Chapter 34

First Report On the Journey to the Water Capital “Come again? You want a boat to Cloudburst?” “Yes. I have gold and a permit.” I present the permit issued by the Kingdom of Ruxe that I obtained through the Church. Seeing its imprinted seal, the man’s weatherworn face goes stiff as a board. The town of Anise was once the greatest port in all of Ruxe, but its former liveliness is nowhere to be seen. The wharf is deserted, and the old deckhands gathered at the local bar reek of melancholy. It’s been nearly ten years since the entire sea and its environs fell into the Demon Lord’s hands. Ports all across the world, not only in the Kingdom of Ruxe, are going defunct. The main reason for this traces back to the arrival of the sea demon Heljarl, one of Demon Lord Kranos’s top brass. Ever since he appeared roughly ten years ago, he’s commanded a formidable army of giant, fearsome sea monsters that have capsized and sunk a great many ships across the high seas. Humankind fought back, but even the naval forces of each and every nation were no match for the multitudes of gigantic, ferocious sea monsters who laid waste at Heljarl’s command. The humans suffered a catastrophic defeat that has since gone down in history. The Demon Lord had just advanced his troops forward at that time, and ever since, the ocean has been under his control. The seas close to land are still deemed relatively safe, but there’s no chance a boat will go as far as Cloudburst. The man takes my permit in his hand and checks it. He’s the former captain of a ship that sailed to Cloudburst ten years ago, but now, he can barely manage to say with a shudder, “It’s the real deal.” “The situation is urgent. I went to great lengths to obtain this permit.” After the horrible losses at sea, the Kingdom of Ruxe’s navy restricted all ships from departing for other lands. Regardless of how closely these restrictions are followed, the risk of going out to sea, even for the most audacious, obsessive merchant, limits voyages to destinations within the shortest possible distance from the mainland. The ex-captain looks at me and the small robed figure directly behind me before his expression turns entirely suspicious. “We’ve got an escort vessel, but damn, even with an envoy, this is a tall order. Don’t you know what the seas are like these days?” “I am well aware. I’m going above and beyond to ask you. And I have gold.” I, Ares Crown, have been entrusted with a mission to support Naotsugu Toudou and his party. I do so from the shadows, sometimes preparing items for them or dealing with potential obstacles before they can cause the party any problems. In Golem Valley, I managed to defeat a particularly brutal demon that Toudou stood no chance against by the skin of my teeth. And I still need to arrive at their next destination before they do. So I currently have no other option but to travel by boat to Cloudburst ahead of Toudou and his party, who will be arriving by magical carriage. The sailors at the wharf gather around when they hear me speak. Thanks to the Demon Lord, they’re all bored out of their skulls. Their opportunities to sail the seas are few and far between, and they’re pining for a chance to get back on the water. These men surely still know the ropes. They all reek of booze but don’t look any worse for wear. They must be dying to get back out on the open ocean. They’re still here, ten whole years after ships started getting decimated. That can mean only one thing. The old ship captain bores his eyes into me. His gaze is grim, but I see a flicker of indecision. “…If you’ve got a permit, then you must have an escort, too, eh?” “There’s this one here and me.” “…Wha—?” Now he looks completely thrown for a loop, his eyes darting back and forth between me and the small shadowy figure behind me. I can’t blame him for being surprised that our envoy consists of just two people. “You’ll be a target if you set out with a full-scale fleet. That said, a single small boat should allow you to pass safely.” The sea demon Heljarl may still have a watchful eye on the water, but he can’t sink every single vessel out there. Even with sea monsters at his beck and call, the oceans are too vast for anyone to control completely. “I have confidence. This permit here is proof of my intent. There’s no way I’d be able to acquire one in these times without a proper escort.” Yes, the Kingdom of Ruxe is still restricting maritime traffic. In my case, the Church’s top ranks applied for the permit in my stead, so it hasn’t been through any official inspections—not that I care. I look behind me at our newest party member, who silently offers their consent. The ex–sea captain contorts his fearless mug into a grimace. The risk is incalculable, but these guys won’t be able to resist the chance to sail the open seas again. The Church doesn’t have an operable vessel. If this bunch doesn’t agree to this, I might be stuck swimming to Cloudburst. Then I’ll have no chance of even catching up with Toudou, so I’d be forced to take the land route. It must be a tough question—the ex-captain isn’t answering me. He continues grumbling with his arms crossed, eyeing me and the black barbed-metal mace in my hand. As I wait for his reply, I hear a voice behind me—a young female voice that feels out of place here. Despite her face being covered by