novelburst
Chapter 67
Chapter 67
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
Chapter 67
Even though she was the head maid, she could have felt displeased at being ordered to run such errands.
However, she simply bowed her head calmly.
"If you command it, I will purchase everything you desire."
"Great. Then, please take this."
What I handed her was a large scroll of paper.
"This is...?"
"It's a complete shopping list. Some of these items are difficult to obtain, so make sure you get every single one of them."
At my words, she scanned the contents with sharp eyes.
"You can use this to cover the costs. But just in case, take the two attendants who accompanied me."
Without hesitation, I handed her a portion of the advance payment I had received.
Embezzling the count’s funds?
The long-standing goal of the Cascadia Count’s household was to eradicate those accursed cephalopods.
So, this wasn’t embezzlement.
What’s the harm in using some of it?
No one would even notice.
"However, it seems wise to leave someone to serve you during your travels..."
"No need. Take the carriage. Luna and I will head straight to our destination from here."
At my explanation, she no longer resisted.
"As you command."
* * *
Luna Basilin Raphaelía.
She calls herself an angel, but this fallen angel currently lacks the halo above her head and the wings on her back.
Of course, it's not that she truly lost them—they are merely concealed.
"Leon, I am not a mode of transportation."
"But it was fast, wasn’t it?"
"I won’t deny that. Well, holding you in my arms while flying isn’t entirely unpleasant, either."
She flirts so effortlessly.
Besides, I saved my mana.
Her wings weren’t just for show; she could fly with them.
And carrying me through the sky at her speed was vastly different from the slow pace of a carriage.
A journey that would have taken several days was completed in a fraction of the time.
Of course, Mielephon’s knights and Isna Mielephon would likely be at the destination, but I had no intention of joining them right away.
After all, suddenly appearing in the middle of a secret operation would be ridiculous.
More importantly, before hunting the Kraken, there were things I needed to confirm for myself.
The small fishing village was already bustling with knights and mages from Mielephon.
This was the only chance in 500 years to hunt a Kraken.
It seemed they believed that if they missed this opportunity, they would never have another chance.
The village, which should have been quiet, was now a chaotic mess thanks to Mielephon.
Because of that, Luna and I were able to enter without drawing much attention.
Wearing our cloaks also helped us blend in.
Since I was unfamiliar with the area, my first priority was gathering information.
And the best way to do that?
Asking the locals.
Of course, in villages like this...
"What do you want, outsider? If you have nothing to say, leave!"
There was a strong hostility toward outsiders.
It’s always the same, whether in my past life or this one.
If I had revealed my noble status, things might have been different.
But right now, I looked no different from a wandering adventurer.
"Leon..."
Luna stared at me intently.
Since we couldn’t communicate through eye contact alone, she barely moved her lips, forming a silent question.
Should I hit him?
No.
Hold it in, you lunatic.
Instead, I decided to use the ultimate, universal method to open a person’s heart.
"Ahem. It must be tough working in this weather. It’s nothing much, but this is a little token of appreciation..."
"Are you trying to bribe me? How dare you insult—"
The old man’s harsh expression melted away the moment he peeked inside the pouch of money I handed him.
"Speak freely! Ask me anything you wish to know! We can’t even set sail for the time being anyway."
That’s more like it.
* * *
Inside a dark cave, figures in black robes gathered.
"Is the ritual prepared?"
"It’s nearly complete."
"If we miss this chance, we will never control the Kraken again. There must be no mistakes."
"Understood."
In the empty void of the cavern, necromancers began inscribing their prepared magic circles.
A wooden box resting on the cave floor rattled, and then a sinister, black aura seeped out.
A book, emanating an eerie presence, pulsed as it rose into the air.
The book emitted a sinister light that spread like a web, connecting to the surrounding walls before finally settling in place.
"Will this really be alright?"
"What do you mean?"
"The knights of Mielephon are here to hunt the Kraken..."
"Do not worry. They will become the Kraken’s prey."
They assumed the Kraken would be weak during its spawning period and sought to take advantage of that.
But they had no idea what lay beneath.
"This is an opportunity to deal a devastating blow to Mielephon. Heh heh..."
One of the figures chuckled darkly, his gaze fixed on the powerful magic circle before him.
"As long as no one finds this place, we will not fail."
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
"No one will. Even our cult struggled to locate this spawning ground."
Although many details about Krakens were known to the world, very little was understood in depth.
For example, Krakens chose secluded caves beneath steep cliffs in the deep sea as their nesting grounds during their spawning period.
Even within their cult, finding this place had been nothing short of a miraculous coincidence.
"Exactly. Those foolish knights will never uncover this location. Prepare yourselves. Once we succeed in controlling the Kraken, we will annihilate Mielephon’s forces. We will drown their Sword Saint in the depths of the sea."
