Chapter 400
Chapter 400: Sinking at Dawn
Well, it’s Hero Alexander, who chased a vampire all the way to the ship’s bottom.
With the furious fists of the holy spirits, the vampire bastard is getting pummeled and charred black.
Hah-hah, serves you right! While I slash through three lackeys leaping down the stairs, I stay vigilant around me. There can’t be any more lackeys lurking, right…?
“Guuooorrrhh! Ooooohhhh—!!”
Just then, the vampire bastard, his scorched face twisted grotesquely, let out a scream. Like he was clawing at his chest, he tore apart his formal attire, ripping it to shreds while gushing blood.
What the hell?! Has the pain driven him insane?!
No, that’s not it; the dark red blood is writhing—
“—Ooooaahhhhhh!!!”
Like a tornado, countless blood blades were scattered in all directions.
Each blade seemed to be packed with considerable magical power, as even the holy spirits who were battering him were torn to shreds. The ones closest vanished as if they had been scraped away with a spoon…!
Shit! Even the holy spirits blessed with holy silver curses can’t withstand pure magical attacks!
Even I, who was standing a bit far away, would have been in danger if I hadn’t cast a protective spell. A blood blade flew right at my shoulder. I didn’t expect such a hidden card from him—though it must have been a double-edged sword for him as well. He clearly drained a huge amount of blood, and the magical pressure around him had noticeably weakened.
If this were a normal battle, I could have refueled with the blood from the enemies I knocked out…
What a shame! They’re all incorporeal ghosts!
“[Let there be light!]”
Without hesitation, I slammed a silver-glowing dark magical force at him. The vampire screamed, “Ugaaah!” but in that brief moment of distraction when the holy spirits’ offensive weakened, he turned to mist and got sucked right into the floorboards.
With a loud thud and crack, the wood creaked underfoot.
The whole ship ominously groaned, and there was a sound as if water flowed in.
…I knew it! He intended to sink the ship! I thought something was off with his movements! Besides, even after weakening him so much, he still had this monstrous strength!
“Damn it! That bastard escaped!”
“I’m not done hitting him yet!”
“I’ll kill that bastard!”
The holy spirits stamped their feet in frustration, but—
“Everyone! We’re spirits, so we can slip through the floor!”
At my words, they exchanged glances.
“Come to think of it, that’s right.”
“I won’t let him get away!”
“I’ll kill that bastard!”
One by one, the holy spirits slipped through the floor, chasing after the vampire. I’ll leave dealing with him to everyone else; he can’t escape too far anyway.
What I need to do now is rescue the hostage!!
“Is anyone there!?”
The cargo hold is divided into several sections. Aside from the pantry and storeroom, there was an oddly reinforced door with a hefty lock, so I knocked on it repeatedly.
“…Ah… Ugh…”
—I could faintly sense a human presence.
“[Let there be light!]”
I flowed a holy silver spell through the gap to check. Not burnt—it’s a person!
I struck the lock with Adamas, pushing the door open. Inside, two people were chained up and tossed around. Ugh, what a terrible stench—
A small person with long hair. Could it be Romeo’s lover?! But upon closer inspection, it was a boy. Had he been trapped long enough for his hair to grow so long?
“W-water…”
When I picked him up, the boy weakly uttered those words. Besides the long-haired boy, there was one man who lay limp. As I cut the chains with Adamas and glanced back at the door I entered, I saw rough writing scrawled above that read “Emergency Food.”
Seriously, this is ridiculous…!! May you turn to ash a hundred times!!
At the very least, if it’s emergency food, keep them in good health!! Or did the Lake Pirates neglect their duty?! Either way, I can’t forgive this!
“I’ll get you something to drink right away, so hold on…!”
Still, if I lose my cool here, it would only scare the boy. I cradled him in one arm and slung the man over my shoulder. Good thing I had tucked away some soldiers’ bones under my clothes; I could reshape them like a backpack so he wouldn’t slip off. I need to hide them before anyone in my family sees me… Anté, keep watch for me!
‘Understood, but we have little time left.’
As I left the room, I could hear the sound of water approaching, and the ship was tilting more and more.
“Do you know if there’s another woman captive?”
“…”
I asked the boy in my arms, but he didn’t respond; he seemed to be losing consciousness. The man was unconscious as well. Damn it, where is Romeo’s lover…?!
The remaining sections—bow or stern—
As I pondered which direction to take, a surprising loud crack echoed from below me.
Shit… Could it be that the keel is—
With a roar, the ground shook, and the nearby wall burst apart. The outside view—a flaming dawn sky—filled my eyes.
The keel shattered, and the ship’s body split in two—realizing this as water surged in like a flood.
“Uwaah”
We had no means to resist as we were swept away by the current.
†††
(I did it, I really did it…)
Though battered and bruised, Daniel swam down to the bottom as he struggled, laughing in pain despite the crushing noise above him.
Before escaping, he had used all his strength to pummel the keel, tearing it apart with his claws. The hole in the ship’s bottom, combined with everything else, was likely the reason for its collapse.
