Simon’s boat reached the place I mentioned.
I secretly took out an artifact from the spatial pocket, glancing at Iako next to me.
‘Poseidon’s Fork.’ An artifact that allows limited manipulation of water flow.
While it’s not capable of making large changes in water movement, it’s definitely a big help for swimming.
So, I carried it around just in case I need to swim sometime. It can’t control large flows, but guiding fish into a net is a piece of cake.
I enhanced my eyes with magic to check the sea floor.
Then, using the fork secretly, I manipulated the water flow around the school of fish to guide them underneath Simon’s boat.
Suddenly, Simon’s boat couldn’t handle the massive weight of the fish and tilted awkwardly.
“Uh… Did I put in too many fish?”
It looks like the net is about to tear.
Oh no. That would be bad.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
“…Huh? Eek!”
I put my arm around Iako’s waist and used Blink to teleport us onto Simon’s boat.
“W-What! How did there are so many fish! I didn’t catch a single one all night!”
“The net’s going to tear! Everyone, hold tight!”
When we arrived on the boat, Simon and his companions were in chaos due to the overflowing fish.
“I see it’s quite chaotic here.”
“Y-You noble person? W-How did you get onto the boat!”
“Iako, if you use your power, you should be able to lift the net without it tearing.”
Iako’s Gift is similar to telekinesis. It’s perfect for resolving this situation.
“B-but how can I use my ability…! I-I’m too weak. I can’t control it well. It’s…”
Oh, now that I think about it, the Iako in my head was the one who had grown in the Academy. Looks like she still doesn’t have good control over her abilities.
Tap.
“Huh?”
I stood behind her, wrapping my arms around her and supporting her arms.
“Don’t doubt yourself. You can definitely do this.”
“H-Huh…!”
I infused her with magic.
For some reason, her heart was racing oddly fast. Maybe it’s because it’s the first time she’s seen so many fish that were enough to tilt the boat.
It seems like this excessive excitement is inhibiting her ability. If I stabilize her mind and body with magic, she should be able to do it.
“Stay calm. Trust in your ability, and trust in me.”
“Uhh…!”
Iako activated her telekinesis and lifted the entire net onto the boat.
The sight of that gigantic net, filled to the brim with fish, floating in mid-air was astonishing.
Right.
That’s the Iako I know.
*
Thud.
After turning the boat around and returning to the dock, Iako released her telekinesis and set the net, filled with fish, down on the dock.
Now, I no longer need to keep holding her.
I released my embrace and stepped back.
“Aah…”
I think I heard a voice that sounded a bit regretful… But maybe she’s just mistaking her enhanced abilities as a result of me?
We just met, so it wouldn’t make sense for her to feel sad about leaving my arms.
Now, anyway, I need to recruit this Simon and Iako sibling.
Honestly, there was an unexpected situation earlier because I acted quickly and ended up bringing Iako onto the boat, but it’s all good.
It shouldn’t have looked strange.
In fact, it might even be a good thing. It seemed like I helped Iako’s abilities grow a bit.
Look at how impressive I was acting.
How about it? If I tell you to follow me, wouldn’t you want to join me?
Thump.
“I’m sorry, noble one!”
As I turned around to offer my proposal to Simon, he suddenly knelt before me.
…Huh?
“I am a sinner!”
Wait, what? Why? What is it?
“I thought you were just an average noble. I mean, one of those dirty nobles I’ve seen all my life!”
Average noble?
Ah, I get what he means.
This world of Deus Ex Machina is a fantasy world based on actual medieval Earth, so there’s a similar class system in place.
In that rigid class structure, nobles often treat commoners as possessions, casually taking women they fancy.
Simon and Iako were victims of that very thing.
Their mother probably faced a similar fate at the hands of a noble.
Initially, Simon’s family lived peacefully in a territory of the Nova Empire.
While shopping alone at the marketplace, Simon’s mother caught the eye of a noble and was subsequently taken away by knights and abused.
