After dusk.

The gradually increasing volume of water floated the small sailboat Titanikko and made her move forward slowly.

Ho-ho-ho!
Peekyo Peekyo
What a whirr-whirr-whirr-whirr!

Even though it is nighttime, I can hear many birds chirping. The dark forests at both ends of the road are quite eerie. In front of you, too, the forest in the distance seems to block your way as a black shadow. There is starlight, but the surface of the water is too dark to see clearly. The captain tells us to magically light the lanterns at the very front of the ship.

We sail down the big river at night.

Rather noisily.

Yeeeee! Night monsters are especially powerful! Avoid unnecessary combat!
''Hai''

--Dooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

'It's a big squid!
'Tei!

I cut him down with my eltral sword and roasted him whole with Prine's fire magic.

''Yay!

Us high-fiving. Dancing on the boat.

'I just told you to avoid unnecessary battles, so why are you winning by a comfortable margin? That's not bad! Stop dancing and stop flirting!

Captain Kugyu was surprised and praised me angrily. He looks busy.

'Oh, Mr. Ra, here's a drop item...'
'It's true.

A well-cooked squid leg fell to the floor with a thud.
The captain sees it and exclaims happily.

It's not the leg of the King of the Great Rivers squid! It's delicious - isn't it!

I hear it's delicious.
We did as the captain told us and took a piece of cloth from the box and wrapped it up. I guess it will be our dinner tonight.

The speed of the boat is gradually increasing.

Captain Kugyu, did you speed up?
No, it's not. It's the rapids.'

In no time at all, the scenery is drifting backward.

'Watch out! From here it's a series of curves and maelstroms! If you get caught, you'll sink to the bottom of the river and never come back up!
What's that scary!
'Good luck with the helm, Captain Kugyu!
'Ha! I'll take care of it! You guys hold on tight!
''Yes!

The corner of the river is closing in fast. It's turning left. I was sure I saw a maelstrom in front of me. The current was caught inward at the bend and was heading toward the bottom of the river.

Mr. Rah!
'Hold on tight to me, Prine!

There is a splash. I cling to the boat with Prine in my arms, trying not to be swept away by the water that has entered the boat.

Just as we come around the corner,

'Deeeeee!
''Whoa!

With Captain Kugyu's spirit, the Titanikko tilted violently. It was as if the floor had become a wall.

The small sailboat is bent over with a squeaking sound. The Titanikko has just escaped from the corner, over the edge of the maelstrom.

The tilt of the boat becomes parallel, and the wall returns to the floor.

'What a river and what a ship ......'
'Ugh, my eyes are going round and round. ......'

'Next right!
''Here it comes again!
'Soriyaa!

The Titanicco leans to the right in the same manner. Floor to wall in the same way. Me holding on with one hand to keep from falling off the boat with the same prine.

--Hmm?

'Prine, why don't you use the Photon Wing?
'Oh, I see! That's great, Mr. Ra!
'By any chance, aren't you guys just trying to enjoy yourselves? It's all in your mind!

It's just my imagination! and waits for Prine's magic.

'--Photon Wing! Mr. Ra!
Oh!

Prine floats up. I, who was holding her, also float up together with Prine, since we are (in many ways) compatible with each other.

'I knew it!
'Captain Kugyu, don't worry about us!
''Yes, please concentrate on steering the ship!
'It's soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

The captain maneuvered the boat with great grace and went through the corner.

''That's great, Captain Kugyu!
'Hoh, I'm not happy to be praised!

But you have a grin on your face.

'You guys can fight with that?
'Of course, sir!
'Then get ready for battle! The maelstrom ahead is inhabited by monsters! Fight hard!


'Arahora sasser!

It was a very big curve with a very big whirlpool.

At the center of the whirlpool was a huge lobster.

I dare you to enter the whirlpool! The wind in there is the most magical wind, so I'll grab it and fly at once! In the meantime, prevent the lobster's attack at all costs, just once!
'Yes, sir!
'............!'

I hold Prine's trembling, muffled hand and encourage her.

'............'.

Prine nodded, frightened. Okay, I can do it!

--Z-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d!

The Titanicco is caught in a vortex, heading toward the center. The speed is tremendous. I cling to it to keep it afloat. The ship is tilting so much that it is becoming not a wall but a ceiling. Some of the cargo tied up with nets falls off, but Captain Kugyu doesn't care about that as he plunges the boat into the water.

