Volume 5 Chapter 6 (1/2)

The date had changed.

Their charge would be complete. I could be dragged into their battlefield from a puddle at any time.

”Maxwell, deactivate the alarm.”

”Sure.”

And I was headed to the aquarium in the harbor sightseeing district's shopping area on my own. It was of course closed by now, but that didn't matter. I used Maxwell to knock out the sensors and cameras before setting foot inside. I just hoped everything went according to plan.

”I know the security guards' patrol route, but I cannot predict the actions of the Remora infected. Be careful.”

”Right.”

Thinking back, the Leviathan's interference had fully stopped Tanabe-san here. Both him and the Remoras coming from his eyes and nose.

Minaki-san was right. The Leviathan had a greater control over the Remoras. And if she had had the Leviathan's support, my stepmom would not have been attacked by the infected while she searched that glowing ocean for hours. They could have been stopped at any time.

”…I'll turn that b.a.s.t.a.r.d into a fish dumpling hotpot…”

”Are you irritated because you are hungry?” asked Maxwell.

We released the electronic lock and I entered the building. I walked between the dark, unlit tanks and made my way to the staff only door. I glimpsed security guards a few times, but they were fortunately on their usual patrol route. That didn't prove they weren't infected with Remoras, though.

I was blinded as soon as I opened the door. The staff only area had its lights on.

”…Curse this public facility. They're wasting money and power.”

The light could be seen as a positive or a negative, but I didn't actually know what kind of eyesight the Remora infected had. It would be silly if I thought the darkness was aiding me, but they could actually see in the dark like a cat. I had to use this to my advantage.

”User.”

”I know.”

I had been fidgeting with something in my hands, but now I placed it over my head. It was an open-face helmet I had bought at a 24-hour discount shop. A really cheap one.

After stepping through another door, I found that giant tank.

”Leviathan.”

It was calmly swimming there. It must have been quite pleased with itself for manipulating us puny humans like that. Probably felt superhuman.

When it came to thoughts and cunning, that may have been true.

But it failed miserably when it comes to human emotion. There was none of the familial love found in my stepmom or Minaki-san even though they were Archenemies as well.

This shark only understood one part of humans: the negative emotion of envy.

It must have tried to speak to me a few times because the Leviathan turned to face me.

But it had to have noticed something was wrong.

I couldn't hear any kind of voice.

”You can no longer control me.”

I tapped on the temple of the helmet.

”You control the brain using a different method than the Siren. It was a pulse, right? This thing is cheap, but I melted down a fis.h.i.+ng sinker and covered the inside with a thin layer of lead. I don't know if you use microwaves or X-rays, but they won't reach me.”

And there was no need for conversation.

I just had to get my words through. Anyone could declare war.

”…You know why I'm here, don't you? You hurt my stepmom, used Minaki-san, stole control of the Remoras, and used the city's people as hostages. It's time you paid for that.”

The Leviathan moved a bit away from the tank's gla.s.s. But not because it was not willing to listen. Was it going to build up speed to break the gla.s.s? Did it think a human boy or two wouldn't last long against its teeth?

”Didn't you hear what I said?”

But for a supposed schemer, you didn't give this much thought, Leviathan.

I don't have to stick to a one-on-one battle.

”You control the brain using a different method than the Siren!”

That meant I had no defense against Minaki-san. With the guidance of her ultrasonic song, I could reach that battlefield.

All I had to do was step in a puddle that was already there. And my opponent was already in a tank of water.

”Let's settle this on the other side, you piece of s.h.i.+t!!”

As soon as I plunged into the demon lord's ocean, I was engulfed by the roaring current.

And the Leviathan had already crashed its 30m body against the reinforced gla.s.s wall, shattering it.

At first glance, this seemed like suicide.

In an all-out underwater battle, a human with no gills or flippers had no way of defeating a giant shark.

…Or so you might think.

This was no accident. I had intentionally challenged the Leviathan to a fight in this setup!

”Cough!!”

A salty flavor made it through my tightly-closed lips and my eyes hurt like thin needles were p.r.i.c.king them.

The Leviathan would not have prepared a ”today's exit” door this time. But I had asked Minaki-san the Siren to prepare an exit herself. Specifically, the closest door, the one I had used to enter the room. It was glowing blue. I could survive as long as I pa.s.sed through there!!