On the Sea -1

A few days after concluding my meeting with Clara.

While loading supplies onto a ship in preparation for moving to the Demon King's realm, an unbelievable report arrives.

"Brother Taro! It's terrible!"

"What is it, William?"

"The Japanese guards have taken the keep hostage and vanished!"

William's report brings a shadow to Tōgen's face.

The person who must have taken the keep hostage is surely him.

"You...."

Rina also realizes it, approaching with a worried expression.

She had spoken to Rina about what happened that night.

"Would that man, the one known as the Phantom Sword, come this far?"

"I don't know. The Japanese soldiers are skilled. It might be hard to shake off all of them."

"I want you to come see Lord Tenshu."

"Why do you think that?"

"The stone sickness... I can't feel anything. The parts covered by the stone don't feel anything at all. I only feel pain when they don't move... The stone itself feels neither pain nor suffering. That's what scares me... approaching death without feeling anything at all."

Lina wished she could ease that fear, knowing the joy of being saved herself.

"Shall we wait until departure? Is that alright?"

"Yes, please do."

"William, keep watch, but if the Sword Phantom arrives, clear a path for them."

"Understood. Next time, I won't let them pass freely."

William flashed a confident, smug grin.

Yet time mercilessly passed, and departure time arrived.

The Sword Phantom did not appear.

"Let's set off. Lower the dock."

The ship slowly began to move.

This vessel was a steamship that effectively utilized magic crystals.

The large paddle wheels began to spin faster.

We’d soon be out at sea.

Turning her back to the receding land, she gazed out at the ocean.

The endless sea was calm and clear, blessed by favorable weather.

Noa kept staring toward the land.

She wasn’t skilled at handling magic crystals—far less than me—but when it came to water magic, she was no less capable than I was. She could even control this very sea.

“Something wrong? Did something happen?”

"No, the sea is agitated. Is the sea's magic essence disturbed?"

Following Noah's gaze, I look toward the land. Something white is flying from the land.

A living creature? No, it's moving too swiftly—rippling?...! That's a shockwave.

"Everyone, launch the ships from there! Don't let it hit us at all!"

I alter the air's density, gradually dampening the shockwave's path.

The shockwave cut through the sea, passing just beside the ships.

The air carried by the shockwave shook the ships violently. The wind was overwhelming—hard to breathe.

Noah leapt from the ship, landing on the water's surface.

He didn't sink, but stood firmly on the waves.

Placing his staff on the sea, he met the second incoming shockwave with a blade of water.

The two collided and vanished, annihilating each other.

Still, that shockwave was incredibly powerful—shattering a blade of water like it was nothing...

Noah created a special current around the ship, boosting its maneuverability and enabling it to escape.

But the third shockwave never came.

Instead, the one who launched the shockwave flew through the air and directly breached the ship.

"Damn it!"

Noah immediately returned to the ship and assumed a defensive stance.

William and other combatants had already begun preparing for the attack.

"What's this? I thought I was being taken somewhere, but it's the Demon King's ship—looks like my luck has run out... After my master so passionately rescued me... Ah, I see. You're suggesting we team up to defeat the Demon King, is that it?"

What fell was, as expected, the sword spirit and the castle tower he was holding in his arms.

The Castle Lord chuckled, teasing the Sword Spirit.

"Stop beating around the bush. As I said before, I've come to treat your stone illness."

A shadow crossed the Castle Lord's face.

"Again with that? You're asking for the impossible. Coming all the way here...

Demon King. I'm sorry for intruding. I apologize for barging in so suddenly."

"You won't escape, Castle Lord. Your life is about to change from this moment on."

Saying that, Tōgen drew the sword at his waist and pointed it toward the keep...

The tension on the ship instantly escalated.

"Once was understandable, but to raise your blade at me twice? You must truly not value your life."

"I've made my decision. I'll risk losing all your power, but I'll cure your demonstone sickness and save you."

The situation was on the brink of explosion.

An atmosphere was palpable, as if a violent outburst was about to erupt right there on the ship.

How dare they do that right here!

I unleash my magical energy at full force.

The wave radiates beyond the ship, reaching even the demon lord's territory and the ports of nearby imperial lands.

Everyone on board feels their breath grow tight.

The demon lord's aura.

This suffocating sensation—unknown to the demon lord himself—is caused by all magical energy within range being drawn under his control.

Of course, the magical essence within one's body is also within the range of effect.

Even the magical essence contained in places like the lungs and heart becomes suffocating under his control.

"Everyone, calm down. Let's talk again—there's no need to fight."

"Hmph, at least you've got the nerve to call yourself a Demon Lord. But trying to force someone to listen by pinning their head down? You're awfully full of yourself."

Truly worthy of the title "Tenshu." Even as their spiritual essence is being interfered with, they remain calm and composed.

The same goes for Dougen.

I tried to calm the situation and steer it toward dialogue, but that only made things worse. The Tenshu's killing intent now turned toward me.

"Please, Tenshu-sama. Will you listen to me, just for a moment?"

Though it wasn't magic, the voice reached every ear present.