kscans

168 - The Goddess Smiles Upon Those Who Resist

In the midst of the storm, I gazed at the Trident Sea Serpent at the center of a massive vortex.

With my arms crossed, I was drenched by the splashing spray. On the deck, Novem and the others were calling out for me to come back.

I don't really care, but I think I look twenty percent cooler when I'm wet.

"Lord Lyell, please come back! You'll get soaked!"

I brushed back my hair, sending droplets of water flying.

"I'm already soaking wet, so it's no problem. More importantly, Novem, how much cooler do I look right now compared to usual—"

Then, Monica, who was behind Novem, began waving her twin-tails frantically.

"You're fifty percent cooler than usual! My memory already has tens of thousands of images of the chicken coward saved! I've got the videos perfectly, too!"

Looking at Monica, who was wriggling with joy, I thought...

"I don't quite get it, but she's saying something pleasant. In that case, should I take off my coat as a bonus?"

Then, Aria spotted me and started shouting. Gripping the railing on the swaying ship, Aria cast her gaze toward the giant enemy—the Trident... that's too long, let's just call it Tra-Sea.

"Just come back already! A monster like that has appeared! Do you even know why we're here?! We're guards! Guards!"

With her red hair wet and wearing the tight-fitting clothes she usually preferred, the lines of Aria's body were almost entirely visible through the fabric.

"That's why I'm here. By the way, I'm quite confident in my naked body too. Don't you want to take a look?"

"Why are you like this at a time like thiiiiis!!"

Aria screamed, but Monica was staring at me with anticipation. Deciding that I really should take it off, I reached for my coat.

Just then, Vera-san came out onto the deck and called out to me.

"You cringey grown-up over there! Shut up and follow orders! The guard request is canceled. I can't tell you to fight something like that. Start preparing for immediate evacuation!"

The crew members crouching on the deck looked up at the mention of evacuation. However, the sea was slowly swirling around Tra-Sea, and it didn't look like they could escape even in small boats.

Or rather, they looked like they would be swallowed by the vortex and sink.

I...

"Canceled? That's a problem. That thing is my prey. I especially like that Tra-Sea Crown! I want it! I'll finish the job and get the funds at the same time!"

As I clenched my right fist and spoke emphatically, my companions and the crew on the deck stood there aghast. Representing them, Vera-san pointed at me.

"What the hell is a 'Tra-Sea'!"

"Cute, right? 'Trident Sea Serpent' is too long, so I just decided on it now."

"Cuteness has nothing to do with this! Listen, that is a monster said to be a god of the sea! There's no point in recklessly attacking it! ...We have no choice but to run!"

Vera-san looked down with a frustrated expression, it seemed that, emotionally, she wanted to resist. The crew members were gathering on the deck, presumably for the evacuation.

Miranda also approached me, pulling Shannon by the hand.

"Lyell, what on earth are you doing!"

Behind the surprised Miranda, Eva and Mei were looking at me. No, they were looking at Tra-Sea, visible behind me.

It was a polite fellow, showing three heads above the sea surface and waiting for us to approach.

"...You've got to be kidding."

When Eva said that, Mei's demeanor was also different from usual.

"This... even I couldn't handle it. No wonder the divine beasts of the sea left it alone."

Apparently, there are divine beasts in the sea too. I want to see them.

Clara, holding her staff, lit a light on it to illuminate the surroundings without being told.

Covered by thick clouds, the sky that had been clear had turned dark.

It was as if it were night, and the sea surface was dyed black, looking as though it would swallow us whole.

As people gathered on the deck, the ship's movement gradually stopped resisting the vortex. It slowly rode the current, gradually drawing closer to Tra-Sea.

On the swaying deck, everyone looked at Tra-Sea with expressions of despair.

"Why, to a god of the sea..."

"Even with the young lady here..."

"Dammit..."

While the crew members were despairing, Vera-san, looking down and clenching her fists, was biting her lower lip.

