Chapter 68 - From the Beginning (3)

The moment Blue Moon Watia laid eyes on Windhand, she clenched her teeth and her face contorted.

Windhand was the same. His brown eyes wavered like a reed bed in the wind.

"I'm glad you're alive."

"Me too, I feel the same."

The two tightly embraced and patted each other's backs. It wasn't a very long hug, but that brief moment was enough to offer a glimpse into their bond.

"More importantly, why are you here... Ah, I see! You said you were sending someone to the mainland, and it seems you finally pulled it off! I was actually wondering how I had never heard of someone so strong. So he's the one you brought!"

At the same time, Blue Moon easily figured out my identity—or my origins? It seemed she also knew about the mission Windhand was tasked with.

Her eyes looking at me grew noticeably warmer.

"And the people too..."

Of course, that warmth was cut off the very next moment. It was because her gaze, which had been captivated by Windhand, me, and the captive people, landed on the Inquisitor.

And out of all things, on the Inquisitor who was emitting divine power to heal the people.

"Temple scum—!"

A booming roar of anger echoed out. It was Windhand's turn to suffer.

* * *

"I will be watching you closely, dog of the Temple!"

Fortunately, a few minutes later. After Windhand's desperate persuasion, Blue Moon was successfully convinced.

Of course, she was only 'convinced.' As if her anger still hadn't cooled, she spun around the moment the conversation ended.

Resentment was ground between her lips.

"Get ready! We're returning to base!"

Meanwhile, her subordinates, who had been glaring fiercely at the Inquisitor, began gesturing to the people. Just as I had hoped, they stepped up to take our problem off our hands.

They did take the mules and wagons in return... but I decided to just let them have those. They would be more useful to them than to us anyway.

"That's a load off our minds."

DeB said casually while squatting next to me. I couldn't tell if he meant solving the issue of the people's safety or successfully convincing Blue Moon.

"I apologize, this is because of me."

"If you know, do better."

"I wasn't talking to you."

"What? Are you saying you're not sorry to me?"

"T-That's!"

Well, did the Inquisitor really have anything to be sorry to me for? Blue Moon's hostility was entirely directed at the Temple, and didn't include me or DeB.

Of course, when I had intervened and said something just like with Windhand, I did receive some fierce glares, but that was my own fault.

"Hey."

Just then, Windhand, who had sweated bullets trying to stop Blue Moon—in truth, it must have been even harder to stop her since he hadn't forgiven the Inquisitor yet either—approached us. His face was rather pale, like a man drained of energy.

"If it's alright with you, could you escort them just until we reach the base? You know how many demons are in the forest. Even now, there are several coming to attack."

I'm pretty sure that's because Blue Moon raised her voice so much and they came running at the sound. That was the very reason I had forcibly intervened while cursing my concept.

"And... I need to let her know about the Temple forces following behind us. Knowing Watia's personality, she probably thinks she's the only one."

Right. But wait. She got this angry over just one person being here? If she ran into the group behind us without hearing the full story first, it would be a total disaster.

"Uh, I don't really mind. In fact, it might actually be better since it'll be easier to interrogate that guy."

"I am fine with it too."

The two quickly agreed but kept glancing at me. They were clearly worried that I would just leave, saying the people's protection was none of my business.

"More importantly, if they're the resistance force, they should know a lot about the situation in Montata. I think it's well worth stopping by."

Windhand was burning with anxiety over that same part as well. He quickly continued.

It seemed he was also slowly figuring out the mechanics of how my concept worked. To think he'd present an efficient method for hunting demons rather than appealing to emotion.

「❖ The Fangs Aiming at Zakrati

◆ Find the Bipurit gang's bases 11 / ?

◆ Eliminate the Bipurit gang's bases 11 / ?

◆ Optional: Help Blue Moon escort the people

◆ Bonus: Kill Bipurit」

Even if it was optional, a quest had actually been added.

"Tsk."

Naturally, I had no choice but to accept.

I might have clicked my tongue at the prospect of taking a detour, but I withdrew my stance of leaving alone. Realizing that his persuasion had worked, a certain someone let out a sigh of relief.

"... Then let's go."

Right on cue, Blue Moon's group was gathering the people to leave this place.

The four of us followed at the rear.

* * *

"To think there'd be an entrance in what looked like a cliff, let alone a bay inside of it... It's even larger in scale than I thought, huh?"

"... Thank goodness. To think this many people have survived."

The base we arrived at after walking for a few hours boasted an even more massive size than expected. Over a dozen ships were lined up, and hundreds of people were coming and going.

Blue Moon's expression was filled with pride.

"It's a secret harbor known only to pirates, completely hidden from city folks. Given the situation, it's currently being used as both a base for the resistance and a shelter for civilians."

It certainly looked the part.

