Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: In Search of the Crows (4)
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The voyage began.
I popped one of the seasickness candies I'd prepared in abundance into my mouth and gazed toward the distant horizon.
Waves so dark they looked black surged endlessly, and the salty, biting sea wind whipped around us.
El seemed overwhelmed by the sight, staring endlessly at the ocean with cheeks reddened by the wind.
"Is this your first time sailing?"
"Yes. I've only heard stories from Father."
Well, the Reinhardt family's territory was inland.
A noble lady like her wouldn't have had much occasion to sail.
"You might end up sailing a lot from now on."
"I see!"
"So get used to it."
"Yes!"
El replied energetically.
The problem was me.
The seasickness candies I'd prepared in advance were effective, but they didn't completely eliminate the nausea, so a faint queasiness lingered.
I hurriedly shoved another candy into my mouth.
'I can't get seasick and embarrass myself in front of El.'
I'll push through with willpower. Willpower.
Healing skills were useless against seasickness, so I had no better options.
'Should I go inside and rest...'
At this rate, I wasn't sure if I could eat properly.
"Theodore!"
That was when it happened. A merchant's voice called out to me from the other side of the deck.
"There you are! Looks like you've unpacked your luggage. How's the cabin?"
Thanks to the merchant's consideration, I was staying in a pretty decent room.
It wasn't large, but it had a bed, and even a small table and chair for various tasks.
There was even a hammock installed, giving El plenty of space to sleep.
"Thank you. Thanks to you, it should be a comfortable journey."
I bowed my head slightly and smiled.
"Good, good! In that case, how about touring the ship with me now?"
Aha.
I caught on to the merchant's intentions.
'He's letting me know the ship's layout in advance and subtly planning to use me as manpower.'
Merchants really are all sly foxes.
But since I'd received his help, I owed him that much in return.
I nodded and followed the merchant.
"And that kid—is she your squire?"
"She's my disciple. An orphan I took in after meeting her in Galopic."
"Then she'll make a fine druid!"
"Haha, not a druid—a warrior. The Red Bear Arturo trained her himself. She's young, but skilled."
"Oh ho!"
The merchant looked pleased. He must have been thinking his forces had grown for free.
"And that wolf... the one from back then?"
"That's right."
"To grow that massive... You've raised it well."
"It's on the larger side even for a shadow wolf. I'm worried it's still growing."
"That must cost a fortune!"
"Haha, maybe."
We inspected every corner of the ship with the merchant and were even introduced to the captain.
"The sea route from Rabata to the Ekaitz Union isn't too rough. The weather's mild, and the winds are favorable. However..."
"However?"
"On routes like this, pirates sometimes show up. Those damn bastards."
The merchant whispered so quietly it was like he was afraid saying it louder would make it happen.
"Usually, pirates target ships departing from the Ekaitz Union. They carry more valuable cargo, after all."
"Makes sense."
"But lately, they're even hitting ships from the inland routes. It's causing major damage."
"That's strange."
"There's this young pirate going berserk. It's all because of him."
"A young pirate?"
"Yeah. He's so elusive, he keeps making fools of the Union's navy."
"Could it be..."
Before I could ask more, the merchant spoke first.
"But with you and your companions here, our ship will be fine! Hahaha!"
The merchant burst into loud laughter, slapping my shoulder repeatedly.
'No wonder he offered to travel together so readily.'
So that's the story.
But contrary to the merchant's worries, the voyage proceeded smoothly.
I spent the peaceful time training El and Aila on deck, whittling arrows, or entering the Dimensional Garden to tend to it.
Occasionally, I accepted the merchant's invitations for dinner and chatted about the Ekaitz Union. Nothing particularly useful, but the tales he spun about Guildmaster Katarina were quite intriguing.
'I should meet her.'
The merchant was sharing stories about Katarina in hopes I'd join her guild, but I had other ideas.
'Maybe I can use Katarina to get close to Niram?'
Pretending to be deeply interested in the guild, I drew out various stories from the merchant.
Today, as usual, I was heading to dinner at the merchant's invitation.
-Boom!!!!
"...?!'
An unexpected explosion rang out. It didn't seem far away.
'No way...?'
Soon, the alarm bell clanged wildly, signaling an attack.
-Bang!
-Boom!
-Boom!
Explosions followed in rapid succession.
