The iron-clad wooden wheels creaked constantly, grinding against the rocky dirt road that cut through the meadow outside the giant walls of Orario. The midday sunlight bathed the land in a comfortable warmth, while the spring breeze blew in through the half-open carriage window.
Inside the fairly spacious rented carriage, Venti sat leaning back casually. His right leg was crossed over his left knee, while his hands fluidly plucked the strings of his wooden lyre, producing a soft, soothing melody. His teal eyes stared out the window, enjoying the expanse of green moving away behind them.
Their current destination lay about three kilometers southwest of Orario. A port city built on the shores of Lake Lolog—a giant brackish water lake that stretched vastly like a small ocean.
Melen. A city often dubbed the "Lake Capital".
Before leaving, Venti had taken a little time to read some archive parchments and listen to a brief explanation from Hedin. Unlike Orario, which relied on the Dungeon as the center of money circulation, Melen's economy was purely centered on the fishing industry and the export of abundant aquatic resources to supply the food needs of the Labyrinth City.
Administratively, the port city was governed directly by a branch of the Guild, tasked with ensuring the logistical flow to Orario was not interrupted. However, in practice, that Guild branch still had to share authority. In Melen, the law of the streets and the port was held by local Familias that had long settled there.
And the most dominant among them was the Njord Familia. It was the faction led by the Sea God Njord that managed the main port and the fishing industry as a whole.
Venti stopped plucking his lyre for a moment, letting his memory drift back to the events of the previous day, right after he, Alfia, and Hedin returned from the Guild Headquarters to their old church.
The day before, the atmosphere in the room of the Abandoned Church felt very lively. The afternoon sunlight pierced through the crevices of the stained glass windows and highlighted the Barbatos Familia members gathered around the wooden dining table.
Venti stood at the end of the table, looking at his family one by one.
"Alright, everyone," Venti began the family meeting with a crisp clap of his hands. "As you've heard, we have an out-of-town job. And for this special mission from the Guild, I have decided who will be coming along."
The God of Wind pointed at four people in succession. "Hedin, Hogni, Dina, and Vena. The four of you will come with me."
Dina and Vena looked at each other, their eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. This was their first official mission. Meanwhile, Hedin only nodded slowly with elegant posture, and Hogni muttered softly while stroking the hilt of his sword.
Venti then turned to Alfia and Aria. "With the two of you staying here to guard the headquarters, and ensuring Meteria and Ais are safe, we can leave with peace of mind."
Alfia crossed her arms over her chest and nodded slowly. From the beginning in Royman's office, she had indeed decided not to go. Her main focus and priority right now was only Meteria. Leaving her six-month pregnant sister for an out-of-town expedition was absolutely not an option for her.
"We will guard the headquarters well," Aria replied with a gentle smile, softly stroking the head of Ais sitting beside her.
Venti turned his gaze to Meteria. "We might take weeks or months to investigate Melen and the Kaios Desert. But I promise, Meteria, we will be back at the latest before you give birth."
The God of Wind smiled broadly, his eyes sparkling cheerfully. "Besides, while I'm out of Orario, I plan to search for and recruit new members for our Familia. Let the wind guide who will join us later."
Meteria smiled sincerely hearing that promise. "Be careful on the road, Venti-sama."
"Definitely!" Venti winked one eye. Before dismissing the meeting, he held his palm out toward Alfia. "Oh yeah, Alfia. May I have our Guild account access card? It's already a new month, right? My twenty million Valis allowance."
Alfia didn't say much. She immediately pulled out a card from the pocket of her dress and placed it on Venti's palm.
"Use it properly," said Alfia curtly.
Venti caught the card nimbly, flashing a mysterious smile laden with plans. "Of course. I really need this to recruit our new members."
A small jolt from the carriage wheels running over a rock broke Venti's reverie, pulling his consciousness back to the present.
Inside the cabin of the horse carriage he rented this morning, his four followers showed different reactions to their journey.
Hedin Selland sat upright across from Venti, reading a thick book on geography and maritime military tactics, completely undisturbed by the bumps in the road. Beside him, Hogni Ragnar curled up slightly, muttering unintelligible things while wiping his pitch-black sword with a cloth.
Meanwhile, Dina and Vena sat by the window, enjoying the fresh breeze hitting their faces. For the two elf girls, who had spent their entire lives in exile in the forest, the outside world was full of wonder.
"The roads on this main continent are very peaceful, huh, Sis," muttered Vena, staring at the vast expanse of meadow.
