The next morning, there was a commotion. It was the news that the ship would not leave.
“No way!”
Moi made a loud noise and looked troubled. Yes, this is a problem. Because she bought the ship's fare for five people. Moreover, the ship's officials insisted on a selfish rule that the fare could not be refunded.
"Why isn't the ship leaving?"
When Rose asked Darga, he said that according to what he had heard from a person connected to the ship, a ferocious thunderbird attacked the ship out on the lake in the early hours of today. The ship sank, with many casualties, witnesses said.
"Thunderbird..?"
The moment Rose heard that name, she trembled. Yes, when she walked around the village wall with Yanagi, she was attacked by that bird. At that time, Yanagi became a demon god and fought to protect Rose. Although they managed to defeat it thanks to a few high-ranking guards, it was quite a struggle. That lightning attack is quite disadvantageous when they're on water. Even for a warrior with at least level 5 abilities, it would be reckless to fight a thunderbird on the water without thinking. However, unless the thunderbirds are defeated, Rose and the others will not be able to cross the lake.
When they asked the town sheriff to exterminate them, they were told it was impossible. Escodria is a town that can't even maintain its daily security, and it seems like there's nothing they can do to deal with a sudden attack from a thunderbird. In this country where there is no king, there is no punishment for lords who do not take their jobs seriously. That's why even if people complain, it won't work. Even if you sue, nothing will happen.
When Rose looked up, she saw a bird that hadn't been there before. Even just one bird is difficult, but now she sees three of them flying in a circle over the lake. No one knows where these birds came from. It's a complete mystery.
"Three birds..."
Darga looks up and thinks. He calculated that it would be manageable if his feet were on the ground, but it would be tough if his feet were on the water.
"Now, what should we do?"
Darga scratched his head with his finger. He looks really troubled.
"Should we go back to the inn?"
Moi asked worriedly.
"Oh, please do that. Miss Rose might be in danger if she stays here. It would be safer to take shelter inside the building."
While Darga said this, he gave a signal to the people carrying the luggage and told them to take their luggage with them.
"Okay. Let's go, Miss Rose."
Moi was about to return to the inn with the two luggage carriers while holding Rose in his arms.
"Lie down!"
With a loud voice, Darga protected Rose and the others from behind and forced them to fall to the ground.
“A fourth bird appeared!”
Someone shouted. When they looked up, it was a thunderbird flying in a circle above them. People who saw it ran away.
"Oh, this is bad!"
Darga straightened up and pulled out one sword in each hand. When Rose suddenly looked around, she saw luggage scattered everywhere, and people panicked and ran away. The people carrying their luggage also threw away their luggage and fled somewhere.
“Rinka is missing!”
Rose noticed and said to Moi.
"Miss Rinka would be okay."
Darga answered without hesitation. He also called Rinka "Miss Rinka". It's strange, Rose thinks, but now is not the time to question it.
"She's a smart cat and will come back when it's safe."
"Okay."
For some reason, Rose believed that. It's dangerous right now, so perhaps animals have a way to protect themselves based on their instincts. A cat might be able to find somewhere safe. If that's the case, there's no need to worry, Rose thought.
"Miss Moi, please take Miss Rose into the building. Can you run quickly to that building over there?"
"Yes, I can!"
"Then, I'll support you, so run quickly there!"
"Alright!"
Moi grabbed Rose and ran as fast as she could. The thunderbird noticed this and aimed at it at great speed.
“Kya!”
Rose was so frightened that she screamed.
"Ha!"
Darga stopped the attack with swords in both his hands. The thunderbird was startled and flew upwards again.
Bass! Bass!
Rose heard the sound of feathers and sensed danger.
Lightning strikes!
There was a crackling sound of electricity, and it was a bang! There was a huge sound, and lightning struck from the sky.
"Barrier!"
Darga set up a barrier with one hand. He shielded Moi who was holding herself and Rose. Rose heard the screams of people around her and saw several people being blown off the ground by lightning.
“Flame cannon!”
Rose heard a woman's voice coming from somewhere. She has long black hair and wears black clothes, and with a single blow of her hand, she brought down the thunderbird with magic like a fireball. The thunderbird, which had become a fireball, cried loudly and died.
"Thanks!"
Darga thanked her while making sure that Rose and Moi were safe.
"Go! The remaining three birds are coming!"
The woman looked at the sky and said.
"Yes! Miss Moi, hurry inside the building!"
"Yes!"
When Darga said this, Moi nodded, picked Rose up again, and ran to a nearby building. At the same time, Darga and the woman in black quickly move towards the harbor and shoot three thunderbirds at them.
