Tyler went to his warship as soon as he left the conference room.
âWhy did they call you?â
Vice-Captain Haeckel walked up to him with a smile on his face.
âWe are in trouble.â
Tyler frowned while taking a glance to the back.
âRaon Zieghart discovered where we hid the Blue Lughs.â
âH-How did thatâŠ?â
Haeckelâs eyes widened.
âBut thatâs impossible.â
The Blue Lughs were hidden in a corner where no one would visit, and they were even ordered to never come out. He couldnât understand how the location could have been discovered.
âAre you sure?â
âIâm sure, since he mentioned that they were between Rable River and Gazel River.â
Tyler firmly shook his head.
âThereâs no way someone like him would make a mistake.â
There was no way someone of Raonâs caliber wouldnât have confirmed the most important information. It wouldâve been foolish to hope that he was mistaken.
âWhat on earth even happened there?â
âWhat happened there wasâŠâ
A quick look at bit.ly/3iBfjkV will leave you more fulfilled.
Tyler told Haeckel about the conversation in the conference room.
âHow could heâŠ?â
Haeckel frowned, since he couldnât understand why heâd done that.
âThe reason doesnât matter anymore.â
Tyler briefly clicked his tongue.
âHe got me good.â
A war of words was decided by how much knowledge and preparation they had. Since heâd gone there while being unaware of the situation, he had no choice but to be devoured by that young bastard.
âTh-Then, what are you going to do now?â
âWe have that thing that they are still unaware of.â
âAh! The Water God Stone!â
âSince that Raon bastard must be cautious of me, you should give them orders through the Water God Stone. Tell the Blue Lughs to hide and never come out, no matter what happens. And then⊠nevermind!â
Tyler shook his head and shoved his face at Haeckel.
âFive. Send around five of them to me.â
âFive?â
âWeâve bet on who will kill more Blue Lughs. If I kill five of the Blue Lughs, and let the rest of them escape, Doran Village is going to be ours for free.â
No matter how thoroughly Raon prepared, there was no way he couldâve known about the Water God Stone. He figured that he could easily win the bet by controlling the Blue Lughs through the Water God Stone.
âItâs actually better this way.â
If everything went well, they could take over Doran Village without any casualties and could even obtain Yuin Village after that.
âYou dug your own grave, Raon Zieghart.â
Tyler smiled while looking down on Raon and the Light Wind squad, who were approaching the ship.
âThank you for handing over Gazel River.â
* * *
Raon looked at the front part of the ship, which was submerged underwater, before boarding the ship. No one shouldâve been aware of the fact that Rimmer and Flumen were hiding under that part.
[Did you just smile?]
Rimmerâs aura message came from underwater.
[You just shoved your squad leaderâwho also happens to be your teacherâunderwater, just to enjoy the warm sunlight for yourself. Are you actually smiling in this situation?]
Judging from the direction the aura message was coming from, Rimmer mustâve been sticking his back towards the ship like a remora.
[Iâm smiling because the squad leader is so reliable.]
[Stop kidding me! Itâs all because of you that IâŠ]
[Gold.]
[Ugh!]
Rimmer shut his mouth as soon as Raon mentioned the gold.
[Flumen! The scariest thing in the human realm isn't a sword, but gold. Gold! Money is what you should be wary of the most!]
Rimmer sent an aura message to Raon and Flumen at the same time with his supreme technique.
It seemed like Flumen simply nodded instead of responding to him.
[A human being becomes shabby if they donât have any money, regardless of their age! Look at me. Despite my age, I⊠Kuh!]
[You will be able to earn a lot once everythingâs over.]
[Oh? Really?]
[Iâm counting on you.]
Raon bowed very slightly, which looked like he was simply warming up his neck.
[Sure!]
Despite Rimmerâs carefree appearance, he was the type of person who would make sure to complete any request. That was why he was more trustworthy than anyone else.
Raon imagined how Flumen would try to comfort Rimmer, then boarded the White SpearâTylerâs warshipâwith the Light Wind squad.
âItâs bigger than I thought.â
The deck was bigger and more splendid than what he had expected when he saw it from below. It looked like a military warship rather than a pirate ship.
âWow!â
âItâs huge.â
âThis is what a South-North Unionâs warship looks likeâŠâ The Light Wind swordsmen exclaimed and looked around the ship.