'--Grasp the sails! Now is the time to go up! Let's go!

The lobster's scissors, so huge they could cut the ship in half, are closing in. Prine started chanting in my chest, and I sucked in my breath.

--Gishaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

'--[Warfare technique] Strong blow Attack !
'--Icycle Ballista!

I smashed the lobster's scissors with my war technique, and Prine produced a huge ice spear right above the vortex and fired it.

--Gobo-gobo-gobo-gobo-gobo-gobo-gobo ......!

Lobsters sinking into the vortex.

The maelstrom wanes in momentum, as if it has lost its master. We are in the center of the whirlpool, and a huge volume of water rushes toward us.

Captain Kugyu shouts.

Fly, Titanikko!

Boom!

The sailboat, grasping the magical element, flies into the sky like an unleashed arrow. As they fly away together, I see a large amount of water behind them, swallowing the lobsters as they turn into mist.

For a moment, the Titanicco enjoys its aerial swim, and then...wham! And landed on the water.

Whew!

Captain Kugyu takes a breath. And then..,

'You're all so full of it! What are you knocking over? You almost made us sink! I mean, why can't you beat that thing? Red King Lobster is not a monster to be fought or defeated! You guys are a little too good for this!

He shouted at us in one breath and then came back to himself,

'No, it's not that great! My arms are even more amazing!

She blushed and jumped up and down. Cute.

''Yes, Captain Kugyu's steering is great.
'Yes, Captain Kugyu's steering is great.

'Don't humor me while smiling and nodding!

Thud!

As if called by the captain's shout, something fell from the sky.

What? What is it?

There were lobster scissors on the ice.

The captain, who had been hiding, peeked out fearfully, and as soon as he saw them, he broke into a frenzy.

HAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Those aren't Red King Lobster scissors! And it's properly iced! Now I can take this home and eat it with the whole family! ...... is not mine alone, is it? ....... What are you looking at? Don't look at it!

''Cute.''

'Shut up, shut up, Bakaroo!

And then .

We sorted out the mess on board (my monstrous strength came in handy), froze the iced lobster scissors even more just in case (Prine's magic came in handy), and carefully strapped them around the boat so they wouldn't fall off.

When I told him that I couldn't take the squid and the lobster home with me, Captain Kugyu returned to the helm of the ship and said in a very quiet voice, "I'm going to give them to you,

'........................Thanks.'

I said.

Prine and I pretended not to hear him, but I couldn't help but grin.



The Titanicco continued onward, heeling the ship as we swatted away the oncoming aquatic monsters.

As the sky begins to turn white, the captain shouts.

I see it!

Beyond the horizon is a lighthouse standing straight up. And a view of the towns surrounding the river.

It's the port of Lavasula! I mean, it's the ocean!

Mr. Kugyu raises his hands in a banzai. Captain Dick howling in the dawn.

Oh, ......
'Welcome back to the sea, Mr. Ra!

Prine smiles happily. It's the first time I've been to the ocean since the 5th layer. I'm deeply moved.

There are many boats in the harbor. Adventurers, I guess.

The Titanicco also docked, and we got off at the harbor.

We got off at the harbor. The earth is shaking?
'Hmmm? It's swaying, isn't it?
It's the opposite, the opposite. I've been shaking so much, I'm getting the wrong idea.''
''I see...''

Captain Kugyu laughed at me and Prine's wobbling.



Well, take the rest of the day off. See you tomorrow.
Yes!
Thank you very much!

We bowed. Captain Kugyu nodded yes and walked to the harbor yawning. He told us that there were accommodations for hopper sailors.

A big river that can only be navigated at night. This is the end of the 19th layer. There is a save point in this port town.

Adventurers may leave the dungeon and return to the guild, or they may stay at the inn here.

The next attack is the next day.

Tomorrow we will conquer the sea.

However, we are not embarking on an oceanic voyage.

We are going to the bottom of the water to the underwater temple.

As I gape at the ocean water, Prine yawns next to me.

'Fumyaa ......'.

It had been a long time since I'd pulled an all-nighter. No wonder.

Well, let's take a break first.

I can't wait to see how much my mage level has improved.



And when Captain Kugyu left... It doesn't mean I approve of you guys... don't get me wrong! I'm thanking you for the squid and lobster! He gave me four Gilga medals.

Captain Chinmai, you are so generous!