, mastered during Sevi’s village detours. He sprinkled a handful onto Baba’s plate.

Baba didn’t gobble it down like before, savoring each granule. Teacher’s refined Mana Sulfur filled quickly and lasted, odorless. Ion hadn’t cracked the refining method yet, busy mastering other spells.

“Baba, is it that good? What’s it taste like? Sweet? Sour?” Sevi asked.

“Nutty. Tasty. Filling. Makes me warm, energized. Try it, Sevi,” Baba said.

“Didn’t taste like that to me,” Sevi said, tilting their head and tasting a granule.

“Ugh!” Sevi spat.

Why try again after spitting it out three times on the way? Is this what kids do? Ion handed Sevi a tissue to spit into. Baba, muttering about waste, ate the spat-out granule.

“…”

Disgusted, Ion instinctively burned the tissue with a fire spell. Whoosh. He glanced around, startled, but no one cared.

“It’s like chewing gravel buried in ash. How do you eat this? I want Master’s roasted corn. When I see Master, I’ll ask for corn and invite you and Baba,” Sevi chattered.

Ion nodded absently as food arrived. Sevi fell silent, trained by their Breeder to stay quiet during meals, like Ion’s Teacher. Ion usually avoided eating in public but felt at ease with Sevi, spooning warm soup. Food was just fuel to him, not savored, so he ate quickly. Zieg would’ve been shocked, saying he swallowed, not chewed.

“Did you hear? Sarah Harunda recaptured the Talia base,” a nearby table said.

“Yeah, and they drove out Giants at the Sis base after a fierce fight,” another added.

“So, no Giant bases left in Illiand? The Empire’s living up to its name! They won’t stop at their own independence, right?”

“Of course not. I heard Deand’s next.”

“Deand… the North Continent’s first kingdom, whose royal line fell fighting Giants. They deserve help.”

“Exactly.”

The table fell silent, as if in a moment of respect.

“Anyway, rumors say the Giants are retreating. Losing four bases in a row, they might return to the Demon Realm. If Deand’s retaken, they really might.”

“War’s finally ending? This city’ll be swarmed with tourists again.”

This crowd isn’t the peak? Ion thought, stunned. Waiting 20 minutes for a non-lunchtime table was already intense.

“Unless a field-sealing event happens, it’ll get as lively as before. We can’t let our guard down,” one said.

“Don’t worry. Dock 17 has the most user parties in Idea. They clear Red Fields in ten days without an aura lord.”

Clearing an S-rank dungeon without an S-rank hunter? Ion realized it meant sheer numbers—maybe a hundred A-rank hunters.

Why so many aura users here? The answer was in a pamphlet. After the Human-Demon War, most ancient beasts were driven to Goltaia Canyon, but aquatic beasts lingered in Elidivi Lake’s depths, attacking ships. No vessel—research, tourism, or trade—could sail without escorts. As a tax-exempt hub, Dock 17 moved the most goods, needing many escorts, attracting mercenaries.

That explains all the swords and bows… The two discussing politics were lightly armored mercenaries. No one blinked at Ion’s fire spell because mage mercenaries were common.

“Sevi,” Ion said.

“Mmm, Dam Ion, it’s yummy. Eat more!” Sevi replied.

“Don’t wander alone. This place has scary people… it’s dangerous. Stay close, okay?”

“Got it. I’ll protect you!” Sevi declared.

Ion resolved to keep Sevi safe. A naive, people-loving dragon could cause trouble if noticed.

After eating, they headed to the ticket office. As expected, boats to the central island were booked for three days. Ion tried private, pricier boats. A tanned captain approached.

“How’d you know to come here?” the captain asked.

“Any boats to the central island today or tomorrow?” Ion asked.

“Nope, all booked.”

“I’ve got plenty of money. Name a price,” Ion said.

The captain waved him off. “No amount works. Passenger lists are set. There’s a spot four days out—want it?”

“I’ll check around and come back,” Ion said.

Other captains gave the same answer: no extra passengers, even for money. Dock 17 required passenger lists submitted 48 hours before departure for approval. No unlisted passengers could board, even if seats were empty. They needed IDs, which neither Ion nor Sevi had.

“How’d you get there last time?” Ion asked Sevi.

“Dunno. Grandpa Gon handled it,” Sevi said.

“…”

“I want cotton candy,” Sevi added.

Ion bought the useless dragon some, sitting them on a bench by a flowerbed. Sevi swung their legs, savoring the treat.