Chapter 1322

Even if sailors could not use magic, they knew magical omens better than mages did.

Sudden storm clouds like those meant one of two things: either there was something evil on this side, or there was something evil on that side. Since it was not on this side, it had to be on that side.

-......

The Death Knight, standing beside them, agonized inwardly.

Surely the problem wasn't on this side?

'Could it be because the Successor was planning to lock up the Valdrogard students? No. There is no way enough evil would leak out just from that. If anything, the pirates are more evil.'

Lee Han was one thing, but these fierce and terrifying sailors could hardly be called good people either.

Perhaps the evil of these sailors and the evil of the Successor had combined to create the sudden storm clouds...

"Nukelavi! It's Nukelavi!"

-That's a relief!

"???"

A sailor passing nearby, with one ear torn off, whipped around and glared at the knight. The Death Knight hurriedly explained.

-I meant that I'm glad an opportunity has come for me to show my skills.

"Hmph! Knights!"

'Whoops.'

When the sailor's gaze became even less friendly, the Death Knight regretted it.

Young knights sometimes became so focused on their own specialties that they acted without reading the room, and wasn't that exactly what it looked like now?

-Successor. Successor. I think we should step forward a little when dealing with the Nukelavi.

"The Nukelavi? Wouldn't non-specialists like us only get in the way if we interfered for no reason?"

Lee Han was puzzled by the knight's words.

Lee Han had learned about the Nukelavi as well.

This demon that appeared at sea was quite an unusual being, which made it an object of interest to both Imperial monster researchers and dark mages.

Normally, beings such as demons or spirits, once they reached a certain level of strength, awakened their own ego and soul and began acting independently.

Their very nature rose to a higher level, much like a single-celled organism evolving into a multicellular organism.

However, perhaps because of its obsession with the sea, or perhaps for some other reason, this demon called the Nukelavi had abandoned its own existence and merged into reality like a law of nature.

The demon known as the Nukelavi was now a kind of natural phenomenon.

It appeared when the time came, and if it suffered a major blow or was destroyed, it would not appear again for a long time...

That did not make it any less threatening. There was a reason the sailors had glared at the Death Knight. This demon was a troublesome existence.

Whenever the Nukelavi spotted something traveling across the sea, it would keep pursuing and damaging it until that being reached land.

No compromise or negotiation worked on it, so in some ways an ordinary demon was easier to deal with.

-Non-specialists? Successor, you are a mage upon whom the Imperial dark magic school has placed its hopes.

"That's going too far. There are plenty of people better than me."

-Professor Mortum always praised the Successor as well.

"He only does that because he wants to make me work. Don't be fooled."

-...Mage Diret also held the Successor in high regard.

"Ah. When? What did they say?"

-......

The Death Knight thought inwardly.

'Is Professor Mortum really going to be all right?'

At this rate, wouldn't the Successor spend a few more years like this and then, when sending letters on Teacher's Day, send one only to Mage Diret and forget to send one to Professor Mortum?

-That you were reliable... and... well... in any case, that you could be trusted with matters related to dark magic... Anyway, for the sake of raising the name of Einroguard's dark magic school, how about the Successor boldly stepping forward?

"It sounds like you summarized that pretty loosely, but all right."

Lee Han nodded.

If this had been on land, Lee Han would have asked first if there was anything he could do to help, but they were at sea.

If the sailors needed something, they would ask on their own, and since interfering unnecessarily might only get in the way, he had stayed quiet. Still, there was probably no harm in at least asking whether they needed anything...

'They might be too embarrassed to ask on their own.'

-Good. And please feel free to put me to work as well.

"???"

Lee Han was puzzled by what the Death Knight had said.

'Does he want a chance to show off his specialty? Well, knights do like honor.'

As anyone could tell just by looking at the White Tiger Tower students, knights liked that sort of thing. Just as Gainando would pull out mage cards and brag about them at a gathering, those from knightly families bragged about their own accomplishments.

"Then I'll go see Sir Galvag and ask..."

"Waaaah!"

As the waves grew rougher, one of the Valdrogard students was suddenly flung into the air.

The experienced sailors had prepared themselves by grabbing ropes or railings, but there was no way students like these had been prepared for it.

Lee Han immediately used telekinesis without an incantation, pulled the Valdrogard student back, and secured them firmly in place.

"I'll ask..."

"Kyaaah!"

This time it was another Valdrogard student.

The items on deck were supposed to be tied down so they would not go flying in rough seas, but a wooden barrel the students had brought up from below was hurtling through the air.

Lee Han did not even turn around. Between the physical reinforcement from mana and the heightened spatial awareness he had gained through training in space-time magic, this much was something he could handle with his eyes closed.

BAM!

After reinforcing his body with mana, he kicked the barrel, sending it flying into the sea with a violent crash. Lee Han then cast enchantment magic on the ropes in succession and tied down the Valdrogard students.

"Professor...!"

The Valdrogard students teared up with emotion, but Lee Han was too busy thinking about the Nukelavi to notice.

The Death Knight marveled at the sight.

'At this point, wouldn't he be fine even without sealing the classroom doors?'

Even during the brief walk to the captain's cabin, this new Valdrogard professor had continuously displayed several remarkable feats.

