Chapter 187
Chapter 187
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 187
Chapter Title: Smooth Sailing with Tailwinds!
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“Fair winds and following seas! My lucky instincts never fail me.”
Hirpien Dialr patted the bow figurehead with a grin.
Her long braid, swaying in the sea breeze, was a deep blue that captured the color of the ocean.
Even if we weren’t at sea, I could’ve smelled the ocean on her—like back then.
“At this rate, we’ll start seeing the archipelago by tonight.”
“Thanks to you, we survived, Hirpien.”
“That’s what I should’ve said first.”
It had been just over a day since Aki and I were stranded on that uninhabited island when this ship appeared on the horizon!
We were on the verge of trouble procuring fresh water without water magic—talk about divine intervention.
And the ship’s captain and owner turned out to be none other than Hirpien Dialr.
“You risked your life back then to save us from that ant nest. This is nothing compared to that.”
Hirpien patted the bow figurehead again.
It depicted a woman holding a music box—a Galleass-class ship granted to her by her grandfather to commemorate that feat.
“The ‘Echo of the Music Box.’ Three masts on the second deck. The finest vessel crafted by the master artisans of the Ironclad Archipelago using only the best materials. No ship on the continent can outrun her now.”
Hirpien’s grandfather had passed a month after her arrival, drifting into eternal sleep to the sound of her great-grandmother’s music box.
If she hadn’t retrieved that music box back then...
Hirpien looked at me with a smile that mixed joy and sorrow. I replied,
“Yeah, looks like it all worked out.”
“Who do I owe that to? How about you? Did you resolve that issue you were chasing back then?”
“What issue?”
“You didn’t seem like you were just after Tureina’s book.”
“Mine’s... similar to yours.”
I couldn’t see my own face, but I was probably wearing the same smile she’d just flashed.
Tureina had passed into eternal rest.
After three hundred long years of waiting.
Even if her soul had nested in a dragon egg, we couldn’t share memories from three centuries ago. Tureina was gone.
“Thanks to you buying that book back then.”
And now I owed her for ferrying us to the Tershy Archipelago.
The ‘Echo of the Music Box’ had set out from <Aristapo>, planning to stop at <Terbenopl> before returning to the Ironclad Archipelago.
But when I asked if she could take me straight to the islands, she agreed without a moment’s hesitation.
- Our Dialr family always repays its debts. Merchant blood runs deep in our bones.
She’d loaded up on local lemons and oranges in the city for profit, so it wasn’t much of a loss, she said.
Whether that was true or just to ease my mind, I couldn’t tell...
With the Slayer threat now real, there was no time to worry about everyone’s circumstances.
Of course, I’d planned to fend off any sea monsters during the voyage, but thanks to Aki’s overwhelming presence, not even a fin broke the surface.
“Heh, makes me want to get married and have kids ASAP. Who knew they’d be this adorable? I’ve got over a hundred guys lining up to marry me. Interested? Get in line quick.”
Hirpien grabbed Aki under the armpits and hoisted her high into the sky. Aki burst into giggles.
“Aki’s cute!”
“Yeah, yeah~ Too cute!”
Hirpien’s natural charm had worked its magic again, bonding her with Aki in no time.
“Nah, it’s not kids that are cute. It’s Aki.”
I shook my head.
How long a journey had it been to get her this big? The pain of that day made it hard to recommend to anyone.
With Aki on her shoulders, Hirpien’s voice dropped a notch.
“Something about you and Aki smells like bad luck. This rush to the islands isn’t for fun, is it?”
“Can’t explain in detail. I don’t know everything yet.”
“Hmm... Come to think of it, the islands have gotten kinda creepy lately. Even got a weird offer recently.”
“Weird offer?”
“Something about renting Slayers at a fair price. Like we’d hire unproven mercs for risky voyages.”
Mercenaries...
Was she talking about Link’s descendants, trained like slave soldiers, as Cora had mentioned?
“The old Slayers felt like heroes’ heirs, but now they’re a full-on mercenary corp. Not that I, a merchant, should complain.”
“Probably a regime change.”
“Maybe. But it’s all too bizarre. You know Linkland Island in the Tershy chain? Huge tourist spot. Used to be.”
