Chapter 40 - A Better Next Time (5)

I decided to join the early morning departure as well. We had searched the surface thoroughly, and to be honest, there was a high chance the cause lay in the sea rather than on land.

Above all, this time we had to go out to the place where the dragon was spotted.

It was unknown if the sea would permit it, but since we didn't know what would happen if we reached it, it was right to bring more manpower to fight.

DeB, well, his combat power was on the weaker side, and he ended up staying behind in the village, claiming he hated the water.

"We aren't fully prepared yet..."

But it seemed I woke up too early.

When I came out of the house the villagers had provided—they had emptied the entire house so their benefactors could sleep comfortably—and went out to the beach, I ran right into the residents. They were the ones preparing for the departure.

"Um, there is still some time left before departure."

One of the residents stepped forward as a representative and spoke. His face was dyed with panic and fear.

It felt good, yet slightly bitter, that they treated the other three comfortably while only fearing me—it seemed my concept was working well.

"Even if we launch the boat early, the waves are causing trouble..."

Apart from that, I wasn't really trying to rush them. It seemed I had accidentally pressured them.

"There is no need to mind me."

Staying here would just make it uncomfortable for both sides. Since I came out for a walk in the first place, maybe I should just stroll along the beach.

I left the area where they were preparing the boat and walked along the sand. It would be nice if I could find just one more pearl. My lack of conscience aside.

SWOOSH.

I could hear the sound of the waves, but thanks to the darkness, I couldn't see much. Even when I looked toward the sea, the moon was hidden by the clouds, making it impossible to tell the boundary between the sky and the sea.

I debated whether or not to turn on my lantern, but eventually gave up. I quite liked this tranquility.

And my night vision was good enough to manage on my own.

"Hic, huuu..."

But as I continued walking along the beach like that, I heard someone crying.

Seeing as my detection skill didn't go off, it didn't seem to be a demon or a monster. With my vision adjusted to the darkness, I quickly tracked the sound.

Soon, at the edge of the shore, I saw a head hiding between the rocks. It was rather small, looking more like a child's than an adult's. The notably young crying sound added weight to my guess.

"Mom..."

However, the sorrow contained in the cries was desperately deep, uncharacteristic of a child.

I tried to hold my breath and turn back so the child wouldn't notice my presence.

CRUNCH.

Of all things, there was a shell disguised as a shore rock in that spot.

"...?!"

It could have easily been drowned out by the sound of the waves or the wailing, yet they somehow heard it.

The child swallowed their breath as if trying to hide their tears, and since it had come to this, I walked while openly making my presence known.

It was to give a signal that I was here, but hadn't discovered them yet.

'Alright. Let's just walk past where the kid is and go beyond. If they don't want to get caught crying, they'll head to the village in the meantime.'

But what rotten luck. Just as I passed by the child's front—though there was some distance—the clouds hiding the moon cleared.

A silver path formed over the sea, adding a faint outline to my hair, cheeks, arms, and legs.

FLUTTER.

My hair and coat tail billowed exceptionally large in the sea breeze.

"..."

The child's gaze landed squarely on me. It was intense enough to tickle my cheek, but I absolutely did not look back.

Acknowledging them here would only make things more awkward.

"I heard."

'But they spoke first. I thought they would never say anything.'

"That you saved the aunts and uncles."

I couldn't pretend to be ignorant any longer. I turned my head toward the child.

The moonlight was very fair, illuminating not only my silhouette but the child's as well. The black clothes, reminiscent of mourning garments, were particularly visible.

"But why couldn't you save my mom?"

The tears flowing down the child's dry cheeks also caught my eye exceptionally well.

"Why did my mom, of all people, have to be among the dead?"

Even factoring in the curves of the rocks, the child barely reached my solar plexus. I kept my mouth shut.

"Why, why did it have to be my mom..."

It wasn't my fault, but the guilt I inevitably felt from being human and an adult pricked my conscience.

You know, it wasn't the kind of guilt that would plunge me into despair, but it was that uncomfortable feeling that made it impossible to just ignore it.

It was like buying the last chicken skewer and eating half of it, only to watch an elementary school student rush to the store and turn away in disappointment at the empty display.

"Why..."

