I Became a Dark Fantasy Villain-Chapter 582

"A-A-A monster?" Simon stammered, jaw quivering, his breath ragged as if he might faint at any moment. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Calm down, Young Master!" Shahin, who had also crouched down, glanced at him over the limp attendant’s head. He pretended not to notice the spreading wet patch beneath Simon’s legs. "It’s Sir Paladin’s steed! It’s Moro!"

"Steed? That monster… is that magnificent… black horse?" Simon muttered blankly, not daring to look away from Moro, as if it would lunge the moment he did.

Shahin shrugged. "I don’t know the details either. But it’ll be okay. See? It’s not moving, right?"

As Shahin said, Moro seemed to have no interest in them. It just sat with its belly on the floor, snorting indifferently, and occasionally licking the seawater-drenched deck.

"Well… that’s true, but…" Simon mumbled, still unable to stand. That beggar boy might not know enough to be afraid, but he did.

The Black Wall, monsters, and the corrupted were all favorite topics of gossip among the nobles of the capital. The more gruesome and brutal the story, the better.

Crack—

Just then, a strange sound echoed from outside. It was a sound both Simon and Shahin had heard several times now—the elder fairy’s spell. As their bodies instinctively tensed, a thunderous explosion followed.

Boom! Rumble—

The sound was clear even through the walls, seeming to shake their very bones. A moment later, piercing screams and monstrous shrieks echoed from the rear of the ship.

"How… how did it come to this?" Simon asked blankly, his shoulders hunched.

Forgetting he was even supporting the attendant, he pulled his knees to his chest.

"I just… I just wanted to go home… as soon as possible…." Simon’s eyes glazed over as he mumbled.

The endless cacophony of explosions and screams was relentless. From his place near the rear cabins, he could hear every sound, unfiltered and mercilessly clear. The terror was more than a young noble, who had lived a life of leisure, could bear, especially having just witnessed the death of someone close to him.

"I’m not ready yet… Lu Solar…"

As Simon descended further into a stupor, Shahin’s own expression grew calm. It was a human instinct to seek balance, and that was no exception for emotions. After a deep sigh, as if having decided, Shahin swung his left hand with all his might.

Slap!

His palm connected squarely with Simon’s face. Simon’s head snapped back, his wide eyes a mixture of pain and bewilderment.

"D-Did you just slap me?"

"Are you feeling a bit more clearheaded, Young Master?" Shahin asked, shaking his wrist.

As Simon, wide-eyed, clutched his nose, the boy tilted his head. "My apologies. It’s just that, of all the methods I know, none is more effective for snapping someone to their senses."

"Fine. It works, I guess."

"Then let's get up! We need to lay him in the carriage!" Shahin said quickly. The roars and screams outside continued.

Simon glanced at Moro, who was still licking the floor, then finally took a deep breath.

"Urghhh!"

His legs quivered violently, but at last he stood. Shahin rose as well. With the deck still pitching toward the bow, it looked as though Simon were bearing Edward’s weight alone. Their steps toward the carriage were heavy.

Crack!

Another explosion erupted from the stern. The scream that followed was the closest one yet.

"H-How in the world can she cast so many spells? Is it because she’s an elder fairy?" Simon muttered in a low voice, stumbling forward.

It was a question born more of an escape than reason. He had to think of something, anything else, or he felt he wouldn’t be able to bear it. Shahin, of course, said nothing in reply. All the boy knew was that magic could only be wielded by the chosen, and that in exchange, mages often went mad.

Screee—

Instead, Shahin ran ahead and threw open the carriage door.

He climbed inside, spread a blanket on the floor, and reached out. "This way, please."

"Uh, r-right…." Simon, grunting with effort, reached the carriage and awkwardly pushed Edward inside.

Shahin pulled him in by the arms and carefully wrapped him in the blanket.

"Port! They’re coming from the port side too! Sir—! Sir!" Sanford’s cry cut through the din.

Shahin and Simon paused, looking at each other for a moment.

Boom!

A massive explosion erupted from the port side of the ship. The hull shook violently from the impact. Simon fell on his rear, and Shahin was thrown from the carriage.

"Ugh…" Shahin clutched his forehead where it had hit the floor.

Monstrous screams echoed, followed by Sanford’s despairing cry. "More are coming! Damn it. There are so many! So many! What are you doing?! Row again—"

This time, there was no immediate explosion. The elder fairy seemed to have been casting another spell.

"Uuuugh…" As the ship regained its balance, Simon, who had been rolling on the floor, pushed himself up.

Shahin looked back at the carriage. Fortunately, only Edward’s feet were sticking out. Shahin quickly crawled over and pushed them back inside.

Thud, Boom—

A sound like falling hail was followed by an explosion, one they had heard many times before. The sound that came next, however, was new.

Thump, Crunch—

The sound of something crashing onto the deck and a dull vibration followed one after another. However, that wasn't the only reason Simon and Shahin froze.

Grrr—

Moro had suddenly shot to its feet, the violet light emanating from it instantly intensifying.

"-----!"

"Aaargh— Damn it!"

With Sanford’s scream and the chilling cries of monsters beyond the wall, Moro charged. There was barely enough space for a few steps, but the steed spun, leaped, and slammed into the forward wall.

Crash!

The hinges holding the wall in place shattered, and the entire section collapsed forward. As Moro tumbled to the ground, Shahin and Simon stared blankly at the newly opened view.