(Go down with the Vampire Hunters…!)
Ideally, he wanted to sink the ship they came on too, but he simply didn’t have the strength left. Besides, unless the priest was unbelievably incompetent, some defensive magic would definitely be enacted. Even in perfect condition, it would be a daunting task to break through.
In any case, he had lost too much blood—he was desperate to replenish with the remaining Lake Pirates. But if he surfaced carelessly now, he could be targeted by the waiting priest.
If he got exposed to holy attributes next, he wouldn’t have the confidence to endure it—!
Biting down on his frustration, the air leaked from his mouth. The sensation of water filling his lungs—how indescribably unpleasant! He wouldn’t die from this, but it was like drowning forever.
Even as a noble darkling, despite being a vampire, his base body was human. While he didn’t need to breathe to maintain his existence, he certainly wasn’t capable of spending time underwater!
(But… hang on! First, escape as far and deep as possible!)
His tattered formal attire felt heavy as it soaked up the water. He was swimming slowly; should he take it off—? But clothes and accessories alike were sinking with the ship—naked and starting over—how pathetic of me—
As he thought this.
“There he is!”
“Wait up, you bastard!”
“Kill him—!!”
A clear voice rang down from above, as if they were on dry land.
“!?”
His eyes widened in surprise as he looked up.
Like something from an ancient myth—
A figure glowing silver, descending straight toward him!!
“Guh-boboaahhh!”
Even the barely remaining air in his lungs was squeezed out. The pain and terror from earlier surged back.
Daniel swam frantically. But—he was fast! The furious shouts of the angry spirits were rapidly closing in from behind!
Of course! They were spirits! Not only would they not drown in the water, but they also didn’t even face any resistance from it!
(What to do?! What should I do?!)
He couldn’t use mist form underwater! With no time to maintain appearances, he stripped off his formal wear to paddle through the water faster, desperately kicking with his bare skin—
When something slammed against his face.
(What!? A wall!?)
Daniel must have hit something! Trying to stretch out, he felt something smooth and seamless, like a solid wall. He hadn’t realized until crashing into it, but it was faintly glowing with magical energy.
(Magical barrier!?)
He tried to route around it, but there was no seam to grab onto even with his hands.
It went on.
Endlessly… Forever!
This is—he thought it was flat, but no! It was spherical!
(No way!? How enormous is this!?)
It can’t be the palace barrier of the Demon Lord Castle! He struck it, trying to break through, but it didn’t shake at all. What incredible strength! With the blood he lost, he couldn’t even leave a scratch at this point—
(No, I don’t want! Let me out!! Help me!!!)
He pounded on the barrier, but it was all in vain.
“Give up already!”
“I’ll make you realize…!”
“Our pain! Our resentment! Come to feel the suffering!”
The dark water bottom was brightly illuminated.
By the merciless silver light—!
(Damn… Don’t come—!)
He swung his last hope, the blood blade, to counterattack.
(Ah…)
The dark red blades dissolved in the water and vanished soon after. Just like with mist form. In the water, blood was quickly diluted, and the magic—
“Dieee!!!”
The silver ghosts that surrounded him launched an all-out assault.
They weren’t just hitting! Kicking, stabbing, scratching—a mere touch sent intense pain coursing through his whole body!
“Ugarrr—! Gah! Ohhhh—!”
There shouldn’t have been any air left in his lungs, yet a desperate, muffled scream erupted.
It was smoke. His entire body was burned by silver light, and smoke poured from his throat!
No matter how wildly he thrashed, the spirits wouldn’t budge.
Even clawing wouldn’t separate them.
(I’m running out of blood! I’m losing my blood!!)
He couldn’t maintain his existence—
(Am I going to die!? No way! I don’t want to!)
Here of all places! Having escaped my father’s grip on the Demon Lord Kingdom, I’ve worked so hard to develop my magic…!
Now, the powerful high-ranking vampire didn’t even resemble himself, having become even weaker than the lowest-class lackeys.
(Blood! Blood! Blood!!!)
He writhed in agony, his eyes reddened, trying to grab the small fish swimming nearby to feed on their living blood in a desperate attempt to regain his strength—
But that was just wishful thinking!
He was too late for everything!
“Disappear!!!!!!”
The spirits surged with even greater brilliance, merging into an indistinct silhouette that unleashed explosive magical energy.
“U-bobooooo—!!”
Pain was an understatement. He was pierced with countless burning needles, relentlessly beat down with unfathomable agony.
His muffled wails were drowned out by the sound of boiling water—
Suddenly, silence. It was as if the candlelight had been snuffed out, and darkness reclaimed its territory.
The spirits that had been there just moments ago were nowhere to be seen.
Only a charred lump that barely retained a human shape, and half-eaten fish carcasses drifted helplessly.
Eventually, fish began to gather around the carcass.
The ashen remains swam away woefully—sinking to the bottom.
†††
(I’m… going to die…)
Julietta’s dim eyes stared vacantly at the ceiling.
Feeling a thick presence of “the end” around her.