However, they werenât actually admiring it. They were observing the ship in preparation for when they would have to fight there.
âHow do you like my ship?
As Raon was probing the White Spearâs deck along with the others, Tyler walked up to him with a smile.
âIâm worried that it might not look good enough for the Frostfire Sword of Valor.â
âItâs a splendid and stylish warship. However, itâs a lot smaller than the Graceful Knight of the Tideâs reputation.â
âIt canât be helped, since my position inside the Union isnât that high.â
Raon provoked him by calling the ship small, but Tyler brushed it off with a smile. He even mentioned that his standing was low in the Union.
Raon smiled faintly while observing Tylerâs reaction.
âHe regained his composure.â
The reason Tylerâs face looked so comfortable was because he believed that he could win the bet by controlling the Blue Lughs through the Water God Stone.
âI guess he is going to lure a few Blue Lughs out with the Water God Stone.â
Raon was sure that his plan was to draw three to six Blue Lughs with the Water God Stone, then order the rest to hide so that he would be the only one to kill the Blue Lughs and end the bet in his victory.
âHeâs too obvious.â
Since Raon had expected Tylerâs move the moment he had devised the plan, he could clearly read his thoughts.
âBecause he canât even begin to guess that Iâm aware of the Water God Stoneâs existence.â
Thanks to Flumenâs information, the betâor, rather, the warâs outcomeâwas already decided.
âHow come your position isnât high? You are the Graceful Knight of the Tide, a Master level warrior. You are being too humble.â
Raon opened his ocean of perception with Glacier while praising Tyler.
âSo, whoâs going to make their move?â
Since Tyler was the commander, he could be expected to stay on the deck. Since it was necessary to be close enough to see the Blue Lughs in order to send orders through the Water God Stone, it must have been hidden somewhere inside the ship, and someone other than Tyler had to move there in order to use it.
âThat man.â
A middle-aged man with a sturdy body looked like he was inspecting the ship as he checked different parts of the ship. Considering the huge amount of solid energy in his energy center, he mustâve been the vice-captain of the ship, Haeckel.
âHis appearance is also exactly like I heard.â
Heâd heard that he had a sturdy body with snake-like eyes, which matched his appearance. He was most likely going to operate the Water God Stone instead of Tyler.
âIt feels nice to think that we arenât going to need to see the annoying Blue Lughs ever again.â
Tyler smiled while murmuring that a weight was going to be lifted.
âYes. The monsters are soon going to disappear.â
Raon nodded while making sure to remember Haeckelâs presence.
âWeigh anchor!â
âWeigh anchor!â
âSet sail!â
Every pirate repeated Tylerâs shout, setting the ship afloat.
Rumble!
Even though a huge ship was moving, it wasnât trembling that much. Considering that mana could be felt throughout the ship, magic mustâve been cast to resist the waves.
âBy the way, do we really need that ship to follow us?â
Tyler pointed at the commercial ship from Doran Village that was following the warship. The village chief and the villagers were filling that ship, which was as large as the warship.
âI donât believe any of us is going to be narrow-minded enough to refuse to admit their defeat.â
âItâs not because of the bet. Itâs because I wanted to show them how we eliminate the âmonstersâ since they have suffered a lot.â
âWow, you are crueler than I thought.â
âThat might be true.â
Raon smiled faintly. However, that was obviously not the real reason. It was in order to show the villagers what kind of people Tyler and the South-North Union were.
âMoreover, this ship has to disappear.â
Since he was planning to destroy the warship, the commercial ship had to follow.
* * *
The Blue Lughâs dwelling that Flumen had told about him wasnât too far away. They were already at the destination before he knew it while he was double checking the plan.
âAre they around here?â
âYes.â
Raon pointed at the estuary full of sharp rocks, making it difficult for a large ship to enter.
âI canât see any Blue Lugh for now. Are you sure they are in there?â Tyler asked.
At the same time, Haeckel started moving towards the captainâs cabin. Raon immediately noticed his movements, since heâd been keeping track of him.
He was moving according to his prediction, but that wasnât enough. He needed something to alarm all the pirates, including Tyler and Haeckel.
âOf course. Dorian.â
Raon called Dorian to come up next to him before that man could make his move.
