Repeat Vice – The Villainous Noble Doesn’t Want to Die, So He Swore to Not Die As One of The Four Heavenly Kings Volume 4 Chapter 3

 Chapter 03: Unexplored Area Exploration

Several days after the submarine incident at Viper Port, a missive arrived at Roguebelt. It was from Carlos, addressed to Fol.

The exploration of the uncharted [Demonic Sea] had been officially approved. Minimal supplies and personnel would be sent, and exploration was to commence as soon as preparations were complete.

The missive was verbose, but that was the gist. Fol inwardly grumbled that she’d said no additional personnel or supplies were needed. But when she saw the personnel sent, not only Fol but even the young sailors under Log’s command were baffled.

“Carlos-sama sent me! I’m Carla! Pleased to meet you!” A red-haired girl—Carla—greeted them with a cheerful shout and a bright smile.

It was early morning. The personnel sent to Roguebelt consisted solely of this girl, who seemed close in age to Fol. Her only luggage was a single bag slung over her shoulder. At most, a neatly polished sword hung at her waist, likely for self-defense.

Noticing Fol’s gaze, Carla grinned and hugged the sword. “Oh, this? A girl traveling alone can be dangerous, so this is just for show—pure bluff! I can’t use a sword at all, so don’t expect much.”

“I… see…” Fol’s face twitched as Carla proudly clutched the sword.

Fol marveled that Carla hadn’t been attacked by bandits on her journey.

“Well, I did say I didn’t need help…” she muttered.

Even so, sending a delicate girl who didn’t seem capable of swinging a sword was perplexing. Surely this wasn’t Carlos’s way of punishing her for refusing aid? Fol frowned.

Scratching her disheveled golden hair, she looked at Carla. “Uh… the [Demonic Sea] we’re heading to is full of dangerous magical beasts. Are you… okay with that?”

Carla laughed and confidently patted her slim chest.

“No need to worry about me! I’m quick on my feet. Carlos-sama briefed me on Farathiana-sama’s intentions. I’m strictly here as a record-keeper for the exploration.”

“Well, if that’s the case…” Fol said.

Her unease didn’t fully dissipate, but it was true that keeping records and reporting afterward wasn’t her strong suit. Having someone handle that was genuinely helpful, Fol reconsidered.

“Oh, and, um… if it’s okay…” Carla hesitated, shyly extending her hand.

“Mn?” Fol tilted her head, unsure of her intent.

“If you don’t mind… a handshake?” Carla asked.

“Oh, like a ‘let’s get along’ thing?” Fol casually took her hand.

Carla jumped with excitement, clasping it tightly. “Waa! Thank you so much! I’m actually a huge fan of Farathiana-sama! This is thrilling!”

“Huh? Fan…?” Fol blinked, bewildered by Carla’s unexpected reaction.

Though literacy among commoners was low, Fol could read basic words. “Black… noble… sailor… girl?” she read haltingly.

The title seemed to point directly at Rofus and herself.

“W-What’s this?”

“Yes, it’s a novel about the romance between Rofus-sama and Farathiana-sama!”

“Romance?!” Fol snatched the book from Carla and flipped through it frantically.

The text was filled with complex words favored by nobles, most of which Fol couldn’t read. But piecing together the legible parts, it detailed her meeting with Rofus up to a confession at their parting, written with excruciating detail.

Fol trembled, her face flushing red.

“W-Who wrote this…?”

“Carlos-sama,” Carla replied.

“That old butler…!” Fol clutched her head.

Then another realization hit her. “No way… is this being sold?”

“Yes, in the Lightless capital. It’s not widely circulated yet, but it’s secretly popular among housewives,” Carla said.

Literacy was higher in the capital than in rural areas like Roguebelt. Carla winked, and Fol’s face turned as red as a boiled octopus, covering it with her hands.

“I can’t ever walk in the capital again…”

“To think I, a mere fan, get to assist the heroine of a trending romance novel among housewives! It’s the thrill of a lifetime!” Carla exclaimed, pressing her cheeks in ecstatic joy.

While Fol shivered with embarrassment, Carla trembled with delight beside her. Their departure for the [Demonic Sea] was set for noon that day.

***

Carla had been dispatched to Roguebelt as a record-keeper. Carlos had chosen a girl close to Fol’s age, thinking it would make things easier.

Around the same time, a man arrived at Roguebelt. In his mid-twenties, he had short-cropped brown hair and sun-tanned skin marked with countless old scars. Tall and lean, his body was taut with muscle. His name was Dain.

