Read Novel Full Vol 11 Chapter 4
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(7/8)
Chapter 4 – Trial and Error
We infiltrated the Duke’s castle and engaged the remaining Sea Serpent on the Egg. When we managed to fight it off, two more Sea Serpents appeared, and I immediately repatriated the Chris and summoned the Hideaway.
“Wataru-san, why don’t we take a break?”
As we were about to start the extermination battle with the plan decided, Alessia-san asked for a break.
“Since the Chris has been repatriated and there’s no more time limit, there’s no problem with taking a break, but wouldn’t it bother you to have the Sea Serpent hanging around?”
With the size of the Hideaway, it won’t be affected by the water currents, and there will be less surface to impact, so as long as you don’t mind the Sea Serpent, it won’t be a problem, but it is a little unsettling.
“It’s much better than the hordes of bugs in the Demon Forest, and even if we kill the two that are there now, there will be more of them later, so we can’t really worry about them.”
It’s true; it’s a hundred times better than the swarms of bugs in the Demon Forest. And if the Sea Serpent swarm comes back, it’s certainly not worth the effort to kill the two first. It would be easier to attack them if they were grouped together, so we should take a break until the swarm returns.
“I understand. Let’s take a break. I don’t feel comfortable on the deck, so let’s have a cup of tea inside.”
Carla-san, Rimu, Fuu-chan, and Beni-chan, who were probably expecting tea cakes, hurriedly entered the ship. I guess they must be hungry since we got up early today.
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“Hmm…not as many as I thought.”
A few rough-looking Sea Serpents swim menacingly around the Hideaway, but it doesn’t look like even a tenth of the Sea Serpents that were gathered on the Chris.
It’s not surprising that they’re raging since there’s a foreign object in their nest, but the small numbers… haven’t they all returned yet?
“Master. I think the reason there are so few is because they can’t fit inside the castle.”
While I was thinking about this, Felicia gave me the answer to my question. The image I have of snakes is that they are packed tightly into a small space… I see, those are the snakes that are used as traps in the movie, so they have human intervention. I don’t think they would be so dense that it would be difficult to move, even if there were enemies in there.
“That would mean more would come right after we take them out, wouldn’t it?”
“There’s already a Sea Serpent watching us from an unobstructed passageway.”
It looks like they’ve even decided on the order of battle.
“Wataru-san. I can’t help but think about it. If that happens, we just have to defeat the Sea Serpent until it disappears.”
“Alessia is right. If we keep reducing it, it will eventually end.”
“I agree. Then let’s get started.”
Alessia-san and Ines were also very motivated, and since we had originally planned to switch to a war of extermination, we didn’t have to think about anything else and just beat them.
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“Good heavens! Stop dawdling and come to me!”
Alessia-san’s frustration has exploded, hasn’t it? Well, that’s understandable. The only ones among us who can really fight the Sea Serpent right now are Claretta-san and Rimu.
At first, the Sea Serpent attacked us just by showing up at the edge of the Hideaway so that we could all beat it to a pulp.
Maybe we overdid it, but the Sea Serpents that appeared later were wary and didn’t come near us. Although they swarmed around the Chris, and when we were out at sea, they would chase us and attack us even if we ran away. But, inside their nest, they seemed to be more wary.
Next, we lured the Sea Serpents with Ilma-san’s illusion magic, but after repeating it many times, they became wary and would not come near us.
The rampaging state of the monsters in the Demon Forest was kind of easy because all you had to do was defeat them if you wanted to fight them. When there are few means of long-range attack, if they are alerted and kept at a distance, you end up in a stalemate.
By the way, the only ones fighting are Rimu and Claretta-san, who have the means to attack, and the only ones trying to fight are Alessia-san and Ines. The rest are in a state of watching while drinking tea.
“Fufu… Alessia throws a tantrum. Hey, Wataru-san. Is there any way we can fight? If we don’t do anything, only Rimu-chan and Claretta will be burdened, and it will take too much time.”
Ilma-san, who had been sipping her tea with elegance, asked me a difficult question.
“I’m trying to think of a way, but the Sea Serpent is very wary of us, so it’s not easy.”
I thought about fishing, but even if I replace the rod and line with oars and ropes, there is no hook to catch the sea serpent. Even if we lure them with bait, they will be wary of us after we kill a few of them.
“You’re right. It won’t be that easy.”
Ilma-san looks a bit gloomy, but she’s still sexy.
“Ilma-san. Don’t you have any magic or technique to attract enemies?”
In games, there are techniques and magic that attract monsters to attack you, aren’t there? Well, if there were, they would have used them, so it’s hopeless…
“I’ve heard that such skills exist, but I doubt that most people can use them. There’s almost no need to go to the trouble of attracting monsters, right?”
“I see.”
