"Stone Island…" Ragnar let out a long breath, then slowly shook his head. "Honestly, I don't know exactly where it is myself. And I can't take you there."
Jun's expression dimmed slightly. His shoulders sank just a bit, as if the hope that had surfaced moments ago was pressed back down by reality.
But Ragnar wasn't finished.
"But," he continued, staring sharply at Jun, "I can ask someone to show the way."
Jun looked up. "Really?"
Ragnar nodded. "Yes. This is no longer a personal matter. This concerns our lives—and the people who live along the coast."
He clenched his fist. "The movements of the Deep Ones lately have been abnormal. Just yesterday, they dared to attack this port city openly."
Jun narrowed his eyes. "And what do you suspect?"
"Actually…" Ragnar paused for a moment, choosing his words. "They've been attacking many ships. And strangely enough, those ships were outside their territorial routes."
Jun immediately grasped the anomaly. "So something is forcing them to move."
"Exactly," Ragnar replied. "That's why my companions and I sailed to an island some time ago. We found something there."
"What was it?"
"A monument," Ragnar said quietly. "Already destroyed."
Jun frowned. "And what does that have to do with all this?"
"I don't know yet," Ragnar admitted honestly. "But my instincts tell me… all of this is connected."
He looked straight at Jun. "Including you. You appeared out of nowhere, asking about Stone Island—the place where Jörmungandr is sealed."
Jun fell silent for a few seconds, then nodded slowly. "Hmm… that makes sense."
There was a thread connecting everything, still unclear, but its direction was becoming stronger.
...
After lunch, Ragnar invited Jun to go with him.
They left the port city and followed a rocky path toward a cliff that faced the open sea directly. The wind blew hard there, carrying the salty scent of the ocean and the sound of waves crashing against the rocks below.
At the top of the cliff stood a massive statue.
A statue of a bearded man, holding symbols of the sea and wind. His face was calm yet authoritative, as if watching over the endless ocean.
"Do you know who that is?" Ragnar asked.
Jun shook his head. "No."
"Njord," Ragnar answered. "Protector of the sea, the wind, and sailors."
"A god?" Jun asked softly.
Ragnar snorted lightly. "Of course. Here, we worship Lord Njord."
Ragnar stepped closer to a stone altar before the statue. Its surface was covered in ancient rune carvings. Ragnar placed his hand upon it, his eyes moving smoothly as he read the symbols.
Then he stood upright.
"I am Ragnar Lothbrok," he proclaimed loudly, his voice carried by the wind, "and I call upon the gods who watch over the brave warriors of this land."
The air changed.
The wind, once wild, suddenly became orderly, slowly swirling around the altar. Pale light appeared in the air, forming the silhouette of a large, radiant bird.
The bird flapped its wings once—
And the light collapsed to the ground.
In its place stood a woman.
Her hair was pale blonde, her eyes sharp yet calm. She wore light armor adorned with divine symbols, and a glowing spear hung on her back. Her presence was oppressive, yet not hostile.
Without the slightest hesitation, Ragnar immediately knelt.
"I humbly welcome the envoy of the gods," he said with his head bowed. "Valkyrie Ingrid."
The wind slowly circled the cliff. The Valkyrie looked at Ragnar for a moment, then shifted her gaze to the figure beside him.
Jun.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if evaluating not just his body, but his existence.
"And who are you?" she asked, her voice clear yet carrying subtle pressure.
"I am a traveler from the far east," Jun replied calmly. "My name is Jun."
"Jun… is it?" Ingrid repeated slowly. Then she turned back to Ragnar. "So then, Ragnar. What could possibly make you call upon us like this? You rarely ask anything of the gods."
Her tone grew deeper. "And this time… you bring something interesting."
Ragnar raised his head and slowly stood. He began to explain everything—the Deep Ones' attacks, the abnormal sea routes, the destroyed monument, and Jun's request regarding Stone Island.
The moment that name was spoken—
"WHAT?"
Ingrid's voice echoed, even the wind falling silent for an instant.
"Honestly," Ragnar continued without flinching, "I was surprised as well when I heard it."
