Chapter: 73
I didn’t think I would end up wandering around alone after coming all this way. Although I did bring it upon myself…
“Can’t we go together? I heard it’s beautiful…”
“I’m sorry. I’ve been in the carriage for too long, and I’m still not feeling well.”
“Hmm, then how about we play together once you feel better?”
Yesterday at lunch, for some reason, I pushed aside the feeling that I might continue to feel sick for a long time and sent Louise back.
It didn’t sit well with me when I turned down Louise’s invitation either. Seeing her sulking made me think I might just go with her, but then I remembered the Executive Manager I would definitely run into if I hung out with her, and that thought completely disappeared.
I felt like the Emerald Beach would look like a bloody shore instead of emerald if the Executive Manager was beside me. Sorry, really sorry, Louise. I want to be with you too, but it seems tough here.
So today, after hearing that Louise had left, I headed somewhere else alone. I didn’t want to just stand around after coming all this way.
‘It really is beautiful.’
I let out a small gasp, feeling like I was looking at a giant emerald. Thankfully, the sea is vast, and the beach classified as Emerald Beach is quite large. As long as I don’t go to where Louise went, I probably won’t have to meet the Executive Manager. I intentionally headed to a less popular spot.
‘It would’ve been nice if we could see it together.’
It was a breathtaking view that made me naturally gasp, but a sense of disappointment crept in at being there alone. It’s all the Executive Manager’s fault! I was supposed to have fun with Louise, watching the boys who like her tussle with each other. But here I am, running away because of one person.
Feeling dejected, I dipped my feet into the sea and sat down. I had even bought a new swimsuit, so what’s the point of wandering around alone?
‘He’s the one at fault.’
I pouted while digging my hands into the innocent sand. When he was in front of me, I was engulfed in fear, but when he wasn’t around, feelings of injustice and resentment bubbled up. It was my family that had suffered the most, with our rightful grievances! Why do I have to be the one to carry this burden?
Still, there’s one good thing. Although I had to be with him in the carriage, I hadn’t seen him since we arrived at the resort. It seemed like he wasn’t planning to look for me.
“You go ahead. I left something behind.”
He seems oddly considerate too.
I wrapped my arms around my knees and buried my head. My thoughts were tangled. Even despite all of that, it certainly felt like he was being considerate of me.
‘But why would he care about me?’
Why would the dreaded head of the Prosecutor’s Office have consideration for me? The logic behind it completely eludes me. It seems more plausible to picture Louise cursing and throwing punches.
I don’t know anymore! He should just stay away from me and not confuse me like this!
‘All because of something so trivial.’
Why am I so shaken? What’s happened between us isn’t even that significant!
Maybe it’s because I’m close to Louise or because he’s Erich’s brother—I might be wishing he were a good person. Maybe it’s an escape from reality; rather than trembling in fear every time I see him, I wish he could genuinely be a good person. Who knows, he might actually be a really good person!
But if he were a good person… What about my family? My father who was unjustly taken away, my mother who fainted, my brother who bore all the burdens, and my little siblings crying without understanding anything at all?
—“Don’t worry about it. It was just bad luck, an accident.”
That’s what my father said. He told me to forget it and move on. That’s the best way to handle the Prosecutor’s Office. Even if I carry resentment or lingering feelings, there’s nothing I can do about it.
“I hate you…”
But since no one was around to hear, I muttered those words quietly, holding onto my grievances. No matter how considerate he seemed, I couldn’t help but dread seeing his face. I just hope he stays out of sight.
I lifted my head and stared at my toes. This was supposed to be a trip meant for fun, yet my worries just keep piling up—
‘Huh?’
Suddenly, I heard a loud splash, and a shadow loomed over me.
What’s happening?
When I cautiously raised my head, I froze in place. A gigantic monster—the size of several buildings—was staring down at me with ten waving tentacles.
— Kuurrr!
Upon hearing that strange cry, the thought of running away didn’t even cross my mind. My body wouldn’t move at all; all that I could do was tremble.
‘Why, why?!’
Why is there such a monster here in this resort? Am I being punished? Did I get punished for lying to Louise or for naively imagining that someone who’s practically our family’s foe could actually be a good person?
But this is going too far! Sure, I’d wished the Executive Manager would stay out of sight, but I didn’t mean that I wanted to end up in a place where I would never see him again!
— Kuurgggh!
“KYAA!”
I crouched down as the monstrous legs swung towards me. No! I don’t want to die like this! If I die like this, the last thing I said to Louise will be a lie, and the last person I think of will be that guy!
I absolutely do NOT want to die at the hands of some squid! A funeral where everyone knows I died from a squid? I wouldn’t be able to close my eyes from the sheer injustice!
Extreme fear of impending death, mixed with a twinge of embarrassment, left my body ruthlessly out of my control. While I hadn’t been able to move for a while, it felt like I couldn’t even issue commands from my brain anymore.
No, Dad, Mom, O—
— Boom!
Suddenly, an earth-shattering noise erupted, and something heavy fell right above me!
‘W-what…?’
Is something else coming?
“Irina, are you hurt?”
As I slowly raised my head…
There, I saw the last person I wanted to see right in front of me.