However, in that situation, I could at least ease my mind by buying them something else. But this had no solution.

I almost reflexively reached out to the child bowing their head and wailing, but stopped and lowered my hand.

No matter what I said, it wouldn't reach the child, nor would it make them feel better. It wasn't as if the child was blaming me out of ignorance in the first place.

'They probably know it's not my fault either. They just put thorns on their tongue because they have nowhere else to direct their resentment.'

'But is that a bad thing? Not really.'

Even adults sometimes direct their anger at the innocent when swept up in irresistible despair. Let alone a child whose brain hasn't even fully developed.

If an adult couldn't show that much understanding, then they were immature. And, while I couldn't say I was fully mature, I could at least embrace that much.

The concept I had set for myself was reasonably kind to the weak, like children and the elderly.

Therefore, because of that.

I quietly held my ground, watching the moon that seemed about to plunge into the sea. Until the sun rose. Until the sun radiated its warmth.

* * *

"Have you arrived, Demon Knight."

"Where did you go? You're a bit late."

It seemed I was a bit late since I only came back after watching the sunrise. I fiercely barked at the people who were curious about my reason for being late.

"I wonder when those ears of yours will ever do their job."

At those words, the Archmage simply shrugged.

"You aren't the type to be late without a reason, are you."

'How long has it even been since we met for you to be so sure of that?'

'Of course, if I saw a character with a concept similar to mine, I would also think, 'They'll probably keep their appointments well just out of pride'... But on the flip side, they could be so arrogant that they think, 'I don't adhere to things like time!''

'Why are you so certain!'

"If you don't want to say, then don't. It's not something we absolutely need to know."

When I continued to keep my mouth shut aloofly, the Archmage gestured with her chin.

"Come on. Everything is ready for departure."

There, a prepared boat was waiting for us.

"You can board right here, sir."

'Wow, I've played a few games where you ride boats, but this is my first time seeing one with such an ambiguous size. It's exactly the size you'd think of when you hear 'fishing boat'.'

'It's even more fascinating that it's made of wood instead of iron. I mean, you often encounter wooden ships when playing RPGs, but you don't usually see ones this size.'

"Demon Knight, have you ever ridden a boat before?"

The Inquisitor, who had boarded first, asked while sitting in the middle of the boat. She wore a simpler outfit than usual, having layered a blue cloth garment over her chainmail. It seemed she intended to leave her shield behind, as she only had her mace beside her.

'The weight of chainmail is nothing to scoff at either, but if she wore full plate armor, it would be difficult to swim back up if she fell into the sea, so that's probably why she dressed like that.'

"They say those who ride for the first time suffer from severe seasickness. I had a terrible time with it yesterday as well."

But maybe because DeB stayed behind in the village, she was chattering away enough for his share too. My concept didn't allow me to respond, but it was nice from my actual self's perspective.

'Of course, what else is there to do on a boat? It's great for me if she chats with me.'

"Well, I'm sure you won't have any problems, Demon Knight!"

Filling my brain with such idle thoughts, I didn't pay much mind to the Inquisitor's words. My experience of never having suffered from motion sickness in reality or in a game made me that way.

It was something I would regret exactly ten minutes later.

"A-Are you alright?"

'I was fine when riding a carriage with a garbage ride quality, so why am I like this just from getting on a single boat?'

'Of course, the swells are strong, making the boat pitch up and down like a theme park ride, but still, this level of seasickness is too much.'

'No, in the first place, what kind of game even implements motion sickness... From fatigue to sleepiness, and now seasickness? This is so ridiculous I could die, seriously.'

I bit my lip hard at the rising nausea. I was barely maintaining my expression, but my complexion was probably already pale.

'Though the moment I leaned against the railing and groaned, unable to overcome the seasickness, my pride and everything else were already ruined.'

"Should I give you some motion sickness medicine?"

As the Inquisitor, who stayed by my side despite the rough waves, stomped her feet in anxiety, a sailor hurriedly climbed down from the mast at the captain's gesture and asked. As my concept, it was an offer I should reject even if it killed me, but honestly, I wanted to take it.

'I didn't know I—or the character I was using—was someone who got seasick like this. I feel like dying.'