The one in front of him was flying at great speed and was aiming downwards. Darga then jumped high and spun around, wrapping the flames from his hands to the tip of his swords, aiming for the thunderbird's head and attacking it. Darga put his hands together and slammed his swords into Thunderbird's head, hitting it. The bird's head was split in two and engulfed in flames. Then, he kicked the thunderbird's neck, twisted his body, and spun around to cut the neck.
The movement is very vivid, and it is a technique that kills the opponent quickly and surely. Rose looked at Darga from Moi's back, wondering if this was the power of a Level 8.
The thunderbird that fell to the ground was no longer breathing, and a large amount of blood was flowing on the ground. Darga landed on the ground while taking a stance nearby.
"The other two birds are coming!"
Darga looked up and explained the situation.
"It would be troublesome if we had to do it one by one. It's on the water, so we'll have to clean them up in once."
While saying this, the woman in black moved her hands in a circular motion.
"Ring of fire"
She chanted quietly, and flames appeared in her hands.
"Ha!"
A flame shaped like a circle, or rather a ring, burned red and flew into the sky. Then it exploded in the area where the two thunderbirds were. The two thunderbirds break apart and fall into the lake.
"Huh! That's amazing, Miss!"
"You're doing pretty well, too. Well then, I'll leave the rest to you."
"Yes, thanks a lot."
The woman in black quickly left the scene. Unfortunately, Rose couldn't see the woman's face. Rose looked around, but she was nowhere to be found.
Darga checked his surroundings and was sure there were no thunderbirds left. Then he sheathed his sword. After walking a short distance, he picked something up on the ground and put it in his pocket.
"It's okay now!"
Darga let out a loud voice to alert everyone around him of safety. He peeked out from where the people were hiding. Darga nodded and they came out.
"Ohhhhhhhh!"
“Amazing!”
Rose could hear people screaming in joy.
"Call the officials and have them clean that up."
Darga gave instructions to the people on the ship, picked up the bags thrown out by the people they had hired to carry the luggage, and carried them with both hands.
"It's okay now, Miss Rose, Miss Moi."
He said in a calm voice.
"Thank you."
Moi answered. She's still shaking a little, but she's acting strong.
"What? This is also my job."
"Are you hurt?"
Moi asked with a worried look, but Darga shook his head.
"It's just a small scratch. Don't worry."
"No way."
As Moi said that, she let go of Rose and took out the ointment and a handkerchief from her pouch. She carefully applied medicine to the wounds on Darga's hands and arms and wrapped the largest cuts with a handkerchief.
"This is good!"
"Thank you, Miss Moi."
Darga laughed, looked at his wound, and nodded.
"No problem."
Moi also smiled and put her medicine back into the pouch.
"Well, what should we do? At this rate, we won't be able to get on the ship today."
Darga was scratching his head, deep in thought.
"Well, I don't know what the officials will do with it. The ship will probably come later."
Darga stood up and thought again.
"Hmm, then, for now, let's go to the waiting room at that port. Maybe we can find out if the ship will leave or not."
Rose suggested and he nodded.
"That's right. But you can't let your guard down, so wait here for a while and I'll check. Besides, Miss Rinka might return."
Darga said that and headed towards the port. While she was waiting, a black cat, Rinka, appeared.
"Ah, Rinka! Where did you go? I was worried. But I'm glad you're safe!"
Rose hugged Rinka, and Rinka kissed her cheek with her cold nose. Rinka purred, cleaning Rose's face with her tongue. A really smart cat thought Rose.
"They say they'll send a special ship out for us."
Darga came back with a happy face.
"And all the fares paid for the five people will be refunded. Hahaha, that's good! That's good!"
When the people who carried her luggage no longer returned, Moi took her bag and left Rose at Darga. Darga was holding Rose's bag in one hand. The black cat Rinka was walking behind Darga and the others.
The remains of thunderbirds are lying everywhere. The landscape was horrifying and charred to black. There was also a thunderbird cut into pieces by Darga's sword nearby, and it looked terrifying. Some people are safe, some are injured at the port, and officials and medical staff are working in a hurry.
Darga and the others were guided by the ship's officials and taken aboard. When they entered the ship, they were shown to the highest room and even had tea brewed for them. The ship's servant gave Rose a cute flower-shaped candy and smiled.
"Your father is a strong man. He has been a great help to us. We are grateful."
When the person on the ship said that, Darga became embarrassed and laughed.
The three of them managed to cross safely to the other side of the lake that day.