As Link’s birthplace and gravesite, Linkland was a must-visit on any Tershy tour.
“But now? Something’s wrong with the island, they say. The city’s blocked off all access.”
“......”
“As a merchant, it doesn’t add up. Why ditch booming tourism for mercs? Why?”
But their skill, obedience, and fearless ferocity soon drew major clients.
They weren’t big in the Arkrad Continent, but on Adriyon, Slayer mercs were making waves.
From battlefield fighters to monster hunters.
“With you—supposedly dead—rushing there in this mess... something’s up. And that bad-luck stench on you is thick.”
“Don’t dig too deep. It’s dangerous.”
“You sure you don’t need help?”
“You’ve helped more than enough.”
“Still...”
It was too risky for Hirpien.
She’d nearly died against that Libeni. Now it was the top-rated merc band in history.
Protecting Aki alone would be overwhelming.
“Just loan me one ship, really?”
“Yeah, you said Green City’s surveillance is tight—no ferries to Linkland. So we go straight by sea.”
I’d told Valensidis to meet at <Karshiko>, but that sharp one would act on his own if I didn’t show.
“It’s not just the city. The whole sea’s locked down with barriers and navy.”
“I’ll handle barriers.”
“My crew and I will handle the navy.”
Not smugglers, but we’ve pulled a few runs—fun stuff... Hirpien grinned slyly.
“Alright, before we arrive, let’s feed Aki the yummiest grub again!”
“Aki wanna eat!”
“Yup! Sturgeon roe! One taste and you’re hooked~ Visit the Ironclads later if you want more!”
I smiled as Aki and Hirpien headed to the cabin dining area, then turned back to the prow.
The twilight sea felt ominous, not just in color but in the crashing waves. Hinting at the fate awaiting us.
What the hell’s going on in Link’s island? Slayers, Jernix—what’s their real goal?
They weren’t the type to settle for plain merc work. That much was obvious.
“We’ll find out soon enough... like it or not.”
As twilight deepened into darkness over the water, a sinister light flickered at the horizon’s edge.
At first one, then slowly splitting into two.
As the shape clarified, a pain like a knife to the chest escaped as a sigh.
“Long time no see...”
The Green City <Karshiko> was built inside a lagoon.
And at the lagoon’s entrance stood a massive hero statue, carved from solid rock.
A giant wielding offensive chains in both hands, roaring fiercely... Demon Slayer, Kassel Linkan.
* * *
Lemon Tree Square was the city hall plaza in central Green City <Karshiko>.
When sea breezes blew, the leaves rustled gently, releasing a fragrant lemon scent.
Even the famously scorching southern sun felt like a pleasant sunbath under the lemon trees’ shade.
But now, no tourists or passersby were in sight.
“Unit, attention.”
Instead, thirty-odd boy soldiers in light armor lined up before the green fountain, the only spot without shade.
Their eyes showed no emotion, holding rigid posture under the blazing sun.
Their obese leader, waddling with a garish chin beard, had introduced himself to Valensidis at their first meeting:
“Dur-Morris, Trickster Slayer. Death to all con artists. Ha ha! Welcome from the far north to buy mercs—perfect timing!”
Beside Valensidis rode a slime Slayer on a pony, clad in silk robes and veiled nobly.
She felt her heart pounding with tension and crisis.
- We infiltrate the island, gather intel. Key facilities, troop deployments. And their true goal.
When Rain Ludwig’s rendezvous delayed, Valensidis had said that last night.
- Island? Can’t get in. Slayers have it locked tight. Unless we force it.
- With him, we could’ve smashed straight through. Alone, no dice. Time to use our heads.
Valensidis spread clothes on the bed. Cora eyed them warily.
- What’s the plan?
Silk robes and jewels unfit for Cora’s small frame but perfect for status. Hundreds of slimes slain for one set.
- Say a farmer’s growing illegal crops. You show up: ‘Got a tip, open up’? He opens?
- ...?
- But if you’re there to buy? A big shot known for wealth?
Valensidis flicked a forged ID.
Beatrice Duren.