From within the Jewel, the voices of the previous heads of the family spoke.

'That really is too big. Moreover, we have no experience fighting such a thing. What will you do, Lyell-san?'

'Even if we run, it views us as prey. Does that thing eat humans? With a body that size, I wonder if it ever gets full?'

'Do monsters even get full? But it's too big to be cute. If only its eyes were rounder...'

'The optimal solution in the current situation... use a decoy to survive... Now then, I wonder how Lyell-san will act?'

Being expected to act, I stood proudly at the bow of the ship and pointed at Tra-Sea. I shouted—

"Monica, is that a god?"

Despite the splashing spray and the rain on the swaying ship, Monica's clothes and hair were not wet. Standing straight, she let her red eyes glow before speaking.

"I determine it to be a monster. It's just large, and there's a clear reaction from the magic stone. Well, it has the atmosphere. I wonder if it's thanks to the crown?"

"It's nice, isn't it? I want it. It looks like it would sell for a high price. ...Now then, everyone. As you've heard, that is not a god."

Then, one of the crew members spoke up.

"It's the reincarnation of the Goddess! The third Goddess... if you defy her at sea, she'll sink you and imprison your very souls!"

Seeming to believe the superstition, many of the hardy crew members sank to the deck, trembling.

I smiled.

"Then there's no problem! My family has worshipped the Goddesses for generations. Even if I take down one god, there are still six left!"

From within the Jewel, the laughter of the third generation echoed.

'That's right. We basically worshipped all seven Goddesses. Indeed, it seems there's no problem if one decreases.'

Then, Novem looked at me with a complex expression, and Aria shouted at me.

"You blasphemer! Isn't it because of you that we're being targeted!"

I calmed down a bit and touched my chin with my right hand.

"True. I am a man of luck... perhaps the Goddess offered up a source of funds for my sake. I'm quite broke right now. Daily faith is important!"

Aria, her face turning bright red, was saying things like, "Why are you only full of confidence at times like this..." so I struck a pose while pointing at Tra-Sea.

"...It is precisely upon those who resist that the Goddess smiles."

Everyone around me looked at me. As expected, even if I say things randomly, the aura I was born with seems to create persuasiveness.

Then, Vera-san looked up and looked at me. Many of the crew members were also looking at me.

"The Goddess does not smile upon those who merely pray. It is upon those who struggle to live that the Goddess finally smiles. This so-called Goddess of the Sea is testing us. I shall challenge it... are there any who will cooperate? If we win here, we will be those who challenged a god! God-slayers! How about that, isn't it a wonderful sound!"

Then, Shannon, clinging to Miranda, whispered.

"This guy is definitely insane."

I read in a book once that geniuses are never understood by ordinary people. I chuckled softly, thinking, So this is what it's like.

(Fool. You can get the title of God-slayer by defeating a monster. Isn't that a great deal!)

Vera-san looked at me, took a deep breath, and asked.

"You have a chance of winning, right?"

I answered proudly.

"As long as I'm alive, I can defeat it. There is no such thing as the 'strongest' in this world. By the way, I'm fighting because I have a chance of winning. This Lyell Wolt... has never once tasted defeat!"

Then, Shannon whispered in a small voice.

"...Didn't you get beaten to a pulp by Celes?"

Miranda told Shannon "Shh!" to be quiet.

(Hmph, I haven't lost yet. The match is still ongoing. I am a man who ultimately triumphs! All my losses so far are merely stepping stones to victory!)

Vera-san looked at my face. Then, she turned around and shouted a rallying cry to the crew.

"You lot! Do you intend to leave everything to these people?! This is our ship. Are you fine with just staying silent while they run wild as they please!"

The crew members were looking down.

It was then. The captain readjusted his hat. Then, he raised his voice.

"You lot, our Goddess of Luck tells us to fight! Are we going to let the guard adventurers take all the credit and look good?! If we lose, it's over anyway. Even if we run, the boats will just sink. In that case, let's go out with a bang!!"

