Lukey followed the emperor as he walked through the streets of Tranquil Waters. He tried asking questions to the oversized ruler but could barely get a word in as they rushed through to a remote corner of the town.

  Caldoon was wearing a loose flower shirt and long pants like he saw in the weaver’s shop. The colors were comprised of black and red, presumably colors created using charcoal and red flower petals. His clothes evoked the feeling of volcanoes and lava, or so Lukey heard. He had never seen a volcano before, but apparently, there were many around the island if you managed to dive deep enough.

  Suddenly, Lukey was struck with a feeling of curiosity. He used [Insight] to try and assess Caldoon’s level.

  [Caldoon (Abyssal Diver) Lv. ???]

  That’s strange. I can’t see his level…

  The title was clearly visible, a title Caldoon obtained from reaching and surviving the Abyssal Depths. The level, however, was obscured to his mind. Lukey was confused, but he realized the answer quickly.

  [Insight] used his own mind's capabilities to assess the world around him. If Lukey couldn’t see Caldoon’s level, it was because he simply couldn’t comprehend it. As he was lost in thought, Lukey was pushing himself to keep up with the emperor. He started to strain his leg and almost asked Caldoon to stop, but before he did, he noticed that the emperor had stopped in front of a certain building.

  The building’s sign had a picture of a spear and a fishing rod, making a cross in front of an outstretched net. The building itself was large, large enough to be used as a guild building by people like Dragon’s Lance. It was shaped like an oval, and from where Lukey stood, he thought he could see an open area at the back of the building.

  Lukey and Caldoon entered through the ornate wooden double doors. Inside, Lukey could see a reception area and stairs to the sides leading down towards a more spacious area of the building. The desks had stairs behind them that presumably led up to rooms where information would be processed.

  Lukey followed Caldoon down the stairway to an elongated area. This room was big enough to easily accommodate a hundred people, perhaps more. In the center of the room was a large table with a map of the island and the surrounding seas on it. On the left side of the area was a bar area, with tables and chairs nearby for groups of people. On the right side were two bulletin boards. One of them read “Missions” on top, and the other read “Local News.”

  The back of the area had doorways that led outside, and Lukey was amazed at what he was seeing. Outside there were two large pools of water, obviously constructed, and made to look like the tide pools Lukey always saw on the beaches. They were made from flat stones that had been piled on top of one another and laid out into square outlines. It seemed like clay was used to keep the stones watertight.

  Lukey’s confusion grew, but Caldoon ushered him back inside, as it looked like he had something to say.

  What is all this? This is obviously a guild building, but for whom?

  Lukey wanted to openly question the sight before him, but Caldoon spoke up before he could.

  “Lukey, Welcome to the Fisherman’s Guild: Ocean’s Bounty!”

  “Ocean’s Bounty?” Lukey asked. “You started your own guild!?”

  First my mother, now the emperor. Was the entire island full of impulsive nuts!?

  “Yes, I have!” Caldoon proudly said. “If we want to promote our heritage, we first must look like professionals. So, when I planned for the construction of Tranquil Waters, I arranged for this place to be constructed as a base of operations.”

  Caldoon let Lukey take in what he said, then continued.

  “Needless to say, you and Triton will be the first members, and I will be the guild master. Understood?”

  Lukey just absentmindedly nodded; he was still stuck on the fact that he was part of a guild now. Guilds were created to accommodate people with certain classes and usually existed to provide jobs and help people fulfill the purpose of those classes. Guild buildings were used for organizing large-scale operations and as meeting places for people with those classes to take jobs.

  Since people could take multiple classes, it went without saying that a person could work for multiple guilds. The guilds were generally on good terms with each other, but there were rivalries as well. If two guilds served opposite purposes, or if their functions were too similar, then there could be trouble between their members, which is why Lukey was frightened.

  “Aren’t we stepping on the boundaries of what the Dragon’s Lance does? They are guarding the Abyssal Ocean and won’t take kindly to what you’re doing.” Lukey asked.

  “Thank you for the concern, but no, I don’t think that will be a problem,” Caldoon said. “The purpose of this guild is underwater exploration, collection, and occasionally combat. It encompasses any underwater operations, while the lancer’s guild only concerns themselves with what goes on above water.”

  Lukey wanted to speak up but went silent and thought to himself for a moment.

  This is actually starting to sound like a good idea. I’ve never heard of a guild that specializes in underwater jobs. The emperor may have just found a niche that we can exploit for serious profit.

  Caldoon adopted a large grin, and he could see the gears turning in Lukey’s head.

