Side Story: Yuri’s Great Runaway Commotion! (14)

The three ships that had left Orphen sailed toward the sea area where fishermen’s sightings had been concentrated.

Buscolum, who was on board, spread out a sea chart and outlined the general route.

“They mostly appeared here, here, and here. These three spots form a triangular sea zone where they’ve been seen. The people of Orphen call this area the ‘Demonic Triangle.’”

“Is that so?”

Yuri had no immediate plans to head straight to the New Continent.

First, she wanted to find those mysterious ships that had been appearing nearby, figure out who the enemy was, and then, as a follow-up, make her way to the New Continent.

“Buscolum.”

“Yes?”

“Have you ever fought on the sea?”

“Of course.”

He puffed out his chest.

“I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve fought pirate ships. For a sea dog, fighting is inevitable. Out on the open ocean, no one’s going to protect you. If you can’t defend yourself, you’re just fish food.”

“A man’s man.”

“And Your Highness?”

“Never.”

“Excuse me?”

“Never.”

Yuri straightened her chest even more confidently.

“I’ve never fought on the sea.”

“Uh…”

Buscolum’s expression tightened slightly.

No matter how powerful Yuri was, or that she commanded an unprecedented army of alliance troops and anti-empire forces, land battles and naval warfare were entirely different beasts.

Even the best land commander is just a novice at sea.

“Your expression just soured in an instant, Buscolum.”

“Ah, no, it’s nothing.”

“Don’t worry. I’m Yuri Briol. That won’t change.”

“Yes…”

“You know,”

Yuri spread her arms wide.

“Feeling the sea breeze, I almost wonder if my true calling wasn’t as a sailor. It feels like coming home. I feel like I can do anything.”

“Yes…”

Fortunately, no one was seasick.

That was only natural—everyone on board was either a knight from the Vengeance Order, a magic-wielding anti-demon soldier from the temple, or navy personnel sent from Bursen.

Knights and anti-demon soldiers could protect themselves with mana, and the navy were naturally accustomed to the sea.

Yuri crossed the deck and perched atop the ship’s ram, shaped like a ram’s head.

“All right, let’s go!”

“Your Highness!”

“Hm?”

“You shouldn’t do that!”

“Why not?”

“We sailors believe the ship’s soul dwells in the figurehead. Sitting on it carelessly might make the MerryMerry sulk.”

“MerryMerry?”

According to Buscolum’s explanation, the ship with the ram’s head figurehead was called the MerryMerry. The one with a lion’s head was the SunnySunny, and the one with a dragon’s head was the TurtleTurtle.

“Fine, but why is the TurtleTurtle called that instead of DragonDragon?”

“They originally planned a turtle figurehead…”

“But they changed it to a dragon?”

“There’s a legend in the East that a turtle who cultivates the Way becomes a dragon and ascends to the heavens. The sculptor was from the East and thought the turtle looked too weak, so he changed it to a dragon on his own.”

“Well, can’t be helped.”

The idea that a turtle could become a dragon appealed to Yuri.

“A romantic legend.”

“Is that so?”

“You think so too, don’t you, MerryMerry?”

Yuri tapped the ram’s head she was sitting on like a drum, causing Buscolum to flinch.

There were many superstitions on ships, and among them, touching the figurehead carelessly was something sailors especially avoided.

“Your Highness, if you touch the figurehead carelessly…”

“Don’t underestimate the MerryMerry. She’s not that timid.”

Yuri smacked the ram’s head again.

“Actually, she’s pretty cool. The SunnySunny is the one that’s a bit sensitive. You have to coax and soothe her.”

Glancing at the ships following behind, Yuri said this with a grin.

Buscolum just laughed it off, thinking it was a joke.

“Yes…”

“Don’t look so doubtful.”

“I believe you.”

“You don’t.”

Yuri furrowed her brow and drew her sword.

Buscolum panicked.

He never imagined that the great Yuri Briol would swing a blade just because she didn’t get a joke.

Then—

[Ah! Finally, I can speak!]

A strange voice echoed. It wasn’t human, but someone was definitely talking.

[Hey, you! What are you staring at? If you see me, the Mamago, you should greet me!]

“Still not fully socialized, huh…”

[Hehe, just kidding. Hey, good to see you!]

The Mamago, now quietly sheathed thanks to Yuri, was speaking.

Because Mamago was so talkative, Yuri had a specially made scabbard that silenced it when inside. While sheathed, Mamago couldn’t speak even if it absorbed Yuri’s mana, but with Yuri’s permission, it could communicate mentally with its owner.

So Yuri was hearing Mamago’s words inside her head.

It seemed that objects could communicate in some way. Mamago explained that the three ships each had their own personality.

They weren’t sentient like Mamago, but something dwelled within these vessels.

“According to this guy, the MerryMerry is pretty cool. The TurtleTurtle is quiet, and the SunnySunny is quite petty.”

[That’s right. MerryMerry holds no grudges. I like her!]

“I see…”

Buscolum just nodded.

Carrying a talking sword around—Yuri Briol was definitely no ordinary person.

Soon, a sailor’s shout rang out.

“We’re about to enter!”

They had already entered the Demonic Triangle.

Buscolum tensed.

Maybe it was just his imagination, but the atmosphere around them felt different.

The fresh sea breeze from Orphen felt sticky.

Breathing was difficult. The sound of the waves was heavy and sluggish, and the cries of seabirds circling overhead felt ominous.

Something was off.

His instincts sounded the alarm.

Suddenly, Yuri balanced herself atop the ram’s head and swung her sword.

“Ei!”

And just like that, something changed again.

