FMRV | Chapter 33

Luke realized he was possessed the day he received his acceptance letter from the Imperial Army Academy. From that moment, he methodically planned his life. Initially, he considered becoming a soldier or even inventing groundbreaking modern technologies and becoming a billionaire. But then, he pondered the peril of being in a novel that hadn’t reached its conclusion.

Being a mere extra might have been harmless, but playing a pivotal antagonist in the story—essentially the protagonist’s pace-setter—was a significant role.

So, he strived, both as a villain and a soldier. Finally, he concluded his grand plan: Theo became the commander, and Luke had nothing left to fear. His subsequent plan was straightforward:

[Relax, do nothing, escape to a secluded place. Live a life where no one seeks him out, but he has plenty of money.]

That was what Theo had harbored in his heart until he became the commander. Now freed from his roles as a soldier and villain, Luke could finally embark on his travels. It was more of a move than a trip, but that didn’t matter. He had easily chosen his destination and resolved his living situation, so all that remained was to head there.

“Move quickly! A monster has appeared!”

Indeed, who would have expected that the luxury cruise ticket he purchased for his journey would be plagued by a monster? Thanks to his tiresome time in the Imperial Army, he was well aware of the monstrous creatures that infested this world. And just when he was about to create his own epilogue after retiring, this seemed outrageously unfair.

The sea around the ship swirled rapidly and then shot up into the air. It was an extraordinary scene, defying gravity, and the sailor trying to usher Luke inside fell flat on the deck in fear.

Water splashed everywhere. The salty wind lost its direction and whipped mercilessly, tearing Luke’s robe off.

Soon, a strange thudding noise resonated. It was like a giant drum being beaten within the waves. Shortly, a massive water monster emerged from the surface. Its entire body, crafted from the blue sea, proved its origins.

“A sea dragon… With a body like that, it’s probably about a 5th class medium monster…”

Luke watched the creature twist and turn as if excited to explore the world, and he muttered to himself.

“Uh, sir, it’s dangerous…! Please, go inside!”

At that moment, Luke felt a faint touch at his feet. The terrified sailor was trying his best to pull Luke by the hem of his robe, fulfilling his duty as a crew member.

“Mi-military people will soon—Aagh!”

The ship lurched violently. The wave created by the creature made the ship feel like it could capsize any moment. The sea dragon, intelligent enough to tease a lesser being, now showed its clever nature.

“Its nasty temperament suggests it’s quite intelligent. It could pass for a 4th class.”

“What?”

Having finished his assessment, Luke nodded.

“Did you know? If civilians subdue a monster, they get paid. Truly, long live the Empire.”

“What are you—”

“Since it’s come to this, I think killing this creature that ruined my trip and getting paid for it isn’t a bad idea.”

Luke’s lips curled up into a smooth arch. The sailor was nearly out of his mind. The mere fact that a monster had appeared was enough to lose all reason, and here was this man, not listening and spouting nonsensical talk. Perhaps he had already died and dropped into the afterlife.

Such absurd thoughts crossed his mind at that moment.

The sea dragon, having spotted Luke on the deck, roared loudly and then opened its mouth wide. Whirlpools from all around quickly gathered into its maw. Soon, a giant sphere of water formed.

The sailor realized then. He wasn’t yet in the afterlife but was about to be. Forget his duties as a sailor; he should have just stayed in the cabin. What was the point of trying to save one strange man?

“Ah! I’ve lived a good life as my mother advised! What is this!”

As death seemed imminent, all sorts of expressions burst out. Now, thinking he was about to die, the sailor felt unfairly treated for having lived honestly and kindly. He had been told that living right would bring good fortune and earn a place in heaven. Now, it seemed he might reach heaven much sooner than expected.

The man closed his eyes tightly. Once more, the monstrous roar of the sea dragon echoed.

“……”

Contrary to his expectation of immense pain, he felt nothing. The sailor slowly opened his eyes, and an astonishing scene unfolded before him.

The odd, silver-haired man was still standing on the deck. His hand extended forward, and around it, the water split precisely in two, scattering. It almost seemed as if there was a transparent, massive wall.

“Your mother sounds wonderful. Maybe I should start living kindly too.”

As the sea dragon’s massive water sphere split in two, the condensed liquid weakly dispersed. Droplets scattered around, creating a rainbow, crafting a stunningly beautiful scene that didn’t fit the chaos.

“Ah…”

The sailor, now gazing at the man in the center, couldn’t help but marvel. The silver-haired man stood dignified among countless droplets and a rainbow, his inscrutable smile still plastered across his face.

The sea dragon, either perplexed by its attack being neutralized or instinctively feeling that Luke was no ordinary being, continued to concentrate its attacks on him. But Luke blocked each with a single shield.

The sea dragon absorbed more seawater, swelling in size, preparing for a close attack. It roared and lunged straight at Luke. If he retaliated with magic now, the ship would surely be caught in the crossfire. There were too many ordinary people around, not to mention the civilians curled up in a ball nearby.

‘Guess I’ll have to take it down.’

Luke clenched his fist. He focused pure magical energy, untransformed, into his fist. Then, without hesitation, he punched the approaching sea dragon’s face. A tremendous burst echoed across the sea, and the creature’s body twisted and flew back to its original position.

“Ah, this is why I dislike close combat.”

Luke looked at his reddened fist and sighed deeply. With a single punch, the monster was dazed. Quickly, he searched for something that could serve as a weapon. Naturally, having left the special forces, he had returned his issued weapons, leaving him with nothing but money.

Luke’s eyes then caught sight of something on a trembling staff member lying on the deck.

“Is that a telescope?”

“Yes? Oh, yes…”

“Is it classified as a magical tool, used for navigation?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Could I borrow that for a moment?”

The staff member, looking dazed, nodded and quickly removed the telescope from his belt and handed it to Luke. The Empire, well-advanced in magical arts, had also effectively commercialized magical tools. Made from processed magic stones containing embedded power, these tools were widely used even by the general populace. Plus, being on a luxury cruise, the sailor’s belongings were of high quality, with significant inherent magical power. This should be enough.

Luke grasped the long telescope, and purple sparks began to emerge slowly. The telescope started to crack under the strain of the magic. As the sea dragon regrouped for another attack, Luke, without hesitation, threw the telescope like a spear.

With a swift sound cutting through the air, despite the distance, the telescope Luke had thrown sliced through the sky in a straight line and lodged itself directly in the sea dragon’s mouth.

Luke flicked his finger, and sparks flew from the lodged telescope, which then exploded, releasing the pre-stored electrical magic and beginning to electrocute the creature’s body.

“Argh!”

The agonized screams were intense. Pieces of the sea dragon’s flesh, essentially chunks of water, started splattering around. Luke shielded the sailor behind him as he deployed a protective barrier.

“……”

Soon, the surroundings quieted down. The sea dragon that had been furiously active just moments ago was now nowhere to be seen. Luke breathed a sigh of relief and dusted off his hands.

“Didn’t you say you were borrowing it?”

“Oh.”

As the situation calmed, the staff member’s words made Luke stiffen his smile awkwardly. Before he could even offer an explanation, pieces of the sea dragon splattered by the attack burst open, causing streams of water to pour onto the deck. The ship began to creak and crack under the magically charged rain.

“…Wasn’t this an expensive ship?”

“No matter how good the ship is, it can’t withstand such continuous attacks…”

“That’s true…”

Watching the increasingly damaged ship, Luke and the staff member could only let out resigned laughter.