It was getting late, and as the curtain of night began to fall, the two finally ended their conversation about making sacrifices. The mental stress on both of them seemed to be slightly relieved, and they smiled cheerfully.

After reaching a fork in the corridor, Shizuku watched Liliana return to her room. She gazed at the gentle princess, a friend she had made in another world, for a moment, then, with a warm heart, took a step toward the other corridor.

「!?」

It felt like ice sliding across my back in an instant.

Shizuku, holding the black sword in her hand, turned back, as if drawing it. She looked around cautiously, but saw only the lights of the palace and the dim corridors.

"...Is it my imagination?"

Shizuku held her breath, searching for the air around her, but there seemed to be nothing around her. Shizuku diagnosed her own situation, thinking that perhaps she had become a little too nervous after listening to Liliana's words, and she couldn't help but sigh.

Then he turned around and walked forward again.

She walked back to her companions more hurriedly than usual.

It was as if something was chasing her.

Volume 5, Chapter 2: Melkine Undersea Ruins

Looking out, there is endless blue.

The weather was clear and cloudless, with bright sunshine, but never too hot, and the climate was mild and pleasant. The occasional breeze was very refreshing.

However, no matter how hard I looked around, I couldn't see anything, which made me feel a little lonely.

But there is nothing we can do about it, because this is right in the middle of the ocean.

In the middle of the ocean, a ship drifted with the waves. No, could that object even be described as a ship? At least, the people of this world wouldn't consider it a "ship."

Because the object had a glossy black body, unlike a typical boat with exterior seating. Originally, there should have been V-shaped winglike attachments on either side of the hull, propeller-like parts at the rear, and a tail-shaped rudder... but now only a horrible wreckage remained. If those components were still there, the object would have resembled a slightly flattened killer whale.

Rather than calling this object a ship, it would be more appropriate to call it a new type of monster. Perhaps the people of this world would be more accepting of this.

This killer whale-shaped vessel was a submarine. Needless to say, it was Hajime's divine artifact. It had drifted through the lava of the Gulun Volcano, narrowly avoiding death for its passengers. The price it paid was damage, nearly to the point of severe destruction.

On the submarine drifting with the waves, Hajime crossed his hands behind his head, lying on his back, enjoying the scenery of nature.

His left prosthetic arm had been melted by the aurora's attack and was no longer able to function properly. However, Hajime repaired it using materials from the submarine, and now its appearance has been restored to its original state, but the internal mechanism is almost unusable.

“…Hajime, how is your health?”

Hajime was dozing off in the warm sunshine and cradle-like waves when the hatch behind him suddenly opened. Yue poked her head out of the hatch and asked Hajime about his physical condition with concern.

Aurora caused considerable damage to Hajime, and the Aurora poison made the injury heal slowly.

"No problem, the wounds have all healed. It will probably take another day to recover... Compared to me, how is Yue? You are quite tired, right?"

"Well...I'm fine, because Shia also gave me some of her blood."

Hearing Shi's concern, Yue answered happily. She walked out of the cabin happily, then crawled forward on the hull, crawled to Shi's side, and then sat on Shi's body very naturally.

Her soft buttocks stimulated a very dangerous spot for Hajime.

"...Ms. Yue, why are you sitting here?"

“…※Because Hajime is right there?” (Editor’s note: A famous quote from British adventurer George John T. Mallory.)

Yue answered like a mountaineer, but her eyes were serious. She withdrew the seductiveness she had used when attacking Shiji, saying, "...Don't move." She crouched over Shiji, licked his neck, and then bit down with her tiny teeth, licking the blood that flowed out.

"...Hmm, the toxins are almost gone, so it seems to be fine."

It seems that Yue was checking how much of Aurora's toxin remained by licking Hajime's blood.

"So I said it's okay, right?"

"...Yeah, but I can't help but worry. Being adrift at sea is a hassle, but it's nice to be able to rest."