“Ah…”
Behind him lay the headless Kraken, splashed haphazardly into the sea.
Am I still alive? Did I survive? Suddenly, a much more dangerous figure appeared after the Kraken. He was even wielding a spear in each hand.
“Irina?”
“Sob-”
My entire body felt like it turned to jelly.
*
It was a simple motion. He grabbed the spear with his right hand and twisted his waist. Pulling his right arm back, his right leg followed, and he set his stance. Such an ordinary, unremarkable move anyone could do, something you see every day. That’s what the Captain thought of the movements of the Prosecutor’s Executive Manager.
In fact, the sailors looked just like him when tossing harpoons during their downtime. The only difference was that the Prosecutor’s Executive Manager was preparing to throw it at a Kraken, not some common fish.
He must have meant to draw the Kraken’s attention. If fortune favored him, the agitated creature might approach the ship, allowing the mages to unleash a coordinated attack. Even if it fled again, at least the civilians would be spared from an assault by the Kraken.
“It might shake a bit.”
“What?”
The Prosecutor’s Executive Manager spoke unexpectedly while the Captain was trying to wake up the Head Mage. The meaning behind his words was hard to grasp, but there was no need to figure it out.
— Boom!
His body experienced it before his mind could process it.
“What? Did that bastard strike first?”
Startled, the Head Mage jumped up when he heard the loud noise.
“It did show up.”
“It kept running away. Did it finally lose its mind? Where is it?”
The Captain pointed to where he’d been watching, and the Head Mage, who had been preparing a casting, lowered his wand and stared blankly at one spot.
“Where’s the Kraken…?”
“It was a Kraken just a moment ago.”
“Wow…”
The Head Mage uttered a short gasp of incredulity, shifting his gaze away from what used to be the Kraken.
“So that’s what it looks like under the sea.”
“This is my first time seeing it like this, though I have seen it while diving.”
The Captain nodded in agreement with the Head Mage. The spear had been tossed carelessly, yet the outcome was anything but trivial.
The ship shook from the impact of the spear being thrown. It was a magically reinforced vessel, only swaying if struck by some artillery, yet it tilted from a mere spear toss.
The sea from the ship to the shore parted for a moment. Kraken? The sea had just split open—who cares about some squid? The Kraken had already died; its head had exploded the moment the Prosecutor’s Executive Manager threw that spear!
“Luckily, it didn’t miss.”
The Prosecutor’s Executive Manager said casually. He glanced around the beach where the Kraken had appeared. The sound of the Kraken bursting apart was roaring. If he had missed by even a bit and struck the cliffs behind the sandy shore, what could have happened then?
“Head Mage, let’s go to the beach.”
“Ah, yes.”
Before he knew it, the Prosecutor’s Executive Manager had also grabbed the last two spears resting on the railing and instructed the Head Mage. The Head Mage, still in disbelief regarding the event, likely had to restrain his surprise.
“Will three spears be enough? I know you’re powerful, but fighting on land is entirely different from fighting in the sea.”
The Head Mage had been expressing his concerns about his stock of spears up until they set sail. Yet, the issue had been resolved with just one spear. He might be questioning what he had done all this time, drifting on the surface.
Sympathizing with the Head Mage’s plight, the Captain felt a little sorry for him.
*
Having asked for three spears to be prepared since it had been a while since he had used one, he was relieved to have finished it in one go. After all, it wouldn’t make sense if he couldn’t even capture a Kraken with that! They had an anniversary coming up, and it would be troublesome to generate an embarrassing tale.
If he hadn’t finished it in one shot, that lunatic Kagan might have laughed at him while burning somewhere in hell. Just the thought of it made his blood boil.
Checking to confirm the Kraken was truly dead and to see the unfortunate victim who almost got pulled into the mess, he headed to the beach and unexpectedly spotted someone.
‘Irina?’
There was Irina, trembling while surrounded by pieces of the Kraken. I thought she would be with Louise—why was she alone? I told Louise yesterday that I would be away. Did the message take too long to arrive?
“Irina, are you okay?”
“Ah, aah…”
She was probably wandering alone to avoid me and ended up in this kind of mess. I felt a twinge of guilt and asked worriedly, but Irina could barely produce a proper response. Wow, she must have been pretty shaken up.
“Irina?”
“Sob-”
Irina, who had been trembling, suddenly broke down in tears, her legs twisting together nervously. Of course, it was a life-threatening situation; she’d cry for sure… Huh?
I quickly covered the Head Mage’s eyes as he stared at the Kraken’s remains.
“Executive Manager? What’s wrong?”
“You can go ahead. I’ll return with this child.”
The Head Mage looked bewildered by my abrupt request, but he nonetheless agreed and turned to leave. He seemed curious about why I had covered his eyes, but that’s a secret I couldn’t possibly reveal.
“Sniff, sniff…”
“Eh, Irina?”
“Waaaah!”
Irina tried to hold back her tears while her shoulders shook, but she eventually let out a torrent of sobs, mixing fear with embarrassment.
Sadly, Irina’s tears didn’t flow solely from her eyes. Perhaps she was aware of it too, for she wept even more heartbrokenly.
I’m sorry. Regardless, I’m so sorry.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.