the thick hood, I can hear her quite well. “Boss, these guys are cowards. We’d be better off in a rowboat, just the two of us.” A rowboat… Hmm… Now there’s a thought. As I silently admire the notion, one of the sailors raises his voice. “The hell’d you just say?!” He must have let loose a bit now that he’s learned the suspicious character behind me—whose age, gender, and appearance were previously unidentifiable—is actually a young girl. Even when she’s being screamed at, the girl shows no sign of fear. Rather, she continues on, almost like she’s making fun of him. “But am I wrong? You’ve got paying customers with their own escort and a permit. What more could you want? All you have to do is bring your boat around. If I were you, I’d have already done it.” “Hey—watch your mouth.” “…Yes, boss.” The talking hood returns to silent mode. I’m not here to start a scuffle with a bunch of old deckhands. Although they started encroaching on us, they become discouraged by the diffusion of events and take a few steps back. I sigh and turn toward the ex-captain. “Apologies on behalf of my companion. Now, if you’re not willing to supply us with a boat and crew, that’s fine, but I would like to ask…where can we buy a rowboat?” I will do anything it takes to support the Holy Warrior. That is my job. “Boss, you’re crazy.” “You’re one to talk.” After all that trouble, the ex-captain has provided us with a sailboat. That said, it’s a moderate vessel, but it still floats, and it’s in good condition. We have twelve passengers in total, including the two of us. Our company is made up of all expert seafarers, and they even include an elementalist who can cause the winds to blow when we need a boost in speed. It must have been some time since a ship last left the port, as people are gathering at the wharfs, staring through squinted eyes at our ship. I head to speak to our captain—Captain Romoro—as he shouts his instructions for departure to the crew. He’s changed his clothes, and he now wears a white hat. “I’m sorry to rope you into this dangerous request.” “Hmph… Bit late for that.” Romoro snorts and shoots me an icy glare. His face indicates a long history of naval military service. He looks toward the crew, busy with preparations, and rubs his beard before continuing. “I just couldn’t leave behind a priest of the order of Ahz Gried on the brink of committing suicide.” “I had no intention of suicide…” “You wanted to take a rowboat out onto open water. They’re one and the same, pal.” Come to think of it, most of my enemies are land-based. I’ve never been on a boat before. The captain takes a deep breath and smiles through a bitter chuckle. “At any rate, we’ve always been prepared to throw ourselves overboard from the very start. It’s just a matter of sooner or later—makes no difference either way.” “That isn’t exactly ideal for us… Anyway, just leave it up to me. The two of us will obliterate any monsters that appear.” “R-right.” I point at the hooded figure next to me, and Captain Romoro nods apprehensively. She is one of the two mercenaries I spent most of the cash I earned in Golem Valley to hire. She’s still young, but her master, a legendary mercenary, personally signed off on her abilities. Her role is that of a scout. She’s a professional in surveillance and monster detection and even has battle experience. At the very least, I’ll get my money’s worth out of her. Even if she turns out to be useless, all I’ll have to do is kill every monster myself. I look down at the thick khaki hood and ask, “You like fish?” “If I had to choose, I prefer meat. There aren’t any fish on land, after all…” “This is a perfect chance for you, then. You’ll eat your fill of them.” “But I wasn’t hired to catch fish…” She sounds incredulous, but I can’t detect any trepidation. She has guts—that much I can tell. The average mercenary would have refused the second I said we were headed out on the high seas. I’m expecting great things from her. “Depending on your performance, I’ll put in a good word with your master when this is all over. It seems like he’s worked you pretty hard. I might even throw in a bonus for you.” I can make empty promises all day long. Once the Demon Lord is defeated, Creio won’t be able to say no to anything. The hooded girl tilts her head to the side, and I catch a glimpse of shining silver hair. She must have noticed—she hastily grabs her hood and pulls it down even farther. Her appearance draws attention, and her name is supposedly well-known in the Kingdom of Ruxe. I’ve been instructed not to use her name until we’re out of the Kingdom. The sun reflects brilliantly off her perfectly trimmed nails. As she continues to pull down her hood, the supposedly distinguished apprentice mercenary continues. “…Is this what all priests are like?” I wonder how Amelia and company are doing as they continue to track Toudou’s party? Two figures sit astride the runner lizard’s saddle as it speeds through the vast amber prairie. The one holding the reins is small in stature and wears a reddish-brown robe with a deep hood hiding their expression. Amelia sits behind them, staring ahead across the plains and far off into the horizon with her indigo eyes, her similarly indigo hair fluttering in the fierce wind. It’s already been a week since she and Ares set out on separate paths. Ares and his companion