The King, Heads For The Island

Is Sakura all right!?

I heard she crossed the ocean on a bear. Did she escape in time?

s.h.i.+n.o.bu, at least send me a regular report!

But perhaps the situation is such that its not possible.

On a s.h.i.+p above the raging sea, I looked at the island of Reenes.

I could see the bear and Kagali fighting with the fire-clad Orochi. But now the forest was burning with the Orochis flames, so the bear and Kagali were obscured, partly because of the smoke. When the s.h.i.+p moved near the island as we tried to check the Orochi, the s.h.i.+p rocked.

What happened! (King)

Its the wind from the island! (Captain)

I clutched the telescope in one hand on the rocking s.h.i.+p and looked through it.

There was a figure of a new serpent head next to the fire-clad Orochi in the telescope. The new Orochis head was clad in what looked like the raging wind.

The Wind Orochi? (King)

After the Fire Orochi, now the Wind Orochi!?

Even the seal of the Wind Orochi has been broken? Its only a matter of time before the seals on the other heads are also broken. If all of them come back to life, it will be the end.

Are the mages not ready yet! (King)

Theyre hurrying, but the s.h.i.+p with the mages on board was not embarking yet.

No wonder. The monsters appeared on the mainland as well, and I sent those mages to defeat them. Theres no easy way to bring them back.

Looking through the telescope, I can sometimes see the figures of the bear and Kagali, although they were obscured by the burning flames and smoke.

I am relieved that they were safe, but I couldnt do anything while Bear Missy and Kagali were fighting just the two of them. I am a powerless person. A king, only in name.

Get the s.h.i.+p closer. (King)

We cant go any further. The waves are so fierce that we cant move the boat the way we want. (Captain)

The s.h.i.+p was rocking intensely.

d.a.m.n it, what the h.e.l.ls going on.

Its not just the wind. It felt like something was moving around in the ocean.

Bring the s.h.i.+p closer as much as you can. (King)

The s.h.i.+p was moved to a location where the island of Reenes could be seen, but the s.h.i.+p kept rocking and the telescope in my hand was shaking. The island was on fire, there was a lot of smoke and the bear and Kagali were no longer visible.

An unpleasant imagination popped into my head, but I quickly erased it.

Theres no way that Kagali will be easily defeated. Besides, the Bear Missy was the beacon of hope that Sakura found, and shes strong enough to easily beat Jubei.

So, its all right.

The boat rocked violently, I lost my balance, so I clung to the pillars.

Your Majesty! (Captain)

Im fine! (King)

I waited for the s.h.i.+p to settle down and looked through the telescope once more.

Wheres the Fire Orochi!?

What happened?

I looked through the telescope to search for it.

Whats that!?

A huge fox was flying around the Wind Orochi.

Was that Kagali, perhaps!?

Kagali used to be a fox monster. I knew that Kagali can transform into a fox. I was relieved that I had confirmed the presence of Kagali, but I cannot see the bear.

Kagali, now a fox, flew over the head of the Wind Orochi. Kagali moved so fast that I couldnt chase her with the telescope. Moreover, the s.h.i.+p was rocking, so I cannot see Kagalis fight.

Furthermore, a strong gust-like wind was blowing from the island from time to time.

Is this how far the battle between the Wind Orochi and Kagali has come?

Go around the island, move to a place less affected by the wind! (King)

The s.h.i.+p moved to a location where the wind from the island was weaker.

When I checked the island through my telescope, the Wind Orochi and Kagali disappeared.

What happened? Did Kagali defeat it?

Or were they fighting on the ground?

The Fire Orochi was also not visible for a while now. I felt frustrated that I couldnt land on the island.

At that moment, a loud noise came from the island. It sounds like something big hitting the ground. I immediately realized it was a huge rock.

One of the large rocks flew into the sea.

It fell a bit far from the s.h.i.+p and made a big splash.

Its the Rock Orochi.

I dont understand the situation. The Fire Orochi disappeared, and so did the Wind Orochi. But the Rock Orochi appeared to replace them. I dont know whats going on anymore.

Your Majesty! Its dangerous. Were moving away from the island! (Captain)

If a rock like that hit the s.h.i.+p directly, the s.h.i.+p would sink. But that doesnt mean we can just leave.

Maintain the current distance. If the Orochi doesnt come out to sea, it wont reach this far. (King)

I dont know that. Its all just talk.

The rocks might fly further. Who knows what we have never seen or experienced. But we cant move away from the island more than this.

Then, after a while, the sound stopped. Parts of the island were still burning, and smoke continued to rise. I dont know whats going on.

Since then, the FireOrochi and the Wind Orochi have disappeared from sight. The Rock Orochi that appeared earlier also disappeared.

What the h.e.l.l is going on?

Just as I was thinking that the Rock Orochi had vanished, I saw a water-clad Orochi head. In the end, all the heads of the Orochi came back to life.

The water spat out by the Water Orochi extinguished the fire that lit up the forest. The force of that water was that strong, though.

An attack like that would have been too much.

No, should any of Orochis attacks land on the populace, it will cause a ma.s.sive death toll.

Youll burn if you get caught by the flames that the Fire Orochi breathed.

Youll get diced if you get caught by the wind that the Wind Orochi produced.

Youll be crushed if you get caught by the rock spewed out by the Rock Orochi.

Youll be blasted and drowned if you get exposed to the water spewed out by the Water Orochi.

