Episode 59. The Youngest Daughter of the Witherspoon Family (5)
Beyond the transparent membrane. On the deep sea floor that Celesne pointed to, there were large and small rocks gathered together. However, they weren’t just ordinary rocks.
“Oh, that… … .”
Chloe was speechless for a moment.
Chloe put her face close to the transparent membrane, willingly doing so if only she could break through the dragon’s scales.
A bright, soft blue light descended on Chloe’s face. It was light pouring in from beyond the transparent membrane. Among the many rocks, there was one rock that was glowing.
“What is that?”
Rubin approached Chloe, pretending not to know and asking. Chloe turned her head and her expression was brighter than ever.
“Luden, that’s the Mana Stone!”
Then he shakes his head and adds:
“No, it’s not just any mana stone. It’s a deep-sea mana stone! Mana stones are originally buried underground… … .”
This time Chloe spoke as if she was reciting passages from a book. Rubin waited silently for Chloe to speak as much as she wanted.
By the way, it’s a mana stone.
Rubin also knew how special the mana stones were to the wizards. He also knew that only on land where the giant mana stones were buried could a city of wizards be built, and a magic school be established.
“… Depending on its abundance, it can maximize the abilities of wizards by up to several dozen times, and it is the largest mana stone ever mined… … .”
Depending on the amount of mana stones stored, a wizard may or may not be able to fully use his magical abilities. That is why the magic masters do not hesitate to compete in mining to secure the mana stones.
‘A wizard is a wizard after all. Even Celestia is busy staring with her mouth open.’
It wasn’t just Chloe who continued explaining for a long time. Celesne was also standing there, as if she was glued to the transparent membrane, looking at the ecstatic light emitted by the mana stone.
“Meow meow meow.”
And there’s even a cat with sparkling eyes.
“Haha, even cats have amazing eyes.”
Kuze got down from his arms and grabbed the cat hanging on the windowsill.
“Nyaaaaaaa!”
A cat with sharp nerves. It doesn’t matter to Tina whether it’s a mana stone or not. She’s a fantasy-blood who’s fascinated by shiny things. She just follows her instincts.
Thump, thump, thump.
It was then that the cozy girl in the lower room hurried up to the ground floor.
“Everyone, don’t be surprised.”
Cozy, giving a warning in advance. Everyone looked back with nervous faces.
“In a little while, you will be able to see Actonia.”
“Actonia?”
Chloe asked excitedly, but didn’t need to hear Acoly’s answer.
The very next moment, a huge shadow fell over the passengers, and a majestic roar was heard, as if an earthquake had occurred.
Gwuuuuuu.
The Blue Cat, which was anchored to the deep sea floor, shook violently just from the sound of her crying.
“Where are you?”
Passengers turned their heads here and there to look at the sea reflected beyond the ceiling.
The majestic cries of Actonia were nowhere to be seen. The various fish in the deep sea were just swimming around briskly.
“Over there! It’s over there!”
Cozy found Actonia and pointed to her. Actonia’s long neck, which had been hidden behind the rock wall, was revealed.
“If there is Grandbird in the sky, there is Actonia in the sea… … .”
Chloe spoke softly, as if recalling a passage from the book.
As the saying goes, Grandbird was the ruler of the sky and Actonia was the ruler of the sea.
However, after unification into the Lilic Empire, the Granbird became the empire’s means of transportation, but this was not the case for Actonia.
Despite countless attempts, Actonia never came under Imperial control.
“The Empire was unable to tame the Actonia, so they classified them as underwater monsters… … .”
Chloe stopped talking. This was because Actonia, which had previously revealed only her long neck, was finally revealing her gigantic body.
Ten legs. A huge shell that also serves as a home for numerous marine creatures. And a seahorse-like head with sharp horns.
“Cozy, won’t that Actonia attack the ship?”
Celesne asked anxiously. It seemed as if she was planning to use magic to fight back if necessary.
“Don’t worry. As long as we don’t attack Actonia from this side, nothing will happen.”
“Really?”
“Besides, it has the scales of the water dragon. Because of the power of the water dragon, Actonia will not even think of harming this ship. The reason Actonia is here now is not because of the Blue Cat, but because of the Mana Stone.”
“That’s right. I read it in a book too. It said that a mana stone came out of the body of the dead Actonia.”
“I and Warak have seen Actonia many times. Every time, they seem to enjoy the light of the mana stones.”
True to her word, Actonia was wrapping her long neck around a pile of rocks containing mana stones. She placed her horned head near the mana stones and cried out, “Geuuuu, geuuuu.”
It was sweet. Maybe it was singing in a warm atmosphere.
Kkudduk.
At that moment, Actonia, who had been crying sweetly for a long time, raised her head and bit off a piece of the mana stone. It was like biting into a biscuit.
Everyone watching was wide-eyed and captivated by the amazing sight. Even Acoly, who had seen Actonia many times, was surprised, saying it was her first time.
“Ha, you ate the mana stone.”
Actonia took a bite of the mana stone. Was she feeling full? She leisurely watched the thousands of fish swimming before her eyes.
And then.