âTake out that thing.â
âYes!â
Dorian came up next to him and put his hand in his belly pocket. A white sphere the size of a humanâs head came out from the pocket, settled on his slightly round hand.
âHuh?â
âHuff!â
Tyler and Haeckel, who was about to open the room to the captainâs cabin, groaned at the same time.
âWh-Where did you get that?â
Tylerâs chin was trembling, unable to hide his emotions.
âI received it from the person who told me about this location.â
Raon smiled while accepting the fake Water God Stone that heâd made in advance from Dorian.
âThey said I can bring the Blue Lughs out with this sphere.â
âWh-Who saidâŠ?â
âIâm not sure either. He was a small person wearing a black robe, but his speech was really awkward. However, I had to believe him because he showed me his ability to control the Blue Lughs first-hand. Judging from the strong energy of water he had, he might not have been humanâŠâ
âKuhâŠâ
Tylerâs face crumpled like paper being crushed by hand.
âHe mustâve remembered.â
The questions about Flumenâs survival and whether that sphere was the real Water God Stone or not mustâve been deeply engraved in Tylerâs brain. Since he had to think about that, it was obvious how he was going to act afterwards.
âIn⊠In that case, can you try controlling them?â
âSure.â
Raon used Glacier while reaching out the hand holding the fake Water God Stone towards the river. The Water God Stone sparkled in white, and blue mana spread inside the sphere in streams.
Gurgle!
Bubbles appeared between the sharp rocks, and dozens of Blue Lughs appeared at the same time.
âGasp!â
âTh-They are really here!â
âIt was true!â
âWhat the hell is that sphere?â
The Doran villagers on the merchant shipâs jaws dropped upon seeing that the Blue Lughs had really appeared.
âAh!â
âGaspâŠâ
âTh-Thatâs crazyâŠâ
Tyler and the pirates looked like they had lost their souls.
âFlumen did a good job.â
It wasnât the Water God Stoneâs power, but Flumenâs ability. He was the one whoâd taken out the Blue Lughs, who were staying on the river floor.
Raon noticed a very small movement of Tylerâs aura through the Ring of Fire. He mustâve been ordering Haeckel to quickly find the Water God Stone.
âWe are getting started now.â
* * *
[Translator â Kyangi]
[Proofreader â Harley]
* * *
Tyler swallowed nervously while looking at the Water God Stone in Raonâs hand.
âItâs the Water God Stone. Itâs the real one.â
Raon didnât seem to know how to use it properly, but it was the real Water God Stone.
[Haeckel! When did you last check on the Water God Stone?]
Tyler immediately sent an aura message to Haeckel, clenching his fist.
[I-I checked two days ago.]
[Go there right now! Go and confirm whether that bastard stole the Water God Stone or itâs a second Water God Stone that he has!]
[Wh-What should I do if itâs still thereâŠ?]
[In that case, send the orders according to the plan! Send five of them to me and tell the rest to escape upstream to hide!]
[U-Understood!]
Haeckel entered the captainâs cabin as soon as he received Tylerâs order. He silently opened the hatch on the ground before climbing down the ladder to the lowest part, opening the round door.
âKieehâŠâ
âKiaaaâŠâ
Young Blue Lughs were locked in a cage there. Their scales were jagged, and their flesh was cracked like a field during a drought because theyâd been away from water.
âShut up!â
Haeckel swore at the young Blue Lughs before going to the wall. He tapped different locations of the wall with his finger, which split the wall in half. Gold and jewels could be seen inside.
He didnât pay attention to any of them, staring at the transparent sphere at the center. Blue streams were wavering inside the sphere.
âItâs here! Which means, the one he has isâŠâ
âA fake.â
âWh-WhâŠKuh!â
Haeckel tried to quickly turn around upon hearing a drowsy voice from behind him. However, his opponent was faster than him.
Pssh!
A blade shining with an icy cold light was protruding from the left side of his chest.
âKuhâŠâ
Haeckel coughed up blood, turn his head. A red-haired elf was waving his hand at him with a smile.
âWh-When did you get behind meâŠ?â
âWhen you opened the hatch.â
Rimmer twisted the sword that was stabbing Haeckelâs heart.
âKuaah!â
âRaon. Just like that damned boy thought, both you and Tyler were too agitated to notice me. I silently followed your lead.â
âD-Damn itâŠâ
Haeckel collapsed on the dry floor while grasping his chest. He couldnât put up any sort of resistance.
