We're riding a ship going downstream a large river toward Drias the port town.
The blue water is flowing abundantly.
The four of us are playing a card game after having our lunch.
--Right when I thought that.
"Hold on to something! You'd get thrown off!"
The passengers raised their voices.
The next moment, BAM, shock ran on the bottom of the ship.
The passengers screamed, "HYAAA!", "UWAAA!"
I shout.
"Yes, Keika-sama!"
"What's going on!"
"What!?"
Then I saw a 15 meter long fish as huge as a whale swimming in the water. Abominable sharp teeth are lined up in its mouth big enough to swallow a house whole.
"We're gonna try to run to the riverbank! Hold on the ship somewhere!"
"Nah, no need for that."
"Don't worry. As a hero, I'll cut it down."
"We're probably going to be a fish bait before we get to the bank if I can't do that right?"
The boatman opened his eyes wide, but then he nodded firmly.
"Move to some place easier to fight on."
The boatman moved the ship's rudder to the middle of the large river.
Its thorny dorsal fin cuts through the water surface.
【Status】
Element: 【Water】
Attack: 2300
Vitality: 2000
Swallow: Swallow the enemy whole.
Surface Slash: Cut even steel with the dorsal fin.
--------------------
It's opening its mouth, trying to swallow the ship whole. Its body is glittering from the sunlight.
Water and wind are my followers!
I unsheathe my Tachi and fire a magic while taking the upper stance with the Tachi.
The water emits blue light, taking crystal shape. I'm using this one since it's not a direct attack.
Of course it won't break from just that.
"Breeze who abide by name Become an assemble of sharp blades--<
Releasing a sharp blade of wind.
--SLASH!
The top half of the fish's head is blown off.
OOOOO!
"Awesome!", "With just one blow!", "Hero-sama is amazing!"
Etc etc. They unanimously praised.
"You're amazing as expected. But it was unfortunate. Greedriver's teeth and scales can all be sold handsomely. Its meat is also delicious. You could get around 30 big gold coin with one that size. Truly unfortunate."
I never thought of selling the materials from the monsters I defeated.
That said, it's already in the bottom of the river.
While I was thinking that.
"There's another one!"
A huge Greedriver fish is chasing after a white snake.
"The fish is eating the monster", "Nice, run run away~!"
It's big for a snake. Its total length is about 5 meter.
"Hm?"
--------------------
Name: Ieturia
Raace: 【Divine Kind】 Naga
Element: 【Water】
Vitality: 6000
Defense: 1400
Magic Defense: 1200
【Skill】
Spear Needles: High pressure water needles attack on multiple enemies.
--------------------
She looks like a monster outwardly, but apparently she's a divine beast.
Why isn't she fighting back even though she's that strong?
It doesn't seem like she's carrying a weapon either, she probably has no choice but to flee.
"Oy, you the Naga there. Come here. I'm gonna help you~"
"--<
SPLASH! The fish sunk with that sound.
The inboard is going up in screams.
"Don't worry. She's a divine messenger. That's why, do not attack her you hear me?"
I put my hands on the ship's rail again when the passengers quieted down.
Ieturia came right beside me. Water is dripping from her long silver hair that stretches to her back.
"....Why did you save me?"
"How'd you know that.... That's right, I am of people who have divinity. You really saved me there. My gratitude."
"...I can't really accept it, but it's a request from my lifesaver and one of higher rank. I will undertake it."
She said higher rank just now. She saw through me as a god huh.
They're fastened to the sides of the ship since they can't be carried on board.
And then Minya came to my side with kitchen knives on both hands. She snorted and stood with her legs open wide.
"Can you do it?"
Even though she had her usual deadpan, strong will shined in her black eyes.
"...Is that so, thanks then. As one would expect of a daughter of a chef. I'll be counting on you."
"Do my best."
She got on the back of the huge fish with a jump, and swung the kitchen knives.
There was no waste movement, it was beautiful enough to be a martial art dance.
"Are you going to buy the meat and the material?"
"Is that so. That's too bad."
"...If dried in the sun, kept."
"Then, Hero-sama. How about 18 big gold coins for the two fish's material and 3 big gold coins for the meat?"
I couldn't use <
--And then.
"This is a female. She had eggs. Unless it's 40 large gold coins... no."
The merchant shouted excitedly.
However, the other merchants stand up in a frenzy.
"48!"
"Argh, 60!"
The female fish's eggs seem to be very highly prized. I guess it's like herring roe and caviar.
I approach Ieturia who's swimming on the ship's flank with her hand on the ship's side.
"Hero-sama, is it fine to get close to that monster?"
I look at Ieturia. Her silver hair and white body are glittering under the sunlight. Her liberally bowl-shaped breasts are exposed.
She shook her head while still holding her hand on the ship. The wet dripping silver hair swayed heavily.
"I see. Well you do look like a monster."
"--We're attacked by monsters, chased after by humans. Where do we have to live at...."
--This might be a good opportunity.
In an instant, I establish a plan to help her.
"Looking at the situation now, there's no way you guys have home is there?"
"Waa! Listen to the end! If you don't have a place you belong to, then you just need to create one! --Rather, I'm a hero! The name's Keika. Call me that!"
Many things would be finished if my identity as a god got exposed.
"I got it, Keika.... But what do you mean by creating a place we belong to?"
"...Hmm? I don't understand what you're meaning to say at all...."
"I-indeed.... But what should I do? For me to be useful to humans...."
"I do not lose to human ships."
I go to the boatman.
"What's it Hero-sama. Say it, I'll help s'long it's within my power."
"Driad-san who's participating in the auction over there is the shipowner. He owns the Driad Firm that deals in transportation and trade."
"Where'd that come from!?"
I said that while showing a glimpse of the 【Emblem of Hero】 on my chest, and the boatman followed while frowning.
A rope is tied on the bow.
"Pull the ship with this."
"But you want a place you can belong to right? Your specialty is the ability to move quick on water."
"It might seem like you're being used. However, that's only in the beginning. Leave it to me. I'll raise your worth and create a place you can belong to."
Ieturia took the rope from my hand with her slender arm.
And then she turned forward and pulled the ship.
"Fast!", "Oh noo!", "Uu...gonna puke."
The passenger's screams were within my expectation as the ship went down the big river intensely.