A top-tier former explorer hired by Commerce Guild director Mild, Dain had single-handedly conquered numerous ruins and dungeons. After joining Mild, he primarily worked on maritime trade, serving as a shipboard bodyguard of sorts.

Thus, he had some knowledge of the sea, making him the ideal candidate to aid the [Demonic Sea] exploration. Mild had ordered him to contribute significantly without causing trouble—a tall order that made Dain sigh wearily.

“Well, for now, I guess I’ll play nice with this exploration team the noble set up,” Dain muttered.

Arriving at Roguebelt, Dain asked locals for directions and reached Fol’s group, preparing for the [Demonic Sea] exploration. What he saw was two girls making a commotion and a group of sailors watching. Ignoring the dejected girl—Fol—and the ecstatic one—Carla, Dain approached a particularly burly sailor with a cross-shaped scar on his forehead—Log.

Log’s battle-hardened aura and commanding presence marked him as the exploration team’s leader. Dain approached with confidence.

“I’m Dain, sent by the Commerce Guild to assist with the [Demonic Sea] exploration.”

Log glanced at him sharply.

 “Oh, you’re one of the personnel mentioned in the missive? I thought it was just that lass, Carla.”

Turning, Log extended a thick, log-like arm. “I’m Log, the second-in-command of the sailors.”

Though Dain was tall, Log towered over him, forcing Dain to look up. Swallowing hard, Dain shook his hand firmly.

“Second-in-command… so you’re the exploration leader?”

His guess confirmed, Dain’s lips curled upward. But Log shook his head. “Nah, I’m not the head of this exploration. She is.”

Log jerked his chin toward the still-dejected Fol.

“Huh?” Dain tilted his head, thinking it a joke.

Log shouted, unperturbed. “Oi, Fol! Another of the personnel from the missive is here!”

Fol looked up. “Another one?”

“…From the Commerce Guild, right?” Carla whispered to her.

Dain frowned, incredulous at the two girls. Barely restraining himself from muttering that exploration wasn’t a game, he forced a stiff smile. “I’m Dain, former explorer. Nice to meet you.”

Dain introduced himself, feeling a growing unease about what lay ahead.

***

The [Demonic Sea]. For three hundred years, since the giant kraken dubbed the [Ship Eater] demon took residence, it had been an uncharted sea rarely visited by humans, han sen.

A single sailing ship now ventured into those waters, carrying Roguebelt’s sailors—led by Fol and Log—along with the exploration team, including Carla and Dain.

“Fol-sama, your hair is so silky! It’s so smooth! You should comb it; it’s a waste otherwise!” Carla chased Fol around the deck, comb in hand.

Carla called Fol by her nickname because Fol found it awkward to be addressed formally by someone her age. Though Fol had said calling her by name alone was fine, Carla insisted, “I could never address the future wife of Master-sama so casually!” and refused to drop the honorific.

“You never know when Master-sama might show up!” Carla teased.

Fol froze at the words. “Master-sama… wait, is Rofus coming?” Her eyes held a mix of hope and unpreparedness as she looked at Carla.

Carla shook her head mercilessly.

“Nope, he’s not.”

“Then don’t say that!” Fol shouted.

Carla let out a playful shriek, “Kyaa!” and ran off, the two girls noisily dashing across the deck.

Watching from a distance, Dain, the former top-tier explorer sent by the Commerce Guild, sighed with an indescribable expression. What had I gotten myself into? He looked glumly at the two boisterous girls, wai wai.

Did they even grasp how dangerous exploring an uncharted region was? 

The [Demonic Sea], untouched for three hundred years, was a literal demonic frontier, ma tta ri. Even Dain, not a local, had heard of the [Ship Eater] demon’s legend, a tale famous enough to be a kingdom-wide fairy story.

He’d been told the Lightless heir had subdued it, but Dain didn’t believe it. A calamity that had terrorized the [Demonic Sea] for three hundred years, tamed by a noble brat not yet of age? It lacked credibility

Nobles often exaggerated rumors to bolster their reputation, but this was so overblown it felt pathetic. To Dain, the [Demonic Sea] was a perilous zone where the [Ship Eater] could strike at any moment. He’d come only because he couldn’t defy Mild’s orders, but his motivation was rock-bottom.

Worse, the exploration team’s leader was a girl not even of age. It made no sense. Were they mistaking this for a picnic?

“Yo, Dain, was it? Want a drink?” Log approached, holding a bottle of liquor.

Dain shrugged and declined. “Nah, I’m good. You’re awfully relaxed for being in the [Demonic Sea].”

“No need to be so on edge. There aren’t any magical beasts around here yet,” Log said, sounding almost familiar with the [Demonic Sea].

