Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Aquarium Holding a Whale (1)
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After saying that, I stepped back. Deep down, I hoped the two of them would fight and take each other out, but for now, Enbi was the annoying one. The Crown Prince still needed to stay alive to ensure I could safely return home from the sea.
"You were planning to dump everything on me after all."
The Crown Prince stepped forward and said.
"Be careful. It's best not to take any hits from him if possible. As I said before, he's the type that gets stronger the more effective blows he lands."
I flashed a smile at the Crown Prince and slowly retreated. At that moment, Pippin cautiously approached me from behind and asked awkwardly.
"Um, Master. What should I do now? Am I not fighting?"
"Go down to the engine room and guard Gerbera."
"I want to fight too. I want to see the mermaids."
"Go. Right now."
"Yes......"
Pippin headed to the engine room like a dejected puppy. It was pitiful, but right now, someone was needed to protect Gerbera. If the enemy infiltrated the engine room and attacked her, causing any issues with the engine, we'd all be lost at sea.
After confirming Pippin had gone down to the engine room, I approached Lagia. Even as I did, I didn't take my eyes off Enbi. Enbi, meeting my gaze, pointed at me and said,
"I'll deal with you later."
Then he charged at the Crown Prince.
Boom! A massive explosion rang out. The Crown Prince raised his sword to block Enbi's attack. He usually wielded his sword with one hand, but this time he gripped the hilt with both. That showed just how immense Enbi's physical strength was.
"Fighting on the deck is suicidal. We have to protect the remaining people first. That's why I'm here."
Bishop Orchid sighed.
"Sprout."
Seaweed swelled up around the people on the deck like a protective barrier. I hid behind the seaweed and picked up Lagia.
"Lagia!"
[Hey, Sierra.]
Lagia somehow sounded down.
[What kind of treatment is this?]
"You okay?"
[My sturdy body is fine, but my mood isn't. I already knew Enbi had a rotten personality, but I didn't expect him to ignore me so callously like this......]
I picked up Lagia and my eyes gleamed. Lagia's class was Guide.
But no guide has meaning without someone to guide. That meant he absolutely needed someone to lead.
Lagia seemed completely immersed in his sense of duty to guide Enbi to become the mermaid king. But as we could see, Enbi's personality was close to arrogant recklessness. He was belligerent and easily provoked. He was the type who could abandon Lagia based on his whims at any moment.
What a despondent Lagia needed was an immature being who desired him. The calculations were already done. If I played the role of that immature being, Lagia would become my exclusive weapon instead of Enbi's.
"I'm glad there's no damage. Without you, I couldn't navigate this vast ocean alone......"
[Suddenly saying weak things like that.]
"You saw what Enbi did earlier. He abandoned you in an instant. To that mermaid, you're not necessary. He's an idiot who values his own fights over the tradition of becoming the mermaid king."
[That's true......]
"But I'm different, Lagia."
[Sierra's Penetration Trait activated]
"I need someone to lead me on the right path. I'm completely alone. I want to grow more than anyone. I have to repel the beasts and make our family shine in the subjugation. I desperately need someone to help me."
[......]
Lagia fell silent for a moment before replying in a slightly excited voice.
[No choice then. Until Enbi comes to his senses, I'll side with you.]
[♥♥♥]
Lagia's affection rose with a sparkle.
"Promise me. Promise you won't betray me now, that you won't go to Enbi."
[Fine. Hahaha! You're the first one to say you need me. Instead of making Enbi the mermaid king right away, shall I help you, Sierra?]
"No takebacks on that."
Having finally gotten a positive response, I picked up Lagia and stood.
Far off, Enbi and the Crown Prince were fighting, each aiming for the other's throat. Bishop Orchid looked busy maintaining a defensive barrier amid their clash. Probably to protect the people.
But the people had evacuated to the engine room long ago. It was just us left. What I needed now wasn't Orchid Libido.
'It's not pure support I need.'
Orchid Destrudo. I needed that madman. The only one who could match the lunatic Enbi was the equally insane Destrudo. The Crown Prince alone wasn't enough to handle Enbi.
Was the Crown Prince weaker than Enbi? No. But......
'Ah, something feels off.'
The Crown Prince was the world's strongest in this world, but his actions came with restrictions. Using powerful skills inevitably damaged the surroundings. On this cramped ship, he couldn't fight properly while worrying about the people.
'Pretending otherwise, but he's the type who takes great care of his own.'
Separate from his annoying personality, he was a responsible guy who thoroughly protected his subjects.
Moreover, the Crown Prince's suppression skill required contact. Closing the distance enough to suppress meant exposing himself to Enbi's physical attacks. He'd have to hold back. Suppression was a technique easy to use on large, gapped opponents like Deziderium.
On the other hand, Enbi was a mermaid martial artist. He mainly did close-range attacks, and had the cheat trait of gaining attack power with every effective hit.
