——Novem watched as Lyle was swallowed by Trassy's mouth.
There was no sense of tragedy. After all, he had thrown himself in while wielding Monica's cannon. And Trassy, having closed its mouth, arched its body backward and pointed its head toward the sky.
Its neck to its belly swelled rapidly, and then it opened its mouth.
From within, Lyle was spat out—cannon in his left hand, and Vera cradled in his right.
"Lord Lyle!"
Novem watched as Lyle used his physical enhancement Skill—one that the First Generation of House Walt had wielded and that had since been lost, now revived and in use.
Through Lyle's Connection Skill, information flowed to her about what Skills he was using.
Novem was curious about how Lyle had managed to revive a lost Skill, but right now, the enemy before her was more pressing.
She changed the tip of the staff she was holding into a great scythe and began cutting through the surrounding Sahagin.
"Fall back. I won't let you have your way any further."
Her violet eyes glinting faintly, Novem murmured.
"Burn."
Not with a magical incantation, but with mere words, Novem manipulated her mana to produce flames. The surrounding Sahagin found pale blue flames clinging to their bodies and setting them ablaze.
The rain and spray couldn't extinguish the fire, yet neither did it spread across the deck.
Having secured a landing spot for Lyle, Novem turned her gaze toward Trassy. It had stopped its charge and was slowly collapsing into the sea surface, creating a column of water.
But she hadn't finished it off.
"Not yet, I'm afraid."
As she gripped her staff and prepared to unleash a spell, Lyle landed on the deck.
He tossed the cannon aside, and the rain and spray hitting its barrel evaporated, releasing plumes of white smoke.
Lyle set Vera down gently on the deck, then pressed a hand to his ear.
"Forgot to put them in, but they sure came in handy."
Blowing aside the surrounding Sahagin, Monica approached Lyle.
"Honestly. Forgetting things is so un-Chicken of you. Though I suppose that kind of thing is endearing too."
Lyle drew his saber while—
"You could at least say it looks cool!"
—and cleaved the approaching Sahagin clean in two.
Then a voice echoed inside his head. Looking toward Shannon, he saw May carrying her under one arm. May was kicking away the surrounding Sahagin and generating bolts of lightning to char them to a crisp.
"Thinking someone looks cool because they forgot their earplugs... Honestly, do whatever you want."
Despite looking completely exhausted, Shannon was still using her Mystic Eye to capture information about Tracy and the movements of surrounding magical energy.
Noting to herself what a great job she'd done this time, Novem turned her gaze toward Tracy, who was once again emerging from the sea surface.
The creature was somehow still alive, though its insides were in worse shape than its exterior. It roared toward Lyle, but its voice lacked any real intensity.
From the bridge, the captain called out in concern for Vera's safety.
"Miss!!!"
Vera slowly got to her feet and said—
"Focus on keeping the ship afloat! If we sink here, it'll all be for nothing!"
Sensing the strong will that still hadn't given up deep within her eyes, Novem nodded with satisfaction.
Lyle pointed his saber at Tracy.
"Port-side cannons, fire at will!"
Responding to his command, the ship's port-side cannons roared to life. The shots struck Tracy's torso dead-on, and whether because its resistance was weak or simply because the impacts were that powerful, they punched straight through and drew blood.
When he saw that, Lyle—
"It's still tough, huh..."
Lyle hurled both sabers in his hands to down a pair of sahagins, then reached for his Jewel.
"You held up well. Consider this your reward... Let me show you my trump card."
With those words, Lyle clenched the Jewel and wrenched at the chain—and just like before, the silver greatsword materialized.
The greatsword's form was truly vicious. It was shaped for cleaving through enemies, yet at the same time, perhaps because the ornate silverwork gave it its form, it was also beautifully decorated.
Novem brushed her side-tail aside with her hand when the wind blew it into her line of sight.
Then—
"It's not just that he resembles Lord Basil."
In her memory, she could see the founder of the Landed Nobility House Walt. Novem sensed in Lyle the presence of the First Generation, Basil Walt.
The greatsword looked similar too, and she felt it wasn't solely because Lyle happened to share his ancestor's blood that the resemblance was so strong.
"As I thought..."
Just then, Tracy mustered its last reserves of strength and charged the ship. No—it was aiming to ram its head straight into Lyle.
The impact halted the ship's momentum, and when it lurched violently, everyone was thrown so far off-balance they could barely stay on their feet.
Among them, only Monica and Novem held their ground, watching Lyle.