âTsk.â
Rimmer frowned while looking at the young Blue Lughs that were trembling in fear inside the cage. Each time their bodies shivered, a bunch of dry scales were falling down while green blood trickled from their cracked skin.
âThey are trash.â
Flumen had mentioned that the Blue Lughs valued their children. The young Blue Lughs mustâve been locked up as hostages just in case there was a problem with the Water God Stone.
âThis reminds me of bad memories.â
Watching the young Blue Lughsâ eyes, filled with fear and despair, reminded him of when he first came to the human realm.
âStep back, everyone.â
The Blue Lughs crouched upon seeing Rimmerâs hand gesture.
Claang!
A light swing of Rimmerâs sword cut through the cageâs entrance like tofu.
âKieeâŠâ
âKiâŠâ
The eyes of the terrified Blue Lughs widened upon noticing that the entrance was open.
âItâs time to go home.â
Rimmer picked up the real Water God Stone from inside the storage, then smiled at the confused young Blue Lughs.
âBut before thatâŠâ
He licked his lips while taking a glance at the shining jewels behind him.
âIt should be fine if I take just a few gold coins.â
It was really sad to be poorâŠ
* * *
Raon smiled coldly while watching Tylerâs eyes roll all around the place.
âHe must have a lot to think about.â
His head mustâve been about to explode from the questions, such as whether that was the real Water God Stone or a second one, whether Flumen was alive or not, what Flumen wouldâve told him.
âAnd the worst part must beâŠâ
The fact that Haeckel stopped contacting him. He shouldâve returned after sending the order through the Water God Stone, but he hadnât returned yet, which mustâve been driving him crazy with anxiety.
Thud.
A tremor strong enough for everyone to feel spread out from inside the ship. It was Rimmerâs signal to tell them that his job was done.
âWhat was that just nowâŠ?â
âSir Tyler, I actually heard one more thing about this sphere.â
Raon started talking to Tyler, since he realized it was time to start his part.
âWh-What did you hear?â
Tylerâs face was filled with so much anxiety that anyone could tell if they saw him.
âI heard that destroying this sphere while the Blue Lughs are watching makes all of them perish.â
âWh-What kind of nonsenseâŠâ
âSince we wonât lose anything from doing that, letâs try it.â
âWait!â
Raon threw the fake Water God Stone into the air. As he was about to draw his sword in order to slash it, Tyler hurriedly jumped to catch the Water God Stone.
âBut it might have a different use!â
He turned around in the air while hugging the Water God Stone. That movement was also according to Raonâs prediction.
Clack!
Raon snapped his finger.
Baaam!
The fake Water God Stone exploded, covering Tylerâs body with ice.
Crack!
As expected of a Master, he controlled his aura in that short instant to prevent his skin from freezing up, but his clothes and equipment ended up shattering.
âYou bastardâŠâ
Tyler ground his teeth while crumbling one of the few shards left from the fake Water God Stone.
âThe way you jumped to catch a bomb was really funny.â
Raon turned his head to the side and snorted.
âHow could you attack me? You mustâve gone insaneâŠâ
âItâs not over yet.â
As soon as Raon said that, a huge explosion happened from the center of the warship.
Baaam!
The lower part of the warship was shredded to pieces and Rimmer appeared.
âHey, village chief! Get the ship closer!â
He waved his hand at the Doran villagers and village chief, who still hadnât managed to grasp the situation.
âWhatâs going onâŠ?â
âWhatâs happening?â
âWhy is Sir Rimmer over thereâŠ?â
âThatâs obvious.â
Rimmer used the wind to send all of the young Blue Lughs to Doran Villageâs merchant ship before boarding it himself.
âThose pirate bastards have been controlling the Blue Lughs by using this sphere and the Blue Lugh children.â
âHuh?â
âWh-What did you just sayâŠ?â
âWhy would they do such a thingâŠ?â
The villagersâ teeth chattered in disbelief. Since the South-North Union and Tyler were too favorable towards them up to that point, they could hardly believe that theyâd just been acting.
âThen, how can you explain that I found the children in such a state on their ship?â
Rimmer pointed at the young Blue Lughs, whose skins were in tatters, and the cages that still remained in the destroyed center of the ship.
