◈Episode 48 Pray and Pray (6)
“17 ships were flooded overnight! 17 ships!”
“There’s a hole in the bottom of the boat, but there’s nothing we can do.”
“That’s what you call words!”
“Didn’t I tell you, Seongju? If things continue like this, something bad will happen. “It is the Lord of the castle himself who did not listen to it.”
Wind Hand chuckled and admired the Archmage pushing the castle lord. Seongju glared at him, but it was none of his business.
He had been granted temporary immunity and also had a message from Lord Zakrati.
As long as he had them, the lord of Gruteltz could not treat him carelessly. It wouldn’t be possible if he didn’t have eyes to see, but it would be even more so if the sage of the Magic Tower was protecting him.
“Please give us your troops now.”
“Paddy troops?”
“The troops that will be used to hunt sea dragons. Oh, other than that, I need you to support me…”
Yesterday’s Archmage is someone I really want to kill, but I still feel bad about it.
At least if you are on the same side, there is no other negotiator as good as this one. Thanks to this, Baramson was able to watch the situation comfortably. The Archmage easily gave him everything he had requested.
“I heard there is a place to get out of the way even if everything goes wrong, so it will go easier than I thought. Honestly, I thought it would end like this.”
The vice captain standing next to me quietly whispered. I agreed. When he heard the detailed story yesterday, he too thought that Zakrati was over.
I even thought about pretending to cooperate and then running away at night. Wouldn’t it be better to steal a ship in the harbor than to be mobilized to slay a dragon?
Of course, if I did that, I would be in trouble with the Adventurer’s Guild, but maybe that would be better. If the Adventurer’s Guild sends people to chase him, you might be able to lure them into a fight with Vipurit.
Of course, there is a possibility that the adventurers will be captured by Vipurit.
“That’s right. “It would be nice if we could settle the matter within three days.”
The reason I gave up that idea was because of Yong Ah-byeong who appeared yesterday. Anyway, if he runs into the guy who stole the boat and runs away, he will just be buried. Dying without accomplishing anything is absolutely unacceptable.
Additionally, there was a somewhat calculated reason.
Now that they have appeared in the city and sunk the ship, Seongju will never stay still.
In this case, even if the dragon could not be slain within half a day, it was clear that the work would proceed within at least three days. As time passes, more ships will sink, and Seongju’s losses will increase.
“3 days? Is that possible? Two days will be enough. Maybe we will finish the job before the troops promised to be dispatched to Zakrati in advance.”
So when the Archmage who sneaked in assured him of that, he smiled, momentarily forgetting the unpleasantness of the situation.
“It’s not bad if it’s that kind of contract violation.”
It may only be if you buy it, but anyway.
And if, by any chance, this succeeds… he will be able to return to Jakrati with more help than he had hoped for.
It was literally a gamble.
A gamble that puts his life and the lives of his family at stake waiting in the city with his colleagues who have been with him for half his life. In return, he offered the salvation of the city.
At that moment, Windson rubbed his face with his hand at the weight of the burden he felt on his shoulders.
Is this really the best? A question that he could not bear to say out loud tormented him. I almost missed the times when we had to weather the storm with just one boat. At that time, all I had to do was save his life.
“More than that, I don’t know where the demon knight went.”
“Demon knight?”
“Now that I think about it, I guess I didn’t hear your proper introduction. “It’s the nickname of the man you were trying to get in the first place.”
“aha. I see. “He was acting expensive and now I’m hearing who he is.”
Demon knight. As a person from Yabad, who would tremble at the devil, it was not a very flattering nickname. It would be better if you caught and killed enough demons to stick to you.
“…I admit that he is a bit difficult to get close to, but don’t take him too seriously. “I just have my own circumstances.”
“huh? Fuha. Did you care about that? If that’s the case, don’t worry too much. “To a sea person, being angular like that is not a flaw.”
“Then that’s a good thing.”
“Of course, if you don’t have the skills to back it up, you’ll have regrets.”
“Don’t worry. “As far as his skills are concerned, he is not a man who will make you regret.”
How strong is it that even the sage of the Magic Tower can swear about?
Windson left the castle and looked around. And quite by chance, I witnessed a part of the sea in the port split.
It was something that was done by horrifyingly pitch-black magical power.
“The devil knight is over there.”
“…Is that the work of a demon knight?”
“You mean this?”
Oh my. I thought that if that was really what that man did, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to be so arrogant.
No one he had ever witnessed, not even a knight, could have done that.
* * *
Although it was a day later than promised to Baramson, at least the sluggish development progressed smoothly.
I didn’t know it was possible to build a military camp in one day. I followed him to Gamakman to fight off Yongahyeong and was surprised to see the barracks steadily rising.
Since I didn’t have any part to participate in creating the camp, I rested well after dealing with the dragon soldiers. There was so much time left that people on the boat gathered together and introduced themselves.
Of course, since they have to cooperate to lure the dragon, it may be natural for them to meet each other and learn about each other’s strengths. It’s just that I haven’t been able to do it until now.
