Chapter 91: Arrival at the Central Island

Why were the boss beasts flocking to gawk at Baba? They weren’t birdwatchers chasing a rare species with cameras. The beasts chattered among themselves, then vanished as quickly as they came.

The next day, no passengers dared step onto the deck. The pool closed, and the theater and casino stood empty.

“Let me go! I’m getting off this cursed ship!” one passenger screamed, clawing at an emergency boat.

“Mom, Dad, thanks for raising me. I’m going to Elida’s side now…” another muttered, scribbling a will.

Amid the chaos, mercenaries gripped their weapons, waiting. As expected:

“They’re back!”

“Damn it, more bosses!”

Mimic Snail, Yellow Octopus, Shidou Bird, Giant Barnacle, Crocodile Snake, a mold-covered whale-like beast, and a twelve-legged giant crab joined the fray. Ion, calmly holding Baba, stepped onto the deck. The beasts, without attacking, whispered among themselves and sank below the surface.

Passengers and mercenaries alike were desperate to escape the “cursed” cruise. If they knew the beasts were drawn to Baba, they’d have offered the bat as a sacrifice.

At dawn the next day, the ship, racing at full speed, sighted the central island. Aristocrats and merchants, disheveled despite their wealth, huddled together, shivering, awaiting disembarkation. Mercenaries masked their fear, clutching weapons. The island’s dock had a standing guard—if they reached it, they’d be safe. Please, no more incidents…

Tension hung thick. Then:

Whoosh! A massive wave blocked the ship.

“They’re here again!”

“Stay calm! They’ll leave like before!”

“Everyone, shut up! Nothing’s happened so far—they’ll disappear again!”

It was their last chance to see Baba, and the beasts turned out in force: Mimic Snail, Yellow Octopus, Shidou Bird, Giant Barnacle, Crocodile Snake, moldy whale, giant crab, and other bizarre creatures. Ion’s eyes widened at one in particular.

Among the animal-like beasts stood a humanoid figure, standing upright on the water, arms crossed, long hair flowing. It looked… human.

“Human?”

“That’s a person, right?”

“My gods, ‘those things’ really exist!”

Ion first thought of a Mine. Did a Mine cross into Idea? But it wasn’t—no horns, just a plain shirt and black pants.

“Dam Ion, that one’s staring at me too. I’m too popular. Can’t handle this,” Baba said.

“Get in here,” Ion ordered, tucking Baba into his robe’s wide sleeve.

“Why?”

“Just do it.”

“Okay. I’m obedient.”

Until now, Ion had brushed off the lesser beasts’ antics as a bizarre spectacle, but this humanoid beast felt different. Its heavy presence sent chills through him, a rare sensation. I wasn’t this tense facing a Mine.

Why it fixated on Baba was unclear, but as Ion hid the bat, the figure’s gaze shifted to him. Their eyes met. Ion enhanced his vision with magic: tanned skin, blonde hair covering the neck, black eyes, as tall as Jinseongha. It seemed entirely human, its gaze free of hostility but brimming with curiosity.

“Dam Ion, stand behind me. That thing’s looking at you funny,” Sevi said, transforming from parrot to silver-haired boy, unnoticed amid the crowd fixated on the humanoid.

“I’m fine. Protect the prince,” Ion replied, passing Sevi to Fevel and Fint.

Whoosh. “They’re leaving! Back into the lake!”

“Don’t let your guard down!”

The beast horde vanished as abruptly as it appeared, leaving massive waves and white foam. Ion evaporated the spray, frowning. Their last chance, and they just leave? Were they really just sightseeing?

Unease gnawed at him. I should’ve grabbed one and demanded answers. Amid the cheers, Ion alone scowled.

The ship safely reached the island. Since their paths aligned, Ion escorted Fevel’s group to the royal guard. The guard captain, seeing Fevel, rushed forward and knelt, looking more haggard than the fleeing prince. Fevel, Fint, and the captain embraced. Ion had heard the captain treated them like siblings since childhood—clearly no System Age traitor.

The captain thanked Ion and Sevi but cautiously asked them to join the group to Deand, a request Fevel and Fint hesitated to voice.

“We wanted to help, but we’re tied up with other matters. Sorry,” Ion said.

“No apologies needed. You saved us twice already. Without you, Fint couldn’t have protected me alone. We’re the ones sorry for asking too much. Thank you,” Fevel said, grasping Ion’s hand.

“I won’t forget this. I’ve nothing to offer now, but I’ll repay you.”

“Please, Your Highness, reclaim your throne so you can,” Ion said.

“Haha, I will,” Fevel promised.

He turned to Sevi. “You’re off to find your master, right? Stay safe and visit us with Lord Ion later.”

“Don’t worry. I’m a dragon—what’s to fear? You two stay alive and reclaim that throne thing. I’ll visit,” Sevi said maturely, though Fevel, finding it cute, patted their head. Sevi’s composed facade melted into a childlike pout, lips quivering, a dimple forming as they held back tears. They said goodbye to Fint too.

Before parting, Ion had a question. “Sir Fint, you saw that man among the beasts? People were shocked about ‘those things’ existing. What are they?”

“If I’m right, a Hybrid,” Fint said.

“Hybrid?”

“Yes. Many hush it up, but they exist among us.”

After the Human-Demon War, some demons stayed in Idea for unknown reasons, mingling with humans, fairies, or dragons, producing offspring called Hybrids. Shunned by humans and fairies, Hybrids, arrogant like their demon ancestors, hid their identities or lived separately.

Mines are Hybrids too, but treated oppositely. In Idea, Hybrids, diluted with human blood, were unnamed and ostracized. In the Demon Realm, demon-heavy Hybrids were recognized as Mines. Their arrogance seemed a shared demonic trait.

“Be careful, Lord Ion. Hybrids inherit demonic strength and potent magic. They seem fixated on Baba, so stay with Sevi,” Fint warned.

“I will. You and the prince take care,” Ion said.

With his curiosity satisfied, Ion bid farewell and turned to leave. Sevi, startled, grabbed his robe. “Fevel, Fint, bye!” Sevi waved. They waved back.

Sevi’s dignified farewell crumbled as foliage hid the pair. Sniff, sniff. “Waaah…”

“Sevi needs comfort. Dam Ion doesn’t know how, so I’ll teach. Pat head. Pat, pat,” Baba said, nudging Ion’s free hand with a wing.

Sighing inwardly, Ion placed a hand on Sevi’s silver hair, gently stroking the fine strands.

“Waaah!” Sevi hugged Ion, crying harder.

This isn’t comforting! I made it worse! Ion looked at Baba, panicked. Baba nodded, signaling it was right, and flapped a wing to keep patting.

“…”

Ion, who’d never cried or been comforted as a child, kept stroking awkwardly. Sevi, clinging to him, seemed to find it enough. So warm… and soft. Ion stood still, waiting for Sevi’s tears to stop. When they did, his robe bore tear stains.

A day after parting with Fevel’s group, Ion reached the World Tree. It wasn’t what he’d imagined—no towering height or sprawling branches. A small, withered, brittle tree stood among the lush Elidivi Mountains.

“How…” Ion dropped to his knees.

As a child, Ion had been thrilled to hear of Earth’s oldest tree, Methuselah, a bristlecone pine. Seeing its twisted, screaming form disappointed him deeply. He later found its beauty, but young Ion felt betrayed by the world.

Now, he faced that betrayal again. The World Tree, so unimpressive? It looked like a pine ravaged by every tree disease—blight, nematodes. His heart ached. How could people let the World Tree die of disease? Anger, resentment, sorrow, and grief overwhelmed him.

In that moment, Ion needed comfort more than anyone.