“The waves are high!”

“It’s dangerous to proceed like this! We need to turn the ship around!”

The ship’s captain and crew were running around. Some were inside the ship, clasping their hands, while others were holding onto the ship’s railings, trembling.

Waves higher than mountains were jumping over our heads, as if they would swallow us at any moment.

Splash!

A large wave approaching from a distance was awe-inspiring rather than fearsome.

“Row the oars! We need to escape the waves!”

“Ugh! O gods! Lady Semula! Please have mercy on us…!”

Water, splashing from an unknown source, struck my face forcefully. However, the ship’s railings, especially the priests standing at the very end, did not retreat.

“Pray.”

The unwavering voice of Chief Priest Elif followed like a compass finding its way. The priests closed their eyes and prayed, overcoming their fear with clasped hands.

“O Semula, love and help your child,” they prayed.

Elif, with clasped hands, continuously prayed, asking for courage to navigate through this crisis wisely.

The tsunami-like waves, which seemed to swallow us immediately, continued to threaten us.

The ship swayed and tilted heavily. The tidal wave rushing over us was stopped by prayers, but the strong wind prevented the ship from moving forward.

“If we die, it’s all because of Princess!”

Jaisang, holding onto the railing with both hands, trembled and shouted. Drenched in seawater from the splash, he looked like a soaked rat.

“…You resemble a rat.”

“What did you say?”

“Small eyes and very large incisors. Resembles a rat, Jaisang.”

“Princess!!”

“Address me properly. I’m not the princess you knew.”

Jaisang tried to retort, but due to the ship tilting again, he couldn’t say anything and tightly shut his mouth.

I passed by Jaisang and headed to the bow. Like the person standing in front of the ship, I faced the direction the ship was heading.

“Captain.”

At my call, the helmsman and the ship’s captain, who were talking, hurriedly approached. Without turning back, I spoke harshly while looking at the rough waves and the wind.

“Don’t slow down the speed, and don’t think about changing the course.”

“B-But, Your Majesty. The wind is too strong now. The waves are the same, and at this rate, the ship may capsize.”

“Don’t worry.”

I needed to get to Karayan as soon as possible. There should be no slowing down or changing course.

Just a few minutes.

In those few minutes, I might not be able to save Karayan.

“There will be no shipwreck. You will safely set foot on the land of the Lupion Kingdom.”

Because I will make it so.

“If the Empress says so, it shall be. Don’t dilly-dally and guard your positions.”
Having roughly sensed what I intended, Revenpelle stood guard behind me and shouted loudly. The crew members who were attempting to flee, frozen by the emperor’s command higher than the captain’s, stood in place as if nailed.

“Do everything you want, Terry.”

“……. ”

“I’ll handle the rear.”

I glanced at Revenpelle and Jaelim’s backs as if protecting me. Then, my gaze met Elihu’s, who was folding his hands and bowing towards me.

He nodded as if trusting me.

‘Ha.’

I took a deep breath. While looking at the fiercely waving sea, I drew the divine power within me.

The defense technique I learned from Mu before.

‘If this power is indeed the power of the World Tree, then… I should be able to calm this turbulent sea due to the disrupted balance.’

The drawn divine power moved according to my will. I now understood why I couldn’t control this power before.

Because I didn’t have the will to save the world.

This power is the will itself. It constantly healed me, who wanted to live according to my mother’s admonition.

To hide my power all the time so as not to be discovered.

The power that read my hesitation and fear until now hesitated to save others.

What Mu taught about controlling power was this: firmly establish your will.

So, I…

“I have to save Karayan.”

Now, there’s no hesitation or fear.

My power moved as if responding to my will and enveloped the ship like a shield. Then, the sea on the path we were going became calm precisely as if responding to my voice.

“The, the waves are subsiding!”

“The, the wind is favorable!”

“What’s going on! The direction I’m looking at now is filled with dark clouds as if it’s going to pour rain…! Wh, what is this!”

It was a completely different tranquility from the situation right next to us. The sea on the path we were going, no, the path I was going.

The sea on that path was as calm as slipping silk, and the wind gently pushed our backs as if urging us to go.

“Now is the time! Unfurl the sails and row! Get out of the sea!”

The captain and helmsman shouted loudly. The crew members, who had lost their minds at first, quickly regained their composure and held their positions.

“Captain! What on earth is happening?”

“How would I know! I’ve been at sea for fifty years, but this is the first time I’ve seen something like this!”

“That, that side is still a tsunami!”

“Good grief. It seems like the god…”