Episode 111
Ariella rushed out of the captain’s cabin.
It was late at night, when most of the crew were resting, except for a few standing watch at the main mast.
But because of the recent shock, the deck was in complete chaos.
Cecile, after checking the situation, spoke.
“It looks like we hit a reef.”
“A reef?”
The sailor who had been on watch bowed his head in shame. It was his job to notice such things.
“It’s fine. Nothing we can do about it.”
Reefs that are barely hidden beneath the surface are hard to detect unless you’re a very experienced sailor.
Ariella turned to Cecile.
“What’s the damage?”
“I just inspected it. The hull doesn’t seem to have taken any real damage.”
“That’s a relief.”
From the moment the ship was built, the entire vessel had been designed as an artifact, with protective magic to guard against such dangers.
The enchantments were there to cover for mistakes by inexperienced sailors.
“There are a lot of islands nearby, and the sea floor drops quickly. That means there are probably more reefs. I’ll steer us further out to avoid them.”
“Wait a moment.”
Ariella stopped Cecile.
She stared into the dark waters below.
“…I can feel it.”
“Feel what?”
Ludwig and Cecile tilted their heads in confusion.
“Pi, could you give me a ride?”
“Of course!”
Ariella could fly on her own, but she deliberately called her hatchling.
First, because Pi felt proud carrying her.
Second, and more importantly, because she needed to be in the air to prepare a complex spell.
A spell that required a lot of concentration and mana.
As she flew with Pi, Ludwig naturally followed using his own flight magic.
Ariella glanced at him.
“I’ll borrow some of your mana.”
“Go ahead.”
Ariella began her chant.
“Shield!”
Watching from a distance, Cecile muttered in confusion.
“Why a defensive spell all of a sudden?”
The reason became clear right away.
The first thing Ariella created was a round wall of magic, about one meter across.
But as she focused her mind and carefully controlled her mana, the wall grew thinner and stretched out horizontally.
What had been a round shield turned into a thin beam of light cutting across the night sky.
It may look thin, but it’s packed with immense mana.
A shield is meant to block external force.
That means it’s extremely strong.
Ariella planned to use that trait not for defense, but for something else.
“Go!”
At her command, the thread of magic dropped into the sea.
Ludwig lit a flame brighter than the ship’s lamps, illuminating even the dark waters below.
Thanks to that, the crew could clearly see what was happening.
“No way, that’s—?”
Gasps escaped from demons and orcs alike.
Just as Cecile guessed, an enormous reef was crouching under the water.
It was so huge it looked bigger than their entire ship.
Then the moment Ariella’s magical beam brushed against the stone—
The hard rock split apart as if it were cheese!
“S-she’s that powerful a mage?”
“I knew she was skilled with navigation, but…”
“I never imagined she could command mana like this!”
The crew looked at Ariella with awe and admiration.
For the orcs who once resented her, the shock was even greater.
“We… we’ve seriously underestimated her.”
“She’s not just some clever human.”
What if they had tried to mutiny, or openly defy her?
Not that they had any plans to, but—
The young orcs shivered at the thought.
“Without a doubt.”
A short while later, Ariella had the sailors haul up the broken pieces of reef onto the deck.
The chunk she had cut was over three meters wide and heavy.
Cecile’s eyes went wide.
“This is… magic stone!”
Ludwig raised an eyebrow.
“To me, it just looks like a lump of rock.”
It wasn’t smooth or glowing blue like the refined magic stones used to build this ship.
Ariella explained why.
“Magic stones mined in ore form are different from the ones harvested from monsters.”
Such ore was lower in purity and had to go through a refining process.
Cecile muttered in amazement.
“If that whole reef is made of magic stone… the value would be enormous.”
Ariella nodded with a satisfied smile.
“An unexpected treasure, indeed.”
Of course, they couldn’t start mining right away.
They lacked the equipment, manpower, and time.
So Ariella carefully marked the spot on her map.
And there was no way she’d ever let this location be revealed.
Just wait. I’ll come back fully prepared, and take it all.
A few days later.
The northern coast.
Whoooosh—!
Crack! Boom!
The sky was covered in storm clouds. Fierce winds howled, and sheets of rain slanted down.
Through the mist and towering waves, a beam of light pierced forth.
