Broken Marina, Lauritz's request, and Albrecht's anticipation
Broken Marina, Lauritz's request, and Albrecht's anticipation
"Now you're finally in a position to have a conversation. King Albrecht and ministers."
If Albrecht could go back to a week ago, he felt like he would do absolutely anything.
He had never bowed his head to anyone since becoming King. Yet, here he was, kneeling on the ground with his head pressed against the floor. He was begging for his life.
It had all happened because of a single mistake.
'Does a water ability really change this much once it becomes a Transcendent?!'
It was a water ability, a rank that had never even been considered high-level in history. Who could have imagined the current situation?
It was different from White Weasel Beastkin who received speed corrections on their physical abilities and then another speed correction from electricity abilities.
When a water ability is manifested, it receives a reverse correction on physical abilities, and being of the Soi tribe also applies a reverse correction to physical abilities.
He had underestimated it. He thought, what could a Saint-level water ability user even do?
Like the light spear of a high-level electricity ability user or the fire spear of a Saint-level fire ability user, he thought a Saint-level water ability user would just have a water spear. Compared to the previous two, it felt like nothing.
But, it wasn't just Saint-level. The Water Transcendent showed an unimaginable [Wish].
Albrecht thought as he watched the tsunami.
'A constant [Wish] must be the sea itself. That's why cutting his neck or shooting electricity was useless.'
A mid-level elf water ability user makes Elixir with a constant [Wish], but for this monster, the sea itself must be his constant [Wish].
On top of that, he could control people's blood at will and appeared by creating mist anywhere.
The 「Raigen」 Kingdom, which possessed the highest number of high-level ability users among the allied kingdoms. Furthermore, they were the only ones with two Saint-level ability users, but it meant nothing.
'The 「Raigen」 Kingdom is finished...!'
The 「Raigen」 Kingdom, which had acted as the leader among the allied kingdoms, would no longer be able to do so.
Rather, since the 「Minos」 Kingdom, which had been on the verge of ruin, had fallen into the hands of that monster, the kingdom that would become the leader in the future might be the 「Minos」 Kingdom.
'No! But, come to think of it, didn't everyone try to assassinate him anyway! Why only me?'
Albrecht was a reader who didn't know that Saklasi considered harems just as important as being a munchkin.
"Destroying you is actually easier. Be grateful to the benevolent Emperor."
Saklasi decided to borrow some dignity by mentioning the Emperor, another Transcendent. The threat seemed fine with the tsunami, but he wasn't confident enough to show dignity yet.
"Princess Marina, you were here first. Apologies for that time."
He tried to show his status by raising his dignity, using every connection he had. So, he started by acknowledging Marina and apologizing for the incident at Manosan, but...
"Ah! Yes! Right! No! Good!"
'?'
Marina had forgotten the resolution she had been repeating before coming here, and as soon as Saklasi spoke to her, she immediately broke down.
It was a fact known to all her members that Marina's personality was ultra-high tension.
The reason she wandered Manosan alone was also because of her personality. The members found it too difficult to follow her every time.
'Let's make a bet!'
She often made bets with her members on who could catch more 'Iron Lumps'. She was the type to only go around catching 'Iron Lumps', which were Mandite Golems. Once she started, she wouldn't come out for days.
The Saint-level fire ability user's [Wish] 'Fire Spear' had good penetration, so it was more efficient to catch 'Azure Slugs' or 'Pink Grima', but she only went after 'Iron Lumps', saying it lacked the satisfying feel.
And the bets she loved.
The members were already scheduled for lifetime service, far exceeding their lifespans.
Every time they lost a bet, she would say, "You're following me forever, okay?" and their service period would increase.
Most of the members didn't really have any intention of being discharged, but there was one member who had been severely injured and developed PTSD. However, before they knew it, Marina poured Elixir all over that member and dragged them away, saying, "Aren't you lucky? Let's stay together forever!"
That member had a tearful face, but most of the members would follow her for life. Given the nature of beastkin who revere the strong, Marina, a Saint-level ability user, was a figure worth serving for life.
Especially with her unique confidence and dazzling appearance as a High Elf. And with her easygoing demeanor, they didn't feel like they were dealing with royalty, but rather an idol. The members were, knowingly or unknowingly, active as members of her fan club.
Yet, she was showing a side of herself that she had never shown even once. The dignified appearance she had in official settings was nowhere to be found, and she was acting like a young girl talking to the man she had a crush on for the first time.
Why is the Captain suddenly like this?
'??????'
It was enough to make question marks appear over the members' heads.
Saklasi, unaware of this, thought Marina was just a slightly strange person and continued to speak politely.
"Ah, so you're accepting my apology? Thank you. Princess Marina."
"Huh? Not at all! Good!"
Each was a response to why he was apologizing, that there was no need to thank her, and to having her name called, but there was no way anyone would realize that.
In fact, Marina had made a firm resolution before meeting Saklasi.
'Don't let it show at all!'
She thought she had been flustered because they met suddenly during their first encounter, and that if she knew they were meeting in advance, she wouldn't show such an embarrassing side of herself.
There was no problem until she heard that Saklasi was dragging a tsunami to demonstrate his power to the 「Raigen」 Kingdom. She just thought, 'He's really my style!'
She was fine even when she saw him riding a rowboat on top of the tsunami, but...
'How could you just appear right in front of my nose like that!'
From the moment Saklasi moved right in front of Albrecht using [Mist Transformation], she couldn't control her emotions. It was because the distance between her and Saklasi, who was standing near Albrecht, had become too close.
'How can you just call someone's name so suddenly!'
She had been so creeped out that her breath hitched when she first saw Saklasi's [Wish] 'Blood is also water', but after he made the ministers kneel and called Marina's name, her earlier resolution had vanished into thin air. It was like the suspension bridge effect.
Saklasi, seeing Marina like that, thought, 'Well, someone who answers is better than someone who doesn't say a word,' and didn't pay much attention to it.
"Everyone. How did it feel to have your blood stopped? King Albrecht, I excluded you since you experienced it last time."
"Th-thank you, Archduke!"
Albrecht had now thrown away all his dignity and pride. He never wanted to feel that sensation again.
Saklasi sheathed the sword he had drawn and continued.
"I'll give you one more chance. It would be better to take it when I offer a hand of mercy, wouldn't it? Don't make me draw my sword again."
The ministers, still filled with fear and with their heads dazed, couldn't even answer and just stared at Saklasi.
"If you understand, at least nod your heads. Is it better if I draw my sword again?"
The ministers' heads moved violently up and down.
After moving the location to the throne room, the business of 「Raigen」 was wrapped up in a flash. Albrecht's attitude was completely different from when he first attacked.
The appearance of him holding out, saying it was 'a matter for trial', had completely disappeared. He had become a 'Yes-bot' who only said "Understood." The ministers of 「Raigen」 who had been attacking until just before were also quiet.
'Blood is also water' seemed particularly effective. While dealing with Mokai, I became more proficient at handling 'Blood is also water'. It reached a level where it felt like the opponent's blood was completely in my grasp.
I wonder if it gave them the feeling of having something stolen.
'Like a heart, or a brain, or a soul? It felt roughly like that.'
It was something more than just the feeling of stopping blood, what should I say... Hmm~ I don't know!
In addition, I thought about showing a performance of completely draining the blood, but I stopped because there was no need to kill them.
'But why isn't the long-distance travel of 'Mist Transformation' being mastered? It's not like I have a personality that wants to be exposed.'
I still had to move naked, so I had been without my phone since I arrived at the Imperial Castle.
It's been a while since I've been able to browse the gallery. Actually, visiting the Koopong Camp was an excuse, and I really wanted to play on the <Water Ability Gallery> quickly. Marina also seemed like someone who couldn't hold a conversation well, so I was planning to say goodbye after a proper greeting, but...
Lion Beastkin, enhanced ability user, Senior Knight of the Imperial Offenser, these were the titles for Lauritz. He looked at Saklasi and wanted to duel him. The beastkin's unique competitive spirit had surged.
Only Lauritz thought Saklasi's appearance, riding a rowboat on top of a tsunami, was cool.
'I want to duel with someone this cool even more!'
He wouldn't be able to win, but as a lion beastkin with enhanced physical abilities, and being an enhanced ability user himself, he wouldn't be unilaterally defeated.
Since there wasn't a big difference when he dueled with Marina, a Saint-level ability user, using only physical abilities, it should be worth a try even if Saklasi was a Transcendent, as long as he was a water ability user and Soi tribe.
Then, when he saw 'Mist Transformation', he thought, 'I won't be able to react to that. I must insist on using only physical abilities.' And after seeing 'Blood is also water', he solidified his thought: 'Absolutely only physical abilities!'
I should ask the Captain if it's okay to request a duel with the Archduke.
Marina nodded a few times at the lion beastkin, and then that lion beastkin came toward me and knelt on one knee, bowing his head.
'Ah, is this a situation where I need to permit him to speak?' I pondered and then said.
"I permit you to speak."
I used informal speech to maintain my dignity. It's a bit embarrassing. This kind of thing doesn't seem to suit me.
"I am honored that you have permitted me to speak. Archduke Stan! I am Lauritz, Senior Knight of the Imperial Offenser."
Fortunately, there was no reaction of thinking it was strange. How high is a Senior Knight? Marquis level?
"I dare to ask, please let me witness the physical abilities of a Transcendent!"
Huh? Are they still looking down on me as Soi tribe? It's annoying, but if I say let's do it later, they'll think I'm running away, right? If it's a lion beastkin, this race's combativeness must be no joke...
I looked at Marina, and her eyes were shining. She was nodding her head vigorously too. The other knights were also looking at me with shining eyes, as if expecting a duel. Even Albrecht, who was listening from a little distance away.
Why is Albrecht expecting it?
Anyway, this, it's an atmosphere where I have to accept it, right?