Sea Monster Stew Chapter 71

“I never thought I’d come to Witches’ Cove.”

Biche blankly surveyed the island of the sea witches, shrouded in thick fog. 

 

According to legend, the sea witches controlled the mist and tides, opening and closing the passages to the island. 

 

The fact that Kisa’s ship had safely reached the port was also thanks to Admiral Moose, who was from Witches’ Cove.

“But… Didn’t you say Hildert is also from Witches’ Cove?”

When Biche whispered with a frightened face, Kisa, who was preparing to disembark with the sailors, gave a playful smile.

 

“Hildert is the only son of ‘Calyxo,’ an elder witch who rules this island.”

“What? Then… shouldn’t we run away immediately?”

“Calyxo despises the Helios Empire terribly and considers her son, who became an imperial privateer, a traitor.”

“So… that means there’s no chance of Hildert showing up here?”

“Right. You don’t need to worry.”

 

Even after hearing Kisa’s assertion, Biche couldn’t feel at ease. 

 

Unconsciously, she bit her nails and scanned the deck crowded with sailors.

Everyone seemed busy preparing to disembark. 

 

The naval battle with the imperial forces seemed to have already faded from the sailors’ minds.

Three days had already passed since their victory in the naval battle. 

 

That also meant there was only about a week left of the time Hildert had permitted.

 

‘One week…’

 

Biche turned her gaze to Kisa, who was moving oak barrels with the sailors. Her eyes gazing at him grew increasingly gloomy.

 

‘…I’d rather have my heart crushed by Hildert.’

She didn’t want her identity to be discovered by Kisa and ultimately meet her death at his hands. 

 

If disgust flickered in those eyes that had looked at her so adoringly, it would be unbearable.

“Moose.” Kisa, who was directing the sailors, suddenly called for Admiral Moose. 

 

Moose, who was sitting on the deck railing busily checking documents, snapped irritably.

“What! I’m busy. Didn’t you say you’d handle the entry permit review yourself?”

“I’ll take care of that. You take Arco and show her around the port town.”

“Oh, really? I won’t say no!”

 

Moose practically threw the stack of documents at Kisa and grabbed Biche’s hand firmly. 

 

Biche looked back at Kisa with a flustered expression.

“Kisa?”

“See you at the inn.”

 

Kisa handed the stack of documents to a young sailor nearby and waved his hand. 

 

Biche was practically dragged off the ship. 

 

Moose strode briskly across the beach with its gray sand, grinning widely.

“What’s gotten into that insensitive guy? Seems Kisa really cherishes you.”

“What do you mean?”

“In a little while, my friends will swarm the ship for the entry permit review.”

 

“Your friends… you mean the sea witches?”

 

“Right. They’re obviously curious about the noble lady that the Live-Skinner Kisa supposedly kidnapped, and you’d probably find the witches’ attention uncomfortable, so he’s sending you far away in advance, isn’t he?”

Biche looked back over her shoulder at the receding ship. 

 

She could faintly see Kisa standing on the deck, waving.

 

“We haven’t even gotten the entry permit yet. Is it really okay to enter the port town already?”

“One person is fine.”

 

“But there are two of us?”

“I’m an exception. I was born and raised here.”

After passing the beach and a forest of tall pine trees, the entrance to a cave that looked somewhat abandoned came into view. 

 

The entrance was rugged, like wind-carved rock, and upon entering, cold, damp air enveloped them.

“That’s an artificial Milky Way my sisters made.”

 

Admiral Moose pointed proudly at the Milky Way flowing across the cave ceiling. 

 

Pure white starlight illuminated the entire cave instead of lanterns.

Biche couldn’t close her mouth the whole time she looked around the spacious cave. 

 

From within the mist covering the floor, a mysterious song could be faintly heard.

“I hear singing from all around.”

“The mist remembers the island and the witches’ songs.”

Moose muttered, her eyes slightly teary as if moved.

“But it’s home… it feels good to be back after so long…”

When they finally emerged from the cave, Biche gasped in surprise at the scene before her. 

 

It was a place more suited to the name “Ravine Town” than “Port Town.”

 

Beyond the town nestled between high ravines, a slope led up to a gray mine.

The buildings had strange shapes, with walls built from a mix of wood, metal, and enormous bones.

 

The hides of monstrous sea creatures fluttered like flags from each building.

The townspeople, meaning the sea witches, were also far from ordinary in appearance. 

 

Some had braids adorned with jewelry made of coral and seashells, while others had blue tattoos etched into their skin.

Just then, a witch wearing a jellyfish-like hat on her head waved at Moose.

“Moose! Long time no see!”

“Yeah. Hello.”

“I heard the news. Your pirate crew finally went under completely, huh?”

“Yep. Thanks to a damned traitor.”

At Admiral Moose’s curt retort, witches passing by burst into sharp laughter. 

 

Biche looked at the witches, who were as tall and lanky as Admiral Moose, and licked her dry lips.

Scenes that were bizarre yet unique were endless around her. Her gaze kept scattering in all directions.

The counter of one shop was filled with glass jars containing enormous eyeballs. 

 

Young witches were happily running around, rolling the jars like balls.

