Chapter 449 - Episode 10: Kraken
The next day, the three drunks successfully recovered from their hangovers, and at last, we were to head out for the Kraken extermination. The participating forces from Sertoria were Henry-sama, Eleanor-sama, Roberts-sama, Gladys-sama, and myself. From Regnentes, Harrison-san. From the local Engrio side, the Count and Sir Archer, and even King Seldic himself would participate.
With the King personally taking the field, the islanders gathered around the Count's mansion from early morning, giving us a grand send-off.
"Is your body getting stiff?"
"Hmph. Well, just watch."
King Seldic gave a confident smile at Eleanor-sama's teasing.
"Well then, let's go."
A total of nine people set off, riding in Eleanor-sama's medium-sized bowl.
"So this is the Flight Magic I've heard rumors of. It's quite exhilarating."
It seemed to be the Count's first time, and he was waving in high spirits to the cheering crowd. The five volunteers were all overjoyed.
"The Count and Sir Archer would be faster in terms of speed."
"No, no, it's likely about the same. Besides, that consumes a great deal of magical power."
Sir Archer nodded at the Count's words. The Count had crossed the strait from the continent by flying through the sky. The strait is two post stations wide at its narrowest point, and from the opposite shore of Vectis Island, it's double that. Even though he had hardly sucked any blood, he reached the island on the verge of crashing. It seems they can't reach the continent where magic can't be used in the bowl, but the efficiency itself is quite high.
In about half an hour, we arrived above the cove. Since we weren't hiding our presence, we would have been spotted immediately if we were being watched, but it's currently morning. Perhaps it was sleeping, as we safely arrived directly above the Kraken's cave. We landed on the cliff just like that. Once we deactivated the bowl, everyone stood upon the cliff.
"Directly below here is the large hole where the Kraken lurks. And to the lower right, near where the sandy beach begins, is the cave where that other monster lives."
The sound of waves crashing could be heard from below the cliff. The inside of the cove was calm, and with its beautiful colors, it was hard to believe such a massive monster was there.
"Well then, shall we set the trap immediately?"
At Eleanor-sama's words, the Count and Sir Archer nodded.
A thunderous roar echoed.
It was echoing off the surrounding cliffs, creating a terrible noise. If I hadn't stuffed cloth in my ears like earplugs, my hearing might have gone strange.
With sounds of plop, plop, shattered rocks fell into the sea. The large amount of gunpowder King Seldic had brought from the Royal Capital had exploded.
The plan was simple. In short, we would set gunpowder at the entrance of the large hole, explode it, and block it with a massive amount of rocks. Of course, it wasn't something that could be completely blocked. When we dropped a large amount of rocks and earth at the cave entrance, an embankment was successfully formed. Aiming for low tide also proved effective. With this, the seawater inside the large hole and the cove were completely cut off. It looked as though a tide pool had been created. For the Kraken to come out into the cove, it would have to climb over the embankment. Last time, it was before the war, so we didn't use Flight Magic. The time before that, Flight Magic itself didn't exist. Gunpowder was also one of those open secrets, and each country officially refrained from using it in large quantities. Since every country used it in the war, the ban is lifted.
When I searched with Sense Living, the Kraken, which had shown no movement—perhaps sleeping—while we were setting the gunpowder, was now moving. It seems it finally woke up. While floating my Fireflies while still in the bowl, I saw a massive brown shape in the water. Indeed, it also looked like an octopus with scales. Since its head was long as well as its tentacles, it also looked like a squid. When Harrison-san put three log-class reinforced shots into the water, it retreated further back, perhaps hating the brightness even though it was underwater. One Maelstrom came, but the embankment was safe.
"It looks like this will work."
"Let us do it!"
Harrison-san backed Eleanor-sama's words, and we executed the plan.
We landed on the embankment, and everyone stepped down onto it at once. With this, Eleanor-sama could now use magic. Since the Kraken had unleashed a Maelstrom, the embankment was soaked. We reinforced it by freezing it with repeated Freeze spells. Using Flame, we continuously unleashed Ice Cubes to create an ice breastwork on top of the embankment as a countermeasure against Maelstrom. We sprayed water with Shower and froze the surface again with Freeze. Furthermore, by freezing the seawater in the tide pool in front of the embankment with Cocytus, a field fortification against the Kraken was completed.
During that time, I was making my Fireflies glow, but the Kraken stayed retreated and did not come out.
Preparations for battle were complete. From here, the real thing begins.
We formed several groups at the breastwork. Looking from the cove, Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama were on the far right. Next to them were King Seldic, the Count, and Sir Archer. In the center were Harrison-san and I. On the left were Roberts-sama and Gladys-sama.
"Wind Barrier!"
Eleanor-sama created a bowl with Wind Barrier. Since Henry-sama, Gladys-sama, and Harrison-san had embedded the silver harpoons they held in their hands, a bowl with three silver thorns was completed. Into that bowl, the strong Count and Sir Archer threw in stones the size of an armful. Once it was filled with large and small stones while packing gravel into the gaps, it was finished.
