Chapter 79: Fishmen (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 79: Fishmen (1)
The day after Alon had his treasures appraised by Alexion.
He boarded a ship following Ladan toward the Last Archipelago, the stronghold of the Sea Wolf.
"We’re heading out."
Evan spoke as he watched the ship begin to move shortly after.
"You look comfortable."
Unlike a few days ago, Evan didn't seem to be suffering from seasickness; his expression was no different than when he was on land.
"It’s thanks to that side over there."
Evan shifted his gaze slightly toward Penia.
A short distance away from them, Penia—who also looked remarkably fine compared to before—was seen talking to Pellin.
"…Impressive. To think she could create a potion that neutralizes seasickness in just three days."
"I heard it involves stimulating mana in a certain area to temporarily block the sensation of nausea, but honestly, I didn't really understand the explanation."
Listening to Evan, Alon marveled once again at Penia's genius.
He knew all too well that this wasn't the kind of magic one could just whip up simply because they felt uncomfortable.
Does she have a talent for alchemy as well as magic?
Alon looked at Penia with a hint of envy in his eyes.
If only my body had even half of Penia's talent… No, if my mana hole were even half the size of hers, I wouldn't have any complaints.
Alon watched her for a moment. As soon as their eyes met while she was talking to Pellin, she gave an awkward smile and waved her hand.
"Ah, come to think of it, why is the Vice Tower Master coming along? If you think about it, there’s no real reason for her to follow us, is there?"
Alon shifted his gaze at Evan’s follow-up question.
"I asked her to come."
"…You did, Count?"
"Yes. I thought she might be helpful in the battles to come."
Well, I’ve already liberated all the relics just in case.
As Alon answered with that thought, Evan nodded with a hum of understanding.
"Still, it’s strange."
"What is?"
"The Vice Tower Master. Doesn't she follow your orders a bit too well? She’s also surprisingly kind compared to the personality I heard about in rumors."
"…I suppose so."
"Even this time. She has nothing to gain, so there’s no real reason for her to participate in this battle, right?"
Alon nodded at Evan’s words.
"You’re not wrong."
Normally, there was indeed no reason for her to be here.
Of course, since she was investigating the Fishmen, there was some connection, but there was no need for her to go as far as joining a dangerous war for her research.
Actually, I thought the chances of her coming along were slim… I didn't expect her to accept so readily…
Looking at the waving Penia, Alon recalled the events of yesterday.
—Vice Tower Master, would you like to accompany us to the war tomorrow?
—To the… war… together?
—Yes. Of course, given the power gap, it shouldn't be dangerous, but I thought it would be better to have extra reserves. Didn't you say you were investigating the Fishmen?
—Yes, th-that’s right!
—Since the Blue Wolf is said to be connected to the Fishmen, there will likely be much to investigate if you go. What do you think? Of course, if you don't want to go, you don't have to—
—I-I’ll go!
—…Are you sure?
—Yes, y-y-yes, of course!
Recalling Penia nodding her head vigorously, Alon felt a bit bemused.
"But seriously, what happened to make the Vice Tower Master follow you so well?"
Alon wore a strange expression at Evan’s continued questioning.
That… I don't really know either.
Come to think of it, their connection had lasted for several years now, yet Alon still couldn't fathom why Penia followed his words so obediently.
However, from Alon's perspective, this relationship wasn't exactly a disadvantage.
Above all, as years passed and this dynamic became naturally fixed, he felt it would be a bit awkward to ask about it now.
That was why he hadn't paid much mind to it.
…Still, maybe I should try asking her indirectly?
Just as Alon was thinking that—still unable to understand why she followed him so much—the Pirate Lords were watching.
These were the lords under Ladan’s command who ruled the other six archipelagos, excluding the 1st Archipelago, and they were currently moving their ships alongside the White Moon.
"Tsk."
They were clicking their tongues as they looked at Alon, clearly displeased.
Luna Bloodsail, Master of the 2nd Archipelago.
Sabina Ghostcrown, Master of the 3rd Archipelago.
Tarik Thundercrush, Master of the 4th Archipelago.
Garrett Deathsea, Master of the 5th Archipelago.
Jackal Darksteel, Master of the 6th Archipelago.