"I understand your pride, but take it just in case. You know your role, don't you."

'Archmage's character interpretation, I'll acknowledge it just for today.'

I glared at her—though it was questionable if there was any actual force in my eyes—and forced my hand out.

The resident hurried into the deckhouse and came back out. Some unknown medicinal herb was grasped in his hand.

"Chewing on this will make you feel a bit better, sir."

My desire to relieve the nausea even a little was greater than my thought of 'how am I supposed to chew this?'

I popped the withered, shriveled grass into my mouth and mashed it with my teeth.

Perhaps it was a placebo effect, but I felt slightly better than before. Though the urge to vomit was still there.

"To think you would get seasick."

Whether the Archmage looked at me with eyes that found it pitiful yet slightly mood-breaking, I draped my arms over the railing and bowed my head as I leaned against it.

'Concept or whatever, I'd rather spill blood and fight with an injury penalty; seasickness is really not it. Hell was right here.'

"If holy power worked, I could have helped you... I apologize."

'I didn't care that Kimchi Dumpling was begging for forgiveness over something that wasn't even her fault, but I really wanted to sacrifice some HP to drive out this seasickness.'

'Someone, drop some modern motion sickness medicine in here. Before it kills a guy.'

"Will you be able to fight?"

'I wanted to ask if it looked possible to her, but I couldn't break the concept any further here. I squeezed out my very soul to draw up my last remaining strength.'

"Bring the target before my eyes. I will give you the answer."

"Alright. I understand."

'... She understood that as me saying I can kill it, right? Otherwise, I'd be a bit sad.'

'Still, my head is safe, so I'll believe I haven't broken character.'

"Please do not overdo it."

I ignored the Inquisitor's words and leaned my head against the railing. Rather than white noise, the sloshing sound only felt like an annoying source of discomfort.

It was a time of cruel endurance.

"It's here, the place we came yesterday."

Still, time did pass, and we somehow managed to catch up to the range those two had scouted. At least, according to the captain.

"I feel like it took longer yesterday, but we arrived early today."

"That's because the wind and waves are a bit weaker at dawn."

It wasn't like the waves were shallow earlier, but I had no choice but to believe the captain's words. Because right now, the sea was so rough that the boat's elevation was constantly shifting.

The arm I had stuck outside while hooking my armpit over the railing had been soaking wet for a while now. The head I rested on the railing had also gotten quite damp from the splashing water droplets.

"We don't see the dragon today."

"Perhaps it's because the sun is up."

The swells were rough, but the sun was up. That was the difference from when they came here yesterday. As for other differences, the time of day... the time of day...

'Mmm, I don't know. My brain is dizzy, so I can't think straight. Somehow, right now felt even harder than when my fatigue hit 100.'

"Captain, the waves have gotten higher. Will it be alright to return if we go further?"

"It's fine. The reason I said no yesterday was because it would undoubtedly be dark by the time we returned."

Saying it would be dangerous if the sun set, but they could overcome such wind and waves as long as the sun was out, the captain gave orders to the sailors.

The sailors pulled the halyards in perfect order, somehow adjusting the boat so it could ride the flow of the waves.

"If so, Captain, let's go up to there. Inquisitor, is that where the dragon was seen?"

"Yes. It's there. The rock jutting out above the water is the same one we saw yesterday."

"You mean... over there?"

As the Archmage's pointing and the Inquisitor's confirmation were added, the captain's expression became peculiar.

"That place is the Dragon's Cry Gate."

"Dragon's Cry Gate?"

"It means the gate where the dragon cries. Starting from that rock, a reef zone begins, making the currents flow bizarrely there."

Rapids were one thing, but it was named Dragon's Cry Gate because the sound of the waves specifically in that area sounded exactly like a dragon's cry. The captain added such an explanation.

"Is it dangerous?"

"Yes. Any sailor in their right mind would never think of entering it. It is that dangerous."

"Then, please take us as far as you possibly can."

"Understood."

The captain's complexion darkened a bit, but he never brought up the word 'no'. Whether it was a captain's pride or because he couldn't say no to his benefactors was unknown.

My luck was also sufficiently bad.

"This is our best. If we go any further, the boat will capsize."

