Chapter 255
Chapter 255
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 255
Chapter Title: Hundred Legs, Ten Thousand Poisons (5)
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- Grooooooo……
- Whooooosh……
The wind blowing in from the sea and the momentum of the waves were far from ordinary. The spray shattered like broken glass shards, and the flags fluttered wildly.
‘……It’s coming.’
It seemed the creature had begun to move. The work of loading fish onto the ship was nearly complete.
“What in the world are you planning?”
The grizzled captain, with his thick white beard, asked me.
“All this fish reloaded, and heading back out to sea…… The only places we can go are the other port cities, and they don’t need our fish.”
“Haha. I’m not planning to go to the other port cities.”
As the captain said, taking the fish to other port cities would be pointless. No one would buy them. I lowered my voice and whispered to him.
“If you promise not to tell a soul about what happens from now on……”
I discreetly pulled a gleaming gold coin from my pocket and showed it to him. Through the thick fringe of hair like his beard, I could see the captain’s eyes widen. He swallowed hard, then nodded cautiously.
“……I promise, I promise.”
“Good. Then head to this position.”
I handed him a map and pulled a pre-made motion sickness candy from my pocket, popping it into my mouth.
“Wait a minute…… This is……!”
The captain checked the map and shouted in surprise, then quickly lowered his voice so only I could hear.
“The coral reef zone is where sea goblins prowl. Why in the world would we go there……”
“Yes. I know that.”
“We don’t even look at the coral reefs. Do you know how ferocious the sea goblins have gotten lately?”
“Of course I do.”
In this harsh winter, the starving sea goblins would attack any ship without discrimination. Especially one loaded with fresh fish to sate their hunger……
They’d strike without fail.
Without fail.
“Do you think I gave you that gold coin for nothing?”
High risk, high return.
That’s why I handed over the gold—because such great danger loomed.
If I were handing out gold for charity, would I be a druid? A philanthropist?
Deep down, the captain probably knew.
He just wanted to pretend he didn’t.
“You can refuse. I’ll find another ship.”
“……”
“Of course, you’d have to return the gold coin.”
[Scared? Then drop dead.] As I unleashed my intimidation tactic, the captain let out a hollow sigh and fumbled with the gold coin in his pocket. He was deliberating. Business had gotten even worse since the dungeon appeared, so he had no choice but to waver. I waited silently for his decision. Even if he chose safety over money, I wouldn’t blame him. Valuing one’s life was the noblest virtue for ordinary folk in this pseudo-medieval land.
“……We’ll prepare to set sail.”
But the captain had the heart of a beast. Phew, truth be told, if he’d refused, finding another ship would’ve been a huge hassle, so my tough act had paid off. I smiled and extended my hand. The captain clasped it firmly with his callused palm.
“Don’t worry too much. We’re veterans.”
“……”
“This is just between us, but we’re the ones who wiped out the sea goblins plaguing the Ekaitz sea.”
“……R-Really?”
“Yes. On commission from the Catarina Merchant Group.”
“C-Catarina Merchant Group? You mean the white cat guild?”
“That’s right.”
“O-Oh! So that’s why you’re throwing around such big money!”
“Haha, not exactly…… We just don’t skimp where it counts. You’re taking a real risk for us, after all.”
“Heh, you’re the first mercenary like you I’ve met. I figured you were all just thugs.”
The captain scratched the back of his head and moved off to prepare for departure. The wind was fierce and the waves rough, but fortunately, this fishing boat had an engine-like device powered by magic stones, allowing us to set off smoothly despite the turbulent weather.
The coral reef zone where sea goblins lurked lay midway between Roshan and Quarjan, and the Ekaitz Alliance—a triangular center, you might say. That’s why they frequently ambushed and plundered ships traveling between Roshan and Quarjan, Quarjan and Ekaitz, or Ekaitz and Roshan. Their infamy went without saying. Among sailors, they even said, “Sea goblins are more terrifying than krakens.” A kraken was a symbol of fear forged from pure terror itself, something you might never glimpse in a lifetime. But sea goblins were the ones who “horrifically” tormented sailors……
So naturally, sailors hated sea goblins more than krakens.
