The crew members shouted in unison. Their cries were eerily similar to screams.
I, who was stationed in the crow’s nest at the top of the mainmast, grabbed the sword I had propped up in response to the shouts. I then scanned my surroundings with vigilance, gathering information.
However, the scene that met my eyes was unchanged. As usual, the convoy was in a perfect formation, floating on the sea. And in the distance, there was a single, high-quality large ship. It was simply the ship of our prey. We had just fired a cannonball as a greeting to that ship. I could understand if they cheered at the sight of prey, but I couldn’t understand the reason for their screams.
Continuing to survey my surroundings from the crow’s nest, I finally noticed the anomaly. I hadn’t noticed because I had been looking far into the distance from such a high vantage point. The sea where seven ships of the convoy swam. The sea immediately next to it—
—was frozen.
The convoy hadn’t budged at all. All seven ships were large enough to hold enough food to supply an entire town. Those super-heavy ships had stopped simultaneously. No matter how strong the wind blew, not a single one moved. Of course, anyone would panic. I would too.
Below the mast, the crew members were running around investigating the cause. And fortunately or unfortunately, I was the only one who understood the cause at a glance. This time, it was precisely because I was in a high place that I understood. Ahead of the ship’s direction of travel, ‘it’ was there.
A portion of the sea had changed color. It had turned into a sea of pure white, like a snowfield. My keen eyes recognized that it was frozen. Standing on that white sea was a single boy.
A boy with black hair and black eyes, standing with a beautiful crystal sword in one hand. His features were innocent, and he looked to be around the age of whether he had reached adulthood or not. However, even from a distance, I could tell that this boy was no ordinary person. First of all, his aura was so dense that it was visible. That alone was abnormal. Then, a light blue aura swirled around the boy like a whirlwind. At his feet, the magic power was continuously being converted into ice, and a magic circle was encroaching upon the sea, as if to spread a fissure.
A boy with black hair and black eyes who wielded the cold. The existence of this person’s name was familiar to me. It was a new rumor that had reached my ears. The story of the ‘Hero’ who appeared in the Allied Nations of the Northeast—and not just any ‘Hero’. A story of a ‘Hero’ so extraordinary that he performed feats that made one doubt their ears, a ‘Hero’ who seemed to have stepped out of a myth.
It was said: ‘The Strongest.’ It was said: ‘The Sword Saint.’ The ‘Hero’ had many titles. Starting with ‘Dragon Slayer,’ ‘Guardian Slayer,’ ‘Labyrinth Record Holder,’ ‘Mirage Commander’—and then ‘Sword Saint Successor,’ ‘Knight of Snow,’ ‘Natural Hero,’ ‘Saint’s Groom,’ ‘Strongest of All Time,’ ‘Dance Battle Tournament Winner’—there were still more. He had too many epithets. Therefore, people simply called him ‘Hero.’ Now, when one mentioned ‘Hero,’ only that boy came to mind, so there was no problem. No matter how outstanding a hero might be, they paled in comparison to his achievements.
Was the boy in my line of sight that ‘Hero’? If so, there was no way we could win.
Just as my fighting spirit began to wane, the boy began to run across the sea and leaped. Simultaneously, the crew below noticed the boy’s presence and called out to me.
“Hey, Firo! It’s an enemy, and they use magic! You fight too!!”
Naturally. I was on this ship for that very purpose. I’m what you call a hired bodyguard. Exiled from my homeland and no longer a knight, I’ve been cooperating with pirates to survive. Knights who have fallen from grace like myself are in high demand. When enemies who use magic appear, as they do now, we are at a significant disadvantage unless we have someone who can use magic as well.
So. In other words, I was to deal with that boy. That was my role on this ship. If I didn’t act here, it would be a breach of contract. If word spread of my desertion in the face of the enemy, I wouldn’t be able to work as a mercenary on these seas. I knew that.
However, my body wouldn’t move. The approaching boy was too terrifying. I knew it at a glance. That’s why my body was trembling. That was unnatural.
