For a period of time after that, a strange sight appeared across the Caribbean.
A pirate ship-none other than the Black Pearl that had once made the entire sea tremble-was constantly followed by several Royal Navy Interceptors.
They stopped and started as they roamed the Caribbean.
Wherever there was beautiful scenery, they appeared.
Odd sights on the open sea.
Interesting islands.
They missed nothing.
The scene was shocking.
Countless pirates even suspected it was a deliberate show of force.
That the Royal Navy had captured the Black Pearl and was parading it around to intimidate every pirate in the Caribbean.
It wasn't that no one tried to make trouble.
But almost every pirate ship that approached the fleet was mysteriously sunk.
This didn't happen once or twice.
Even an entire fleet had failed to escape that fate.
After that, no pirate dared to provoke them.
The moment a lookout spotted that fleet from the crow's nest, the order was always the same.
Turn around.
Run.
No one had the courage to clash with them.
Naturally, this was Noah's fleet.
And their purpose was very simple.
They were traveling.
Noah and the others didn't miss a single scenic location.
Of course, such a journey couldn't last forever.
Life at sea became dull over time.
So after nearly a month, Noah and Hermione decided to head back.
They had been very happy during that time.
Although many things were less convenient than on land, for mages, spiritual closeness often surpassed physical intimacy.
There were other reasons too.
First, aside from Noah and Hermione, everyone else was starting to smell.
Second, the attitude of the others had become excessive.
That reverence-beyond normal human limits-was uncomfortable for both of them.
No matter how high their status, it still felt wrong.
Imagine this.
Every morning, a large group of people kneeling before you to pray.
Unless one was a psychopath, it was impossible to accept.
In truth, this reaction was understandable.
What Noah had done that day was simply too much.
So overwhelming that people instinctively believed he was a god.
After all, he had turned into an angel and erased an entire ship without effort.
Just imagining it was enough to make anyone despair.
Yet the light radiating from him had felt incredibly warm.
That contradiction left people confused.
But none of them doubted his identity.
Especially after Noah reversed time.
True time reversal.
What had already happened was undone.
The "Messenger of God" named Noah had rewritten reality itself.
That kind of event was impossible to comprehend.
And when those dazed pirates appeared one by one, alive and intact, doubt vanished completely.
Fear.
Awe.
Disbelief.
All of it combined into a reverence no ordinary person could suppress.
Hermione, however, focused on something else entirely.
On the angel Noah had become.
As Britain's Minister of Magic, she hadn't forgotten the angel that once appeared on London's streets.
As Noah's girlfriend, she remembered even more clearly what he had endured as a child.
She wasn't concerned about time reversal.
She was curious about one thing.
Why he had become an angel.
"How did you turn into an angel?" Hermione asked one night after dragging Noah into the Mirror Dimension, looking at him strangely.
"Didn't you personally kick them away back then?"
"Yes," Noah replied, tilting his head. "But I found the power of Light."
"I have a special spell. I'll make it public later."
"It helps us enter the next stage once we reach our limits."
"And I needed the Light to complete it."
"You found the Light to finish your spell?" Hermione rubbed her chin, looking him up and down.
"You're trying to use the Light?"
"Honestly, you looked beautiful then."
"That won't affect your gender, will it?"
"Damn it!" Noah exploded. "I'm a man. For the rest of my life!"
He'd known this was coming.
It was unbearably embarrassing.
Fortunately, Hermione didn't pursue it further.
She was only curious.
Curious about his condition.
Curious about that angelic form.
When she said "beautiful," she wasn't lying.
She truly thought he looked beautiful then.
That said, she didn't like overly effeminate men.
Western women generally didn't.
She preferred Noah as he was now.
However, once Noah and Hermione's identities were exposed-and misunderstood-no one dared approach them casually anymore.
Elizabeth included.
At first, Elizabeth hadn't intended to change.
But after Norrington pulled her aside for a serious talk, she didn't dare act as before.
That disappointed Hermione a little.
They hadn't known each other long, but she'd grown fond of the girl.
"Time to go, dear."
Standing at the bow, Noah wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist and whispered near her ear.
"We've played long enough."
"It has been a while," Hermione said softly, leaning back against him.
"But I enjoyed it."
"The sea breeze, the ship, the scenery... and you."
"For me, it's all been perfect."
"But it's time to return. We still have many things to do."
"Of course."
Then Noah suddenly raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
Instantly, the ship surged forward.
Its speed increased dramatically.
People on board cried out in shock.
The accompanying ships were startled as well.
Noah didn't care.
He held Hermione's hands, leaned close, and whispered.
"Have you seen Titanic?"
"...Sorry. No."
"Then close your eyes, face the sea breeze, and imagine yourself flying."
"But I can already fly."
...
The romantic attempt failed.
Noah didn't take it to heart.
He just felt that Titanic-style romance wasn't very compatible with mages.
Mages didn't buy into those tropes.
A powerful mage could fly on their own.
And even if they couldn't, there were tools.
Like broomsticks.
Perfectly serviceable.
After that, Noah told Norrington, Captain Jack, Elizabeth, and the others his plan.
"I've enjoyed our time together," Noah said with a smile.
"You're all good people."
"But we've had our fun."
"And now it's time for us to leave."
"You're going back to... inherit that position you mentioned?" Norrington asked cautiously.
He hadn't forgotten.
Even though it felt presumptuous, he couldn't help himself.
He wasn't the only one curious.
Anyone would be.
What kind of life did a god live?
What kind of position awaited someone like Noah?
In an era where faith still held power, the Church was never weak.
God was their Lord.
Even rational people struggled to deny what they couldn't explain.
"I suppose so," Noah said with a shrug.
"It is an important position."
He understood their thoughts.
But some things were too troublesome to explain.
It was easier to let them misunderstand.
"The Lord... I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't ask," Norrington said awkwardly.
"There's no need to be embarrassed," Noah replied calmly.
"But there's one thing you should understand."
"I have nothing to do with the Lord you believe in."
He shrugged again.
"We're divided into many factions."
"The one you believe in isn't us."
"And the region we govern isn't yours."
"Just treat us as tourists."
"The one you believe in won't mind."
And he wouldn't.
More accurately, nothing in this universe could restrain Noah.
And the Lord they believed in didn't seem to be here at all.
Some things didn't need to be explained.
Especially when Noah could leave at any time.
With the key in hand and having reached the demigod stage, he could open a door to any low-intensity universe whenever he wished.
"Then... will you come back?"
Elizabeth suddenly spoke.
"I mean... will we see each other again?"
"See each other again?"
Noah tilted his head.
"I don't know."
"This is just a tourist world for me."
"I don't know how much free time I'll have after I return."
"After all, I have an entire group of people like us to manage."
The expressions on the ship changed instantly.
A group like him?
This young man-no, someone who only looked young-what kind of terrifying existence was he?
While everyone was still processing that thought, Noah raised his hand.
A golden halo, like a seed, appeared in his palm.
"This is for you," Noah said, handing it to Elizabeth.
"This is...?" Elizabeth asked softly.
"A seed of Holy Light," Noah replied.
"If you can sense it, then perhaps we'll meet again while you're alive."
"If not..."
He didn't finish the sentence.
In their understanding, that probably meant meeting again after death.
In truth, Noah couldn't control where souls went after death.
Elizabeth accepted the halo solemnly.
The moment it entered her body, warmth spread through her.
"I will work hard," she said quietly.
"Alright."
Noah waved his hand.
"It's time for us to go."
With that, he added casually,
"Continue your game of cat and mouse, soldiers."
"And you."
He glanced at Jack.
"Little pirate."