Kraken (2)
Rumble rumble rumble.
Just three attacks, followed by an earthquake. That alone had half-destroyed the great city of Ortus. The silver lining—if it could be called that—was that most of the residents had already evacuated to the vicinity of the royal castle, keeping casualties low. But as the people gazed up at the "six" tentacles surging into the sky once more, they could only tremble in renewed terror.
"No, not again!"
"Gods, please!"
"Sob, m-mommy!!"
From behind the windows of lavish noble mansions they'd never dreamed of entering in normal times, the citizens clutched each other, shivering uncontrollably. Anxiety and fear were all they felt, even in such luxury. If those tentacles struck near the royal castle, they'd all die. And if they fell elsewhere, their homes and livelihoods would be shattered. Everyone knew it.
But fortunately for them, the six tentacles that had shot into the heavens suddenly froze in place.
"Wh-what is it?"
"...What the hell's going on?"
"Sc-scary..."
"Did the Goddess answer our prayers?"
"Gods, please!"
As the people prayed desperately for the monster to retreat, Tiny—barely escaping his brush with death—stared in shock at his savior.
"Sir Jenas! How are you—?!"
It was understandable. Why would the Blue Wing Knights' captain come all the way here? He had his own duties, and meddling in Carun's affairs could spark political backlash.
But Jenas's reply was simple.
"His Grace commanded it, so here I am. Good thing I wasn't too late. You've grown ridiculously since then. If not for the black hair, I might not have recognized you."
"Ah..."
"Though that's even more astonishing."
Jenas's expression darkened as he eyed the Kraken's tentacles hovering in the sky.
"Still, with you here, if anything goes wrong..."
"It's fine. That's why I'm disguised."
Tiny could only sigh in disbelief. Jenas Priwell, the famed Blue Wing captain renowned across the empire, was covering his face.
"Heh..."
A mask hid his lower face, and the red-dyed hair above it made for a decent disguise at first glance. But the man himself was the problem. Even without detection magic—opting for dye instead—Jenas was too famous. A young Challenger-grade knight with the rare dual attributes of silver mana and cold wind? There weren't two like him in the world.
...Are you insane?
The words rose to his throat, but no matter how thick-skinned Jenas was, Tiny couldn't snap at his rescuer like that.
"...Well, as long as no one recognizes you. Especially in this mess..."
Tiny grimaced, glancing back at the eastern sky. The six legs frozen midair. The Kraken.
In a national disaster like this, did it matter if help came from allies or enemies? Tiny was too busy pondering the situation's oddity to dwell on Jenas's sudden arrival.
Why'd it stop? And earlier...
The Kraken's sudden halt mingled with his earlier doubts, itching at the corner of his mind. Something was on the tip of his tongue, but elusive.
Still.
"Anyway, we can't just stand here. Let's move, Tiny."
"...Y-yeah."
Jenas was right; no time for mulling. Tiny resummoned Wolrang, and soon they raced toward the royal castle at breakneck speed.
Then he noticed another anomaly.
This is...?
Even as he accelerated, mana slowly replenished within him, his exhausted body recovering bit by bit. Strangely, though, his mana sensitivity hadn't returned properly.
Wolrang warned of an approaching foe laced with demonic energy from afar, yet Tiny felt nothing. It didn't seem that strong based on its speed, but its presence was ghostly, almost nonexistent.
...Wait!
He'd experienced this before, even in his past life. Assassins stalking him often used...
"Concealment magic circle!?"
The realization sharpened his senses, revealing a hazy aura blanketing all of Ortus. A massive magic circle enveloping the entire island.
"What!?"
His speed faltered in shock, drawing a frown from Jenas.
"...Tiny?"
A glance urging no hesitation. But Tiny was lost in recollection.
Come to think of it, I didn't sense those guys approaching earlier either!
Demon worshippers, brazenly wielding black magic and demonic energy—he'd only noticed them up close. Unthinkable for Tiny, born with innate mana sensitivity.
Awareness dawned, and the faint, unpleasant fog encircling Ortus grew tangible.
The Kraken's doing? No, different energy. Then this is...
"It's a magic circle! One hiding demon worshippers around us. Completely masking their presence!"
"Ah..."
Jenas turned with an awkward smile.
"Demon worshippers! Their handiwork—hiding to plot something!"
"...I forgot to mention."
"Pardon?"
"Their magic circle? Jay and I destroyed one. Per his report, at least three of the seven combined circles are down... Efficiency's probably halved or less."
Jay? He knew already?
"What..."
Tiny deflated momentarily, then pressed on.
Halved? How many men and resources did they pour in? And why?
They could hide demonic energy passively without detection. Adding a concealment circle meant...