The entrance wasn't wide, making it incredibly easy to defend, and they had prepared it solidly. At this rate, it was probably safer than most castles.

THUMP.

「Hidden Harbor」

「❖ The Fangs Aiming at Zakrati

◆ Find the Bipurit gang's bases 11 / ?

◆ Eliminate the Bipurit gang's bases 11 / ?

◆ Bonus: Kill Bipurit」

Along with the sound of a beating drum, the location name and quest were updated.

"You said a lot of pirates went over to their side. Wouldn't the ones who defected know about this place?"

"Ah, don't worry. The only pirates who know about this are our brothers. And as far as I know, no traitor has emerged from among our brothers."

"Then that's a relief."

But those words just now were a total flag for a traitor to appear.

I hoped it would just end as a groundless fear, but somehow, I had a bad feeling.

"First, let's talk to the one in charge here..."

"Watia noonim! You've returned!"

"If it isn't Chimawa. Yeah, and I brought your brother along too!"

"Huh? Who else... No way, look who it is! If it isn't Suriya hyungnim!"

"Chimawa! You were here too!"

"Haha, I followed noonim here!"

Why was my gut feeling so awful? The tingling in my right arm only doubled that sensation. It felt like something was going to blow up at any second.

"More importantly, hyungnim, why are you showing up at such a bad time?"

"Isn't that just how pirates are?"

"Ahaha, that's true."

"What is this now."

"What do you mean, I'm... Wait, Lahong? Hah, Lahong was here too? There's even the chain-smoker's ship over there. Good grief, I guess every pirate who didn't defect is here?"

"It's not just pirates. Some of the city guard are here to protect the people..."

"Blue Moon, Windhand. Enough of the chatter between yourselves and explain what's behind you. Why is there a woman wearing the Temple's crest?"

"Huh? You're right! Hyungnim! What's going on!"

"Now, now, calm down. Just listen to me for a second—"

CLANG CLANG CLANG.

"...!"

I stand corrected.

「❖ The Fangs Aiming at Zakrati

◆ Find the Bipurit gang's bases 11 / ?

◆ Eliminate the Bipurit gang's bases 11 / ?

◆ Optional: Stop the demons' attack

◆ Bonus: Kill Bipurit」

Things had just blown up.

"Demons! Demons are flying this way!"

"Ten ships are approaching! They aren't registered ships!"

Reports followed the ringing bells. The sporadic screams and cries were likely proof of the despair they had experienced before coming here.

"How did they find this place!"

"Damn it, so they finally found out about this place too."

"... Of all times, now!"

"I told you your timing was bad, hyungnim."

The captains present here each spat out a word before raising their heads again.

"You lot, block the entrance! And you! Guide the people!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Bring your weapons at once and prepare for battle! Demons are coming!"

"Get the weapons!"

"You guys, hurry up and grab your weapons too!"

To be a captain meant being the one to lead people through the vast open sea and find the path to land. Once again, they desperately sought a way to survive and barked out orders.

They seemed to have temporarily forgotten about our existence. Which was fair, given the magnitude of the event.

"Boss, Outlaw! Ah, and Blue Moon too! Please hurry to Pier 4! The guard captain and the other captains have already gathered!"

"I'm heading there right now!"

"Windhand! You come too!"

Immediately after giving the most prioritized orders, the captains hurriedly ran off somewhere. It was likely that all the captains here were gathering to discuss countermeasures.

"Demon Knight."

At that moment, Windhand, who had been about to run off, turned his body and grabbed my arm.

Naturally, I pulled my hand away before he could grab it. Windhand smiling in a scrunched-up manner at my usual reaction was a bonus.

"I'm counting on you."

"No need."

"Haha, right."

Counting on me, my ass. Even without that, I was the one who should be begging to let me kill them.

With such idle thoughts, I moved forward. It was a different direction from where Windhand had run off to. My destination was the pier.

"I shall accompany you as well."

Yeah, yeah, suit yourself. But fighting alongside a Priest wouldn't end up with me getting hit by an arrow or something too, right?

"I will go eavesdrop on the captains' conversation for a bit."

"E-Eavesdrop!"

"We need to know how they plan to fight, don't we? I'll listen in and figure out where the vulnerabilities might be, so you two go ahead and fight first!"

"... If that is the case, understood."

The stiff-necked Inquisitor finally accepted his reasoning and let DeB go. My steps were already heading straight for the pier. No one stopped us. They didn't have the presence of mind for that.

"Who are you guys? I've never seen your faces before!"

"Windhand sent us."

"Windhand? Uh, did you guys newly join too? But why is there a Temple crest on her clothes..."

Seeing the Inquisitor plunge the preparing pirate into confusion by confessing the truth, I drew my sword.

"Get on the ship! We need to block the bay so their ships can't enter!"

Luckily, a ship preparing to set sail to block the bay was at the pier I had stepped onto.

