The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 104

88. Master of the River, Master of the Sea (2)

“Do you think that thing will follow us to the end?”

Joy Yohansen asked, watching the Kraken relentlessly pursue the ship.

Cal Max navigated the ocean, maintaining a precarious distance from the monster with his impressive sailing skills.

In this potentially dangerous situation, a tailwind blew at an opportune moment, whether by luck or design.

“Probably. Once a Kraken targets its prey, it never gives up. There’s a reason they call it the master of the sea.”

Krakens mostly stay in their territory, the Goyoe Islands, but they can be found in virtually all seas except those near the continents.

“That’s a ridiculous idea… Even the Suwang [Sea King] is ultimately just an intruder who has invaded the master of the sea’s territory.”

Urin Hugart said in a low voice.

“Although they inhabit Four Nine, Sea Serpents are actually listed as marine monsters in the monster encyclopedia. They haven’t invaded each other’s territories until now… Is this really a battle between the Suwang and the Sea King?”

Joy Yohansen, on the other hand, seemed somewhat excited after hearing Cal’s plan.

“To make the Suwang and the Kraken, who are blocking the way to the Duchy, collide and fight each other, and then take advantage of the gap to cross the sea…”

Urin was more interested in how Cal had conceived such an absurd but brilliant idea in such a short time than in the battle between the two monsters that would occur.

‘It’s the result of targeting the Suwang’s characteristic of becoming more ferocious during the spawning season but not leaving its nest, and the Kraken’s habit of moving throughout the sea. If it had been the other way around, the plan wouldn’t have succeeded.’

Urin thought that Cal had a knack for identifying crucial elements despite his young age.

‘That coachman guy back then was also unusual, and everyone around him is extraordinary.’

But the most suspicious was definitely Karil.

Thinking that, Urin scratched the bridge of his nose again, feeling a strange tickle.

Looking at the sea, which was as calm as if the battle had never happened, he said,

“Thanks to having a monster behind us, it’s funny, but there are some advantages.”

Urin pointed to Cal at the helm and said.

“I know why that guy confidently said he would reach the Duchy in less than a month.”

Karil nodded in agreement.

Ironically, after leaving the archipelago, no other monsters dared approach the Howard thanks to the Kraken.

“Normally, the route to the Duchy avoids the habitats of monsters such as Poison Fish, Rock Crabs, and Armored Seahorses…”

But now, there was no need for that, and they were sailing straight towards the Duchy.

“It’s convenient.”

Urin looked at the Kraken.

‘If the Suwang’s spawning ground wasn’t on the way to the Duchy, we would have gone straight.’

“If we did that, not only the Lavat Guild but also we might be annihilated in the Duchy.”

“Oh? Ah… That’s true.”

Urin Hugart said with an embarrassed face at Karil’s words, as if he had read his mind.

* * *

“Haa…!!”

Cal Max, holding the wheel with trembling hands, exhaled the breath he had been holding while receiving Joy’s blessing magic.

“Just hold on a little longer.”

“Ha, haha… Don’t worry, Master.”

Cal Max answered, smiling weakly at Karil’s words. His face was etched with fatigue.

“Honestly, this is amazing. It’s already been four days.”

“The priest cast a spell, so I’m fine.”

“But…”

Joy Yohansen looked at Cal Max with worried eyes.

“It’s not a matter of physical strength. It’s a matter of mental strength. An ordinary person would have already collapsed.”

“He chose this himself.”

“You’re cold. Karil-nim is sometimes colder than he looks.”

Karil, who was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, raised his head at Joy’s words.

“Different from what I look like… Is that a comment on my young age? If there was a way to replace Cal, I would have done so too. Joy-kyung’s words are by no means comforting.”

Joy closed her mouth at his cold demeanor.

“It only tires Cal out. Cal, we’re not far from the Suwang’s habitat. Focus. Remember that our three lives depend on you.”

Karil knew from experience that pressure, rather than clumsy comfort, was a better way to sharpen focus on the battlefield where lives were at stake.

“I will keep that in mind.”

Cal nodded at his words and tightened his grip on the wheel.

“…”

But Joy, who had not experienced war, still seemed dissatisfied with Karil’s approach.

Splash… Splash…

Tszzzzzz…

How long had he been sailing the ship like that?

The sound of the waves crashing against the bow, which had been a constant drone, gradually began to subside.

“Haa… Haa…”

Cal, whose eyes were bloodshot, turned the wheel for the last time.

Creak- Creak-

It was different from before.

The sailing ship, which had been speeding smoothly, now refused to move.

The reason was simple.

“The waves… stopped?”

Joy Yohansen muttered in a low voice, looking at the sea, which had become as calm as a lake.

Even her quiet words echoed clearly in the sudden silence.

Kuggggg…

Only for a moment.

The sea began to shake as if an earthquake had struck. It wasn’t just the waves; it felt like the seabed itself was trembling.

Kwaaaang—-!!!!!!

With a massive spray of water like a bomb exploding, the waves surged. The Howard, which had been motionless, was lifted and pushed sideways along the crest.

“…!!!”

“…!!!”