will visit Cloudburst first and assist Toudou’s party. Amelia and her companion are tailing the group to provide support in case something happens along the way. She and Ares acted as a team up until the last town they visited, but ever since he added two accomplished mercenaries to his party, they decided to split up. It makes sense for Amelia and Ares, who can both cast holy techniques, to offer support separately. Yet, even though Amelia understands the rhetoric involved, she’s not in complete agreement. Amelia purposely joined Ares in the first place to assist him. By no means is she here to be treated as an errand girl. Not that she would ever even dream of saying this to Ares himself, of course. The newly joined mercenaries are complete strangers, and she can’t get much of a sense of them. In contrast with Amelia’s slightly sour mood, the mercenary saddled in front of her sounds borderline delighted. “My master once told me that a hundred million is…only enough to hire one half a man as a temp, at best.” The calm murmur indicates that the mercenary is a girl younger than Amelia. She almost sounds sweet, but the average girl could never handle something as wild as a runner lizard. “I see.” The hooded girl seems unperturbed by Amelia’s obvious lack of interest and continues. “Then your boss said, ‘If you’re talking half a man, then give me two. That adds up to one.’ But that’s not how it works.” Amelia already knows what’s under the hood. There’s no doubt that this person would have drawn attention in the peaceful capital of the Kingdom of Ruxe. She agreed to keep the girl hidden, but she didn’t think she’d have to remain hidden even outside the Kingdom. The girl’s figure is dainty, and protruding from her hip is what looks to be a large weapon. “My master said, ‘Let’s flip a coin.’ Heads meant…me. Tails—Sanya. He said we’d get paid up front and be dispatched until these peculiar circumstances had wrapped up. Told us it was a compromise.” Runner lizards are actually low-ranking dragons, and weaker enemies won’t come near them. The pair continues speeding across the abandoned prairie at a much quicker pace than Toudou’s party’s carriage. Amelia’s detection magic already has a lock on them. The female mercenary twitches under her hood. Riding atop a runner lizard is extremely rough going, but her center of gravity has remained solid since the start. Her arms extend from the robe and her thin fingers grip the reins as she whips it once, and lightly, but it still picks up additional speed. “And then, Amelia, your boss said, ‘Rather than choose, I’ll just take them both.’ My master loves to bet, and he lost, and lost again. Then, poor us—we got sold off at a discount. Unbelievable—what a huge loss.” I really got a good deal. A difficult assignment such as this requires top-tier personnel. The two mercenaries I was fortunate enough to get a hold of will pay my expectations back a dozen times over—I’m sure of it. It took a while to detect the demons lying in wait in Golem Valley. I know my way around the battlefield, but on the other hand, my tracking and detection capabilities aren’t particularly high. The new members I’ve recruited are here to bridge that gap. They’re a rare breed of talent—excellent at tracking monsters, capable of defeating the kind of absurdly powerful steel tiger werebeast that I encountered in Golem Valley, and, if it comes to it, they would be able to join the Holy Warrior’s party. The hooded girl strides lithely across the wharf and says to me, “My master said you’re a crazy, interesting guy. Told me that unless I want the gods to forsake me, I should faithfully obey your every command. My master’s pretty messed up in the head, so he doesn’t have a leg to stand on in that respect. He’s the type who goes easy on himself and always lays into others, but he was absolutely right in this case. That’s why I’ve decided to treat you as my boss and pledge my loyalty.” All the mercenaries at that bar were the cream of the crop. But this hooded girl’s master is a legendary mercenary whose name even I’m familiar with—and I’m not very familiar with the Kingdom of Ruxe. It’s a shame I couldn’t hire her master instead. Yet, having two of his direct apprentices join me is still very fortunate. If anything, I need multiple bodies. Chalk it up to my daily grind. I look toward the wharf to make sure no one is spying on us. You simply can’t predict what the demons will throw at you. I confirm that nothing is awry and turn back to my hooded companion. “Like a pet dog, then?” “…Exactly, just like a pet dog. I’ll even wag my tail and shake your hand. Woof!” Don’t woof at me. The hooded girl looks proud for some reason, but I’m quick to admonish. “You should have said you’d act like a hunting dog and rip into your opponent’s windpipe.” “Of course I will; that much is obvious. I’m trying to give you more bang for your buck than the average mercenary.” “That means tail wagging and paw shaking?” “My master’s been telling me to work harder at flattery. It takes people off their guard, and it could lead to higher pay. Woof! But I have a lot of pride, so it’s been an uphill climb.” All mercenaries are off their rocker. I can’t tell if she’s serious or just messing with me. We continue our vapid chitchat as we climb aboard the ship. Perhaps due to the strong waves, the