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Before heading into battle, under Celcius’s instructions, we changed into combat suits with guidance from Francis Bacon.

“Are we really supposed to fight in this?”

“Yes. Going outside without a pilot suit is like asking to die.”

The imp, Francis Bacon, pointed at the outfit he was wearing.

On his head, he wore a turned-over fish tank, and below he had on somewhat puffy balloon-like clothing.

“I get that you inflated it for defense, but it definitely sacrifices agility….”

“I haven’t vacuumed the inside yet to show you. Sage, could you pull the lever behind me?”

“This one?”

I pulled the lever as Francis requested, and soon air hissed out of his balloon-like outfit.

“Oh.”

In an instant, the clothing shrank to fit snugly against Francis’s body.

The description of it being like a second skin was quite accurate.

“…Um, Sage?”

“What?”

“Is that really okay?”

“It is. Why? Embarrassed?”

Though Francis’s body outline was fully revealed, I felt no shame at all.

Of course, Francis felt the same way.

“What’s the matter?”

“Um, well….”

“Francis, it’s just that your body looks great.”

“…Sorceress of Crimson Lotus. I didn’t expect to hear such praise from you.”

Men, after all, are pleased by compliments.

Especially for those who sculpt their physiques, compliments about physical beauty are the highest praise.

If we were in the Demon World, Francis would qualify as an honorary member eligible for registration in the training room of the Deep Dark Council.

“On the surface, it’s acceptable to wander around in your underwear to gain the Moon Goddess’s blessing, but isn’t it embarrassing to wear such a skin-tight combat suit?”

“That’s not what I mean….”

“If we wear this….”

“Aha.”

The outline of the body being revealed is the same for both genders.

Rosmas and Droniel were clearly checking Lucius’s reactions.

“Lucius, how do you think they would look in that? Don’t you think they’d be pretty?”

“Pretty… but, it would certainly be safe.”

“Heard that? So stop worrying. Safety is also guaranteed.”

This is a diving suit, a pilot suit, and at the same time, it is the ‘armor’ of the residents of Belselphia.

“Our residents of Belselphia can hold their breath and stay underwater for long periods, but we always prepare this for activities longer than thirty minutes. It’s both a combat suit and a diving suit.”

“How is this possible…?”

“It’s the power of science. Don’t ask for details.”

I was a bit surprised, but the others must have been even more so.

As soon as you pull a lever, the suit sticks to your body like skin; I must be seeing the most amazing clothing for the first time.

“Sage, do we also wear that clothing?”

“Yes, if we go outside.”

I pointed to the ground we were standing on.

“We can fight in here. Thanks to Celcius’s protection, even if a partition breaks and the seawater comes in, it will be fine if we’re in a safe zone. This is special armor for prolonged combats outside.”

“Those going outside must wear this.”

“Right. What will you do?”

I scanned my companions.

“Outside is the ocean. We can’t just act like we did when we entered Lucius’s barrier. Lucius has to use all the powers of the Holy Sword to defeat the Demon King.”

The opponent is Leviathan.

It won’t be easy to deal with.

“So you might have to stake your lives in this battle. This glass aquarium… helmet is just like falling into the ocean if it breaks. There’s a mask inside that gives us about ten minutes, but dangerous is still dangerous. Outside is a battlefield.”

It is also where a large-scale battle takes place, involving numerous beings, many larger than humans.

“Life isn’t guaranteed. Your skills on the surface might not translate well here. Of course, if the Moon Goddess’s grace extends that far, it should be fine….”

“If we wear combat clothing, it will cover our skin, so the goddess’s blessing won’t reach us.”

“Exactly, Saintess.”

A dilemma arises.

To breathe outside, we have to wear combat suits, but doing so reduces the exposed skin area, meaning the Moon Goddess’s blessing won’t reach us.

I’ve already verified this.

I made a wound on my hand to check, and it confirmed that the Moon Goddess’s blessing does reach even to this deep seabed.

Then, what to do?

Under the sea, land creatures can’t breathe, and to breathe, we need to wear clothing.

“What are you going to do? Do you want to stay behind for support or…?”

“Of course I’m going out to fight.”

“I will too.”

“Same here.”

Everyone in the party hoped to fight outside.

“With Lucius going out, and the Sage fighting, we can’t just stay back.”

“Now that I’m part of the Hero Party, I’ll risk anything. Lucius, even if I am in danger… you have your own duty. Got it?”

“Even if I can’t irresponsibly speak of the Moon Goddess’s grace here, may the goddess grant great help in removing the huge evil that has settled on this land.”