At one moment, Actonia’s wandering gaze suddenly stopped.
“Do you think they’re looking at us?”
“Oh, that can’t be happening.”
The most disconcerting one was Cozy. If things were as they were, the Blue Cat, covered in dragon scales, would not have been the object of Actonia’s interest. It would have been better if it had been an object of avoidance.
Rather, it was possible for ordinary fish, not monster-level ones, to show interest in the Blue Cat and approach it. This was because the weak fish were not affected by the power of the water dragon.
On the other hand, Actonia is a creature that reacts directly to the power of the water dragon. It would be normal if it did not go against the power.
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“I guess you’re coming here?”
“I know that too, Kuze.”
As soon as Kuze spoke, Celesne reacted sharply amidst the tension. Everyone on deck held their breath without realizing it.
‘What are you trying to check?’
A tense situation. Rubin was even planning to use Dark Smoke. If Dark Smoke had aggressive power, it might be possible to restrain Actonia without physical conflict.
Before that, Rubin noticed that Actonia was trying to observe something. The girl wasn’t angry right now. She was trying to find something.
I continued to follow Actonia’s eyes. Actonia was looking around the Blue Cat. Eventually, her large eyes stopped in one place.
“miss?”
It was Chloe. Actonia’s gaze was fixed solely on Chloe.
Celesne couldn’t just leave Actonia alone as she approached Chloe. She hurriedly tried to use her magic.
If Chloe hadn’t raised her arm to stop him.
“No, Celestia. Stay still.”
Chloe was adamant and said she wouldn’t forgive anyone if they went against her wishes.
“Just… don’t cast any magic and stay still!”
Actonia came closer, slowly but surely, towards Chloe.
‘This creature feels it too.’
If Rubin’s guess was correct, it was the gloomy air emanating from Chloe that had pulled Actonia towards it.
An aura that is imperceptible to wizards or giants, but is clearly felt in the shadows of assassins.
‘If it’s not different from what I feel, then it’s not an atmosphere that Actonia would like either.’
That would be the case. It would be the complete opposite of the warm energy that the deep sea mana stone conveys.
At that moment, Actonia, who had been bringing her eyes close enough to touch the dragon’s scales, suddenly stopped.
What appeared in those large eyes was nothing but disgust. Was he finally confirming the gloomy atmosphere that had been bothering him all along?
Actonia quickly threw her neck back, as if she had found the source but did not want to touch it directly. Then, without hesitation, she pushed herself away from the Blue Cat.
“Are you sure you’re not going to leave?”
Chloe, who had been excited to receive Actonia’s attention, said with regret. Actonia, who had no way of hearing Chloe, turned around coldly. Slowly swinging her ten legs.
Kukukukukung.
The Blue Cat rocked back and forth again in the aftermath of the churning. While everyone was trying to keep their balance on the tilted deck, the cat alone slid forward, moving like a person swimming on all four legs.
When the shaking stopped, Actonia had already disappeared from sight.
“Tch, I thought you liked me too.”
Chloe’s large eyes were filled with sadness, not just regret.
“Miss, I almost got in big trouble.”
“No, Celestia. There was no aggression towards Actonia. I could definitely feel it. It was just curiosity.”
“It may have been because of that curiosity that he ate the girl.”
“You wouldn’t have left it like that anyway. You would have used magic as soon as you pierced the dragon’s scales.”
Celesne would have certainly done the same. The only difference would have been the method of darkness rather than magic, but it would have been the same for Kuzena and Rubin.
While Chloe was bickering with Celestia, Rubin observed Chloe more closely.
‘It was really intense a little while ago.’
As Actonia approached Chloe, the gloomy atmosphere amplified for a moment.
With Actonia gone, things seemed to have quieted down again, but there was still a gloomy atmosphere hovering around Chloe.
‘Is it inside Chloe? Or outside?’
If I could let the dark smoke reach Chloe directly, I would be able to figure it out more clearly, but for now, it wasn’t a good method.
Even Chloe, who couldn’t sense the damp atmosphere, had a high probability of detecting it if it was dark smoke.
She doesn’t have the concept of darkness, so she just feels like it’s something that threatens her life.
Rubin had no choice but to spread his shadow wide, maximizing his senses so that he could immediately notice even the smallest anomalies.
“Lady. Fortunately, there are still some deep sea mana stones left.”
Celestia said, leading Chloe back towards the transparent membrane.
“Wait a minute. I’m taking notes.”
Chloe was quickly writing down the anecdote she had just experienced with Actonia on a piece of parchment. However, this time, she not only wrote, but also drew a detailed picture of Actonia’s appearance that she had witnessed with her own eyes.
“I think it would be good to try training to increase mana concentration.”
“Celestine, are you in teacher mode like that outside too?”
“Miss, it’s not a common experience to practice mana concentration near a deep-sea mana stone.”
“I was going to work hard when I went to Capotini School… … .”
Chloe grumbled, but eventually followed Celestia’s words. She approached the transparent screen and quietly closed her eyes.
‘Oh, is that it?’
It was at that moment that Rubin’s eyes, which were watching Chloe, became strange.
