Chapter 74

I didn't expect to wander around alone after coming all this way, even though I brought it upon myself.

"Can't I go with you? They say it's beautiful..."

"Sorry, I don't feel well after being in the carriage for so long."

"Um, can we play together when I feel better?"

At lunch yesterday, I sent Louise back, despite feeling that I wouldn't be well for a long time.

I also felt bad when I rejected Louise's offer. Seeing her dejected, I almost wanted to say I would go with her right away, but the thought of the Inspector General, whom I would inevitably see if I went with Louise, made me hesitate.

It seemed the Inspector General would turn the Emerald Beach into a blood-red beach. I'm sorry, really sorry, Louise. I want to be with you, but it would be difficult here.

So today, after hearing that Louise had left, I went to a different place alone. It would be a waste to come all this way and just stay put.

'It is beautiful.'

I let out a small exclamation, feeling as if I were looking at a giant emerald. Fortunately, the sea is vast, and the area classified as the Emerald Beach is also wide. If I avoid where Louise went, I won't run into the Inspector General. I deliberately headed to a place where few people go.

'It would have been nice to see it together.'

The scenery was so beautiful that it made me exclaim, but the regret of seeing it alone also washed over me. It's all because of the Inspector General. I was planning to enjoy a peaceful time with Louise and find it amusing to see the squabbles of the boys who like her. But now, I'm in this situation, running away because of one person.

Feeling defeated, I dipped my feet in the sea and sat down. I even bought a new swimsuit, but what's the point of wandering around alone?

'It's his fault.'

I pouted, digging the sand with my hands. When he was in front of me, I was consumed by fear, but now that he's not, I feel a sense of injustice and resentment. Clearly, our family suffered, and it's unjust for me to have to avoid him.

Still, there is something fortunate. We were inevitably together in the carriage, but I haven't seen him since we arrived at the resort. It seems he has no intention of looking for me.

"I'll go ahead. I left something behind."

It seems he even shows strange consideration.

I hugged my knees and bowed my head. My mind is a mess. Clearly, it is consideration, but no matter how I think about it, it feels like consideration.

'The Inspector General showing consideration?'

The head of the ruthless Inspectorate? For me? No matter how I think about it, the most likely reason is the least convincing and most bizarre situation. It would be more realistic if Louise were cursing and swinging her fists.

I don't know, I wish he wouldn't appear in front of me. I wish he wouldn't confuse me.

'Just for that.'

I shouldn't be so shaken. What's so significant about being separated from me?

Maybe it's because I'm close to Louise, and because he is Erich's brother, I wish he were a good person. Maybe it's a form of reality avoidance to wish he were a good person rather than trembling with fear every time I see him. Maybe he really is a good person.

But if he is a good person? If I can laugh and get along with the Inspector General? What about my family? My father, who was unjustly taken away, my mother, who fainted, my brother, who carried all the burdens and suffered, and my young sister, who cried without understanding anything?

- Don't think about it anymore. It was just bad luck. It was just an accident.

Father said that. So, don't hold it in your heart and let it go. That's the best way to deal with the Inspectorate. There's nothing you can do about grudges and regrets.

"I hate..."

But with no one to hear, I mumbled with resentment. No matter what, I can't see him any other way. I wish he would stay out of sight.

I lifted my bowed head and stared blankly at my feet. This was supposed to be a fun school trip, but it seems my worries are only increasing—

'Huh?'

Suddenly, a loud splash and a shadow fell over me. What is it?

I lifted my head slightly and froze. A giant monster, unimaginably huge, appeared before me. A monster larger than a building, with ten tentacles, looking down at me.

—Kuurrrr!

The strange cry made me lose all thought of running. My body wouldn't move, and all I could do was tremble.

'Why, why?'

Why did such a monster appear in this resort? Is it a punishment? Is it a punishment for lying to Louise, or for having the futile fantasy that the Inspector General might be a good person?

But this is too much. Even if I thought it would be better if I never saw the Inspector General again, I didn't mean to go to a place where I would never see him!

—Kuuruuuuu!

"Aaaaaah!"

I clutched my head at the sight of the monster's tentacles. I don't want to die like this! If I die like this, the last thing I said to Louise would be a lie, and the last person I thought of would be that man!

And I don't want to die to an octopus! A funeral where I died to an octopus? I wouldn't be able to rest in peace!

The extreme fear of death and the small sense of shame at the cause of death mixed, and my body lost control. I couldn't move, and now I couldn't even give orders to my brain.

I don't want to, Father, Mother, Brother...

—Kwaang!