Starting with the roaring noise, the shouts and screams of the Lake Pirates, the sounds of lightning and sword clashes echoed in the distance, culminating in the ship tilting, creaking, and water flowing in—
And now, it was already up to her waist.
“…”
The chains binding her hands rattled softly. She was painfully aware of how sturdy they were and how impossible it was to escape.
(I’m tired…)
There was no fear of death. She was just utterly exhausted. She wanted nothing more than to be free. To be released from everything.
Drowning seemed painful and unpleasant, but well, it would take a few minutes. Considering the suffering she had endured so far, that wasn’t too much.
Water was up to her shoulders.
To die sooner, she thought to exhale completely and sink.
She sighed softly, preparing to sink when—
“Eh?”
The wall before her cracked, and she gasped in shock at the light pouring through the gap.
—A blazing red sky.
Dusk? Or dawn? Her sense of time was hazy, but it was clearly the sky.
The ship had split in two, and on that occasion, the cargo hold holding her was destroyed, revealing the outside—she had no way of knowing it.
In any case, it was all over in an instant.
As it crumbled apart, the ship sank.
Dragging Julietta, chained to the pillar, along with it.
“Guh…!”
She was enveloped in the cold water. Bubbles escaped her mouth. Staring in awe at the sunshine, her breath caught in her throat, and the air she had inhaled was lost from her lungs.
As she looked up, bubbles whimsically rising to the surface, Julietta—half in a daze—watched them drift away.
(…No way)
Watching the sun-drenched surface of the water move further and further away, reflexively, that thought surged up.
(…I don’t want to die!)
It would have been better if it stayed dark.
If no light had shone upon me.
If I couldn’t see the scenery, even for a moment—
I could have avoided remembering my hope for life and the fear of death!!
—It wasn’t rational. Once I wished not to die, that was everything.
(No!!! No!!!)
Desperately, she struggled to pry herself free from the chains. She should have known how pointless that struggle was.
She kicked the water in a futile attempt to rise. But the pillar binding her was far too heavy, mercilessly dragging her down to the bottom.
(Save me…!)
It was agony. She could no longer breathe.
(Someone…!)
She desperately sought help. But there was no one. No one here to save her.
(Ah…)
The surface felt distant.
Was it darkness due to the sinking?
Or because her consciousness was fading?
Gradually, it was becoming less painful…
(Ro-me-o…)
The face of her deceased lover flashed through her mind. His smiling face and dying face alternated.
If I die like this, in the underworld—will I see him again?
Thinking that made it easier—
As Julietta resigned herself, bowing her head, she nearly let go of consciousness at that moment.
“!?! Bofah!”
In disbelief, the air was squeezed from her lungs.
Right below Julietta was the shadow of a massive creature.
A water-dwelling beast, baring its jagged, wicked teeth, was approaching!
(Why—!?)
Having her lover killed, being a plaything for the Lake Pirates, and now about to drown in a sinking ship, would she be devoured by this aquatic beast at the very end?!
That was… far too much!!
Even if she could die instantly and head straight to the underworld!!
(No—!! Romeo—!!)
Julietta shut her eyes tightly.
The water-dwelling beast gaped its massive jaws wide, lunging toward Julietta—
But instead, it bit down on the pillar that bound her.
With a violent crunching sound, the pillar was shattered. It then carefully grasped the chains on her hands, biting down with a crack that severed them.
(…!?)
And then, gently placing the stiff Julietta atop its head, it surged forcefully upward.
Julietta, who had never seen a creature of this kind before, couldn’t immediately identify it as a Lake Serpent.
Nor could she see that the Lake Serpent was built from bones and skin with little flesh, for underwater, it was dark enough that it was naturally hard to notice.
The surface loomed closer and closer.
A bright world with the morning sun shining through—
“Khah!”
Breaking the surface, Julietta gasped for air. The wind blowing over the lake brushed against her cheeks. The world was dazzling, almost to the point of tears.
“Ah…”
Yet for her, completely exhausted, even the little remaining chain felt too heavy.
Just as she intended to sink down again weakly, something was supporting her feet.
As she swam, struggling, she managed to grasp a drifting barrel. Her breathing was rough, but she could freely breathe. It was wonderful.
“Hah, hah,… wait?”
When she realized it, the figure of the beast was gone. It vanished without a trace—at least that’s what Julietta believed.
It was no wonder.
The beast, having gotten too close to the surface, had—
Disintegrated beneath her, breaking apart—
It was something she had no awareness of, absorbed entirely in her struggle to survive.
“—Julietta”
From somewhere, she faintly sensed his voice.
“…Romeo?”
Julietta inhaled sharply, looking around.
Was that just an auditory hallucination? No, it couldn’t be.
She distinctly heard it! His voice!
“Romeo!”
But no matter how much she searched, the sparkling surface of the water was only blinding—
†††
Beneath the waves.
Leaving her lover behind, the being that had once taken the form of a gigantic beast—
Turned into a mass of ashes, slowly sinking down.
To a darkness, deep and endless, in the watery depths.
—To a world far, far away.
