Chapter 805 - Side Story 78: Hyperborea (4)
Rudger stepped forward with confident strides, staff in hand.
In the menacing atmosphere surrounded by many, his solitary and dignified walk seemed strange yet oddly fitting.
Like watching a swan floating undisturbed in turbulent currents amid a raging storm.
Naturally, all eyes and attention focused on Rudger. Along with wariness directed at him.
'Does stepping out alone mean he's thinking of negotiating?'
'Or does he think he can handle everyone here by himself?'
They weren't without brains either. That woman with black ponytail hair was Veronica de Ville, one of the famous knights of the Exilion Empire, a knight who had reached the Master realm and could imbue her aura with attributes.
Naturally, anyone acpanying such a Veronica would be assumed to possess parable reputation or skill.
'Still, we have the numbers.'
'Isn't it doable? It might just be simple bravado.'
Everyone exchanged glances and gauged the situation. But time was a limited resource. Especially now, when news from across the sea on the continent had shaken the gathered crowd.
Eventually, they reached an agreement and decided to move simultaneously. If they didn't seize the ship now, there was no telling how long they'd be stuck here.
Watch other bastards go to Hyperborea first and claim the artifacts and relics? Cooped up in this port reeking of salt?
That was absolutely unacceptable.
"Waaaaah!"
One person let out a battle cry like a signal flare. With that shout, all the gathered people moved simultaneously.
Or rather, they tried to move.
"Quiet."
As Rudger muttered this, silence descended with a heavy thud.
People with mouths agape were flustered that no sound would e out. No matter how hard they strained their throats, only choking groans emerged.
What was even more remarkable was that Rudger hadn't displayed any magic or power. He had simply spoken one word quietly, loudly enough for everyone to hear.
Yet everyone present could only roll their eyes and watch Rudger nervously.
"We do not wele passengers other than ourselves."
At that quiet, low voice, people felt an indescribable, enormous pressure. Their legs trembled, goosebumps ran up their spines, and their arms broke out in bumps.
It was strange. The opponent was just one person, yet it felt like facing a giant monster they couldn't resist.
"Retreat now. If you do, I'm willing to let it slide."
Rudger's words were arrogant. His gaze blatantly looking down from above was a bonus. Yet no one bristled and stepped forward in response. They could only break out in cold sweat and roll their eyes.
Rudger deliberately lowered his aura to allow them to speak as much as possible.
"Will you leave? Or will you try challenging once more?"
At those words, half the crowd hurriedly withdrew. They instinctively felt it. That even if a truckload of them charged together, they couldn't scratch Rudger.
But there were always those who needed to butt heads to be satisfied. Those who, knowing it was reckless, made placent judgments drunk on desire.
"Damn it! If we retreat here, we'll be stuck for at least 3 days! Who'll take responsibility if other bastards take all the treasure in the meantime!"
That was the deciding blow. It wasn't just anything—having to be stuck in port doing nothing while those who went first monopolized everything was unbearable.
The remaining half charged at Rudger with bloodshot eyes. They had intended to just frighten them away, but now realized they had no choice but to go all out.
"Truly pitiful."
Rudger gazed at such people with sympathetic eyes. He understood rationally. The facade of treasures and artifacts was appealing, after all.
If an ordinary adventurer obtained just one treasure and sold it at auction, even after fees, they'd earn enough to live fortably for 20 years.
Hyperborea was a new continent where ancient civilization had been discovered. The value of treasures from there would be far greater.
Even just one would do. If they could properly obtain it, they could retire from life. They had scraped together their money and e all the way to the north of this continent for that.
And now to retreat?
That was impossible. Even if their heads knew it wouldn't work, their hearts wouldn't let them stop.
But Rudger had no need to consider and acmodate all of that.
Their hearts couldn't accept it? That was just bullshit.
Rudger lightly stamped his foot. From the shoe that tapped the ground, vast energy burst forth.
It became a shockwave that devoured space. Everyone who had been charging was swept up in it.
Their eyes went blank and they collapsed to the ground with a thud. As this happened simultaneously, people observing the situation from afar widened their eyes.
The collapsed people all lay knocked out as if fallen into deep sleep.
"Sleep soundly for a few days. Think of ing all the way here as just being on vacation."
Rudger lightly used dream magic to put them all to sleep. Watching this, Veronica was purely delighted, saying it was amazing.
"Ooh! As expected of Lord Rudger! Your magical skills have improved tremendously pared to before!"
Casey standing nearby couldn't be purely happy. Veronica could speak so fortably because she was a knight, but from a mage's perspective, Rudger had just done something that made no sense.
'Of all things, to be able to put all those people to sleep simultaneously?'
Among the Dreamwork magic used by the Dream School, magic that puts people to sleep did exist. However, that was closer to magic meant to grant peaceful slumber to people who couldn't sleep at night.
It was distinctly different from putting to sleep people whose eyes were blazing and overflowing with adrenaline. At this point, it was no different from shooting them down with tranquilizer guns.
'Moreover, there were quite a few people over there who could handle mana. Yet no one could resist.'
Rudger had bestowed magic equally on everyone regardless of their level of strength. This proved that he had reached a transcendent realm difficult to even fathom.
The coast guard approaching belatedly upon sensing the motion was left speechless at that absurd scene.
"Wh-what is this......"
Just as they were wondering whether they should capture Rudger at the center of the disturbance, Casey, having finished her thoughts, stepped forward.
"You're all working hard."
