To Hell with Being a Saint, I’m a Doctor

“Even so, for the Saint to take the lead in exploiting the Goddess’s name…”

“If there are complaints, they will speak up for themselves.”

“There’s a limit to how comfortable one should be!”

Iriel burst out in anger, but Ray simply cleaned his ears in response.

“Don’t get so angry. You’ll get wrinkles.”

“I do not have any!”

“Even if we’re exploiting the name, the result is beneficial for the Holy Kingdom. Isn’t that clear evidence since Goddess Gaia hasn’t said anything against it?”

With that, Iriel found herself at a loss for words.

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Intrigued by the idea, Ray thumped his chest confidently.

“This is actually something worthy of praise.”

The infamous Saint, eager to exploit the Goddess’s name, sought commendation.

“Umm… But still…”

“Let’s go. I need you.”

“What exactly do you need me for? You’re capable enough on your own, Ray.”

Ray, who managed well alone, answered while packing his bag.

“If I die, you have to resurrect me.”

“…What?”

“It’s ‘the lineage of the hero,’ created in ancient times and has maintained its influence until now. Whether it was achieved through divine power or self-effort, it wasn’t easy. They must have amassed considerable strength and wisdom.”

She nodded in agreement.

“That makes sense. So, you’re taking me along just in case?”

“Exactly. The lineage’s power might be uncontrollable.”

“If it’s in the middle of the sea, we might be near its vicinity.”

Iriel sighed as she spoke.

“Sigh… Alright. I’ll follow you. If it’s for the Holy Kingdom, it’s okay if the troops’ return is delayed.”

Ray tilted his head in confusion as he watched her drink tea.

“What are you talking about? We’re leaving the troops behind.”

“…….”

She froze mid-sip at his words.

“Leaving them behind? Then, what about the ship?”

“We’ll find one there.”

“Do you even know how to sail?”

“I’ll learn there.”

“But we’re completely unprepared!”

“Sometimes, you have to face things head-on. Now’s that time.”

His excuses were impressively flimsy.

“So, they’re heading to the sea, facing fierce waves, without any preparation!”

Iriel’s face turned pale as she shook her head.

“This is madness.”

“Prepare by tomorrow morning. We need to start early to keep on schedule.”

“…Schedule?”

“Three weeks and two days, right? We have to visit all three places within that time.”

What was he talking about?

Traveling the entire sea in just 23 days!

Ray continued as Iriel’s face grew more serious.

“Although invisible, there seem to be many mechanisms in the sea. Otherwise, such currents couldn’t exist. Probably, no one has ever reached that sea because they died before even getting there. Using magic to go there would be too far, consuming an extreme amount of mana.”

“I don’t want to die yet!”

“Neither do I. That’s why we need to hurry. There seems to be a path in the sea, but it’s going to close in about three weeks.”

“What happens when it closes?”

“A massive wave will emerge. Powerful enough to shatter a ship to pieces… If you don’t want to swim, it’s best to stick to the deadline.”

As he spoke softly, as if giving a warning, Iriel shouted back at him.

“Ah, really! You always ask me for such tasks!”

As soon as she finished speaking, she began to gather her belongings hastily.

There was no time to leisurely drink tea now.

If they didn’t keep to the schedule, a death sentence awaited them at sea!

Ray shared the same thought.

Once they reached the port, they would need to find a ship and learn how to sail it.

That’s why time was even more pressing.

Although he had conducted a brief survey of the port area and prepared a list of necessary items, there was no telling what else might be needed.

If he thought about that too, there would be even less time.

‘I asked the intelligence agents to gather any information they could about the sea route, but… I’m worried about how much they can find.’

He seemed dissatisfied with his top-notch intelligence gatherers.

Watching Iriel bustling around, he thought to himself,

‘Even in her haste, she will prepare everything. I should tell the commander to return to the Holy Kingdom first.’

They needed to leave in the morning to avoid being late.

Actually, even leaving now would be cutting it close, but he knew well that moving at night was inefficient.

That’s why he planned to leave in the morning, despite the pressing timeline.

After glancing around for a moment, he quietly left Iriel’s room.

The morning dawned bright with warm sunshine.

Birds chirped, and the sound of a stream flowing was pleasant to the ears.

Leaving the grand castle gate, which exuded an old-fashioned wooden scent, Ray and Iriel headed for the port.

He had already finished talking to the commander.

The commander had easily complied, believing it all to be God’s will.

“Take off your holy robes and pack them in the backpack. It’s better not to attract unnecessary attention.”

“Understood. But more importantly…”

“How will we get a ship?”

“You know me too well.”

“Your thoughts are all the same.”

Dodging her sharp gaze, Ray replied,

“Once we get to the port, we’ll meet people and ask for help.”

“What if… we don’t have enough money to get a big ship?”

