CHAPTER 497: CHAPTER 249: AFTER 160 DAYS AND NIGHTS

When the black starry curtain that covered the entire sky was pulled back once again.

The blue sky, white clouds, and the sunlight that nourished all things appeared once more, shining over the sea.

Inside the lookout built high atop the main mast, Jason was surrounded by a dense aura of Magic Power. Large masses of it rained down, which he absorbed into his body.

Overhead, the Magic Gathering Stone was wrapped in a flow of magic. Before long, the swirling liquid Magic Power dissipated.

The Magic Gathering Stone also powered down, coming to a dull stop above.

Watching Jason still sitting there without any intention of moving.

One, who was currently peering outside, jumped down and walked over, raising the long needle she held and stabbed it right into Jason’s butt.

"Ouch!"

Jason’s eyes flew open and he jumped up at once, rubbing his butt in pain.

He also wiped the sweat off his forehead.

"Why do you always wake me up in such a violent way? I told you not to pick up these bad habits from Two, it’s not good for you."

One, wearing a black mask, stared at Jason with calm, dead-fish eyes, unmoved.

The stare made Jason a bit nervous.

"Alright, alright. It’s not like I can beat you anyway," Jason said helplessly, tidying up the items around him and reinstalling the Magic Gathering Stone in its place to switch it off.

He steadied his Magic Power, feeling the strength within his body.

At this moment, his strength had reached the Six Spirals. In just a few days, he’d be able to ascend to the Seven Spirals.

But even One’s strength had already reached the Seven Spirals.

Thinking of this, he turned to look at One, who was staring out the window at the vast sea, and said, "I really envy you guys. You don’t have to do anything and your Magic Power just grows."

One turned her head and shot him a disdainful look before turning away again.

Just then, the lookout’s door opened, but no one could be seen entering.

Seeing this, Jason became alert right away.

But a slender short blade was already resting on his neck, the chill biting against his skin.

Jason raised both his hands high. "Alright, I’m dead."

"Your awareness is getting worse," said Lucilia as she stepped out of the shadows.

She was dressed in a black and white gothic outfit, carrying a Great Sword on her shoulder that was bigger than her own body.

Besides the one on her shoulder, she had another sword sheathed at her waist.

"It’s not that my awareness is getting worse—it’s just that you’re getting stronger. You’re three whole Spirals above me now!" Jason complained.

Lucilia, now at Nine Spirals, tapped her head lightly. "Fair point. By the way, you said you were envious? Wanna join us?"

"Forget it, forget it, I was only joking."

Jason waved his hand awkwardly, picked up the coat and scarf hanging by the door and wrapped himself tightly, then pushed open the door and stepped out.

As soon as he came out, a gust of cold wind made Jason shiver uncontrollably. He tightened his scarf, took the egg from the hood behind his back and tucked it into his chest, and pulled the hood up over his head.

Now, except for his eyes, he was bundled up tightly inside his clothes.

"It’s snowing again, so cold," Jason muttered as he felt the chill of the winter wind, and slid down the mast.

On the deck, several Puppet Girls were operating some contraptions, clearing the snow from the deck as if they were running machines.

They couldn’t feel the cold. Unless it got cold enough to freeze their joints, it really didn’t bother them much.

Jason was long used to this. He greeted the Puppet Girls nearby and headed toward the dining hall.

These Puppet Girls weren’t Squad Leaders, just ordinary team members.

Because most of the twelve Squad Leaders had already been created by Alka and Simon, it wouldn’t be long before even the ordinary members were all complete.

As for the remaining few Squad Leader vacancies, Alka had other plans.

This had also made the ship much more lively, and Jason rather liked the feeling.

As he approached the dining room—

A few winged Puppet Girls flew over, took his coat and scarf, and hung them up on the side.

Two Puppet Girls took the egg from his arms and carried it next to the hearth to keep it warm.

There was a special nest for eggs there, one Jason had made himself.

These winged Puppet Girls were still wearing their usual black and white maid outfits.

Normally, on board, these Puppet Girls were responsible for simple tasks like this.

At the table, except for Lucilia who was heading up for lookout duty, everyone else was seated.

Interestingly, besides Two, who was perched on Chadite’s shoulder—

Julia and Matilda also had girls sitting on their shoulders.

They were San and Four, with matching hair colors. San’s hair was ice blue like Julia’s, Four’s was wheat blonde like Matilda’s.

Come to think of it, all the men on their ship had black hair, but all the women had hair in a spectrum of bright colors.

The Puppet Girls made from their hair had confirmed Two’s theory.

It also made it clear: the personalities of the Puppet Girls made from their hair really did match what they were like as children.

"You’re here. Going to the town later?" Simon asked from nearby.

Jason nodded. "By my estimate, Balazs should come today—anyway, it’ll be these next few days."