Third daughter of the Duren Archduke family, ruling the Holy Human Empire’s north.
- You think Slayers are chumps? One fake ID won’t cut it.
- It’s not just the ID. Durens have a unique family marker.
Valensidis’s finger pointed to Pipi on Cora’s shoulder.
- Durens alone breed sun parrots, given to members. That’ll vouch for you.
Unbelievable, but...
It worked. The Trickster Slayer (bastard) fixated more on Pipi than the ID, thrilled, and set a meeting with Slayer troops.
Hoping to expand to the Empire via this deal?
“You said for a family succession war? These are perfect. Kin Slayer strain.”
“Kinslayers.”
“No need for bodyguards—they’ll assassinate flawlessly. No backtalk. Trained that way.”
“Hmm, but they’re so young. Hard to trust.”
Posing as Duren’s steward, Valensidis naturally voiced for Cora.
“Oh no, underestimate their age and you’re done, right? We train ’em into human weapons. No mercy, no pity. They kill creatures weekly. Last three years? Infants too.”
“Infants?”
“Ha ha, no worries. Hallucination spells make piglets look like babies.”
The Trickster droned on about the boy soldiers’ prowess, but Cora’s vertigo kept her from focusing.
“......”
An Arc Hierarchy Slayer, Knight Slayer, stared from the shade.
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
He struck the green marble floor rhythmically with his sheathed sword, seeming uneasy—or suspicious.
“That Knight Slayer trained ’em to kill knights too. Empire knights are trouble, but these kids? Done for.”
“Knights use mana chains—how do kids counter that?”
The Trickster suddenly summoned a boy soldier and smashed his shin with a hammer.
Bone-crunching, blood spraying—the boy crumpled. Even battle-hardened Valensidis went silent.
But soon, something bubbled inside the shin, bones knitting instantly.
“No weakness in front of clients—up, you!”
“Yes.”
“Demon Slayer heirs. Inherited that monster regen. What’re you waiting for—back in line!”
The boy limped briefly, then strode calmly back to attention under the sun.
“Knights might take two or three. Others slit his throat. Those two or three revive if heart and neck hold.”
Valensidis’s eyes narrowed.
What the hell? Never heard of Slayers having that power.
Cora, knowing something, looked sorrowful behind her veil.
“Good regen, but skill? High price means caution.”
“What more to see?”
“Lady Beatrice wants to see their training.”
Silence fell.
The Trickster hesitated; taps grew louder.
“Problem?”
He wiped sweat, whispered heatedly to the Knight Slayer.
“Duren’s a northern archduke, boss. If these shine, word spreads to Empire fast.”
“Sudden Duren contact feels off...”
“Just show training rough. Skip holy sites or birthing facilities. Grand Commander’s there—brainwash ’em to buy.”
“If they’re fakes?”
“Grand Commander handles it.”
The Trickster licked plump lips and approached.
“Training’s on the island—follow?”
* * *
Linkland Island 3’s northeast pier led to a gravel path through lemon groves.
Deep in, a gray golden pagoda loomed eerie in the shadows.
Built for ‘failures,’ not VIPs—a detention camp.
“Dur-Morris, Runaway Slayer. Death to all deserters. Sir, Grand Commander.”
The guard saluted the Dragon Slayer crisply.
Spotting Miria behind, he grinned viciously.
“Back in this shithole? Like it here so much? Skip the stink—my bed’s heaven.”
The Position Slayer beside Dragon Slayer snickered.
“Who’re you sending to heaven? Yours is tiny.”
“Bigger than a goblin’s, proud to say.”
“Ha, hilarious. Shut up and open the gate.”
Inside, groans of pain and despair echoed.
“Ah, aaah, ah...”
“Ugh, ah...”
Failures: those who failed to inherit Demon Slayer power. No Slayer talent, so repurposed.
Inapt men and women bred Demon Slayer-blooded kids in maternity.
Innate mana but flawed bodies/minds? Squeezed for spirit orbs.
Chained to beds, bred like beasts till withered death.
Mobile failures? Other labor.
Arthur and Spiela left Miria low, heading upstairs for ‘true’ execs.
“Miria...”
