Chapter 71 - Underwater 1 (2/2)
“Why do you have such a sour expression on your face, Artpe?”
“Because…....”
Artpe let out a sigh as he gave an explanation.
“It is a Flush type magic.It’s a legendary magic spell that had a big impact when the sewers of the Magic Kingdom of Aedia was being made….... Moreover, I’ve never seen a prefix added to this type of magic.”
“Huh······?”
What did the magic spell have to do with the sewer system?
The party members didn’t know the origin story, so they tilted their heads in puzzlement.Artpe let out a vocal sigh, and he learned the God Flush.
In the entirety of Artpe’s past and current life, he had never seen this rare AOE magic.Just learning this single spell had increased his Magical Energy by 30.This fact actually made him feel more annoyed.
“Yes, if it was just strong, it would have been great.It is powerful, but…...”
The boots took on the qualities of the Kraken, so it was possible to stick onto any surface.It was an incredible Artifact that allowed the wearer to move freely underwater and above water.
On the other hand, the gauntlets stored Mana, and it was able to imbue properties of a Kraken and its strength to a weapon being held by the gauntlets.The two Artifacts went through three Reinforcement in the hands of Artpe.After they were changed into entirely new Artifacts, they were given to Maetel and Sienna.
“This is fun!”
“I think I’ve double in strength, oppa!”
“Yes, you did become twice as strong.”
They learned all the Skills and Spells.Moreover, the loots were distributed to the respective party members.If they met the Kraken from yesterday, they might be strong enough to face the Kraken in a direct confrontation.
Still, they needed to defeat the Kraken to have necessary power needed to defeat a Kraken in battle.It highlighted the absurdity of his life.It was akin to saying he needed to defeat the Demon King to be able to acquire a magic that will be able to inflict critical damage to the Demon King!
“I don’t think there is another Kraken in this ocean…..”
“Artpe, I’m hungry.”
“The sun is about to come up, so we don’t have time to eat.You’ll just have to pray the Mermaid Kingdom has dinner that’s tastier than seaweed.”
If one considered the power of the party, it wouldn’t be a problem to cross into Aedia.In fact, it made one wonder if they could break into the Demon world.However, Artpe tried to be patient.There was a change from his past life to his current life.The Chef’s recipe had changed.It was more aggressive and bold.
After he removed all traces of his party, they immediately exited the inn.Of course, the Lunatic Wave was still ongoing, so each barrier wall was manned by soldiers.Still, if they couldn’t trick the soldiers, they had no rights to call themselves the hero’s party.
“Artpe, it feels as if you haven’t told us all the important facts.”
Maetel walked beside him as she firmly grasped his sleeve.It seemed she just had this thought.She tilted her head in puzzlement as she asked the question.
“We are going into the ocean?”
“That’s right.”
“How are we going to breathe?”
Artpe let out a refreshing laughter as he replied.
“That is a good question.”
“If you tell me that you don’t know the answer, I’ll hit you.….with my lips.I’ll hit Artpe’s lips with my lips.”
“I’m sorry.It was a joke.I’ll tell you now, so stay there.”
Before he knew it, the number of threats she issued had increased.Artpe seriously mulled it over.He wondered if he had ruined Maetel.He had no choice, but to reveal the correct answer.
“There is a magic spell called Underwater Breathing.It’s difficulty is unnecessarily high, but it allows one to breath underwater.However, the spell doesn’t help with one’s mobility within the water, so it doesn’t sell well. It is an ambiguous spell.I was able to buy it cheap thanks to this fact.”
“Magic is really incredible.”
“I can’t always rely only on my Mana Strings.”
It would have been great if he was able to acquire a more proper AOE magic!
[Master.]
Sherryl the mermaid walked clumsily as she continued to follow after them.She grabbed Artpe’s sleeve, and she spoke as if she was whispering her words.
[The Road of Mermaids will open soon.]
“All right.Let’s go.”
Artpe led his party past the 3rd barrier wall, and they arrived at the 2nd barrier wall.The monsters were unable to get past the 1st barrier wall, which Artpe had reconstructed during the night.The city guards were split between the 1st and 2nd barrier wall.