"Hup! Lady Casey Selmore!"
The guard saluted sharply upon seeing Casey. The prestige held by the Selmore family was that powerful.
"That man is my panion, and those people collapsed there are the ringleaders who caused the disturbance. They had the gall to attempt hijacking the Selmore family's ship."
"I-is that true? That was quite serious indeed."
"Thanks to that man's help, we could subdue them before it turned into a major disturbance."
This much explanation should be sufficient.
The coast guard immediately nodded and dragged away the sleeping people one by one. They were snoring fortably even as they were dragged away by their legs.
"How long does that effect last?"
When Casey asked, Rudger replied nonchalantly.
"They'll sleep soundly for 3 days. They won't wake up even if someone es and slaps their cheeks. They'll be very refreshed when they wake."
Casey muttered with a subtle expression. Well, they'd be refreshed when they woke up. So refreshed that anxiety would probably wash over them instead. But well, wasn't that their just desserts?
"The disturbance is settled, let's move quickly. We can't waste time when every moment is precious."
"Let's do that."
Hans, who had gathered the luggage, quickly boarded the ship, and Veronica and Rudger also boarded. Casey was the last to board, then used water to release all the mooring lines fastened at the port.
The ship that had retrieved its lines departed the port at high speed and cut across the great sea.
"Ugh. I'm going inside because it's cold."
Hans entered the cabin, shivering. Rudger remained on deck, gazing at the scenery.
The North Sea, also called the Celestial Sea, was vastly wide and blue. Clouds gathered in the sky, and sunlight poured through the gaps. The weather was cold, but at the same time the air was clear and clean. So watching it gave the feeling of one side of his heart being refreshingly opened.
"What are you doing here?"
Casey approached and asked.
"Just watching the scenery."
"The scenery? Well, it's certainly pretty, but isn't there nothing but ocean to see?"
Occasionally silhouettes of ships presumed to be heading toward Hyperborea could be seen beyond the horizon, but that was all.
The ocean was grand and beautiful when first seen, but when such scenery continued for hours, it naturally became tedious.
"I've seen the ocean before, but this is my first time ing to such a distant place."
"Hmm. I see."
Casey said this and stood beside Rudger with her mouth firmly shut. The two continued gazing at the ocean scenery.
Rudger remained still since there was nothing particular to say, but Casey was different. Unlike her current taciturn appearance, she was thinking many thoughts inside.
'Damn, what should I say first?'
Not long ago they had parted on good terms, and when Rudger requested help after time had passed, she had been delighted beyond measure.
Of course, she felt slight disappointment that Hans and Veronica were also present, but still, this was something.
Casey thought of this as an opportunity of sorts. Wasn't he a man so outstanding that people around him never left him alone for a moment? Having time alone with such a person like this was an opportunity that wouldn't e again.
After pondering briefly, Casey barely broke the ice.
"Aren't you going to ask why I'm ing along too?"
Rudger glanced at Casey, then fixed his gaze back on the sea and asked.
"e to think of it, why are you following all the way here?"
"I got interested in the new continent too. If so many people are flocking to our kingdom like that, it's already far from an ordinary case, right?"
"For that reason, you didn't move right away."
"Well, there were things I had to handle in the kingdom immediately, and I had to help my sister too. I just thought it would be better to go now that an opportunity has e. Of course, there's also the purpose of obtaining material."
"Material? Don't tell me you're going to pile this into a story too?"
"Obviously. My books are novels but also mixed with my autobiographical experiences and stories. I was in a slump lately anyway, so this worked out well. A magic detective exploring an unknown continent. Isn't that cool?"
"Hmm. That certainly makes for a good picture."
There was no law saying detectives always had to take on murder cases. Rather, going to an as-yet-undiscovered continent and experiencing various adventures there could have its own charm.
Besides brutal mystery novels viewing corpses, sometimes people wanted to see cheerful adventures.
"Anyway, that's why I decided to follow. O-of course, there's also the fact that I came forward because you asked for help."
"I'm grateful for that part. You must be busy, yet you lent us such a good ship like this."
"You could cross single-handedly if you put your mind to it anyway."
"Even so, I'd be tired when I arrived. I had no choice but to borrow a ship to prepare for any possible situation. Even I'm not omnipotent."
"Hmm. That's unexpected. Well, still, if you need anything, just say it. I can help."
"Need anything?"
Just as Rudger was about to answer that there wasn't anything particular, Casey shot back.
"That you can make such a request to none other than this Casey Selmore. There's really nothing? Really?"
Rudger stared intently at Casey. She was already looking up at him. He thought her blue eyes were beautiful. Perhaps they looked that way because her face was slightly flushed, creating more contrast.
Eventually, Casey, who had been about to avert her gaze in embarrassment, stared intently into Rudger's eyes as if having made some resolution.
Her hand naturally rose to Rudger's shoulder and grasped his necktie. Just as she was about to pull naturally—
"Then I'll make one request."
At Rudger's words, Casey came to her senses like someone waking from a dream. She realized what she had been about to do, but curious about what request Rudger was going to make, she waited for his next words.
"Can you deal with those annoying-looking bastards?"
Following Rudger's gaze and turning around, she saw three ships approaching them from beyond the horizon.
They had no identifying insignias, and the ships that appeared to have illegal additions were dark and somehow threatening-looking.
Casey's brow furrowed. They were pirates gnawing like tumors around the North Sea.
These bastards. Are they ruining the mood at such an important moment?
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