"Yeah, the way things are unfolding is incredibly fast. I don't know if this is a blessing or a curse..."

Hajime gave a wry smile, Yue frowned, and seemed to have difficulty in answering.

Both of them recalled the time since they were engulfed by lava from the Gulun volcano and have been drifting on the sea until now. They didn't know whether to blame the misfortunes that followed or to be thankful that they were still saved after the unfortunate encounter. Their mood was very complicated.

They were washed underground by the lava and drifted in the rapids for a whole day.

Then, when the sleepless nights, the cold sweats, and the fear that he would be washed into the mantle of the planet, the uncertain journey underground finally took a turn.

The biggest shock yet hit them.

The impact was so strong that it even penetrated the defenses of the "King Kong" and directly caused damage to the submarine. The impact also rushed the submarine out with great force.

Hajime hurried to check the situation outside. What he saw was not a red world filled with magma, but a serpentine spiral of magma and a turbulent "sea" due to the violently rising bubbles.

It seems to have been caught up in a so-called lava and water vapor explosion, which was erupting magnificently from the crater of an underwater volcano.

Although the hull was severely damaged by the impact of the spray, the cabin was not flooded. I don’t know whether to say that this is a blessing in disguise, or to praise it as a artifact worthy of Hajime.

After a near-death crisis, Shi and the others finally returned to the ground. They couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, but the suffering continued afterwards.

The submarine was severely damaged, with its tail propeller and rudder destroyed. Shi and his companions used magic jets to force the submarine to sail, but were attacked by a large number of sea monsters.

The first thing that appeared was a giant squid monster, thirty meters long. It stretched out more than thirty tentacles and moved them wrigglingly, just like the Kraken, a monster from the sea.

Just as it launched a merciless attack, wrapping its tentacles around the submarine and biting into the hull with its sharp teeth arranged in a circle, Hajime and the others successfully repelled it with the submarine's weapons (torpedoes, etc.) and Yue's magic.

Next up is the fake shark with a waterspout wrapped around its body; next up is the fake swordfish with rotating horns that can dive at high speeds; and finally, the turtle that sprays booby-trapped feces with a smug look on its face, and so on...

After repelling the monsters, the submarine's weapons were finally exhausted, leaving them with only Yue's magic power. Yue even used up all the magic stored in the magic crystal. Due to Hajime's excessive blood loss, Yue switched to drinking Shia's blood.

By the time they barely escaped, even Hajime and the others were exhausted from the previous battle at Grun Volcano. Shia, though she hadn't done anything, collapsed from anemia after providing Yue with blood.

Hajime let Yue and Shia rest while he steered the boat towards the possible location of the continent. After half a day's journey, the weather and sea conditions were extremely stable, so Hajime stopped the submarine and planned to rest for a while, thus basking in the sun outside the boat.

The entire journey from conquering the Grun Volcano to this point had been incredibly dangerous. No matter how you looked at it, it seemed impossible for anyone other than Hajime and the others to survive under those circumstances. No wonder Hajime couldn't help but cry out, "I'm so unlucky!" (Editor's note: Kamijou Touma in the light novel "A Certain Magical Index"), like a certain character using the Gender Equality Fist.

"How's Shia?"

Hajime looked off into the distance, thinking back, and asked Yue who was still sitting on his waist.

"...She's still sleeping. I sucked a lot of blood from her, so I don't think she'll be able to wake up for a while."

According to Yue, the efficiency of converting magic power into Hajime's blood differed significantly from that of Shia's. Hajime was the subject of the "Blood Pact," while Shia was not, so even if the amount of blood drawn was the same, the difference was several times greater.

The so-called "Blood Alliance Contract" is a derivative skill of "Blood Power Conversion". It can limit the blood-sucking target to a specific target. Although the blood-sucking effect on other people will become weaker, on the contrary, it can obtain several times the effect from the contracted object.

"Is that so? Then let her rest. Since we don't know our current location, we don't know how long it will take to reach land, and who knows what will happen next. Let's just relax a little and recuperate."