"Is it alright to just board like this?"

"Then stay behind."

"I-I shall board."

I naturally blended in like a pirate and boarded the ship. Of course, I didn't do any work. Not only did I not know how, but it also didn't fit my concept.

"What are you guys doing not helping out!"

Of course, the Inquisitor tried to help. She just failed due to her lack of skill.

"Fuck, why did you even board!"

"I b-boarded to fight..."

"Goddammit, are you a mercenary?!"

"For now, I am an adventurer."

"Damn it, then step aside over there so you don't get in the way!"

"U-Understood!"

Oh my, our dumpling is going to burst at the seams.

I babbled those thoughts as I watched three vessels, including the ship I was on, attempting to leave the bay at the same time. It was a light musing to ease the tension.

"Row the oars!"

The ship set off.

"Brace for impact!"

And soon, it was forcefully brought to a halt. THUMP! The deck vibrated violently, and with a crunch, part of the ship's rail was smashed away.

"It worked!"

It was an accident caused by ships colliding with each other, but the crew members were actually rejoicing. Of course, even an accident was bound to be celebrated if it was intentional.

"The bay is blocked!"

"Hurry up and take your positions!"

The entrance to the bay where the secret harbor was located was just wide enough to make you wonder if two ships could pass each other. The moment three ships tried to exit, them colliding and getting stuck was inevitable.

In other words, the ships themselves became a barricade, completely sealing off the bay.

It was a last stand with their backs to the wall, but there was nothing as effective as this.

For the approaching ten ships to pass through here, they would either have to destroy and sink these ships, or board them and then swim the rest of the way to reach the harbor.

SCREECH!

Around that time, the flying demons began to slowly come into view. Gargoyles were a given, and there were also demons resembling dragons, as well as monsters that looked like eagles.

「Wyvern | A demon that flies through the sky with a pair of wings and snatches its prey with its legs. Some individuals have venom flowing through their arrowhead-like tails.」

「Harpy | A demon with the body of a bird of prey and the face of a human. A terrible stench emanates from its hideous face.」

There were so many of them. It felt like watching a flock of seagulls or pigeons gathering on a busy street to beg for shrimp crackers.

"D-Damn it. There are too many."

"Shit, can we really hold out against this?"

Ten ships and a swarm of demons embroidering the sky. The crew members who witnessed this clutched their weapons, but they were trembling.

The morale that had been high when they successfully blocked the bay was plummeting again due to the sheer difference in numbers.

"Get a grip, you bastards! We have no other options! Just hold the line no matter what!"

However, their fighting spirit rose once again when an unnamed captain—his clothes were far too flashy for an ordinary crewman—joined this side by riding a small boat over.

"Haha, did you all wait for me?"

Even the handsome young man with long curly hair and light brown eyes that looked almost golden, Outlaw Chimawa, had joined the frontline.

"Let's all have some fun!"

"Yeah!"

It was a frivolous tone entirely unsuited to the situation, but it actually worked well. For something so heavy, you sometimes had to force yourself to take it lightly just to put your mind at ease.

The pirates prepared for the decisive battle, armed with bows and swords. Glancing back at the harbor, they had evacuated the civilians to one side and were forming a defensive line to protect that area.

"Demon Knight."

Meanwhile, the Inquisitor slammed the shield she carried on her back onto the center deck with a thump. A portion of the divine power inherent in her body could be vividly felt.

Even though I was only sensing the minute amount leaking out from what she had tightly packed in, it was truly dense and oppressive. Almost to the point where I wondered if it was a bit unpleasant.

"I will not let anyone pass behind me."

"T-They're coming!"

"B-Bows!"

"Fire!"

But the unpleasantness only lasted a moment. That single remark of hers was incredibly reassuring.

As long as the Inquisitor held the line, there wouldn't be a GAME OVER from too many people dying. Probably.

"Therefore, please run wild to your heart's content!"

"Dodge!!"

The first Wyvern to reach the ship swiftly plummeted down toward me.

SCREECH—!?

SLASH!

Remaining in the exact posture it plummeted down in, the creature's body was split perfectly in two. Thump. As the two chunks of meat rolled across the deck, the silver-white gleam of my sword blade was held in my hand.

"...!"

"T-The demon..."

Screech. The metallic scraping sound of the scimitar was familiar to me now.

"It seems my tongue has finally found its use."

"...!"

At the exact same time the Inquisitor's face brightened, my body launched into the air. BANG. A Harpy's nape was stomped by my combat boot before it was stabbed right between the eyes and plummeted down.

"Victory to my sword."

FLUTTER.

Then, my body soared up, the three-pronged hem of my coat flapping like tail feathers or wings.

It was the prelude to the grand ball that was about to take place in the sky.

"Death to the demons...!"

The massacre in the sky had begun.