New chapter of Single Old Man is out! (1/2 chapters)

 

 

Kraken Subjugation (2)

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When we set out to sea, the land receded farther and farther into the distance, and although I had attempted to show off, uneasiness gradually began to creep into my heart.

“N-Now then… is the Kraken truly that large?” (Gentoku)

“It is large enough to sink a sailing vessel, you know.” (Ao)

“Well, it is indeed quite large desu wa.” (Blanche)

“Big.” (Rosso)

My uneasiness only increased. This is bad… perhaps I have overdone my attempt at looking impressive. It is far too late to realize it now, but this one harpoon will not accomplish anything. If I were to be thrown into the sea, the life jacket would guarantee my survival. However, if the Kraken were to drag me down, it would simply be the end. Furthermore… if the boat were to capsize, then it would be over.

“Ossan, look over there!!” (Rosso)

“Hm? That is… wreckage of a ship.” (Gentoku)

Countless pieces of timber floated upon the sea. Even what appeared to be a mast floated among them. It had been half a day since the sinking… and, unfortunately, there were no survivors.

As we approached the floating wreckage, Ao spoke.

“Oji-san, this area is already the Kraken’s territory… remain cautious.” (Ao)

“R-Remain cautious, you say…?” (Gentoku)

“…It is coming. Oji-san, accelerate!!” (Ao)

At Ao’s command, I poured mana into the boat, and it accelerated. Then, from the surface of the water where the boat had been, a gigantic white tentacle rose up in an instant.

“Oji-san, do not stop, continue moving!!” (Ao)

“O-Of course!!” (Gentoku)

If I stop, then I die…

While steering in a zigzagging course, I gradually accelerated. Then, Rosso stood and drew her sword, raising it aloft. Despite the fact that I was steering in a serpentine fashion at considerable speed, she stood normally as though such motion posed no difficulty. Rosso’s greatsword gradually turned a brilliant crimson and moreover, it was hot. Meanwhile, Ao placed her hand into the sea and closed her eyes, and upon Ao’s shoulder, Blanche laid her hand.

“…Aqua Sonar.” (Blanche)

“W-What exactly are you doing?” (Gentoku)

“Ao is an adept of the water attribute. By touching the water and diffusing mana as vibrations, she senses the movements of the Kraken. At the present moment, since these waters are contaminated with poison, I am treating them while touching as well.” (Blanche)

“…Oji-san, proceed straight forward and reduce your speed. Rosso, in front.” (Ao)

“O-Of course.” (Gentoku)

“My preparations are complete.” (Rosso)

As instructed, I proceeded straight ahead and reduced the speed. At that moment, before our boat, the tentacle of a gigantic squid appeared.

“Red Hawk!!” (Rosso)

When Rosso swung her sword, flames flew forth from the blade, and they took the form of a hawk, burning away the tentacle all at once. The tentacle writhed violently, and with a snap, it was severed at the base.

Had it self-amputated?

Then, before our very eyes, there appeared an incomparably massive squid.

“Bushaaaaaaa!!” (Kraken)

“The Kraken!! Hmph, I shall roast you whole. Ao, Blanche!!” (Rosso)

Before I had realized it, Ao and Blanche had drawn their bows, and they loosed their arrows simultaneously. The arrows pierced the Kraken. It was astonishing, like a war between monsters.

“Ossan!!” (Rosso)

“Eh.” (Gentoku)

This is no time to be impressed!!

The squid’s tentacles flailed violently and descended toward my boat.

“Doahhhhhhh!?” (Gentoku)

I reversed with full mana output. The boat went into reverse, and I narrowly avoided the tentacle strike. Then, seven gigantic tentacles appeared above the sea, intent on smashing our boat to pieces.

“A-are you kidding me!! You have got to be kidding me!!” (Gentoku)

“Ossan, you are noisy. Hmph, as long as I am here, this boat will not sink!!” (Rosso)

“Oji-san, move!!” (Ao)

“Ooooo!!” (Gentoku)

I poured mana in and operated the boat.

“Ossan, circle around the Kraken!!” (Rosso)

“Ooooo!!” (Gentoku)

As commanded, I did so. When I began circling the Kraken, its tentacles descended.

