Voyage Of The Villainess

Another two days had passed and the Bituins and its crew were reaching now to the Red Current. The sun was clear and bright as well.

"It will only be approximately less than four hours before we reached the Red Current." Rein said as he looked with the compass. Then to the map, he was holding. While Rhyme steadily navigated the wheels of the ship.

"Honestly when I see that compass in this world. It is really such a cheat item you have there." Iris whispered to Malaya's ears. 

"When you have modern knowledge, you should use it to your advantage. And that is actually not the usual compass but called gyrocompass." 

"Gyrocompass? It still has a compass on its name so what's the difference?" Iris asked. "And please explain it in layman's term."

"As you can see, it is bigger than a normal compass and even looked complicated right? Compared to a normal compass, Gyrocompass doesn't rely on magnetic forces. So it will be not affected by any magnetic forces and just stay fixated in one direction. Though you need time to be set in the direction of the meridian of this world. And it needs to be powered by electricity or it won't work."

"I see," Iris said. "You said, electricity. But how did you even gain that?"

"Through a lot of magic stones that stocks electricity." Malaya grinned. "I asked Hyun Jae back then, to ask the crown prince to store as many as of this electricity. He is really a convenient source of electricity." Malaya cackled.

"You are really one true villainess."

Malaya just grinned at Iris' remarks. "Well, he kept freezing my arm back then. That is just one of the small compensation I asked him. Besides, his lightning magic was enormous, it is really a waste if he will not use it in things that will help people."

"You said, you just stored electricity. What if that ran out?" Iris asked.

"I also prepared for that. However, for now, the electricity reserves are quite plenty and it will take five years more before they become completely depleted. " Malaya answered. 

Iris shivered at what she heard. "Five years? Just how much electricity you extorted from the prince."

"As I said, when you have modern knowledge you should take advantage of it. It is also the same with resources." Malaya chuckled. "And I'm really glad, you made him into that kind of character."

"Hah," Iris let out a sigh. "You are really one scary enemy."

Malaya brought out the Fool card from her pocket. "It's about time too, to change the ship."

"Are you sure about that?" Iris whispered. "Hyun Jae is here, you know? What if she grew suspicious with the modern version of Bituins."

"There is nothing to worry about that," Malaya said then started her chant.

'Reveal those you can't see to thy fool'.

After Malaya said that,  multiple cards of the fool emerged from it and flew everywhere from the ship. It plastered itself one by one to the Bituins until the Bituins changed its appearance. All the members, except Hyun Jae and Lila who had more extreme amazement on their faces as they watched the spectacle for the first time.

The once wooden walls of the ship started to change into silver metal. And it became completely a ship one could see in modern times. The amazement of Hyun Jae changed into confusion.

Malaya and Iris who were watching her reaction looked at and nodded at each other.

'As expected.' Malaya thought looking at Iris.

'What now? She's approaching here!' Iris screamed in her mind as she looked back to Malaya then back to Hyun Jae who was approaching them.

"Malaya, the Bituins." 

"What about it?" Malaya simply smiled. "This is her true form. Amazing isn't it?"

Lila ran towards them. "What is this! This looks amazing! A ship made of metal!"

Hyun Jae closed her mouth seeing Lila's enthusiasm. 

"Yes, it is a ship made of metal," Malaya said with a smile. "I see the design of this kind of ship to an ancient book I have read."

"I see, so it's an ancient book." Hyun Jae said. But her eyes held disappointment. 'She thought that maybe even in the small chance that Malaya is maybe someone like her. Someone who came from the same world as her. No, she always thought about this since Malaya when she met her was always strange, but in a good way.'

Iris seeing Hyun Jae's expression just sighed. "Alright, let's check out Kayden." She said to change the subject. "He is the cook today. And Dorris is helping him."

At the mention of that, everyone's eyes glistened. "He's the cook today!" Lila said in excitement.

"What are you getting excited about?" Iris just laughed. "You are just the same as good at him when it comes to cooking."

"Really?" Lila said as she looked away a bit shy from Iris' words. Since she came with this group, she always got nothing but praise. And she was still not able to get used to it.

"I wonder, I'm also good at cooking but why didn't I get a reaction like that?" Rein sighed seeing the girl's enthusiasm as they went inside the cabin towards the kitchen. 

Rhyme stifled a laugh at Rein's remarks. But he stiffened when Rein looked at him with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Is there something funny that you heard of?"

"No!" Rhyme extremely shook his head then glanced ahead to avoid Rein's gaze. 'Scary!' But then his eyes narrowed when he caught glimpse of something ahead. 

"Sir Rein," he pointed out with shivering hands ahead. "Something is approaching us from the distance at an incredible speed!"

Rein was immediately got alarmed by what Rhyme had said. However, even the creature that was approaching them was not yet there. The whole Bituins trembled. Malaya and the others became alerted.

A huge water serpent came out in front of the ship.

But Malaya's eyes widened, her heartbeat thumped fast when saw the creature. The once clear sky was suddenly darkened and heavy rains poured down. Roaring sounds of the thunders were heard.. And the waves became extremely stronger rocking the ship.