Dain frowned. “…You sound like you know this place well. Come here often?”

“Got dragged along for Fol’s so-called ‘training’ hunts for magical beasts. The beasts in the early parts of the [Demonic Sea]—Fol’s hunted them all,” Log replied.

“Training…?” Dain’s face twitched, imagining what kind of barbarian used the infamous [Demonic Sea] as a training ground.

“…Aren’t you scared of the [Ship Eater] demon?” Dain muttered, incredulous.

Log tilted his head. “What, you don’t know it was defeated?”

“You’re a local, right? You actually believe that rumor?” Dain asked skeptically.

“Believe? Ain’t about believing,” Log said with a wry smile, shrugging. To Log, it wasn’t a rumor—he’d seen the [Ship Eater] demon defeated with his own eyes.

He’d also endured the hellish encounter with an even greater monster, the [Demon Whale]. Both had been vanquished by Rofus, so the [Demonic Sea]’s greatest threats were gone. Of course, lesser magical beasts still lurked, so vigilance was necessary.

“I saw it defeated myself,” Log said.

“…For real? No embellishments?” Dain pressed.

“Embellishments? If anything, they’ve downplayed it,” Log answered, laughing heartily, ga haha.

The existence of the [Demon Whale] and the forbidden magic that altered the weather to destroy it were under a gag order from the Dark Knight, forbidden to be discussed. What Log had witnessed was so far removed from reality it felt like a dream. Even without the gag order, no one would believe it.

“Is that so…” Dain remained skeptical but couldn’t openly doubt it, given Mild’s strict orders to avoid trouble.

“Mind if I ask about the exploration strategy for the [Demonic Sea]?” Dain changed the subject.

Log, unperturbed, spread out a nautical chart of the [Demonic Sea]. Largely blank due to its uncharted nature, it bore a few marked points. “We’ve found a few islands during beast hunts. We’re heading to one now.”

Log pointed to a mark—the small island Rofus and Fol had once washed up on. “We’ll use it as a base. Beyond that, we’ll encounter beasts. Won’t be drinking then,” he said, laughing heartily, ga haha.

Dain shrugged. “A base is helpful. Couldn’t discuss it before departure. Once we reach the island, I’d like to hear more about the exploration plans.”

“Sure, we’ll set up a meeting there,” Log agreed.

“Appreciate it,” Dain said, offering a surface-level smile, thinking he needed the details to provide support.

In the distance, the faint outline of an island appeared.

***

Arriving at the nameless island, the exploration team began setting up camp.

The [Demonic Sea] was vast, requiring a lengthy exploration. A single ship’s supplies couldn’t sustain a long expedition. The plan was to establish relay points at key locations to expand their range. The goal was to discover at least one new island suitable as a relay.

This strategy, incidentally, was Carlos’s idea, discussed while he stayed at Roguebelt to oversee Fol’s training. Dain was mildly surprised. He’d assumed a team led by a girl not yet of age would be a disorganized, half-baked effort.

The methodical approach of gradually expanding their range was a basic tenet of uncharted exploration, but novices often ignored it, rushing ahead only to find themselves stranded—a common pitfall for rookie explorers and treasure hunters. On this point, Dain revised his opinion of the team.

But that made it all the more critical to address an unavoidable issue. “There’s not enough personnel or supplies,” Dain said, the words slipping out.

He’d felt this since seeing the team’s size and resources but had held back to avoid trouble. Half-resigned to a team led by a young girl, he’d been caught off guard by their realistic strategy, prompting him to speak.

His words drew the attention of Fol, Log, and Carla. Undeterred, Dain continued. “From my experience, at this rate, fully exploring the [Demonic Sea] will take nearly a decade, even conservatively. This is a Lightless Marquisate-led project, right? Can’t you request more personnel or supplies?”

A single ship and a handful of local sailors were woefully inadequate for the vast [Demonic Sea]—a fact obvious to anyone. But this was Fol’s choice.

As Carla’s gaze sharpened, Fol nodded calmly. “You’re right, Dain. It’ll take time. But sorry, I’ve got no intention of calling for more people.”

Dain narrowed his eyes.

“Why?”

“It’s… my selfish whim. If you don’t like it, you can leave. I’ll see this through, even alone,”

Fol said, her eyes deadly serious.

Dain’s face twitched. “You’re serious…?” He glanced at Log, who seemed to have no objections.

Sighing, Dain slumped his shoulders.

“…Fine, I get there’s some reason.”

Arguing here was pointless. Mindful of Mild’s repeated orders to avoid trouble, Dain considered withdrawing mid-expedition if needed, focusing on the best course for now.

