Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 62

Surviving as the 5th Prince of a Failed Nation – Chapter 62

“Why can’t we catch those bastards?”

Cho was extremely displeased by the unchanging distance between them and the Kaireonik. The second mate felt a chill down his spine from Cho’s murderous gaze.

The mate, unable to find an answer, pushed the helmsman aside.

“Get out of the way! I’ll do it.”

The result was the same.

Even with the magic engine screaming as it pushed its output to the limit, the distance remained the same.

He felt like he was possessed by a ghost.

The Kaireonik moved as if swaying its hips slightly from side to side, stretching forward as if splashing through water.

“Useless bastard.”

“P, please spare me······.”

Swish─! Thud.

Cho, having sliced off the mate’s head with a single stroke, kicked the body aside and took the helm himself.

And then.

“Hmm······ No good.”

He smiled sheepishly, looking at the terrified pirates. One of the quick-witted third mates quickly ran over and grabbed the ship’s wheel.

“From today on, you’re the second mate.”

“Thank you, Captain!”

Cho thought of his ‘real’ subordinates, different from the pirate-born crew he treated as expendable.

‘I should have brought those guys.’

He regretted abandoning them because they were all drunk and unconscious. He should have at least dragged the first mate along by force.

Cho crossed his arms and stared at the Kaireonik, which continued to sway its hips.

‘What kind of magic are they using?’

According to the information he received, there was definitely a fire-attribute mage on board.

‘Did they give me the wrong information about the wind attribute?’

That was about all he could think of.

He frowned at the homeland’s unsatisfactory handling of things. At the same time, he once again regretted leaving his subordinates behind, especially since one of them was a mage specializing in the wind attribute.

Cho glanced at the nautical chart.

Since the past, maps have been top secrets of each nation. Only the general terrain was marked for areas outside the main area of activity for the Cho Bayley Pirates.

‘Are they going to Victory Island, their base? Are they planning to escape to the mainland? I’ll turn them to ashes before they can escape deep inland.’

Victory Island was too insignificant, just a fishing village for him to operate in. Unfortunately, the nautical chart on Cho’s flagship did not have the Dragon’s Maw area marked around it.

***

The sky was crimson with the sunset.

It seemed that it would be dark night by the time reinforcements from Stone Coffin Island arrived.

I checked the time.

‘6:49 PM.’

I had to hold out in the Dragon’s Maw for a little over 10 minutes.

According to the pattern I found, there was a high probability that the dragon would ascend at 7:03 PM.

The Dragon’s Maw’s Dragon Ascensions seemed to have no rules.

It couldn’t be helped.

Because rules and irregularities coexisted.

One of the rules I found.

2nd, 3rd, 5th, ······.

When the hour and minute of the Dragon Ascension that occurred on the ‘prime’ day at the ‘prime’ time were added together and divided by 2, the result was always 11.

‘Today is the 29th, a prime number day.’

Of course, there were days when Dragon Ascensions did not occur even on prime number days. That also formed a unique sequence, but it was too long a story to explain.

The important thing is.

‘There’s a 99.99% chance it will happen at 7:03 PM today.’

After experiencing the incident with G-Dragon, I decided to stop risking my life on probabilities of about nine out of ten.

But 99.99% is worth it.

I knew the time.

Next is the coordinates.

‘+23.581347, +123.581347.’

I found it easily.

It formed a Fibonacci sequence where the previous number was added to create the next number.

The Fibonacci sequence is easily observed in nature, such as in pine cones and the number of flower petals, so I tried applying it first.

‘If I get through today safely, I need to thank him.’

There is a person who made a significant contribution to my discovery of the Dragon Ascension pattern.

A 4-star mage from the Azure Tower, Victory Island.

Thanks to the observation records left by him, who was absorbed in magic research after being inspired by the Dragon Ascension, I was able to deduce the time and coordinates.

Honestly, who else but such an eccentric mage would leave ‘records’ of the Dragon Ascension’s coordinates?

“The distance to the pirates is starting to close!”

“The currents have changed!”

“A headwind has started to blow!”

I shook off my 잡념 [idle thoughts] at the loud shouts of the lookout and looked at Roier.

He was sweating profusely.

Even for him, it seemed difficult to outrun the Cho Bayley Pirates’ ship equipped with a high-output magic engine in a situation where he couldn’t ride the tailwind and currents.

“Everyone, pay attention!”

The crew in the chaotic situation room all looked at me at my shout. I pointed to the coordinates on the map where the Dragon Ascension would occur and opened my mouth.

“We’re going here.”

“······?”