There are some. In games, it’s a must for tanks, but in real life, it’s probably dangerous to attract monsters. Well, if no one can use it, it can’t be helped. Let’s try the bait first, and if they’re wary, we’ll think about the next one.
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“Whew. It’s finally over.”
Alessia-san muttered, not trying to hide her weariness, and everyone nodded in hearty agreement.
“It took longer than I thought.”
I said it was a simple annihilation battle, but it was harder than I imagined. It was also difficult because more sea serpents were replaced after they were defeated, which doubled the difficulty because of the lack of visibility into the future.
The bait lost its effectiveness after we killed a few sea serpents that reacted to the scent of blood.
The Sea Serpent left when the sound of the big bell rang out.
When we turned off all the lights in the hideout and made it dark, we were able to kill a few Sea Serpents, perhaps because we were able to attract their interest.
Though not fishing, I tied a merman to the rope provided on the Hideaway and threw it out, and was pleased to see it bite, but it began to drag the rope along the Hideaway, so I hastily had Claretta and Rimu use magic to pull it down and retrieve the rope.
We also changed the bait, changed the hull by disguising the ship, made the electricity on the Hideaway flicker, and did all sorts of other things to lure the sea serpent. It had been a long time since I had worked so hard.
“Master. It’s almost midnight; shall we rest?”
Felicia asked me as I was immersed in a feeling of satisfaction. It’s been a long time, and I want to go to bed, but I don’t know what to do. I said something about an annihilation battle, but considering the number of swarms, I don’t think we could have defeated them all.
“I wonder if those Sea Serpents piling up outside are safe to leave alone?”
They cost 100 million yen each. It might be more expensive than the treasure in the Duke’s castle, and it would be a waste if we left them out there and damaged the materials or if they were eaten by live Sea Serpents.
“Wataru-san. Even as Girasole, we don’t have the funds to spare, so I’d like to ask you to do what you can to retrieve it.”
Dorothea-san asked a little awkwardly. Come to think of it, I got all of Girasole’s assets at the time of the war, so I guess they are still in a tight financial situation. I paid for some of the escort services, but I don’t think they’ve fully recovered yet.
“I understand. Let’s recover as much as we can.”
Even if we don’t find the treasure, we can still make money, and it can be a substitute for pepper. I doubt I’ll have time to process the goods because I have an appointment with the God of Commerce-sama, but, well, we can wholesale them to a place that will buy them.
Oh, maybe we can ask Camille-san to put them next to the Earth Dragon at the Castle. The Earth Dragon was well received at the opening ceremony of the Castle, so I’m sure they would be pleased with the Sea Serpent as well.
“So, Wataru-san, how do you think we should retrieve it?”
Alessia-san said as she looked out from the Hideaway. It is true that it would be a question of how to pull up the huge body of the Sea Serpent that has sunk and piled up under the sea. But I think I can do it with the help of Ship Summoning, although it will take a lot of time and effort.
“I’ve thought of a way to do it anyway, so let’s give it a try, shall we? First, I’m going to build a launching pad for the Egg, so please help me.”
“I understand. It should be the same as the Chris, right?”
“The height of the fence is different, so it’s slightly different, but it’s almost the same method.”
I did it once on the Chris, so Alessia-san and the others understood it right away and started working on it. I’ll quickly summon a piece of the Sea Serpent as well.
“Then we’ll leave, so please take care of the ropes.”
“Understood.”
The launch pad is ready, and the Egg No. 1 is occupied by me and Claretta-san. I’m a little nervous because Carla-san is usually here with us.
Claretta-san is so gentle and full of a healing atmosphere, but she has one of the richest symbols of motherhood in Girasole, so my evil heart starts to swell around my neck. But she’s also full of a sacred atmosphere, so at the same time, she stimulates a sense of guilt, and I have trouble knowing what to do.
“What’s wrong?”
Claretta-san looks at me with a blank expression. She doesn’t seem to have the slightest idea of my evil intentions. If it were Ines or Ilma-san, I would be able to express my eroticism a little more.
“No, let’s go then. Alessia-san, please.”
I shake off my silly thoughts and let Alessia-san and the others push the Egg into the sea.
“Fufu.”
Claretta-san laughed happily as we entered the sea with a splash.
“Is something wrong?”
“No, I’ve experienced it many times, but the feeling of entering the sea in a boat is strange and interesting. Don’t you think so, Wataru-san?”
“I see. I think so, too. It’s fun, isn’t it?”
The truth is, I’m afraid of falling into the dark water, but if that’s what Claretta-san thinks, I’m not afraid to go along with her. Rather, let’s be proactive and synchronize. Synchronizing movements and feelings is an important part of getting along.
Is that true? When I think about it, I feel that this tedious task is also a chance for me to get to know Claretta-san better. Okay, I’ll do my best!