"This guy's the biggest pain. Maybe it takes after its owner? The more of it there is, the more magic it drains. That's why it's hard to use for long. But hey, be happy for me—someone who's been through growth like this can handle it even better!"
Lyle sprinted up the tilting deck and charged straight at Tracy's head as though challenging it head-on.
From the silver greatsword, a pale blue light erupted, leaving a trail of light in Lyle's wake as he ran.
Tracy opened its massive maw and tried to swallow Lyle whole—but he charged straight in, diving right into its mouth.
And then, before Tracy could close its jaws, lines of pale blue light became visible cutting through its body. Numerous streaks of light burst forth from within Tracy, and when they reached the boundary between the neck and torso—where the neck had been severed before—they cleanly sliced through once more, and Lyle burst out from the cut.
The blade-like extension protruding from the crown that had been hurled onto the deck stabbed deep, and then the severed torso slowly slid down the side of the ship, leaving streaks of blood in its wake.
But the weight of Tracy's central head, buried in the deck, began to tip the ship slowly to the left even as its lean righted itself.
"If this keeps up, we'll sink. I need to freeze the sea surface right now—"
She would freeze it.
It was at that very moment.
The sea surface froze before Novem could even move, locking in place in a formation that supported the ship. She hadn't believed the enemy was still alive, but Novem was about to move to get a better look at the frozen sea.
Tracy's head, pierced through the deck, had its eyes wide open as Novem passed by.
Novem said softly, "Now go to sleep," and as she walked past, Tracy slowly closed its eyes.
To see the frozen sea, Vera and the crew—and everyone who had come out onto the deck—turned their gaze that way.
May, holding Shannon in her arms, looked down at the ice.
"Whales… at a time like this?"
Whales of enormous size, along with smaller ones of different species, had gathered. All around, countless whales had assembled.
Novem watched the scene, her eyes settling on the largest among them—a white whale.
"A white whale too, of all things."
At that, the white whale that had drawn close to the ice transformed into a human figure. She was dressed in clothing that covered barely anything, concealing only what was essential.
In her left hand she held a golden spear, and upon her head sat a tiara. A large-bodied woman stood upon the ice, gazing up at the ship.
Her eyes were the same aqua color as her hair, and she looked at Tracy.
"So I went through the trouble of gathering them all, and it's already been slain by human hands… No, there's a Kirin here."
The goddess-beast, regal as a queen, looked at May—then at Tracy's head jutting from the ship, and then swept her gaze across the humans who had shown their faces.
And when her eyes landed on Novem, she froze.
"So that's it. You weren't coming on your own, but were called. No, perhaps you didn't even intend to call me... Hmm."
Her gaze then turned to Vera. The woman burst out laughing.
"Ahahaha, well done. But look at you, all in tatters. I'll keep you from sinking for a while. Also, would your representative please come down here?"
At those words, Novem turned around.
There, looking at Tracy's head, were Lyle and Monica.
"Representative... So it's me after all!"
"I do like that overconfidence, but by normal standards, it would be Lady Vera Trace. Still, I wonder how much this will sell for?"
"No way! Are you saying I should hand over Tracy's crown? This is mine! I don't know who you are, but cutting in line like that isn't allowed! I'm going to file a complaint!"
Leaving the chaotic deck behind, Lyle jumped, attempting to land on the ice.
However—
"Ah, Master Lyle..."
Novem reached out a hand, while Vera covered her face with her left hand.
"He tripped."
The goddess-beast woman looked down with a dumbfounded expression at Lyle, who had executed a rather elegant trip the moment he landed.
"Ahahaha, to think you'd come down right in front of me and immediately trip. You're an amusing human."
"Aren't I? You're welcome to fall for me."
"I'll politely decline. I'm still faithful to my late husband, you see. But defeating this one was a surprise. Won't you tell me your name?"
As she spoke, the woman—her hair nearly brushing the ice—extended a hand to me as I lay sprawled from my fall.
In that instant, I had toppled backward, striking the back of my head, but it seemed my aura remained intact even after a fall.
It was, I thought, an artistic way to trip.
From within the Jewel, too, the Fifth Generation was there.
"Seriously, why are you here of all places... No, actually, this is great! The timing couldn't be better!"
She was overjoyed.
I grasped the woman's hand and rose to my feet, then spread both arms wide.
"I am Lyle Walt—the god-slaying man who defeated this sea god or whatever she calls herself. Had we met sooner, you surely would have fallen for me."
The woman tilted her head slightly.