“There is a large proportion of wizards.”
“What should we do when there are only a few warriors capable of delivering a slash?”
The wizard who had been dispatched from the Magic Tower said that and looked at me with passionate eyes. The look in his eyes was even more annoying because the Archmage had given him advice about the Magic Tower. I don’t know why my eyes are like that.
Or did you feel bad about firing a slash at the port the day before yesterday? Since I can’t sit still just because I have close range skills, I just figured out the maximum range of my ranged skills. There was no damage to the port either.
“Hmm.”
However, the Archmage who had just approached cleared his throat loudly, and the gaze disappeared quite a bit. I felt much better.
“Didn’t the wizards tell you to wait inside?”
“But Archmage.”
“Your department…”
“I’ll go in.”
I felt more comfortable after the Archmage kicked me out to the lower level of the ship. My cheeks were so sore that I wondered if I should lose my temper.
“But it’s not like it’s not there. “Because we can cooperate by throwing harpoons.”
“What is it? “I don’t know if a harpoon will work on a dragon.”
“Each of them has been strengthened with magic, so I guess it will be effective.”
“Maybe so.”
…Wait a second longer. Wasn’t it a regular harpoon? I threw for practice earlier and hit about 3 balls.
Is that why the wizards looked at me so passionately??
“Everyone who got on board got on, right? Then let’s go.”
Anyway, the time has come.
A wizard from the Magic Tower, twenty, five adventurers, sixteen sailors from the temple, and thirty-three. And the four of us.
Personnel who had strictly considered manning began to leave for the sea.
“Wook.”
Of course, within a few tens of minutes, I started to feel motion sickness. It was the biggest ship I’ve ever been on, but it didn’t seem to have any size.
“Wait a minute, what’s wrong with your complexion?”
Still, there were a lot of people, so I did my best to hide it… but only the wind hand was quick to notice. The others didn’t seem to notice, so I don’t know why I was the only one who noticed.
“you you?”
Thanks to this, Baramson looked betrayed in his eyes. I understand that feeling, but it was a bit unfair.
Is it because I want to get seasick? What should I do when my character’s body becomes like this?
“Don’t worry, he fights just fine.”
After much deliberation on whether to stay on the ground or not, Dev came along and answered on my behalf. I don’t know why I followed you, but thank you for talking to me.
“Are you okay like this?”
Actually no. As long as you’re on a ship, you’ll never get better from seasickness. But the ship has already sailed. It is out of the question to turn back now.
“I brought the car.”
Suddenly, the Inquisitor suddenly intervened. After hearing the identity of the Inquisitor from yesterday, Baramson instantly hardened her face and took a step back, but she paid me no mind and offered the tea to me.
The unique smell of oriental medicine wafted up. In a form that is more fragrant than bitter.
“If you eat it, you will feel better.”
Will it really work?
I accepted it with some hesitation. As I drank it down with my eyes closed, I felt sicker and felt better.
“The direction of the main sail is changing!”
At that time, the sailor shouted loudly. Windson’s head turned towards that direction and took a deep breath.
“What are you doing, lower the center sail!”
“It’s a storm!”
However, in that brief gap, reports poured out in droves. The unusual sound of the wind filled the ears of even ordinary people who did not know much about the sea, and the sailors began to become busier.
“Don’t panic, prepare as usual! “Because we haven’t even reached Yongulmun Gate yet!”
The wind hand shouted and glanced at me.
“Hey, if you can’t kill the dragon, I’ll kill you, so just know that.”
If I fail to kill the dragon, I think we’ll all be buried before it kills me… But what can I do?
“If I fail, it will only be if the ship cannot withstand the storm.”
In that sense, I also said anything. Baramson scoffed and left to do his own thing.
“….”
The Inquisitor, who would normally have been upset by what he was talking about on the topic of criminals, is now quiet. Her gauntlets made a squeak sound as they rubbed together.
“greatness.”
At that point, Dev cleared his throat. The eyes are rolling here and there, watching.
Since last night, the fighting between the two has almost disappeared since Baramson joined. Well, it’s only the second day.
“Knight Sir, do you really think you can slay the dragon?”
A plan is a plan because it falls apart, and the future is the future because it cannot be predicted. That’s why I felt dizzy every time something similar to that question came up.
“If you’re going to say something weak, get out of there.”
There are few commands as vicious as ‘If you want to eat something’, there are also few words that are used as often as that. Regardless of whether it was possible or not, we had to do it.
“It’s a tsunami!”
“stupid! A ship won’t fall over in a tidal wave like that! “Don’t make a fuss, just stay still!”
“Hey, if you have any energy left, help me with this!”
Meanwhile, the storm became stronger and the clouds that had already started to form in the sky became more numerous. It was to the point where I couldn’t even see the sun anymore.
Slurp, slosh. The large ship began to roll. It was a godsend to have locked the wizards inside in advance. If those weak stick planes were up here, they would have just flown away.
“Everyone who came up, come down!”