All of them, leaders of the fleets of their respective archipelagos and loyal to Ladan, were looking at him with uncomfortable expressions.
"Tsk, I have no idea why the Boss is protecting a noble brat like that."
At the words of the red-haired Luna Bloodsail, the green-haired Tarik Thundercrush, who was listening nearby, spoke up.
"I don't think it’s good to speak so recklessly, but I agree. Honestly—I don't like him either."
"……."
"I feel the same—"
"Likewise."
Sabina Ghostcrown remained silent, while Garrett Deathsea and Jackal Darksteel nodded in agreement.
They hadn't shown it while they were gathered to attack the Last Archipelago, but here, away from Ladan’s immediate presence, their dissatisfaction was peaking.
It was only natural, as the pirates were displeased with Count Palatio, who had suddenly joined the fleet and was receiving Ladan’s favor.
Of course, even while stuck in the archipelagos, rumors tended to circulate, so the pirates knew that Count Palatio might not be just any ordinary noble weakling.
But those were just rumors.
"No matter how you look at it, isn't that reputation manufactured?"
The pirates present, much like others Alon had encountered before, did not believe the stories.
This was because they all possessed a certain level of strength themselves.
"They say that guy only looks like he’s between the 3rd and 4th Tier, right?"
When the question was posed to Sabina—one of the Pirate Lords and the only mage among them—she, who had been silent until now, nodded.
"Right. At best, he’s around that level. His mana capacity is 2nd or 3rd Tier at most."
"…Tsk, why on earth is the Boss going out of his way to protect a guy like that?"
Bloodsail muttered, unable to understand.
Tarik Thundercrush, who had just been watching Count Palatio, finally spoke.
"Don't judge by appearances alone. If rumors have spread that far, he must have a hidden trump card."
"But you said he’s 3rd or 4th Tier at best?"
"There might be something more. It’s not just one or two rumors; he’s carrying a lot of them around."
Bloodsail looked at Tarik skeptically.
"You don't seem to believe in the Count that much yourself."
"……."
Tarik fell silent.
In truth, even though he was speaking this way, he wasn't without his own doubts regarding Count Palatio.
Because, contrary to the rumors… Count Palatio didn't look all that impressive.
However, he knew that judging a person solely by what was visible on the surface was a very foolish thing to do.
"……."
Tarik didn't answer Bloodsail and looked at Count Palatio once more.
…Of course, in his eyes, just like the other pirates, there was a faint trace of distrust.
* * *
There was another person who distrusted—or more accurately, was still filled with questions about—Count Palatio.
It was Pellin Kraysinne.
Even if he had grown up only researching magic in the Blue Magic Tower and was ignorant of rumors, he wasn't so out of touch that he hadn't heard of Count Palatio.
Furthermore, he had seen with his own eyes how his one and only sister—who could be described as the most arrogant person under the heavens—was practically groveling before him.
Yet, he still couldn't erase his doubts.
Everyone tends to believe what they see, and Count Palatio felt incredibly weak. He could measure it with his own eyes. And yet, the reactions of those around him continued to contradict his assessment.
His respected sister, Penia Kraysinne, was still walking on eggshells around him.
And the mages who had returned from the Magic Society were praising Count Palatio, saying how incredible he was.
A perfectly contradictory situation where what he saw with his eyes differed from the reactions of those around him.
What on earth is he…?
Just as Pellin reached a point of total confusion while watching Count Palatio.
"It’s the Sea Wolf!!"
A sudden shout rang out, snapping Pellin back to reality. He looked ahead.
And soon, he saw them.
With the twilight at their backs, dozens of pirate ships were blocking the path of the White Moon as it headed toward the Last Archipelago.
"Prepare for battle—!"
Luna Bloodsail, who had been relaxed until a moment ago, shouted the command.
""Prepare for battle!""
The order spread through the pirates in an instant, passed from mouth to mouth like a megaphone.
At this moment, something entered the vision of everyone, including Ladan.
In the middle of all the ships, Tertogan was standing on the deck.
And then, as if he had been waiting, he snapped his fingers.
"A trap—!?"
"Is it the Fishmen…!"
The other lords grimaced and immediately tensed up, thinking they had fallen into a trap.
Strangely, however, no anomaly appeared even after Tertogan snapped his fingers.