'Pirates!'
I turned on my heel and rushed back to the cabin. El must have heard the cannon fire too—she was already geared up for battle.
"Master!"
"El, just like we trained. Focus on protecting yourself."
"Got it!"
I headed to the deck with El and Aila.
Crew and mercenaries were already in combat stance.
"What happened?"
I asked an old sailor.
"Pirates. From the flag, it's those guys."
Those guys?
I turned to peer at the approaching ship in the distance.
A flag with a mermaid holding a skull fluttered madly.
"Those young pirates?"
"Yeah!"
The old sailor gripped his harpoon tightly and yelled at me.
"Get down to the cabin!"
No can do.
I ignored him and ran to the opposite side. I heard the old sailor shouting something behind me, but the waves drowned it out.
'Damn, this is urgent.'
I grabbed the railing at the stern and caught my breath.
The sea wind was so fierce that accurate archery shots were questionable. Ocean conditions made forest skills hard to use too—one wrong move could wreck the whole ship.
But 'that' one I could use.
'First time trying it this way, though...'
Holding the railing, I looked down at the churning black waves.
Closing my eyes and focusing, I sensed tiny lights twinkling in the sea depths that hadn't been visible before.
I whispered to the one shining most brightly.
"Brother I do not remember, heed my call if you will."
The moment I used [Beast Summon], a massive amount—no, nearly all my mana—drained away. I hurriedly chugged a mana potion and caught my breath. Whatever lurked down there was far larger, stronger, and more mysterious than I'd imagined.
Please come quick, please.
My mana was depleted, but the divine power gifted by Linshaka remained. A stroke of luck. I could use her divine power while my mana recovered.
The ship—no, the pirate ship—was closing in fast. We fired back, but their sailing skills were so superb that every shot missed. Our captain stomped in frustration, but the pirates pressed on regardless.
"El, they'll throw grappling hooks. Focus on knocking those away."
Sure enough, the pirate ship, now upon us, began hurling hooks attached to ropes. El concentrated on batting them away as instructed, while I gauged the wind and loosed arrows at the enemy.
The constant gale made accuracy poor, but occasionally pirates screamed as arrows hit limbs.
'Buddy, when are you coming? How deep down are you?'
Unlike my desperation, the sea remained calm. Damn, wrong choice? Should I have used [Beast Form] and leaped aboard myself?
"Raaah!!!"
"Kraaak!!!!"
"Waaah!!!"
Pirates swarmed over the deck like a tide, shouts and screams erupting everywhere. One pirate shrieked as Aila tore into his leg, another lost an arm to El's sword...
-Swoooosh!
-Thud!
-Splat!
I fired arrows madly at the pirates leaping aboard. The crew and mercenaries fought hard, but they were slowly being overwhelmed by the endless pirate numbers.
Damn.
We're short on manpower.
The sheer numbers meant even superior skill couldn't hold.
"Uryaaah!!!"
"Waaah!!!"
War cries, clashing swords, cannon fire, flames, smoke...
Amid it all.
-Ooooooo...
A long howl echoed.
'It's here.'
-Ooooooo...
-Splash!!!!
A mountain-like form erupted from the black sea, churning massive waves.
No, not a mountain.
A body like a black cliff.
A fin larger than our fully unfurled sails.
Eyes like the abyss.
An overwhelming presence dominated the entire ocean.
"You've finally come!"
I cried out in awe at the sight.
In this vast sea, a particularly great beast.
The Deep Sea King Whale had heeded my call.
"U-Uwaaaah!!!!"
But everyone else's reactions differed. The Deep Sea King Whale evoked as much terror as a kraken.
"Don't attack! I summoned it!"
I shouted to the crew and mercenaries.
"A d-druid can summon something like that?!"
Someone's terrified voice carried over.
"El! Provide cover!"
"Yes, Master!"
Gripping the railing tightly to steady myself on the rocking deck, I yelled to the Deep Sea King Whale.
"Flip their ship!"
Its massive eye blinked slowly, and the half-submerged body rose high again.
-Splash!!!!!
-Kuuuung!!!!
Then it rammed the pirate ship.
Overwhelming power.
A gigantic wave swallowed the half-sunken pirate vessel whole.
-Ooooooo...
Mission complete, the Deep Sea King Whale swam leisurely back into the ocean depths and vanished.