Another two days later...
"Everything is set now," Nicholas said with a wide grin looking at Malaya with an expectant gaze.
"Yes. Of course." Malaya smiled with understanding then gestured to Rein.
Rein gave him three large bags of gold coins.
"Three thousand gold coins," Malaya said. Nicholas accepted it with glee.
"Thank you for your patronage, dear custor," Nicholas said with a smile.
"I could give more if you agree to be our shipbuilder in my crew," Malaya said.
"As much as I want it, I couldn't abandon my company. But don't worry, Marco would be a great help to all of you." Malaya gave a sideways glance to the young boy Nicholas was talking about.
"Ah! My things!" The said Rhy tripped on the ground just before he could step on the raft of the boat. He was quite lean around 6 ft and had this perfectly shoulder-length hair perfectly split into half.
"Hahaha!"Nicholas just laughs off the scene. "Don't worry even that guy seems not reliable, he was great a fixing ship and help us a lot here in the shipyard."
'From the way I see it, you were just using this as an excuse to remove a burden.' Malaya sighed inwardly.
"Then if the shipbuilder master recomnded him, then he must be good." Malaya simply replies, maintaining her usual business smile.
"I guess, we could take our leave now. Thank you for your services." Malaya gave a short bow.
"And thank you for choosing our humble shipyard to do business with you." Nicholas returned the gesture and bowed politely.
"I will wait to hear on the stories this ship would bring back."
Malaya smiled. "Yes. Look forward to it. Goodbye now."
---⚓⚓⚓---
"Thank you for accepting to be part of your crew!" Rhy Collomore bowed in a perfect 180 degrees. But then the glass he wore suddenly fell off from his eyes.
"Ah! My glasses!" Rhy began to panic as he rushed to pick his glasses.
"Where is it? Where is it?" He could feel his face reddening from embarrassnt.
"Are we really going to be alright with him?" Iris whispered beside Malaya. "He looks like a complete dork."
"Don't be so an." Malaya sighed. "The shipbuilder you wrote, recomnd him to us. Maybe he was good at sothing. Like, don't judge the book by its cover right?"
Iris simply shrugged her shoulders.
Malaya walked towards him.
"Here is it," Malaya simply pick his fallen glasses.
"Ah. Thank you!" Rhy imdiately grabbed it. Then he stood up with his back straight.
"Overall, I look forward to working with all of you!"He sounded a bit stiff like he was rehearsing these words a hundred tis on his mind.
"Yeah." Iris simply waved her hands. "I'm really starting to get worried here."
She mumbled which Malaya heard.
"Well, we look forward to working with you," Malaya said with her usual gentle smile. "Welco aboard."
"Then now that we are done with introductions, it's ti for us to leave." Malaya declared which earned everyone's attention us.
"Where are we going to go?" Iris said.
"To Hellarez."
Rein and Dorris simply nodded their head, since they already expected this. After all, they were with Malaya when she planned the trip she was going to have.
"Hellarez!" Rhy explained in surprise. "Isn't that the Forgotten Island of Death? I must have heard it wrong."
Elred who was just leaning on one of the railways kept his eyes close, but his ears were also waiting for whatever reason Malaya and her group would go there.
"It is the nearest island to the Red Current." Malaya calmly replied.
"Red Current!" Rhy yelled again in surprise.
'This guy surely loved to shout.' Malaya thought.
"Yes, if you're not comfortable going with us. I think we can manage on our own."
Rhy shook his head. "No. It's alright. I will go with you." He said sounding brave but one could see the trembling of his legs.
"Well, then if that what you want. Welco to our crew." Malaya said as she gestured for a handshake.
Rhy glance at Malaya's extended hands with a blank look. After a minute of just staring at it, "Umm...Handshake?" Malaya asked, a bit awkward.
"Ah yes!" As if waking up from its daze, Rhy imdiately reached for Malaya's hands and shake them.
"Thank you for having in your crew!"
"Alright! It's ti to set sail now!" Malaya shouted which earned her nods from everyone.
Rein with the help of Elred, lifted up the anchor of the ship. While Rhy went to drive the ship. Nicholas and all the other shipbuilders in the yard waved their hands for their departure.
Malaya's heart was pounding hard as she watched the ship slowly sailing away from the harbor. 'Finally, there is nothing to hinder my sailing anymore,' she couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear as she waved back at the people in the harbor.
"Arf! Arf!"
"Milady look!" Dorris pointed out in the direction of the white dog who was with the innkeeper lady.
"Hah. I hope that dog would not get lost again," Iris said as she leaned on the railway.
"Yeah," Malaya chuckled. Malaya tuck the loose hair behind her ear. It was still midday but they couldn't feel the heat of the sun due to the strong breeze of the air.
When they couldn't see the people from the harbor, they all turned to look at the endless blue ahead.
"We are all getting away from the plot of the story. Are sure you don't want to spend your ti, looking after the story you wrote?" Malaya whispered beside Iris.
"No need," Iris said. "Besides, I don't know if the story will progress as stated in the book when one of the vital characters has long diverged from the plot."
"What do you an by that?"
"The story has no longer the future demon king, rember?"
"Oh!" Malaya said then chuckled. "Yeah," she glanced at her right wrist that was covered with bandages. When Kayden wake up, he jumped right in front of Malaya with his claws out. In defense, Malaya blocked her right hand. Then Kayden ran off to who knows where.
"And he becos a cat at that," Malaya said in the end as she looked ahead. "Well, at least, I don't need to worry for Hyun Jae's well-being now that the future demon king is gone."
"Hyun Jae? Ah, the female lead." Iris remarked. "Even with her, you got closed with her," she said with an unbelievable tone in her voice.
"Well, things happened." Malaya just lightly chuckled. "Well dear author, since you are now stuck with from now on, could I ask you a favor?"
"What is it?"
"From now on, will you record every bit of things that will transpire with us and the ship from now on?"
"Record?"
"Yes." Malaya leaned as well on the railings of the ship. "Well, when the future cos, I don't want everyone how this villainess becos the most aweso voyager in this world hahaha."
"You really are so full of yourself." Iris snorted. "But I guess it doesn't sound bad for a good legendary story."
"Hmm. So will you do it?" Malaya waited for her response as she inhaled the soft breeze of the air.
"Yeah," Iris said as she crossed her arms and closed her eyes, enjoying the breeze too. "I'll do it."
No longer bound with any plot, Malaya and her crew departed from the waters of Taleba heading to a new place that would beco the next stepping stone for her dream to travel the whole world.
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