Chapter 170 - Postlude 1: The Tentacles Did a Splendid Job
Greetings! I am Violia Nico Fortesia!
Two months after the revolution, the internal situation is a mess, and on top of that, a food shortage has fallen upon us due to the arson of the granary district! The Kingdom of Operia is coming to raid our drug trafficking territory! And the Kingdom of Solas! They are jacking up tariffs and trying to rip us off on food supply! Furthermore, a Kraken has appeared in our port of Elsemarin!
But I shall not be discouraged! And I shall not fall for nothing!
Therefore, I have decided to sick the Kraken on the Kingdom of Operia. Ohohohoho.
"...Uh, in other words, you're going to catch the Kraken in the port of Elsemarin and release it in the waters near Operia?"
"Yes, exactly. Instead of us blocking the ships from Operia, we should just make it so they cannot even send ships out from Operia in the first place!"
Yes, that is it! There is no reason for only us to suffer disaster-like damage! It would be better if a country other than ours suffered and perished! In that regard, sicking monsters on others is like our specialty! We are used to it! Ohohohohoho!
"If we crush all the trade ships from that country, no drugs will come into ours for the time being, yes?"
"Well... if they come by land, it'll take a considerable amount of time."
"And if we can buy time, we can take countermeasures domestically, so we do not have to go all the way to Operia to raid them; we can just catch them when they come, put them to torture, and make them spit out more detailed information. Raiding Operia can wait until after that."
Ah, thinking about it has made my mood a bit brighter! Once a clue to the solution is seen, my vision opens up all at once!
"Furthermore, Solas can also be dealt with using the Kraken."
"Eh? What do you mean? Releasing the Kraken was a story about the waters near Operia..."
Lital is tilting his head, but well, things have connections.
"The Kingdom of Solas is rich in food, but it is not much otherwise. It does not have much military power either... which means, if they need weapons, they have no choice but to import them from Operia or Asumbra or somewhere like that."
I can think of several other things, like oil for daily use, well, things that would likely need to be imported.
Small countries are weak in those areas. If it is a country with a small territory and few resources, it is destined to be unable to survive unless it stands advantageously in trade. That is why they hit us with 'tariff hike, food price three times' when they thought they could overcharge us... I want to tell them, 'Do it better!'
"What do you think will happen if an armed uprising or a monster outbreak occurs in a situation where Asumbra, one of the countries Solas wants to rely on, is in a state of distress from monster attacks, and Operia cannot send out ships because of the Kraken?"
"...I see. You're thinking of something quite wicked, aren't you, Young Lady?"
Giovan started to smirk, Keeb also smirked... Lital and Doran mostly realized, and while Chesta was doing the 'the sky is blue' thing.
I broke into a full smile.
"At that time, the Kingdom of Solas will have no choice but to lower its tariffs and the position of its head like an idiot and rely on exports from our country."
Yes. I shall make the country that took a lick-spittle attitude kowtow to me.
Once the exciting goal is decided, the rest is fast! It is full speed ahead!
First, the three of us—Keeb, Lital, and I... in other words, the 'trio that is allowed to stand on the public stage'—shall head to capture the Kraken!
"I wonder if a Kraken will fit in a bag?"
"I wonder. If it's an exceptionally large Kraken, it might not fit."
"Even with a maximum-scale military bag, if it rampages inside the spatial bag, it might come out of the bag..."
Krakens are incredibly huge. They are larger than a big merchant ship. In terms of size alone, they are the best in the world, yes. That is why even with a military spatial bag, it is uncertain if it can contain the Kraken. As expected of the king of the sea.
But, being just big is not a significant problem!
Since the only spatial bag we can put it in is the largest military one, we will have to make do with that. And, 'it is fine as long as it does not rampage inside the bag.'
"In short, if we half-kill it and shove it in the bag, it will be fine, will it not?"
Yes. If it is a problem if it rampages, half-kill it beforehand. This is a rule of the back alleys, isn't it?
