Chapter 146: Subduing the Kraken (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 146: Subduing the Kraken (2)
Creak, creeeeeak.
The ship tilted at an alarming angle. At this rate, it felt as though everyone who couldn't find their footing would be tossed into the sea.
"Hold!"
I immediately used magic to stop the ship's movement. With a piercing screech of wood against force, the vessel stopped tilting.
"Ugh!"
But that wasn't the end of it. The ship continued to writhe as if resisting my magic. No matter how tightly I held it with my spells, there was only so much I could do if the creature refused to let go and kept dragging us down.
It seemed the Kraken had indeed ambushed the ship. Hamilton, seemingly certain of this, barked orders to the sailors.
"Prepare the harpoons!"
"Yes, sir!"
The Kraken had yet to show itself. It appeared to be clinging to the bottom of the hull, trying to pull us under. I had heard that was how Krakens typically attacked ships.
After all, if the ship sank first, the people on board wouldn't be able to put up a proper fight. Despite being a monster, it seemed to possess a fair amount of intelligence.
"Fire!"
The sailors launched harpoons toward where the Kraken was likely clinging. While I held the ship steady, they gauged the monster's position based on the direction of the tilt and fired.
Rumble!
"Ugh!"
The ship jolted even more violently, perhaps because the Kraken had been hit. My Hold magic was becoming increasingly ineffective.
"Dia, don't use magic if it's too much!"
"I can still hold on—ugh!"
"Dia!"
I tried to hold out until the very end. If the ship sank before we could kill the Kraken, everything would be for naught.
Suddenly, the force pulling the ship vanished. The sudden recoil sent me stumbling, but Nathaniel, who was standing beside me, caught me in his arms.
Gurgle, screech.
"…!"
"It's the Kraken!"
It seemed the Kraken had given up on dragging the ship down due to my desperate resistance.
Long tentacles suddenly erupted over the deck. Massive suckers writhed ominously. The Kraken's limbs lashed out across the ship, swinging wildly at the people on the deck.
"Block them!"
If anything, this simple physical attack seemed like a golden opportunity for the knights. Drawing their swords, they began to skillfully engage the tentacles.
"Binding!"
I cast spells on every tentacle I saw. I could still only maintain two simultaneous castings—so-called 'Double Casting.'
Melissa had told me that being able to double cast with my current circle was impressive, but I was growing anxious.
An octopus has eight legs, but there was no telling if a Kraken was the same. Being a monster, it might have even more.
On the deck, there were two tentacles I was holding down with magic and five that the knights were dealing with. Two knights were assigned to each limb.
'One is missing.'
Furthermore, there was the main body to consider. Since a Kraken was far larger than any octopus, the body alone would be a significant threat.
'If I could just knock it off the ship, I could finish it with magic.'
However, dragging a massive Kraken off the vessel was a feat bordering on the impossible.
That was when a certain magical tool caught my eye. Because the Kraken had been clinging to the ship, we hadn't been able to use the explosive magical tools.
'If I cast a barrier on the ship and then use the tools to strike the Kraken…'
A plan instantly formed in my mind. If I used Double Casting to maintain a barrier, I wouldn't be able to keep one of the tentacles pinned. I turned to Nathaniel.
"Niel!"
"Yes?"
"I'm going to release the magic on one of the tentacles, so please block it."
"But…"
"You'll do that for me, right?"
"Okay."
Nathaniel had been staying out of the fight to protect me. Moreover, he had come as a representative for the priests.
However, Nathaniel was also an exceptionally skilled swordsman. He would be more than capable of handling a single tentacle once the magic was released.
"Barrier!"
Whoosh!
As soon as I cast the protection magic on the ship, the released tentacle began to thrash. Nathaniel immediately struck it down with his sword.
Now, it was time for the magical tools. I gave the command to the demons.
'Fire the magical tools now!'
[Understood!]
[On it!]
Perhaps because of the chaos, no one noticed the demons using the tools. The magical tools, engraved with explosion magic, were launched at the Kraken.
Boom!
"Kiraaaaah!"
For the first time, the Kraken let out a long roar of agony as it took a massive hit. Its seven tentacles writhed before quickly retreating from the deck.