"What's that? So that's what people called her? Between one and two hundred years ago, she was treated as nothing more than a monster, though... And my husband was a human from three hundred years ago. You wouldn't have been born yet, but... Still, Walt, you say? I heard there was a hero by that name on the mainland."
The one who reacted to those words was the Third Generation inside the Jewel.
"Lyle, check for me... who that Walt is."
Divine beasts lived for ages. And their memories were often hazy. They had never lived in the human world to begin with, so they often had little interest in the finer details.
"A family name matching mine from three hundred years ago? May I ask the first name?"
The woman tapped her spear against her shoulder, thought for a moment, then spoke.
"I can't recall. I do remember the name Walt, though. Beyond that... was it Fox? There was also someone named Ban, I think. My husband and I lived together on the mainland, but that was three hundred years ago after all. Oh—someone brought it back."
A large red whale had carried a massive red stone on its head and brought it over. The woman took it in one hand and tossed it to me.
When I caught it, I realized it was heavy enough that even I needed my Skills to hold it with one hand.
The woman looked at me.
"I was thinking of getting back at you for hitting on me, but I suppose you've proven yourself by defeating that thing."
"What, were you upset? Don't worry. I make it a principle not to lay a hand on human women."
She looked a bit exasperated, but there was a faint smile on her face.
"You really are an interesting man. You want Magic Stones, right? I had them retrieve the ones that sank to the ocean floor. They're high purity too, so they should sell well. Now then—this ice will hold for a while. It should melt by the time you've dealt with the bow stuck in the ship."
I looked at the large Magic Stone in my hand. The last time I'd seen one this big was Aramsass—the boss of the fortieth underground floor.
The Fourth Generation spoke up.
"...So in the end, you never got to ask the name. I was curious, though."
Then the woman turned to head back to the sea, but said one last thing to me.
"Ah, if you really want to know, look it up in a book. It was famous back then, so you should at least be able to find the name. They were the ones who fought to defeat Agrissa, the beauty who could topple a nation. I don't know the details, but it was very well-known back then."
Hearing that name, I extended my left hand.
"Wait, hold on—"
Right after, the great white whale raised its tail fin high and dove deep.
The rain clouds around us cleared, and the sea turned orange.
I took the dismembered Trashy's head—the crown—and stored it using the Seventh Generation's Skill, Box.
"This is sure to sell for a fortune!"
As I celebrated, Shannon—wearing a weary expression—looked at me.
"You're so annoying, you idiot! Do you have any idea how many times I almost died because of you?!"
I looked at Shannon and could guess why she was angry.
"What, you wanted me to whisper sweet nothings? I'll whisper them right here, so don't get mad."
The Seventh Generation, desperately holding back laughter:
"Th-that's... not what she means, Lyle."
The Successive Heads were having fun as usual, but this time they seemed a bit confused too. They were calmer than before—boring, even.
Shannon:
"Don't screw with me! Don't think everyone's just going to roll over and accept whatever you say! Don't treat everyone like they're pushovers, you idiot Lyle!"
I held back a chuckle.
"You really shouldn't deny it so hard. You're only making yourself look more like a pushover, Choronon."
Shannon took offense, flailed her arms, and charged at me, so I caught her by the head with my left hand.
"Who the hell are you calling a Choronon?!"
"Oh, pardon me... You're just so cute I couldn't help but tease you. You really are adorable, Shannon."
"Why do you have to be like that... You jerk!"
Shannon thrashed about even harder, but while everyone on deck was laughing, Vera came walking over.
"I took care of the sahuagin that got into the ship. Emergency repairs are done too. We're ready to depart—is there anything else?"
Then Aria spoke up.
"Ah, no problems on our end, so do as you please. Also, about the commission fee... the cancellation talk..."
Vera shook her head.
"You did the work. I'd even pay extra out of my own pocket. So, shall we set sail?"
I let go of Shannon and approached Vera with a serious expression.
"No, there's still something important to discuss."
"Wh-what is it? And why the serious face..."
I closed the distance on Vera, who was backing away slightly, took her hand, and pulled her close.
"That kiss before doesn't count. I want you to give me your first kiss. Become mine, Vera."
Vera's cheeks twitched, while the sailors watched the whole scene from nearby.
"She didn't even flinch talking to a Divine Beast, so she's got guts, that's for sure."
"Well, but for a lady like her, you'd need a man with at least this much nerve."
"But you're the heir, right? Wait… is that really okay?"
The sailors were fairly positive about it. Looks like they'd figured out my value.
"Well then, can I have your answer?"
That's when an exasperated voice drifted over from nearby.
