Ch.9595. Voyage (2)

In this world, gunpowder weapons occupy a rather ambiguous position.

Just like in my previous life, anyone who can pull a trigger can deliver an attack with sufficient killing power, but…

The problem is that this world is full of enemies that can’t be dealt with using only primitive gunpowder weapons.

Intermediate-level magic users can unilaterally unleash firepower dozens of times greater than a cannon.

When intermediate warriors wrap their bodies in aura, even taking a bullet to the eye merely results in a slight sting.

Furthermore, the ‘speed’ demonstrated by intermediate-level superhumans is so fast that they can outpace a shooter’s aim.

Of course, the velocity of gunpowder-propelled projectiles is at a level that cannot be ignored even by intermediate beings, and despite having alternative means (magic), the ability for anyone to deliver attacks with the firepower equivalent to a magic user is quite attractive.

Additionally, there’s another reason why countries across the Western Continent acquire gunpowder weapons when they can afford them.

That is… large gunpowder weapons are particularly effective against large creatures.

“—Fire!!!”

—Tadadadadadadang!!!

As the enormous amount of smoke and noise generated by the black powder explosion dispersed, bullets fired by the sailors flew toward the body of the Sea Serpent that had emerged from the water’s surface.

The shots from pistols without rifling, or blunderbusses (trumpet guns) that couldn’t even be properly aimed, amounted to nothing more than empty thumps.

However, bullets (shells) fired from rifled guns or heavy hand cannons could inflict meaningful damage on the Sea Serpent, as could the large and beautiful ship cannons mounted on the vessel’s sides.

[—■■■■■■!!!]

The Sea Serpent, battered by a barrage of shells, lets out a roar filled with pain and anger.

No matter that it was an intermediate-level giant monster of dragon lineage (draconoid), it couldn’t withstand shells packed with as much gunpowder as possible.

The durability of intermediate-class large monsters has limits, even when their skin or scales are reinforced with magical power.

Once they reach a certain size, they do possess transcendent toughness, but without special abilities related to durability, they cannot escape the laws of physics.

High-quality rifles with rifled barrels using magical gunpowder produced directly by alchemists can sufficiently penetrate intermediate-level durability and inflict damage.

Additionally, if resources allow, expensive cannons can be enchanted with magic, making the cannons of this world weapons with sufficient destructive power.

And because of that…

[—■■■■■■■!!!]

The Sea Serpent, hit by the sailors’ gunfire and bleeding red blood from all over its body, opened the mouth of its head—which remained unwounded thanks to its solid skull—and began drawing elemental magical power from within its body.

—Pazizizizizizizizizik!!!

Navy blue lightning, the same color as the creature’s scales, gathered in its mouth, instantly forming a sphere of blue sparking electricity inside its wide-open maw.

If it hit directly, I could honestly say the ship might be split in half, and that wouldn’t be strange.

Of course, there was nothing more foolish than just watching this scene unfold.

‘—Korin!’

[Roger!]

The moment I conveyed my intention through our mental connection after seeing the Sea Serpent open its jaws wide, Korin immediately took flight and charged toward the Sea Serpent.

Though the Sea Serpent was blinded by rage after being covered in bullets and shells, it couldn’t ignore an intermediate magical beast (Thunder Bird) suddenly appearing from behind and charging at it.

Following instincts born from survival instinct, the Sea Serpent hurriedly turned its head to attempt firing lightning at its worst enemy…

—Pazizizizizizizizizik!!!

[Chicken-flavored electricityyyyy—!!!]

Korin the Thunder Bird, capable of absorbing and ‘consuming’ current or lightning-attribute energy, absorbed all of the lightning breath spewed by the Sea Serpent with a strange battle cry.

The lightning energy, absorbed and converted from the Sea Serpent’s breath, crackled from Korin’s feathers, and the absorbed current temporarily amplified and strengthened Korin’s abilities.

[……..■■■■.]

[Come on, idiot!]

The Sea Serpent growled in displeasure after losing its attack opportunity due to a moment’s mistake, but Korin, aware that the Sea Serpent’s special ability had been nullified, boldly stepped forward and provoked it to draw its attention.

[[[…Rise, boiling waters!!]]]

—Kugwagagagagaang!!!

