Chapter 9: The Magic Spring Pearl
The Glowing Sea Algae, engraved with The Song of Red, showed no outward changes, yet they now seemed capable of surviving entirely outside seawater.
Because… through the Star Spirit Engraving Technique, Croyer could hear their thoughts—
“We can finally leave!”
“No more getting eaten by the giant octopus!”
“To the shore! To the shore!”
The Glowing Sea Algae swirled around Croyer in excitement, their clear blue radiance surrounding him. Against the dark night, the young man’s composed expression appeared particularly mysterious and elegant.
Wherever he went, the algae followed.
As if they had become his magic pets.
【Engraving successful—Glowing Sea Algae (The Ode to Rainbow Light·The First Chapter of The Song of Red)】
【Glowing Sea Algae can now exist outside seawater and remain active at night.】
【When gathered, they can accumulate red magic power and sing The Song of Red, enhancing meditation effects.】
【Their affinity will gradually shift from pure water magic to a dual affinity of water and fire. Engraving additional magic of the same nature will further enhance their power.】
After reviewing the description, Croyer was thrilled.
Enhancing meditation efficiency!
This was a tremendous gain. Improving meditation meant accelerating his advancement and magic accumulation.
There was no better reward than this.
Feeling satisfied, he was just about to step out of the water when he noticed something—the sandy beach that had just been devoured by the algae.
Under the glow of moonlight and the blue shimmer of the algae, the sand appeared stark white—almost too white.
Beautiful, yes. In the daylight, this could easily be a prime vacation spot.
But in this world, a white beach like this served no practical purpose.
If the Glowing Sea Algae were drawn to the beach in search of more magic power… did that mean something was buried within the sand?
The moment the thought crossed his mind, he waved a hand.
“Dig here.”
He stepped onto the shore, standing silently to the side.
His command was absolute. More so after the soldiers had just witnessed him tame the Glowing Sea Algae. Without hesitation, they rushed forward and began digging.
Digging through sand wasn’t easy, but with effort, they made swift progress.
Before long, something emerged from beneath.
The edge of a giant clam shell.
Its main body was still buried, but from what was visible, it was at least the size of a full-grown adult.
Croyer narrowed his eyes.
The shell had a silvery sheen, reflecting the moonlight in fluid ripples. Natural wave-like patterns adorned its surface, making it strikingly beautiful.
A faint trace of magic lingered around it.
But no sign of life.
“Good. If this thing were alive at this size, it’d probably be a Rank 2 magical beast at least.”
Relieved, he gave another command. “Keep digging.”
The soldiers kept at it, but Bartos suddenly seemed to recall something. He hurried over to Croyer, lowering his voice.
“My lord, when I was first appointed as the local lord here, I heard a tale… A legend about the giant clams near this island, said to be blessed by the Moonlight Goddess.”
Croyer wasn’t particularly impressed, but he humored him. “Quite the coincidence then, finding something like this under the moonlight. Perhaps it truly is a blessing from the Moonlight Goddess.”
It wasn’t that he couldn’t be irreverent, but in this world, the gods were very real. Their faiths ran deep, especially in coastal regions, where worship of the Sea God and the Moon Goddess was common.
Sailors prayed for safe voyages. Travelers sought peace under the moonlight.
As a mage, he was a nonbeliever. But who knew how many of his people worshipped the Moon Goddess? Playing into the “divine blessing” angle wouldn’t hurt. It even added to his mystique.
And surely, the Moon Goddess wouldn’t mind if he borrowed a little of her prestige.
Bartos, encouraged by his response, continued, “They say that under the Moonlight Goddess’s blessing, these giant clams produce pearls as pure as water itself—and they never decay.”
“Oh?”
Croyer nodded absently.
From a mage’s perspective, this simply meant these clams could absorb and condense water-element magic, forming some kind of magical crystal.
Magical crystals, when stored properly, truly didn’t decay—at worst, they lost their magic and dulled over time.
Now he was intrigued.
But he also knew the importance of keeping valuable finds under wraps. Once the clam was fully unearthed, he wasted no time giving a direct order.
“Take it back to the castle.”
Thankfully, they had a Blazing Fire Horse.
Whatever lay inside the shell, it was best examined in private.
Before leaving, he generously announced, “Two copper coins for each of you!”
If this clam held true treasures, he wouldn’t mind rewarding them with gold. A little investment in morale was well worth it.
…
Soon, he returned to the castle with Robert and his four knights.
The giant clam was carried down into a secret chamber beneath the castle.
With Croyer’s permission, Joshua wielded a blade, prying at the shell.
It was stubbornly sealed.
Even though the clam had long since perished, its shell remained tightly shut.
“Ugh…!” Joshua gritted his teeth, muscles straining, as he forced a small gap open.
At that moment—
A strange aura seeped out.
Like a soft ocean breeze.
Water-element magic energy drifted from the crack, swirling through the dim underground chamber.
The Glowing Sea Algae seemed eager to move, yet obediently stayed behind Croyer.
Joshua turned to Croyer, awaiting further instructions—perhaps he wished to keep the contents secret?
Croyer merely gestured for the others to help.
“Open it fully.”
With his approval, the four knights combined their strength.
The shell finally split apart, revealing its contents—
At the heart of the semi-crystallized shell, lay a massive “pearl” the size of a human head.
No… not a pearl.
A water droplet.
Its surface rippled with a thin, continuous flow of clear liquid—yet not a single drop ever spilled.
Wisps of water-element magic seeped out, creating an atmosphere as refreshing as a sea breeze.
Its touch carried a subtle coolness.
A sight of pure enchantment.
Croyer finally understood.
Bartos’ legend was true.
This wasn’t just a water-element crystal.
It was an actual droplet of pure magic-infused water!
He stared at it for a long moment before something clicked in his mind.
Abruptly, he turned and dashed to his chambers, rummaging through stacks of magical tomes.
Finally, within an old book titled Wendy’s Travels, he found his answer.
The Magic Spring Pearl.
A relic capable of transforming an ordinary spring into a magic-infused water source.