Overcome by shame, she made an extreme choice, which infuriated Simon’s father, Sebade, who incredibly succeeded in killing that noble, despite being a mere commoner.
However, as a commoner who murdered a noble, living a normal life was impossible.
Sebade managed to escape Nova Empire with Simon and Iako, evading countless pursuers to flee to the Galilee territory.
Once freed from the Nova Empire’s grasp, Simon’s family hoped to find peace again, but after losing his beloved wife, Sebade fell ill and eventually died.
And so, only Simon and Iako remained.
Simon struggled alone to support Iako.
In many ways, Simon has a story very similar to Lydia’s.
With such a background, it’s no wonder Simon doesn’t look favorably on nobles.
He probably deduced my noble status just by looking at me, believing I would be like the other awful nobles.
“I mistakenly thought your suggestion to throw the net again was an attempt to get me away from Iako to indulge your desires!”
Ah… he could think that way.
Thinking about it, it’s a reasonable suspicion.
I suddenly sent him off to catch more fish.
“Also, when I saw you appear on the boat holding Iako, I thought you were trying to fulfill your ugly desires!”
Ah… that’s also a valid point.
Since I suddenly hugged Iako from behind… it’s understandable to raise an eyebrow there.
I hadn’t thought much of that, but of course, it wasn’t completely out of mind.
“So I was even considering whether to strike you down!”
Hey, now that’s a bit much.
Simon’s power is speed. While I could block it, it would be tricky to deal with, and if he genuinely wanted to hit me using his powers, it could have been dangerous.
“But now I understand. I’ve been misunderstanding all along! You noble one have only wanted to help us from the beginning!”
Um… Well, technically, I was showing off my skills to recruit you, but if you think of it that way, it’s nice.
“You… No, you great one pitied me for failing to catch a single fish all night and blessed me with fish and showed kindness to my sister, who couldn’t use her powers, and helped her gather her strength. Yet I…!”
Uh… Great one?
The term “noble one” is used when addressing nobles. But “great one”… that’s usually reserved for emperors or dragons.
“Aah. Please punish me! I failed to recognize your greatness and judged you by human standards!”
Is this guy serious…?
“But since it’s my fault, please punish only me! My sister has done nothing wrong!”
There’s a legend.
Dragons are said to take on human forms to depart for amusement, appearing before humans to bestow kindness and test them. They grant greater gifts to those with pure hearts but punish those with wicked hearts.
Could it be… he thinks I’m a dragon?
Manipulating fish, blinking, amplifying abilities—it’s quite enough to be mistaken for a dragon.
Plus, I used an unnecessarily archaic manner of speaking.
At first, I thought Simon was just a regular fisherman, which is why I spoke like this.
Now, if I change my speech suddenly, it would seem odd, so I can’t do that.
No, it could be fine after all.
Let’s pretend to be a dragon.
It should make it easier to recruit them.
And I can just ask Simon to keep my identity a secret.
Dragons typically hide their identities and travel incognito, right?
Then, while recruiting others, I won’t get tangled up in any weird situations.
I can just say the powers of a dragon shouldn’t be revealed recklessly.
“Simon.”
“Yes! Please speak!”
“Do not fear. I do not plan to punish you.”
“…Huh?”
“I will embark on a journey. Follow me. You and your sister, Iako.”
“W-What…?”
“I will turn you into a fisherman who doesn’t just catch fish but catches people.”
From now on, I’ll have to hide my true identity from my companions.
But instead of living in this shabby village just catching fish…
I’ll give them the life of saving the world from ‘Chaos.’
A life of becoming a hero for everyone.
Thud.
“Yes… I will follow you, my lord.”
Simon dropped the net.
“Y-Yes! I will follow too!”
Iako blushed as she followed me.
But why is her face red?
Could it be she’s pleased by using that powerful telekinesis for the first time?
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