Chapter 180

Chapter 180. Underwater Battle (1)

Once ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the plan became concrete and everyone clearly stated their goals, the mages sped up their work.

They ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had already been hurrying before, but there had been a vague hesitation and uncertainty slowing them down. Now, that had completely disappeared. As a result, the work progressed at a speed incomparable to before.

Of ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍course, since the fish being processed into a doll was enormous, even with the increased pace, it was not something they could finish instantly.

At ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the earliest, it would take two days. At the latest, three or four.

Watching ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍them work busily beside him, Anagin did not bother rushing them.

He ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had casually called them bait, but that did not mean they could afford to prepare carelessly.

The mages believed there was over a fifty percent chance they would be discovered while riding the fish doll, but regardless, their goal was still to reach the island if possible.

They had asked Anagin to deal with the traitor if circumstances turned bad, but ultimately, they wanted revenge with their own hands.

So Anagin could not bring himself to tell them to half-ass it. You had to respect the people you worked with.

Well, aside from that, Anagin himself also had something to practice in the meantime.

“You’re saying I need to practice magic too?”

Anagin asked Sphinx again after she said they would fight together this time.

Sphinx shook her head.

“More specifically, pretending to use magic? No, synchronization would probably be a better way to put it? Hmm.......”

Sphinx pondered for a moment, unsure how to explain it, before speaking.

“I’m not telling you to use magic yourself. But you do need to practice watching the magic I use and imitating it.”

“Would that make us more effective when fighting together?”

“Exactly. Remember the Spirit-Form Manifestation I used last time?”

He remembered.

It was during the fight against Pigmenes. Just as the sudden rain of bone arrows was about to pierce Anagin, Sphinx blocked them all with wind.

Half-transparent, Sphinx floated like a ghost with her hand resting on Anagin’s shoulder, speaking in a voice that sounded like it belonged to something beyond this world.

She had explained that it was a form a familiar bound by a proper contract could take for their master, transforming their body into a spirit in order to support them.

“You don’t think I took that form just because I was bored, right?”

“Then why?”

“Because that’s the form where a familiar and a master can achieve the highest efficiency together.”

A magic lecture was forced upon Anagin regardless of his wishes.

Normally, he would have covered his ears and said he was not interested, but this time he listened with genuine curiosity.

......Well, even if he had not been interested, he still would have had to listen since he was receiving help.

Anyway, the point was simple.

A relationship formed through mutual agreement rather than force—like Anagin and Sphinx—could use Spirit-Form Manifestation, and Spirit-Form Manifestation was an extremely useful ability.

“Not everyone gets the same efficiency or power from it, but you and I are among the better cases. You could say we’re compatible.”

“Specifically.”

“You’re a Gigant, a physical fighter who specializes in close combat, right? Meanwhile, I’m a mage who’s terrible at close combat and mainly uses ranged magic. We cover each other’s weaknesses perfectly.”

“You’re bad at close combat?”

Anagin looked skeptical because he had seen Sphinx’s true form before. Considering her size.......

“If you keep reacting like that, I won’t help you anymore.”

“Sorry. I apologize. My bad.”

Seeing Sphinx’s expression turn vicious in an instant, Anagin reflexively apologized.

It was the exact same expression village women made whenever he asked things like, “Did you gain weight?” to his younger sister and the other women in the village....... Anagin might have been unbeatable in the village, but at those moments, women were genuinely terrifying.

“The advantage of Spirit-Form Manifestation isn’t just covering each other’s weaknesses. We can share and amplify each other’s power. Remember when I borrowed your Energy(Γι) to use magic?”

“Yeah, I remember it being pretty strong.”

“You remember correctly. Your Energy(Γι) reserves are huge, so I could use it generously, and the magic itself was enhanced by the power of Spirit-Form Manifestation. By using it like that, we can share lacking resources and amplify our power. Which means you can also borrow my power to use powerful magic.”

Magic.......

It was not that he had no interest in it, so the idea intrigued him. Still, he remained uncertain about its actual power and usefulness.

“So if I wave my hand around, I can send out wind?”

“It’d basically be wind magic, but you could reshape it into your own style. For example, swinging Beast Devourer and firing blades of wind.”

The basic nature of the magic would remain the same, but the form of the magic would change according to Anagin’s disposition.

At that point, his vague interest suddenly surged upward.

The image of swinging Beast Devourer and launching blades of wind looked cool in his head, and it definitely sounded effective. At the very least, it seemed worth trying.

“I’m glad you seem interested. But nothing in this world comes for free. If you want to use it properly, you’ll need to learn the sensation of using magic too.”

“So that’s why you told me to imitate your magic?”

“Yeah. It’s better if we’re similar. Once you imitate me enough to grasp the feeling, then you define the form you want to use, and I understand it. That’s the key. Understanding each other and moving as one.”

He roughly understood what she meant.

In other words, the key was understanding what was inside each other’s heads.

It felt oddly embarrassing, and Sphinx did not deny it.