At those words, the crew members looked up and stood. One by one.

"Dammit, I really have the worst luck."

"I'm going to punch that guard if he fails."

"Tch, the Goddess of the Sea and the Goddess of Luck... a battle of Goddesses, who is this even for?"

Vera-san looked slightly surprised as she watched the crew members stand up, trembling and complaining.

When the ship rocked violently, I used the momentum to leap and land in front of Vera-san.

The third generation spoke.

'It would have been funny if you'd slipped there.'

Despite that, I stood up and faced Vera-san.

"W-what?"

"No, you truly are a Goddess of Luck. After all, in challenging this so-called god of the sea, you put a powerhouse like me on your ship... Now then, I have one request in order to win."

Hearing that it was to win, Vera-san's expression became serious. She had been listening to the first part with a look of exasperation, but seeing her serious face—

"I want a kiss. And a deep one at that!"

"...Huh?"

The crew members looked at me with shocked expressions.

"W-what!"

"This guy!"

"Hey, someone bring a gun!"

I hugged the surprised girl, using the ship's swaying momentum to support her lower back with my left hand. I was essentially holding up Vera-san, who looked like she might fall.

To Vera-san, who was too surprised to resist—

"Excuse me. But don't worry. I'll make you mine in no time."

"You really are insa— mmpf!"

I blocked her mouth and slid my tongue in. The resisting Vera-san tried to push me away, but perhaps unable to resist a man's strength, she was left at my mercy.

The fifth generation's voice spoke.

'I wonder why Lyell isn't this proactive normally.'

The fourth generation seemed to agree.

'It would be much easier if he were like this all the time.'

After a while, I slowly let Vera-san stand. She backed away, wiping her mouth with her sleeve and glaring at me—then her eyes widened.

"Y-you... I see. Indeed, it is necessary for victory."

I smiled.

"Right? So, could you tell the crew around me to put down their guns?"

Around me, crew members with bloodshot eyes had their guns aimed, looking as if they were about to pull the triggers at any moment.

"How dare he do that to the young lady!"

"I'll blow his head off!"

"You're fish fooooood!!"

The captain also looked at me with an indignant expression, looking as if he would shout "Fire" at any second. However, Vera-san stopped them.

"Stop it! It's frustrating, but it was necessary to win. Look, the ship is drifting! Get to your positions! Lyell! After kissing me, if you dare say you lost, I will absolutely never forgive you!"

Nodding, I looked around. The fear and tension from before had eased somewhat.

(Now then, both Vera-san and the crew have had their tension loosened...)

Watching the crew members lower their guns with frustrated looks and return to their positions, I wore a triumphant smile.

"Of course. If I don't win, I'll die financially. Now then, let's get serious. Monica, stay by my side. Mei, stay by Shannon. We'll need Shannon's eyes. Aria, Eva, and Clara, get positioned inside the ship. Follow Vera-san's instructions. Novem, Miranda, position yourselves at the front and back of the deck."

As I gave the orders, Novem came to my side.

"Lord Lyell, can we win?"

When asked, I replied.

"We'll win! Besides, we'll be called God-slayers for defeating a monster, right? Don't you think that's more effective than a Land Dragon? I'll be a celebrity when I get back. It'll be a commotion again... good grief."

Then, Novem gave a wry smile and looked at me.

"The Goddess smiles upon those who resist, is it... perhaps that's true."

I smiled and pointed to myself with my thumb.

"Right? This Lyell Wolt... I'm confident I can make even a Goddess fall for me. In fact, she might have fallen for me already. I'm such a sinful man."

Novem, finding it amusing, nodded several times while laughing.

"I suppose so," she said.

—Vera had quickly changed out of her wet clothes and come to the bridge.

She pressed her left hand to her head, enduring the pain. While confused by the unfamiliar information, she understood it accurately.

