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“We’re heading to the Dragon Lift in the Anari Principality. It’s a port city.”

I already briefly mentioned the origins of the Dragon Lift, so I won’t go into it again.

“The important question is how we get into this port city. Think about it. If a Bride Ship suddenly appeared in the port city, what would people think?”

“They’d probably think a tremendous monster has shown up and try to attack, right?”

“Exactly.”

Currently.

The appearance of the Bride Ship is, first and foremost, a Kraken.

We realized, through the ship’s internal records, that its actual shape is entirely different, but at least in appearance, whether it flies, walks, or navigates underwater, a Kraken is still a Kraken.

“So, we’re going to bury it a bit away from the Dragon Lift. At least 20 km down on the ocean floor.”

“If it’s us, no one can actually enter.”

“Right. Moreover, we could disguise it to look like a sand dune, so even if a battle takes place underwater, no one will notice. Though I doubt underwater battles will happen continuously.”

It’s not a bad thing to prepare for the worst.

‘If the Hero Party rides on a Kraken’s shell, people will be shocked.’

The Kraken is a monster.

No matter how much defeating monsters is what Heroes do, there will certainly be a few people who would raise an eyebrow at the idea of riding on its corpse.

-Those guys… do they ride that?

There’s no way they can maintain such a notorious reputation.

“But if that happens, we still have no way to enter the harbor.”

“There is a way. The problem is coming back. The Witch said we need to stock at least a month’s worth of food to reach the Sky Island. That’s not manageable for us.”

“If we had someone who could use Space Magic… Witch, is that possible?”

“It is possible, but it would consume way too much mana.”

The idea of bringing in a large quantity of supplies using Space Magic seems reasonable at first glance.

The problem is that if I use it, I’ll deplete my mana to the point of collapse.

“Master, is there any way?”

“Why would there be no way? Did I suggest we dock really far from the Dragon Lift for no reason? There are always ways. Hehe.”

I spread out a map in front of the group.

“Look at this map. We’re here, and to get to the Dragon Lift, we need to travel quite a bit. The traveling part is okay, but the problem is that we need to bring back about a month’s worth of food, right? So…”

We solve it with the simplest method.

“Let’s loot a ship.”

“Excuse me?”

“We just need to rob any passing ship. If a Pirate Ship goes by, we just loot it.”

“…Rob a Pirate Ship?”

“Yep. That solves everything in the simplest way.”

It’s an incredibly straightforward solution.

“We secure a ship and head into the Dragon Lift. Then there are no issues. If we claim we’re loading food for ocean travel, nobody would suspect a thing, and moving supplies inside the ship would be a piece of cake.”

“Uh, but that’s….”

“That’s my Master for you.”

Indeed, it’s Lucius.

“Ultimately, we can acquire supplies without drawing much attention from the people of the Dragon Lift. That should be sufficient. Let’s follow the Master’s suggestion.”

“But taking over a Pirate Ship…”

“It’s a Pirate Ship, Rosmas. They’re people who harm others and steal their belongings. We’re not stealing from the innocent; we’re just reclaiming a ship they took.”

“Lucius makes a good point. The pirates’ ship must have been stolen from someone too. Retaking it can’t be that big of a deal, right? Instead, we might even receive a reward from the Dragon Lift for defeating the pirates.”

“That’s right. Master, you’re amazing as always.”

They cheered for my genius idea with applause.

This is the joy of raising disciples.

“So, from now on, we’re heading out to loot a Pirate Ship.”

“…The Witch definitely has a mindset that’s quite distinct from ordinary people.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Even if it wasn’t meant as one, I’ll accept it as such.

“Alright then, let’s go outside. Once we block the bulkheads, we can exit right away. Lucius, can you set up a barrier?”

“Understood. So… are we going out immediately?”

“Yeah. Right now, there’s a Pirate Ship passing just above us.”

At this moment, there’s a Pirate Ship sailing right above our Kraken.

“Traditionally, it’s the Kraken that ambushes Pirate Ships.”

“…You just said we wouldn’t reveal the Kraken earlier.”

“This is a different story. This is a good Kraken. And… we are much farther away from the Dragon Lift, right?”

I pointed to the bridge.

“Hurry to the bridge. I’ll show you that we aren’t just a simple transport ship like the Bride Ship.”

From this point on.

“I will seize the enemy ship.”

*

Swoosh.

The Caravel cuts through the turbulent waters, advancing forward.

“Captain, enemy ship spotted! It’s a Navy Caravel!”

“Hmm, good. Alright, let’s go!”

The ‘woman’ with the golden beard, referred to as captain, raised something in her hand and shouted.

“Let’s loot them!!”