He used spatial movement to return the reagent pouch Student Jandanni had spilled through the air to its original state, blew away a wave crashing down over the students' heads, and, just in case, enchanted each of their cloaks with water-walking magic...

The most astonishing part was that he had not stopped walking for even a moment while doing all of it. Lee Han called out to Galvag and asked.

"Is there anything I can do to help against the Nukelavi?"

"Ah, Professor! You don't need to worry! Just make sure those Valdrogard students don't fall into the sea... No, you've tied them down extremely well!"

The fierce-looking lieutenant with the scar beside his mouth stared in surprise at the Valdrogard students trailing along in a line in very stable positions.

To think he had managed to tie those greenhorns together with a single rope so they would not fall into the sea. Magic really was incredible.

"We've dealt with the Nukelavi a few times before. We'll keep it in check with the magical cannons installed on the ships while opening up the distance. Until it loses track of us."

Every disaster one could encounter at sea had a method for dealing with it.

The Nukelavi was a violent and persistent demon, but because it lacked reason, it was also easy to deceive. After a few attacks and tricks, they should be able to erase their trail completely and shake it off.

"I see. Still, if there is anything you need, please feel free to ask."

"Don't worry, Professor! Pirates are shameless, so we never hesitate to ask for something!"

At Lieutenant Galvag's hearty shout, the Valdrogard students also became fired up and shouted.

"We'll help too! Please tell us if you need anything!"

"...Hmm! The sea is very rough! Is everyone properly prepared!"

Galvag pretended not to hear and hurried off somewhere else.

The Valdrogard students did not notice anything strange, but Lee Han did.

"...The lieutenant must be very busy."

"It seems so, Professor!"

BOOM! BOOOM!

With tremendous noise, the magical cannons aboard the ships began to operate. As huge mana stones and reagents were loaded, the magic circles lit up and fired the various elements.

The Nukelavi, which had been taking shape beneath the storm clouds, twisted its body with a painful cry. The demon resembled a centaur made of black, ominous smoke.

"It took the hit. Release the smoke screen!"

The sailors moved in perfect order.

Ships whose crews changed frequently moved terribly and sluggishly, but most of the sailors of the southern privateer fleet had worked together for a long time.

As smoke rose around the ships, visibility soon narrowed to the point that it was impossible to make out the surroundings.

Lieutenant Galvag sent several small decoy boats in another direction, then gave a signal with his fist.

'Full speed!'

The ships burst through the smoke screen and raced away in the opposite direction. The sailors wore victorious expressions, but those expressions did not last long.

The storm clouds began moving toward them again.

"It wasn't fooled?!"

"It's more persistent than we thought..."

"Getting farther off course like this is a problem too. We should just break through!"

The ships attempted another diversion.

They unleashed a barrage of cannon fire and spread another smoke screen, but the demon once again came after them.

Lieutenant Galvag's lips twitched. As the other captains had said, it might be better to accept damage to one or two ships and break through head-on.

'Hmm.'

Watching from the side, Lee Han considered which of the spells he possessed would be most suitable for the current situation.

Foresight magic, or perhaps...

"...Devil Hag, are you there?"

Perkuntra might have a temperament rather like a demon, but it was still a spirit, so naturally it was far removed from actual demons.

The Devil Hag, on the other hand, had close ties with many evil beings.

Fortunately, an answer to his call came quickly.

Do you have something to ask about evil magic?

"Ah. I am going to ask about that too, but before that..."

Lee Han did not actually have much he wanted to ask about evil magic, but for the moment he pretended that he did.

If he said no, it seemed likely that the Devil Hag would immediately leave.

"Do you happen to know why that demon keeps following us?"

...Little one, surely you didn't call this old woman just to ask that?

The Devil Hag asked in a slightly suspicious voice.

Normally, dark mages tended to summon her to ask questions about evil mysteries, but things were a little different with this child.

He had hardly ever shown much interest in such things until now.

Because of that, she suspected even now that he might have summoned her simply to ask about this.

This was the sort of trivial matter one asked a demon one kept as a slave, not the Devil Hag.

"No. I called because I have something to ask about magic."

The reason that demon can follow you is the scent.

"Is there some object aboard the ships giving off a strong magical scent?"

Not that kind of scent. I mean the scent of a soul, little one.

At those words, Lee Han let out a deep sigh.

'It's because of me again?'

He could not understand why he was so popular specifically with demons.

"I really don't understand why demons keep following only me like this."

I wasn't talking about you, little one...?

"...Ah."

Lee Han suddenly became embarrassed.

The disbelief in the Devil Hag's voice only made the embarrassment worse.

If someone heard this, wouldn't he sound like a mage who mistakenly thought he was popular with demons?

It was not entirely wrong, but still...!

It seems to be searching for the original owner of these ships. That owner gave it a vicious beating on the way past, so it's angry.

"Lady Ragesa!"

Lee Han called out the name of the archmage who was not there.

Why couldn't she have beaten it a little more gently instead of hitting it that hard?

"If that's the reason, do we have no choice but to defeat it by force?"

You could also receive help from the merfolk.

"Are there merfolk nearby? I didn't sense their presence at all."

Of course you didn't. They would have hidden their presence after seeing you little ones.

"...Ah. I understand. So it wasn't because of me. They hid because several noisy pirate ships were passing by."

The merfolk hid because of you, little one.