(I can tell what's around the ship. Inside the sea... even inside the ship... to be able to share and use this many skills. That guy really was incredible.)

The captain, worried about Vera, called out to her.

"Young lady?"

"Hard to starboard. Also, pump magic stones into the power reactor! We'll get close enough for the cannons to reach."

"I-is that alright!"

To the surprised crew, Vera said.

"There's no point if our attacks can't reach. Also, regarding the cannons, the timing of the firing will follow the adventurers' instructions."

The crew was surprised once again.

"I-is it really okay to leave it to them that far?"

"I'll take responsibility! Let's teach that three-headed monster the terror of human beings! Also, we're short on people in the power reactor. Send reinforcements immediately!"

"Y-yes!"

Vera, giving instructions one after another, re-confirmed the image floating in her head.

(I can tell. Even the movements of people. And I can even hear their voices.)

'Dammit!! I was a few seconds slower than the others!!'

'Monica, shut up! I'm struggling here being soaking wet! Puh! Cough!'

'Ah, Shannon swallowed water again. Isn't it fine if she can see?'

'Clara, you haven't responded for a while, are you having some weird delusion?'

'...Aria-san, you were just as maidenly when kissing him.'

'Hot! It's so hot here! They're throwing magic stones into a huge cauldron! Thanks to that, it's incredibly hot!'

'Eva, you shut up too! I'm outside, soaking wet and cold!'

'Lord Lyell, have you obtained the information?'

'I got it without any problem thanks to Clara's skill. I've learned that I don't know what kind of attacks it will use. A great harvest!'

Vera was pressing her hand to her head because the voices echoing in her mind were too noisy.

On the bridge, the crew members were hurriedly reporting. Vera relayed those reports to Lyell.

'We're ready. I can leave the firing of the cannons to you, right?'

Then, Lyell replied to Vera.

'Leave it to me. There's no future if we don't win. ...Didn't that sound pretty good just now?'

'As expected of you, Lord Lyell.'

'Do it properly! Why are you so relaxed! There's a huge monster right in front of us! Why, at a time like this... you're so annoying!'

To the words of the girl named Shannon, Lyell replied.

'I intend to hold back more than usual? Look, my aura is different from an ordinary person's, so just suppressing it is hard work. Everyone believes me even when I say random things. It really is an innate talent.'

Vera began to feel uneasy at Lyell's words, but she felt she heard a man's voice after Lyell spoke.

'No doubt. It's talent.'

'Indeed. Such a powerhouse is rare...'

'Hey, for this time, wouldn't "I'll make even a Goddess fall for me" be good?'

'Hasn't it only just begun? Oh, a strange line... ah.'

When the voices abruptly stopped, Vera shook her head several times. What she heard were men—and they weren't Lyell's voices, but the voices of grown men. They sounded to be around thirty years old, and it seemed they were enjoying this situation.

(...What does this mean?)

While Vera was thinking that, the ship began to move and approach Tra-Sea.

"Young lady! We've reached the distance where the cannons can reach!"

"Not yet! Follow the instructions!"

(Kuh, I don't have the luxury to think about it now.)

As Vera concentrated her consciousness on Tra-Sea, the voices echoing in her head gradually became serious. However, only Lyell—

'Ah, a finishing line! I need a finishing line, don't I! Dammit, I couldn't say "Let's enjoy this" like I usually do...'

He was in that kind of mood—.

Standing near the center of the deck, I turned my gaze to Monica beside me.

A metal blunt weapon recovered from a boss in the Labyrinth of Alamsars. Monica had repaired it and turned it into a cannon.

Holding a cannon that was disproportionate to her slender, small body, Monica spoke to me.

"This weapon is incomplete. Furthermore, I haven't performed a test fire. The ammunition is also low, five armor-piercing shells and two high-explosive shells. I will correct the error with the first shot, but in this storm, please assume the hit rate is low due to the distance."

Hearing this from Monica, who was holding a cannon that wasn't perfectly finished, I replied.