âMoreover, this sphereâŠâ
He gave a brief explanation to the villagers about what had happened so far.
âHuh!â
âHow could that happenâŠ?â
âH-How inhumanâŠâ
The villagers bit their lips while looking at the clear eyes of the Blue Lughs and their injured skin. When they raised their heads once again to look at Tyler and the pirates, their eyes were filled with disgust.
âTh-They are demons!â
âHow can a human being do such a thingâŠ?â
âEven a beast doesn't do something like this!â
Since the Doran villagers believed that theyâd been coexisting with the Blue Lughs ever since their childhood, they started to hurl insults at Tyler and the South-North Union from the extreme rage they felt.
âHaaâŠâ
Tyler exhaled roughly. A powerful aura burst out to shatter the frost stuck to his body.
âHow⊠How did you realize it? Who the hell are you?â
âYour friend told me about it.â
âFriend? What kind of bullshitâŠâ
âAh, I should say a former friend instead. Flumen!â
Flumen was covered in a robe as he climbed up on the deck following Raonâs call.
âAre you okay?â
âYeah.â
Flumen nodded, then threw away the robe he was wearing.
âYou⊠You!â
The moment the black robe rode the wind to float into the air, Tylerâs bloodshot eyes started to waver violently like a boat on a turbulent ocean.
âHow are you still alive?!â
âUhhâŠâ
Flumen tightly bit his lip, then looked into Tylerâs fiendish eyes.
âI-I came to save my family!â
His body was trembling, and he looked like he would start crying at any moment, but he didnât avert his eyes from Tylerâs gaze.
âHaah! I can finally understand it. It was all because of you.â
Tyler took the long spear from his back with his trembling hands. He nodded, as if he understood everything.
âYou bastard, you sold me out!â
âI-I didnât sell you out. I only did what I had toâŠâ
âShut up! You are just the son of a monster who canât join any group!â
The spear he was holding was thrust at Flumen like lightning by incorporating the principles of extreme swiftness.
âHow hasty of you.â
Raon laughed coldly, drawing Heavenly Drive. He slashed with the Fangs of Insanity, incorporating his blade with the principles of swiftness and powerâwhich didnât lose to Tylerâs.
Claang!
The deck looked like it would collapse as it trembled violently from the powerful shockwave bursting from the clash.
âYou idiot!â
Tylerâs eyes were distorted like a beastâs as he rolled them. His previous polite and respectable appearance could no longer be found.
âYou dare start a fight against me for the sake of mere beasts like them!â
âYou look more like a beast than them.â
Raon snorted, then pushed back Tylerâs spear.
Rumble!
Tyler had to step back because of Raonâs strength and aura, which had already transcended the level of a human. Each time he took a step backward, the entire deck trembled because it was unable to bear the energy coming from him.
âIâm a disciple of the South-North Unionâs leader!â Tyler screamed while raising his spear.
âAre you trying to start a war between Zieghart and South-North Union for the sake of those things that arenât even human?â
âFlumen is my friend and is working with me.â
Raon pressed on the spear shaft with a cold look in his eyes. He pushed Tyler back by creating a fearsome amount of heavy pressure.
âItâs only natural to wield my sword for the sake of my friend.â
Raon straightened his back while remembering the task he hadnât managed to accomplish in his previous life and Sylviaâs wish for him to become a true swordsman.
âAhâŠâ
Tears dripped from Flumenâs eyes as his teeth and lips trembled.
âDid you say that itâs meaningless to have a name that wonât be called? Flumen, we will call you by your name from now on.â
Light Wind squad followed behind Raon, drawing their swords. An oppressive energy wave spread out throughout the deck.
âKuh!â
âTh-Thatâs ZieghartâŠâ
âWhat is this pressure coming from such young childrenâŠ?â
The pirates swallowed nervously as their hands trembled, as did the weapons they were holding.
âYou crazy bastard! You are all crazy! Iâm Tyler Sayton, the Graceful Knight of the Tide! The South-North Union is going to start moving the moment you attack me! Iâm a disciple of the South-North Unionâs leader!â
âI donât care about your name, nor the South-North Unionâs leader.â
âWhat?â
âI can only see a lowly pirate in front of me.â
Raon raised Heavenly Drive and pointed it at Tylerâs heart. The auspicious light emerging majestically from the silver blade made everyone fall silent.