Sudden Horn and Cannon Fire
A sudden blare of the ship's horn echoed through the vessel, accompanied by a resounding shockwave. The priests and sisters on deck sprang into frantic action.
The ship rocked violently once more, and a massive spray of water cascaded down from above.
"Kyaaah!"
"Everyone, grab the railings!"
We'd barely entered Jeju Island's waters, and already someone was firing on the ship. Lucky for us it was low to the water—if it had been any taller or larger, we'd have taken a direct hit from those cannons for sure.
"Sister Maria, are you hurt anywhere?"
"Huh? Oh, no, I'm f-fine! More importantly, the children! We need to evacuate the kids!"
"This area's secure, so go ahead. That's what we came for, after all."
I pulled Tommy from the cube, and Sister Maria's eyes widened.
"...What's that?"
"A Calione hitman's gotta have his tools. I'll handle this."
"Please do. Cloud nim."
I ushered Sister Maria inside first, then headed toward the direction the shells had come from.
Bwaaaaaang─────
Just the horn alone had the priests on edge. But it wasn't their problem—it was the horn itself.
'If sound alone can cause this effect, it's gotta be some kind of ghost ship.'
This world had its share of ships with special abilities, and one tied to fear pointed straight to a ghost ship.
And sure enough.
Kiiik── Kieeek──
The silhouette of the enemy vessel slowly emerged.
"Battle stations!"
Father Yohan's shout triggered a yellow barrier enveloping the entire ship. These folks were part of Hallasan Cathedral, a key player in Jeju's forces. Despite the surprise attack, the priests and sisters moved with disciplined precision, weapons trained on the approaching ghost ship.
But...
"...You guys are really struggling, huh."
I strolled past them toward the ghost ship, channeling aura into my legs.
Bam─!
I accelerated and leaped straight onto its deck.
"Wha─ C-Cloud nim?!"
Yohan startled behind me, but better me than a pile of casualties.
The moment I landed, dozens of eyes locked onto me.
"...Priests climbing aboard here?"
"Huh? That guy's not in priest robes."
"Why's a non-priest crawling out of that ship?"
I could sense the lingering mana and aura from each one. Thanks to Gwak Chunsik's training, my aura detection had surpassed any academy student's level. Distinguishing Awakened from non-Awakened was child's play now.
"What are you punks doing, interrupting our fun?"
"Huh?"
One pirate scowled, clearly lost on my point.
"Anyone operating around Jeju should know whose ship this is, yet you pull this stunt... Got some backing, do ya?"
"What the hell's this bastard babbling? Kill him and snag his gun!"
Greenhorns who couldn't even read my level. No point explaining—better to show them the gap. I thrust Tommy forward and squeezed the trigger.
────!/ ─!/ ─!/ ─!/ ─!/ ─!/ ─!/ ─!/ ─!/ ─!/ ─!
"Cr-crazy! Dodge!"
"Return fire! Return fire, now!"
I'd swept the clustered ones first. Their comrades shredded in seconds, the rest yanked out guns and fired back wildly.
Tok. Tok-tok. Tok. Tok-tok tok.
Hardly. Weapons with a few runes etched on couldn't pierce Dis Pater.
"G-Gun ain't working!"
"Idiots! Magic, bombs—throw whatever you've got!"
Despite the bullet storm and explosions, I stood unfazed. Panic spread; some started backing away.
I could Tommy the rest, but searching the ship sounded like a hassle. Bullets and blasts kept interrupting my thoughts, so I ducked behind nearby crates for cover.
"A ghost ship right now? Something's up."
Tok. Tok.
While they freaked, I absorbed the floating dread and pieced it together.
No factions I knew used ghost ships. Which meant...
"Mercenaries hired by someone."
Hired goons paid to hit us. I peeked out; they flinched and retreated.
"You mercs hired to jump us?"
My mutter made them twitch visibly.
"What bullshit──"
"...Can't even school your faces. Total amateurs. Eh, I've got a guess anyway—no need to ask."
Tok-tok. I tapped the deck with my shoe tip.
Time to clean up. Sweep 'em all at once?
I slowly infused aura into my shoes. Not ordinary footwear—these were Black Fog, a gift from the boss. As relics, they held more aura than normal gear, perfect for this.
"Make it quick."
A normal burst would've just punched holes, but I stomped, spreading aura wide to envelop the entire ghost ship.
"What're you staring at? Kill him now!"
"Attack! Attack, damn it!"
One snapped out of it and swung a blade my way, but...
"Too late for that."
Woooosh── Zzzzzzap───!
The ghost ship groaned grotesquely, warping.
"Ghost ship. Nice vessel. Immune to physical hits, fast, auto-repairs—the works. But weak to mana or aura attacks."
That's why nations and guilds skipped them. Clear pros and cons.
"Pirates can swim, right?"
Then—
Kwaaaaaang!!
I released the pent-up aura. They bolted across the deck like mad.
"The sh-ship!"
"Get off!!!"
"Lifeboats! Where're the lifeboats?!"
Like gazelles screaming before a lion's jaws, the hull shuddered and collapsed.
"No bishop-levels, you said! What the hell is that?!"
"Grab my hand! Somebody!"
Pure chaos on the ghost ship. I'd targeted the keel with my aura—that did it.
"Captain! What now?!"
"Calm down, you morons! Forgot this is a ghost ship?! A puny attack like this ain't gonna sink─ Aaaargh?!"
Snap. The ship split in two.
The "captain" got sucked under; the rest clung to railings on the tilting deck.
"Jeju waters are crawling with freaky monsters, yeah? Swim to shore if you wanna live."
"Oh."
Never sunk a ghost ship in front of religious folks before, but it counts as undead. Nice double dip.
Unexpected bonus had me grinning as I hopped back to our deck, where priests and sisters gaped at me.
"...Something wrong?"
I asked Father Yohan, front and center radiating holy power. He frantically shook his head and hands.
"N-No, nothing. Just... Calione hitmen are something else."
"Ah..."
...Overdid it? Whatever. Not my face on the line.
"Just say I'm the special one. Anyway, how far to land?"
"Soon, now that we're clear."
"Got it."
I'll wait outside. The pre-arrival scrap loosened my stiff body.
"Gotta move to feel alive."
* * *
"Almost there! Everyone, prepare!"
The priest's call lit the ship aglow. Sister Maria channeled holy power to dispel the sea mist, signaling our arrival to those on shore.
A bright light pierced the fog ahead. I thought lighthouse at first, but it seemed too low as we neared.
Up close, its source revealed itself: a cluster of clergy under assault by pitch-black golems riddled with holes. The glow came from one of the sisters.
"Classic Jeju. Trouble everywhere the second we arrive."
Really... Needed to wrap everything by weekend to head back to the academy.
No choice.
"Dock and support the cathedral team immediately. Luggage later!"
Before tying up, I approached the priest rallying everyone for shore plans.
"Father."
"C-Cloud brother?"
"Unload first. I'll handle down there."
"But even so..."
"Three minutes."
Click──!
I drew Al Capone's Tommy from the cube.
"Three minutes is plenty."
They'd witnessed me pulverize the pirate ship firsthand.
"Three minutes after fighting pirates—you must be exhausted─"
"Me?"
He scanned me again. Suit pristine despite the damp sea air, not a drop of sweat on my face.
"I'll clear it first. Get the kids and gear safe."
"Ah... Yes."
Father Yohan could only nod. Ramp down, I charged the golem swarm, Tommy ready.
Click!
"Trash mobs as a welcome? Jeju lives up to the hype."
Deserves the Demon Realm name. Expected as much, though...
Time to mop up quick.