Reincarnated As A Character In My Own Manga

[Scene: Open Sea – Deck of the Whisper's Light]

The wind tugged at Ashen's hair as he stood near the helm, which was just about the same height as him.

The wood beneath his boots creaked gently. The sea stretched forever, blue and unknowable. Gulls circled overhead like skybound scouts.

He took a deep breath.

Ashen (Internal):

"It's been twenty days since we set sail for the Adventurer's License Exam."

He adjusted the collar of his shirt, blinking into the breeze.

"Traveling with this bunch of weird, unhinged, occasionally dangerous... yet oddly lovely people..."

"It actually makes me feel like I belong here."

He turned around.

Behind him —

Solis and Rhask were sparring shirtless in sync, like some kind of martial-arts action poster come to life. Punch. Dodge. Block. Counter. Again.

Kael sat on a barrel, scarfing snacks with both hands like the world was ending in an hour and he'd need the calories to fight it.

Katrina was half-curled into a hammock near the railing, nose buried in a leather-bound book, probably reading something about poisons or ancient curses — her idea of "light reading."

Eron and Arjun stood in serious conversation with Master Madhav at the mast, pointing occasionally toward the map table and arguing like scholars. Well. Scholars with bad posture.

Then—

CLAP.

CLAP.

Madhav clapped his hands twice, like a schoolteacher calling recess.

Madhav (cheerfully):

"Time for lunch! One final meal before you all submit your applications."

He gestured over his shoulder towards the dining room.

"The island's only an hour away!"

[Scene: Whisper's Light – Table]

Ashen took his usual spot at the long wooden table and sighed.

Ashen (Internal):

"Well. This meal will be nothing different. Just another helping of Whisper's Light chaos."

"Like I've been witnessing for twenty days straight."

He glanced to his left.

Katrina and Eron were finishing the setup. Bowls, spoons, bread. The actual cooks of the crew — well, the ones people trusted.

His eyes slid over to the cauldron.

And to Master Madhav.

Who was stirring it like he was performing a summoning ritual.

Ashen squinted.

Ashen (narrowing his eyes):

"Katrina and Eron are the cooks we want."

"But Master Madhav... loves cooking."

The bubbling mass hissed ominously.

"Unfortunately, love doesn't equal taste."

[Scene: Few Minutes Later – Chaos Unleashed]

The meal was served.

The table went quiet.

No one wanted to say it aloud — but the soup smelled... cursed.

And yet, spoon after spoon was lifted. Smiles were forced. No one dared break Master Madhav's illusion.

Ashen (deadpan, internal):

"This is the part where love wins over taste buds. And collective trauma builds character."

He took one sip.

Choked slightly.

"Still—doesn't he realize this is awful?!"

He glanced at Master Madhav.

The old man was slurping the same soup with terrifying enthusiasm, eyes twinkling with pride.

Ashen's eye twitched.

[Scene: Aftermath – Deck]

Lunch ended. No one died. Just barely.

They emerged onto the deck like survivors of a great disaster.

And then — Ashen's jaw dropped.

A collective hush fell over the group.

Out in the middle of the ocean, rising like a crown from the sea, was their destination.

Not an island.

Not a dock.

A castle.

Huge.

Black stone towers pierced the sky. Ships circled it like birds orbiting a beast.

Flags flapped high in the wind — golden, deep red, royal blue.

Ashen stepped forward to the railing.

Ashen (awe):

"That's not an island... that's a fortress in the middle of the ocean."

Katrina (closing her book, smiling faintly):

"That's the License Submission Hall."

Eron:

"It's huge!"