Everyone looked at me as if asking why we were going there.

“In 13 minutes, at 7:03 PM, a dragon will ascend here. I plan to let the pirates be devoured by the dragon’s jaws.”

“······.”

A cold silence weighed heavily on the situation room. Everyone looked like they couldn’t believe my words.

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe me. However, I promise you this much. I will be with you until the end. We will live together if we live, and we will die together if we die! Understood!”

At my sincere words, their expressions became determined. Their mouths opened at the same time.

“Understood!”

I smiled slightly and opened my mouth again.

“It will be a hellish 10 minutes or so. Endure! If you endure, victory will be with you!”

“Wooo!”

“Roier! Helmsman! Somehow, lure those bastards to this location by 7:03 PM! Understood!”

“Yes, sir!”

Having finished what I needed to do in the situation room, I went to the stern of the ship.

Lydia, the Fire Witch and executive of the Lionel Guard, was struggling to create a tailwind with wind-attribute magic, which was not her specialty.

Whoong- Whooooong─

It’s too much.

The headwind is too strong.

“Cannonballs are coming!”

Kwaaaang─! Splash!

A magic cannonball fired from the Cho Bayley Pirates’ side. A huge spray of water erupted. It had the power to sink us immediately if we took a direct hit.

I drew [Varisada].

I didn’t want to reveal that I was using magic if possible, but the situation had become unavoidable.

Still, it happened in the limited space of the Kaireonik. If I could just keep it quiet, it wouldn’t leak out.

Of course, there was a prerequisite.

The annihilation of the Cho Bayley Pirates.

‘It’s impossible to turn a headwind into a tailwind.’

In the current situation with such a strong headwind, it seemed that at least a 6-star mage, and one with excellent aptitude for the wind attribute, would be needed to change the direction of the wind.

It was impossible for me now, still a 4-star, able to use magic close to a maximum of 5-star with the help of Varisada.

However, it’s not like there’s no way at all.

“Varisada, I’m counting on you.”

「I’ll see how you do.」

Kwaaaang──!

This magic cannonball fell really close. Seawater splashed on my face from the stern. I tasted a slight saltiness on my lips.

“Y, Your Highness!”

“It’s dangerous!”

The escort knights, including Reina, were at a loss, not knowing what to do. The knights, the strongest troop type on land, were helplessly powerless at this moment.

Flash, the main gun of the Cho Bayley Pirates’ ironclad ship shone again.

It meant that a magic cannonball was coming soon.

I immediately operated my magic.

The four stars in my core began to resonate with each other, and mana began to supply my heart and head.

The mana that spread throughout my body with the pumping of my heart strengthened my body, and the mana that stimulated my brain guided me to a new world.

My senses became more acute.

My body heated up as if it were boiling.

The third eye that observes mana opened.

As a magic swordsman, I enjoy both the privileges of a knight and a mage.

Flash──!

Light exploded from the main gun of the ironclad ship.

The enhanced dynamic visual acuity observed the incoming cannonball. If I left that alone, it would fall on my head.

‘The ironclad ship’s main gun is a Hibernian magic cannon.’

There are many types of magic cannons.

Those that maximize penetration.

Those that emphasize instantaneous firepower.

Those that focus on providing continuous damage.

The Hibernian magic cannon is a type that focuses on instantaneous firepower. The fired magic cannonball has the property of exploding when a certain amount of impact is applied.

In other words, interception is possible.

[Magic Arrow]

[Acceleration]

[Guidance]

[Ignition]

[Explosion]

I designed, constructed, and manifested the formula in slowed time.

Swaeeeeek── Kwaaaang!

The burning arrow intercepted the cannonball flying at a furious speed.

“M, magic?!”

“His Highness is using magic!”

The escort knights were astonished.

“I, interception? Intercepting a magic cannonball? No way!”

And Lydia’s denial of reality.

It makes sense.

If you have the dynamic visual acuity of a knight-class to see the incoming cannonball, the spatial perception to grasp its trajectory and interception position, and the ability to manifest the formula at the speed of light.

But.

No matter how good I am, I can’t intercept all of them if multiple magic cannons fire at the same time.

Run, Roier.

Let’s lure those bastards into the dragon’s jaws.

Compared to the miracle you performed in the ‘future,’ this request is nothing, right?

***

“Fire!”

Flash─!

The ironclad ship’s main gun spewed fire.

Kwaaaang!

The cannonball caused a large explosion in the air, not on the hull of the Kaireonik.

Cho’s eyes twitched as he watched it.

In his eyes, filled with magic, he clearly saw the Fifth Prince intercepting the magic cannonballs at the stern of the Kaireonik.

