Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Overwintering (1)
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"Huh?"
Galen snapped out of it at the sound of Lilia's voice.
He'd been so absorbed in the upgraded spirit that he'd momentarily forgotten about his surroundings. He wasn't alone.
"Oh, no. It's nothing."
Galen brushed it off and smoothly changed the subject.
"For now, let's move the boss first?"
"Ah, right!"
Lilia hoisted the woman up effortlessly, double-checked that she was still out cold, then slung her over her shoulder like a sack of luggage.
"The other pirates... yeah, they're fleeing, as expected."
Lilia muttered as she scanned the sea.
Ever since they'd witnessed the murky giant getting pummeled and even the flagship's mast snapping, the other pirate ships had turned tail and sailed away long ago.
There was no way the order imposed by the Seven-Person Crew through sheer force would hold up in a situation like this.
They were still within sight, so if he really wanted to, he could chase them down even now.
"Let 'em go. Only small fry left anyway."
Galen shrugged.
He'd already exceeded his goals. No point dragging his weary body after trash that wouldn't even give EXP.
Lilia didn't stubbornly insist on pursuing the pirates in a mess like this either. She nodded readily.
"Then let's head back!"
"Sure."
"But aren't you going to recover that one?"
"...Pardon?"
"That thing there."
Lilia pointed at the spirit on the ground.
The comment was so casual that it short-circuited Galen's brain for a moment.
"Isn't that what your brother always wears on his left wrist?"
Lilia asked with an innocent expression.
Deny, stay silent, or confirm.
After hesitating over which to choose, Galen finally spoke.
"How did you know?"
"Hmm... just a hunch?"
Lilia tilted her head. She hemmed and hawed, unsure how to explain, then finally found the right words after some thought.
"I've watched you cast magic up close a lot, right? Your go-to is always firing water orbs."
"Yeah."
"But sometimes, even with the same spell, it felt... subtly different! Especially during spars with me versus in real combat."
"Hmm."
During spars with Lilia, he usually stuck to Water Spirit Bullets. Transforming the spirit into glove form and firing water from his hand—pure Spirit Creation mana.
Against tough foes, though, he'd manipulate water directly with Water Flow Manipulation mana. It allowed for far bigger, flashier attacks.
To the naked eye, it was just a difference in power, all water. But she'd noticed the mana was different.
Galen eyed her seriously as Lilia continued cautiously.
"So I wondered why, and it hit me—the bracelet. I couldn't figure out why you'd need a water bracelet or keep wearing it if you could just make one anytime. Then today, seeing the ghost... it felt similar."
"Similar?"
"Not in a bad way! Like, if there's magic to summon inky ghost water, maybe there's magic for clear ghost water too. Maybe that's why it felt off—it was a different spell altogether..."
"Most people wouldn't jump to 'separate spell.' Mages are supposed to specialize, right?"
"But you're a genius beyond common sense, Brother Galen?"
Lilia countered sincerely. He couldn't credit the status window, so Galen stayed quiet.
'I was planning to come clean soon, but not like this.'
Galen scratched his cheek.
Learning multiple magic types wasn't some taboo like a demon pact. If you had the talent, go for it.
It just rarely came up, and mastering them simultaneously was even harder, so no one bothered.
If word got out that Galen excelled at various magics, he might be seen as dangerously over-talented— a target for mage politics.
That's why he'd hidden the spirit and passed it off as water magic.
But fire spells like Phantom Inferno Explosion? No faking that.
He'd try minimizing witnesses, but hiding forever was impossible.
Especially from comrades traveling with him.
He hadn't planned to deceive them that far, or he wouldn't have brought them along.
So he'd meant to tell Lilia at the right time... but her figuring it out first?
She had those flashes of insight sometimes. Given their time together, maybe it was inevitable.
'Fine. Practicing Phantom Inferno Explosion in secret was a pain anyway. Just think of it as telling her a bit early.'
Lilia wouldn't make a fuss about it, personality-wise.
Deciding to own it brazenly, Galen let out an exaggerated sigh.
"Sharp eyes. Yeah, separate spell."
"I knew it!"
"And this is possible too."
Galen ignited a flame in his palm. Lilia's eyes went wide—she hadn't expected this.
"You can do fire too?"
"Had a heated clash with a fire mage recently. Call it enlightenment."
"In the Devil's Cradle? You can learn magic like that?"
"Worked for me."
"Hmm, well, it just clicked for me too. Next thing I knew, Radiant Halo was firing off!"
To an outsider, it sounded like an obnoxiously talented true genius chatting with a status-window genius.
"Don't blab about it. Can't help getting caught eventually."
"Jealousy or grudges?"
"Yep. No need to poke the mages who live off their own hype first."
"Don't worry! My lips are sealed!"
Lilia beamed, eyes sparkling.