The limbs were already tattered from the attacks by Nathaniel and the knights. The creature seemed intent on retreating to fight another day.
"Not a chance!"
I had been waiting for this moment. I quickly chanted the offensive spell I had been memorizing.
"Cyclone!"
I conjured a whirlwind, aiming for the Kraken's position. A vast amount of mana drained from my body.
I felt the Kraken resisting as it was caught in the vortex. But that wasn't the only spell I could cast.
"Tempest!"
A fierce storm broke out. As the whirlwind dissipated, I blanketed the area where the Kraken had fallen with the most powerful magic at my disposal.
Fortunately, the ship remained safe thanks to the protection magic I had cast. I rained down magic until I was drenched in sweat, not stopping until the Kraken stopped breathing.
"Huff, huff…"
I ceased my magic only after confirming the Kraken was no longer moving. Perhaps because it was my first time using such powerful spells in rapid succession, I felt overwhelmed despite my large mana pool.
"Dia, are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine…"
I managed a smile as I answered Nathaniel. But in that instant, I saw something lunging toward his head.
"Niel!"
"Urgh!"
It happened in the blink of an eye. Nathaniel pulled me into his arms. I heard voices shouting from all around us.
"Your Highness!"
"Lord Nathaniel!"
It was the Kraken's final remaining tentacle. The beast had managed to deliver one last spiteful blow. I clung tightly to Nathaniel's collapsing body.
"Ni-Niel."
"It's okay, Dia. I'm…"
"Niel!"
Nathaniel was bleeding profusely. My mind went completely blank, and I was paralyzed. I couldn't even see the knights finishing off the Kraken's last tentacle.
[Master, get a grip!]
[Ilnes, do something!]
I could faintly hear the demons shouting, but it was as if I couldn't hear anything at all.
All I could see was Nathaniel's pale face.
This couldn't be happening. What if something happened to him?
I trembled with a terrifying fear. Then, a warm arm wrapped around me, and a large hand patted my back.
"It's okay, Dia. I'm perfectly fine."
"R-Really?"
"Yes. Look, the wound has already healed."
"…"
I looked down, unable to believe him. I had clearly seen Nathaniel bleeding after being struck by the tentacle.
The red bloodstains were still visible, but I reached out with a trembling hand. Unlike before, my fingers met smooth, uninjured skin.
"I'm a priest, remember? A wound like that heals in an instant."
"Ah… I-I see. Thank goodness."
Having been in a state of panic, I nodded weakly at Nathaniel's calm explanation.
Even so, I couldn't quite put my mind at ease, so I spent a while stroking Nathaniel's unblemished stomach. I was afraid this might all be a dream.
"Ahem! Your Imperial Highness."
"Ah!"
When I finally snapped out of it, I realized everyone was standing in a circle, looking down at Nathaniel and me.
It was only natural, as there was nothing left to do now that the Kraken was defeated. I felt like an animal in a zoo.
"Is… is anyone hurt?"
"No, everyone is fine thanks to you, Your Highness."
Daniel answered in a soft voice, nodding his head. However, his gaze remained fixed on Nathaniel and me. I hurriedly pulled away from Nathaniel.
'I'm doomed. Everyone saw.'
Hamilton was tight-lipped, but would the others be?
I was certain they wouldn't. The knights might be one thing, but the sailors were another. I could see them glancing our way with flushed faces, whispering among themselves.
"Hmm. Let's head back once we've secured the Kraken's carcass."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Since I had knocked it off the ship and blasted it with magic, even hauling it in with nets was a chore.
The sailors spent a good while struggling to secure the Kraken's remains, and fortunately, we were able to return to land before the sun set.
Seeing us return in a grand manner—rather than on a half-destroyed wreck—the people gathered at the docks seemed to be filled with anticipation.
When we arrived and announced that we had displayed and defeated the Kraken, cheers pierced the sky.
"Whoooo! Long live the Princess!"
"Long live the Imperial Knights!"
"Long live House Siren!"
"Lord Nathaniel!"
Whether he had personal fans or not, I found myself turning my head at the sound of people shouting Nathaniel's name.
But unlike when we had departed, I was able to wave at the people with a smile.
Today was the first day I was truly recognized as a Princess.