It was Ludwig’s demon kingdom’s sailing ship.
The magic lamps along the hull flickered on one by one, making the vessel stand firm even amid the raging storm.
Each time Ariella gave a command, the sailors shouted back in unison.
“Reef the sails!”
“Yes, reef the sails!”
“Helmsman, fifteen degrees northwest. Keep the depth steady as we move in.”
“Fifteen degrees northwest!”
The magical lamps cut through rain and fog, showing the path ahead.
Waves crashed and sprayed, but the ship’s protective barrier held firm against both water and impact.
The crew, tense but disciplined, stayed at their posts. The helmsman calmly adjusted the course under Ariella’s orders.
Ssshhh—
As they neared the rocky coast, the anchor slowly sank into the sea.
Even in the storm, the ship held steady.
“Haah… it’s been a long journey.”
The sailors sighed in relief.
But Ariella, as captain, kept her guard up and scanned the area.
“There’s no proper harbor here either.”
The surroundings made it clear why.
“So, is it time for us to be welcomed as guests?”
But no one appeared on the shore.
Of course, the northerners had no idea this ship would arrive today.
Even Ariella herself couldn’t predict the exact spot. She had only guessed from old maps.
And on the sea, sending a messenger bird ahead was impossible.
That’s why Ariella had already arranged another plan before setting sail—
How to make contact once they reached the north.
“Ludwig?”
“I know.”
He spread his hands, and enormous flames roared upward.
Not heat, but blinding light.
The flames grew so bright, the sailors felt their eyes would burn.
The storm clouds darkened the sky, yet even they could not block the brilliance.
But this still isn’t enough.
Ariella cast her spell.
“Enchant!”
She layered multiple magical attributes onto the flames.
Taking control from Ludwig, she lifted the burning light into the sky.
We’ve done this once before.
It was the same method they used to signal their comrades when shipwrecked.
When the flames reached the right height, Ariella snapped her fingers.
“Now!”
BOOOM—!
A thunderous noise burst in the sky.
Bang!
BOOOM-BOOOM!
“Wahhh!”
“Ugh?!”
Even with warnings, some sailors flinched and fell on their rears.
The others had no time to laugh. Their eyes were locked on the dazzling spectacle above.
They were frozen in awe.
Bang! Boom!
Drawing on her past experience, Ariella made the sound louder and the light even more dazzling.
Thus was born—magical fireworks.
Bang! Boom!
The heavy rumble shook the air, and blazing trails painted the night.
Scarlet petals scattered, and sparks rode the wind like waterfalls of light.
The pitch-black sky became a canvas embroidered with brilliance.
This takes me back.
Ariella remembered the night when it had just been her and Ludwig, stranded on that deserted island.
The tiny flame he created, which she spread into a signal.
It had calmed her, yet stirred her heart strangely.
Even recalling it for just a moment made her feel odd.
What’s wrong with me?
She glanced at Ludwig.
His expression was blank, his gaze steady as always.
Ariella quickly turned her head.
Get a grip!
Forcing down the strange feelings, she spoke in a steady voice.
“Let’s wait here.”
Cecile sounded worried.
“Do you think they’ll really come?”
“They will. Curiosity alone will bring them.”
The sea routes between north and south had been cut off for centuries.
And now, suddenly, a ship appeared on the northern shore?
No demon lord would ignore it.
Especially since we already sent word.
Ariella waited, confident.
Hours later—
“Over there! Someone’s approaching!”
An orc with sharp eyes shouted.
Beyond the storm and mist, shadows moved across the horizon.
Ariella and Ludwig stepped to the prow.
Soon, the figures came into view.
The ship’s lamps illuminated their astonished faces. Their jaws dropped wide open.
A bewildered voice called out.
“By the gods! Did you truly cross the sea in that ship?”
“Yes.”
Ariella checked their flag. It matched the crest of the Schwarz Demon Lord’s domain, just like in the letter.
“Then you must be from the southern Ludwig Demon Lord’s realm?”
Ariella glanced sideways at the man beside her.
“I am Demon Lord Ludwig.”
“And I am Ariella Capelle Oinos.”
The demon on horseback shook his head, still struggling to believe. Then he muttered:
“…Hah. I might be witnessing a moment of history itself.”