  “If you agree with the idea, then I will begin assigning you your duties,” Caldoon said. “Right now, Triton is still looking for that tyrant, so I will have you perform tasks for the new citizens of the town to assist in its development.”

  Lukey looked at Caldoon, then his face fell as he realized what the emperor meant.

  “You mean you want me to be an errand boy…”

  “It’s not that bad; these jobs will help the new residents of the town as they realize this island’s worth. Besides, I imagine it will be a while before we get any missions,” Caldoon shrugged.

  Lukey began thinking of what a fisherman would be asked to do before recalling that he had already been assigned a task.

  “Um, emperor, sorry, ‘guild master.’ I may already have a request.”

  Caldoon perked up in excitement.

  “You do? What is it?”

  Lukey then began to recount everything that he heard in Ginny’s shop. The clothes she makes and how she lacks the materials to make waterproof clothes.

  Maybe what Ginny needs can be found underwater, where the botanists guild can’t reach it.

  Lukey described Ginny’s problem, making Caldoon scratch his chin in thought.

  “Shell Oil,” he finally said.

  “Shell Oil?” Lukey asked.

  The emperor nodded.

  “Large crabs have a gland that allows them to secrete an oily substance that basically makes their shells waterproof. The crabs secrete it within their bodies as they grow their shells, becoming an oily coat that helps the crab glide through the water without friction. Fishermen of the past have hunted large crabs for this oil specifically, because it can be used on wood structures to waterproof them.”

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  Lukey was slightly taken aback at the response, but he couldn’t keep a grin from creeping on his face.

  That was unexpected, but fortunate. This means I can promote the guild and get a new outfit while I’m at it.

  Lukey was so lost in his daydreams that he didn’t hear the guild master speak up.

  “This is a perfect opportunity to send you there for training.”

  Lukey came back from his delusions as he realized Caldoon said something. Before Lukey could respond, however, Caldoon continued.

  “There is a labyrinth not too far from the town where large crabs breed like crazy. It’s called Claw Cove, and it’s your best bet for getting what you need,” Caldoon said. “Incidentally, it’s also a common place to send beginner fishermen since the monsters there are fairly weak.”

  Lukey got excited; not only could he finally go out hunting monsters, but he was also about to explore his first labyrinth. That was a privilege only people with battle classes got. Apparently, any labyrinths outside the island were tightly controlled by nearby empires, so access was restricted. Here, though, anyone could go to any labyrinth on the island, even if they were unqualified to challenge it.

  Caldoon’s eyes narrowed at Lukey with a degree of seriousness, then he questioned him.

  “You do know what labyrinths are, right?”

  “What kind of question is that? Of course, I know what a labyrinth is!” Lukey protested.

  “Then recount what you know, just to make sure I’m not sending you to your death.” Caldoon demanded.

  Lukey sighed and then began to recount everything he remembered from his lessons.

  “Labyrinths are places infused with ethereal energy. This causes the monsters to be filled with energy and grow faster than their counterparts outside the labyrinth. The ethereal energy in labyrinth monsters can also be used to level up quickly for people with classes.”

  Lukey waited for Caldoon to nod, then continued.

  “Labyrinths are also impossible to map, because their layouts can change over time. The reasons why are still relatively unknown, but it does mean that you must memorize the layout on each visit. The general layouts are often similar, however, being a maze of rooms connected by many corridors.”

  Caldoon raised an eyebrow at the scholarly explanation, but Lukey quickly explained.

  “I pay attention when things interest me. It’s just that school doesn’t often keep my attention.”

  “Well, you should pay attention. After all, this information may save your life one day,” Caldoon said. “Now come with me.”

  Lukey followed Caldoon through the corridors to the second floor of the guild building and into what looked like a supply closet. Caldoon opened the door to show that it was, in fact, filled with spears, fishing rods, and nets. This was an armory specifically designed with fishing gear in mind, likely in preparation for new fishermen.

  The guild master moved to two spots, picking up a wooden, bone-tipped spear and a large net.

  “Alright, take these and go outside. While you’re healing from your injuries, practice your art until you can use it on command. Then, when you’re ready, set off to Claw Cove.”

  Lukey simply nodded, then took his new equipment outside to practice.

  ...

  Lukey stood in front of a wooden barrel that he would be using for target practice. Before he made a full recovery, he needed to take stock of all his new arts, including how his weapons worked.

  Lukey used [Insight] and took stock of each of his arts.

