Volume 2 Chapter 34 (1/2)

Volume 2 Chapter 34: Survey team’s side

「What is this?!」

「What is this?!」

Splitting the rising sea, a giant reef appeared.

——No, a giant turtle-like something that had the giant reef on its back, to which the sailors on the survey ship showed a strong reaction.

And responding to their words, a veteran guild member uttered—

「I-I know! It’s the ancient beast that devoured humans left and right during the great war, the black tortoise……!! It even ate my mentor!」

「Ancient beast? Isn’t that an outrageous monster……?!　So what we thought is a reef was its carapace? This is insane……!」

Surely it can be described as a turtle with a reef on it’s back, but with that size, it looks like a moving island. It’s that big.

……But if the enemy is known there is a means to deal with it.

Even if the opponent is a giant monster if the enemy is known countermeasures can be taken.

Though it’s only a survey boat, it had proper firepower prepared, as such, I, the commanding officer gave orders to subordinates around him.

「Reef crushers, ready!　Scrape off that heavy carapace!」

「Y-yes!」

With that order harpoon loaded cannons, the reef crushers, were prepared.

Remodeled cannons originally used for hunting whales, they now shot steel pillar-like harpoons.

By penetrating into a reef and detonating installed magic explosives they allowed for an easy demolition. And of course, it was also possible to use those as a weapon against monsters.

「Shoot!!」

And as soon as preparations were over, reef crushers were immediately launched at the black tortoise.

To allow for certain destruction, those projectiles possessed about the same force as a high ranking magic. Now they were rushing towards the black tortoise—

*—CLANG!*

And with a dull sound were repelled by its shell.

「… Wha, what?!」

Since their armaments were brushed off way too easily I froze for a few seconds.

「S-sir……Don’t reef crushers easily skewer even iron and steel monsters that have a hide even tougher than steel……」

「With the power on par with advanced magic, it’s unaffected……?　Is that really a living organism……?!」

The scene stirred a commotion among the sailors. However—

「Kuh……Not yet!　 With that much power, it should be effective!　Focus fire on one spot and continue!　And add magic!　This thing……Is going towards the city!」

Astounded sailors began to move again with this encouragement from the officer.

It’s moving slowly, but this black tortoise certainly is approaching the city. Which undoubtedly meant a great danger for the city. It absolutely must be driven away—

「Ice Pillar!!」

A mid-tier magician that was riding the ship launched an ice pillar.

It possessed enough power to pierce through a giant sea monster.

「… …」

But this attack was repelled as well. And even with reef crushers hitting the same spot, they still were unable to break this rock-like carapace.

「Shit, what is that hardness!」

Presented with such results I was gritting my teeth as I slammed my fist on the mast, then—

「Wha, what?!　Something is moving on the black tortoise’s carapace.」

Someone shouted. A moment later—

「……!!!!!」

With a howl from the black tortoise, a number of magic circles appeared on its shell. And—

*——Bam. *

With a thunderous boom, rock bullets were shot.

Several boulders of a few meters in size flew through the air as high-speed projectiles.

「Wha?!」

My thoughts froze for a moment with this sudden development. But—

「——This is bad…… All forces to defense!」

But I promptly recovered and ordered to deploy defensive magic.

「Water Shield!」

「Air Defense Wall!」