The thorned bowl flew into the hole. I searched for the Kraken's general location with Sense Living and dropped the bowl in the place where I thought it was.
Deciding the drop position, I floated four Fireflies to illuminate the water surface. Fortunately, I could illuminate all the way to the back.
With a splash!, the bowl plummeted. Since the large hole was high, I could see a water column rising. It continued at high speed through the water until it reached the bottom. We repeated that several times. Since we were shifting from the back toward the front, it should get close. If we're lucky enough to pierce it, we can deal damage.
Did it hit the Kraken?
As the tide pool surged, a brown figure appeared on the water surface. A long head emerged, and at the same time, many tentacles with suckers were writhing. The sea surface was foaming with splashes.
"Fire!"
We all fired the silver arrows we had already drawn at once. Harrison-san fired a log-class shot. The thorned bowl that had jumped out from the sea surface ascended and attacked the visible Kraken from the upper rear. I maximized the light of the Fireflies.
A massive mass of water attacked. It was Maelstrom. We hurriedly hid behind the breastwork.
Once the water passed overhead, it was the second strike.
Perhaps the Kraken grew careless, thinking it had washed us away with the Maelstrom, as all our attacks hit.
Another Maelstrom was unleashed.
"Bishop Jeanne! Switch to Sense Living!"
It was the Count, who had been clinging to the vicinity of the hole's ceiling with Sir Archer for reconnaissance. He shouted as he emerged from the hole. In other words, the Kraken had dived underwater.
When I detected it, it was right in front of us.
"Front! Under the ice!"
I shouted to Eleanor-sama, who was at the breastwork two spots over. Eleanor-sama would manipulate the bowl to attack the Kraken from underwater.
"It's coming out!"
Cocytus had its output narrowed down. The ice formed on the water surface shouldn't be that thick.
With a cracking sound, it emerged as if crawling up the embankment.
We succeeded in flushing it out. From here, it's a land battle.
The Count and Sir Archer evacuated to the sky. This was a precaution against Holy or Light and had been pre-arranged.
When I stood up, a massive brown something was in front of me. It was a monster of a squid-octopus with scales. Large black eyes were staring at us. Between the head and the legs, there was a huge mouth with several layers of sharp teeth.
"Light!"
An eight-fold volley. I thrust out my staff and illuminated the Kraken. Immediately, Harrison-san beside me reinforced it with three log-class shots. The writhing tentacles moved once as if to protect its eyes, but then they lashed out at me like whips.
When I hurriedly ducked, a leg with suckers passed over my head. Roberts-sama, who was at the breastwork to the left, rushed over and with one sweep of his silver spear, sliced it off. The tentacle, like a tree root, rolled down the embankment while writhing as if it were still alive.
"Jeanne! Over here!"
Gladys-sama was calling. The bowl was likely attacking from underwater. I moved to the breastwork while keeping my posture low, and this time I illuminated it from the left.
When I stood up, the black eyes had turned gray; I had succeeded in blinding it. It's the same as with the demons.
When I illuminated it with the reinforced eight-fold volley just like that, smoke began to rise from the Kraken's rampaging body.
The harpoon thrown by Gladys-sama pierced the brown body.
We can do this! We're dealing damage!
The moment I thought that, a single tentacle flew in with a horizontal sweep. I thought I would be blown away, but Gladys-sama pulled me and I fell on my backside, narrowly escaping. However, perhaps because I gripped my staff so hard I almost dropped it, the precious eight-fold volley vanished.
"Jeanne! Aim for the top with Holy!"
It was Harrison-san. He had been fighting alongside Roberts-sama, who was swinging his spear, but he deployed a Magic Reflection above my head. I gripped my staff with my left hand and unleashed a four-fold volley. Before I could tell if it hit, a tentacle flew in and sent the precious Magic Reflection flying somewhere. It might be unexpectedly smart.
During that time, Gladys-sama was throwing harpoons while hiding in the shadow of the breastwork. As expected, weapons are more effective in close combat. In fact, Henry-sama, Roberts-sama, and King Seldic were also standing and ducking while throwing harpoons, and several were stuck in it. Since Eleanor-sama's thorned bowl was poking it from underwater, it was likely to prevent the Kraken from climbing up. They must be continuing to add attacks. However, there is a limit to the number of harpoons. Eventually, it will climb up.
Gladys-sama had finally exhausted her harpoons and held a spear in her hand. She couldn't throw it, and it wouldn't reach unless the main body came closer. It's dangerous to fight while dodging tentacles.
Wait, hold on a second.
I produce a Firefly as large as possible. I try changing the shape of that Firefly into a long rod. If I could make a shield, I should be able to make a rod too. When I tried thinking that, something rod-like in shape was created.
"Is that a rod of light made with Light?"
Gladys-sama asked. Strangely, when Gladys-sama is nearby, the range of application for Light expands.
"Yes. If it hits after being reinforced by Harrison-san, it might be effective."
