Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: To Lüset (2)
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-Rumble rumble rumble...
-Crashhhh...
It was the first time the sound of waves felt so chilling. I stared blankly at the dark sea. Beyond the horde of sea goblins approaching with their sharp spears and swords waving, something enormous was revealing itself. An armored shark? No, much bigger than that. The deep-sea king whale? No, it couldn't appear yet—I hadn't even used the summon skill.
...Then what?
-Splash!
-Thud!
Suddenly, something burst out of the sea. It looked like a massive spear, or perhaps a giant sword. At its pointed tip, the body of a sea goblin was impaled.
The moon emerged from behind the clouds, casting faint moonlight that let me see it more clearly.
That's...
"...A tentacle?"
-Splash!
-Thud!
-Splat!
-Splish!
-Thwack thwack!
The moment I recognized what it was, dozens of red tentacles pierced through the sea goblins' torsos. They died without even screaming. Were the tentacles planning to make sea goblin skewers? They skewered the goblins relentlessly.
-Kyaaack!
-Kieeeek!!!
The belated screams of the goblins realizing their doom echoed out. The red sea lions they rode on, gripped by fear, shook off their riders and fled. It was pandemonium, a scene of pure horror.
So why was I laughing?
"You came all this way for me, Ken."
The owner of those tentacles was Ken, my baby kraken—practically my child. The situation was a bit unusual, but it seemed my familiar had sensed the danger, escaped the dungeon, and come here.
"I told you not to come out of the dungeon, but kids really don't listen..."
Still, thanks to you, I'm alive. I grinned widely as I watched the brutal tentacle massacre show.
"Wh-what the hell is that thing?!"
The elves, finally grasping the situation, started panicking. But as Darion raised his hand high, the chaos settled in an instant.
"Everyone, draw your bows! The enemy is a tentacle monster!"
"......!"
My mind snapped to attention. I whipped my head around to look at Darion.
"Wait... no!"
I hurriedly clamped my hand over Darion's mouth as he was about to give the firing order. For a mere human to touch an elf noble—it was an outrage. But Darion saw me as a brother now, so this much should be...
"Brother!"
I blurted out "brother" to the startled Darion and whispered low.
"Trust me and just watch for a bit."
"Mmph, mmph?"
"It won't harm us, Darion."
"Mmmph!!!"
"It's my friend."
As if responding to my words, the kraken's tentacles whipped, wrapped, burst, and pierced the sea goblins at lightning speed. Watching them die in all sorts of ways, I almost felt sorry for them.
"Mmph..."
"Shh, it'll be over soon."
And it was. The kraken's goblin slaughter show ended quickly, leaving only red waves in the sea and chunks of sea goblin corpses bobbing on the surface.
-Crashhhh...
In the midst of it, the red kraken briefly surfaced. I gazed into its eyes gleaming under the moonlight. Eyes that seemed to ask, *Did I do good?* I smiled softly at it. In response, it splashed the water lightly with a tentacle tip before vanishing back into the depths.
[Achievement Unlocked: Squid that Repays Favors]
[Additional Effect: Can Summon Partial Red Kraken Tentacles]
* * *
"Incredible!"
"A druid who can summon a kraken! I've never even heard of such a thing!"
"There were so many sea goblins, but it wiped them out in seconds!"
To celebrate repelling the sea goblins without firing a single arrow, Darion threw a grand deck party. The elves' exclamations were so loud and chaotic. Who knew elves could be this rowdy?
I wanted to avoid the attention, but Darion wouldn't let me. We were the only humans aboard, so all eyes were already on us—embarrassing enough—and Darion added fuel to the fire. *My proud brother!* This and that. *The tamer of sea beasts!* Blah blah blah.
"...That's enough, Darion."
"Theodor, you're always too humble!"
Darion filled a crystal glass to the brim with golden champagne and handed it to me. The sweet apricot aroma was so good it nearly made my eyes pop. Elf brewing technology? Impressive. I downed it in one go. As soon as my glass was empty, Darion refilled it generously, foam spilling over onto my hand.
"As the soldiers said, I've never heard of a druid summoning a kraken in my life."
"Haha. Is that so?"
"How did you tame such a beast?"
Darion asked with sparkling eyes. Hmm, if I told the truth—that I made it my familiar and raised it in the deep-sea dungeon—this textbook elf would flip out. I needed a vague answer he'd buy...