They're planning to use it openly?
In other words, unleashing something big in Ortus?!
That realization hit as—
"Woof!"
Wolrang, carrying him, relayed intent. Anomalous movements across the city, detected and shared.
...Demon-laced foes heading for the royal castle?
Hidden by the circle, but Wolrang's Soul Sight pierced it. And that sparked insight.
The reason for the Kraken's hesitation.
"Ah...!"
But Jenas wouldn't wait.
"Tiny, if breaching the barrier's their goal, we need more speed!"
Glancing back mid-gallop, Jenas's composure slipped—a rare sight. Tiny spoke up.
"...Sir Jenas, why do you think the Kraken's acting like that?"
Jenas eyed the sky again, his deep brown eyes narrowing.
"Who knows. Like someone hesitating... But a monster's mind? Impossible to read."
"As I thought."
"...You have a guess?"
"Yes."
Tiny recalled the Sword Emperor's words.
- Plunge the eastern maritime kingdom of Carun into chaos, severing trade with the East Continent. Incite the continent's strongest nation into civil strife...
No need to overthink the future; it all connected. The demon worshippers' moves fit. And the Kraken's pause...
"Looks like Sir Gail Anderson's legacy worked properly. Quite fortunate."
Jenas squinted at him.
Gail Anderson? The missing Tide Mage, vanished suddenly—what?
"...What are you talking about?"
Did he hit his head?
Tiny chuckled, forgetting the crisis momentarily at Jenas's blatant doubt.
"Per the Mythic Age pact, the Kraken won't touch the relic's barrier. But its hatchlings' killers are gathering nearby. It's hesitating, just as you said."
Only then did Jenas's eyes widen.
"The Kraken's hatchling? They killed it?"
"Yes!"
"Damn it all. That explains this mess..."
As Jenas nodded in understanding, Tiny felt slight relief.
Good work, Sir Gail.
The mage he'd never met felt oddly familiar. Another question arose: Had Gail's plan succeeded in his past life, or failed?
Gail's dying words to the king were just to confirm he'd done his best. All I did was find the hatchling's corpse faster and deliver it.
Maybe it succeeded before, but Carun never recovered and fell anyway. Per the Sword Emperor...
Demon worshippers—that trash—delivered the finishing blow amid the chaos.
A single capital strike wouldn't doom a prosperous sea kingdom. This fit.
Not the worst yet.
Damage minimized for now. So.
"To the castle—before the Kraken moves again!"
No solution yet; pray the legendary beast hesitated longer.
Stay put...
As Tiny stared skyward, Jenas asked abruptly.
"They say if the Kraken ignores the ancient pact, we're all done. Still heading to the castle?"
"...Probably. But we must."
Jenas's eyes gleamed oddly at Tiny's resolve.
"Why? Risking your life for foreigners?"
Tiny gave a wry smile.
"Wishful thinking won't save them. In my state? Impossible."
Jenas's probing expression shifted. Sounded like he could if not for his condition.
"Then...?"
"To protect the relic!"
"What?"
"The relic minimizes human losses!"
To the clueless Jenas, it sounded mad.
"Even if it breaks the pact, we secure the relic!"
Tiny's earnestness made dismissal hard.
"Minimize human losses? Humanity?"
"...Something like that! His Grace mentioned it too!"
Jenas recalled his lord's orders.
Hm.
- The world's fate hangs on this. Protect Tiny. Even in the worst case, prioritize his survival. Even if it exposes you and sparks diplomatic issues!
He'd thought it a tasteless joke, but his packed bags were thrust into his hands. Half-forced into this long trip, a legendary monster appeared. And his charge spouted mythic pact nonsense.
Pfft.
This is ridiculous!
But piecing it together? Convincing. Stirring his knightly blood.
- All for humanity. For the world! If you doubt him, trust me.
"For humanity... Yes, so he said. But really...?"
"Yes."
Even unconvinced, the Kraken's hovering part made intuitive sense, logic aside. Plus...
- If aiding him doesn't go smoothly, don't return till next year. Or better, never...
His lord's ominous parting words lingered. Like "don't come back."
Blue Wing captain or not.
No. His place was by his master—his lord.
"...Protect the relic—or sweep the demon worshippers—and the Kraken might leave."
"That... yes."
God, I hope.
Tiny omitted the grim part. Jenas smirked.
"Simple enough if so."
"...Pardon? Simple...? Ah, yes."
"Good. A way to end this forced trip quick. Hurry, Tiny."
Jenas grinned fiercely.
I'll return ASAP, my lord.
As Tiny tilted his head at the smile—
Grooooowl.
The Kraken's frozen tentacles began moving again.