"You've worked hard. Thank you."

"I don't really see anything unusual from here either..."

Was it because we were closer to the rapids zone? It felt like the boat was pitching even more exceptionally. I barely endured the nausea, holding on for dear life with the railing as my only lifeline.

Normally, I would have suspected something was fishy and speculated that something was hidden here, but right now, I absolutely wasn't in the right state of mind for that.

"...?"

In the midst of that, something suddenly caught my eye. A very shallow... patch of land. A patch of land only visible when the waves lowered. It seemed to have scale-like patterns engraved on it.

"Urp."

I was about to open my mouth, but raised my hand to cover it as a surge of nausea hit me. The Inquisitor, who had been looking around, urgently checked my complexion.

"Are you alright?"

"... Over there."

*'At least it's a relief she came closer.' * I pointed to one side with a cracked voice.

"Over there?"

The Inquisitor turned her gaze, following my finger.

"... Um, I am not sure what you are referring to."

However, it seemed she couldn't see the patch of land. Since I had spotted it by chance timing, it made sense that she couldn't see it, but because I had absolutely no composure left, I just found it pathetic and annoying.

"To think you can't see..."

I forced my head up to point more clearly.

"...?"

However, the patch of land that had definitely caught my eye earlier was no longer in my field of vision. Only the roaring sea filled my sight.

"Demon Knight?"

'... Did I see it wrong because of the seasickness? My concept is really shattering today.'

"Never m..."

"Uh, over there!"

Instead of answering that I had misspoken, I just tried to trail off. If someone hadn't pointed at the place I was pointing at—though slightly off?—I would have done so.

My gaze naturally shifted slightly.

I saw something swimming over beneath the seawater. There were three of them, and their sizes weren't small.

「Hostile targets exist within a 30m radius.」

The system blared loudly.

"Could it be demons...?"

"I feel unholiness, but it is not demonic energy!"

Even if they weren't demons, from the moment unholiness was felt, and more so from the moment they approached the boat, we couldn't just sit and watch.

We couldn't be certain if those things held hostility toward us, but if the boat got even a single hole, we were the ones who would die.

"They are coming toward the boat!"

"I will prepare!"

"You all get inside the deckhouse!"

The Inquisitor grabbed her weapon, and the Archmage evacuated the civilians inside.

Thus, I also raised my body, albeit with difficulty. The nausea surged immediately, but it wasn't a situation where I could afford not to stand.

"Hoo."

*'This boat is swaying so damn much.' * Swallowing my curses, I lifted my sword while leaning against the gunwale.

It was incredibly hard to keep my balance, but by gritting my teeth and holding onto my sanity, I somehow managed.

"Oh Lord, protect these little lambs!"

The Inquisitor deployed the spherical protective barrier she had shown once before.

BANG! BANG!

The things that missed touching the boat by a hair's breadth slammed their bodies against the barrier as if angered.

Because they were submerged in the seawater, they couldn't be seen very well, but they roughly looked like water lizards. They had four legs and long tails.

Their bodies swimming through the water as if aiming for the boat occasionally brushed past each other.

The system showed no sign of telling me what kind of monsters they were.

"Accompanied by thunder, strike my enemies..."

The Archmage chanted a magic spell at them. She seemed intent on attacking, since they looked like targets that needed to be eliminated no matter how you looked at it.

Not only was the Inquisitor maintaining the barrier, but she was a melee type, so she wouldn't even dare to try.

Me? I was about to swing my sword to shoot out a slash, but was defeated by dizziness. I rested my blade on the deck and knelt on one knee for a moment.

'I feel like throwing up.'

"Strike down...!"

While I was breaking out of my groggy state, a rather wide-range lightning magic poured down.

With an illusion that a portion of the dark blue seawater shone brightly, the things circling the boat floated up to the surface.

However, they had only been electrocuted, not killed, as they showed signs of waking up, their bodies trembling violently.

It would take time for the Archmage's next strike.

"Hoo..."

'Then it's my territory from here on out.'

I raised my knee and, biting my lip, managed to swing my sword. The wrath-filled strike flew out with a metallic screech, unleashing a much fiercer output than usual.

SLICE!

A portion of the sea was cleft apart in an instant.