Even if it was about to go public anyway, spilling the secret lightened Galen's chest.
He recalled the spirit without further fuss and wrapped it around his wrist.
The small boat carrying the unconscious boss cruised leisurely back to the harbor.
People who couldn't see the distant ships clearly rushed over, clueless about the details.
"Priestess!"
"Wh-what's that woman?"
"The pirate boss!"
The crowd buzzed at Lilia's words. She just looked like a fainted woman—hard to buy even from a priestess.
Proof would settle it. Galen shouted.
"Anyone know how to sail? Any crewmen? We need to tow the empty pirate ships!"
"Empty pirate ships?"
"Killed everyone aboard. Can't leave 'em adrift, right?"
"This guy's an amazing mage! Help out quick, no doubts!"
The warship captain and crew chimed in.
The chaos settled fast. They hadn't seen Galen's firepower directly, but everyone witnessed the high-speed return of the small boat.
Banan's power families stepped up. Scrounging every last sailor after their naval rout.
"Guard her well."
"Eyes wide open!"
Lilia stayed ashore to watch the boss.
Galen crammed the warship with crew and headed back out to sea.
"Gasp!"
"Th-those are all corpses?"
Even the warship crew, who knew Galen's strength, were stunned. Banan's sailors? Forget it. Only Galen stayed calm.
"Clean 'em up and sail 'em yourselves. I don't need to help with that too, right?"
"N-no, sir!"
"Leave it to us!"
The small boat shuttled busily between the warship and pirate ships, ferrying crew.
They dumped pirate bodies overboard and roughly cleared decks to make them seaworthy.
While the sailors hustled, Galen lounged alone by the stern.
His body idled. His mind didn't.
Curiosity about the evolved Spirit Creation outweighed any rest cravings.
'Let's see.'
After brief deliberation, Galen decided.
The spirit perched quietly on the railing began to wriggle.
Smoothly—
The round blob shifted into a cat shape.
Less like a real animal, more a transparent gem carved into a smooth statue.
He'd practiced such form changes often during Spirit Creation drills.
Of course, reshaping a motionless spirit just made a statue—pointless.
But now?
'Walk.'
Galen commanded, picturing a cat walking.
The spirit actually walked like a cat.
Strolling leisurely along the railing, pausing to slyly turn around, then strolling again.
Replicating that with Water Flow Manipulation? He'd have to micromanage every limb twitch in real-time. Brain-melting.
Evolved Spirit Creation? No need. The spirit mirrored Galen's mental image instantly.
Like the difference between forcing puppet limbs versus self-directed movement.
Smoothly—
The cat form dissolved into a water blob, then reformed into a new shape.
A human torso sculpture. A miniaturized version of the earlier water giant.
'Left, right, right, left, left.'
At Galen's orders, the spirit alternated arms like a boxer.
No Water Flow Manipulation required.
Of course, Spirit Creation mana fueled every motion.
'And the biggest part...'
Without further detailed commands—just "swing punches"—the spirit went wild on its own. Left, right, randomly.
Basic learning ability confirmed.
'If I'd scaled it to water giant size?'
A few commands, and it'd auto-smash foes.
Or combo with Galen. Spirit Creation handles the giant solo, freeing Water Flow Manipulation for him.
'Can't fully merge into water like a ghost anymore, but it can ride currents for fast travel.'
No more mere water tank or backup Water Spirit Bullet shooter. The spirit finally had an active role.
More satisfying than a new spell. Water remained Galen's most familiar element.
Splash!
The spirit, back in cat form unnoticed, dropped off the railing.
Galen told it to float on the sea and refill, then headed to the cabin. Distance didn't matter now.
"Mage, first phase complete."
The captain reported mid-rest in the cabin.
"First phase?"
"Too many empty ships for the crew we brought. We'll need trips back to land."
"Do what you must."
Galen retrieved the spirit on deck. The warship departed, pirate ships—with swapped flags—following.
"Woooaaah!"
The crowd's cheers welcomed them, victory sinking in.
Galen left salvage to them and swore off ships.
Pushing through folks ready to toss bouquets, heading for Lilia, some approached.
"Oh, Mage!"
Grinning broadly—almost sleazily—they were Banan's real powers. Family heads.
Their arrival thinned the crowd automatically. Guards' glares herded people back.
"Incredible!"
"How to repay this grace?"
"First pro like you I've seen since growing hair!"
Amid flattery and praise muddling Galen's head, they slyly got to the point.
"Uh, so... what about those ships?"
"Ships?"
"The pirate ones. Dozens at least."
"Dunno. What to do?"
Not playing coy—Galen truly hadn't thought about it.
Couldn't leave 'em adrift, so he towed them. His mind was all spirit.
They took it as "make me an offer."
"If it's not insulting..."
Middle-aged men rubbed hands, eyes gleaming greedily.
"Sell 'em to us?"