“There is a bit of that, yeah. But in a way, isn’t it romantic?”

He did not know whether it was romantic like Sphinx said, but he did find it interesting.

Magic.

The fact that only a master and a familiar with a proper contract could use Spirit-Form Manifestation and all that. It felt strangely balanced.

Like it seemed free on the surface, but actually was not.

Maybe that was why.

Even with Sphinx’s help, Anagin could not easily use magic.

“Are you even imitating me properly?”

“I’m trying hard, but it just doesn’t feel right.”

Anagin, practicing Spirit-Form Manifestation with Sphinx, complained weakly in a way unlike himself.

No matter how much he practiced, all he could produce was a flimsy, powerless breeze.

“Can’t you take this a little more seriously?”

Sphinx, likewise, unlike her usual self, scolded Anagin.

...No, wait. Had she always been like this?

Either way, Anagin protested.

“This isn’t my fault. I can’t get the right feeling unless there’s an opponent.”

Anagin shamelessly threw his master under the bus. He was not joking either.

Because of that man, he had always practiced as if it were real combat. Which meant that unless the training felt like a real fight, he could not train properly.

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

“And yet, ta-da. That nonsense actually happened.”

Sphinx shouted at him to stop making excuses, but Anagin became even more shameless. Because it was true.

“Anyway, I’ll keep practicing more, but I think practicing when we encounter fish-men would be more effective.”

Practicing during the actual battle, the most important moment.......

Sphinx looked dumbfounded, but there was not much she could do except accept it. If Anagin said he could not do it, then what could she do?

In any case, they continued practicing Spirit-Form Manifestation despite their shortcomings.

Of course, that was not all they did.

Whenever it was time to eat, Anagin went over to the mages and shared meals with them while reviewing the plan, fixing weak points, and supplementing details.

For example, they discussed how it was not absolutely necessary to reach the island directly.

“What do you mean?”

“If the island ends up closer than the mainland, then tearing the scroll will teleport everyone within a five-meter radius to the island.”

Anagin understood immediately.

If the island were closer than the mainland, they could use the scroll to instantly move there.

However, the method was not without drawbacks.

They said there was no way to know exactly where they would land after using the scroll.

“If you’re unlucky, you could end up in isolated terrain or right in the middle of the Barbaroi Cult. It was originally made for escape rather than transportation.”

The mage explained that using the scroll for movement was only a secondary option.

The scroll’s true purpose was to escape if they ended up fighting the Barbaroi Cult in the middle of the sea.

Using it recklessly would mean throwing away their escape route.

“By the way, does your Magno make these scrolls yourselves?”

“That’s right. You can’t make them unless you can use magic in the first place.”

“Then what about Water Walking and Underwater Breathing?”

“......Piscinis made those.”

The mages answered bitterly.

Looking back on it, the situation was truly absurd.

From the fisherman mage who joined the Barbaroi Cult to the subordinate woman and Horse-head sitting over there in the corner.

Enemies and allies had switched places in a short time, all while trying to exploit each other’s weaknesses.

But on the other hand, it also felt inevitable.

Because everyone had their own hidden agendas.

However, the mages apparently had not seen it that way, because they looked deeply confused.

“Haa, how did things end up like this.......”

Exhausted from work that was practically a forced march and weighed down by the bitter circumstances, the mages drank alcohol with their meal. They were not drunk, but their tongues had loosened slightly.

“It would’ve been nice if Aides were here drinking too. He loved alcohol.”

Aides, the name of the transformation mage.

Given his large build, he did seem like the type who loved drinking at a glance.

“You must’ve been really close?”

“Of course. We’d known him almost as long as Piscinis. The difference is that we actually knew his past. He never tried to hide it.”

The transformation mage Aides had apparently come from a circus troupe.

Born to a pair of animal trainers.

Neither of his parents were mages, but after giving birth to a child who could use magic, they planned to make money by using him in animal performances.

Parents exploiting their own child.

“Seriously?”

Anagin looked horrified at the near rock-bottom story, but the mages reacted indifferently.

“That kind of thing is common among mages.”

Since they were speaking while drinking, it was probably true.

And Aides was not the only one with a tragic background.

Prios, the flame mage, had worked as a slave in a forge, and the other two mages were not much different.

If you were useful, you became a living tool. If not, you were discarded or killed.

“Well, it’s probably not that different for Gigants.”

“Really? Doesn’t feel that way to me.”

Since it did not really resonate with him, Anagin answered bluntly.

Maybe his reaction was too half-hearted, because Sphinx chimed in.

“That must’ve been very hard for all of you. So how did you end up joining Magno?”

“Ah, that was because we got lucky. Magno mages recognized our talents and bought us.”

It was apparently common.

Picking up or purchasing children who showed magical talent.

The children who entered Magno that way lived together, becoming almost like family.

That explained why they mourned Aides’s death so deeply and were furious at the fisherman mage.

However, Anagin wore an expression that clearly said, ‘What a load of crap.’