Eva, who'd changed clothes because she was drenched in sweat, looked right at me.
"…This guy just casually does this right in front of us."
I whipped around to face Eva, jerking my thumb at myself.
"Sneaking around to confess isn't my style!"
When I shot that back, the Third Generation burst out laughing.
"No, the premise is all wrong, Lyle! You can't confess to another woman while you're in front of her!"
The Fourth Generation was the same. I could hear a voice that sounded like they were doubled over laughing.
"When usually you can't even confess at all!"
Novem gave a wry smile but didn't say a word against my way of thinking. Which meant even Novem gave her approval.
(My eyes didn't deceive me. Vera is the woman worthy of me!)
Then Vera, who'd distanced herself from me, crossed her arms and stood her ground right there.
"Fine. You've certainly gone to enough trouble — I suppose I can think about it. But… let's settle this with a contest."
"A contest? This Lyle may lose along the way to victory, but he's ultimately a man who comes out on top. Are those terms acceptable to you?"
As I said that while sweeping my hair back, Vera smiled and gave the sailors an order.
"That strong liquor and those cups you managed to get your hands on — bring them here, would you?"
The sailors
"Oh, that thing... I don't think Lyle's boss knows about it, though?"
"That's what makes it a contest. Hurry up and bring it."
At some point, the sailors had started calling him "boss."
(Now then, how should I handle this contest...)
On the deck that had received emergency repairs, lamps had been set up and I stood across a table from Vera.
There was a large, round plate-like cup, sturdily mounted on a base. It was a type of cup unfamiliar in Banseim — probably a foreign-made piece.
Vera had prepared the cup along with a cask of liquor.
"If you finish one hundred cups from this, you can do whatever you like with me. Well, even if you fail, your reward for this job will be bumped up, so don't worry."
The sailors were gathered around watching us, and Novem and the others were looking at me with worried expressions.
The cask contained a strong alcoholic liquor, and the cup seemed capable of holding quite a considerable amount.
Then the Fourth Generation spoke up, sounding amused.
"Oh, this is that thing... a little brain-teaser. Thinking about it normally, there's no way to drink a hundred cups from this vessel. Push too hard and you'll wreck your body."
The Seventh Generation chimed in as well.
"...This girl is testing Lyle. Well then, let's wrap this up quickly. I don't want to make Lyle do something unreasonable. Lyle, try turning the cup upside down."
When I did as told and flipped the cup over, I found that only a small amount of liquor could be poured into the base section.
Vera's eyes narrowed, and the surrounding sailors let out whistles.
"You knew about it?"
"Well, a little thinking and you'd figure it out."
"So... does this mean your lady's marriage is decided too?"
Vera let out a small sigh as she spoke.
"I lose."
But I—
"What are you talking about! I haven't even had a hundred cups yet. Just watch me drink every last drop of sake here. It'll be fun, I tell you!"
So saying, I dipped my cup into the barrel and scooped some up. Bringing the cup, filled with a small amount of sake, to my lips, I—
"Oof…"
Collapsed right then and there.
"…Huh?"
Vera wore a dumbfounded expression. As Novem rushed over to me—
"Lyle… come to think of it, you've never had alcohol before, have you…?"
Miranda looked at me.
"He hasn't, has he? He always drank water or tea."
Aria pressed her hand to her forehead.
"Why do you always end up like this, you…?"
Clara spoke.
"It's good that you noticed, I suppose, but… this is clearly a failure."
Eva covered her mouth and laughed.
"You're weak with alcohol? That's kind of cute."
May looked at me.
"Your face is all red. After all that big talk, and you actually lost."
Monica quickly prepared some water and had me drink it.
"Even if he's weak with alcohol, that Chicken is still my Master. Now, wake up and whisper your love to me. This moment is permanently preserved, you know."
And with that, Shannon pointed at me.
"You're so uncool!"
She burst out laughing. The Successive Heads joined in.
"That wasn't a very strong finish, was it? What, the fever time's over?"
"A few things came out this time. I'd go with 'Sneaking around to confess isn't my style!'"
"Wouldn't 'I have the confidence to make even a goddess fall for me' be better?"
"Dashing out and botching the landing in front of the divine beast was pretty cool too, though. Fifth Generation, you didn't react to the divine beast this time."
To the Seventh Generation's question, the Fifth Generation replied.
"When something's that big, 'cute' isn't even on the table. You can't exactly dote on something bigger than a ship."
Those voices could be heard.
(Y-you fool... This was for the sake of victory...)