Plaxen
Grrr. Tiny's senses—or more precisely, Wolrang's—had picked up on the demonic energy.
'Here? Where the hell...!?'
Putting aside his worries about the Morse family for the moment, he casually scanned the deck. Wolrang's ability to sniff out souls had once again detected the demonic aura polluting this world.
But the number was beyond what he'd expected.
'One, two, three... what the fuck!?'
Five in plain sight. Some were crew members, others looked like passengers. Just like that black magician from before, they all appeared utterly ordinary, without a trace of demonic energy on the surface.
Tiny was suddenly gripped by intense conflict.
'Kill 'em all right now? Or turn around and hop on another ship?'
Keeping his murderous intent hidden, he rolled his eyes around before settling on another conclusion.
If they weren't here chasing him...
'...they might be part of the group plotting something in Karon.'
His suspicion that Karon's disaster had been caused by demon worshippers was growing more certain by the day. Trailing them in secret might even lead him straight to their ringleaders.
'I'll hold off for now... Consider yourselves lucky, you pieces of shit.'
The ship would reach Ortus, Karon's capital, in just one day anyway. Tiny forcibly suppressed the revulsion and disgust that had surged up instinctively.
But that hard-won patience proved useless less than half a day after departure.
"Get the fuck out! First time I've seen a total loser like you!?"
A man causing a ruckus at the bow deck.
"Ugh, I'm wasted. Move, who the hell are you? Scram!"
He seemed to have been drinking since midday; by sunset, he was already completely sloshed.
"...Ugh."
"What the..."
As he staggered closer, the stench of booze drove people naturally away. But Tiny's expression hardened slightly at the sight of him.
'An Expert-level mana knight...'
Without Wolrang's power, even he wouldn't have sensed the demonic energy. This was a completely different approach from the previous ambush.
Watching the situation unfold, Tiny clicked his tongue inwardly.
No way the target was him again.
'...These guys hold grudges.'
Of course, he was on his way to settle an even longer one, but that didn't stop the irritation from bubbling up. Coming straight to Enaxen regardless of terrain would've made his destination easy to guess.
But...
'Even if they're confident in hiding their demonic energy, being this blatant?'
Maintaining a thoughtful expression, Tiny extended his senses across the surroundings.
And that's when the drunk, now close by, lurched into him.
"Hic. M-move, kid."
Frowning as if revolted by the booze stench, Tiny sidestepped—just as a dagger shrouded in faint black light slipped from the drunk's swinging sleeve, aiming for the back of his neck as he turned.
But in an instant.
Crack-crunch.
"Gaaahk!"
The drunk screamed in horror as the arm wielding the dagger was crushed in a small hand.
Naturally, eyes gathered.
"Gaaaahk!"
"What!?"
"What the...!?"
The crowd scattered in a flash. But among them, some approached the two instead.
"Hey, kid! Don't move!"
"Daring to spill blood on the ship!"
"Grab him!"
The ship's crew. As the shocked men rushed toward Tiny and the drunk,
Tiny kicked the fallen dagger straight into the drunk's heart.
Squelch.
"Gurk."
The drunk spewed blood and collapsed—his body instantly rotting black, belching acrid smoke and stench.
"Urk!"
"W-what!?"
"What is that smell!?"
The deck grew even more chaotic, and a few who knew the cause of the phenomenon cried out in shock.
"Demon worshipper!"
"Black magician!"
"This is..."
At the voices from all sides, the approaching crew hesitated and stopped.
"A-a kid did..."
Their gazes darted rapidly between the dead drunk's corpse and Tiny.
Then one crew member cleared his throat and stepped forward.
"...Circumstances suggest he was a demon worshipper, but for a full investigation, please come with us. K-kid... er, esteemed guest..."
"...Yeah?"
"Yes, per procedure..."
"Procedure?"
Tiny smirked at the crewman's words and casually extended his hand toward him.
"...Why your hand?"
Perplexed, the crewman blinked, but Tiny grabbed his wrist.
Crack-crunch.
"Gaaahk!"
The crewman screamed as his wrist shattered.
"Jack!!"
"Just seize him!"
As his alarmed comrades lunged,
"Hmph."
Tiny snorted, swinging the crewman in his grip like a club.
Bam.
Boom!
Kaboom!!
After a few explosive crashes, his surroundings turned into a sea of blood.
"Kyaaah!"
"Ugh!"
"Insane...!"
Those witnessing the sudden slaughter screamed in terror and fled every which way.
"Murder!"
"Murderer's here!"
"Run!"
The deck descended into pandemonium in an instant.
But then.
"The smell!"
"That stench!"
"Those are...!"
Passengers watching from a distance grasped the truth faster. The crewmen's smashed bodies were rotting just like the drunk's, spewing foul odors.
"The crew...?"
"All demon worshippers!"
"W-what the hell...!"
The atmosphere shifted in a heartbeat. Still chaotic, but now no one fled from Tiny indiscriminately.
Even those ignorant of demon worshippers.
"Demon worshippers?"
"Their bodies rot right after death."
"So all those...?"
Whispers spread the info, and the truth sank in quickly. In an era where monster deaths weren't rare compared to disease or crime, views on the sprawled corpses changed fast.
"Then that kid—no, that guy's in the right?"
"Obviously."
