〈 Chapter 188 〉 Central Island Capture (1)

*

Central Sea System.

A coastal outpost on an island near the Central Island.

‘Is the sun finally setting?’

One soldier, soaked in boredom, shivered.

He had been waiting for this moment all day.

The sunset meant shift change was coming.

‘Another dreadful shift today.’

Even though he was originally a guard, the ongoing standoff with the Demon Kings had significantly increased his working hours.

It was because they had increased the number of guards to tighten the security.

Of course, the total number of guards stayed the same.

‘By the way, what’s for dinner tonight?’

Regardless of all that, most of his thoughts here were peaceful.

After all, he was watching the fog sea.

The fog sea was the opposite direction from the island where Demon Kings had set up their barriers, and because visibility was almost zero, boats rarely passed through.

Thus, he just spent his day staring at the tranquil sea.

‘By the way, when will the next guard arrive…’

Today seemed a bit different.

‘Huh?’

Suddenly, a ship appeared through the fog.

It was a mechanical ship approaching at quite a speed.

‘That blue mechanical ship is…’

He recognized that mechanical ship.

‘The twin sisters’ ship?’

Of course, the older sister, being a hero, traveled around, while the younger sister, chosen as the Water Sage, stayed on Library Island in the fog sea, so it wasn’t often that he saw their ship.

Even though he had seen it a few times before, the twins were famous among the Central Sea System residents, so he remembered it clearly.

Regardless of who it was, he needed to inspect the ship.

‘What a hassle.’

He resented the next guard for not being there yet, but he reluctantly disembarked from the outpost and activated a small reconnaissance ship.

He steered the ship toward the approaching blue mechanical vessel.

As the ship got closer, he raised the lever.

Blink, blink, blink.

The lights flashing meant to stop the ship began to flicker.

The blue mechanical ship also slowed down and came to a halt in front of him.

“Just a moment for inspection.”

He shouted, placing a ladder to board the blue mechanical ship.

Two figures stood on the deck.

‘The one at the helm is the sister, and the one sitting behind is the younger sister.’

He had seen the older sister before, but it seemed like he was seeing the younger sister for the first time.

‘The younger sister is quite impressive too.’

He already knew the older sister’s beauty was well-known, but he had assumed the younger sister would look rather gloomy.

However, in person, she had a bright and intelligent-looking beautiful face.

“Is it just the two of you?”

“And?”

Lucy at the helm replied.

Her tone was a bit rough, but that was how sailors from the Central Sea System typically were, so it wasn’t too bothersome.

“Well then, I’ll need to check the cargo on the ship.”

He looked for and opened the door leading below deck.

Although a little sunset light shined in, it was still dark inside.

However…

“Is there a problem?”

A question came from behind, from Luel.

It was an ordinary question, but for some reason, it sent chills down his spine.

“No, nothing at all.”

It wasn’t a lie.

There was no need to lie, especially since he could tell the inside was empty.

‘Something felt odd, though…’

Was it the atmosphere or the smell?

Something he couldn’t quite put his finger on seemed to be in that space.

Well, it could just be his imagination.

“Well then, you can pass through.”

*

‘Have I gotten through?’

I released the effect of Night’s Shadow that Yusera and I had been under.

It was because Night’s Shadow had a limited duration.

Of course, the Central Island was quite bright from a distance, so there were limits to using Night’s Shadow, but it could still be useful from time to time.

But…

“Sarah.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry, but…”

Her hand gripping mine tightly for the Night’s Shadow effect was painful because of her greater strength.

“Ah, sorry.”

She quickly released my hand.

“It’s okay.”

I understood that she couldn’t help being nervous.

“Lucy, how’s the harbor?”

Lucy answered, “Just as I remember. Bright.”

As expected.

The maritime security was dark, making it simple to slip through using Night’s Shadow.

But it wouldn’t be so easy on land.

‘They’ll verify identities as soon as we land.’

In that case, while I could alter my face somewhat using Optical Modulation, Sarah would be implicated.

In the end, there was only one option.

‘A frontal assault.’

It strangely became the go-to strategy.

And Sarah would be the one to kick off this operation.

“Are you ready?”

Sarah nodded.

We were close to arriving at the dock.

Sarah and I pulled our cloaks’ hoods over our heads.

Thud thud thud.

The rhythmic vibrations of the ship contrasted sharply with our tense atmosphere.

Crash, crash.

Outside, the sound of waves crashing against the shore grew louder.

That meant arrival was imminent.

“We’ll be arriving soon.”

As if to confirm that, Luel’s voice echoed.

It was about to begin.

I silently clasped Sarah’s hand again.

“Alan?”

She looked at me, flustered, through the darkness.

I said to her, “Don’t die.”

Of course, for heroes, the principle was to capture alive, regardless of any crimes they committed.

There might come a situation where we would need their powers in a worst-case scenario.

But there would also inevitably be situations where killing was unavoidable.

‘For example, if not killing them meant risking their own life.’

In this operation, Sarah’s role was to pose a threat.

Not just imitating but making the opponent feel genuine life-threatening danger.

This was contradictory but the most effective way to avoid battle while keeping heroes unharmed.

However, it was also the most dangerous role.

For the most part, there wouldn’t be any brave guy who would rush at her, but I couldn’t rule out even a single lunatic.

