MADWD 110

Episode 110

“Monster!”

A lookout screamed from the watchtower.

Ariella rushed out of the captain’s cabin.

On the deck, Ludwig, who had been dozing lazily, rubbed his eyes and floated into the air.

“Grrr!”
“Krrrk!”

Creatures leapt onto the deck. Their bodies looked like swordfish—sleek, long, with arms and legs. Their eyes were shriveled, as if useless in the deep dark sea. Their long, spear-like snouts and sharp fin-blades on their arms gleamed menacingly.

“What? I’ve never seen monsters like these before,” Ludwig muttered, frowning.

Even he, who had roamed much of the Demon Realm, didn’t know them. But Ariella did. She had read about them in the monster compendium.

“They’re Finnmen!” she shouted quickly.

“Their noses and fins are sharp and hard like steel!”

If the sailors fought them head-on, they’d suffer heavy injuries. But there was no need for close combat—after all, they had a powerful fire mage on board.

“Ludwig, before the sailors get hurt, burn them with your—”

She didn’t finish.

“Monsters! Monsters!”
“Grab your weapons, kill them all!”
“Hunt! Monster hunt!”

The sudden roar came from the corner of the deck.

“…Huh? Why are they acting like that?” Ariella blinked.

It was the orcs.

Just hours ago they were listless, seasick, pining for land. Now their eyes burned with fighting spirit and bloodlust.

“Woooaaahhh!”

Ten young orcs rushed forward, weapons raised.

At the front, an orc named Gaits swung his massive iron club into a Finnman’s ribs.

Thud!

The creature was thrown aside.

“Ha ha ha! That’s the thrill!”

Another orc lifted a huge axe and brought it down with both hands.

Crack!

A fin shattered. The orc kicked hard, sending the monster tumbling back into the sea.

“Tough scales, but soft flesh underneath!”

“Another one coming! Left side!”

They moved with fierce hunger and surprising speed, so different from the trembling men who had once huddled on the deck.

“For the honor of the orcs—fight and win!”

A roar rose, and all the orcs shouted in unison.

The fear of the open sea, the suffocating closeness of the ship—all forgotten now.

“Land or sea, a hunt is still a hunt!”

Hunting was their way of life in the mountains. Even in this strange place, the act itself was familiar. By throwing themselves into it, they found life again.

“Wooooahhh!”

Blue monster blood splashed. Black seawater sprayed. Orc war cries echoed.

Ludwig, holding a ball of flame in his hand, asked Ariella, “Why are they so excited?”

“Who knows,” she said, shaking her head.

“What do I do with this fireball? Should I throw it?”

“Don’t interfere. They’re handling it.”

Ludwig let the flames fade.

The orcs fought so fiercely, even the demon sailors didn’t need to step in.

The weakness, gloom, and homesickness seemed to vanish completely.

Cecile whispered in amazement, “It wasn’t planned, but… this hunt is like therapy for them.”

And the orcs’ wild cries rang across the battlefield of the sea.

From then on, the ship was attacked several more times.

The sea monsters, used to hunting each other, seemed to see the unfamiliar vessel as a floating meal.

Rumble!

A deep vibration rose from beneath the waves.

“Uh-oh. A kraken this time. Smaller than the last one I read about, though,” Cecile said, peering over the side.

A massive whirlpool swirled. A dark gray tentacle surged upward, wrapping around the mast.

Rrrghhh!

The creature tried to capsize the ship, then drag it under to devour it whole.

But—

Groooan!

The ship tilted, then straightened again.

Cecile’s balance wards on the hull held firm.

The kraken didn’t know why its prey wouldn’t topple, so it just pulled harder.

Cecile asked, “Should I call the orcs?”

“No need. Look—they’re already running,” Ariella said.

“Woooooahhh!”

Sure enough, the orcs charged across the deck under the glow of magic lanterns.

“Just what I needed to stretch my muscles!”
“Perfect, a chewy one worth chopping up!”

Like ants swarming a locust, they leapt onto the tentacle, hacking away with axes.

“Tonight’s dinner is grilled kraken leg!” Ludwig licked his lips.

“Oh, I love that!” Pi cried, eyes shining.

“Just soak it in seawater—no salt needed!”

“Pi likes the suction cups. Nice and chewy!”

Normally the demon king and the hatchling bickered nonstop, but when it came to food, they were allies.

“Still… the orcs really look happy,” Cecile murmured.

“It’s their instinct,” Ariella said.

Their confidence, crushed by the strange voyage, was being restored with every successful hunt.

So this kind of hunting is exercise and recreation for them.

Ariella had worried they would never adapt, but the solution had appeared unexpectedly.

Every problem has a way through.

That night, the crew feasted on roasted kraken.

With no sun or moon in the demon sea, Cecile adjusted the lanterns to mimic twilight, casting a soft red glow over the sails.

“Ohhh! Beautiful—like sunset!” sailors from the southern trade guild marveled.

“Just trying a new color,” Cecile explained.

While demon sailors cut up the kraken, orcs brought out a giant iron griddle.

Ludwig snapped his fingers, flames flaring.

Whoosh!

Soon the chopped tentacles sizzled, releasing a savory aroma.

“Yes, that sound!”

“Gaits, you know—kraken tastes best with a bit of char!”

Acting like the head chef, Gaits flipped the meat with tongs and knife, perfectly practiced.

The waiting sailors swallowed their drool. The salty scent of sea mixed with grilled seafood drifted across the night.

“This portion’s for the captain!”
“This one for the engineer!”
“And this one’s for the baby dragon!”

“…Why do I get served after the dragon?” Ludwig grumbled.

Gaits looked puzzled. “That dragon’s still a kid, right? In orc culture, kids eat first. Is it different for demons?”

“…That’s not what I meant,” Ludwig muttered.

Ariella had stocked up plenty of provisions just in case they were stranded or delayed. But at this pace, food stores barely shrank. The sea itself kept supplying them.

Worry for nothing. Just like the human seas—the demon seas are full of food too.

As she chewed kraken, voices rose around her.

“Gaits! I said cook mine lightly—I like it chewy!”
“Then cook it yourself, picky eater!”
“What? Picky? What’s wrong with me?”
“You look too easy-going! Your face says ‘simple and soft’!”
“What did you say?!”
“Ha ha ha! He’s right, Gaits!”

Merchants and orcs who were once awkward together now laughed, sharing food under the same sails.

For a first voyage… this is going pretty smoothly.

Later that night, Ariella shut herself in the captain’s cabin.

She worked with maps—distances and directions Pi had memorized, the positions of islands, her own observations, and an ancient current chart from the library.

Piece by piece, she was creating a brand-new sea map.

Once this is finished, it will change the Demon Realm forever.

She knew the importance of this work, and so poured her full focus into avoiding even the smallest mistake.

While the crew slept, her pen scratched steadily.

Then—

“…Hm?”

Her senses tingled.

Ariella narrowed her eyes toward one direction.

“Magic power?”

At that moment—

BOOOOM!

The entire ship shook violently.