Until Sophia, I, and Minerva combined our powers to cast a spell that raised the seabed and created pillars of water heated by magically generated geothermal energy.

The water columns, heated by the mysteries contained in the magical power recreating an undersea volcano, still bubbled even after reaching the surface, striking the Sea Serpent’s body along with steam.

[■■■■■—!!]

Not only was this a situation where super-heated seawater was being ejected wrapped in mystery, but also due to the scale of the magic cast by three intermediate druids working together, the Sea Serpent let out a pain-filled scream—

“—Huup!”

—Tu-kwaaaaaaang!!!

“—Shoot! Shoot! Free fire! Free fire!”

—Kwaaaang!!! Kwaaaang!!! Kwaaaang!!!

—Tudududududududu—!!!

At that moment, the sailors’ attacks rained down on the Sea Serpent’s body.

A harpoon thrown with all might by a harpooner (intermediate warrior) embedded itself in the creature’s flesh, and the Sea Serpent’s face, pelted with bullets fired under the captain’s free-fire order, showed clear signs of bewilderment.

And then…

“It, it’s running away!”

“It’s turning tail!”

Perhaps realizing that the battle situation was by no means turning in its favor, the Sea Serpent hurriedly turned its head and began moving away from the ship.

“…What would you like to do, Captain?”

“We’ve driven it off, and that’s enough. We need to continue sailing to our destination.”

When I asked the captain with the nuance of what should be done about that Sea Serpent, the captain gave the best answer he could as the captain of an armed transport vessel.

Indeed, they are not hunters. As those who must transport priests according to a contract with the War God’s temple, there is no need to pursue an injured predator to the end.

And so, with the repulsion of the Sea Serpent, this attack seemed to be resolved.

※ ※ ※

That day, evening.

“To think such a thing happened…! I was busy taking care of our seasick brothers and sisters and couldn’t join in…!”

I invited Lord Dorthea to dinner to build fellowship (socialize) with Sophia and me.

The three of us were having a simple meal with the meat pie I had prepared, while discussing today’s Sea Serpent attack.

“Ah, so that’s why you were moving around so busily below deck…”

“Yes, that was me. I wanted to rush out and join the battle, but as a leader, I simply couldn’t bring myself to do so.”

Responding as if genuinely frustrated at being unable to join the battle, ‘Lord Dorthea’ aggressively devoured the meat pie on her plate.

Watching Dorthea eat—not savoring and enjoying the meal, but wolfing it down as if it were merely nutritional replenishment—I suddenly became curious and asked:

“Lord Dorthea, does the order of the War God Chronima worship combat itself?”

“(Munch… gulp). Ah, yes. Our order serves the War God and Battle Deity—Bloody Blade Chronima. Thrilling combat is what we all desire.”

‘…So they’re battle maniacs and war fanatics?’

Among the various gods of the pantheon, the War God’s order is particularly known for being aggressive and fanatical, but until now, I hadn’t seen such fanatical or aggressive behavior…

“Aah… it’s truly regrettable!”

Only after seeing Lord Dorthea’s expression, which revealed a strange ecstasy and excitement at the thought of missing the battle, did I understand why the War God’s order, which had seemed like good people, was negatively evaluated by the public.

The temple of the War God Chronima never fights for values like justice or righteousness.

All members of the temple are people for whom fighting itself is the purpose.

The reason they antagonize and hate cultists is ultimately because no matter how much they fight, they won’t be socially ostracized or isolated.

For the priests of the War God, violence and killing are prayers worshipping their god, battle is worship expressing devotion to their god, and the battlefield is merely a chapel where acts of praising the War God take place.

Lunatics who don’t fight to survive, but live to fight. Those under the War God for whom battle and war are life’s purpose, rationally insane.

Even while certain that they themselves would start wars if cultists were annihilated, they stand eternally on the side of good because cultists will never disappear from this world.

I could see a fragment of the deep root of why people in the secular world subtly reject the temple of War God Chronima at this dinner table.

“…? Is there something else you’re curious about?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Ah, of course, regardless of this perspective, there’s nothing wrong with becoming friendly with the temple, so I didn’t outwardly express such thoughts as I finished my meal.

And… it didn’t take long before I could witness the belligerence possessed by those priests of the War God Chronima.