"……Um."

Since the ocean lay west of the continent, if they simply wanted to reach land, they could simply sail east. Fresh water could be created through magic, and as long as they caught fish, they wouldn't have to worry about food. No fish could escape submarines or magic, so while they might appear stranded at sea, their situation wasn't truly urgent. By checking the position of the stars at night, they could determine which direction to sail once they sighted land, so they should rest whenever possible.

Hajime relaxed, feeling the warm sunlight and cool breeze, while Yue watched Hajime...

"...Ms. Yue, what are you doing?"

“…I’m cheering Hajime up.”

Unconsciously, Yue exuded a seductive aura and moved slowly. She said she was cheering Shi up, but she didn't say where she was cheering him up. Yue's moist eyes looked directly at Shi, and Shi didn't even have the slightest thought of resisting.

"Hmm... hehe, Hajime seems to be perking up now."

"...I never thought I'd be doing something like this right in the middle of the ocean... I definitely wouldn't have imagined this six months ago."

In this open space, Hajime and Yue were grateful for each other's survival, expressing their joy with their bodies. The submarine rocked for a long time, swaying in a different way from the waves.

"I hope you two are having a great time..."

After Hajime and Yue returned to the ship refreshed, Shia looked at them coldly and said.

"Hmm? You're awake now. How are you feeling?"

“Thank you for showing me your concern as if nothing had happened. Thanks to the intense rocking and the very sexy and vivid voice, I was completely awake. I am in very good physical condition because I turned my emptiness and loneliness into strength. Even if you ask me to attack Hajime right now, I can do it.”

"Really? That's good."

Hajime didn't feel guilty at all, cheerfully expressing his joy for Shia's recovery. Shia's eyes were filled with tears, and she seemed quite dissatisfied. Seeing her like that, Hajime gave a wry smile, feeling that he had been too cold, and beckoned Shia to sit next to him.

When Xia woke up, she saw that there was no one in the ship. But through the open hatch, she could hear the voices of Hajime and Yue making love. This situation seemed to make her feel quite lonely, and she immediately hugged Hajime tightly as soon as she sat down.

Yue did not sit next to Hajime, but sat next to Shia, stroking her bunny ears to comfort her.

The two of them worked together to comfort Shia, while Hajime simultaneously injected his magic power into the submarine, starting it and heading east.

Although they were sometimes attacked by monsters, Yue would use magic to repel them and they sailed like this for a whole day.

They sped along in the submarine under the starry sky, and when the rising sun illuminated the world, Shi and the others finally saw land.

Judging from the position of the stars seen last night, they should be north of Enison now. If they turn the port side towards the land and sail south, they will at least see the port connecting Enison and the [Gulun Volcano].

Hajime heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing land, and sailed south for two more days.

The next day, when the sun passed its highest point, they stopped the submarine for a nap and enjoyed their lunch as the waves rocked them.

The dish was, of course, fish caught in the sea. The act of grilling food with the "Thunderbolt" reminded Hajime of his time in the abyss. Since the "treasure vault" was entrusted to Tio for safekeeping, they had neither cooking utensils nor seasonings.

Even so, the three of them sat side by side, gazing at the horizon while enjoying grilled fish, which tasted quite delicious. The location and atmosphere are also a kind of seasoning, and those who open seaside teahouses and festival stalls all use this seasoning.

When Xia was eating a fish she had never seen before with relish, the rabbit's ears suddenly trembled and then began to move frequently.

Then, Hajime seemed to sense some kind of presence, and while chewing the nearly 60-centimeter-long fish, he shifted his gaze to look over.

Many figures immediately appeared from the sea, surrounding the submarine. With a swish, a figure emerged from the sea, pointing a three-pronged spear at Hajime and the others in a threatening manner.

There were about twenty of them, each with emerald green hair and fan-shaped ears like fish fins. They looked like Sea People, and everyone's eyes were filled with wariness.

