009 Hydrolic Ram Dragon[]
Gooo! Chudon! Zappa!
It sounded just like that. I was struck by the cold seawater that poured down heavily from overhead.
This mass of water was incomparable to the gloomy rain that usually accompanied this ship. It was like being under a waterfall.
Of course, this amount of seawater would not interfere with the functioning of a bioroid, but it was a painful ordeal for one such as me, who has half the characteristics of a plant.
A huge wave rose from Gyze End Bay, and the ship rocked wildly.
As I clung to the railing, next to me, barrels, bones, and translucent figures rolled about the deck.
The ghost ship Regrain was an airborne vessel, but it was hard to stay safe with a shock like this.
"Hey! What kind of trial shot was that!"
Said I── Inheritance Maiden, Hendrina, as I turned back to yell at the captain.
"Even so, this was just taking it easy. Now, let me introduce you to our ship's newest member."
Calmly replied the captain── Mysterious Rain Spiritualist, Zorga, pointing behind himself with his staff.
From where he pointed to, a water dragon as large as a small mountain rose from the water's surface and looked down at me with glowing eyes.
On the western shore of the Magallanica-Zoo Sea. At the southern end of the Dragon Empire lay Gyze End Bay.
A long time ago, the destruction of the divinity Gyze in this land created the bay and the islands surrounding it, forming an almost circular inland sea.
"...is how it's described in topography and historical texts."
I explained as I stocked up on supplies at the morning market in the Cape Morte settlement, which was located at the exit of the bay.
"But now, it's one of the richest fishing grounds in the world, due to the sea life that are attracted to the complex terrain."
Even though the bioroids were not in the habit of eating seafood, the bright colors of the sea food that filled the city were good on the eyes. In any case, all I usually saw was gloomy rain with undead and ghost sailors....
I've always liked shopping in the first place. It had been a long time since I had been on land, and the weather was clear, so I was in a great mood. I could not help but show off my knowledge.
"What's the point of having all these small fishing villages?
Said Zorga. It was my idea to have him cover himself from head to toe with a large piece of canvas since I was afraid of walking around alone.
...Well, this still gave off a creepy feeling in its own way.
The captain was unhappy that there was nothing on sale that he wanted, and although I could not see his expression, he seemed to be in a bad mood.
"Why this area isn't prospering?. It's because of pirates, like you guys."
The complex topography of the bay was perfect for pirate hideouts. In fact, there were countless pirate ports in the inland sea.
The name Gyze End was synonymous with piracy, according to the Shipping Guild's statistics, this bay and its surrounding vicinity was the most frequently damaged area by pirates in the world.
The damage extended all the way to the land, so not only the merchant ships, but also the merchants were threaten by them.
That's why all of the inhabitants here were fishermen and private shops. So in the event of a bandit invasion, they could immediately escape.
"That statement needs to be corrected. We are not like pirates."
Zorga said. Well, that was true.
It had been a while now since I boarded that ship, I knew that:
1. The crew included the dead, ghosts, and all sorts of other eccentrics.
2. Zorga devoted himself daily to an unknown 'experiment'── I did not know what he did while cooped up in his cabin.
3. The existence of the ghost ship Regrain is in itself an object of fear── As far as I know, in the areas near the sea, it is a popular fairytale told to children that if they don't listen to their parents, they will be taken away by that ghost ship.
Aside from the above, they have not caused any trouble to others. In that respect, I don't think the guild was wrong to send me. ...No, that last one was annoying enough as is....
"Then how do you plan to set out on your non-pirate ship in these waters?"
A pirate's enemies were other pirates.
The Regrain was a flying ship, so it had some advantages, but how effective would Zorga's magic be against a heavily armed pirate ship?
Without a battleship, it was impossible to sail alone safely.
"If it's a battleship, I've already got one."
"Huh?"
Having my thoughts read again, I have to admit I made an idiotic sound. A battleship? When? Where?
Zorga's voice sounded strangely confident under the canvas he was completely covered in.
"I'll show you. First, we'll do a 'trial shot'."
Hydrolic Ram Dragon.
Its name comes from the fact that the water pressure discharged from its mouth could destroys even the most distant hull of a ship as if it were hit by a ram[1].
Tear Dragons── Huge, powerful, and unrivaled water dragons of the old Magallanica that were hailed as 'rigid and battleship-like' by the legendary navy known as the Aqua Force.
Dumbfounded, I stared at the huge water dragon that had appeared by the stern of the ship,
This was the first time I had ever seen a dragon this close up.
It was even bigger and more beautiful than the books had told me, and contrary to its destructive power, there was a sign of high intelligence in its demeanor.
"Did you see that destructive power? An ordinary pirate ship will be no obstacle to it at all."
That day, Zorga looked like he was quite proud of himself after showing off the 'trial shot'.
I felt sorry for the people of Cape Morte.
Following the ghost ship, a dragon appeared and blew away the rocks on the tip of the cape without a trace from right underneath their noses, with a tremendous flow of water.
And this incident would spread as a rumor with plenty of embellishments.
Even the pirates of Gyze End Bay would be wary and afraid.
This was probably what Zorga wanted. Quite clever of him to practice, show off, and publicize it at the same time.
"We've bound a contract. We will use the power of the dragon as our trump card against the pirates."
Zorga seemed to be in a very good mood as he gave me an answer before I could say anything again.
"Even so, an Aqua Force Tear Dragon, this easily...?" I said.
"It's a special case. The Aqua Force seem to be wary of the Granblue pirates spreading violence towards the western seas. In addition, this time one condition was added to the contract at its conclusion."
I had a bad feeling about that.
"Hydrolic Ram Dragon is searching for the whereabouts of a dragon[2] who disappeared in the western seas."
So then, the captain of this ghost ship offered to cooperate. Zorga was a wicked person, but he also loved exploration so much. I understood so far. No, wait. But....
"Tear dragons rarely speak to others, but they can actually communicate in ancient languages. So, an interpreter is essential in this search for a dragon."
Ah, so that was it.
"You specialize in ancient languages as well as marine life, don't you? 'Provide knowledge' was the first condition on the contract."
I held my head.
Being an interpreter for a dragon was a pretty broad interpretation of being able to provide knowledge on ancient languages.
But... I'll probably never have the opportunity to talk to an Aqua Force dragon every day during my travels, or to a native speaker of an ancient language again... It was frustrating, should I do it or not? Umu....
"This here Hendrina will keep you company. I'll leave you two to it."
While I was silently thinking, Zorga said that much, shook his wand and withdrew to his cabin.
"...ah..."
Nervously I was about to say something, but the next thing I knew──
Ba-Shan!
I heard a greeting in an ancient language, along with a lump of seawater, which was very modest amount to a water dragon, that covered me.
"I'll be working together with you from here onwards."
Like I said before, don't pour seawater on plants....
Raising my soaked, half-crying face, I took the first step in communicating with the dragon.
《Notes about Terminology》
Aqua Force
The legendary navy that upholds absolute justice and protects the security of all of Stoicheia's seas.
Now that the Holy Knight Order, which once supported the order and security of the world, is only active within the sanctuary, they have become the undoubted guardian of the world's order.
During the Godless Era, when magic was lost, the pirate group Granblue, whose core was made up of undead, went into hiding.
Now, in the Chakrabarthi Divine Era, with their arch-enemy Granblue having begun to reassert their power, would they be offended if they were described as being just as lively.