ship deck lurches more than I expected. I wander around the deck and check its battle positions. The majority of sea monsters are below the surface. However, since a ship’s hull is quite solid, it’s typically only the really massive undersea monsters that cause it to capsize. At any rate, there’s no use considering what happens after the ship’s sunk. All you can do is swim and try to escape. “Don’t you want to check the rest of the ship?” The hooded girl shrugs slightly. “I can fight anywhere.” The sail is raised at the captain’s command; it takes wind, and the vessel rocks gently. The wind is calm, and we slowly distance ourselves from the port. The crew keeps close watch on the ship’s surroundings. “The cannons have been loaded, but don’t expect much from them. We’re counting on you for protection,” one of the crew members explains. “We also have a mage, but we’ll need to save their magical energy for when it’s really needed.” He’s young, with a rugged beard and sharp gaze. He has a thin build, but his tanned bare arms are bulging with muscle. “Right, understood. Leave it to us.” I close my eyes and sense the countless monsters nearby, along with the salty air and rippling waves. For the record, the majority of sea monsters aren’t worth worrying about—they’re harmless. They rarely attacked boats before the sea demon Heljarl appeared. All there is to watch for is anything that approaches with intent. The crew member remains silent for a while before curtly grunting, “……Thanks,” and dashing off quickly. I should be the one thanking him. A fish with massive wings jumps above the surface of the water, far in the distance. I give an order to the hooded girl standing next to me. “Climb the mast—you’re on lookout.” “Got it… When can I take off this hood? It’s a pain in the ass.” “Not yet. Wait until we’re farther from land and no longer able to return as easily. Then you can take it off.” She really should take it off once to show everyone before any combat takes place. If she doesn’t, it will only invite confusion. “…Understood.” Her hooded head nods obediently as she approaches the mainmast. It has very few handholds, and instead of following the rope wound around it, she climbs the mast with the same ease as if she were walking on flat ground. I was told she’s level 65 and has all the skills required of a scout. Leaving surveillance up to her ought to be no problem. I cast my eyes back down, away from the bright, searing sun, and head inside the ship—I need to speak with the captain. It’s a week to ten days to Cloudburst, I’m told. Traveling by land would take nearly twice as long, which means that we have a bit of leeway, but getting there as safely and as quickly as possible is imperative. I’ve left the other mercenary with Amelia to tail Toudou and his party, just to be sure. I figure they can meet up with Toudou and feign fortuitous chance if necessary. I assigned the more serious-natured of the two mercenaries to Amelia. Knowing her, she’ll stay on top of things. There isn’t a cloud in the sky. Our voyage is going exceptionally well, to the point that it’s nearly impossible to imagine that the Demon Lord’s army has complete control over the oceans. The waves and wind are calm, with no sign of any monsters appearing. Captain Romoro stares outside through a window in the captain’s quarters, squinting. “Not so much as a single monster… I haven’t been on a voyage this peaceful in ages.” “It’s because I’m using Intimidation. I suppose the sea demon doesn’t patrol this area.” Monsters that rely more on their instincts or are of low intellect refuse to come near anything stronger than themselves. Utilizing the gap in level through Intimidation is a necessary tactic for any monster hunter traveling through monster territory. I learned this back when I was part of a monster-hunting party myself. The captain audibly swallows a lump in his throat and stares at me closely. “I see… I mean, I’ve heard stories, but… Although you’re a priest, you’re…really strong, right?” “You may leave any monsters to me. I’ve sent my companion up the mast for surveillance.” “…Got it. We’re counting on you.” I leave the captain’s quarters. Intimidation requires intense mental concentration. Keeping it up nonstop for a week is an impossible task. I look at the cloudless sky and trace with my eyes the sail enveloping the mast. I notice a figure sitting on the handrail of the crow’s nest—it’s a lookout who’s a short distance from my companion, glowering at her. She must have noticed—her hooded face looks down at me. In an instant, she slides off the crow’s nest and starts tumbling through the air. The crew is all dumbstruck. She does several aerial flips before landing on both feet in perfect form directly in front of me. As if nothing happened, she raises her voice and asks, “What’s up, boss? No issues on my end.” “Keep the showmanship to a dull roar and try being friendlier to the crew.” “But…they’re the opposite of friendly.” She casually gestures up at them. We are outsiders. She’s no more than a child to the ship’s crew, and if they see her putting on a show from the crow’s nest, they’ll definitely start griping. “I’ll mention it to the captain. By the way, can you use Intimidation?” “Oh, so that’s why the sea monsters aren’t approaching… Of course I can.” She can see underwater monsters from