And for good reason.......

“If you all have such tragic backstories, then maybe you should’ve gone easier on the Pebble Traveling Troupe. They seemed to have rough lives too.”

Whether they were grieving a precious companion’s death or drowning themselves in alcohol, Anagin still said exactly what he wanted. It would take something truly excessive to make him hold back.

“There was no helping it. Importance differs depending on magical talent.”

“Then doesn’t that mean the fisherman mage had the right to use you too?”

“That’s—!”

“Everyone has their own circumstances. Brother, stop it.”

“Every time someone helps me, they keep trying to shut my mouth.”

“Brother.......”

“Alright, alright.”

Sphinx hurriedly mediated before things escalated into a fight.

Still, perhaps because he did not think Anagin was entirely wrong, the mage awkwardly tried to change the subject.

At that moment, he noticed the subordinate woman and Horse-head eating in the corner.

“...If it’s alright with you, why don’t you come eat with us too? We’re cooperating together now.”

“.......”

Unfortunately, the drunken mage’s offer was met only with cold silence.

Embarrassed, the mage cleared his throat and redirected the conversation toward Anagin.

“By the way, why did you become a practitioner? We know you’re skilled, but we don’t know your reason.”

A question that honestly came rather late.

After asking it, the mage seemed to realize he was genuinely curious, his eyes lighting up slightly. Even the subordinate woman in the distance looked interested.

After a brief pause, Anagin answered.

“......Some seriously fucked-up shit happened.”

* * *

Before entering the battle, there had been many things to do—practicing Spirit-Form Manifestation, revising and supplementing the plan, listening to drunken ramblings, and so on.

A lot happened, and naturally, time passed. Fortunately, the transport fish doll was completed.

On the third day. Not exactly fast, but not slow either.

“No reason to take it easy, right?”

The moment Anagin confirmed everything was ready, he immediately expressed his intention to depart, and no one objected.

The mages were just as motivated as Anagin.

And the same went for the people of the Nereid Fishing Village.

Whether they liked it or not, they had ended up helping Anagin, so some of them hoped he would deal with the Barbaroi Cult so they would not suffer retaliation later.

‘Not all of them, though.’

Since the wealth of the Nereid Fishing Village came from the Barbaroi Cult, quite a few people were hoping for the Cult’s victory.

Either way, Anagin did not care.......

“We’ll head out first, so your side can leave afterward.”

A mage spoke before boarding the gigantic fish doll, and Anagin nodded.

The massive fish, modified so it could move with only minimal Yeom, slipped beneath the surface, and after confirming it was swimming far away, Anagin immediately moved as well.

“Pinku-Pinku.”

Anagin called Sphinx, and just as they had discussed beforehand, Sphinx transformed into a cat and climbed onto Anagin’s shoulder.

After that, Anagin boarded a barnacle-covered ferryboat together with the subordinate woman.

“It’s cramped.”

A ferryboat that could fit exactly two people.

Because of its small size, it rocked easily, but only for a moment.

Horse-head dipped into the seawater, then evolved from a bipedal horse into a quadrupedal horse. It began pulling the ferryboat like a carriage.

At this point, it really did feel like a magical tool. Not some worn-out old ferryboat.

“We’re departing.”

Horse-head announced the departure and started pulling the ferryboat along with a clatter.

The sudden start made Anagin sway, but he quickly regained his balance, and soon his attention was stolen by the scenery outside.

More accurately, it was the speed of travel rather than the scenery itself.

“When will we reach the island? It’s so foggy I can’t see anything.”

Unable to tell where the island was because of the fog, Anagin asked Horse-head.

“.......”

Horse-head answered with silence.

It had gotten sulky because Anagin kept calling it Horse-head.

“So narrow-minded....... Hey, do you know?”

“......At this rate, half a day.”

He did not know the exact distance to the island, but apparently it was much farther than expected.

‘No, maybe that’s actually a good thing. Thanks to that, we can move quickly... but is it really okay to travel this openly?’

The moment the thought crossed his mind, Horse-head muttered something and raised its head high into the air before plunging it beneath the surface.

Then the ferryboat also sank beneath the water. Along with the people riding it.

Anagin flinched reflexively, but surprisingly, there was little difference between above and below the surface.

A membrane like an air bubble formed and protected the people aboard the ferryboat.

Now he could really feel that the mermaids had made this for the fishing village people.

“From here on, we travel underwater.”

Horse-head spoke in a stiff tone.

Anagin questioned the stiff-talking Horse-head.

“Sorry for asking again, but are you really sure the Barbaroi Cult can’t detect our presence?”

“? How many times do I have to say it? Because we received the goddesses’ blessing, they cannot notice us.”

Horse-head, already having its words doubted several times, reacted sensitively.

Still, from Anagin’s perspective, it could not be helped. Because.......

“Then how are those guys chasing us?”

Fish-men clad in coral armor were swimming toward them.

“No matter how I look at it, it seems like we’ve been found?”