Ingrid turned sharply toward Jun. Her gaze was no longer merely evaluative—it was testing.
"Do you know what Stone Island is?" she asked coldly.
"The place where Jörmungandr is sealed," Jun answered.
"That's it!" Ingrid took a step forward. Divine pressure burst forth clearly. "You have no idea how dangerous that request is! To the point that you would ask me—a servant of the gods—to visit the being that will one day destroy Asgard!"
Jun fell silent for a moment.
Asking Ragnar for help again would change nothing. But retreating was not an option either.
He drew a breath, then spoke.
"It's not as complicated as you think," he said quietly but firmly. "However, based on these events, I speculate… that something is happening to Jörmungandr."
Ingrid froze.
"What?" she asked slowly.
"It's related to the unusual movements of the Deep Ones."
"And what does that have to do with anything!?" Ingrid's voice rose, faint wings of light appearing on her back.
Jun clenched his fist.
In his mind, there was only one word.
Damn it.
He needed something—anything—to convince her.
That was when Ragnar stepped forward.
"Lady Ingrid," he called out loudly, his voice echoing across the cliff. "Would you grant this request… in return for a warrior's loyalty to Lord Njord?"
Ingrid turned sharply. "What are you saying?"
Her expression changed—not anger, but shock.
Ragnar lifted his head high.
"I, Ragnar Lothbrok," he declared without hesitation, "a warrior of Odin… am willing to transfer my loyalty. From Odin… to Njord."
The wind raged.
The runes on the altar blazed with light. The sea below the cliff roared violently, as if the sea god himself had opened his eyes.
Jun stared at Ragnar with widened eyes.
Ingrid fell silent for a long time. Her gaze shifted from Ragnar to Jun, then back to the towering statue of Njord.
Finally, she spoke.
"Do you understand the meaning of your words, Ragnar Lothbrok?"
"I do," Ragnar replied firmly. "And I will not take them back."
Silence enveloped the cliff.
Then Ingrid let out a long breath.
"…You are all truly insane," she muttered.
After remaining silent for a while longer, Ingrid closed her eyes.
The light around her body dimmed, then pulsed softly—as if she were communicating with something far beyond the cliff. The sea wind slowed, the waves below ceased their fury, and the world itself seemed to hold its breath.
Moments later, Ingrid opened her eyes.
"Lord Njord has heard this request," she said softly but clearly. "And… he consents."
Jun and Ragnar both held their breath.
But Ingrid immediately raised one finger, her gaze turning firm again. "But remember this well. This is not a journey to interfere."
She looked at both of them in turn. "This is merely a tour. Sightseeing. Understood?"
Jun nodded. "Understood."
Ragnar bowed his head. "I understand."
Ingrid stared at them a few seconds longer, as if confirming their resolve, then turned around. "Follow me."
...
They did not return to the main harbor.
Ingrid led them along a narrow path outside the city, through rocks and coastal shrubs rarely traveled by people. The path descended steeply until it finally reached a silent canal—hidden between tall cliffs that shielded its waters from sunlight.
Thin mist hung low, making the water look gray and endless.
There, tied to an old wooden post, was a small skiff.
Ingrid stepped into the skiff first and sat at the stern. She took up a wooden oar that looked ordinary, yet the moment it touched the water, faint glowing ripples spread gently.
"Get in," she said curtly.
Jun and Ragnar followed, sitting opposite each other in the middle of the skiff. Once all three were aboard, Ingrid began to row.
There was no sound of the oar cutting through the water.
The skiff moved smoothly, almost as if gliding across the surface, heading toward an area increasingly shrouded in mist. Slowly, the world behind them faded—the cliffs, the land, even the cries of seabirds vanished one by one.
The mist thickened.
The air grew cold and damp, carrying the scent of the deep sea—older… heavier.
Ragnar touched the hilt of his sword, not because of any visible threat, but out of instinct.
Jun stared ahead, his eyes sharp. He felt a subtle pressure, like entering a region that was not entirely subject to the human world.
"This area," Ingrid said without turning around, "is a boundary. Between the sea that is known… and the sea that should not be touched."
The mist ahead slowly began to swirl.