If we half-kill it, well, it will lose its strength and be unable to rampage, and in the first place, it will lose the will to defy an opponent who half-kills it. Even dragons were tamed. If I cannot tame a slightly oversized tentacle bastard, my name as Queen will be disgraced!
So, with the military spatial bag, we rushed to Elsemarin. Then...
"Oh my... it is rampaging."
"It's a relief it hasn't entered the port."
When we arrived at the port of Elsemarin, the figure of the Kraken was clearly visible even from land. Uu-mm, with that, ships certainly cannot be sent out... if we leave it like this, our country's economic loss will be astronomical. It is bad.
"Well, it is fine. It is a pity I cannot turn it into grilled tentacles, but it is a perfectly convenient monster for retaliation against Operia, who took a lick-spittle attitude toward us."
"Convenient, huh... well, a Kraken is 'convenient,' isn't it? For me and Violia."
"A-Also, I will do my best!"
As usual, Keeb seems to be a bit wary of Lital... you two, get along!
"So, how do we get to the Kraken?"
Keeb seems to be focusing on the Kraken immediately, ignoring Lital.
The Kraken is in a position visible from the port of Elsemarin... but of course, it is in the sea. Then naturally, we must devise a means to approach it.
"That is true, we could use a ship... or perhaps a dragon? Hmm, but Krakens sometimes catch and eat dragons..."
If we think of an easy way, it is a dragon. We came here on dragons too, but being able to fly in the sky is a great advantage.
However, Krakens sometimes catch and eat small dragons. If we get close to the sea surface, there is a possibility we will be caught along with the dragon and slammed into the sea. And unfortunately, we are not creatures that can maintain mobility even underwater. If we fall into the sea, it is mostly over.
...And so.
"Lital. Can you run a water boat with three people on it?"
I asked the best water magician in this country.
...Then, Keeb immediately made a displeased face, and Lital nodded with a bright expression.
"Yes! I will show you I can do it!"
With Lital's water magic, we can approach the Kraken nimbly. And, if we fight on the sea from the start, it is easy to dive into the Kraken's bosom. If he suppresses the waves with water magic or controls the water boat well, it is much more suitable for naval battle than a mediocre dragon.
"And, Keeb. Please prepare your lightning magic. Please strike that tentacle bastard's head with lightning."
"Fine, but won't the Kraken die from that? Aren't we going to leave it free?"
"Probably, a Kraken of that size will not die even from one lightning strike."
After all, the opponent is the king of the sea. And since we are forced to fight in a disadvantageous battlefield, we will not hold back.
"And I shall perform the final adjustment and the collection into the bag. You two, please collect me after I have collected the tentacle bastard."
"Understood!"
"Got it. Violia, you be careful too."
Now, the strategy meeting is over. Finally, we shall go and beat up that tentacle bastard!
Immediately, we approach the Kraken. We go to the Kraken on the water boat Lital controls. This is a product of high-level water magic, but he is operating it stably. I am glad to see he has improved his skills again!
...By the way, upon our departure, we received voices from the people at the port of Elsemarin like 'The Queen herself!? That's reckless!' and 'The Queen herself!? Then it's fine now! I'll tell everyone we can set sail soon!' The former must be new to Elsemarin. You should study more about me!
"Should I get a little closer?"
"No, this is enough."
Now then. Once we have approached to a certain extent by boat, we immediately rely on Keeb. I am counting on you.
Keeb immediately readied his staff, stared intently at the Kraken... and then, he dropped lightning!
"Oh, that is good precision."
"I've been training."
The lightning hit the Kraken perfectly. It is a wonderful precision. To hit the lightning magic, which is difficult to control, so firmly at this long distance. Keeb's growth makes me happy!
"Ah, but it won't even faint..."
"It's just like Doran-san..."
But the Kraken still moves. Normally, if lightning is dropped on the brain, most creatures die. ...That, Doran would probably die if lightning hit him directly, you know? Probably. ...He would die, right? Ah, I feel like he might not die...