The crew threw the people on deck—mostly adventurers—below as the rain began to fall. The reason was that it was inconvenient, and we were no exception.
“Don’t interfere with me.”
But are you going to follow that?
I felt like I would really vomit if I went inside, so I forced myself to stay. If it were anything else, the bad smell inside the ship was no joke. If I go in now, I will vomit 100% of the time.
“Even if you fall into the sea, I won’t know!”
well. Wouldn’t you, who go back and forth between the masts on a net-like rope, be more dangerous than me?
I held on tightly to the railing and braced my feet.
“Wow, the wind is no joke!”
“I’m so weak!”
“I told you I’m not a superhuman like you!”
“Then go in!”
“It seems the safest place is with you!”
Since I didn’t go in, the Inquisitor and Dev stayed behind. The Inquisitor appears to have no difficulty holding on thanks to his armor and his own weight, and Dev has his arms and legs wrapped around the rear mast.
Tuduk tuk.
To make matters worse, it started to rain. The nervous cries of the sailors and the words of the wind hand melted into the rain and mixed together.
slam!
As I held onto the railing and tried to hold on with my eyes closed, the cold struck me. The waves that hit the side of the ship spilled water over the shell plating.
Unfortunately, the railing where we were was not very high, so I was doused with sea water.
It wasn’t a big deal since I was going to get wet from the rain anyway. It’s because the friction of the cold water makes me come to my senses.
“…!”
However, considering what happens next, that may have actually been a good thing. Thanks to that, my eyes turned to the sea.
“A hostile target exists within a 30m radius.”
This damn system doesn’t seem to work until I discover it these days? It’s ridiculous.
“come.”
“yes?”
Anyway, we need to prepare. I drew my sword.
A little distance away from me, the Inquisitor, who had also been struck by water, flicked his hair and made a puzzled face. There was no need to explain.
If the slash penetrates the sea, it will figure it out on its own.
“That!”
Thanks to the slash, the Inquisitor seems to have easily found the target. She urgently raised her sacred power and formed a temporary barrier.
thud!
Dragon soldiers crashed into her curtains.
“Is it already a battle?”
“There’s something like a shark in the sea!”
“I heard it was a dragon disease, you idiot!”
“Captain! “Protect!”
The sailor urgently looked back at the wind hand.
This is because Yongahbyeong has many records of sinking ships, and the strength of this ship’s hull is no different from that of other ships until the installed protection devices are activated.
However, a minor problem is that the protection device has a time limit.
Therefore, even though he was delegated full authority, Baramson did not easily order operation. He had to consider the dragon battle that would follow. Because he’s the captain.
“…is it necessary?!”
Instead, he reaffirmed the need.
“Don’t turn it on.”
So I gave them the answer they wanted.
“No need yet.”
I targeted the guys hiding in the sea. As they were blocked by the curtain created by the Inquisitor, the location instantly became easier to target.
Quang!
The second sword strike accompanied by a clanging sound broke the membrane and cut one of the dragon soldiers into two. Another one has half of its waist cut off, spreading something black and fluffy into the sea.
“You bastard! “Bring the harpoon!”
“Don’t give orders!”
Although Dev expressed dissatisfaction with the Inquisitor’s instructions, he did not actually refuse them. The thief who landed on the center deck delivered the harpoon with precise hand movements.
“Demon knight!”
I took the harpoon handed to me by the Inquisitor and held it tightly.
Can you guess it? However, the situation was not conducive to insisting on a slashing attack.
The movements of swimming in the sea were so gruesome and distant. Because the deck became an obstacle, it was difficult to fire a slash.
So I threw it using the trick I had managed to catch while practicing earlier.
There is no need to calculate the trajectory of the parabola or the resistance due to water. When you apply magic power, it goes almost in a straight line.
“Sigh.”
I took a deep breath, suppressing the nausea. There was one guy swimming quickly this way.
Wedge!
The harpoon, engulfed in black energy, flew like a cannonball. It only took a split second for it to enter the murky water and pierce Yong Ah-byeong’s head.
with a plop!
The Inquisitor’s harpoon somehow managed to hit one as well. Although it didn’t hit the head like I did, it hit the body.
A monster with a harpoon attached to its body writhed around and spread something resembling blood into the sea.
“One is coming!”
At that time, a sailor hanging on a net-like rig pointed to one side.
“lily!”
Dev delivered the harpoon at the right time and I threw it again as soon as I caught it. Yong A-byeong’s head was pierced by a narrow margin and he died.
Suddenly!
Then, the drawn sword unleashed a barrage of slashes, tearing apart the two bastards who were barely surviving.
The heavy rain drenched my hair and ran down the bridge of my nose, cheeks, and jawline.
“It looks like everything is taken care of!”
“good!”
As soon as the battle was over, I lowered my head for a moment as I felt anxious.
I’m really dying. It’s okay when you close your eyes, but when you open your eyes to fight, it’s hell.
“Ahead! A few more dragon soldiers are coming!”
…I will correct it. Hell had just begun.
The Sea Dragon Raid has come to an end.