His magic was unnatural. Freezing the sea at his feet and standing on the ocean was understandable. A wizard specializing in Ice Magic could perhaps do it. But stopping the ship was impossible. I understood how much propulsion was required for a ship to move forward. That immense energy had been rendered to zero by that boy’s Ice Magic. And he did it casually while crossing the sea.
As someone who had once been a renowned knight, I felt it acutely. As someone confident in my own magical skills, I despaired. Without a doubt, the boy standing on the sea now was a ‘monster.’
And then, the boy landed on the ship’s deck. His leaping ability elicited a dry laugh. His magic wasn’t the only thing that was strange; his physical abilities were also abnormal. It was clear he wasn’t purely a wizard. The chances of winning in close combat were slim. There were no openings. The chance of victory was nearly zero. How was I supposed to fight? I couldn’t possibly win.
Unfortunately, I was the only one who realized this. There were no wizards among the crew who could understand the boy’s power.
As the boy stepped onto the deck, arrows and magic from the crew flew towards him. But they didn’t reach him. Not a single attack, raining down like an arrow, reached him. The moment they touched the boy’s magic, the arrows slowed, and the magic weakened. He lightly swept his crystal sword, deflecting all incoming attacks. The crew members attacked without pause. Our captain was the first to charge at him. Following him, the crew members attacked the boy with a myriad of blades. But, even that didn’t reach him. The boy calmly swung his sword, deflecting all approaching weapons. His sword strokes seemed sluggish at first glance, but they were astonishingly efficient and devoid of waste. Thanks to my training in the knightly household, I knew. Those were the sword strokes of the Aleis family, which produced Sword Saints. His sword was quieter and more beautiful than any knight I had ever seen. More so than the swordsmen employed by the country, more so than the winners of famous swordsmanship tournaments, more so than any noble knight of the Aleis family.
Leaving trails of ice particles as if painting the world, the boy destroyed all his enemies’ weapons. And with his fluid movements, he disrupted the crew members’ stances, sending them tumbling onto the deck. Simultaneously, he bound them one by one with ice magic circles. The boy’s battles were artistic. I even felt as if I were gazing at tens of thousands of masterpieces in succession. But it was too far removed from reality.
Therefore, I felt more terror than beauty. I’m almost 30. I’ve fought large monsters many times. Of course, I’ve come close to death many times. I’ve been through countless life-or-death situations. I’m confident that ordinary circumstances won’t even raise an eyebrow. Yet, I was so scared that my body still wouldn’t move.
The battle on the deck was gradually drawing to a close. My captain, though a scoundrel, was skilled. Otherwise, he couldn’t have led seven ships of these dangerous ruffians. Yet, the boy defeated the captain as if he were just a common soldier, taking him out of the fight. The crew members were no different. Few pirates on these seas could rival this convoy. Otherwise, they couldn’t repeatedly commit outrages near the mainland. Those strong crew members were being taken down one after another.
Ah, it didn’t feel like fighting a human. I felt like I was facing a natural disaster, no, a divine punishment. What was even more terrifying was that the boy was holding back. He was subduing them without a single injury, as if concerned for the enemies’ well-being. That arrogant and unreasonable compassion was almost blasphemous.
Blasphemous, but— However, as I realized the boy wouldn’t kill the enemies, I felt my fear subside a little. How fickle I was. Finally, my body began to move. I managed to take the first step. Bracing my trembling body, I descended the mast with all my might. But by the time I reached the bottom, it was all over.
Only a sparkling white snow remained, and no one was standing except for the boy. It was a magnificent, unreal sight. The boy turned his gaze towards me as I descended. His unfathomable black eyes locked onto me. I held my beloved sword and took a stance. If I wasn’t going to be killed, there was still a way to fight. I wanted to believe so.
“—You seem quite skilled. Perhaps the best on this ship.” The boy looked at me and said so. He instantly discerned my position on the ship. Those black eyes that seemed to see through everything made me uncomfortable.
“I’m afraid I might not be able to hold back if you resist… So, could you please discard your sword?” Kindly, the boy urged me to surrender.
“Don’t underestimate me…” However, I couldn’t back down from an opponent who didn’t kill their enemies. Petty pride and calculation propelled my feet forward.