"Then let's try it."
I immediately called out loudly and had him come over.
"A spear of light. How interesting."
I said it wasn't an eight-fold volley but my maximum, and he reinforced it with five log-class shots. I can hold it in my hand, but its heat slightly exceeds body temperature.
"If anything, please make it longer. That way, we might be able to attack even from this side of the breastwork."
A request came from Gladys-sama. I didn't know if it would be effective, but I tried it for now.
A quite long one was completed. It's three times the length of a normal spear. It has almost no weight. However, it's thin. It's more of a pole than a rod. When I handed it to Gladys-sama, she held the end with just her right hand, thrust it out horizontally toward the cove side, and was swinging it lightly.
Just in case, Harrison-san reinforced it with two more log-class shots. It must have become hot, as Gladys-sama's expression tensed for a moment, but she seemed able to hold it. Even those of us nearby can feel the heat. it might be quite hot.
"Did I overdo it? My apologies."
"No, it's fine."
She gripped it with both hands just like that.
"I'll borrow this."
The Kraken, sensing we were doing something here, was moving toward the duo of Roberts-sama and King Seldic, who were acting as decoys.
Now's the chance.
Standing up just like that, she raised it toward the Kraken.
"Eeeeeeiiiiii!"
With a sharp shout, she swung it down. A sharp, high-pitched sound of cutting the wind could be heard. This is what they mean by faster than the eye can see.
When it hit the head, it sizzled and burned. The place where it hit looked like a black line. The smell of burnt octopus wafted over. It's the same as the demon's shield.
The Kraken raised two tentacles and counterattacked Gladys-sama. She swung the rod instantly. Because it's light, it's easy to swing, but because it has no weight, it can't support anything. It was easily repelled, and she dropped the rod. She crouched behind the breastwork just like that and managed to dodge.
There, Roberts-sama came to assist. The rod of light can't cut, but silver can. With one flash of his spear from the side, a tentacle rolled away with a thud.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you."
She was smiling. Unlike with me, she has composure. Heroes are different.
By then, King Seldic also came.
"What is this?"
King Seldic flinched for a moment as he tried to pick up the rod of light that was rolling. It must be hot.
When I explained, he suggested doing it with three people. Roberts-sama agreed, and Gladys-sama was in the center. Roberts-sama stood on the left and King Seldic on the right as guards.
Gladys-sama provoked it, and Roberts-sama and King Seldic alternately met the incoming tentacles. At those times, Harrison-san would stand up in a different location and fire log-class shots in rapid succession.
The Kraken, having had two more tentacles sliced off, lost the means to defend its head and could no longer dodge Harrison-san's attacks.
The octopus was struggling to somehow escape into the cove. It would have been better if it retreated, but perhaps because Eleanor-sama was poking it incessantly, it showed no sign of retreating.
Under the advantageous situation, while taking Harrison-san's log-class shots to the head many times, it finally stopped moving.
The detection result of Sense Living showed no reaction.
"Did we do it?"
"Yes. We defeated it."
Everyone let out a deep breath. Phew.
"Good grief."
"Indeed."
King Seldic bumped his fist against the one Roberts-sama held out.
Since we seemed to have successfully subjugated it, we took a break for now. There were no cheers or anything. Everyone was exhausted.
Eleanor-sama was also out of breath. First is recovery. As a result of Roberts-sama and King Seldic fighting on the front lines, including buying time while I was making the rod of light, and fending off several tentacle attacks, they seemed to have hurt their wrists. Harrison-san recovered them with Heal. And for Eleanor-sama, who was breathing heavily, I cast Refresh. Looking at both hands of Gladys-sama, who had kept holding the rod of light, they had turned bright red, so I cast Heal. It wasn't to the extent of a burn, but it must have been hot. Harrison-san offered an apology. If reinforcing, five or six shots might be appropriate.
Once we settled down, we all passed around a canteen of wine to drink.
"Even so, you've obtained an extraordinary weapon."
King Seldic, who had taken a sip of wine from the canteen, said. He handed me the canteen, so I took a sip.
"How should I put it, it just flashed in my mind suddenly."
It's not a lie. However, I kept quiet about the fact that the hint came from the demon we fought in the Western Plains, whose use of a shield almost as a weapon resulted in Roberts-sama and Hughes-sama being wounded, since the countries are different.
"Well, I suppose if you can make a shield, you can make a rod too."
King Seldic was also present when I made the shield on the ship. When I said it was originally a wall, he was convinced, and this time he accepted it as is.
"Is it harmless to humans?"
As long as it can be held by hand, I'd like to think so.
I shorten it to the same length as my staff.
"The length is also free, then."
He was impressed.
When Gladys-sama handed it to King Seldic, he held both ends and the center, but of course, nothing happened. It should be a little hot, but he didn't even mind.
"In short, for a human, it's like a slightly hot wooden rod. No, if it's this light, the damage it deals might be even less than that."
He tapped the back of his neck as if to loosen stiffness. Tap, tap.