He proposed specific navigational routes, detailed daily schedules, and role assignments—efficient and rational suggestions, na shin. His goal was to establish a trade route between the Lightless and Steria Domains as quickly as possible, necessitating time-saving measures.

Though Fol’s team had a solid plan, their inexperience made their approach somewhat haphazard. Dain’s concrete proposals were revolutionary. A seasoned solo explorer, his broad knowledge and practical suggestions stood out.

“I don’t want to call for more people—that’s my whim. But honestly, I don’t want this to take a decade,” Fol admitted.

“Neither do I. Let’s establish self-sufficiency. Returning to Roguebelt for supplies is a huge time loss. If we can sustain ourselves at the base, we’ll save a lot of time. Starting tomorrow, we’ll split into a base team to secure food and water on this island and an exploration team to search for new islands,” Dain suggested.

When Fol expressed a goal, Dain provided actionable plans to achieve it. The meeting solidified a more concrete strategy.

Dain was as capable as Mild’s choice implied. Fol felt the once-uncertain exploration of the [Demonic Sea] becoming more tangible.

“Thanks for everything, Dain. And sorry for saying you could leave earlier,” Fol said sincerely.

Dain’s eyes widened, surprised. He’d pegged Fol’s tomboyish demeanor as the type too stubborn to admit fault. “…Well, it’s my job. Don’t worry about it,” he said, caught off guard by her smile and looking away to hide it.

As they spoke, Dain felt a chill and instinctively turned. His eyes met Carla’s, who smiled and tilted her head. “Something wrong?”

“Nah, nothing…” Dain wiped cold sweat, shrugging it off as his imagination.

The meeting ended as the sun set. After dinner, each spent their time as they pleased. Dain was roped into drinking with Log’s crew, but slipped away from the rowdy sailors’ banter, to cool off alone on the deck.

“What a lively bunch,” he muttered.

Despite his words, he didn’t find it unpleasant. Initially wary, he found the group surprisingly comfortable—even likable. Leaning against the railing, Dain pulled a cigarette from his pocket, and searched for a light.

“…?” He felt a sudden push, not enough to make him fall, but startling him. Gripping the railing, he whipped around.

“…Hey,” said a red-haired girl—Carla.

Gone was the cheerful smile she wore around Fol. Her cold eyes fixed on Dain, holding a pristine sword, its scabbard likely used to prod him, ya.

“…What’s the idea? If it’s a joke, smile a bit, or I might think you’re serious,” Dain said, still on guard.

Carla regarded him with disinterest. “…It wasn’t a joke. For a moment, I considered pushing you overboard.”

“Oi, that’s not—” Dain tried to laugh it off, but Carla pressed the scabbard’s tip into his abdomen, silencing him.

“I said it wasn’t a joke. Don’t make me repeat myself,” she said coldly.

“…Tch,” Dain shut his mouth under her icy stare.

“Your proposals at the meeting weren’t bad. You seem more competent than I expected, so I’m letting you off tonight,” Carla continued.

“Letting me off…?” Dain frowned, confused.

“Didn’t you hear? If you cause trouble or prove useless, you’ll be thrown into the sea as shark bait,” she said.

“I was told to contribute without making waves, but I’m Mild’s man. If something happens to me, won’t that cause problems?” Dain countered.

“That was the director’s proposal. If you’re useless, throw you into the sea,” Carla replied.

“Seriously…?” Dain’s face twitched, muttering that no one had told him.

“So, Carla, huh? All smiles and harmless-looking, but this is your true face?” he said.

“I don’t care what you think of me. Just keep contributing to the exploration. The moment I deem you useless, you’re shark bait. Remember that,” Carla said, turning away.

Dain leaned against the railing, tension easing. “…Damn, scary woman,” he muttered, trying to sound tough, but cold sweat still poured.

His body had reacted to Carla’s piercing killing intent, every hair standing on end, signaling danger. She was no ordinary girl.

As if sensing his thoughts, Carla stopped mid-step. “Oh, right,” she said, turning back as if recalling something.

“A warning: don’t get too friendly with Fol-sama. Unless you want your head to part ways with your body.”

A faint hyu sound, like the wind being sliced, reached Dain’s ears. A shallow cut appeared on his neck, a single layer of skin, with a trickle of blood. Dain hadn’t seen anything—not Carla drawing her sword, swinging it, or sheathing it.

She simply stood there, holding her pristine sword. That’s all Dain saw. His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the deck.

“You said you couldn’t use a sword… that’s a lie, isn’t it…?”

Carla didn’t react to his muttering, and walked away for good. The arduous exploration of the [Demonic Sea] had only just begun.

ToC