Book 15 Chapter 41
To the city of water,
What? Give me my body back (3)
“Hey, boatman. Is there a silk clothing store nearby?”
“Of course, Witch from the Republic. Please get on. I will take you to the best place.”
“Good. Lead the way.”
Lista couldn't hide her astonishment and urgently whispered into Fride's ear.
“Th-this is a super luxurious, top-grade canoe! We’re going to ride this?”
Fride exhaled a puff of cigarette smoke.
“Lista, as you know, you understand why Rin, that self-centered fellow, entrusted his body to you, don't you?”
“……!”
“That is absolute trust… We must not betray it.”
Lista pressed her lips into a thin line and reaffirmed her resolve.
“Yes, I understand.”
Fride put her arm around Lista's shoulder and whispered quietly.
“I think that even if we can't get close to the adversary through this, we should at least inflict economic damage.”
“!”
“First, it's nonsensical to attend as Rin, so you must become Lina. You'll cross-dress, enter the tournament, slaughter everyone with insane skill, and win the championship.”
“Me, cross-dressing…?”
“Exactly! Who would think that a frail-looking girl would wield a sword and achieve unparalleled feats? We'll clean out all the capital invested in reverse-betting on the tournament and still have plenty left over.”
What Fride took out from her pocket as she said that was… an enormous amount of jewelry. If this were exchanged, hundreds of gold coins would be no problem at all.
“This is all my fortune, which I've carefully collected for entertainment with handsome older brothers! I'm going to bet it all on you and win it back several times over!”
“Win, win, win.”
“And for such large sums of money to be exchanged in betting, a disguised identity is necessary.”
As Fride suddenly conjured a magical flame on her left wrist, a certain emblem appeared above it.
It was the sun…
It was the sight of the sun rising over the sea, coloring the horizon.
“Fride, this can't be…!”
This emblem is a symbol held only by the 'First Witches' residing in the Blue Sanctuary <Terbenopl>! They called themselves the 'Blue Bloodline'.
“Yes, it means that when my master adopted me, I also became part of the Blue Bloodline! There was some opposition before, but after I became the priestess of the Fire Dragon, it all died down. It is I, Lady Fride, who was recognized by the Fire Dragon, so how dare they defy me? Anyway, I'll disguise you with this and luxurious clothing and enter you as a player in the naval dueling arena. Just trust me.”
* * *
“How about that, my sophisticated humor!”
Soaked in water, sitting on a makeshift throne with her chin propped up arrogantly, was a young girl.
“Why aren't you laughing? Fairies all fall over with just one of my jokes! I'm a Samigle, but I was chosen—isn't that funny?”
It would be an exaggeration to describe her as an ordinary girl. Her ears were mysteriously elongated.
Elongated ears were a mark of distinction, a symbol of fairies, and their length and shape determined their social class. That particular shape belonged to the highest class, called High Elves.
The woman applauding next to her had smaller ears, but an intense fighting spirit, enough to send shivers down one's spine, emanated from her.
What she carried on her back was clearly a High Holy Lance (高位聖槍). In other words, she was a Paladin, known as the strongest fairy soldier.
“Judge, that fellow is a Samigle, so he cannot understand the greatness of your humor. Please understand.”
Cecil Duren swallowed dryly.
‘Lista being a High Elf, and even acquainted with the Judge, isn't surprising anew, but why suddenly here…?’
Someone continuously calling Lista's name during a disguise operation was very dangerous.
However, the opponent was a fairy, and among fairies, a Judge (士師), an authority of theocratic rule! It was impossible to speak to them carelessly.
If they followed with their canoes side-by-side like this, all eyes would inevitably be drawn to them, and then Rin laughed.
“Hmph…”
And with tremendous sarcasm!
What audacity! Such spirit, unfazed even before the Judge! Cecil clapped her hands in admiration once again.
Rin, you truly are…!
“Di-di-did you just laugh at me! Right now!”
No sooner had Simian's eyes welled up than the Paladin roared.
“Insolent fellow! No matter if you are a Faequor, how dare you act so rudely! This person is Simian, the Judge of Wandering! The one who missed breaking the record for the youngest Judge appointed, set by Judge Elsara of Seonlyung 200 years ago, by just one year!”
“One, one year difference… Hee, heeeung.”
At that explanation, the Judge suddenly began to sniffle.
To console the Judge, the Paladin had to constantly make efforts, such as rattling a toy or performing a puppet show next to her.
Finally, the truly calm Judge Simian blew her nose loudly into the handkerchief offered by the Paladin and then resumed her arrogant smile.
“The fact that you've come here, it must be because of 'that,' right?”
Rin hesitated for a moment.
Lista intended to act like [The Strongest]. To speak like [The Strongest], she had to utilize the lines from [The Strongest Wizard's Bucket List] at 200% capacity, imbuing them with as much authority as possible.
Finally, the lines, expressions, everything was input into her brain.
“Of course. I already know where 'that' is. I'm heading to that location right now.”
Otherwise, Rudyien wouldn't be flying off somewhere like that.
“You, you know the location?! W-we couldn't find it for a month…”
“Judge, at times like this, you must maintain a serious expression!”
“If you're also after 'that,' don't even think about following. 'That' is already mine.”
Paladin Riven flared up and stepped forward.
“'That' is a mission and duty bestowed upon me and the Judge. No matter if you are a Faequor, I have no intention whatsoever of yielding it to a mere Samigle!”
At that moment, Rin uttered one of the lines from [The Strongest Wizard's Bucket List].
“Does this look like a 'suggestion' to you?”
This was one of the lines only [The Strongest] could deliver!
Therefore, it was one of the bucket list items after achieving her dream.
Her whole body trembled with a sense of accomplishment.
‘Rin, you truly are…!’
At that moment, Cecil Duren inwardly gave 120 rounds of applause.
‘This attitude, showing not an inch of retreat against a Judge and a Paladin! Truly the paragon of paragons among Glados (4-star) Wizards!’
And to have already pinpointed the target's location, what insight! When will I ever be able to become such a great wizard!
“……!”
On the other hand, Paladin Riven swallowed hard amidst the taut tension.
This Samigle fellow, I don't feel any killing intent (殺氣) from him, so what is this oppressive feeling?
Before, he was smiling brightly, but there was a colossal presence that one wouldn't dare to offend. But now, that's not what I feel.
“Were his previous polite demeanor and expression all an external disguise? And is this his true self now?”
“I am, [The Strongest].”
“In that case, he must just be concealing his killing intent as well. To avoid being detected by 'that'.”
Judge Simian rose from the makeshift throne and once again arrogantly draped her legs over the side of the boat.
“In that case, even if you tell us not to follow, we have no choice but to pursue. As a Judge, I must certainly complete this mission—”
At that moment, with a 'thud' sound, a light jolt hit the canoe. Simian fell into the water again, and Riven cried out in alarm.
“—Ju-Judge!”
The boatman, who was rowing, turned to Rin and Cecil and held out his hand.
“We cannot go any further than this.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Look at the butterflies. They are heading to the eastern island, <Granat>, aren't they? Beyond this point is the fairy territory, so you'll have to rent a larger ship from the pier and go by that.”
As Cecil paid and Riven pulled Simian out of the water and wiped her dry, another boatman subtly sent a hand signal somewhere.
It was for when a threatening uninvited guest appeared in this maritime royal capital.
The hand signal was swiftly conveyed through various boatmen, merchants, and vagrants to the eastern island <Granat>, specifically to the stronghold of Parmena, one of the Four Adversaries (四敵).