"...Because I never saw it as a beast."
"Hm?"
"I treated it like one of the countless lives sharing this world with us, without prejudice."
"I don't quite get it. You didn't subdue it?"
"We became friends."
"......"
"There are so many things possible in this world once you drop your preconceptions."
I slowly sipped the champagne. The sweet fizz slid down my throat. *Ahh...* Good booze, good breeze, and Darion's sour face...
"Why? Did I say something wrong?"
"...No. I'm just surprised by your attitude."
"I see."
"All lives are equal... That's something Her Majesty the Queen used to say often long ago..."
Darion, who had been silent for a while, looked at me with a warm smile, as if he'd had an epiphany.
"As expected, the soul of an ancient elf lingers in your bloodline."
*What, everything good is thanks to ancient elves? This guy's a total ancient-elf fanboy, huh?*
But explaining further or dealing with him sounded annoying, so I just nodded like I got it and let it slide. This guy's a hassle. More talkative than I thought.
I excused myself from the conversation, saying I needed to check on my companions. Darion insisted I ignore those lowly retainers and keep talking, but I slipped away while he went to fetch more champagne.
"...Master!"
-Woof!
El and Ayla, tucked in a corner, greeted me.
"Shh, quiet. Darion might come back."
"That elf?"
"Yeah, he's driving me nuts. Need a breather here."
I considered draping the shadow cloak but just leaned into the flickering shadows instead. Lloyd smirked at the sight. Yeah, I get it—hilarious, a guy running from elves.
"...Anyway, Lloyd, have you eaten properly?"
Lloyd nodded without a word and turned back to the sea. Wow, after all that noisy parrot Darion, seeing Lloyd hits different. I used to find his silence frustrating, but this is way better.
"We've been fine, Master. Except Ayla got scolded by the cook for eating a whole mountain goat."
"A whole mountain goat is light eating for her."
"Right?!"
"I'll talk to the kitchen—eat two next time. You too, eat your fill."
"Hehe, thanks! The food here's *amazing*! Right, Sir Lloyd?"
"...It is."
Oh? Won't answer me but talks to El? Looks like they've gotten close.
I eyed them disapprovingly before petting Ayla's head. The one who'd scarfed a whole goat seemed pleased, panting happily as she enjoyed my touch and licked my palm vigorously.
"...It'll take a while to reach Lüset, so bear with the elves even if they're annoying."
"Yes!"
"Got it."
"Well... bellies full, shall we call it a night?"
As I slyly grabbed a plate of treats, everyone stood up. They must've been as bored as I was.
We headed to our cabins. Lloyd to his small solo one, El and I to the special cabin Darion provided.
"El, you and Ayla sleep first."
"Yes, Master. Good night."
El climbed into the hammock bed and pulled up the blanket. Ayla curled up neatly below it and dozed off. I didn't head straight to bed but sat at the desk and lit a candle.
"......"
I pulled out the 'scroll' I'd hidden in my bosom. The one from Catarina.
*Once we enter Lüset, I won't have a chance to look at this.*
I untied the leather string and unrolled it.
*As expected, it's demonic script.*
Demonic language is read backwards. I found the bottom line and started reading it in reverse.
"In the beginning... from chaos... born... His... servant."
As I read aloud, the faint letters began glowing red.
"With glad... praise and... promised... land..."
The old parchment, mere scroll no more, blackened as if burning.
"Your... form... reveal... the time... has come..."
-Whoosh!
The red letters ignited. But there was no heat. Instead, a chill settled around me, raising goosebumps.
"Dima... Kus... Hel?"
Words I'd never seen before. I stumbled through them. A spell? Or...
-Fwoosh!!!
Before I could think, the entire scroll blazed up. The flames towered to the ceiling, yet felt cold.
*This is...!*
I stared at the roaring inferno and swallowed hard.
-Fwoooo...
'It' exhaled a long-held breath with a grotesque sound.
-Kekekekeke...
Then, with a chilling laugh, it began swelling, as if to devour the entire cabin.
-I warned you what would happen if you summoned me again...
*'Again'? Meaning someone's summoned this before?*
-Fine. I'll make you burn forever!
But before I could ask, the massive flames engulfed me.