Translator: Nox

Ch#34

“But starting at eight, I got busy. Karl Warben kept pushing me onto battlefields. The rewards were decent though, so I just focused on that and subjugated Mana Stones wherever.”

Unlike his calm voice, the helm gripped in Basto’s hands spun busily.

The ship with its seasoned helmsman rode the currents, swiftly approaching the Mana Stone.

“That’s when I sent Lilia ahead first. All my fault.”

“…….”

“Veil. In some matters, I can’t easily stay cold and rational. No, I don’t want to.”

Veil sighed, but Basto continued.

“You saw it too. The look on Pearl City’s Governor’s face. The kids she’s looking for are right there.”

The Mana Stone up close was even more imposing than it had seemed.

In truth, Mana Stones sprouting across the continent varied wildly in size and shape.

Apart from being made entirely of black stone, some were hard to distinguish from ordinary buildings.

The one before Basto and Veil resembled a temple held up by four pillars.

“We have to save them. Can’t turn back after seeing them alive.”

On one of those pillars.

Veil could see a mid-sized ship’s hull, snapped in two and precariously hanging.

One person lay slumped atop it as if dead, while another stood guarding them.

“H-hep, s-save us—!”

As the waves surged fiercer, the conscious one cried out desperately.

“Mr. Basto! What do we do!”

The crewmen rushed over urgently.

Basto turned his head to check the wind direction, then spun the helm again.

“Currents make it hard to approach. All we can do now is wait.”

Time was short.

They needed a lucky gust of wind within that window.

To let them reach the Mana Stone.

* * *

“You found them? Is that true?!”

Marianne shot up from her seat.

Tiye, sitting beside her, jumped down from the sofa in surprise too.

“Yes! They’re hanging on for dear life to the Mana Stone after nearly getting swept out to the deep sea!”

Marianne’s face went stark white.

She hurriedly stared at Astie.

“We need to head out to sea, Unit Leader.”

“Y-yeah? B-but it’s dangerous outside……?”

Basto and Veil had told her not to come to the pier no matter what.

Said she’d get in big trouble if she didn’t wait inside the Governance Hall.

But Marianne was beside herself.

“I can’t just sit here! A Mana Stone, and my boys are right near it!”

She bolted outside before Tiye could stop her, staring out the window.

“G-Governor!”

Tiye had no choice but to fasten her uniform tight.

Then, slinging her bag to the front, she dashed out of the Governance Hall.

Marianne was already far ahead, pushing through the downpour.

“H-hep, hep! Oof, this is tough!”

Panting as she arrived, she saw a handful of people gathered at the pier.

Quite a few residents had already evacuated the village after the order.

‘Never been scared at all till now…….’

Honestly, Tiye hadn’t taken the situation seriously.

Still young, she’d just figured Basto and Veil would find the Governor’s two sons and get back before it got too late.

All that had filled Tiye’s head was visions of her triumphant future, networking with the Governor.

But seeing people evacuate and empty Pearl City made worry flood in.

‘What if sunset really comes?’

What then if monsters poured from the Mana Stone?

Tiye fidgeted anxiously and called her bone friends inwardly.

‘Bone friends!’

But as expected, no reply came.

In Tenebraum Cave and at the gate, Tiye had been able to talk to her bone friends in her mind nonstop.

Like having a Bluetooth speaker on in her heart, constantly chatting.

But clearly now, she couldn’t request their help.

“Raoul, Enzo…… please……!”

Marianne sobbed beside her.

The wind and rain grew ever fiercer, and Tiye had to brace her legs tight every time waves crashed in to keep from being swept away.

‘Gotta find something Tiye can do? Grandpa Nordix said Tiye was born with amazing power……?’

Nordix was at the village entrance now, guiding people to evacuate.

He’d surely scold her for leaving the Governance Hall.

‘But Uncle Basto and big bro Veil are out there.’

Tiye’s green eyes shook unsteadily.

Lifting her head, the sky was fully dark.

Clouds hid the exact sunset, but one thing was clear.

‘Sun’s setting soon.’

As she fidgeted with her nails anxiously.

“Cr-crack, the rift’s opening!”

Sure enough, someone shouted desperately.

Turning, a faint rift was indeed forming around the Mana Stone.

It widened steadily, as if ready to spew monsters any second.

“L-look at that! Agabert Mercenary Corps is rescuing the young masters!”

Another crewman shouted at the same time.

Through parted rain, Basto could be seen pulling two people from the ship hull clinging to the Mana Stone.

Tiye clasped her hands without realizing.

‘Hurry, Uncle Basto!’

More time had passed than she’d thought.

A little later, and it really might be too late.

Thankfully, Basto seemed super skilled at handling the boat.

The circling ship turned its bow landward and rapidly drew near.

“Raoul, Enzo……”

Marianne was on the verge of losing it.

She couldn’t tear her eyes from the approaching boat, clutching her chest over and over.

“G-Governor, don’t worry……! E-everyone’ll be back real soon……”

That was when Tiye rushed over and grabbed the shoulders of Marianne kneeling on the ground.

“Wh-what?”

Incredulous whispers leaked from the crewmen nearby.

Naturally, all eyes turned to where they were looking.

“Wh-why is Death Hound……”

Tiye’s face slowly paled.

The vast open sea.

Monsters poked their heads from the rift by the Mana Stone, and for some reason, two ships were locked together.

The larger ship was mercilessly ramming the smaller one’s hull.

Death Hound Mercenary Corps’ passenger ship had rammed Basto’s boat.

The next moment, Death Hound members started leaping onto the small boat one after another.

Weapons in every hand.

* * *

“What are you doing! I said save the Governor’s kids!”

Kal bellowed fiercely amid the chaos.

But his voice kept getting drowned by the rain, crashing waves, and mercenaries’ shouts.

“Just capture Basto Paerix! Kill off the damn Agabert members!”

“Unit Leader! What about the regular crewmen!”

“Do I have to spell that out too?! Just toss ‘em in the sea!”

“Monsters, monsters are coming out!”

“Kill whatever you can! Once Basto’s down, we head to land!”

He’d never planned to subjugate the Mana Stone from the start.

As if crazy Death Hound would take such a risk.

“Kill ‘em! Kill ‘em all! Slash that bastard’s throat!”

Kal stood at the prow, glaring at Basto locked in melee with his men.

The abandoned helm spun idly in place.

Basto wielded shattered wood planks against three or four of his subordinates.

Veil was in a similar bind.

In the unexpected chaos, one crewman charged toward Kal.

“Wh-what are you doing?! What the hell is this! We were rescuing the Governor’s sons…… kugh!”

Kal kicked his chest without hesitation, shoving him into the sea.

Grinding his teeth, he drew the sword at his waist.

“Tough bastard.”

Basto was still holding out.

Kal slowly descended toward the prow.

To cut off Basto’s breath with his own hands this time.

At the same time.

“What’s going on!”

“Death Hound’s attacking Agabert!”

“M-monsters!”

Tiye, staring pale-faced at the battle, froze stiff.

Tiye blinked blankly, then dropped her gaze to the dark rippling waters below.

[……nim.]

From underwater, a bizarre voice called to her.

Something felt off.

[Master.]

A voice she’d never heard before.

‘Why does it sound like my bone friends……?’