“Uwaaaaaa!!” (Gentoku)

“One, two!!” (Rosso)

Rosso’s greatsword severed the descending tentacles. Yet the tentacles continued to rain down.

Terrifying!!

“Three, four, five!!” (Rosso)

With a slicing sound, Rosso continued severing the tentacles. Then, when she cut down the sixth and seventh, and finally severed the last one–…

“Shaaaaaa!!” (Kraken)

“The ninth tentacle–… this is bad.” (Rosso)

Rosso suddenly slipped upon the wet deck and lost her balance. The tentacle struck the sea’s surface, and the boat shook violently. Although it did not capsize, Rosso fell onto her rear.

“Shaaaaaa!!” (Kraken)

“Damn it…” (Rosso)

“Ao, provide covering fire!!” (Blanche)

“Wait, the arrows… they fell into the sea.” (Ao)

Blanche and Ao’s support did not arrive in time.

What is to be done…

At that moment, I saw the harpoon I had brought. I acted without thought.

“Uwooooo!!” (Gentoku)

When I grasped the harpoon, purple lightning coursed across my body. The harpoon crackled with electricity, and I unconsciously shouted.

“Finishing blow!! Gungnir!!” (Gentoku)

With an explosive sound, the harpoon flew at impossible speed and struck the Kraken’s head.
The Kraken convulsed with electricity. The surrounding sea shone faintly with violet light, and the Kraken floated to the surface. We were all dumbstruck. Blanche quickly loosed an arrow at the Kraken.

“…It is dead. It seems that Oji-san’s attack became the finishing strike.” (Blanche)

“That was… electricity, was it not? I poured an absurd amount of mana into it. What has become of the surrounding sea?” (Gentoku)

“…Oji-san, the sea’s poison has vanished.” (Ao)

“…Electrolysis, perhaps? I cannot say.” (Gentoku)

“…It feels as though you stole my moment of glory, Ossan!!” (Rosso)

Thus, the Kraken was defeated… and by coincidence, the electrolysis erased the poison from the sea as well.

 

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“Ossan, are you truly certain of this?” (Rosso)

“Yes, go on with only yourselves.” (Gentoku)

When we returned to my villa’s private beach, Rosso and the others declared that they would go to make their report. They also requested my company, but I declined.

I do not wish to stand out, and in the first place, I am not an adventurer.

“It is acceptable to say that you borrowed my boat, but do not mention my name. Say only that the boat belongs to the Alexandrite Trading Company.” (Gentoku)

“But, Ojisan–…” (Ao)

“I beg of you. I do not wish to draw attention. Moreover, I do not wish to take on any more troublesome matters. It was supposed to be a vacation, yet somehow I keep working.” (Gentoku)

“Oji-sama… I see. If that is your desire, then so it shall be.” (Blanche)

“That is the way of it. Saying not a single word about me will be the greatest thanks you could offer. Now, go on, go on. Hurry and let everyone feel relieved.” (Gentoku)

The three of them nodded, carrying a portion of the Kraken’s tentacle to the Adventurer’s Guild.

Left alone, I brewed coffee and prepared an iced coffee. Sitting in a beach chair on the shore, I allowed myself a breath of relaxation. From my smartphone, I played a jazz best-of, and I leisurely resumed the morning paper I had left unfinished.

“It is over at last…” (Gentoku)

The summer vacation. Looking back, so much has happened.

I purchased a villa overrun with ghost-type magic beasts, looked after a cat-eared girl and a widow, was asked by a member of a group of magical technicians known as the Witch Society (all of them elves and women, and frankly reminiscent of adolescent affectation) to repair the keepsake of a woman transported from another world, constructed vehicles for the development of Zanad… and, as the culmination, subjugated the Kraken.

Dense. It was an exceedingly dense vacation. Yet… to be honest, it did not feel unpleasant.

“Many things turned out to be quite interesting.” (Gentoku)

Summer was not yet over. When it ended, autumn and winter, though brief, would arrive, and then spring would come once more.

“Faaah… perhaps because I have been tense, I now feel sleepy.” (Gentoku)

For the time being… I shall do nothing more today. There is still time before noon, so I shall take it easy.

 

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