Chapter 594: Sea Hand Malik (1/2)
”You're not going?” Pocky couldn't help but ask in worry when the kid and the strange magician human stayed behind.
After a delicious meal, the trio drew lots to decide who would defeat the tree ent. It was Truen who won, and Bob couldn't help but be a little suspicious of the results. Truen could have rigged it, seeing how the wood elf proposed the idea. Zero pouted but didn't suspect a thing and wished his best friend good luck.
”Don't beat it up too badly!” Zero yelled. ”We need all the wood it has!”
Bob shook his head and forcefully hugged the cuddly sea otter. ”Don't worry, It's time for a nap. In the meantime, I think my master has some questions for you.”
Indeed, Zero has been waiting for this chance to intero- to interview the famous shipwright. That glint in his eyes made Pocky want to run. He half-regretted agreeing to travel with this strange party.
”Is it true that you can build a ship that sinks? We're looking to visit Indra Seagloo. The werebeasts said that only the Sea Hand brothers can create such a vessel! Many years ago, you and your brother built King Gaon a battleship to fight the sea monsters. It's a pity that the Kraken smashed it. I would have loved to see if it was mightier than the invention of gnomes.”
Pocky didn't know what to do as Zero talked about what he saw in Derby Desert. It didn't matter how insane the stories coming from Zero's mouth sounded. The sea otter werebeast thought that this strange magician wasn't lying. In fact, the adventures he had been on reignited the flame in Pocky's heart.
”Have you seen the sea in all these countries?” he asked eagerly. ”Tell me, you've travelled almost all of the world. Do you think the world is flat or round?”
Zero blinked and grinned. ”What do you think?”
Bob wasn't interested in philosophical discussions and snored away with Pocky in his arms. That didn't deter the shipwright from sharing his thoughts.
”I believe it is flat,” Pocky declared firmly. ”The edges of the world are at the sea. We can see all of the lands, but after the sun goes down by the edge of the sea, it never comes back. Instead, a new sun is born on the other side of the sky at the opposite edge of this world.”
It was an interesting discussion, and honestly, for the people who have never flown in the skies or tried to swim across the ocean, the world might appear flat. Zero saw it all from Heaven, so he knew that wasn't the case. Yet, he wasn't just going to tell Pocky. He wanted to know what Docky thought. How did someone who had never flown the skies or swam the oceans understand that the world was round?”
According to Pocky, his brother had a different gift. It was only when the two brothers worked together that they became able to carry on their master's legacy as the Sea Hand.
”Our master was a gift shipwright who once sailed the world and learned its secrets. Malik was half merfolk and half werebeast. Master Malik didn't speak much of his origins when he was alive. But there were stories saying his parents were a werebeast sea otter and a beautiful sea folk. Due to differences in their families, the couple eloped to build a village of their own in the wilderness. My older brother Docky learned the art of navigation and design from Master Malik, and I learned engineering to make my brother's design come true.”
Hearing that Pocky's master was half merfolk, Zero wondered if these shipwrights knew anything related to Indra Seagloo's location.
With a frown, Pocky admitted that he didn't know much about it. However, he quickly added that if Zero escorted him back to the village safely, his brother might be able to help.