the crow’s nest? I’m impressed, but I don’t show it. I was told she’s one half a man, but her master’s appraisal is clearly severe, because she’s a cut above any normal mercenary and highly distinguished. “How long can you use it for?” “Hmm. Continuously, maybe three or four hours. Any longer and I’d get exhausted and my combat strength would plummet. I can use it again if I take a break for a couple of hours.” Her response is immediate and casual. Having a good grasp of one’s own abilities is proof of a first-rate warrior. Being able to maintain Intimidation for three or four hours is quite impressive. “Three or four hours, huh? …In that case, I need you to use it now. When you’re running on empty, just say the word.” “…You got it.” She should be pretty exhausted, but after a moment’s pause, she nods without complaint. I can still maintain my concentration, but I need to get an idea of our new member’s capabilities while we’re still at ease and well within daylight hours. As I dispel my own Intimidation, the presence under the hood suddenly expands. The air ripples and the wind blows fiercely. One sailor is surveying the area from the crow’s nest. A fish jumps and disappears out of sight with incredible momentum. She definitely has the capability—she might even be exercising too much Intimidation. Truth be told, if she really can keep this up for three or four hours, that is something else. “I’ll take over the Intimidation. Get back to surveillance.” “…Yes, boss. Leave it to me.” Her reply is rife with confidence. Hearing it makes me so glad I sold off Stey. What a wondrous thing, having a companion who isn’t a complete moron. Stey…your replacement is truly exceptional. You’ve got a long way to go. As I recall that ditzy sister, now far off like a night star, I offer up a moment of silent prayer. Cloudburst is a city blessed by the water spirits. The city itself envelops an entire stretch of coastline. It’s famous for its magnificent views and production of water elemental gems and was once a popular stop-off for many merchants. Cloudburst is holy ground for elementalists due to the congregation of water elemental spirits there. Nearby, at the bottom of the sea, there is said to be a temple built long ago to honor divine water beings. Canals run through this relatively well-known city, although it’s highly inaccessible without a boat. I don’t know much about the place myself, seeing as I’m not an elementalist. “Cloudburst is a city protected by water elemental spirits. Sea monsters can’t just waltz right in. But a port city without boats coming and going serves no purpose.” Even the Demon Lord can’t so easily meddle with a sentient form of nature. I keep what I’ve just heard from the crew in the back of my mind. My current goal is strictly to get Limis and Toudou to enter a covenant with a water elemental spirit, with leveling up being secondary. “But really, a sunken temple…? How do you get inside?” If it’s a sunken temple, I’m assuming it’s on the ocean floor. No matter how high your level, it’s just not feasible to travel a long distance without breathing altogether… In response to my naive concern, the sun-scorched crew member looks toward the heavens and screws up his face. “See, that’s something you………oughta ask about in Cloudburst.” “…So you don’t know.” “My work takes place on the sea, after all.” He’s right—unless you’re a mage, there’s no way you’d find yourself on the ocean floor. Yet, there has to be an established means for getting down there. I guess I’ll have to research further when we reach the water capital. For the time being, I need to focus on keeping an eye on our surroundings and getting this vessel safely into harbor. Combat on the high seas is starkly different from fighting on land. If the ship sinks, I’ll survive, but it’ll put the crew’s lives at risk. In that moment, a crack resonates through the air and a sheet of spray erupts from the ocean far in the distance. I can see a figure leaning out over the crow’s nest and drawing a short bow. Looks like the sound I just heard was an arrow being fired. The bow glints ivory white and the string flashes silver. The ocean surface is stained red. My hooded companion looks down at me and says, “That was a big fish. Bigger than you, boss. But I brought it down.” “…Save your arrows.” “Humph, if we were on land, I’d be able to confirm what I killed.” “…This isn’t a playground.” She’s definitely skilled…but I think I now understand why her master called her “half a man.” Well…not that it matters to me. “Ares, I have a message for you from Stey. I’ll recite it verbatim… She says, ‘How is Cacao doing? If you ever have any work for me, please let me know.’” “…Tell her that I don’t know how Cacao is doing, because I can’t see it.” To be perfectly honest, I can’t even be sure that Cacao is actually following me. It’s our third day at sea. I finish my regular report to Creio and peer out the window in my ship cabin. Thick clouds fill the sky. The captain rushes into the room with a gruff look on his face. He opens his mouth to speak immediately, and a cold sweat drips from his cheek. “A storm’s coming.” “There’s no way we’ll capsize, right?” “A storm entails monsters. They’ll attack, sneaking in with the wind and rain. ‘Devils of the sea’—that’s what sailors call ’em. They’ve sunk countless boats. Until