He could even use skills drawing from the surrounding sea. If he used that infuriating 'Call the Pod' skill, it was our guaranteed loss. If a pod of orcas swarmed, the ship would be destroyed, and we might get eaten.
"Destrudo!"
At my shout, Bishop Orchid's shoulders twitched.
"You're listening! Aren't you bored? Gonna let the Crown Prince have all the fun alone?"
"......"
Bishop Orchid suddenly began trembling uncontrollably and squeezed his eyes shut. Probably controlling his emotions to prevent Destrudo's personality from emerging. I tore space with Lagia, creating a gap for the familiar to come out.
"Sugar, come out."
At my call, the Sugar Sovereign peeked out. I grabbed it and flung it toward Bishop Orchid.
"Get on Orchid's hand."
The Sugar Sovereign dutifully walked over to Bishop Orchid. Of course, I wasn't naively leaving everything to Sugar.
[What are you planning?]
"Orchid Libido is probably calmly suppressing his emotions right now. The calmer the waters, the bigger the ripples from a stone."
Confirming Sugar had nearly reached him, I sneaked behind Bishop Orchid. He had his eyes squeezed shut, mumbling to himself.
"Control emotions. Control emotions. Control......"
I felt sorry for him repeating it endlessly, but...... he didn't need a huge shock. What I'd give him was just a tiny twist.
I poked Bishop Orchid's cheek with my finger and whispered in his ear.
"Boo."
"Eek!"
Bishop Orchid's eyes flew open wide. The Sugar Sovereign on the back of his hand stood up as if waving.
"Bite."
"Ow!"
Bishop Orchid shook his hand in panic. But he couldn't spot the familiar Sugar Sovereign and just panicked. Meanwhile, Sugar clung to the back of Orchid's hand, shaking it side to side. Impressive loyalty for an insect.
Seizing the moment, I shook Lagia.
"Now's the time, Lagia! Tell a fun story!"
[A fun story? Even if you say that suddenly...... I can do it, hahaha! Experience counts for something!]
I brought Lagia close to Bishop Orchid. It might seem silly at a glance, but amid the relentless barrage, Bishop Orchid's pupils were shaking.
[Hey, hey, half-human. What plant cries when you pull it?]
"P-Pull it and it cries...... plant?"
[Burdock! Hahaha! Burdock!]
Bishop Orchid looked at me with shaking eyes.
"Lady Sierra......?"
"Burdock. Fun, right?"
"......"
The next moment, Bishop Orchid burst out laughing and shoved me away. Sugar, who had fallen, zipped back to me and clung to my clothes.
"Ahahaha!"
"Did Lagia's humor work?"
"As if!"
Bishop Orchid laughed as he extended his arm.
"Lady Sierra calling for me like this is so funny I came out. Libido seems pretty flustered too."
His speech had changed. That meant one thing.
"Destrudo!"
"Why'd you call me? His Highness Timerus will get mad."
"His Highness the Crown Prince alone isn't enough against Enbi. I need your help, Destrudo."
"Won't I get scolded instead?"
"Is getting scolded the priority? When we can do something more fun."
I stuck close to Bishop Orchid—no, Destrudo—and pointed at Enbi clashing with the Crown Prince. My plan was simple.
"Summon as many plants as you can and bind Enbi."
I added in a subtle tone.
"Strangle him if you want."
Hahaha! Destrudo laughed so hard he doubled over and his eyes gleamed.
"As expected, Sierra knows how to have fun?"
As Destrudo burst into another hearty laugh, the ship shook. All the seaweed in the sea was rushing toward us.
"Your Highness Timerus! Fall back for now!"
I ran and grabbed the Crown Prince's hem as he tried to stab Enbi with his sword, pulling him back.
"Damn it, Sierra! What are you doing!"
Then a mass of seaweed engulfed Enbi. He struggled, but the magic-enhanced seaweed was on another level from what he swam through in the sea.
Fighting on the deck wasn't necessarily disadvantageous only for us. Enbi had to maintain his human form to come onto land. The skill we had to watch for was him calling allies. Binding him to prevent skill use made him easier to handle.
"Destrudo! Block his mana flow!"
"Easy. I'll bloom beautiful flowers, and he'll be too entranced to use magic! Hahaha."
Unleashed, Destrudo was a true madman. He made every plant he controlled bloom. Plants, symbols of calm, peace, and freshness, became ornate shackles binding Enbi.
"Interfering with my fight!"
Enbi thrashed in rage. He seemed more upset about not being able to fight than being bound.
At my signal, Destrudo even sealed Enbi's mouth. It was overkill, but against Enbi, overkill was fine.
Meanwhile, not just Enbi was annoyed at the fight's interruption. The Crown Prince's glare toward the cackling Destrudo was sharp. That reprimanding gaze soon turned to me.