Chapter 395: Know Your Enemy

The morning sun rose, and the sea reflected the light as if slicing it into tiny pieces. The calm sea looked like peace itself, but the mermaids’ expressions were grim.

“So it means there is an existence even more vicious than that aquatic magic beast,” Dee muttered with his arms crossed.

I nodded vaguely at his words and looked at Rilda’s profile. Unlike yesterday, only about ten mermaids could be seen today. No, there were probably more, but they might be on standby somewhere.

“Yeah… It’s just information from the mermaids, and we haven’t actually seen it yet, though.”

Even as I said that, I was actually quite on guard. After all, Rilda and the others, who had lived in the sea inhabited by that monster whale, clearly recognized it as a threat. There was no doubt it was a terrifying entity.

“The sea, huh. The troublesome one would be a magic beast called Zaratan, said to be harder than earth dragon species. I hear neither swords nor magic have any effect on it.”

When Panamera said that, Arb and Law knitted their brows and made unpleasant faces.

“……We can’t win against that, right?”

“No, it’s just about repelling it…… though Sir Dee is the only one who intends to fully subjugate it.”

The two looked anxious as well. An unknown enemy is truly terrifying. However, there was someone standing in front of me with feelings stronger than the fear of such a magic beast. Khamsin, gripping his sword tightly even though nothing was visible yet, was glaring at the sea with bloodshot eyes.

“……I will kill Lord Van’s enemies, I will kill Lord Van’s enemies, I will kill Lord Van’s enemies……”

Khamsin continued to weave words like a small curse. It was honestly way too scary.

“Khamsin is really fired up, isn’t he.”

“……I-I think he might be a little too fired up……”

Seeing Khamsin’s energetic display, I could hear such a conversation between Till and Arte from behind me. Right then, Ortho and his group, whom I had asked to do various preparations, returned.

“Lord Vaaan!”

“We found all sorts of things!”

Ortho and the others returned waving their hands in a great mood. I had asked them to explore the mountains, and it seemed they had found some good materials or ores.

“What did you find?”

When I asked, Ortho and the others showed off pelts and meat in both hands with smiles on their faces. Kusala explained while lining them up on the ground.

“It was a large bipedal magic beast. It was quite durable, and blunt attacks didn’t work on it at all! We carved up its skin, meat, and bones too!”

As Kusala gave his explanation, Pluriel pointed at the pelt and opened her mouth.

“It’s a very elastic material, so we thought Lord Van might be able to put it to various uses.”

“Wow, thank you!”

I thanked Ortho and the others and accepted the materials. They were rare materials that would probably fetch a high price, so I was truly grateful. Glancing sideways at the chivalric order members carrying the materials to the fort, I turned back toward the sea.

“It sure is quiet.”

“Is this what they call the calm before the storm?”

“It’ll be difficult to fight while it’s in the sea.”

I could hear Ortho and the others leaning against the fort walls, chatting as they took a break. Even though it was an unknown large magic beast, I was impressed by how calm they were. The same went for Dee and Panamera, but it seemed that those with abundant combat experience could remain calm when it counted.

While I was observing everyone’s faces and thinking about such things, it started getting a little noisy among the mermaids.

“Van-kun! It has appeared!”

Largus turned around, looking a bit tense, and said that. Nodding at his words, I called out to Dee.

“Well then, shall we do this?”

“Sir! Everyone, take your positions!”

As I gave the signal, Dee immediately barked out orders. As everyone moved to their defensive positions, I called out to Rilda and the others too.

“Alright then, just according to the plan!”

“Y-Yes……!”

“Understood.”

When I called out, Rilda and Largus replied and dove into the sea. The figures of the mermaids vanished, and the operation was set into motion.

“……Fumu. The sea remains quiet, but does that mean there is something on the seabed?”

Panamera took a step forward, narrowed her eyes, and said that. I nodded at her and called out to Arte as well.

“Arte.”

“Y-Yes! I’m ready!”

When I called her name, Arte immediately straightened her back and answered. Then, I looked at the two puppets standing by in front of the beach house.

“They’re made of Wood Blocks, so they can’t fight underwater, remember?”

“Y-Yes!”

Since she looked nervous, I gave her a reminder just one more time. Arte replied crisply to that as well. I felt she was too tense, but that probably couldn’t be helped. Even if I told her to relax, it wouldn’t be so easy to loosen up.

That being said, the ones truly in danger were the mermaids. In this operation, we wouldn’t be entering the sea. On the other hand, the mermaids would be fighting while constantly exposed to danger.

No matter if it was a plan Largus had proposed, I was a little worried.

“……Lord Van! There is movement!”

At that moment, Dee raised his voice and pointed offshore. Raising my face at his voice and looking into the distance, the sea swelled massively, and something colossal revealed itself.

Large mouths and countless growing fangs. The necks supporting those large heads were long, and five of them were lined up.

“……Five?”

Muttering that, I strained my eyes, and within the water pillar, ten eyes emitted a glow. At that unexpected sight, I involuntarily lost my words.

“……A five-headed dragon? You’ve got to be kidding me. I wonder if each of the five heads has its own brain……”

Faced with a sight devoid of any sense of reality, I couldn’t help but mutter such a thing.