Vol 5: Chapter 50
I was completely unaware of the thing which was approaching us.
A huge shadow which not only covered me and Zerry-san but also the magic ship and the warship that were a little farther away — the magic airship lowered its altitude and gradually drew closer.
「W-W-What is that, bocchan!? Is that a new enemy!?」
「Aren’t you glad, Zerry-san?」
「What!?」
「It looks like we’re saved.」
The person who leaned out from the deck of the magic airship was a person I knew very well. It was dangerous to lean out like that, but I felt like her actions were getting bolder each time.
「—Reiji-saaaan!」
I saw a High Elf royal waving at me.
「Asha! Magic!」
Umibozu seems to have felt that the magic airship in the sky was a threat, and directed the light towards the sky.
I don’t know why Asha was here, or anything about that magic airship which flew a flag I have never seen, but we have to prioritise taking care of this situation first.
「I just have to defeat that, right?」Asha asked nonchalantly.
「Eh……」
A chill ran down my spine at that moment. Far colder than the chill I felt when the second Umibozu appeared.
「Zerry-san!! Let’s get outta here!!」
「Huf? Isn’t that airship going to defeat–」
「Just go!!」
I hurriedly used【Water Magic】to create a water current.
「We’re gonna get caught up in it!!」
I pushed our bodies forward with a magic boost that prioritised speed, not caring about balance. We barely, just barely got out of the way.
Umibozu shot a laser beam into the sky.
At the same time, Asha also cast a spell.
The flame spear created by Asha was so huge that it could penetrate any castle wall or castle gate.
The two collided in mid-air. The shock wave from the collision pushed us down from above.
「Gabubo!?」
Zerry-san and I sank into the sea. The intense light resulting from the collision illuminated even the depths of the seabed.
The dead Umibozu’s carcass swaying in the curtain of light underwater, seemed almost magical.
「Gaho— Uwaaha!?」
Reality awaited us when we returned to the surface of the sea.
The sea bellowed, pushing our bodies in one direction without our control, and the tremendous amount of heat from Asha’s magic evaporated the surrounding water, resulting in a sudden deterioration in visibility.
The laser light and the spear of flame seemed to have disappeared after colliding, but the flames scattered to the surroundings and burst on the surface of the sea.
「Zerry-san!」
「Bo-bocchan… you’re safe…」
「Pull yourself together. We need to get out of here as soon as possible.」
「………Is something else going to happen?」
「The next time Asha shoots her magic, the surrounding area will turn into boiling water.」
「Shit! Let’s ruuuuuun!」
Zerry-san quickly started swimming away with overarm strokes—this woman is eager to leave me behind, isn’t she!?
I had recovered to the point where I could swim as well, so I hurried up and chased after her.
「I can’t see anything at all, but flames are effective against sea enemies… Isn’t that right, Reiji-san!」
A terrifying voice echoed down from above.
However, if I stop Asha, Umibozu’s tentacles will attack us. So I can’t stop her.
The only thing I can tell her is–
「Asha! Please narrow the range as much as possible!!」
「—I understand!」
A flame spear of the exact same size appeared on the other side of the fog.
No, no, t-that’s not it!
The image of Asha wearing black sunglasses came to mind.
「—Reiji-san, I’ll save you!」
The flame spear, which was the biggest threat to my life today, pierced the surface of the sea.
**
「I’m sorry…」
Asha seemed to be seriously remorseful.
We were at the mayor’s mansion. Asha, a High Elf royal, was welcomed here.
Since the battle with Umibozus, a whole day has passed. Lark had spent all her energy and had been asleep.
「It is wonderful news that we were able to defeat Umibozu. And the only harm was to Reiji-dono and Zerry-dono. So, we can call it a success, right?」the mayor said, trying to excuse Asha.
Asha’s【Fire Magic】killed the second Umibozu, or rather, it obliterated the jellyfish leaving nothing behind, and the seawater temperature in the surrounding area rose abnormally.
Thanks to Zerry-san screaming “Dive!”, I wasn’t caught in the explosion or the boiling water, but I was caught in a turbulent stream of water and sank to the depths of the sea. I started seeing the Grim Reaper’s face at that moment. But I managed to regain my composure, and returned back to the surface of the sea.
Steam was rising and the fish caught in the explosion were floating on the surface, which was quite a hellish scene. The magic ship and warship were swept far away, so instead of swimming there, I flickered a faint【Light Magic】and waited for the rescue party.
「No, it is not okay! We almost died! Isn’t that right, bocchan!? And I can’t work for a while because of that, so I have to receive due compensation— Ouch!」
I landed a chop on the back of Zerry-san’s head as she acted like an accident faker trying to extort money.
「If Asha didn’t come, we would have been killed by Umibozu. So considering that, I don’t think she was mistaken.」I said
「Reiji-san!」
Asha looked at me like a scolded child who was suddenly praised.
「…But you need to learn to control your magic, alright?」
「Y-Yes…」
She nodded dejectedly, like a puppy who was scolded.
Though, I am glad that she has become able to express her emotions as such.
「So, why are you here, Asha? And who does that magic airship belong to? More importantly, though, who are these people?」
Three elves stood behind Asha, who was sitting. All three wore a green-based combat uniform. Their high laced leather boots were also matching.
One of them was familiar to me too.
「One of them is Polina-san, right?」
The first time I met her was when she was a member of the Golden Brigade party.
An elf who was a part of Leon’s party.
But she seems to have joined the Golden Brigade just to enter the Lev Magic Empire. And the last time I saw her was when I sneaked into Asha’s room to remove her skill orbs.
She mistook me for a thief and poisoned me with paralysis poison.
I clearly remember that time with【World Ruler】.
——What is your reason for attacking Her Highness Anastasia?
She questioned me, aiming with a bow.
——Reiji-san, I’ll let you go if you didn’t hurt Her Highness. But I won’t go easy on you if you approach her again.
She said before leaving.
She seemed to be on a “secret business” or something, and since the appearance of the Red Gate, I hadn’t seen her at all. It was quite a surprise to encounter her here.