“…Skilled in Fire Magic and Divine Magic. And you fight with technique rather than raw power. It seems you were originally a knight.” But I was seen through. His gaze was so deep, so black, it felt as if it could swallow me whole. I felt as if I were seeing the color black for the first time. The boy threatened to know everything about me, implying that fighting would be useless. Fear swelled, and my legs began to falter. Seeing this, the boy smiled gently. However, that gentle smile seemed like a god pitying a fool. It was a blasphemous compassion.
“Are you afraid of me? While I felt a slight excitement, it seems fear has overcome you now. If you stayed scared, it would be helpful… No, for someone like you, you would overcome this level of fear.” The boy evaluated me in a detached manner. I felt as if he could see through me, past my skin, through my flesh, and into the marrow of my bones. I had reached my limit.
“You bastard!!!” Just as the boy said, I cast aside my fear and shouted. Rekindling my fighting spirit, I charged. I attacked with a yell.
“Ugh, what a shame. If only our meeting circumstances were different, perhaps we could have become companions… But, I’m sorry. I’m in a hurry right now. —Let’s meet again if fate allows.” The battle was instantaneous. The moment the boy finished speaking, a terrifying amount of cold air enveloped the ship. Fortunately, it seemed the boy exerted his full power against me, the ship’s strongest combatant, without any hesitation. And my full-body, full-spirit sword was shattered, and all my magic dispersed. It was a malevolent, cold, and merciless power.
Losing my will to fight, I lost consciousness. At the brink of unconsciousness, I thought: —’Monster.’ The word crossed my mind. —’Monster,’ ‘Monster,’ ‘Monster,’ ‘Monster,’ ‘Monster!’ Is this a hero? Don’t lie, this guy is a ‘monster.’ This is impossible for a human being. It shouldn’t be permissible for our species. Unlucky black hair, eyes like the abyss, magic that freezes the spine, insight that sees through everything. Unhuman swordsmanship, a fearless smirk. I pictured a black giant serpent coiling its icy body and devouring all living things.
—Not human. This is a ‘monster’ that freezes everything it touches. That’s why, until the moment my consciousness faded. I continued to call ‘Hero Kanami’ a ‘monster’—
◆◆◆◆◆
“Alright, mission complete!” I rejoiced at being able to perfectly neutralize the enemy convoy. It was worth all the precautions I took. There was one pirate with considerable talent who made me sweat a little, but I managed to finish it safely. I considered taking him with me and recruiting him later, but now is not the time. We’ll reach the mainland tomorrow, so there’s not enough time for persuasion, forcing me to abandon the idea.
—Ah, Mr. Firo Albert. When we meet again, please quit being a pirate. At that time, I’ll surely invite you to our Party… I watched the six ships drifting away, feeling a pang of regret. For now, I had broken the steering, confiscated all supplies, and set them adrift. They wouldn’t be able to launch a surprise attack so easily.
By the way, the information gathering was completed quickly. After interrogating several pirates, they easily revealed their status. Perhaps because they were intimidated by my attack, they showed no signs of hiding anything. As expected, our route had been spread among the pirates. Furthermore, I heard that there was a bounty on us from the Allied Nations. After consulting with Reaper, we decided to alter our route slightly and take a detour. We had seized the enemy’s supplies, so there was no issue with food.
We boarded the captured seventh ship of the enemy convoy with the people who had been held captive. All the slaves captured by the pirates were unharmed. I felt so pleased with myself, the operation was perfect. There were nearly twenty captives. If we worked together, we could likely sail to a nearby continent on the seized ship. As I was explaining the route to the continent to the freed former slaves, I noticed a child hiding behind an adult. The person who appeared to be the parent urged the child to express their gratitude, but the child refused to come forward. Perhaps they were afraid of me. After all, all the slaves had witnessed my combat. Even though I tried to ensure no blood was shed, it was undoubtedly a terrifying sight for a child. It was easy to imagine how the child viewed me. For example, it wouldn’t be strange for them to think of me as a ‘monster’ after seeing my actions.