"Duh."
Curious, bold passengers even crept closer to peer at the scene.
'And this is just the start, right?'
As Tiny scanned around amid the changing mood, tilting his head,
"What did you say!!?"
A commotion erupted from the bridge, as if they'd finally noticed the chaos.
Soon, with frantic thuds, a corpulent middle-aged man tumbled down the bridge stairs.
"Wh-what the hell happened! H-how could...!"
His stern face and bushy sideburns quivered. The beret pulled low over his flushed face bore the golden emblem of the Plaxen's captain.
"Wh-why are all my men like...!"
Choking up, unable to continue, the captain teared up.
Late-arriving crew whispered to him, pointing at Tiny.
His bloodshot eyes glared at Tiny, teeth grinding.
As everyone tensed, watching,
The captain took a deep breath and bowed before Tiny.
"My apologies, sir. It seems my men were possessed by demons, but we need your cooperation for a follow-up investigation."
His restraint was almost unbelievable compared to his earlier agitation.
"As expected..."
"That's how a captain should be."
Passengers admired his demeanor.
"Of course. You're a fine captain indeed."
Smiling, Tiny approached and whispered,
"...You put on a good act."
The captain flinched—and Tiny smashed him with the Stamp on his back.
Kabooooom!!
That day, the Plaxen—one of Enaxen's premier giant ships—lost its captain and top officers to a single boy, their corpses reeking horrifically.
Thanks to the reserve crew's desperate efforts, the ship barely limped into Ortus harbor after dark. Word of the onboard incident spread through passengers' mouths across Ortus in no time.
"F-failure."
The voice echoed in the dark chamber, and the shadow at the head stirred—killing intent thickening the air instantly.
"...Report in detail."
"H-he couldn't even scratch him. Like seeing through the veil, he crushed the black knights without hesitation."
Tap. Tap.
The head shadow drummed the table silently. The reporter cried out desperately.
"The veiled ambush has proven effective even against two or more foes! And this was a meticulously layered plan—first, second, third waves. The Plaxen captain was a Blader-level black knight...!"
"Enough."
"...He was. Unless he pierced the veil, this flawless op couldn't have failed!"
Ignoring the interruption, the reporter finished.
"Hmph..."
Absurdity laced the voice as the killing intent deepened.
"F-forgive me. I did my utmost. With resources stretched thin from Karon matters...!"
"Tch."
Pop.
The desperate man's end was just his head bursting.
"A kid who sees through the veil... An enemy rendering my greatest feat meaningless. And at that age, strong enough to take a twin-head troll? Does this make any sense?"
"We've intel: he's a half-elf, around twenty. At this point, he must've infiltrated Philes on purpose. Probably a switcheroo."
A response came to the head's mutterings.
"Targeted us from the start? Yeah, that makes sense..."
After a pause, the head shadow commanded firmly.
"Tell Elder Husel: once phase one wraps, prioritize the boy. Capture if possible, kill otherwise. Better than leaving loose ends."
"...Yes."
The chamber fell silent again.
Munch-munch.
"Karon's..."
Gulp.
"...supposed to be..."
Smack-smack.
"...efficient, but..."
Slurp-slurp.
"...it's been two days now..."
Sip-sip.
"...what the hell is this?"
Slurrrp.
"And the food's... damn good."
Grinning, Tiny stacked another plate on the table.
A plush bed with luxurious silk bedding sat before a mismatched mountain of dishes, as if dozens had feasted here. But it was all one black-haired boy's doing.
And moreover.
"...Lunch ends here? Urp, stuffed."
That colossal pile was just one meal.
Right after his soliloquy, a knock sounded.
"Sir Tiny, you there!?"
Tiny whipped around.
Finally!?
"Come in!"
The door creaked open, and a middle-aged knight in gleaming armor entered, bowing deeply.
"Investigation complete. All confirmed demon worshippers. On behalf of Enaxen city government and Karon Kingdom, our thanks, Sir Tiny."
"No biggie... So I can go?"
"Of course, anywhere you like! Oh, and more good news."
"Yeah?"
"Rumors are spreading in Karon. About the hero who purged hidden demon worshippers."
"Oh!?"
"And we spread word of your intent to serve Karon. Royals should send a welcome party by tomorrow."
Tiny couldn't help but smile satisfactorily. Better than expected.
'Just smashed some demon worshipper scum, and this payoff.'
The ship's fight brought unexpected gains, slashing his timeline.
'Summer's ending, about four months left. Plenty.'
Worth a laugh.
"Haha... Thanks, Sir Tilan. Mind if I stay one more night?"
Ortus outer wall guard captain—Knight Tilan's tough face cracked awkwardly.
"...Pardon?"
"Haha... Don't wanna kick me out quick?"
"W-well... today or tomorrow..."
As Tiny tilted his head, Tilan paled again. Lips twitching nervously, he ventured,
"Um, Sir Tiny...?"
"Yes?"
"As you know, this Salon is Ortus's finest inn..."
"...And?"
Not getting it, Tiny blinked. Tilan squeezed his eyes shut, face red, and bowed at ninety degrees.
"P-please, just a light dinner tonight!? Our budget's not endless—sorry!!"
The middle-aged man's lament, bound by org life and budgets. Tiny awkwardly eyed the plate tower and bowed knight.