the oceans fell to the demons, they were the source of our fear.” “Can we avoid them?” The storm is still a ways off. The captain furrows his brow at my question. “No chance—we’re too slow. They’ll come after us. The only thing we can do is pray we lose the storm as quickly as possible.” The ocean is a terrifying place… Monsters that attack alongside a storm? It seems Intimidation won’t work well enough to keep them at bay. I grip my mace and stand up. I will leave this vessel in the crew’s hands—I have nothing to offer here. “Captain, I’ll leave the prayers to you. Send one up for me, too.” “…Sigh. Ain’t that your job?” The captain heaves an exasperated sigh as I step out of the room. The majority of the mainsail has already been folded up neatly. I suppose that means that trying to escape is pointless. The crew is buzzing around the ship’s deck, preparing for the tempestuous wind and rain. Lightning flashes from a gap in the clouds. Judging from its speed, there’s no way we’d outrun this storm, even with a mage casting wind magic. The hooded girl sidles up next to me. Her robe threatens to blow up from the wind and she holds it down, but…something bushy sticks out from under her overcoat. It wags back and forth, like she’s going to use it to swab the deck. She squints at the dark clouds above us, not noticing my gaze. “Boss. This is not a normal storm. The spirits are agitated.” “We could really use a mage at a time like this. Someone capable of blasting this thing far off into the distance…” I think back to the monster-hunting party I used to belong to and just how stable it was. “Not to brag, but I’m a deadeye with a bow. I’m good with knives, too. And I was just itching for a good workout right about now.” My hooded companion speaks calmly, but she can’t hide her excitement. Though she may have only a small amount of beast in her, there’s no doubt she’s got a more feral nature than most humans. “I see… But you’re a scout, aren’t you?” “And you’re a priest, right? Boss, weaklings are weak, and the strong remain strong. You can’t have your cake and eat it, too. You’re too poor for that.” The person I’m employing just called me poor. The deck lurches violently. An unruly wave crashes down, and the hooded girl shakes her heavy, waterlogged silver tail. A passing crew member catches a glimpse of it. He’s dumbfounded, eyes wide as saucers, and he slips on the deck and falls flat on his face. It’s high time…and the timing couldn’t be much better. I speak to the hooded girl as she blinks repeatedly. “Okay. Sanya, prepare for battle—and take off that hood.” “The steel tiger werebeast is a natural-born warrior. There are very few in existence, but what sets them apart are their incredible instincts, devotion to the military arts, and innate muscular structure. Mister, any steel tigers deemed unsuited to the art of war are culled as children. That’s why there are no weaklings among the adults.” The small figure cloaked in all black who had promised to lend me mercenaries turned a golden coin over in the palm of their hand as they spoke. Their voice was androgynous—I couldn’t tell whether it belonged to a man or woman. However, I’d recognized their name as soon as they introduced themselves: Bran Chatre, nicknamed Lightning Fury: one of the most famous mercenaries in all of the Kingdom of Ruxe—a warrior who had inexplicably disappeared from the limelight, current whereabouts unknown. Some say he went up against the Demon Lord and lost; others say he lost his life rescuing a village. There are all sorts of rumors. I sure hadn’t expected to find him belly-up at The Bar, though. Given the tremendous presence I could sense from him, this was no imposter. His voice sounded young, but judging from when he first made a name for himself, he’d have to be past his twenties by now. Bran continued softly. “These creatures are just different from the get-go. There’s no particular reason…they’re so strong. And a girl cute enough to make anyone fall for her, who won’t balk in the face of demon foes, and with a strong tolerance for stress… There are very few humans with those requirements who can actually go toe to toe with such beasts.” “In other words, you’re not able to meet my demands?” I was well aware that my request had been unreasonable to begin with. Bran responded to my sigh-filled query. “No, no, no. I did not say that I cannot meet your demands, Mr. Crown.” “Well, then?” “It goes without saying that…they are strong. They’re not like you or me. See, I’ve been pondering this inequality for some time now—” I furrowed my brow at his roundabout manner, and Bran grinned broadly, noticing my expression. He flung the coin in his hand toward me. It flickered in the light, seemingly ablaze, before I caught it. “To make a long story short—if humans cannot defeat these creatures, then you’ll need someone who isn’t purely human. I stepped back from the front lines in order to…produce someone who can attain that which I failed to. If they’re different from the get-go, then we must simply meet them there. Your conditions do not stipulate the mercenary being a pure human specimen, do they, Mr. Crown?” “…Psssh. You’re off your rocker.” What the hell does he have in mind…? Of those living in the Kingdom of Ruxe, 90 percent are pure humans. Wurtz Beld, of Golem Valley, is a rare case. Discrimination