"That's enough. First, let's make that thing, which is posing so elegantly, get a bit serious."

Monica tilted her head.

"Is it alright to make it angry?"

I looked at the cannon, which was twice Monica's height.

"If I can't deal a fatal blow with this, I'll just move to the next measure. In that case, it'll be easier to defeat if it comes closer. Now then, I'll give it a try too."

Taking the Jewel from around my neck and holding it in my left hand, the silver decorative part of the Jewel formed a large bow. The longbow was larger than my height and had no string. However, when I poured magic power into it, a pale blue light appeared and created a string.

"I'm connected to you as well. I can correct it from my end."

Then, Monica replied.

"Please don't underestimate me. Simply hitting the target is easy. Our precision is different. But are you sure we don't need to aim for the central head? I feel that's clearly the weak point."

To Monica, I said—

"I'd hate it if that crown-like thing got blown away. Well, it's better if I can't blow it away... I'll take that middle head for myself."

Saying so, I drew the bow on the deck, and an arrow of light appeared and began to take shape. An arrow that was merely glowing slowly refined its details to replicate the shape of an arrow.

After aiming carefully—

"Don't sink from just this."

I released the arrow. The pale blue arrow flew straight toward the neck on Tra-Sea's right side, and the opponent, noticing it, moved its neck.

But—

"Armor-piercing shell, coming through. Please cover your ears and keep your mouths open."

As I did as Monica said, the cannon spat fire and Monica endured the recoil on the deck. The wooden parts of the deck creaked, and the vibration was transmitted to the ship.

White smoke rose from the barrel as the splashing spray and rain hit it and evaporated.

Vera-san's voice echoed in my head.

'Wait! That looks more impressive than ours! If you're hiding a weapon like that, you should have told me!'

However, I moved my hands away from my ears and looked at the head on the left side where the shell hit. There was no doubt that the arrow of light had also directly hit the head on the right side.

As the smoke cleared, the head that had been hit directly roared toward the heavens, seemingly enraged. The vibration of the air reached us.

The vortex increased in intensity, trying to pull us closer quickly.

The central head opened its mouth wide, and a mass of pale blue magic power generated and expanded within. I confirmed this with a skill.

From the information obtained by Shannon's Magic Eye...

And the conclusion obtained from the second generation's skill and the sixth generation's skill was—

"If that hits directly, we'll be blown to smithereens. That's bad."

Monica looked at my face.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself for someone saying that?"

"It's simple. We just have to make sure it doesn't hit directly. Novem, Miranda, deploy as instructed. Also, fire the starboard cannons according to my signal. And Vera-san, please increase the ship's speed. We can get even closer."

Replies came from Novem, Miranda, and Aria, who were connected via my skill—Connection.

'We are ready.'

'Just diverting it... you make it sound so easy.'

'Anytime.'

Vera-san said.

'Give your instructions sooner. I can't move the ship instantly!'

Tra-Sea's central head opened its mouth wide toward us and fired the mass of pale blue magic power. It looked slow because of the distance, but it seemed to gain speed as it approached.

I swung my right hand to the side.

"Magic Shield, deploy!"

As Novem and Miranda's Magic Shields deployed, a thick layer of Magic Shield momentarily appeared to protect the ship.

Moreover, the shape was distorted, and because the ship had increased its speed, it moved out of the direct hit course. The mass of magic power that missed the ship crashed into the sea surface in the distance, raising a massive pillar of water.

Monica saw that.

"Indeed. We would have been blown away in one hit."

I thrust my right hand forward.

"Fire!!"

As the cannons protruding from the starboard side spat fire all at once, I used my skill, Select.

I aimed for the heads on both sides of Tra-Sea so the shells would hit, but upon impact, I saw Tra-Sea's form glow faintly.

Monica analyzed calmly.