Water droplets rained down on the ship, and everyone’s eyes were drawn to the spectacle.

[Kuaaaa!!!!]

The soaring water subsided, revealing a Sea Serpent with gleaming blue scales, baring its enormous fangs at them.

“Th-that’s… the Suwang (水王) [Water King].”

Cal Max said, unable to tear his gaze away from the monster that resembled a dragon.

He had lured it here, but he was still awestruck by the monster’s majesty.

“…”

Even Karil, who had tamed the Lord of the Hills, felt dwarfed by the Suwang’s immense size.

‘I think I know why the Empire didn’t hunt that guy in my past life.’

Even he, who had regressed in time, was seeing the Sea Serpent in person for the first time.

[Keeeek…!!]

As if to answer the Sea Serpent’s roar, the Kraken, which had been lurking in the water, spewed water and began to circle around it, abandoning the Howard it had been chasing.

“Haa…!”

With the Kraken gone, Cal finally released the wheel and collapsed to the deck.

“This is just great, we’re not even on their radar anymore.”

From now on, it was a battle between giant monsters.

Urin Hugart said, his lips twitching.

“We have to escape in this window. Cal, you’ve done a great job. I can’t shake off the Kraken, but now that it’s gone, I’ll take the wheel.”

He shouted, looking at Cal.

Kwagang…!! Kwagagagang…!!

Chwaaaak…!!

As the giant Sea Serpent and Kraken collided, the sea churned as if enraged.

[Kagagak…!!!]

The Kraken’s thick leg wrapped around the Sea Serpent’s neck. Despite the Kraken’s strength to pull it underwater, the Sea Serpent refused to yield.

Chwareureuk…!!

Three legs, like whips, shot out of the water and wrapped around the Suwang’s neck.

Kkwadeuk! Kkwadeudeuk…!!

The giant monster’s suckers latched on, seemingly tearing at the Suwang’s scales, and the Suwang’s gills sounded as if they were being ripped apart.

[Kaaaak–!!!]

The Suwang roared at the Kraken, enduring the force of the four giant legs pulling it down.

‘It seems like the Suwang is superior in strength. I need to assess who’s dealing more damage to make a decision.’

Karil watched the two monsters’ struggle, analyzing the situation.

Kwajik-!!

The Sea Serpent, which had been resisting on the surface, arched its back and bit one of the Kraken’s legs wrapped around its waist with its sharp fangs.

[Kureureureuk!!!]

The Kraken let out an unearthly roar. A large chunk of its flesh dangled from the Suwang’s mouth.

One of its tentacle-like legs was instantly mangled. But as if ignoring the pain, the Kraken ensnared the Suwang with the rest of its legs.

Bubble… Bubble…

In the place where the flesh had been torn away, a slimy substance quickly covered the wound, seemingly lengthening the tentacle even further, and covered the Serpent’s face.

‘Hmm… Does it even have regenerative abilities?’

The Suwang, biting and tearing at the Kraken’s legs to dislodge them, and the Kraken, attempting to drag it underwater while being attacked, were locked in a battle of attrition.

“It’s disgusting. Those monster bastards…”

“The Suwang’s teeth are tearing off the Kraken’s legs one by one.”

“But the Kraken has poison. If it just takes it underwater…”

The outcome of the two monsters’ tense battle was impossible to predict. Joy and Urin, witnessing the same scene, held conflicting opinions.

‘The result is predictable.’

However, Karil’s eyes shone as he watched the Suwang.

“Hold on tight!!”

As if he couldn’t wait any longer, Urin grabbed the wheel, bracing himself, and shouted.

“No. Stop.”

At that moment.

Urin looked up, startled by Karil’s changed tone.

“Cal, take the wheel again. Just one more hour. Just hold on for one more hour. After that, I’ll let you rest as much as you want until we arrive at the Duchy.”

“…I understand.”

Cal staggered to his feet without questioning Karil’s command.

“What are you talking about? Does Cal look like he can even stand? Besides, we have to get out of here quickly while the Suwang is distracted!”

Urin shouted at Karil, blocking the swaying Cal, but Karil answered him calmly.

“Certainly, that was Cal Max’s plan. But my plan is a little different. What happens from now on is important. Urin, I can’t entrust the wheel to you.”

“…What?”

Urin looked at Karil with an incomprehensible expression.

Was there still a hidden plan?

He thought they were already operating beyond the bounds of common sense.

“I certainly agreed to the plan to make the two guys collide, but I didn’t say I would run away in that gap.”

“What does that…”

Seureung-

Karil slowly drew the Ice Claw.

“…”

The three felt that the way he stood with his hand on the sword hilt seemed more stable on the swaying ship than when he was empty-handed.

“Are you going to leave those guys alone?”

Karil said, looking at them.

“…What?”

Suddenly, Urin, recalling what he had said at the guild before leaving, shouted in a horrified voice.

“No way… Are you thinking of hunting the Suwang?”

“No.”

Karil lightly dismissed Joy Yohansen’s words.

The corners of his mouth, as he turned his head, seemed to lift slightly as if he had been waiting for this moment.

“Both of them.”