Just as Daichi was reveling in his success, a voice echoed within his mindscape.
"You've figured out how to use the sigil patterns, huh? I'll admit, I didn't expect that."
Recognizing the familiar voice, Daichi replied quietly, "Devouring Soul Slate, why are you awake again?"
"I sensed a powerful energy fluctuation and woke up. Thought you might've advanced to Tier-3 Elite Mage, but you've actually begun to perceive a world law. Now that was unexpected."
"World law? What's that?" Daichi was puzzled—no one had ever mentioned it to him before.
"The lines engraved on your sigils are world laws—what I previously referred to as rules. Normally, you'd only begin to sense them after becoming an elite mage. The fact that you've already started grasping one shows exceptional perception and fortune. Looks like what I once considered a last resort might've uncovered a promising seed."
"Last resort? What exactly did I do back then to make you accept me as your master?" Daichi's confusion only deepened.
"Sigh… another time. There's not much time now. Listen up. Everything I'm about to tell you, remember it well. First, spells work by leveraging rules—world laws—to help you perform magic. That probably tells you this already: the patterns on your sigils are an alternative form of incantation."
"You can now use a portion of a law's power. But remember—laws vary in scale. Don't try to activate laws you haven't attuned to, especially ones like the Sun or the Stars. At your current level, channeling those will cost you your life."
"As for training in laws—that comes later. You won't even touch that realm until Tier-3. Tier-4 is when true comprehension begins. Don't rush it. When the time comes, you'll know."
There was a pause, then the voice continued. "Also, you did well to bring out your staff while attuning to the sky. In future insights, bring it out too—it will absorb some of the law's power, strengthening the magic stone and smoothing your spellcasting. That's it… I'll be going back to sleep now…"
No matter how Daichi called out afterward, the voice didn't respond again.
"Tch, this guy always leaves everything half-said. So unreliable," Daichi muttered, strapping his bamboo copter back on and descending.
On the island, everyone rushed to the water's edge after seeing Doraemon fall in.
Soon, Doraemon floated back to the surface, staring anxiously toward the direction Daichi had flown.
But Daichi had already vanished into the clouds. Catching up would be risky and probably pointless.
Dekisugi, also looking in that direction, wore a thoughtful expression, trying to guess what Daichi was up to.
Moments later, the sky began to shift. A small vortex formed among the clouds, filling everyone's eyes with worry.
It intensified into a swirling cyclone, lightning flashing through it. Now, no one dared approach.
At its peak, the storm suddenly vanished, replaced by a still calm—as if nothing had happened.
Were it not for the ominous clouds still hovering above, they might have believed there'd never been a storm at all.
Eventually, Daichi descended from the sky with the bamboo copter, landing in the middle of the group.
Doraemon rushed over and yanked the copter off his head. "You idiot! Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?! We were all worried sick!"
Daichi smiled and said to everyone, "Sorry to make you worry. But I had a reason I had to go."
Gian, fueled by some unknown courage, grabbed Daichi by the collar. "You jerk! What reason could justify risking your life?! Weren't you the one telling us to take care of ourselves?! What the hell, man?!"
Daichi wasn't angry. He just met Gian's eyes. "If I had thought it was dangerous, I wouldn't have gone. The reason I did go was because I believed I wouldn't be in danger."
"I should've said something before, but I was afraid you'd stop me. That's why I didn't."
Gian stared at him a while longer, then huffed and let go. "No next time."
"So what were you doing up there?" Doraemon asked the question on everyone's mind.
Daichi shook his head. "That's personal. Not something I can share."
Everyone tried pressing further, but he blocked every attempt.
Dekisugi seemed to understand why Daichi went up there—though not the details—and just reminded him not to do something so dangerous again.
Seeing that Daichi was safe, the others stopped questioning and turned their attention to the ship.
The treasure-hunting ship was badly damaged. It would need repairs before they could continue.
Doraemon pulled out his Restoration Beam, intending to fix it—only to find it wouldn't turn on.
"Looks like the battery's dead. Must've gone unused too long," Doraemon said, rubbing his head sheepishly. Classic timing.
While he fretted, Flok stepped forward. "I can try fixing it."
Everyone looked to him hopefully.
Scratching his head, Flok said, "Don't look at me like that. I worked as a mechanic on the pirate ship—every shipboard mechanic has to know repair work. I should be able to get this one back in shape, maybe even improve it."
Doraemon grabbed his hand. "Then we're counting on you! If you need anything, just ask. I'll get it for you."
Flok pounded his chest confidently. "No problem. Leave it to me!"
The rest of the team went out to forage. The nearby waters were rich with marine life.
Daichi caught a massive lobster and tossed it ashore—nearly half a meter long. Tonight would be a feast.
Gian found some strange, yellow fruits the size of fists—sweet and juicy.
Nobita brought back something that looked like strawberries—but were so sour he couldn't eat more than one.
Dekisugi wasn't interested in fruit. He watched the ship repairs instead.
Doraemon handed Flok the parts he needed, while Flok pieced them together non-stop.
By noon, they had prepared a big lunch—seafood, fruit, and more.
After eating, Dekisugi pulled Daichi aside. "So… what did you do this morning?"
Daichi grinned. "Ah, that's what this is about. Let me explain."
"As mages, we use incantations to channel the forces of nature. When I felt the call from above, I knew I wouldn't be in danger. The storm? That was me guiding the natural forces."
Dekisugi's eyes widened. "So… you can use that kind of powerful magic any time now?"
Daichi shook his head. "I wish. That was only possible because I borrowed power from the storm already in motion."
"If I had to summon it myself, I'd be lucky to conjure a few clouds. I've got a long way to go."
And that was the truth.
Dekisugi believed him without question. He trusted Daichi completely—and also reasoned that if Daichi were that powerful, he wouldn't have gotten shot earlier.
Satisfied with the explanation, Dekisugi didn't press further but reminded him not to take such risks again.
Daichi nodded in agreement, though even he wasn't sure he could stick to that promise. Life had a way of being unpredictable.
After chatting, they rejoined the others to continue working on the ship.
They cleaned the cabin, hoisted new sails, assembled new wooden bunks—two hours of solid work.
Afterward, even Daichi had to sit and rest for a bit.
Though it wasn't physically strenuous, the nonstop effort wore them out—and he couldn't keep the strength spell active indefinitely without draining his mana.
But looking at their finished work, Daichi was pleased. Dekisugi smiled too.
"Turns out this stuff is way harder than it looks in books," Dekisugi said, sitting beside Daichi.
They'd refurbished the entire cabin.
Gian's team handled the outer deck; Dekisugi and Daichi tackled the inside.
"I've been telling you—less reading, more doing. You learn a lot that way."
"Yeah… I don't usually do much hands-on stuff."
As they chatted lazily, the sky dimmed. The ship was mostly repaired; its frame now solid.
After dinner, everyone found a spot to rest.
These past two days had been nonstop. Everyone was mentally and physically exhausted.
Late into the night, only Flok was still awake—tapping away at an invisible keyboard, inputting code Daichi couldn't understand.
As night fell, Doraemon helped everyone make their beds, and the group finally settled in for a well-earned sleep.
(End of Chapter)