A deafening explosion and something heavy fell from above.

'What, what...?'

Is something else coming?

"Irina, are you hurt anywhere?"

I cautiously lifted my head and saw the person I least wanted to see.

"Aa, aa..."

Behind him, the Kraken, now headless, was buried in the sea.

I'm alive, right? I'm alive, but a more dangerous person appeared. He even had a spear in each hand.

"Irina?"

"Sniff—"

I lost all strength in my body.

***

It was a simple movement. He gripped the spear with his right hand and twisted his waist. His right arm pulled back, and his right leg also moved back to maintain his stance. It was a common movement, something anyone could do and see anywhere. The captain evaluated the Inspector General's actions just like that.

When there was time during the voyage, the sailors would throw harpoons in exactly the same way. The only difference was that the Inspector General was preparing to throw the spear at a Kraken, not just any fish.

First, he intended to divert the Kraken's attention. If lucky, the provoked creature would approach the ship, and the mages could attack together. Even if the creature fled, at least civilians wouldn't be attacked by the Kraken.

"It will shake a bit."

"Huh?"

While the captain was waking the mage captain with a kick, the Inspector General said something unexpected. It was hard to understand, but it didn't matter.

—Kwaang!

The body experienced it before the mind could process it.

"What, what? Did that thing come first?"

The mage captain, who had been stirring from the captain's kick, jumped up in shock as the ship tilted with the explosion.

"It did appear."

"It's been running around, has it gone mad? Where is it?"

The captain pointed to where he was looking, and the mage captain, who was preparing a spell, lowered his staff and stared blankly.

"Where is the Kraken?"

"It was a Kraken until just now."

"Really?"

The mage captain, looking incredulous, turned his gaze elsewhere.

"The sea looks like that below."

"I've never seen it like this. I've seen it often when diving."

The captain nodded at the mage captain's words. A light throw, but with a heavy result.

The ship shook from the impact of the spear. The ship, enchanted to withstand a barrage of attacks, tilted from just one spear.

The sea between the ship and the beach split for a moment. The Kraken? The sea split, and a mere octopus doesn't matter. The Kraken had already been dead for a long time, its head shattered by the Inspector General's spear.

"Fortunately, it didn't miss."

The Inspector General's nonchalant words made the captain look around the beach. The sound of the head exploding was as loud as an explosion. If it had missed and hit the sand behind the beach, what would have happened?

"Captain, let's go to the beach."

"A, yes."

The Inspector General, who had already retrieved the two spears left on the railing, spoke to the mage captain. The mage captain, still looking at the Inspector General's spears in disbelief, must have found it hard to believe.

"Will three spears be enough? I know the Inspector General is strong, but land and sea battles are different."

The mage captain, who had expressed concerns until the last moment before departure, was surprised. Instead of three, it ended with one. He might feel a sense of failure for all the time he spent preparing to catch the Kraken.

The captain, who knew the mage captain's efforts, felt a bit sorry.

***

I asked for three spears, not having used one in a long time, but fortunately, one was enough. Right, if I couldn't catch a mere Kraken immediately, it wouldn't make sense. I have to visit their graves soon, and I don't want to give them a reason to mock me.

That Kagan might be laughing at me from somewhere in hell. Just thinking about it makes my blood boil.

Still, I went to the beach with the mage captain to confirm the Kraken's death and check on the unexpected victim. I saw an unexpected person.

'Irina?'

Irina, surrounded by Kraken pieces, was sitting on the ground, trembling. I thought she would be with Louise, but why is she alone? I told Louise I would be away yesterday, but maybe the news was late.

"Irina, are you hurt anywhere?"

"Aa, aa..."

Irina, who was likely wandering alone to avoid me, must have encountered this disaster. I asked with concern, but she couldn't give a proper answer. She must have been very scared.

"Irina?"

"Sniff—"

Irina, who was trembling, suddenly started crying and curled up. Clearly, she was in a life-threatening situation just now, so it's understandable that she would cry... huh?

I quickly covered the mage captain's eyes, who was looking at the Kraken's body.

"Sir? Why are you doing that?"

"You can go ahead. I'll take this child back."

The mage captain, surprised by my sudden request, still complied. He was curious about why I covered his eyes, but it was a secret I couldn't reveal.

"Sniff, sniff..."

"U, Irina?"

"AAAAH!"

Irina, trying to hold back her sobs, finally burst into tears, a mix of fear and shame.

Unfortunately, Irina's tears didn't just flow from her eyes. She seemed to know this and cried even more pitifully.

I'm sorry. I'm really sorry.