Just as the pirates were beginning to wonder.
Aaaargh—!
The sound came from the Blue Wolf.
A scream.
The lords, including Ladan, were puzzled by the screams of not just one, but many.
But in the next moment.
"!"
They saw it.
The slaughter taking place on the numerous pirate ships of the Blue Wolf—
No.
""…….""
The feeding.
Ladan.
The lords.
The pirates.
Count Palatio and Evan.
Even Penia and Pellin—everyone stared at the scene in a daze.
On the ships of the Blue Wolf, countless pirates were being eaten by Fishmen.
Screaming as their heads were bitten off.
Limbs being torn apart as they struggled.
Bloody foam rising after they jumped overboard.
It was a scene of truly cruel slaughter.
To the White Moon fleet, it looked like a sudden internal revolt.
The sea was dyed into a Blood Sea by the gruesome scene of predation.
Tertogan, who had been smiling until a moment ago, acted as if he had been waiting for his own pirates to die.
"Finally—!!!"
With a voice laced with madness, he twisted his lips and held up an Object.
At that moment.
Creeeeeak—!
An anomaly began to occur in his body.
Cr-crack—!
"The—the ship—!"
The Fishmen, having finished feasting on the Sea Wolf pirates, began to swarm toward the ships of the White Moon.
And then.
Craaaack—!!!
The ships began to sink.
* * *
"Aaaargh—!"
"Here, the ship is sinking here!"
"Do something—do something!"
A scene of pandemonium filled Pellin's vision.
Ships were stranded and beginning to submerge, and pirates were moving frantically.
Crunch—!
Fierce battles were breaking out both above and below the water.
Pellin grimaced at the chaotic situation where a Fishman's teeth would claim a pirate's arm, and in return, numerous blades would claim the Fishman's life.
Though it was his first time in actual combat and he could have easily panicked, his cold judgment, trained as a mage, allowed him to maintain a shred of reason. But no matter how he looked at it, the current state of the battle was grim.
Pellin's gaze turned below the surface.
There, along with red blood, dozens of Fishman corpses were being blasted out of the water before falling back in.
It was due to the near-divine martial prowess Ladan was displaying, which Pellin was well aware of.
His might was nothing short of miraculous—a single swing of his trident sent pillars of water soaring, and a throw of his spear pulverized the Fishmen.
Similarly, the Pirate Lords, who were mercilessly slaughtering the Fishmen crawling onto the decks, were also strong, even if not to the same extent as Ladan.
However, even so, the tide of battle remained unfavorable.
There are too many of them…!
Pellin grit his teeth.
Even though the man called the Sea God was showing unbelievable divine prowess, the ships continued to sink.
It meant that an overwhelming number of Fishmen had swarmed in, more than even Ladan’s incredible abilities could cover.
Of course, given enough time, Ladan and the lords were strong enough to slaughter every single Fishman, but unfortunately, not much time was given on the open sea.
And then.
Before long.
"It—it’s sinking!"
As feared, the Fishmen had done something to the hull, and Ladan’s ship began to tilt heavily.
Feeling the ship about to capsize, Pellin squeezed his eyes shut.
"Severe Cold."
He heard a low voice.
Thump—!
Everything stopped.
"……?"
And then.
It’s… cold?
Feeling the chill of the air filling his lungs.
Pellin slowly opened his eyes, which had been tightly shut, with a dazed expression.
And then, he saw it.
Beneath the collapsing ship, a vast expanse of ice had spread out.
"……."
Pellin stared at the sight blankly.
No, it wasn't just him.
The pirates who had been screaming just a moment ago.
The Pirate Lords who had been slaughtering the Fishmen.
Everyone was watching the scene.
The ice that had started around the ship had spread across the sea.
The Fishmen leaping toward the ship were frozen.
The sinking ships were frozen in place.
The Blood Sea, which had been dyed red, was frozen solid.
And in the center of it all, there was a man with the twilight at his back.
Wearing an ink-black coat.
His left hand was shrouded in grey and ink-black mana.
Looking at the grotesquely transforming Tertogan with an indifferent gaze, as if he felt no emotion toward this situation—
Count Palatio.
"……."
He stood loftily upon the frozen Blood Sea.