‘He’s crazy.’

The homeland’s order to eliminate not the First Prince but the Fifth Prince. At first, he was annoyed at the thought of having to move because of such a trivial matter.

‘I must eliminate him.’

A chilling light flickered in Cho’s eyes.

“Keep firing!”

Due to the strong current, it was obvious that the Kaireonik would escape if they turned the ship sideways. The magic cannons lined up on the port and starboard sides, which could show the ship’s true firepower, were practically useless.

But.

Kwaaaang!

“Number 2 ship’s main gun hit!”

Kwawaaaang!

“Number 4 ship also hit the main gun!”

The ship’s main guns, which had the longest range, were doing their job perfectly.

Flash-!

Swaeeeeek─ Kwaaaang!!

The problem was that they were not inflicting fatal damage. The Fifth Prince was desperately blocking attacks that would sink the Kaireonik.

“Oh! They’ve stopped!”

“Reef? Did they run aground on a reef!”

A smile appeared on Cho’s lips. He looked at the signalman and shouted.

“All ships into firing formation!”

“Into firing formation!”

The Cho Bayley Pirates’ ships, led by the ironclad ship, turned their sides. The gunports opened, and over 100 magic cannons revealed their power.

It was overwhelming firepower.

If they fired all at once, a small island like Victory Island would be reduced to ashes in 10 seconds.

Cho smiled bitterly, imagining the Kaireonik disappearing without a trace. It was always a pleasure to eliminate the offspring of a beast that might threaten his life.

“Fi────”

Eerie.

Cho, who was about to give the firing order, couldn’t finish his words due to the instinctive warning that suddenly struck him.

Gooooooo.

The ship, which had been shaking slightly, began to shake violently as if it had encountered a huge storm.

“Get out of the way!”

Cho, without realizing it, pushed the helmsman aside and urgently turned the ironclad ship’s wheel.

Whoooong- Whooooong──

A vortex formed in an instant and began to spin the Cho Bayley Pirates’ ships around and around.

“Maximum engine output! Get out of here! Get out of here if you don’t want to die!”

“W, we can’t get out!”

Whooooong── Crack! Crack!

“The mast is breaking!”

Tilt, Kwaaaang!

The pirates crushed under the mast screamed in agony.

Even though the dragon had not yet ascended, the ships other than the ironclad ship were distorted, smashed, and sent debris flying just by the premonition.

Wheeeeeee──

“S, save me──!”

“Kuaaaaaaa!”

Those who could not maintain their balance due to the swirling ships and strong winds fell into the sea one after another.

And.

Kwagwagwagwagwagwa──!!

The dragon ascended.

The dragon, with six ships in its mouth, writhed violently.

Crack-! Crunch──!

The ships in the air were torn apart to the point where their original form could not be recognized.

“Fifth Princeaaaaaaa!”

Kwagwagwagwagwa──!

Of course, Cho’s scream was not heard by anyone.

***

“I, it’s really the dragon’s ascension!”

“It happened as His Highness said!”

“We’re alive! We’re alive!”

I leisurely watched the ironclad ship and the Cho Bayley Pirates’ ships below soaring to the end of the sky.

The ironclad ship is strong after all.

The other ships were completely smashed and their shapes could not be found, but only the ironclad ship maintained its shape and fell from the sky… Huh?

“I, it’s flying this way!”

“Turn the ship!”

Kwaaaang! Splash!

I was horrified.

The Kaireonik shook violently from the impact of the half-destroyed ironclad ship falling right next to it. After a while, by-products began to float from the ironclad ship that had been briefly submerged in the sea.

A particularly large iron plate floated up.

“······.”

“······.”
A human figure was clinging to the iron plate like a cicada, with a sword stuck in it. Everyone who saw it was speechless for a moment.

Humans are helplessly powerless in the face of nature.

But occasionally, there are those who can resist the power of nature through physical training alone. In the past, they were given the title of Master.

Now.

“Cho, Cho!”

“It’s Cho Bayley!”

They are simply referred to as 6-star knights [a rank of powerful knight].

((······ Fifth Princeaaaaaaa!))

Ah, Cho Bayley is a pirate, so a 6-star pirate.

I never thought he would die so easily. Because a 6-star powerhouse is such an existence.

I was going to search for him, find him, and repay him for what he had done to me while blasting magic cannons from afar all the way here.

It was a little unexpected that his roar fell so close that it rang in my eardrums. I opened my mouth, thinking that I should at least answer.

“Fire─!”

“Fireeeeeee!”

This is why training is important.