But to me, sea goblins were……
- Splashhhh……
If anything, beings I was grateful for?
They were the “healthy snacks” that had fed young Ken.
The farther we pushed through the waves into the open sea, the closer the ominous howls grew. Giggles like hee-hee, or grinding like teeth on bone.
This meant the coral reef zone was near.
The wind grew fiercer, the waves taller. And far off, the massive ring of coral reefs came into view.
- Kee-kee-kee-gig……
- Grrrruk……
- Kiiiiii……
As the ship advanced toward the coral reefs, whirlpools began forming around it, growing to envelop the entire vessel.
“Master!”
El shouted.
“I see fins!”
Looking where El pointed, I spotted turquoise, pointed fins flashing briefly amid the whirlpools.
“They’re here.”
“What do we do?”
“You stick by the captain.”
“Huh? Why……!”
“I’m not telling you to hide. You need to protect him. Some will definitely leap onto the ship, and he’ll be in the most danger then.”
“……!”
“Guard him properly, El.”
“……Yes!”
I sent El to the captain and began tossing crates stacked on the deck into the sea with Lloyd and Calisto. The thin wooden crates, lidless and overflowing with fish, splintered on contact with the waves, dumping their contents into the whirlpools.
- Kyaaak!!!
- Kieeek!!!!
Suddenly, sea goblins popped up flashing from what had looked like mere waves. Starving mad, they clawed at each other to snatch the fish. Some failed to grab any and sank into the whirlpool under attacks from their own kind.
The sea goblins were far hungrier than I’d thought. Not surprising. Ships from Roshan and the Ekaitz Alliance passing the reefs were armed, so raids often failed. Quarjan fishing boats never came this far, especially not since the dungeon appeared at the pass.
‘……Perfect.’
Starving so long they attacked their own for fish—they were far from normal. With the right play, we might exterminate them entirely.
“Keep throwing!”
The sea goblins circling the ship at high speed intensified the whirlpools, swelling the waves until they crashed over the deck. Ignoring the waves slamming into us, we hurled crate after crate of fish into the sea. To lure even more.
- Kieeek!!!
- Splashhhh!!!
- Kiiii!!!
Sure enough, the number of sea goblins milling around the ship swelled. As expected, some started leaping aboard on the towering waves.
- Shrieeeeek!!!
For now, Lloyd and Calisto kept tossing fish crates. From a short distance away, I drew my bow and arrows, picking off every sea goblin that climbed onto the deck. Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! The gale raged, but my arrows flew true, piercing their hearts.
Their dark green blood stained the deck. But only briefly—the waves were so high they kept washing it away.
“Theodore! Should we keep going?!”
Calisto shouted over the roaring waves. Thanks to Lloyd and her efforts, the crates had dwindled sharply. Of course, that meant more sea goblins, bigger whirlpools and waves, and at this rate……
At this rate, the ship would be swallowed by the sea!
- Kieee!!!
- Kiiiiik!!!!
But the sea goblins’ numbers didn’t thin. If anything, they grew. The swelling horde kept amplifying the whirlpools. That was their tactic—capsize the ship.
- Splash!
- Splashhhh!
- Whooooosh!!!
The wind, waves, and whirlpools roared so loud we could barely hear each other. I slung my bow, gripped the railing tight, and peered into the distant sea. Saltwater stung my eyes, but……
- Flash!
I saw it.
I saw it.
Ken—one of the countless lives I’d nurtured! I felt him drawing closer. My body hairs stood on end, my chest swelled with emotion! That glimmer amid the black waves far off was definitely Ken’s. Come on, to Daddy! A bit faster, just a bit faster……
- Splashhhhh!!!!
- Whooooooosh!!!!!
At last, a colossal wave rose to engulf the ship. Seeing dozens, hundreds of sea goblins riding it, I wondered if I’d lost my mind. But……
- Shlaaaaaash!!!!!!!
……The moment a tentacle of unimaginable size and power impaled dozens of goblins, that thought vanished.
- Woooorrrr……
Emerging from behind the massive wave was……
“……Ken!!!”
Something even more enormous—a kraken.