“Huh?”

Buscolum’s eyes widened.

The oppressive, ominous feeling pressing on his chest vanished, and his previously labored breathing eased.

Something had definitely happened.

“Your Highness?”

“Just playing a trick.”

“Excuse me?”

“Black magic.”

Yuri glanced back. Buscolum turned as well.

By now, the anti-demon soldiers had come up onto the deck, scanning the surroundings.

“As expected of those who study black magic. They reacted immediately and came up.”

“Was that ominous feeling just black magic?”

“Yes.”

Yuri looked back out toward the distant horizon.

“They’ve set up a barrier here with black magic. We can’t just leave them be.”

She gripped the ram’s horn tightly.

“They’re disturbing the order of the sea. MerryMerry, aren’t you mad too?”

At Yuri’s words, the ship’s hull tilted slightly and rocked gently. It might have been coincidence, but Buscolum truly felt as if the ship was responding.

He stared blankly at Yuri Briol’s smiling profile.

Though they’d only just met, it was clear she was no ordinary person.

“You’re amazing, Your Highness…”

“Now’s not the time to admire.”

“Pardon?”

“I think a battle’s about to break out.”

At that, Buscolum glanced around, then looked up at the lookout post on the mast.

A soldier with a spyglass was constantly scanning the area but said nothing.

“If you don’t want to get hurt, stay below deck.”

“I’m the captain. No matter what happens, I’m responsible for this ship.”

“Oh? Not bad.”

Until then, Buscolum hadn’t fully grasped what was happening.

Then, the lookout atop the mast shouted.

“Ship spotted! Unknown vessel ahead! Enemy approaching!”

---

Yuri stood with one foot on the ram’s head, staring at the ship coming straight toward them.

It wasn’t very large.

According to fishermen’s reports, the enemy ships weren’t all the same type. Some were enormous warships, but witnesses had also seen smaller vessels from time to time.

“They’re powered by black magic.”

Yuri’s eyes caught the flow of the force driving the ship.

The black smoke drifting around was the residue of black magic.

“Jarred.”

“That ship’s unusual, isn’t it?”

“Indeed.”

The mysterious ship had no sails or oars—no visible means of propulsion. Yet it glided over the sea like a living creature.

“That ship has no power source. What does that mean?”

Jarred narrowed his eyes.

The three ships Yuri commanded also moved swiftly, aided by winds conjured by the anti-demon soldiers’ magic.

But those ships had sails.

This one had none.

It must consume more energy to move the ship that way.

Yet it insisted on this method.

“They must have power to spare.”

“Exactly.”

Yuri didn’t bother explaining the implication.

Having power to spare meant, in other words, they had plenty of fuel.

The ingredients for black magic were predictable.

Jarred cursed under his breath.

“Damn bastards…”

Perhaps sensing that this ship was no ordinary fishing vessel, the enemy approached slowly without launching an attack.

Soon, a greeting came flying out from the darkness surrounding the ship.

Yuri swung Mamago, deflecting a black obsidian arrow.

“Your Highness!”

“I’m fine. Everyone, stand by. Wait for my orders.”

“Yes.”

With her sword slung over her shoulder, Yuri shouted.

“Anyone there, come out!”

Her voice, charged with mana, boomed across the waves. The fish beneath the surface scattered.

“If you don’t want to die!”

As Yuri kept shouting, a figure soon emerged.

It was a man holding a staff.

His appearance was strikingly unusual. He wore what looked like wooden armor, adorned with feathers here and there. Human skulls hung from both his shoulders. His face was marked with bright red tattoos, as if smeared with blood.

Yuri muttered with disgust.

“Mamago, translate.”

[Understood. Mamago’s simultaneous translation function activated.]

As Yuri spoke, Mamago translated and amplified her words.

“Hey, who are you?”

The man’s eyes widened in surprise at her question. He scrutinized Yuri carefully before finally speaking.

“And who might you be?”

“Isn’t it the uninvited guest who should introduce themselves first?”

“No, it’s the other way around.”

The man smirked, the tattoo around his mouth stretching thinly.

“The weak ones do the introductions.”

At his sides, soldiers appeared, each armed with bows.

Their obsidian arrowheads, cloaked in darkness, reflected no light even under the blazing midday sun.

Suddenly, black smoke rose from his staff.

An overwhelming pressure of dark magic surged forth—so intense it even startled Yuri.

“This much power?”

It far exceeded what Yuri had anticipated.

Deep and intricate.

“Looks like this won’t be easy.”

Yuri let out a small laugh.

From the way he called others “weak,” to how he wielded dark magic with such density—

There was no way these guys were just bluffing and would back down easily.

No, Yuri herself wasn’t about to let this slide.

“Let’s just get this over with.”

As he muttered that, dozens of obsidian arrows shot toward her.

The dense magical energy aimed straight for her throat.

Yuri swung Mamago. Though not accustomed to using it as a weapon, Mamago let out a sharp, piercing scream.

The sound was so shrill it resembled a banshee’s wail.

[Kyaaaaaa!]

The Soul Severing Slash could even cut through dark magic.

The blade she swung formed a barrier, and every obsidian arrow and the surrounding black mist shattered into dust upon contact.

For a moment, the enemy’s faces twisted in shock.

“Your Highness, shall I throw the grappling hook?”

Jared asked.

If they threw the grappling hook attached to the ship’s side and connected the chains, the knights could use it to board the enemy vessel.

“No.”

Yuri checked the size of the enemy ship and slung Mamago over her shoulder.

“I’ll handle this alone.”

Without hesitation, Yuri stepped onto the ram’s head figurehead and leapt forward.