Chapter 34

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Translated by Sylph

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“But once I turned eight, I started getting busy. Karl Warben kept driving me out onto battlefields. Even so, the reward money was decent, so I just kept my eyes on that and went around conquering magic stones.”

Unlike his calm voice, the helm in Basto’s hands was turning busily.

The boat with the seasoned helmsman rode the current and approached the magic stone at great speed.

“Then I sent Lilia off first. It is all my fault.”

“……”

“Veil. By nature, there are certain matters in which I cannot easily become cold-hearted. No, I do not want to become cold-hearted.”

Veil let out a sigh, but Basto continued speaking.

“You saw it too. What expression Pearl City’s governor had. The children she was searching for are there.”

The magic stone, now closer, was showing an even more imposing figure than expected.

In truth, the size and appearance of the magic stones rising throughout the continent all differed.

Except for the fact that they were made entirely of black stone, they were difficult to distinguish from ordinary buildings.

The magic stone before Basto and Veil’s eyes was shaped like a temple supported by four pillars.

“We have to save them. I cannot turn back after seeing that they are alive.”

One of those pillars.

Even in Veil’s eyes, there was a medium-grade hull split in two and hanging there precariously.

One person was sprawled on it as though dead, while the other was standing and protecting that person.

“Gah, s-save us-!”

As the waves grew rougher, the one who was conscious cried out urgently.

“Lord Basto! What should we do!”

The sailors hurried over.

After turning his head to check the direction of the wind, Basto turned the helm again.

“Approaching is difficult because of the current. Now all we can do is wait.”

There was not much time.

Within that time, the wind would have to blow in their favor.

So that they could reach the magic stone.

* * *

“You found them? Is that really true?!”

Marianne sprang to her feet.

Tie, who had been sitting beside her, was likewise startled and jumped off the sofa.

“Yes! It looks like they were about to be swept out into the open sea and are hanging on by clinging to the magic stone!”

Marianne’s complexion turned paper white.

She hurriedly fixed her gaze on Astie.

“It looks as though we must go out to sea, Commander.”

“Huh? But it’s dangerous outside……?”

Basto and Veil had said that no matter what happened, he must not come out to the dock.

They had also said she would be scolded if she did not wait inside the government office no matter what.

But Marianne was utterly headstrong.

“I cannot just stay here like this! A magic stone, for the place where those children are to be near a magic stone!”

Looking out the window, Marianne at once ran outside before Tie even had time to stop her.

“G-Guv’nor!”

Tie had no choice but to fasten her uniform tightly.

Then, with her bag slung in front of her, she ran out of the government office.

Marianne was already running far ahead through the downpour.

“Huff, huff! Oh boy, this is hard!”

When she arrived panting, she saw that a small number of people had gathered at the dock.

It seemed that after hearing the evacuation order, quite a lot of the residents had already fled outside the village.

“‘Until now, I wasn’t scared at all……'”

To be honest, Tie had not taken this situation seriously.

Because he was still young, he had only thought that surely Basto and Veil would find the governor’s two sons and come back before it was too late.

Up until now, the only thing in Tie’s head had been her future self rising smoothly based on a network with the governor.

But when she actually saw the people evacuating and Pearl City left empty, worry came over her.

“‘What if the sun really sets like this?'”

Then what if monsters burst out of the magic stone?

Growing restless, Tie tried calling her bone friends in her mind.

“‘Bone friends!'”

But once again, no answer came.

In Tenebraum Cave and at the gate, Tie had been able to keep talking with her bone friends in her mind the whole time.

It was like having a Bluetooth speaker turned on in her heart and staying on a call the whole time, maybe?

But now it was clear that, no matter what, she could not ask the bone friends for help.

“Raul, Enzo…… please……!”

Beside her, Marianne sobbed.

The wind and rain only kept growing fiercer, and each time the current surged in, Tie had to stand with strength in her legs so she would not be pushed away.

“‘I have to find something Tie can do? Grandpa Nordix said Tie was born with tremendous power……?'”