"Huh…"

Both their mouths hung open. On the deck, which was dented in several places, monstrous creatures were flopping about. Each was the size of a shark, with disgustingly large crimson eyes and teeth.

They had no way of knowing that these were the smaller ones of the swarm, a tiny fraction that had just barely avoided the crystal barrier's explosion.

Swoosh— Wham!

At the sound that followed, Shahin’s gaze was drawn past the deck. The orc warrior was swinging his battle hammer with all his might. The sea beast he struck shrieked as it was sent flying over the railing.

Growl!

Roaring, Moro scrambled to its feet and charged. It slammed into a flopping beast on the starboard side, then tossed its head and kept running. The sea beast, impaled on its blade-like horn, flew in an arc over the side.

Moro didn't stop. It ran right past another creature that was writhing in the sacred fire. There was another monster flopping on the foredeck.

"Don’t worry about what’s up here! Just keep rowing—"

As Sanford, who had hidden himself below the stairs, shouted, Shahin’s gaze returned to the makeshift brazier. The screaming beast had clearly fallen on top of it. Though the sacred fire had dwindled, the brazier itself was intact. The flames hadn't even spread to the deck or the sails. It was simply burning the flopping monster alive.

Swoosh, crack!

Mukapa’s battle hammer slammed into the creature. The flopping fireball soared over the railing and disappeared.

"Mukapa!" Shahin shot to his feet, shouting before he knew it.

Another sea beast was charging across the deck straight for Mukapa’s back.

"K-Kid? Where are you going? Shahin?" Simon’s eyes widened.

Shahin was stumbling out onto the deck. Simon stumbled after and grabbed Shahin in an embrace just as the boy stepped onto the collapsed wall.

"Are you crazy? What are you going to do out there?"

"But—"

Just then, a fireball shot past them, slamming into the leaping sea beast.

Boom—

With a brilliant explosion, the beast, now engulfed in orange flames, was thrown back. It crashed into the opposite railing and tumbled over, letting out a piercing shriek. Mukapa, who seemed to have been caught in the shockwave, staggered, his hammer hanging loosely.

However, that was only for a moment. He then started walking toward the creature as if nothing had happened.

"Both of you, get back inside!" Lucia shouted, having come down to the main deck.

Wearing her hood, which shimmered with sacred fire, she looked back at Simon and Shahin. "It’s too dangerous out he—" Lucia trailed off.

Her orange eyes, visible behind her mask, suddenly widened as she looked up and past them. Simon and Shahin’s gazes followed hers, toward the starboard side, to the wave that rose higher than the deck.

Crash!

As the sound of Mukapa smashing the monster reached them, Simon, his eyes wide, instinctively hugged Shahin tighter. A massive crimson shape was becoming clear beneath the surface of the water.

Fwoosh—

A moment later, a giant sea beast erupted from the wave. It was a massive turtle with a shell covered in horns and two vicious-looking heads thrust forward. Even Simon had no trouble imagining what would happen if the beast rammed the hull.

Whoosh—

At almost the same instant, a streak of mixed crimson and violet shot up alongside it. The streak leaped and slammed into the turtle's side.

Crack.

Simon and Shahin’s eyes widened as if to tear. The violet streak was the orca-like sea beast. Its head was so tough that instead of being knocked away, it forced the turtle’s bulk to list to the side. However, that wasn't the only reason their eyes had widened.

Thump, thump, thump—

From behind the orca’s dorsal fin, a crimson streak suddenly burst forth. It ran up the sea beast’s head and leaped, using the turtle’s foreleg as a springboard. A figure, cloak fluttering, raised a bright yellow sword of light.

Crunch!

In succession, the yellow arc sliced through both of the turtle’s heads. The severed heads spun through the air, and a moment later, the bodies of both sea beasts sank beneath the waves. The human who had struck them down did as well.

Amidst the erupting spray of water, Shahin finally muttered, stunned, "…Sir?"

It was unbelievable, but the profile of the man who had just struck down the turtle sea beast had looked familiar.

"I knew it! I knew you’d be safe—" Lucia’s cry of relief came then.

Almost simultaneously, a roar echoed from the forecastle. It was Moro.

The steed, having let out its own cry, lowered its head again. A completely mangled sea beast lay at its feet. Burying its head in the creature’s torso, it chewed diligently once more.

"You two, get back inside!" Lucia turned and looked at Simon and Shahin. "I’m going to rekindle the sacred flame. Don’t worry. We will survive and reach the mainland!"

With that, she turned and strode away without waiting for a reply. Shahin stared blankly at her retreating back.

"Dragon Slay… er?"

A low, awestruck whisper came from above him. It was Simon.

Shahin paused and looked up at him. "What did you say, Young Master?"

"The… the Superhuman of the North is…." Even as his lips trembled, Simon’s dazed eyes never left the sea beyond the railing.

He seemed to have forgotten he was even holding Shahin. "Shrouded in blazing red divinity… wielding a golden shield and a sword of light, commanding thunder to smite all that is evil…" Simon stammered through the words.

He then finally lowered his gaze to Shahin. "Haven’t you heard the stories? It’s just like the legends from the North! The Agent of the Platinum Dragon and the Superhuman of the North! That man— he is the Dragon Slayer, Ian Hope!"