Chapter 52

As the jellyfish's tentacles were torn, the impact was relatively low, but the poison proved effective, which is why we chose this strategy. When the jellyfish dies, it seems to dissolve in seawater, and the poison is released into the sea. Although it is highly toxic, the quantity is not so great that it would cause significant harm—rather, I was impressed that the sea monk was subdued with such a small amount, and at the same time, I was frightened by Miss Mimino's reaction. After the sea monk dies, the poison will likely disperse in the vast ocean and become harmless. It certainly won't cause ocean pollution.

"Master!"

It was Zelly who pulled my exhausted body, drained of magic, towards her. Though I might get scolded for saying this, Zelly, who is also a skilled adventurer, has strong arms, and I feel reassured—so reassured that I start to feel sleepy, so I have to keep my wits about me. Even though it's late summer, the sun's rays are glaring and burn my eyes.

"You're always taking reckless actions... Hold on tight."

Zelly said this as she swam back to the ship. Carrying me like a cloak on her back, she swam breaststroke, showing that she is indeed a very good swimmer, as she claims.

"Hehe... I'm sorry. But if it had dragged on, the magic ship might not have held up..."

The giant sea monk, which had been causing waves just moments ago, was now silent, slowly sinking to the bottom of the sea. The tentacles that had stretched across the surface were being dragged down by the sinking body.

"...You should also consider the people who need to see this... Since the Red Gate appeared, you've been acting recklessly, Master."

Hearing her unusually serious tone, I was startled. Even from this distance, I could see tears in Mimino's eyes as she called my name from the edge of the warship.

"...I'm sorry."

My chest was filled with gratitude for her concern and a sense of guilt, and all I could say was that. "If you understand, that's fine," Zelly said softly.

"By the way—"

Zelly's bright voice cut through the somber atmosphere.

"What was that sea monk, anyway? I've never seen a creature like that, but the poison worked, didn't it?"

I wanted to explain about the jellyfish, but I wasn't sure how to put it.

"It's quite mysterious, isn't it? A creature that goes out of its way to attack ships."

"...Yeah. Maybe it was agitated."

"Does it have feelings like humans?"

"I don't know, but it might have been the right time for it."

"...The right time?"

What I had wanted to say to the mayor and Dantes in the cabin earlier.

Why did the sea monk come to a place like this continental shelf?

Even though there are few sightings, it's understandable that people are told to flee when a sea monk appears. But why is its ecology so unknown and shrouded in mystery?

It's because every ship that approached was sunk, and as Zelly said, the sea monk "went out of its way to attack ships."

"It's just a guess, but... the reason the sea monk approaches the coast might be to 'lay eggs.'"

Laying eggs in the shallow seabed of a continental shelf. After laying eggs, it returns to the open sea.

Laying eggs requires a lot of energy, so the appetite is voracious, and it becomes more agitated. If a ship comes near, it will attack—something like that.

"Ah... I see. Master, you really think of these things, don't you?"

If I could say that I often saw such things on Japanese TV, it would be easier.

"...Master? What's wrong?"

There was one thing that bothered me more than anything else.

If the jellyfish lays eggs, that's fine. Some species carry fertilized eggs and release them as larvae, while others, like the "immortal" species, transform into young individuals after death. Of course, if they die from poison, they can't transform. The question is whether the sea monk reproduces sexually or asexually.

"...Zelly, can you hurry up?"

"Huh? I'm already going pretty fast."

"Go all out. I have a bad feeling."

If it reproduces asexually, it just creates eggs and spawns offspring on its own. Some live long lives and become sea monks, while others are eaten by fish when they are small.

But the problem is if this sea monk—reproduces sexually.

"—Rage, behind you!!"

Mimino's voice, like a scream, reached my ears.

At that moment, I realized my "bad feeling" had come true.

"Zelly, hurry up!"

I could feel the sea surface rising. Waves were forming.

When I turned around, I saw—another sea monk had appeared behind the dead one.

A second sea monk that had come to mate.

"Wh-Wh-Wh-What the hell!?"

"Zelly, go all out! You don't need to pretend to be a cat just for this!"

"I could swim faster without you, you know!?"

"If you're thinking of defaulting on your debt, I'll just sink you!"

My magic had returned slightly, and I used [Water Magic] to create a current to push us forward.

The sea monk that had appeared on the surface seemed to be looking around, the faint light in its hollows flickering. To me, it looked like a submarine carrying a grim reaper was scanning with radar.

The sea monk's movements suddenly stopped. Just as I was wondering what was happening, the sea surface swelled and—using its tentacles, it lifted the sea monk I had poisoned, which had turned blue-black.

The second sea monk's green spots turned red-black.

How else could I describe this except as "anger"?

Don't say that jellyfish don't have brains and therefore no emotions—jellyfish in this world might have them, and most importantly, Earth's jellyfish don't shoot lasers.

"Ugh"

The distance to the magic ship was about 30 meters, but at our current speed, it felt impossibly far.

A bluish-white phosphorescence began to gather around the sea monk.

"—It's going to attack."

"Ah! Master! Be a shield!"

"Wait, Zelly!?"

Zelly turned around and pushed my arm away, facing my body towards the sea monk. She was really going to use me as a shield...!?

But my magic was depleted, and I had no more of Mimino's "Magic Replication Potion."

This was a serious situation with no clear solution—while my mind was racing, I suddenly noticed that the glaring sunlight had been blocked.

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