Chapter 106: Thirty-Six Strategies
ㅤSomehow recovering from my mental shutdown, I made a decision in an instant.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Alright, let’s escape.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”E-Escape? But how!?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Using this.”
ㅤ
ㅤI took out a certain drop item from the Abyss Worm’s Infinite Stomach.
ㅤ
ㅤAbout the size of a person’s hug and quite heavy, it was a contraption with a stone crank protruding from the side of a stone box.
ㅤ
ㅤ――Golem’s Power Core.
ㅤA rare drop from Stone Golems on Very Hard difficulty.
ㅤI obtained it in Loft’s dungeon and stored it in the Infinite Stomach.
ㅤ
ㅤ（People in this world might not know what it is……）
ㅤ
ㅤBut any Earthling would recognize it at a glance.
ㅤThis is a type of motor.
ㅤSince it also comes with a power source, it might be more accurate to call it an engine-motor hybrid.
ㅤAs something that moves the heavy Stone Golems, it possesses considerable power.
ㅤ
ㅤI placed the Golem’s Power Core at the stern of the small boat and tied the crank and oars together with some rope I found.
ㅤThe oars were passed through a metal ring at the stern, so that when rowed, they would act like a screw.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Move!”
ㅤ
ㅤI poured magical power into the Power Core.
ㅤ
ㅤI was anxious because it was a spur-of-the-moment idea, but the power was successfully transmitted to the oars, and the boat began to move forward.
ㅤ
ㅤHowever,
ㅤ
ㅤ”W-We’re being caught!”
ㅤ
ㅤAlmirash-san screamed.
ㅤ
ㅤWhile the Power Core was faster than rowing by hand, it was slower than the swimming speed of large monsters that made the sea their home.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Wind, carry me lightly!”
ㅤ
ㅤI chanted the levitation spell.
ㅤ
ㅤBut I didn’t cast it on myself.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Whoa, we suddenly sped up!”
ㅤ
ㅤAlmirash-san exclaimed as the boat gained speed with a sudden jolt.
ㅤ
ㅤI cast the levitation spell on the boat, reducing gravity while simultaneously generating a strong wind from the stern.
ㅤI left some of the boat’s weight intact as it would be dangerous to make it completely float.
ㅤ
ㅤThe boat sped across the surface of the sea at considerable speed.
ㅤ
ㅤ――Groooaaaan!
ㅤ
ㅤ――Ugaaaaoooh!
ㅤ
ㅤLeft behind by the boat, the Kraken and Oceanus let out frustrated cries.
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤ”…I think we’ve managed to shake them off for now.”
ㅤ
ㅤI slowed the boat down and muttered while shielding my eyes with my hand to look back.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Yes, they’ve lost sight of us.”
ㅤ
ㅤPerhaps out of relief, Almirash-san let slip a rather dangerous remark.
ㅤ
ㅤ”They’ve lost sight of us, huh?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Ah.”
ㅤ
ㅤAlmirash-san covered her mouth with her hand.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Well, it’s fine as long as the Kraken and Oceanus have given up. Is there a chance they might go after the galley?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”I… don’t think so.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Then that’s good.”
ㅤ
ㅤI released the levitation spell on the boat, leaving the Golem’s Power Core to handle the steering, and sat down on the boat’s seat.
ㅤ
ㅤ”…Um, aren’t you going to ask?”
ㅤ
ㅤAlmirash-san asked, sounding restless.
ㅤ
ㅤ”You want me to ask?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Well, yes… Since things have come to this. It’s not right to be saved and not explain my circumstances.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”I don’t really mind, you know. But if I ask, it’s definitely going to become a big deal.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Why… do you think so?”
ㅤ
ㅤI stared intently into Almirash’s eyes.
ㅤ
ㅤBeautiful, light blue eyes, the same color as her hair.
ㅤShe said her face resembled mine, but I think the different hair and eye color alone create quite a different impression.
ㅤ
ㅤAnd what stands out even more are the spiral horns above both her ears.
ㅤ
ㅤIf I were to use an Earthly analogy, they’re the kind that often grow on devils and succubi.
ㅤWell, I （don’t think） devils or succubi exist on Earth, though.
ㅤ
ㅤLooking at those horns, I can’t help but make the association.
ㅤ
ㅤ（Well, even before that, I knew the moment I saw her, but…）
ㅤ
ㅤHer body is――composed of Ether.
ㅤ
ㅤNormal humans also have Ether circulating within their bodies, but that’s just Ether flowing within a physical body.
ㅤ
ㅤShe’s different.
ㅤShe doesn’t have a physical body.
ㅤOr rather, her body is made of Ether.
ㅤ
ㅤEther, the energy of the Netherworld, doesn’t have a physical form, but like my Ether Shot, concentrated Ether can affect the real world.
ㅤ
ㅤIn other words, she is――
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤ”A Demon, right?”
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤAlmirash-san flinched at my words.