Shaking his head at her concern, he said,

“We’re going on a small ship.”

“…A small ship?”

“If we apply reinforcement and weight reduction magic, it’ll be quite decent. A big ship is more likely to be destroyed by the waves.”

A sturdy ship made with modern shipbuilding technology might tell a different story, but a ship made simply of wood had a high risk of capsizing or damage.

That’s why a small ship was more advantageous here.

After all, don’t they say the smaller the chili, the spicier it is!

They changed into ordinary leather clothes and began to speed up.

They were known for their robust divine power and mana.

Once they decided to speed up, they moved at a tremendous pace.

After about three hours of running, the salty scent of the sea wafted from afar.

“It’s the sea!”

The coastal scenery sparkled brilliantly under the sunlight, epitomizing beauty.

Clouds soared high above, while the clear seawater greeted the two of them.

The lively square and vibrant expressions of the people indicated a sense of happiness.

Unable to help themselves, they quickened their pace with excitement.

It wasn’t long before they arrived at the port, eliciting exclamations of amazement.

“The Eastern Continent has its own charm.”

“Right. The trading port of Silia Kingdom was beautiful, but I prefer this place.”

Their agreement was mutual.

The clear sea below and the refreshing shade created a breathtaking scene that made their hearts race.

They stopped to marvel for a moment before regaining their senses and began looking around.

The first place they headed to was a large shop on the wooden dock.

It seemed like a place where one could find a ship or hire a boatswain.

With a hint of hope, they inquired about hiring a boatswain, and the owner asked about their destination.

“Where are you planning to go?”

Ray pointed to a location on the map.

“Here.”

As soon as the owner saw the location, his expression turned grotesque.

With such a face, he could easily have made a living off banditry.

“Are you asking me to die! Get out of my shop now!”

They were chased out of the first shop.

Iriel showed an awkward smile.

“That didn’t go well.”

“It’s only the first try. Maybe we should give up on finding a boatswain. We’ll stick to the plan and learn to sail ourselves.”

“You don’t even know how to sail.”

Ray, who only heard what he wanted to hear, completely ignored Iriel’s words.

The second place they headed to was a small shop on the same dock.

It wasn’t shabby but modest compared to the surrounding stores.

Upon entering, they saw a robust man.

“Welcome!”

He was quite an energetic man.

“We’re looking to buy a small ship and learn to sail.”

“We have ships, but… You want to learn to sail?”

“Yes.”

“How long do you have in mind?”

“Four days at most.”

“Four days?”

The man’s face scrunched up instantly.

“It’s hard to sail properly even after a year of learning! Every body of water has its nature and path, and you want to master it in four days!”

“That’s correct.”

“Must think you’re something special!”

“I am somewhat exceptional.”

Ray took the sarcastic remark as a compliment, scratching his head shyly.

“Four days, what nonsense, you’re crazy!”

“We’re aiming for four days. Two days would be best to learn everything.”

He uttered these insane words with a serious expression.

Amazed by the crazy man’s audacious will, the man let out a hollow laugh.

“Heh heh heh…”

“We’ll pay as much as necessary. Is it possible?”

“Nonsense!”

The man’s roaring voice grew louder, and Ray changed his tone, grumbling.

“Tch. So it’s impossible after all.”

“You wouldn’t get it even if you learned for four years, let alone three days!”

“Is that so? How about a bet then?”

Ray’s eyes sparkled as he placed a leather pouch on the table.

Inside were three glittering gold coins.

The man swallowed hard, and Ray began his proposition.

“Three gold coins say I’ll learn it in three days.”

“Um…”

“You bet that I won’t learn it in three days. In return, you provide a small boat and teach me to sail. If you’re right, as you said, it’s a sure win for you. You said I couldn’t do it even in four years.”

Although it was unclear what Ray was so confident about, honestly, it seemed impossible for someone to grasp fully what they were taught in just three days.

The man thought the bet was in his favor.

Moreover, the shimmering gold coins in front of him were incredibly tempting.

The man coughed lightly and slyly made an offer.

“Hmm… Still, there’s always a chance, right? If you add just one more gold coin, I might be persuaded…”

“It’s not a difficult request.”

Ray added another gold coin to the table.

Now, it was Iriel who felt anxious.

“Ra-Ray! What are you doing? That’s half of our entire fortune!”

She shook her head with desperate eyes, resembling a wife trying to prevent her husband from succumbing to a gambling addiction.

But Ray seemed to have no intention of stopping.

“Don’t worry. I’m going to win this bet.”

He grinned and tapped the leather pouch.

“After all, with four gold coins, one could live comfortably for two years.”

At his provocation, the man also offered a smile.

“Heh heh heh. Little kid… Don’t underestimate a man of the sea.”

Thus, their bet was established.