8

“As you can see, we cannot fish while the kraken is there. In addition, many ships have been sunk. Even if we sail from now on, there is a risk they will be sunk the same way. I cannot imagine other nations will send ships once they learn of Elias’s situation. Of course trade will suffer, but we will likely lose our surplus of food as well.”

“Which means the fish dishes are…”

“We likely will not have enough to serve them to outsiders. I am sorry, but we will have to restrict entry, and of course, we will also have to ask the residents currently in my domain, as well as outsiders, to endure it.”

“W-Wa, wa-wa-wa, wait, wait a second.”

Ains had been trying to let it pass as none of his concern, but the situation had completely changed.

If he had already enjoyed the fish dishes at the previous restaurant, Ains’s reaction would probably have been different as well, but because of this chaos, Ains had missed out on the food.

At this rate, no matter how long he waited, he might not be able to enjoy Elias’s cuisine. In addition, if this situation could not be resolved by subjugating the kraken and such, the possibility had even arisen that Ains might not be able to get any food the next time he visited Elias either.

Then what had Ains come all the way to Elias for? Ains could never endure being made to smell the aroma alone and then sent home half-dead with longing.

“…Sophia, Talidge.”

“Yes, Lord Ains.”

“What’s wrong? You look panicked.”

The two tilted their heads before Ains, whose demeanor had changed completely from just moments ago.

“I think we should cooperate with Lady Arabetta here. After all, I can’t overlook people in trouble right in front of me.”

Ains said something that sounded plausible. His true feelings, however, were that his gluttony was making him say it.

Perhaps because Talidge knew that about Ains, he stared at Ains with eyes that seemed to be looking at something suspicious.

“Lord Ains, how splendid of you! Let us save the people of Elias by all means!”

Sophia was moved to tears before the sight of Ains helping the weak.

“Lord Ains, do you truly mean it!? Even though you are not one of my subjects, you would lend us your aid! With the magical skill you showed earlier, there could be nothing more reassuring than having someone of your caliber cooperate with us!”

Arabetta’s expression brightened with joy.

Having seen Ains’s magic earlier, Arabetta understood. The Ains standing before her had greater magical skill than any mage in Elias.

“Then, Sophia and Talidge, I’ll leave the rest to you.”

“By the rest, you mean these guys?”

Talidge looked toward the fish-men that had been shattered by Ains’s magic.

“With you two, it should be over in no time.”

“Leave it to us, Lord Ains!”

Sophia grabbed Talidge, who was making a grim face as if he found it bothersome, by the scruff of the neck and dragged him toward the city, saying, “Come on, let’s get going already.”

Ains was left alone with Arabetta.

Ains stood up calmly, but Arabetta was not the same.

“Lord Ains, will you be all right alone? Without your companions, surely…”

“They are swordsmen, after all.”

Arabetta understood how high Ains’s magical skill was, but that was a different matter. It was still better to have companions than not.

Even Arabetta understood that there was no point in swinging swords on land against an enemy hiding in the sea. However, it was possible to intercept incoming attacks.

Arabetta also knew that the manifestation of magic, whether offensive magic or support magic or anything else, required time. Therefore, she thought companions who could cover the openings until manifestation were necessary.

“Since the two of them have already gone… Then my knights, and though I may only be a burden, I shall accompany you as well. We will hold out at least until your magic manifests!”

Arabetta thumped her chest.

However,

“No, it’s fine. This will be over right away.”

Ains began holding out his hand toward the sea.

“What do you mean by that…?”

Arabetta wondered what he meant by saying it would be over right away.

The opponent had hidden itself in the sea and could not be tracked. If they went out to sea to confirm its appearance, its legs would coil around the ship and sink it into the sea where it lurked.

In other words, the magic Ains was about to manifest was magic that could injure the enemy even if its form could not be seen.

“No way!”

Arabetta realized what magic Ains was about to manifest. Looking at him, faint electricity had begun leaking from the left hand Ains was holding out.

“Then, let’s wrap this up—”

“Stoooop!!”

Arabetta, looking flustered, spread both hands and stood in front of Ains.

“W-Wait, Lady Arabetta!?”

Ains’s left hand had reached the point just before manifestation.

Because Arabetta had suddenly stepped in front of him, Ains forcibly canceled the magic.

“Lord Ains, please wait.”

“Lady Arabetta, that was dangerous. If it had been anyone other than me, you would be burned black by now.”

Arabetta had stepped in front of it just before manifestation. Ains doubted his eyes, wondering if she was sane.

“Lord Ains, was the magic you were about to manifest not lightning-element magic?”

Perhaps she understood herself that she had done something quite dangerous, as cold sweat stood out on Arabetta’s face.

“Y-Yes. If it is hiding in the sea, that would solve things easily. It would not matter if I could not see it.”

No matter where it was hiding in the sea, there would be no problem if he sent electricity through the entire area. After that, he would only have to wait for it to be burned all over and float up to the surface.

“That will not do, Lord Ains.”

“Why is that?”

Ains tilted his head. He had thought this was the most efficient magic.

“It is powerful magic capable of killing the kraken, is it not? If so, would it not also affect the fish living in the sea? Elias functions as a harbor city with thriving trade, but it also has the aspect of being a famous producer of seafood. That would have far too great an effect.”

Without a doubt, the fishermen of Elias would lose their jobs. No one knew how long it would take for the current ecosystem of Elias’s sea to recover, but even so, it certainly would not recover immediately.

In addition, the merchants who dealt in seafood products would come to Elias less often, and the flow of money within Elias would worsen as well.

If fish could not be caught, dishes making use of the famous local products would no longer be served, and taverns would lose their work too. That would directly lead to a decline in the city’s liveliness. It was certain that tourists from other domains would also decrease.

If the ecosystem of the sea was completely changed, the damage would likely be far more severe than the ships that were occasionally sunk.

“I see. So that’s what you mean. That’s true.”

Ains readily accepted Arabetta’s words.