I havent seen Kagali even once since I saw her fighting the Wind Orochi.

I can only imagine unpleasant things now.

Sakura, my sisters forgotten keepsake. s.h.i.+n.o.bu, who adores Sakura. Kagali, who protected the country for a long time. And Bear Missy, who had nothing to do with this country but got herself involved.

Bear Missy. As Sakura says, if you are the beacon of hope, please do something.

A short time later, the sound faded from the island, and the Water Orochi disappeared.

What happened?

I searched for the Water Orochi with my telescope, but I could not find it.

Why cant I see the Orochi?

Time pa.s.ses by without understanding the situation.

Did they defeat it, by any chance?

Such an unlikely thought.

I looked through the telescope to search for it.

Kagali, Sakura, s.h.i.+n.o.bu, Bear Missy, just show yourself for a moment.

Such wishes crumbled. Four large Orochi heads grew simultaneously.

Its the Orochi! (Crew)

The lookout shouted.

The Orochi has wholly revived.

In other words, Kagali and Bear Missy lost.

I hope theyre alive, at least.

I gripped the telescope tightly.

Your Majesty, please give the order to evacuate. If the Orochi attacks this s.h.i.+p, we will not be able to escape. If we flee to the mainland and theyll chase us, we will be inviting the Orochi into the country. Please give the order to evacuate before it notices us. (Captain)

I can understand what hes saying. If this s.h.i.+p gets spotted, we will not be able to return to our country.

The idea of sacrificing this s.h.i.+p to lure it in comes to mind, but thats not possible. They wont let me die here.

I understand. Lets move away from the island. (King)

I gave the evacuation order.

Please be safe.

The s.h.i.+p returned to the docks. Not a single s.h.i.+p was out to sea. This was so as not to attract the Orochi to the country.

Even if we wanted to go save Kagali and the others, we could not launch a s.h.i.+p. Even if we save them, the country would be in danger if the Orochi chased the s.h.i.+p.

The women we had gathered to fight were useless.

The only thing left to do was to gather the mages and, at their expense, attract the Orochi and keep it away from the country.

As we were discussing future measures, a messenger soldier came to us.

The team succeeded in defeating the monsters that emerged from the forest. The rest of the monsters returned to the forest as if to escape. (Messenger)

I see. (King)

When the mages come back, all I have to do is order the mages and the sailors on the s.h.i.+p to die for their country.

I already told them a few days ago, but still, I am not comfortable giving orders to my men to die. However, Im glad I didnt have to let my child give such an order.

A bird flew over my head as I waited for the mages to come and get the s.h.i.+p ready.

Isnt that s.h.i.+n.o.bus bird?

s.h.i.+n.o.bu, shes alive?

I stretched out my arm.

Then quickly, I stopped it.

The bird flew over my head in circles and stopped at my hand.

I put my finger on the tubes lid attached to the birds neck.

I quickly opened it.

The lid opened, and a small roll of paper came out of the tube.

I hurriedly unfolded the curled-up paper as if in a panic.

Ha~a? (King)

I let out a weird voice.

People around me react to my voice.

Your Majesty, what is the matter? (Minister)

Were heading to the s.h.i.+p once again. Were sailing. (King)

Thats (Minister)

It should be fine (King)

I gave my instructions and looked over the paper again.

The subjugation of the Orochi is complete. Kagali-san and Yuna have an important message for His Majesty regarding the defeat of the Orochi, so please come to the pier on the island of Reenes. If you dont come, Ill be in trouble!

She said they defeated the Orochi?

That Orochi?

Is that true?

I dont doubt it, but I just couldnt believe it.

But thats what Im going to find on the island of Reenes.

Ill have my soldiers stand by and give them instructions not to launch the s.h.i.+p when the mages arrive, and Ill embark on the s.h.i.+p.

But what do they want to talk about?

If they want to talk, cant they do it in the castle.

Still, what the h.e.l.l is that last sentence?

I dont really understand what s.h.i.+n.o.bu meant by her being in trouble.

The sea was calm as if the rough seas of earlier were a lie. The s.h.i.+p quickly arrived at the pier on the island of Reenes. The Orochi was nowhere to be seen. Instead, something strange was built.

Is that a bear?

What is that?

I dont know.

Theres a strange bear-shaped object near the pier.

I dont recall seeing anything like that. If there was something like that before, Id notice it.

In front of that bear is a familiar figure.

Is that s.h.i.+n.o.bu? (Minister)

You guys stay on the s.h.i.+p. Im going alone. (King)

But for a man (Minister)

Its probably fine now, I think. (King)

I get off the s.h.i.+p alone, and s.h.i.+n.o.bu rushes over to me.

Your Majesty, weve been waiting for you. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Are Sakura and Kagali safe? (King)

Theyre both safe. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

I felt relieved to hear that.

The one thing I was worried about was resolved.

So is it true that you guys defeated the Orochi? (King)

Well explain it all in the house. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Wait, thats a house? (King)

Its Yunas house. Please follow me. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

I walked after s.h.i.+n.o.bu and moved to the bear. s.h.i.+n.o.bu opened the door and walked into the bear-shaped house. I followed s.h.i.+n.o.bu and entered the bear.

=====

Authors Note:

Sorry for the delay.

The next episode will be posted as usual, unless there is bookwork to be done.

And thats how the King entered the bear house.

They will have a discussion next time.

Postscript.

k.u.ma, the comicalized 8th episode, will be up next Wednesday. Our apologies.

=====