Seeing the peace on their faces, Venti also smiled. The God of Wind rested his head against the back of the seat, letting the wind sweep through strands of his dark hair.
Come to think of it, Venti thought. Since I first woke up in the narrow alley of Orario, I've never really enjoyed the scenery of this world as a bard.
His time in this world had been too packed. He immediately faced problem after problem. Healing Alfia and Meteria, going north to fight against the One-Eyed Black Dragon and rescue Aria, infiltrating Dionysus's lair. Everything was a history-altering problem.
He was Barbatos, the Anemo Archon, the god symbolizing freedom and song. Yet in this world, he felt he acted more often as a shadow strategist and executor rather than as a free musician.
But now... I'm already outside the walls of Orario, thought Venti, his eyes shining brightly.
The mission from the Guild was indeed important. Investigating the missing ships around the Leviathan seal was the main priority. However, there was no rule saying he couldn't enjoy his journey, right?
Melen was a city rich in culture. Venti had promised himself that upon arriving there, he would make the best use of his time. He would stroll through the port market, learn the customs of the locals, play his lyre in lakeside taverns, taste the fresh seafood dishes that were the city's specialty, and of course... search for the best local wine the Lake Capital could offer.
"Lord Venti," Hedin's calm and measured voice broke the silence inside the carriage, scattering the culinary tour plans in the god's head.
The former White Elf King closed his book. His sharp eyes behind his thin-lensed glasses looked out the front window. "We are almost there. I can smell the scent of salt and brackish water from ahead."
Venti leaned forward toward the window as well. Sure enough, the meadows they were passing began to be replaced by sandy soil and sloping rocks. In the distance, reflecting the midday sunlight until it looked like an expanse of liquid diamonds, Lake Lolog stretched vastly until it cut the horizon line.
And on the shores of that giant lake, stood the City of Melen.
The city was not protected by high walls like Orario. Its buildings were made of a combination of white bricks and waterproof tar-coated wood, built in tiers following the contour of the land sloping down to the port. Hundreds of ship masts soared at the docks, but even from this distance, Venti could see something odd. The port looked too quiet for the size of an aquatic capital.
Their horse carriage began to slow down as it entered the cobblestone streets on the outskirts of the city. The smell of fresh fish, ship tar, and brackish water immediately filled their sense of smell.
Hogni stopped wiping his sword, his body suddenly tensing. His usually drowsy eyes now narrowed, flashing with a sharp red glint. "Gah... the smell in this city is strange. Not just the smell of fish... there is a lingering scent of fear in the air."
Dina and Vena also pulled back from the window, feeling the change in atmosphere. The wind blowing from the direction of the lake did not feel refreshing; the wind felt heavy, damp, and carried a resonance of suppressed anxiety.
"The residents here do not look like people enjoying an abundant catch," observed Hedin, looking toward several fishermen who were pulling their nets hurriedly, their faces tense and constantly glancing toward the open waters.
Venti plucked one string of his lyre, producing a low note that echoed softly inside the carriage. His playful smile did not fade, but his eyes radiated absolute seriousness.
"Missing ships, sailors vanishing without a trace, and ocean current anomalies," murmured Venti softly, recalling the report given by Royman Mardeel. "The Njord Familia might control this port, but there is clearly something beneath the surface of that water that makes them not dare to sail too far."
Their horse carriage finally came to a complete stop in the courtyard of a large inn located not far from the main square of Melen. The sound of the lake waves crashing against the dock could be heard clearly from where they were.
Venti opened the carriage door and jumped down lightly. He spread his arms, taking a deep breath of Melen's brackish air.
"Alright, my children," exclaimed Venti with a cheerful tone, turning to look at Hedin, Hogni, Dina, and Vena who also stepped down from the carriage with full vigilance. "Our next stage awaits! Before we dive in to find out the mystery of the Leviathan remnants and the missing ships, let's find out where the best tavern in this city is located. After all, the most accurate information always flows along with a glass of wine and a plate of grilled fish, right?"
Hedin could only let out a long sigh hearing his god's priorities, while Hogni laughed awkwardly. Under the bright sky of Melen City holding dark terror at the bottom of its waters, the Barbatos Familia stepped forward. For the God of Wind, this was the beginning of an investigation that would uncover a new threat to the world, as well as a perfect opportunity to enjoy a new symphony of life.
------------------------------
"Like my work? Catch up to Chapter 78 over on my Patreon!"
P - Gem_Blanks
Thank you so much for your support — you make all of this worthwhile.)