"It's covering its body with a tremendous amount of energy in the form of magic power. Most of the impact from the current attack didn't even reach the main body. Attacks from me and the chicken coward would be more effective. Looking closely, the heads on both sides seem to have been wounded by our previous shelling."

"I see. Good thing I didn't aim for the middle."

Hearing that, I looked at Tra-Sea. It was glaring at us with red eyes, and the intensity of the vortex had increased more than before.

"It's fine if it's gotten serious. Now then, should we approach, or continue attacking from a distance..."

Monica replied.

"It seems to be approaching. We succeeded in making it angry."

I smiled and readied my bow. I increased the number of arrows more than before and fired them slightly upward. Arrows of light rained down on the moving Tra-Sea. They caused explosions, but protected by the pale blue light, they weren't decisive blows.

Then, Tra-Sea dove beneath the sea surface.

Monica noted.

"The vortex has stopped. Apparently, it can't generate it unless it stays still."

I gave instructions to Vera-san.

"The vortex has stopped. Please keep running away from Tra-Sea just like that."

'Don't make it sound so easy! Ah, geez! Port! Hard to port!'

The ship slowly changed direction to the left and increased its speed, resulting in Tra-Sea chasing after us.

"Now then, shall we aim for the moment it emerges?"

As Monica and I readied the cannon and bow once more, I fired an arrow at the sea surface first. Immediately after, I covered my ears and opened my mouth, and Monica blasted the cannon.

Two pillars of water rose from the sea surface.

As Tra-Sea's movements slowed, distance opened up between it and the ship.

From within the Jewel...

'Huh? Are we just going to wear it down like this?'

'No, it must have something more serious.'

'But it's tough... aren't we at a disadvantage? Monica's cannon has five shells left, right?'

'But indeed, its size is impressive. We'll only take back a part of it... in that case, the central head is definitely the best.'

As Monica was setting the next shell, Tra-Sea's heads... everything except the central part emerged from the sea surface and began gathering pale blue light in their mouths.

Sighing, I quickly readied my bow and fired.

"The same trick again... and you're slow!"

The arrow of light hit the pale blue light at the mouth and exploded, causing Tra-Sea's head to take damage from its own magic power. It slowly fell back onto the sea surface, and its movements slowed once again. It seemed to be trying to regain its posture underwater.

"Hahaha, follow-up attack!"

At my words, Monica also replied.

"Understood."

Moving to a position where she could aim the cannon at the sea surface, she pointed it and blasted it again.

Since the distance had become too great, I asked Vera-san to slow down.

"Could you slow down the speed?"

'...Fine. More importantly, is it okay if we don't just keep running away?'

"Eh?"

'Eh?'

To Vera-san, who had chosen the option of running away, I said—

"As long as we can win, it's fine. Or rather, if I don't bring something back from here, my finances will be in dire straits..."

Then, Monica set the next shell and spoke to me.

"It seems it's become absolutely enraged."

Turning my gaze toward Tra-Sea, the central head emerged from the sea surface and bit into its other heads. It bit and tore away the other heads that were thrashing about, and was trying to bite through the other one while struggling.

"...Alright, fire."

Tra-Sea had been waiting for us. But we didn't need to wait. Since a gap had finally opened, I decided to utilize it.

"I absolutely love that kind of brutal chicken coward. Let's go all out."

"I love you too, Monica."

"...! What did you just! Dammit!! I missed the shot! Please do it again! Just once more with a refreshing smile!"

"Hahaha, I can't say it that easily. Now then, let's continue. When this is over, I'll whisper as much love as you want. To all of you!"

'Do it seriously!! You're definitely an idiot! Right!!'

I smiled at Shannon, who was protesting and screaming on the deck. While being protected by Mei, Shannon was staring at Tra-Sea with her Magic Eye.

"Now then, before I whisper love, shall we collect the materials and magic stone?"

"W-we have to finish up quickly! Time is running out! Before the chicken coward's fever time ends!"

Upon Tra-Sea, which was fighting with heads that had the same body as itself, we unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks.