kscans

Chapter 84 - Battle on the High Seas

Why did the man break the common knowledge that everyone in the Republic knew?

Let us rewind time a little.

Daios the Sea General was troubled.

He was supposed to have held those two back for as long as possible, but the lockdown had been lifted sooner than expected.

And when he heard the report from his spy that the two had left the Republic, there was nothing he could do.

He could deal with them if they were at sea or near the sea, but if they were too far away, he couldn't make a move.

Seeing this, Madelo said, "Lord Daios. ...Please grant me permission to pursue."

To this request, Daios said, "...No. ...Our territory is the sea. ...We can only go on land if it's close to the sea. ...If we stray too far from the sea, the humans may challenge us to a fight. ...Especially after the incident at the royal castle."

Daios pondered what to do.

...But there was nothing he could do.

The mission was a failure.

Five days later.

It was reported that those two had returned to the Republic.

He didn't know why. ...According to a report his spy had overheard, they had apparently learned teleportation magic. But there should be restrictions for humans to use it. ...For example, creating an identical magic circle.

...If this prediction was correct, they might go to the Kingdom to draw one. ...If so, that would be bad. If they drew one in that location, they might have a direct route to the Empire.

But this was also a chance. ...A chance to hold those two back, just once. ...As expected, they were buying ship tickets at the port. He had to stop them from heading to the Kingdom.

However, attacking a human ship without reason was not good for the half-fishmen's reputation.

...In the royal castle, he had acted so that his identity wouldn't be revealed.

...Even in the castle town, the incident at the castle was said to be the work of a human thief.

If they made a big move now, it would lead to an all-out war with the humans.

That would be a hassle.

A full-scale conflict with humans was all harm and no gain.

...But how could he hold those two back? ...As he was thinking, a black mist rose from the sea.

"...You seem to be in trouble, Lord Sea General."

The one who appeared was Lates the Thousand Poisons.

Daios said, "...Is there something you need, Lord Thousand Poisons?"

He treated him with a hint of annoyance.

Lates, unfazed, said, "...Regarding the matter of the Otherworlder. ...I have a good idea. ...We make a human pollute the sea."

To this proposal, Daios said, "...You mean control them. ...But it seems Lord Corruptor is not here."

Daios said.

The power to control people was Harynair the Corruptor's specialty.

In response, Lates said, "...I haven't brought her. ...Lord Corruptor is... busy in the Empire. ...But rest assured. ...I can't control them in detail, but I can control them in a general way."

With that, Lates produced a single insect, a mosquito.

"...If I inject this one's poison into a human, it can amplify the dissatisfaction and irritation that person has. ...It wouldn't be surprising if there was at least one such person among those boarding the ship."

He laughed eerily.

Daios thought it was an attractive proposal.

If a human polluted the sea, they could attack with impunity.

Daios said, "...I accept your proposal. ...We must choose someone to attack at once."

Just then, from the sea.

"Lord Daios. ...Please command me to take on that role."

The one who emerged was Madelo.

Daios said, "...But the Otherworlder knows your face. ...I can't order you."

Before he could continue, Madelo said, "Please!!!"

He bowed his head with all his might.

The force of it sent a spray of seawater into the air.

Daios said, "...Understood. ...But don't be reckless."

To this reminder, Madelo said, "Leave it to me. ...I, Madelo, will see this duty through to the end."

He said it with eyes full of determination.

The mosquito released by Lates infiltrated the ship that had left the port. It was searching for a suitable human.

A merchant, sitting in a luxurious room and drinking wine, thought, "...Honestly, for me to go just to negotiate with the Kingdom's merchant association. ...But since it's an order from the head of the association, I have no choice but to obey. ...Being a high-ranking member is not easy."

He was drinking from a glass as he thought this.

The mosquito, judging that it had found a suitable candidate, landed on the merchant's neck and injected its poison.

...The merchant felt something prick him and rubbed his neck. There seemed to be nothing there.

...After a while, he started to feel irritated for some reason.

Why did he, a high-ranking member, have to do a job like this?

...Ah, just thinking about it was irritating.

...The merchant smashed his wine glass and started chugging from the bottle.

Returning to the present, on the deck.

A half-fishman had attacked the ship.

Its purpose was to purge the humans who polluted the sea.

As many people were cowering in fear, a crew member said, "W-wait, please. ...We apologize for polluting the sea. ...So please..."

Before he could continue, the crew member was sent flying with a punch.

Madelo said, "...Excuses are unnecessary. ...Your lives end here."

He declared, holding his weapon at the ready.

The people screamed and fled into the ship.

Those who remained were Madelo, me, and Tina.

Only the three of us.

"...It's been a while, Madelo," I said. "...I understand why you're angry, but the person responsible is dead. ...How about you calm down?"

To my words, Madelo said, "...I cannot. ...If I forgive you here, the notion that you can be saved by apologizing will spread. ...We will be taken lightly. ...Making an example is important."

With that, he readied his weapon.

"...I see," I said. "...Then I can't just stand by and watch. ...I don't want to die, and as a hunter, I will hunt you."

I faced him with resolve.

Madelo smirked for a moment but quickly composed himself and glared at me.

I looked at the weapon Madelo was holding.

Two clubs connected by a chain. ...Nunchaku.

...To think that even a weapon like that exists in this world.

...I was a little surprised but remained on guard.

...Nunchaku are weapons specialized for close combat. Their attacks are unpredictable, and they can be used for defense as well. ...In addition, Madelo's martial arts skills were master-level.

In our battle at the castle, I had struggled against him even when he was only using his fists.

...This time, he had a weapon, and it was nunchaku, which had good synergy with his martial arts.

...Testing the waters would only get me killed. I decided to go all out from the beginning.

I drew my sword with all my might, manipulated the sparks that were generated, and created a high-temperature flame sword.

Seeing this, Madelo said, "...This makes me happy. ...To use your power without holding back. ...This is what a battle is."

With a broad smile, he swung his nunchaku and took a stance.

Silence fell between us.

The only other person around was Tina, who was behind me.

We could fight to our hearts' content.

...We both made our moves at the same time.

Madelo lightly dodged my attack. At the same time, he unleashed his nunchaku at my face. A precise attack. Normally, it would have hit and been the end, but I dodged it with minimal movement.

I wasn't using `Thunderclap Incarnation`.

We were on the sea. If Madelo used a seawater attack, I would be instantly electrocuted and die.

...For that reason, I didn't use it on my whole body, only on the important parts.

I enhanced only my spinal cord, which is good at transmitting sensory information, with lightning.

This increased the speed at which information was transmitted from my brain to my body, heightening my reflexes. However, this method couldn't enhance my physical body.

...But that was fine. My opponent was a martial artist who specialized in speed and number of attacks. ...On the sea, there was no other way.

I immediately countered after dodging.

I unleashed a horizontal slash, trying to cut Madelo's torso. However, Madelo dodged by squatting on the spot. I had predicted that move to some extent, and with a return stroke, I slashed at him again.

...But Madelo did a backflip from his squatting position.

He was so fast that I couldn't keep up.

My sword just cut through the air.

The distance between me and the dodging Madelo was about five meters. ...Not a distance from which I could immediately intercept him.

I took a breath and took my stance.

Madelo felt fear.

The flame sword. If he was cut by it, the defense of his scales would mean nothing.

Only Lord Daios could block it.

...As expected of an Otherworlder. When he used his power, he was a threat.

Madelo used the inherent power of a half-fishman.

I was watching my opponent's movements from my stance.

He was planning something. If I attacked recklessly, I might be countered. But if I waited, I might lose.

Move or wait, two choices.

This tension was a little exciting.

A life-and-death struggle. One mistake and you die.

...A simple fight to the death.

...A feeling I could rarely experience on Earth.

...I calmed down.

I am a hunter.

I don't enjoy fighting.

I scolded myself and faced him.

Then, water came out of Madelo's palm. Just as I thought it was magic, he enveloped his nunchaku with it. ...Did he enhance his nunchaku with water?

Water and fire. A battle between opposing elements.

...The outcome was uncertain.

We closed the distance between us. Not running, but slowly approaching.

...When we reached a distance where our weapons could reach, I was the first to make a move.

A thrust from my stance.

The fastest and smallest attack.

Madelo dodged to the right. ...But I had read that move. It was difficult to retreat from a frontal thrust, and squatting would take a little too long and he would be hit.

Right or left.

He had no choice but to dodge to either side.

From there, I unleashed a horizontal slash.

My target was his torso.

I had the intention of cutting him in two.

However, Madelo blocked it with his nunchaku.

Steam rose when they collided.

The fire didn't go out, and the water didn't disappear.

Madelo immediately countered.

The attacks from his nunchaku were deadly from any direction. I parried them with my sword and waited for a chance to counterattack.

Steam rose every time they touched.

The smoke was thin, but as it continued, it became a little thicker.

And at the moment when visibility became poor and we could barely see each other's faces, I did an overhead slash towards the smoke.

I felt a slight resistance.

I immediately looked around and saw a wound on Madelo's left arm.

It wasn't a fatal wound, but it was a decent amount of damage. ...However, Madelo ignored it and spun his nunchaku.

What was he going to do? Just as I thought that, Madelo swung his nunchaku with all his might.

The spinning water came towards me.

It looked like a chakram.

I instinctively squatted. The ring made of water must have a considerable cutting edge. If I took it head-on, my sword and I would be cut in two.

I managed to dodge it in the nick of time.

The chakram cut the object behind me. ...A considerable cutting edge. It was the right choice to dodge.

...Just then, the wooden handrail that the chakram hit melted.

The melting part was giving off smoke.

Seeing that, I muttered, "...It's not just water, is it?"

To my muttering, Madelo said, "...That's right. ...This is the inherent power of a half-fishman, 'Water Quality Conversion'. I can change any liquid into anything. ...What you just saw was sulfuric acid, said to have been made by an alchemist long ago. ...My master apparently found it in a book he obtained from somewhere."

He answered quite proudly.