Failures turned heads, recognizing her. No pleas—pointless.
Miria’s gifts: outside tales, holding hands and listening.
“Dreamt again... Ancestor came, swept the bad guys... gave us freedom...”
“Nice.”
“My dream’s different... Ancestor’s friends come... Rista, Fride, Kies, Lin...”
Clinging to impossible hopes against crushing despair.
Who’d defy the legendary merc band? For what gain?
No gods answered prayers here. Dragon age ending.
‘Help us.’
Their murmurs nearly unleashed Miria’s 11-year suppressed cry.
‘Someone, please help us.’
Thought it fossilized beyond words...
【A boy in a conical hat smiles shyly.】
A fleeting vision froze Miria.
Conical hat, but not ‘him.’ Then who?
Unseen scene, yet achingly familiar.
“Harvest?”
“Harvest, harvest, harvest.”
Floor 6: maternity, comfy unlike below, staffed differently.
“Bumper crop again. You know my system’s perfect—why ask?”
Engineer Slayer Hermann eyed infants in incubators through glass, answering Grand Commander.
“Bumper, bumper, bumper.”
Sun parrot Beast Slayer nuzzled Arthur’s face, chirping.
“Ten years this gig. Next year, boy soldier output fivefold.”
Position Slayer Spiela tilted a glass with telekinesis.
“Year after, eightfold. Three years: thirteenfold. By calc.”
Original members, only ones speaking freely to Grand Commander.
“More grunts good, but this many? Building an army in decades.”
Spiela’s question: what Arthur asked his master exactly ten years ago.
- What’s the plan?
- Know what dragons have humans lack?
- Wings, orbs, scales—what else?
- You always dodge thinking.
- Dumb head.
- Duty. Dragons born with purpose. Humans? Aimless.
If ultimate sword realm exists, his master reached it.
Arthur swallowed at the true holy sword Yonirulan on his back.
Of course, just swallow—can’t wield even if found.
- Thought Abyss awakening was your goal.
- Abyss just bleeds the world. Gods and Three Divine Dragons too soft.
- Hm?
- Someday, all humanity gets Slayer duty. Not just strong—all under order.
- You know I’m thick—simple: who to kill?
- Easy. Kill those eyeing ‘the vessel.’ Rest’s yours.
Arthur eyed top floor: girl bound in seven magic arrays, fifty chains.
‘Hmph, Demon Slayer.’
Reviving Slayers on master’s order, Jernix gifted a junior.
- Weird?
Unlike Slayers, Demon Slayer wouldn’t revive.
Fortunate: someone implanted his power into a relic.
That kid chosen as vessel. Eleven years later—a lady now?
“Anyway, Arthur—lounging okay?”
“Hm?”
“Eron and Adon vanished. Special Forces poking around.”
Half-dragon and SpecOps here same time? Coincidence? Jernix scheming.
‘Heh, whatever you’re plotting—made it fun.’
How many strong ones?
Thrilling growth in killing them.
“Spiela, go to that slime wench’s village. Teach betrayal’s cost.”
“Betrayal, betrayal, betrayal.”
“Sure? What about goblin bitch? Her village.”
“Hermann, when Miria chases Spiela, say I’ve summoned execs back to Island 3.”
“What’s the play?”
Arthur smirked meaningfully at Spiela and Hermann.
“Obey. Best sweep rats at once—no loose ends.”
* * *
As Valensidis strained to infiltrate, Rain Ludwig...
“Gah, gaaaaah!”
“S-Soldier Slayer in one hit... gaaa!”
At Island 14’s docks, three Master Hierarchy Slayers met intruders breaching barrier—incinerated by lightning successively.
No time to react to triple bolts.
Dodge one, swept by next—dead.
“W-What... who... are... you...?”
“Who you think?”
“Insolent fool! Grand Commander’ll hold you accountable...!”
To the last trembling survivor, Rain Ludwig clasped hands prayerfully, Slayer-style.
“Dur-Morris, Dragon Slayer Slayer. Death to Dragon Slayers. Perfect—I’m here to smash that bastard. Where is he?”
From behind his shoulder, a cute critter peeked, waving tiny fists!
“Aki’s here!”