One of the men in front of Hajime thrust out his spear and asked:

"Who are you? Why are you here? What are you riding?"

Hajime puffed out his cheeks and chewed the fish filling his mouth. He had no intention of becoming an enemy and wanted to answer quickly, but the fish he was eating was very tough and took some time to swallow.

At first, he thought he was being serious, but in the eyes of others, he was clearly being pointed at by spears and surrounded by a large number of people, but he still calmly prioritized eating, which made him look like an arrogant guy.

The veins bulged on the man's forehead as he questioned Hajime. Their murderous intent was an overreaction to a mere discovery of humans at sea—though he harbored doubts about this, Shia prepared to answer on Hajime's behalf in order to break the impending situation.

"Um, um, please calm down, we are—"

"Shut up! How dare a mere young rabbit-man butt in!"

Even among the demihumans outside the Sea of ​​Trees, the Bunnymen still held the lowest status. Their murderous intent, coupled with Hajime's contemptuous attitude (as seen by the Seamen), seemed determined to force a response from Hajime, even at the slightest risk. They pointed their spears at Shia and thrust with all their might.

Although the Sea People's attacks had no effect on Shia, who had a strengthened body, if she didn't dodge, the spear would have lightly grazed her cheek. They might have intended to injure Shia a little as a warning to Hajime.

Hajime felt that they seemed to have gone too far. The Sea People were not supposed to be such an impulsive race.

However, no matter what the Sea People's reasons were, this move was completely wrong. Even if they were just trying to warn him, Hajime would never let go of someone who tried to hurt Shia.

In an instant, a huge murderous aura and pressure like a waterfall descended from above, and the sea surface suddenly stirred up waves, spreading like ripples.

The Seaman man opened his eyes wide, staring at Hajime who had suddenly changed drastically. The next moment—

pound----!

With the sound of impact, the seaman flew up from the sea, circled in the air, then bounced several times on the sea surface, and finally sank into the sea.

The sea people were stunned and turned their attention back to Hajime, only to see him grabbing the tail of the grilled fish for some reason and posing like he was after a golf swing.

The splashes of the sea sparkled as they reflected the sunlight, and the whites of the dead fish's eyes seemed to glow lifelessly.

“Wha-what!?”

The sea people were in a mess.

Hajime hefted the half-eaten fish onto his shoulder and glared at the other man standing beside the man who had been sent flying. The male Seaman was already on the verge of collapse from the unprecedented pressure, but upon seeing Hajime's gaze, he seemed to panic, shouting and thrusting his spear.

“Drink!!”

This strike was arguably the most brilliant one the man had ever delivered. He sensed death, and instinct compelled him to deliver the killing blow. However, the fatal blow pierced the fish's mouth, its eyes rolling back, and was easily blocked.

“Eh? Huh? W-why…”

Shi flipped the fish over and easily snatched the spear from the man's hand. With a thud, the spear flew out of the fish's mouth due to centrifugal force, hitting another Seaman in the face.

Ignoring the sea people who were groaning and bleeding from their noses, Hajime swung at the flipping fish with one blow.

The seaman whose spear had been thrown witnessed an unusual sight. A dead fish, its eyes rolled back and its mouth open, was glowing red for some unknown reason and rapidly approaching his face. The man's expression froze as he watched.

“Ahhh!?”

Then, like the man just now, he flew out, leaving a trail of water splashes and drawing a beautiful parabola in the air.

"...Gurgle. Okay, I really don't want to start a fight with the Sea People, so let's talk calmly, okay? If you really attack my companions, I can't just sit there and watch... Ah, I showed some mercy just now, so the guy who flew away didn't die, you know?"

The red light vanished, and Hajime, holding the limp dead fish in one hand, released the "pressure" and proposed this to the Sea People.

Initially, he didn't want to start a quarrel with the Sea People, who were his own clan. It would be disastrous if he accidentally killed someone and that person turned out to be his neighbor uncle.

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