Chapter 404: The Threat of the Hydra

Surprisingly, the journey to Tribute was short. If anything, it took less than an hour and a half.

“It was this close!?”

It’s only natural that I would say that. However, Arb opened his mouth with a pale face.

“Lord Van…… do you know just how far this distance felt to us……”

At Arb’s words, Law also nodded silently. Seeing their reaction, I felt like I truly realized the terror of crossing the sea once again.

“I see…… certainly, you can’t be fighting monsters like that out on the sea. I truly understand now that the Fiesta Kingdom’s shipbuilding technology is a threat.”

Saying that with a sigh, we brought the ship into the port of Tribute. By the time we docked the ship, a crowd had already formed at the port. Or rather, people from the chivalric order and various others had gathered. A festival? Is a festival to worship the sea god about to start? Even though we already repelled that monster called the Tyrant King or Sea King or whatever.

While I was thinking such things, a loud voice could be heard from below the ship.

“I presume this is the ship of Sir Dee’s party! Has there been any progress in the search for Count Panamera and Viscount Van!?”

A deep, thick voice of a middle-aged man echoed from below the ship. At that voice, Dee formed a smile and took large strides to the edge of the deck.

Then, leaning out from the ship, he declared in a loud voice.

“I am Dee, Commander of the Seatoh Village Chivalric Order! We have splendidly succeeded in rescuing Lord Van and Lord Panamera!”

When Dee shouted that, voices of surprise and cheers instantly spread across the port. Laughing at those voices, I headed toward the stairs lowered from the ship’s deck to the pier alongside Panamera, Arte, and Till. The moment we showed our faces, we were welcomed by massive cheers.

“It’s a little embarrassing.”

“I feel like we’ve caused a lot of trouble, so I’m really sorry……”

“Ah, Lady Arte. It is okay. Everyone is kind, after all.”

Beside Panamera and me, who were waving our hands while laughing, Arte descended the stairs looking incredibly anxious, while Till encouraged her. Well, Arte’s reaction is the correct one, but receiving such massive cheers just makes me want to wave. Fufufu. Carry on.

Descending the stairs and advancing along the pier, Rosso made his appearance, leading knights from the port town.

“Ooh, Lord Panamera! Lord Van! I am so glad you are safe!”

Rosso spread his arms, smiling as he rejoiced at our return. Panamera responded to this with an elegant bow.

“Thank you very much. Thanks to everyone, we somehow managed to return.”

“Thank you very much!”

Piggybacking on Panamera’s gratitude, I also voiced my thanks. Smiling at that, Rosso nodded and answered.

“Umu. His Majesty will also be delighted by the safety of you two. For now, you should take a good rest.”

When Rosso said that, Panamera formed a smile and tucked her chin.

“Yes, thank you. Well then, I shall just hand over to Your Excellency what we acquired while stranded.”

“What you acquired while stranded? That is……”

Rosso tilted his head at Panamera’s words. Smiling at him, Panamera called out to Dee, who was handling the docking procedures on the ship.

“Sir Dee! Can you bring out that item from up there!?”

When Panamera asked that in a loud voice, Dee poked his head out from the deck and pumped his fist into the air.

“Ooh! Leave it to me!”

At the exchange between the two, the eyes of the large crowd gathered at the port turned toward the ship. Confirming that she had gathered everyone’s attention, Panamera lifted the corner of her mouth.

Then, Dee, Arb, Law, and Khamsin—the four of them—placed the Hydra’s head at the edge of the deck. That massive severed head possessed enough sheer presence to astound everyone present, and voices of shock immediately spread across the port.

“Wh-What is that!? That giant magic beast!?”

“A-A dragon……!?”

Amidst such echoing shouts and screams, Rosso looked up at the head placed on the deck with a dumbfounded face and muttered.

“…………I hardly think it possible, but is that not a Hydra?”

As Rosso said that, Panamera narrowed her eyes.

“Indeed, it is a Hydra. It was my first time seeing one as well, but its sheer size took me by surprise.”

When Panamera laughed as she said that, Rosso placed a hand on his forehead and laughed with an exasperated voice.

“Ha, hahaha…… Surprised does not even begin to cover it. A Hydra has been sighted in my territory a few times in the past. Well, only once in my generation, though. If a Hydra appears, two sections of the highway facing the sea are closed off, and arrangements are made to evacuate the residents from Tribute as well. Do you understand why?”

At Rosso’s inquiry, Panamera nodded deeply and answered.

“Of course. It is likely because, until now, no nation has been able to repel a Hydra. It is a mighty magic beast that is not only gigantic but also submerges most of its body underwater. I have heard that no mage could ever deal it a decisive blow.”

At that answer, Rosso shrugged his shoulders with a wry smile.

“Exactly. In other words, to not just repel a Hydra, but to actually claim its head…… one could call it a monumental achievement that will go down in history. I believe Hydras have a strong resistance to fire magic, so who was it that chopped off its head?”

“It was Sir Dee.”

To Rosso’s question, Panamera replied instantly and turned her eyes to the deck. On the deck, Dee was taking the lead as the Hydra’s head, tied with ropes, was being lowered onto the pier. Looking up at that sight alongside Panamera, Rosso laughed out loud.

“Hahaha! As I thought! My, Sir Dee’s heroism truly leaves me in awe. Just when I thought he had subjugated a dragon, next is a Hydra’s head……”

When Rosso said that while laughing, Panamera let out a small breath of a laugh and turned her face towards me.

“……All of this was made possible thanks to Viscount Van’s extraordinary weapons. Truly, I am glad we were able to return safely. Our country was on the verge of losing its greatest fighting force, after all.”

At those words, Rosso also nodded deeply and looked back at me. Ooh, for some reason, I got praised right at the end.