Book 18 Chapter 11
Underwater Battle Royale,
Naga Kingdom (4)
Had I ever been so faithful to my life?
Have you ever had a moment where all the efforts you've accumulated so far were rewarded?
For me, that moment is now.
"Run away to your heart's content, you trashy humans! If you can escape from Lord Gillush, that is, shurureureureut! To be assigned to my section, your luck is really bad from the start, but!"
After slaughtering some monster while stained with rage, the [Strongest Mage Scenario] was rapidly unfolding.
In a form that was all too perfect.
The stage was set. The atmosphere was also set. The naga standing before him licked its trident with a snake's tongue and rolled its eyes slyly.
"Hoot, hehe, hehehoot, hoothahahahaha!"
Had he ever laughed so excitedly in his life?
No. Or rather, yes, he had.
If you included the times he messed around with Rista in the salmon village of the Great River Eleonor.
"M-Mage…"
"S-Save us…"
As the people who had been riding inside the monster's hide with me hid behind my back and spoke, the naga chuckled.
"Magic? A mage? A little brat like you? Shurureureureut! Go on, try using that magic! Though you won't be able to put a scratch on Lord Gillush! Shurureureureut!"
Ah, I, perhaps, joined the hero's party to encounter this very moment.
This very moment!
Everyone's attention is focused, and the guy standing in front completely ignores me. It's a situation that 100% matches the scenario set in the [Strongest Mage] bucket list.
And there's no one to interfere.
A situation where even nagging Friede and Rista, a madman on a higher level than me, are not around!
And this situation where the demon in front of me is kindly speaking in human language!
I thank this fate (運命) that has even prepared the table for me to surely achieve my bucket list!
"Osarius-style Hand Seal, Operational Abbreviation, 3-star, Fireball."
I feel ecstasy.
What in the world is your true identity?!… At the very moment such perplexity flickers in the opponent's eyes!
"Fire in the sea? You idiot! No, why isn't it going out? Why is it flying towards me… Kwaaaaaaak!"
It's not enough. This isn't enough. I need to enjoy it more. I need to savor it more.
That naga told me to run away.
In that case, it must be a very wide space, and there must be many other nagas.
"Let's go find prey, Sval."
"Kkyu…"
Ignoring Sval, who was looking at me with contempt for some reason, I tried to run, but people cheered and followed behind me!
"…He said he's going to find prey!"
"…He's going to find and rescue more people who have become prey like us! Amazing! Supreme! He's magnificent!"
"…Let's follow the amazing, supreme, and magnificent Mage!"
What they're muttering isn't clearly audible due to the air bubbles expelled from their skin every time they speak, but I don't have time to worry about it!
"Kyahhooooooo!"
"Y-You, just what in the… Kwaak!"
"This very moment, right here, the [Strongest Mage] appears."
"Where do you think this is… Kwaak!"
"Kyahhahahahahat!"
"How dare you to this naga's best hunter… Kwaak!"
I was just achieving my bucket list in such breathless ecstasy (悅樂), when suddenly a huge crowd was following behind me.
Do they want to observe directly?
In fact, the bewildered and astonished reactions of third parties are very important for this bucket list, so I decided to let them watch to their heart's content.
"Why? Why are you running away? Nagas, the [Strongest Mage] is here right now!"
"A-A crazy human! Shurureureureut!"
"Why aren't you giving me delicious lines like before? Do it, it's not like you'll wear out. And you said you were chasing me!"
"Shu, shurureut! Runaaaaaaaaay… Kwaaaaaaak!"
"That's strange? Why has the host and guest changed places? Guys! Let's play! Where are you going! Don't demons usually avenge their comrades? Hooooo! Let's play moreeee!"
* * *
For that reason, the banquet hall turned into a pandemonium where naga hunters, becoming the hunted, fled like mad!
Just one person!
Just one boy!
All because of Lin, the mage of the hero's party!
"W-What is that guy?"
The key figures of the Eight Sea Clans were aghast at this unprecedented situation!
"He's slaughtering our proud hunters all by himself?"
"Who is he, exactly!"
"Which clan introduced the risk of ruining this banquet of madness!"
And that bewilderment!
It instantly created more than enough of a blind spot (死角) in their perception!
Until five masters, disguised as Totashika, the leader of the 'Ka' clan, who had infiltrated this underwater kingdom, approached these key figures!
"Totashika, are you the mastermind behind all of this?!"
The clan leaders glared at Totashika, who was originally supposed to be a sacrifice, but had somehow made it up here.
"You must take responsibility. Confess your blunders to the Ruler of the Sea through seppuku and seek forgiveness through death!"
His cousin, who intended to depose Totashika and ascend to the leadership position himself, showed the greatest caution.
Totashika was expressionless.
Instead, his third arm twitched and bulged, and suddenly [Light] shot out from within it like an arrow!
"!"
"!"
"!"
Light capable of slicing time itself, the very wave of light itself, into many pieces!
"You, I can absolutely, never forgive!"
Supreme Holy Sword, Shirpaine!
"Here, in these deep waters, to make those powerless people into entertainment, forcing them to kill and be killed!"
That blade of light, born to punish evil (魔), instantly cut through dimensions and severed the necks of the unsuspecting leaders of the Eight Sea Clans right from their cervical vertebrae!
'Our infiltration team and Lin crash-landed in different locations.'
Rista thought as he landed gracefully in his characteristic reverse grip stance with his greatsword.
'Because the moment Rulehamrei crashed into the ground, we were all flung out to different locations.'
He thought the situation where they were split to one end and the other end of the banquet hall by the gravity and buoyancy of the ancient sea was a trick of the ancient sea's ruler.
"But that wasn't it! In fact, it was all Lin's brilliant idea!"
To safely rescue people and at the same time draw attention so that we could safely approach the leadership!
"Amazing! Lin is amazing after all!"
From the head seats of these Eight Sea Clans, one could survey every part of the vast banquet hall.
[Kyahhahahahahahahat!]
Because the blessing of ancient madness allows one to draw distant things closer and see them.
[Guys, why are you running away? Whyyyy!]
Through that, Friede, Nils, Pipi, and Kies, who instantly identified the center of the commotion happening in the banquet hall, simultaneously opened their flatfish eyes.
"No, I don't think that's it."
"Yes, that guy was just faithful to his twisted desires."
"Coincidence, coincidence, just coincidence. Lin is a crazy madman."
[(ㅡ,.ㅡ);;;]
It was then.
Just as Rista was about to defend Lin, everyone flinched in surprise and had to look back.
'How? Surely, he must have cut down every being in this space?'
As if the very concept of being cut had vanished… A creature with a physique more imposing than any naga was looking down at them, emanating sinister thoughts (邪念).
"These inferior humans… How dare they make my kin die without even letting out a scream. Shurureut, it is unforgivable."
That was none other than Menosha, the Great Chief, leader of the 'Sha' clan and currently guiding the entire naga tribe!
"But is this also the guidance of the ancient sea? Shurureup, you will make extremely high-quality sacrifices. I, Menosha, shall offer all of you as incense on the altar of madness with my own hands!"