was rampant up until twenty-some years ago. Things have gotten better today, but differences in culture and biology do make it hard to coexist. I held the coin up to the light. It must have been specially manufactured—I’d never seen one this large. “Mr. Crown, if you’re looking to kill a werebeast, then we must produce a werebeast of our own. You’re just in luck, sir. One of Lightning Fury’s apprentices just happens to be available. They’re only half a man, but I’ll give you a discount. Now’s your chance.” The pure gold coin I held in my hand was engraved with the mark of the wolf. A white beast howls in the wind and rain. Short silver hair peeks out from underneath her hood, glistening in the rain, and raindrops bead on her amber cheeks. A fearsome howl erupts like thunder from her lips. A werebeast’s abilities are proportionate to the amount of bestial blood they possess, and so far, this one’s strong instincts have me shaken up. The mercenary I’ve hired, Sanya Chatre, is half werebeast, but she differs from the steel tiger werebeast Felsa—she’s got more human in her genes. The lack of fur covering her body makes her appear almost entirely human. However, the beast-like ears on top of her head and the bushy tail protruding from a slit in the seat of her shorts definitely set her apart from humankind. But even with the low bestial factor within her genes, her physical prowess and sensory perception are vastly superior compared with a full-blooded human. Her bare amber limbs are thin and unblemished, and it’s not hard to imagine their explosive, supple power. For trailing, surveillance, and detecting danger—the main roles of a scout—being nimble and small in stature is a huge advantage. Conversely, such size normally denotes a lack of physical strength, but having werebeast blood protects them from weakening. Bran Chatre is a mercenary whose accomplishments as a scout are well-known. Man or woman, perhaps it’s only natural for a mercenary to choose to teach a werebeast their most intimate tricks of the trade. Sanya’s sharp, narrow eyes are those of a beast of prey. Her bangs are stuck to her forehead, but she clearly couldn’t care less as she stares intently into the storm. The flicker of light in her eyes shows she’s soaking up this moment with gusto. Sanya flings off her overcoat and tosses it toward me. The belt wound tightly around her waist holds knives and long, thin black arrows. She doesn’t have the typical werebeast claws, so these are her weapons. “Boss, wait here.” It’s now blatantly clear that Sanya is not human, and the crew forgets the dire situation we’re in as they stare agape. Sanya leaps forward to the ship’s railing, maintaining her footing even as violent waves crash against the ship. She hardly seems like someone who answers to a boss, and I can’t help myself from asking her, “By the way, can you swim?” “I can doggy paddle.” I can’t tell if she’s being serious. Sanya dashes off toward the bow of the ship in a flash. Bran Chatre has taught his skills to only a select number of individuals. More specifically, skills in tracking and assassination—the source of the “lightning” and “fury” in Bran’s nickname, respectively. They planned to pass down all his skills to one individual, and yet…half a man ended up fitting the bill. Both mercenaries I’ve employed are two or three steps behind me in terms of overall ability. But they might actually eclipse me in certain aspects, or so their master says. Bran is a fairly casual person, and I’m still a bit concerned from what he told me, but at the end of the day, I believe I received exactly what I paid for. Each movement Sanya makes is unusually quick. Her footsteps don’t make a sound, and she’s able to act mostly undetected. All the qualities of an assassin. Her flowing silver hair is the only thing that stands out. From afar, her movements really do look like streaks of lightning. The ship bounces up and down and the crew members cry out. “It’s a giant squid! We’re gonna be ripped in two!!” In the blink of an eye, a black mass has flung itself out from underwater and across the entire deck of the ship. It’s a tentacle as thick as my abdomen, unnervingly writhing across the deck; I can’t see where it’s coming from. The undulating tentacle’s suction cups, each as large as a human hand, strike a primordial sense of fear deep within me. I’ve battled some gigantic monsters on our journey thus far, but this massive squid will likely put them all to shame. “…You can’t be serious.” I go down to the deck and smash the writhing outstretched tentacle with my mace. It bursts apart, blue-black blood staining the deck, as the dismembered half is swept into the ocean by the waves. Instantly, a number of new tentacles stretch out and thrash across the deck. The tentacles themselves are quite weak, and their individual attacks aren’t powerful, but there are so many of them. Their movements are also erratic and relatively quick. One of them winds across the deck and wraps around the leg of a deckhand who is clinging to the ship’s edge for dear life to keep from being swallowed by the waves. The large, brawny man is easily suspended in midair, crying out. I lunge forward in a single bound and annihilate the tentacle. The deckhand falls and crumples on the deck. He’s still alive. The damaged tentacle ceases its writhing