"It probably escaped the lightning with water magic at the last moment. ...Well, if it were a tentacle bastard that died without being able to do even that much, it would not be called the 'king of the sea.'"
"Ah, right. Then should I go for another one?"
"No. Even for the 'king of the sea,' it would die if it took two of your spells. You are the 'Prince of Lightning,' after all."
Keeb seemed to regret not being able to make the Kraken faint, but it does not change the fact that he is excellent. In the country, voices calling Keeb the 'Prince of Lightning,' the 'Young Sorcerer Opening a New Era,' and 'Cute Boy!' are already being heard. Ohohohoho.
"So, you two stay here."
Well, the Kraken is alive, but it is certain that it has suffered considerable damage. Lightning magic is, in essence, a magic that creates burns inside the body. Even if it could be slightly diverted, it is very effective against a monster that is always in cool water!
"I shall go now."
...So, in order to weaken the Kraken enough to put it in the bag, I shall go now! I can go on a rampage for the first time in a while—!
"Tentacle bastard! Over here!"
So I immediately provoke the Kraken. Then, the Kraken swings its tentacles down at me... so I jump onto them.
And before the tentacle hits the water, I kick the tentacle and fly, moving forward.
The Kraken's tentacles are long and squirmy and troublesome, but if used well, they can be used as a foothold on the sea. It is a technique Onii-sama taught me. Ohohohoho.
The Kraken's legs undulating on the sea are like repeating waves. I run and run on top of them... and rush toward the Kraken's body all at once.
"I shall take the crown of the king of the sea as well—!"
Not just on land, but I am the strongest even at sea—! The distinction of male, female, and Fortesia is not just for show!
"Yes. Be quiet now."
And so I put the Kraken in the bag. It is a bit difficult to put a huge creature into a spatial bag, but once it becomes quiet enough that it cannot rampage, it is my win!
"Violia-sama, are you safe!?"
"Thank you! Good job picking me up!"
So, having put the Kraken in the bag, I lost my foothold and fell into the sea, but Lital immediately turned the water boat toward me.
But when I tried to get onto the boat, the wet dress was so heavy it was hard to move. ...I should not have come in a dress, really.
"Violia-sama, your hand."
"Oh, thank you."
Just as I was about to use body reinforcement magic, Lital reached out his hand while fixing the boat with water magic. I gratefully grabbed it and was pulled up just like that.
...I realized after being pulled up, but Lital has grown big enough to be able to do this kind of thing. Somehow, somehow... it is a feeling mixed with a bit of sentimentality and sadness...
Then, Lital cleared away my moisture with his water magic. It is comfortable when this kind of application can be done. As expected of someone who went on a training journey in Elisabatri, Lital has become good at this kind of thing too...
"Now, here is a freshly caught squid—"
Now then, once I am comfortable, I immediately dote on the squid-chan inside the spatial bag.
"I shall put in some wound medicine for now."
"Let's also put in some seawater."
Inside the bag with the Kraken, I also put in wound medicine and seawater. By doing this, the squid should be nicely marinated with medicine and seawater inside the spatial bag!
It would be a problem if it did not stay quiet in the bag for now, but it would also be a problem if it did not rampage energetically once we arrived near Operia. It is fine if I heal its wounds now!
"...Hmm?"
Now, just as I was thinking of going to release the Kraken near Operia immediately, Keeb tilted his head while staring at a point in the sea.
"...Is there something? Around where the Kraken was."
"Eh? ...Oh, you are right. I feel a hint of magic."
"M-Magic? Where is it? Uh..."
I feel a slightly mysterious presence from under the waves, from the bottom of the sea. It is a hint of magic, but... it does not seem to be something born naturally.
Well, for Keeb and me, who spent time in the back alleys, it is something we can feel with our skin. In other words, it is the 'scent of a conspiracy.' Well, I can vaguely guess it is something that is not straightforward.
"I'll dive and take a look."