And I couldn’t guarantee Sarah’s safety against such a guy either.

Fortunately, in the Leim Kingdom they had been lucky.

Everyone had embarked on their mission risking their lives, but in the end, no one died.

However, it couldn’t be guaranteed that we would be so lucky this time.

‘This time, someone might actually die.’

Feeling her warmth might be the last time.

But…

“Now what?”

Sarah asked me.

“Weren’t you prepared?”

Indeed.

I had already long been prepared for that much.

But my anxious feelings were a different story.

‘After all, I’m still human.’

It was different from the fights during the graduation tournament, which felt like a joke.

In a real battle, I was naturally tense.

Thinking back to how I froze in front of a dying wolf, this was already a significant growth.

“I am definitely prepared. I just needed something warm.”

For that reason, I required Sarah’s warm hand for a little while.

Thanks to that, my heart seemed to calm down a bit.

It seemed the ship had also reached the dock.

“But I’m ordering you, regardless of preparation. Don’t die.”

If she died, I would feel sad irrespective of any preparations.

“Yeah, of course.”

In the darkness, I could see Sarah smiling.

Her previously awkward smile had eventually become quite natural.

I was relieved that she looked happy even in such circumstances.

Of course, I was happy too.

In this desperate situation.

Because I had a companion, and we still had something to fight with.

“Let’s go.”

I said, releasing her hand.

I sharpened my senses and stepped onto the deck.

As soon as I did, lights shining on the ship met us.

“You two, please identify yourselves!”

Since they didn’t know our identities, the opposing party was polite.

In that case, I could return the courtesy with my first line.

“Hello. I am Alan Pleuk.”

My sudden revelation of identity caused a murmur among the heroes.

“Alan Pleuk? If it’s Alan Pleuk then…”

“High-ranking hero?”

“They say he can count the number of Demon Kings he’s killed on one hand.”

They were clearly taken aback.

After all, my name was infamous.

Partly thanks to the High Priest.

“They even say he deceived the High Priest…”

“Either way, we need to capture him!”

“Damn it, someone call in reinforcements!”

It wasn’t an enjoyable notoriety, but if I could use it, then I should.

Thanks to that, I succeeded in asserting my presence.

“Sarah.”

“Yeah.”

She took out the Relic Sacred Replicant from her inventory.

“Get out of the way.”

Her voice was low and threatening.

“That black-haired woman is Yusera, right?”

“If it’s Yusera, then that Sky Cleaving?”

“I heard even Hugo, who saw it during the graduation tournament, couldn’t fully block it.”

They didn’t seem to grasp the current situation properly.

“But why is that guy suddenly pulling out a sword?”

“Isn’t he trying to attack us?”

“Surely, he wouldn’t harm fellow heroes?”

With their anxiety rising, Sarah declared, “If you don’t step aside, I will kill you all.”

In that moment, a killing intent enveloped the area.

It was due to her pushing the overload on the sword to its maximum strength.

The dark aura surrounded her sword and began to warp the surroundings.

That wasn’t the end of it.

“Sky Cleaving.”

She turned her body back and sliced her sword horizontally.

With a roaring sound, the fog of the night sea parted.

Simultaneously, the pressure from the sword pushed the water away like a tsunami.

No matter how many times I saw it, it was on a whole different level compared to my [Overload (Small)].

Seeing that scene, those at the dock seemed to finally realize their current situation.

“Crap!”

“If you don’t want to die, step aside!”

“Didn’t we send for reinforcements?”

In an instant, they widened their circle, creating space at the dock.

Through the newly created space, Lucy was the first to dash in.

I hurriedly picked up Luel and followed behind her.

The last was Sarah.

Behind her, the wave she had created earlier rolled back in.

She pulled out a new sword from her inventory and leaped from the ship being pushed by the wave.

“Ugh!”

“Don’t shove me!”

Yusera appeared to be a moving calamity, while a giant wave crashed against the coast.

Under such a clear threat to life, the heroes chose to flee.

It was hard to call it heroic, but it was a rational choice… and above all, it pleased me.

‘I really don’t want to kill them.’

For the few reckless heroes who existed, Lucy could handle them, so the situation was manageable.

“Get out of the way, you morons!”

Lucy’s somewhat foul mouth was a minor issue.

“Alan, the encirclement is starting to close in.”

Just then, I got info from Sarah, who was running slightly ahead.

Heroes began gathering as news of my appearance spread.

“Luel.”

“Yeah. Just a moment…”

I already knew that simply running wouldn’t get us to the center.

Thus, I had to utilize Luel’s knowledge as much as possible.

“Take a right at the next alley.”

We followed Luel’s directions.

“And as you look at this wall… Alan, stop!”

I halted in front of an old wall.

Upon closer inspection, there were letters engraved on it.

She, still perched on my back, placed one hand on the engraving.

“As the Water Sage, I command you. Activate.”

Suddenly, the island began to tremble with a tremendous noise.

And the ground shifted abruptly.

“What the heck! Where is this place?”

“I’ve never seen it before!”

Voices of confused pursuers echoed from afar.

This was possible for two reasons.

The Central Island wasn’t naturally formed; it was a mechanical island consisting of various devices.

And the designer of that island was the Water Sage herself.

“Then take us to the next location!”

After removing her hand from the wall, Luel shouted.

We thus set off again, heading toward the center of the Central Island.

*