  [Insight] was the most basic skill, used to gain information about himself and the world. It was essential to assess his own strength and the strength of his opponents before every fight, so he would be using it often from now on. He would eventually use this on his weapons but for now focused on the list of arts before him.

  [Tyrant Sense] was also straightforward. He obtained it after challenging the eel and obtaining a title for it. He could use this to seek out more tyrants, or he could avoid being an idiot and use it to avoid them. It could also be used passively, meaning it would always remain active to alert him to any nearby tyrants.

  Finally, [Fishermen’s Stance] is the art that he gained from obtaining the fisherman class. He could use it to throw anything with serious force. This was the best thing about art class; they guided you through the motions and showed you how to do things that took years to master. This art would be his basic attack, at least until he got a new one.

  Next, Lukey assessed his weapons. [Fishermen’s Stance]’s effectiveness depended entirely on the quality of the weapons, and bad weapons meant that the art would effectively be useless.

  They were nothing noteworthy. He was impressed that Caldoon was able to get people to create a copy of his net already. Perhaps other people fishing on the island will be using his modified version from now on. Regardless, he looked at the weapons he now had and assessed what he could do.

  Currently, his combat style is quite basic, just like his weapons. From what Lukey heard, more advanced weapons had greater functionality and even granted powerful arts. A spear made by a master could be infused with aether to cast aether-based arts, or it can be modified to change or transform. For now, however, Lukey had to make do with the bare basics.

  First, Lukey walked up to the barrel. He then activated [Fisherman’s Stance], which forced his body to drop low. His right arm, which held his spear, was drawn back as he prepared to thrust it in front of him. Once he was sure his aim was good, he thrust the spear forward with a piercing force. The spear was sent in a straight line towards the barrel. When it made contact, the spear went right through the barrel, piercing a hand-sized hole through the wooden exterior.

  Satisfied with his thrusting capabilities, Lukey walked away a few yards from the barrel and activated [Fisherman’s Stance]. He immediately began taking a throwing stance, dropping his back leg and pulling his arm straight back. The spear was horizontal to his head as he drew it back, and his other arm was raised in the air as he prepared to launch the spear with unholy force.

  Lukey released the spear with all the power he could muster. The spear got launched forward, passing his head in a blurry line as it was sent toward the barrel. Lukey even dropped his other hand, using it as a lever to propel the spear forward. By the time he finished his throw, he was staring straight at the ground.

  Lukey heard a loud bang a moment later and looked up. The spear had missed the barrel completely, instead landing on the ground behind it and digging into the ground. Lukey stared in confusion at the scene and made his move to pick up the spear. Before he could, however, the pain from his leg shot through his body, while his hand started to throb.

  Lukey collapsed on the ground holding his hand and crouched up on his side to hold his leg. He never realized art used this much power. Granted, he didn’t feel anything while he was taking a stance; it was only after the throw was finished that he felt the pain escape from his wounds.

  This will be a problem in the future. If he couldn’t correctly assess his condition during combat, then using powerful art would destroy his body and render him even more crippled. This was a problem he had to remedy when he understood more about how to use art.

  For now, Lukey stayed in the sideways fetal position until the pain subsided. He decided that this was enough for today and went back into the guild building to place his weapons back in their racks.

  ...

  Lukey was outside the guild building, and only after he left did he realize everything that happened to him today.

  He arrived in Tranquil Waters, met an individual from a new race of people, and saw people from all walks of life arrive in the town to live here. Most importantly, he was now a member of a guild. Sure, he was one of the only members, and it was a bit small, but he could now explore and get paid to do it, all while getting new equipment from people specialized in crafting.

  Lukey decided the rest of the day was better spent getting acquainted with the town. He walked around trying to see where people had set up their businesses. He found the inn where one family had moved in and a nearby bar where a man was organizing the inside. The chef had spent his time preparing for his own restaurant, where he intended to serve seafood, and the alchemist was busy setting up his equipment in anticipation of orders.

  It wasn’t like the town was busy, but it was slowly gaining a heartbeat. All that it needed was more of the villagers from around the island to join in and inhabit the town. Many of them still didn’t believe the town would work, but after today that might change.

  Indeed, life was changing, and hopefully for the better. The future was unknown, and Lukey would be a fool if he let opportunity pass him ever again. He needed to get stronger, but until his wounds healed, it would be difficult to do any hunting.

  Instead, Lukey decided to head home and eat. Tomorrow, he will come back to the guild and practice more with his spear throwing. Today, he will rest and let his wounds heal in anticipation for tomorrow.