Rosmas, Droniel, and Yan each became fired up and went to change.

“Sage, then I’ll go change too….”

“Lucius, you don’t have to change.”

“Yes?”

“The Hero of the Holy Sword doesn’t need to wear a skin-tight suit.”

Then Ascalon would roast me.

“That golden storm forming around your body is the best armor to protect you. Even if you’re not aware of it, the strongest barrier protecting you is already formed right above you.”

“Hmm… that’s a pity.”

“Why?”

“I wanted to wear it just once.”

Lucius fiddled with his stomach and licked his lips.

“…Heh, you want to show off your muscles, huh?”

“…….”

“Well, that makes sense. You’ve been training to build your body every day, so you probably want to start showing it off.”

I understand.

“Or… heh, wanting to sneak a peek at your comrades’ bodies?”

“Sage?”

“You rascal. If that’s the case, I have all the means.”

I patted Lucius on the back.

“I heard from Celcius that there’s an indoor pool here. Even though it’s under the sea, there’s a facility to enjoy some water fun.”

“…Going into the gorge, is that what you mean?”

“No. You wear swimsuits and have fun swimming.”

I used mana to conjure a sample of a swimsuit in mid-air.

“You wear something like this to enjoy it.”

“…Isn’t that underwear?”

“You call this underwear? No, swimsuits are different.”

If underwear is for adults, swimsuits can be considered for youths.

So, it’s not particularly indecent.

As long as it’s not too excessive.

“You want to see your comrades like this, right? Should I set it up for you?”

“…….”

Lucius briefly looked up at the sky.

“……Yes.”

He nodded with a determined expression.

“Alright. That’s the spirit.”

That’s the mindset of a proper male.

*

A battle in the ocean.

Though he may have never experienced or seen it, a hero must be accustomed to such battles anywhere and at any time.

“Ready?”

“I’m always ready.”

Lucius mounted a sea creature that resembled a wyvern.

It looked just like a flying dragon knight, but Lucius’s flying space would not be the sky, but underwater.

“I’m not sure if this sea dragon you’re riding is ready.”

“Um… it should be fine. Probably.”

It might be a little awkward.

Even if the sea dragon is trained to perform the role of cavalry, fighting in a new environment is not easy for humans.

However, Lucius has a significant role to play in this battle.

So.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be riding in front of you.”

I decided to sit in front of Lucius for his sake.

The Hero of the Holy Sword advancing alone.

Although Lucius was quite supportive of this, I wanted to help Lucius hold the reins of the sea dragon.

“You just need to hold on to my waist tight. Got it?”

“……”

“Why are you not answering?”

“Um, can I really hold on?”

“Then what do you plan to hold on to?”

Lucius hesitated for a moment without answering.

It seemed he was looking for something else to hold on to in the sea dragon’s saddle, but unfortunately, there wasn’t anything.

“Just hold on. If you hold on tight, you’ll be fine.”

“Is it okay for a disciple to hold the waist of the master?”

“What’s the big deal?”

Having Lucius hold onto my waist isn’t a problem at all.

In fact, I don’t even have time to worry about that.

‘Horse riding underwater!’

Being able to dash under the sea is even more enjoyable than galloping on a horse.

Even during this large-scale war, the thrill of riding a sea dragon can’t be missed, not even for Lucius.

Unlike swimming alone, riding a sea dragon through the ocean creates a refreshing sensation.

In other words.

Even though this is during combat.

‘I can’t resist a 340km underwater ride.’

When else would a sea dragon carry the undead like this?

When would I charge into countless enemies while holding onto a sea dragon underwater again?

And when else would I get to enjoy such speed?

“Don’t worry. I’m a top-notch rider.”

“Riding… are you referring to getting on it?”

“Of course. I excel at riding anything.”

It’s also a matter of talent, but it’s one of my bragging rights.

‘Possessing a body is like riding it.’

Possessing a body.

While I do this very well, riding something with the body I’ve possessed is my hobby and a special skill.

“Well, this is just to relax you. The real deal starts now.”

I donned the aquarium-shaped helmet handed to me by Francis.

After putting on the underwater combat suit like the others, I mounted the sea dragon.

“I’m going to steer you safely to Leviathan. You just need to time your jump and leap towards Leviathan from behind me.”

I lightly patted my side.

“Well, if you feel like chickening out, you can hold on to the front of the boat.”

If there’s no saddle, I guess I’ll become the saddle.

“Let’s go. Time to catch Leviathan.”

Lucius briefly closed his eyes before opening them again and firmly secured his position behind me.

“Let’s go.”

To capture the Demon King.

 

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