The ocean exploded.
A pillar of water shot toward the sky.
Waves spread in every direction.
Several sailors instinctively grabbed nearby railings as their vessels rocked violently.
For a brief moment—
Everyone thought another Leviathan had appeared.
Or perhaps one of the ancient monsters had launched an attack from below.
Then a figure emerged from the ocean.
Silver hair.
Golden eyes.
Half-dressed.
And carrying the same expressionless face as always.
Kel landed upon the deck of Azure Horizon's flagship.
Boom.
Wooden planks groaned beneath the impact.
Water splashed across the deck.
Several guild members jumped backward in surprise.
Silence followed.
The silver-haired young man stood calmly.
Water dripped from his hair.
His clothes were soaked.
His upper garment had been removed before entering the sea.
Leaving him wearing only a portion of his battle attire.
The atmosphere became strangely awkward.
Especially among newer guild members.
One sailor blinked.
Then blinked again.
"He's alive."
Another sailor nodded.
"Unfortunately for the ocean."
Several nearby guild members tried not to laugh.
Meanwhile.
Kel ignored everyone.
Inside his mind—
Seiren was laughing.
"Look at them."
"They seem surprised."
"You disappeared into Leviathan territory."
"A minor detail."
"No."
The Guardian laughed harder.
"That is literally the major detail."
Kel didn't argue.
Mostly because she was correct.
Meanwhile.
Around the battlefield.
The situation was changing rapidly.
The Leviathans had begun retreating.
One after another.
Gigantic shadows disappeared beneath the ocean.
Ancient monsters withdrew from the battlefield.
The attacks stopped.
The destruction stopped.
The fighting stopped.
Confusion immediately spread.
"Why are they leaving?"
"Did we win?"
"Perhaps our attacks worked."
"Maybe they're afraid."
"Fear our magic!"
"Fear humanity!"
The declarations grew increasingly ridiculous.
Standing upon his vessel.
Kel watched everything quietly.
His expression became subtle.
Not annoyed.
Not angry.
Disappointed.
Very disappointed.
Inside his mind—
Seiren sighed.
"They're misunderstanding."
"Naturally."
The Guardian looked toward the battlefield through Kel's senses.
Several guilds had already begun advancing.
Instead of retreating.
Instead of regrouping.
Instead of observing.
They pushed forward.
Chasing retreating Leviathans.
Attacking them from behind.
Celebrating victory.
Kel shook his head.
"Idiots."
The single word carried absolute certainty.
Because he knew the truth.
The Leviathans weren't retreating because they had lost.
They weren't retreating because humanity was stronger.
They weren't retreating because they feared guild forces.
They were retreating because their king ordered them to.
A decision.
Not a defeat.
And there was a difference.
A very important difference.
Unfortunately.
Most people never learned that distinction.
Inside his mind—
Seiren nodded.
"Retreating for strategy and retreating because you're losing are different things."
"Exactly."
Kel watched another fleet move forward.
Excited.
Proud.
Confident.
The kind of confidence born from misunderstanding reality.
Dangerous confidence.
Then he stopped caring.
He had already done what he came to do.
If others wanted to misinterpret events—
That was their problem.
Not his.
The silver-haired young man turned.
His gaze landed upon Seraphina.
The former mermaid stood nearby.
Her silver eyes remained fixed upon the retreating Leviathans.
Unlike others.
She understood.
Because she had lived among sea creatures.
She knew those monsters hadn't been defeated.
They had simply chosen to leave.
Eventually.
Their eyes met.
Kel spoke.
"Return."
Seraphina blinked.
Then nodded.
No questions.
No hesitation.
She trusted his judgment.
Immediately.
The Guild Master straightened.
Her voice rang across the deck.
"Signal retreat."
Several guild members froze.
"Guild Master?"
One officer looked confused.
"The Leviathans are retreating."
Seraphina nodded.
"I know."
"Then why retreat?"
Before she could answer—
Kel spoke.
"Because our objective is complete."
Silence followed.
The guild members looked toward him.
The silver-haired young man continued.
"Emergency support was requested."
A pause.
"The threat is gone."
Another pause.
"There is no reason to continue."
His words were simple.
Logical.
Reasonable.
The officers immediately understood.
Meanwhile.
Several other guilds continued advancing.
Some even chased the retreating monsters.
Trying to claim additional achievements.
Additional rewards.
Additional glory.
Kel watched them leave.
Then looked away.
Inside his mind—
Seiren spoke.
"You aren't warning them?"
"No."
The answer arrived immediately.
"Why?"
Kel shrugged.
"They saw the Leviathans retreat."
A pause.
"They should have retreated too."
The Guardian became silent.
Because she understood.
Anyone with battlefield experience knew that pursuing retreating enemies blindly was dangerous.
Especially when those enemies were Leviathans.
If people ignored common sense—
Then consequences became teachers.
And consequences were often far more convincing than words.
Meanwhile.
Seraphina continued issuing commands.
"Signal all Azure Horizon allies."
"Yes, Guild Master."
"Order organized withdrawal."
"Understood."
"Maintain defensive formation."
"Understood."
Within minutes.
Azure Horizon vessels began turning around.
Several allied ships followed.
Others remained.
Still pursuing the monsters.
Kel didn't care.
His attention had shifted elsewhere.
Namely.
His clothes.
The ocean water had completely soaked everything.
The silver-haired young man sighed.
Then casually removed the wet outer layers.
Immediately.
The atmosphere became strange again.
Very strange.
Because everyone was already watching him.
And now—
They continued watching him.
A lot.
One sailor pretended to adjust a rope.
While very obviously staring.
Another sailor pretended to inspect equipment.
While very obviously staring.
Several students completely forgot what they were doing.
Inside his mind—
Seiren laughed.
"You're attracting attention again."
"I am changing clothes."
"Everyone knows."
"Then why are they watching?"
The Guardian nearly died laughing.
"Because people are curious creatures."
Meanwhile.
Kel calmly opened a storage pouch.
Then took out a fresh set of clothes.
The movements were efficient.
Practical.
Completely ordinary.
Unfortunately.
Nothing involving Kel remained ordinary for long.
One guild member whispered.
"How is he so calm?"
Another whispered back.
"He fought Leviathans."
A pause.
"Maybe normal fear stopped working."
The explanation sounded surprisingly reasonable.
Nearby.
Seraphina watched quietly.
Elena stood beside her.
The blonde girl folded her arms.
"Should we ask?"
Seraphina immediately knew what she meant.
"About what happened underwater?"
Elena nodded.
The former mermaid looked toward Kel.
Then shook her head.
"If he wants to tell us."
A pause.
"He will."
The blonde girl sighed.
Fair.
Very fair.
Meanwhile.
Kel finished changing clothes.
Fresh black attire replaced the soaked garments.
A long coat settled upon his shoulders.
Silver hair danced within the ocean wind.
The familiar appearance returned.
The appearance of a student.
An explorer.
And someone who definitely wasn't behaving like either.
As Azure Horizon's fleet sailed toward the academy island.
The battlefield slowly disappeared behind them.
The retreating Leviathans vanished beneath the sea.
The pursuing guilds became distant dots upon the horizon.
The setting sun painted the ocean crimson.
And standing at the bow of the flagship.
Kel looked toward the distant island.
Outwardly calm.
Yet inside his mind.
He remembered the words of the King Leviathan.
The missing young.
The hidden culprit.
The strange observer in the abyss.
The real problem had never been the Leviathans.
The real problem remained hidden.
Waiting.
Watching.
And somehow.
Kel had a feeling.
His peaceful academy life was about to become significantly less peaceful.