Nordix was now evacuating people at the entrance to the village.

If she found out that Tie had slipped out of the government office building, she would surely be scolded.

“‘But Mister Basto and Oppa Veil are over there.'”

Tie’s green eyes shook unsteadily.

When she raised her head, the sky had grown completely dim.

Because of the clouds, she could not tell exactly when sunset would be, but one thing was certain.

“‘The sun will set soon.'”

She was anxiously fiddling with her nails when,

“T-the, the rift is opening!”

Sure enough, someone cried out urgently.

When she turned her head, she really could see a faint opening appearing around the magic stone.

The opening only kept growing wider, as though it might spill monsters out at any moment.

“L-look over there! Agabert Mercenary Company is saving the young masters!”

At the same time, another sailor shouted.

Through the thinned-out rain, Basto could be seen bringing two people down from the hull hanging on the magic stone.

Without realizing it, Tie clasped both hands tightly together.

“‘Come quickly, Mister Basto!'”

More time had passed than she had expected.

If they were even a little later, something truly terrible might happen.

Fortunately, Basto looked very skilled at handling a boat.

The hull, which had turned sharply on the spot, faced the land and then began approaching quickly.

“Raul, Enzo……”

Marianne was on the verge of losing her reason.

Unable to take her eyes off the approaching boat, she kept tearing at her own chest.

“G-Guv’nor, don’t worry……! Everyone will be here really soon now……”

Tie hurried over and grabbed the shoulder of Marianne, who had fallen to her knees on the ground.

“Wh-what is that?”

From among the sailors around them came a small whisper of disbelief.

Naturally, everyone’s eyes turned to where that person was looking.

“Wh-why is Death Hound……”

Tie’s complexion slowly drained.

The vast sea spread out before them.

Monsters were poking their heads out from the rift opened around the magic stone, and for some reason two hulls were pressed together.

The larger hull was crushing the body of the smaller hull without hesitation.

The passenger ship ridden by Death Hound Mercenary Company had rammed Basto’s boat.

The next moment, the members of Death Hound all began jumping onto the small boat.

Each and every one of them with weapons in their hands.

* * *

“What are you doing! I said save the governor’s children!”

In the chaos, Karl shouted fiercely.

But in the sound of the rain, the crashing waves, and the mercenaries’ shouting, his voice kept getting drowned out.

“Just capture Basto Faerix! Kill only those unlucky Agabert bastards!”

“Commander! What should we do about the ordinary sailors!”

“Do I have to answer even about bastards like that?! Just throw them into the sea!”

“M-monsters, monsters are coming out!”

“Kill only what you can kill! Once Basto is dealt with, we go back to land!”

From the beginning, he had never had any intention of conquering the magic stone.

Was Death Hound crazy enough to take that kind of risk?

“Kill them! Kill them! Slit that bastard’s throat!”

Standing at the front, Karl watched Basto, who was in the middle of a melee with his subordinates.

The helm Basto had let go spun round and round in place.

He was using a piece of broken timber to fend off four or five of Karl’s men.

Veil’s situation was much the same.

In the unexpected situation, one sailor ran up in front of Karl.

“Wh-what are you doing?! What do you think you’re doing right now! We were saving the governor’s chi…… guhck!”

Without hesitation, Karl kicked him in the chest and shoved him into the sea.

Then, grinding his teeth, he drew the sword at his waist.

“Persistent bastard.”

Basto still had not died and was still grappling.

Karl slowly climbed down below the prow.

This time, to personally cut off Basto’s breath with his own hands.

At the same time.

“What is this!”

“Death Hound is attacking Agabert!”

“M-monsters!”

Watching the battlefield with a deathly pale face, Tie froze still.

Tie blinked blankly, then lowered her gaze beneath the sea where the black water was rippling.

[……Master.]

From beneath the water, a strange voice was calling her.

But something was odd.

[Master.]

It was definitely a voice she had never heard before.

“‘Why does it sound similar to the bone friends’ voices?'”