“I-It’s fine… There’s no need to force you…” Even though I understood, my voice trembled. After all, as a human being, I hated being called a ‘monster.’ The girl, seeing me trembling, hesitantly stepped forward. She bashfully lowered her head and spoke in a faint voice. “…Thank you, big brother.” Hearing those words, my heart felt lighter. …Good. It seemed it was still okay. “Yes, you’re welcome. Take care.” I waved and replied with a smile. The girl’s face brightened, and she smiled back. Seeing the peaceful exchange between the girl and me, others began to express their thanks one after another. It didn’t feel bad. I knew it was merely self-satisfaction, but I was simply happy to be able to contribute, even a little, to someone’s happiness. And then, just as we parted ways in great harmony with no one harmed, a trembling voice echoed.
“Sis…ter?” One of the former slaves, looking at Dia who was observing from afar, called out to her. The man, looking unusually agitated, passed by my side and rushed towards Dia. It happened so suddenly that I couldn’t stop him.
“Ahhh, Sister! That face is Sister!!” The man began to grovel to the point of almost rubbing his head on the deck. “No, I’m not Sis, I’m Dia…!” Dia took a step back from his frantic behavior. She insisted she wasn’t an Apostle. But the man continued to talk without paying attention. “I remember when the kind Sister saved our village! I’ve never forgotten that beautiful face! If Sister hadn’t visited then, many villagers would have died!” “I told you, it’s not!” “Thank you again for saving us. Ah, as expected, you are Sister. The legendary Apostle has returned! I thank God for seeing your beautiful appearance again—!”
I understood that the man was a devout follower of Revannism. It was understandable that someone with deep faith would express such exaggerated gratitude upon encountering a miracle. I also understood that the man had no malicious intent. However, the way he looked at Dia was filled with too much sorrow. It was definitely not the look one gives to a human. It looked not so different from how one might view someone as a ‘monster,’ a being beyond human comprehension, a higher deity.
“That girl is Apostle Sis…?” “Indeed… that appearance is the Apostle who visited our village…!” “Ah, that beautiful appearance, there’s no doubt!” Following the man, people who appeared to be followers of Revannism approached Dia. Dia looked bewildered and grimaced. She then glanced at the pure white clothes she was wearing. After the incident the day before yesterday, Dia had started wearing women’s clothing. The pure and elegant attire, coordinated by Sera, adorned her androgynous beauty like an angel. Like a beautiful apostle from a myth.
“…I’m going to change, Kanami. I’ll wear men’s clothes again.” Dia tried to escape into the ship, bypassing the encirclement of the followers. She seemed to have judged that she had been recognized because of her attire. Even though she had finally started dressing more femininely, she had to change after only a few days. However, knowing that Dia didn’t want to be an apostle, I couldn’t stop her. “Also, I don’t think I can join the afternoon exploration. I’m a little tired, I want to sleep more.” Dia said that before escaping into the ship. She must have remembered something unpleasant and wanted to brood. I could tell from the discomfort emanating from her. The followers continued to worship Dia’s retreating figure. It was a struggle to forcibly stop them and get them into the ship. By the time the preparations for the departure of the former slaves’ ship were complete, the sun had fully risen. Thus, we bid farewell to the people we had rescued and watched the last ship disappear over the horizon. I had already confirmed that their route was safe using ‘Dimension.’ With the noisy people gone, I took a moment to breathe on the deck. It had been a big task, but the day wasn’t over yet. Reaper reviewed today’s schedule.
“I’ve changed the route, so it should be safe now. It’s a bit of a detour, but we should reach the ‘Mainland’ tomorrow, right? Then, after lunch, we’ll be exploring the labyrinth in the afternoon. Who’s going today?” Rustiara was the first to raise her hand, volunteering to participate. There was no reason to refuse, so I allowed her to join. I selected the remaining members based on the labyrinth.
“Reaper, can I ask for your help too?” “Sure. It would be cruel to send someone who can’t swim into those underwater floors, right?” “Thank you. And then…” I extended ‘Dimension’ to encompass the entire ship and searched for the Dragon Person who had not emerged during the ship’s attack, or rather, the Dragon Person who wasn’t working. Although it was a waste of MP before the exploration, Snow’s cooperation was indispensable. After that, Reaper and I worked together to catch the fleeing Snow, and we headed towards the labyrinth exploration.