and slips back into the ocean. The appropriate level for defeating this sea monster is about 60. “So its body is underwater…” Choosing a smaller vessel is paying dividends. The ship is about fifty meters from stern to bow; at this size, we can deal with the sea monster no matter where it appears from. The bigger issue is capsizing. “Stay away from the water! If you get dragged underneath, I have no recourse to save you!” I focus my mind and concentrate my murderous intent into Intimidation. However, the sea monster’s legs strung across the ship show no sign of retreat. This beast is either very wild or extremely perceptive. Regardless, it’s a pain in my ass. Sanya shows no sign of hesitation as she goes to work attacking the grotesque creature. She dashes around the unstable ship deck tirelessly, even using the tentacles lashed across it as footholds. She slashes into them with her large knives as they continue to suddenly appear in front of her. The tentacles then withdraw into the ocean as if fleeing her attacks. Observing her, I realize we’re not sunk quite yet. I’m slightly relieved. Tentacles, huh? They’re really not that strong, but if a monster of this scale is being controlled by demons, then it’s no surprise the Kingdom’s naval forces were obliterated. Even if the crew is made up of capable warriors, once the ship’s destroyed, it’s a wrap. Humans aren’t made to fight underwater. The ship lurches suddenly—in an effort to distance us from the sea monster, we must have shifted the rudder. Waves come crashing down on us; my robe is drenched. Watching my footing on the slippery deck, I grip my mace and smash it into the vile appendages one more time. “Boss! Here it comes!” Sanya screams. The second she warns me, the ship lurches so heavily, I’m convinced it will capsize. A massive form rises from under the ocean’s surface in front of us like a monstrous lighthouse jutting from the sea, its murky brown skin coated in mucus. I can’t distinguish between its head and body. I can’t see its eyes, either, but this behemoth has clearly recognized our vessel as prey. One of the crew members launches a harpoon with all his might. The razor-sharp tip scores a direct hit on the beast’s body, but it fails to penetrate and is swept away into the ocean. “Damn, it’s massive… I don’t know if I can kill it with my mace…” That said, it’s not like I have any choice. This behemoth will have no problem capsizing us. A particularly thick tentacle wraps around the boat from right to left at the bow. It could easily smash through the deck. I close in on it and leap forward, prepared to dive into the sea. I aim for the beast’s body and smash into it from the side with my mace. It feels like I’ve hit something thick and rubbery. The giant squid lets loose an otherworldly screech of pain as its massive body goes flying into the air, and a fountain of ocean water erupts in its wake, raining down on us. It lands squarely on the ship’s deck. It’s not rock-solid but incredibly stiff. A shock wave from the force of the creature’s landing rocks the ship. It seems the giant squid is highly resistant to blunt-force attacks—I’ve hit it square on, but it’s not dead. I must be the only priest in existence who’s bashed in a mollusk. As I wearily reposition myself, lying in wait for the beast to attack again, Sanya suddenly appears next to me and draws her short bow all the way back. Her bow glints ivory white; it looks like something that belongs in a museum. It’s approximately half as long as Sanya is tall, and although it qualifies as a type of short bow, the flexed body and rigid string give it a quiet effervescence. The black metal arrowhead knocked in place appears sinister in comparison with the beautiful bow. Wind and rain beat into us from the side. Illuminated by the lightning, Sanya’s stance is sheer perfection, her silver eyes narrowed and keenly focused. Werebeasts don’t generally use bows, but this serves only as further proof of her tutelage under Bran. The giant squid’s black mass doesn’t have any readily discernible weak spots, but Sanya’s gaze is fully confident. “Aim to kill.” “You don’t need to tell me!” With that, Sanya’s lacquer-black metal arrow rips through the wind and rain, not straying even one degree as it pierces the giant squid dead center. The arrow was a veritable streak of lightning, and the instant it pierces and sinks deep inside the creature’s body, the sky erupts with light. Lightning descends from the sky, and a clap of thunder erupts with tremendous force. Before I realize what just happened, the sea monster has disappeared from the ocean’s surface. The crew members, most of whom are still hanging on to the ship’s railing for dear life, are awestruck. Sanya lowers her bow and looks at me, the corners of her mouth turned up slightly. “Should I bill you for the cost of my arrows, boss?” I wonder how much each one is? Her first-rate combat potential is now evident, but she pierced the squid’s thick, rubbery skin and killed it in one shot—these can’t be regular arrows. The lightning falling at the exact same time as her shot must have been a coincidence, but… I begin to furrow my brow, but then I recall how she called me poor, and I shrug instead. It doesn’t matter—all invoices simply get passed up the ranks anyway. “Stay on your guard. The storm isn’t over yet.”