 

Elderly witches flew leisurely through the spice-scented market on floating carpets.

“Let’s go.”

Admiral Moose walked on silently as if accustomed to such sights, but Biche couldn’t take her eyes off the surroundings.

That’s when it happened. A murmur of voices came from around a corner. 

 

Moose stopped and pointed with her chin towards the corner.

“Looks like they caught a whopper for once.”

“A whopper?”

“Wanna go see? You’ll see something interesting.”

Unable to contain her curiosity, Biche passed the corner. 

 

As soon as she entered the vast square, she had to cover her nose from the thick stench of blood.

 

Sea witches had gathered in the square and were processing the carcass of a gigantic, monstrous sea creature. 

 

The witches had spread the creature’s hide wide on the ground and were diligently scraping off the barnacles stuck to its blue scales with knives.

 

The movements of the witches processing the creature were skilled yet strangely cruel. 

 

A leviathan that once ruled the deep sea was being dismantled here like mere livestock.

Biche was seized by a suffocating sense of oppression and shock. 

 

Her heart pounded loudly. 

 

Unconsciously, she took a step back and hid behind Admiral Moose.

‘Don’t tell me… even here, sea creatures are considered beneath livestock?’

As the thought crossed her mind, her body instantly turned cold.

“Sea witches value resources hauled from the sea and byproducts from sea creatures more than gold or silk.”

Admiral Moose spoke softly, as if soothing Biche, who was trembling and clutching her clothes.

“The bones of monstrous sea creatures are used for weapons, their scales for armor, and their blood and entrails for potion-making and magical rituals.”

 

“You… you don’t eat them, right?”

 

“Sea creatures? No way. It’s not like we’re suffering a famine, why would we put that in our mouths?”

She shook her head firmly and wrapped a large hand around Biche’s shoulder.

“Shall we head to the inn first? You look really pale.”

“Yes…”

“You’re not feeling sick anywhere, are you? If you get sick, Kisa will pester me, you know.”

She turned her steps towards the inn with the playfully laughing Moose. 

 

The inn’s exterior was surprisingly ordinary. 

 

It was a modest wooden building like ones often seen in the Karabas pirate archipelago.

Pushing open the heavy wooden door and stepping inside, warm air enveloped her lungs, giving a strange sense of relief. 

 

However, the tension frozen on her face didn’t ease easily.

“Tusa! I’m back!”

Admiral Moose waved happily at the innkeeper. 

 

A witch with black tattoos on her face greeted Moose with a snort.

“Back, huh? You’re just going to crawl out again to get your revenge, aren’t you?”

“Of course. I can’t just leave that imperial dog Hildert alone, can I? Oh, by the way, you have the rooms ready for us, right?”

“I cleared out the entire 3rd and 4th floors… But shouldn’t the entry permit come first?”

“Ah, as if Elder Calyxo would kick us out?”

Biche looked around the first floor of the inn with a frightened face. 

 

The space used as a dining area looked as ordinary as any other inn. 

 

It was strikingly different from the town’s scenery, which was strange, even bizarre.

“And who’s this…?”

The innkeeper, called “Tusa,” lowered her gaze to Biche, who was clinging tightly behind Moose. 

 

Moose sat Biche down and whispered with a playful face.

“She’s my new captain’s lover.”

“New captain? You mean the Live-Skinner Kisa?”

Tusa raised her thick eyebrows and stared intently at Biche.

“Oh my, then this young lady is the one who’s been the talk of the town lately…?”

“That’s right. The bride Kisa took from that traitor Hildert.”

 

“My goodness. Young lady! Let’s talk in detail over some food! Just a moment!”

Biche watched awkwardly as Tusa hurriedly rushed into the kitchen. 

 

Soon after, Tusa returned with a tray holding two steaming bowls and cups of ale.

“You must be hungry, right? Moose, you sit down too. I just finished a pot of hot stew.”

“Wow, I really missed the taste of your cooking, Tusa!”

“Lies. Weren’t you just saying the chef at the Crocus’s cooking surpassed mine?”

“Huh? Did I say that?”

Moose sat down next to Biche with an innocent face. 

 

On the table were placed bowls of steaming meat stew and cups of lukewarm ale. 

 

The savory smell of stew filled the air.

“Eat up. Guests who try my special stew always say they can’t forget the taste.”

Tusa kindly pressed a spoon into Biche’s hand. Biche smiled awkwardly and glanced at Moose.

Moose was already hurriedly emptying her stew bowl. 

 

The carcass of the monstrous sea creature she had seen in the square suddenly came to mind.

‘…It’s not made from sea creature meat, is it?’

But her doubt was short-lived. 

 

Seeing the bowl that Admiral Moose had emptied in an instant put her mind at ease.

 

Biche relaxed and lifted her spoon.

 

The moment she put the first spoonful in her mouth, she stopped dead. 

 

The savory, slightly salty flavor, the tender texture of the meat that chewed easily, and the subtle harmony of spreading spices…

It was a strangely familiar taste. 

 

Biche opened her eyes wide and looked down at the stew bowl.

It was the exact same taste of the meat stew she had tasted at the Peacock Castle.