Fjord, Sleeping Island.
"I never expected you to be the first guest of the 'Sleeping Curse'," Tilly said with a smile as she handed him a steaming bowl of fish soup. "Your help was invaluable in exploring the ruins of the Shadow Islands." "You're kind," Thunder replied, taking the soup. "I'd gladly visit that God's Secret Sea again, even without payment. Truth be told, without the Witch's company, the area east of the Shadow Islands would be a dangerous no-go zone for adventurers." He took a sip, then let out a breath of steam. "Ah... the soup made with blacktail fish is absolutely delicious." In the fjords, neither black tea nor ale was popular. They preferred a bowl of chilled fish jelly in midsummer and a cup of boiled fish soup when the cold set in. The flavors varied greatly depending on the fish species, a custom Tilly had only come to understand after arriving on the Sleeping Island.
"So you couldn't wait to visit' The Sleeping Curse '?" "Actually, I was eager to start the next adventure," Thunder said with a hearty laugh. "The sight in the ruins' telescope last time left me stunned—what's on that land? Why did the stone gate appear on the cliff face? I wanted to fly over and see it myself." "Is that so..." Tilly poured herself a bowl of fish soup. "You should know I'm planning to visit Border Town myself. I want to talk to Lord of the Guild and also check out the Demon's Moon in the West. You... won't join us?" He paused briefly before grinning. "Still, she should be doing well there. That's fine... After all, adventures can be risky. I lost her mother and don't want to lose her again. When that happens, please..." "I will," Tilly nodded. "After all, she's one of us," she said with a smile. "But business is business. Even though you've helped us a lot, we still charge the witch's fee as per the schedule." "Of course, business is business. That's the tradition of the fjords." Thunder downed his fish soup in one gulp and burst into laughter.
...
"So, who did he hire?" As Thunder left the temporary palace, Ash walked in from outside the hall and sat cross-legged beside Tilly.
"Magic Power Servant" Moril, "Portal of Will" Trajectory, and "Doll" Shadow. "Tilly spread out the contract," The final fee was set at 4,800 Golden Dragons. The reward is substantial, isn't it? "" Four thousand... "Ash opened his mouth wide," Where did he get that kind of money? "" Don't forget, Thunder is the most famous explorer in the Fjords, "the Fifth Princess chuckled," Whether discovering new routes or excavating treasures from various regions, he could amass vast fortunes. That's why he repeatedly recruits experienced sailors to accompany him in exploring those God-ordained perilous territories. But with Witches, his risks are significantly reduced. Compensating with money has always been a smart move throughout history. "" But is this really wise? "Ash hesitated." While establishing a bounty guild could bring substantial wealth to Sleeping Island, it would also expose the Witches' abilities. If the Church hears of this... "The" Sleeping Curse" is a new guild founded by Tilly, where explorers from the Fjords can hire Witches with suitable abilities to assist their expeditions. Beyond the main business, the guild also offers various convenience services—repairing damaged items, crafting exquisite artworks, building houses quickly, gardening, pest control, and more—all provided they don't use the Witches' abilities for evil purposes.
This is, of course, conditional on their ability to be made public.
Tillila raised her Ash's hand. "Didn't I tell you? What matters to me isn't the Golden Dragons, but through the Bounty Guild, to help more people understand Sleeping Island and establish close ties with us. There's a saying I fully agree with-fear springs from the unknown, and witches are no exception. The fear of us by the Fjord Islanders and Kingdom residents stems solely from the Church's slander and their own ignorance." "I can't force them to reach out or understand witches, so I must actively promote ourselves. Tell them this isn't the power of the Devil, and witches' abilities aren't mysterious-they awaken within ordinary people, essentially remaining human. As mutual understanding grows, this fear will fade." She paused, then continued, "As for the Church, they never care about our abilities. Capturing witches has always been the Inquisition Army's responsibility, occasionally with God's Punishment troops. No power is truly invincible before God's Punishment Stone." "I hope you're right," Ash whispered softly, "I only know how to fight and kill-that's where I can't help you." "You've already helped me a lot," Tillila smiled. "To develop Sleeping Island, the most crucial thing is connecting with the Fjord Islands. Mutual understanding takes time. What I've done is just trying to shorten that process." "Moreover, the bounty guild serves a unique purpose," she stuck out her tongue with a sly grin. "It helps find new uses for seemingly useless abilities, so non-combat witches don't feel frustrated about their limited utility." Ash chuckled at her God-like charm. "Your reasons are always layered and compelling—you can't help but accept them." "Because I'm always right," Tilly pouted. "Let's change the subject. Why hasn't Maxie returned to Sleepy Island yet? Has something happened there?" "Maybe something's delayed," Ash mused. "Or perhaps..." "What?" "She doesn't want to come back," she shrugged. "Life there's much better than in the fjords. I told you not to send witches there. What if Lian and Honey don't want to return either?" "Then let's go," Tilly said.
"Oh, then I'll get ready... what?" Ash paused before regaining her composure. "I, we're going?" The Fifth Princess pursed her lips. "Didn't we agree to help him fight the evil beasts and bring back the other witches? Without Lotus, the immigrants in Crescent Bay would have no homes next year." "But winter's still over a month away. Why rush?" "The journey would take too long. If Border Town runs into trouble, we could reach in time to assist the Guild's witches. And..." She blinked. "I want to see with my own eyes what that annoying brother of mine has become."