“””Ahoy!!”””

With the captain’s shout, the ship surged forward with a cacophony of noise.

What was aimed at them was another vessel similar in size to the Caravel, resembling a spearhead.

“Aaaah!!”

“Fire! Stop them from getting through!”

The marines, who hurriedly rushed onto the deck with the appearance of pirates, all took out their staffs in unison.

Those staffs resembled long poles made of steel, and the marines knelt on one knee while aiming their staffs at the pirates.

“Magic missile, fire!”

Bang—!!

From the ends of the steel staffs, blue orbs launched simultaneously.

The magic missiles flying toward the approaching Caravel would explode like cannonballs upon impact.

“Hahaha! Useless!”

But the golden-bearded figure at the forefront merely swung what was in her hands wide.

“W-What is that?!”

“Anaristic?!”

Anaristic.

The legendary hero, Hoot Anari, was said to have used this magical staff.

Why it was in the hands of a pirate can’t be guessed, but there was no possibility that the Anaristic held by Golden Beard was fake.

“Behold my power!”

As soon as Golden Beard shouted, the hazy mana emitted from the Anaristic transformed into a shield protecting the pirate ship.

“Shield!”

Boom—!

Just before the magic missile hit the pirate ship, it was blocked by a milky-white ether barrier that formed to protect it.

Despite several bombardments, the magic missiles couldn’t penetrate Golden Beard’s shield.

“What?! Captain’s magic!! Incredible!!”

“Distance secured! Prepare to charge!!”

“””Ahoy!!”””

The pirates lowered their bodies and headed towards the end of the deck.

They dashed across the wide deck, and everyone leaped up using the railing.

“Wind Road!!”

Swish!

As the captain extended the Anaristic forward, a long bridge formed out of white barrier leading towards the Caravel.

The pirates, familiar with it, stepped onto the magically constructed road, rushed at the Caravel, while the marines hastily pulled out their swords to retaliate against the pirates.

“You scoundrels! How dare you commit piracy in the territorial waters of the Anari Principality! I will not forgive this!”

“Hmph! Hand over everything you have! Even your life!!”

“Gahhh!!”

The marines did their best to fend off the pirates, but one by one, they fell prey to the unpredictable and ever-changing pirate attacks.

Their numbers overwhelming, the pirates swiftly captured the deck.

“Did we take them out?”

Golden Beard clutched the Anaristic tightly and looked skyward.

“…But how long must we keep fighting like this?”

With a sigh, the woman pressed down on her beard that covered her mouth and nose, raising her gaze towards the blue sky.

“…This is for the good of the country.”

“Captain! There’s nothing aboard!!”

“What?!”

Golden Beard shouted with fiery eyes.

“Search! There must be something! A sign of the devil! Evidence of the cursed ones who are gnawing at this Anari Principality!”

“Captain, we’ve captured the enemy captain!”

Thud.

A soldier wearing a beret was dragged out onto the deck and knelt down.

The rather aged soldier glared at the pirates with gritted teeth, then his eyes widened in shock as he spotted Golden Beard.

“A woman… with a beard?”

“Yes. I am Golden Beard.”

Click.

Golden Beard aimed the Anaristic at the captain.

“You all. Speak truthfully. Are you the henchmen who sold this land to the Demon King?”

Creak.

Golden Beard’s golden hair fluttered in the wind.

“Answer me, traitor…!”

“H-Having become a pirate…!!”

The captain spat on the deck and shouted.

“You all will NEVER regain your former position!”

“You bastard…!! Captain! Deal with this arrogant fool…!”

Bang—!

Golden Beard aimed the Anaristic at the captain.

The moment the white magical bullet emitted from the stick, the captain collapsed, blood gushing from his heart, while Golden Beard gently closed her eyes and extended her hand sideways.

“What about the oil?”

“It’s all been poured. All that’s left is to light it.”

“Fire.”

“Here it is.”

Tick, sizzle.

The torch ignited.

The subdued marines on the deck swallowed hard, filled with a sense of foreboding, and that sense of dread was justified.

“Burn alive, or become fish feed. Let’s retreat!”

“””Ahoy!”””

The pirates dashed over the milky-white shield back to their ship.

And lastly, atop the barrier, Golden Beard, holding the torch, threw it onto the ship.

“…Traitors who conspired with demons.”

“Captain… no, Princess…”

Watching the blazing ship, Golden Beard gritted her teeth.

“…I will definitely reclaim the Anari Principality. I swear…!!”

And then.

Boom—!!

With a fierce sound, tentacles sprang out from below.

“…Huh?”

Thick and enormous, reminiscent of the legendary Kraken, the tentacle emerged.

 

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