"Eh? Are you okay?"
"Ah, u-um, Keeb-san!? My water magic is..."
"Not needed."
While I was thinking about what to do, Keeb quickly took off his shirt and jumped into the sea. A small splash rose, and that was it.
Keeb is good at swimming, isn't he? I am a bit surprised.
After waiting for Keeb for a bit, Keeb popped his face out of the sea. That was fast.
"Violia! This!"
"Oh my... is it a magic stone?"
When I reached out to Keeb on the sea, Keeb grabbed my hand and returned to the boat. During that time, Lital was reaching out to Keeb while keeping the boat from flipping, but well, I think Keeb probably does not want to borrow Lital's hand...
After Keeb washed away the seawater from his body with his own magic, he handed me the large crystal he was holding in his hand... this is a magic stone, isn't it?
"This is the same kind used in casino arenas, right? They probably used this to bind the Kraken, didn't they?"
"Eh...!? Binding the Kraken...!?"
Lital is probably not familiar with it, but it is somewhat familiar to Keeb and me.
Yes. This magic stone is the same kind as those used in casino arenas. That is, it is something like 'binding a monster so it cannot leave a certain distance.' In casinos, they use this to make monsters fight each other and bet on which monster will win.
"If it is something man-made... is it Solas's doing?"
"Maybe. They're really going for it."
Since someone tied the Kraken so it could not go outside the range of the magic stone and made it rampage near Elsemarin all this time... well, it has become interesting!
"This has finally become worth crushing."
"Right. It's fine, just go for it."
With Keeb also smiling belligerently, I rub Keeb's head with a towel!
"Hey, wait, Violia! Violia!"
"Moisture remains. Your water magic might have been a bit weak. You will catch a cold like this, so I must wipe the moisture properly."
Keeb was embarrassed, but please let me take care of the cute boy occasionally!
Keeb, being rubbed on the head while looking a bit sulky, has an indescribable cuteness!
"A-Ah, um, should I take the water?"
"You stay quiet."
"Ah, yes..."
...I feel a bit bad for Lital! Well, it would be good if they became a bit closer... well, I will not interfere too much.
Now. We moved the boat to the waters near Operia just like that and released the magic stone and the Kraken into the sea during the night. Have a safe trip. Please rampage with all your might.
"Whoa, you're merciless."
"Yes. Mercy is unnecessary for the insolent who defy our country."
...Yes. I released it in a quite merciless position. I set the Kraken right under the nose of Operia's port.
The Kraken was finally released and is rampaging as if to vent its previous frustration. And as the Kraken rampages, the ships anchored in the port and even the port itself are being damaged more and more. That is undoubtedly a huge loss for the Operia side. Serves them right!
"Then shall we return?"
"Let's hurry. The Kraken seems to be holding back for Violia-sama, but we don't know when we'll be caught up in it!"
So, we also retreat before we are caught up by the Kraken and become food for the fish. We each take out a dragon from a spatial bag and quickly disappear into the night!
...Oh, fire is rising from the port of Operia. I wonder if this will be a bigger loss than expected. Ohohohoho.
Yes. Thus, the port of Operia died. Not just the port, but the cargo and everything at the port died all at once, so Operia must have taken a serious blow.
While we deal with that later... next is finally the Kingdom of Solas, who took a lick-spittle attitude toward us.
Now then. We returned through the forest's underground passage... and returned to the familiar hideout in Elsemarin.
...This time, the thing we are going to do is a bit too shady to use the office as a meeting place. In times like this, it is best to be discreet.
"Doran! Chesta! How is the progress on your side?"
When we returned to the hideout, Doran and Chesta had returned as planned.
"Yeah, no problem."
"Doran is amazing! While I was catching one, he was catching about ten!"
"I acknowledge that Doran is skilled, but you should also work a bit harder."
This time, I had asked Doran and Chesta to do another job.
"Well, it is fine. Then let us immediately go and spread ghosts in the Kingdom of Solas."