"Yes, sir!"
"Yes, sir!"
The cultists responded in unison and hastened their work on the magic circle.
Had the Kraken been at full strength, even these necromancers would have stood no chance against it.
But just as Mielephon sought to exploit the Kraken’s weakened state, these cultists aimed to seize control of its mind.
The key to their plan was the artifact levitating at the center of the ritual.
A strange book, exuding a power never seen before.
Its origins were unknown, and the cult’s higher-ups had not disclosed where they had acquired it.
Although he had never touched it himself, he was well aware that dozens of cultists who had dared to lay hands on it had suffered mental collapse and died.
Whatever it was, if it possessed power this strong, then subduing a weakened Kraken shouldn’t be too difficult.
"Even so, being able to mentally subjugate a sea king species that specializes in mental attacks... that’s truly an incredible artifact. Just what is it, to be made from human skin…?"
"Handle it carefully, unless you want to end up like those fools who lost their minds just by touching it."
"Understood."
* * *
The old man was more talkative than expected.
No, perhaps he was normally taciturn, but money had loosened his tongue.
And he was someone who had been around these parts for a long time.
At first, I had only intended to extract some basic information, but he eagerly shared various minor legends that I hadn’t even asked for.
According to the old man’s information, it was clear that the Kraken had settled here to lay its eggs.
However, something about his story seemed strange.
"Is there something bothering you?"
"Not exactly… It might just be my imagination, but something feels off. The Kraken’s traces are here, but… something is very different."
In places like the Hall of Swords or the Hall of Nothingness, how a Kraken survived wasn’t important.
What mattered was whether it was weakened or strong.
However, in the Hall of the Sage, where a detailed investigation into the Kraken was necessary, I could tell that the current situation didn’t match what I knew.
This won’t do.
I need to see its lair for myself.
During its spawning period, a Kraken hides its eggs in a safe location and then relentlessly hunts for food.
However, to protect its territory, it usually casts a powerful mental domination over all living creatures within its domain.
"What is different?"
Luna didn’t seem to have an in-depth understanding of Krakens either.
"When a Kraken enters its spawning period, it becomes extremely sensitive and spreads a strong mental domination across the entire area."
It’s natural for it to get exhausted since maintaining such prolonged control drains its strength.
Hearing my explanation, she tilted her head in confusion.
"But that old man was unaffected."
"Exactly. If the cliffside rocks are the Kraken’s spawning grounds, then this fishing village should have already fallen under its mental domination…"
"Maybe the Kraken just hasn’t settled in yet?"
"If that were the case, the surrounding traces wouldn’t show signs consistent with having just laid eggs."
This is the period when the Kraken is at its weakest.
That much is certain, and yet, there are no signs of mental domination.
"In cases like this, seeing it firsthand is the only way to be sure…"
"Do you have an idea?"
"If we assume this situation is normal, then there’s only one possible answer."
I walked over to the nearby shoreline.
Then, crouching down and gazing at the seawater, I spoke.
"The Kraken is in a special condition. For example, its organ responsible for mental domination might be damaged. Does that satisfy your curiosity, Lady Isna Mielephon? You can come out now."
At my words, the water’s surface rippled slightly.
At the same time, a hand, with only the thumb extended, shot up from the dark depths.
A beautiful girl with vibrant red twin-tailed hair and a playful expression peeked out.
"I thought I was hiding well. How did you know?"
She asked while holding a large fish tightly in one hand.
* * *
"Brrr, it's so cold. Hoo… hoo…"
A quiet, desolate rocky shore.
Amid the countless jagged rocks, Luna and I sat by a bonfire, cloaked in our robes, watching the eccentric duke’s daughter nibble on a roasted potato.
"Why exactly are you here?"
"What do you mean? When your fiancé arrives, isn't it natural for his fiancée to come see him?"
At her question, I closed my eyes for a moment.
She had been following us from the very beginning.
Come to think of it, she had acted as if she already knew we would be coming here.
Wait a minute—wasn’t the reason we came to this place…
—So what! It's squid hunting! A Kraken!
I turned my gaze back to her.
It must be a coincidence.
That utterly harmless-looking smile.
Her airheaded, carefree behavior—so unbefitting of a noble lady.
She wasn’t even worth keeping my guard up against.
And yet, why did I feel such an eerie sense of déjà vu?
No, I already knew the answer.
"You planned this from the beginning, didn’t you, Lady?"
She tilted her head in confusion.
"Planned what?"
"You lured me here, didn’t you?"
"Ehh? I’m too dumb to pull off something like that~."
She spoke playfully, her expression as innocent as ever.
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]