The ones stationed on the 2nd barrier wall were all sleeping.The ones on the 1st barrier wall were quite loud as they moved around.
“Everyone be alert on your patrol!The Mermen might try to crawl over this wall at any moment!”
“Sir, it is strange.We haven’t seen any mermaids for awhile.Moreover, the other monsters are fearful of making contact with the wall.They are staying back….”
“The magician-nim is really amazing.He rebuilt the barrier wall yesterday.”
“I told you not to relax, you useless bastards!”
The party was moving carefully to avoid being seen by the knights.Naturally, they were able to see the 1st barrier wall, which Artpe had finished building in the night.It looked much sturdier than the 2nd barrier wall.It was impossible not to look at it.
The metallic barrier wall was letting out a subdued red light.No one knew why the barrier wall was metallic even though no metals were used in creating the wall.Fortunately, the water didn’t cause the wall to rust.
“That’s the new wall made by Artpe.”
“It’s incredible, oppa.It looks incredibly sturdy.”
“Of course, it is.It better be if you consider the materials that went into it.”
It was true that the Hellfire Sentinel was completely destroyed in the fight against the Kraken.However, the wreckage containing the boiling magical energy was left behind.While Artpe blocked the swarming monsters, he retrieved the fragments.Then he combined it with the ingredients gathered from the Kraken’s body to make a new 1st tier barrier wall.He then usedthree consecutive Reinforcements.The barrier wall was inferior to the Hellfire Sentinel, but it was incomparably sturdier that the original 1st tier barrier wall.
The lord of Frate was present during the construction process, and he was touched by Artpe’s work.He suggest they name the wall after Artpe, but Artpe rejected the idea with a single stroke.
“So we’ll cross the 1st barrier wall, and we’ll immediately enter the ocean?”
“Even if we put aside the monsters for now, we’ll never avoid the gazes of the people.That is why we’ll enter from here.”
“From here······?”
Originally, the port was placed between the 1st and 2nd tier barrier wall.It had also been the location where the ships of the foreign nobles and merchants had been anchored.Of course, there were no traces of these ships left behind.The port was destroyed by the attacks from the Kraken, other monsters andArtpe’s magic.It was just filled with water from the ocean now.
The monsters were unable to cross the 1st tier barrier wall, so an atmosphere akin to what one saw at a peaceful lake was formed.However, the traces of battle were within this body of water.It was filled with countless blood and tears of monsters and humans.
“Then there are the merchants ships filled with shipment buried within this water.Loots will also be present.They are all untouched.”
“······Artpehh~”
“Even if you look at me with those eyes, you won’t be able to trouble my conscience.You should give up on it.I’m not stealing anything.I’m just excavating the treasures buried within the ocean!”
Artpe was in control of the finances of the hero’s party, so he was allowed to be shameless!Maetel looked as if she really wanted to argue with him, but she stopped herself.It seemed she had a rough idea on how much the Skill Books and Spell Books had cost him.
“I know Artpe isn’t always good.I know this, and I’m also bad for tolerating it.”
“I would go further than that.I’ll be blunt.I’m a bad guy.If that is all, let’s go!!”
Artpe casted the Underwater Breathing spell, and the party started walking.Of course, he didn’t need to cast it on the mermaid Sherryl and the magic beast Roa.The fact that he was able to cast it simultaneously on three people was incredible.It was a waste of breathe to expound on how amazing it was.
“Maetel, you should throw a rock over there.”
“Yes.”
Maetel’s powerful throw created a enormous ripple on the surface of the ocean.As a side benefit, several monsters nearby died.It wasn't even a Skill!She just threw a rock!
“······mmm?I heard something suspicious from over there!”
“Could it be another Kraken coming this way? What’s going on!”
The plan to create a distraction with Maetel had created a result that was a bit excessive.All the knights on top of the 1st and 2nd tier barrier wall were looking towards the ocean.In that moment, the party entered into the artificial lake.They were able to make a clean escape, and the hero’s party submerged into the ocean.