Chapter 88 : An Unexpected Boat Ride

Creak… creak…

The rickety little skiff groaned as if it might spring a leak at any moment, pushing through the suffocating black fog.

With no moon in the sky, the only light came from the dagger’s glowing beam.

Each pull of the oars sent ripples through the water, the sound echoing in the silence as the boat glided forward.

Where we were headed, no one could tell—fog swallowed everything in every direction.

The only faces I could make out were the ones sitting together in the same boat, fellow prisoners of this eerie ride.

The mist, drenched in darkness, shifted as if it had substance.

Even in daylight the lake had been chilling, but now that night had fallen, the air was properly cold.

I rubbed my arms for warmth. Linda noticed and asked, “Devil, are you cold?”

“A little.”

“Want me to hug you?”

“Get lost.”

“…Okaaay.”

Curtis pulled a small flask from his cloak.

“Would you like a sip?”

“What is it?”

“Just a mouthful will warm you.”

“Oh-ho.”

From his words alone, I could guess what it was.

Gratefully, I accepted.

“Sir Curtis, thorough as ever. Not a single gap in your preparation. Truly, a knight among knights. The pride of the Starvanger Order. Yes, you may have the humiliating record of being kidnapped by Mad Linda, but that’s in the past. Surely you grew from the experience. A man of honor, and also one with knowledge in many things—such is Sir Curtis.”

“You flatter me.”

I popped open the rectangular flask and sniffed.

“Mmm.”

Strong stuff.

I took a gulp, then handed it back.

A burning heat like molten metal slid down my throat.

“Khah…!”

“How is it?”

“Body’s heating up already. It’s chilly out—everyone should have a sip.”

Curtis passed the flask to Walpole and Schneider, still rowing. After a swig of their vice-captain’s encouragement, they rowed with renewed vigor.

He even offered it to Shushruta, who declined, muttering something about alcohol dulling memory.

After a moment’s hesitation, Curtis held the flask out to Linda.

“…Care for a sip?”

“Sure! Thanks!”

She accepted cheerfully, took a gulp, then screwed up her face.

“Ugh. Tastes awful.”

What a strange girl. She could down vile poisons with glee, but good liquor was too much for her.

Curtis smiled faintly and quietly drained the rest.

Creak… creak…

Silence.

Only the groan of the boat and the lapping of water.

No other sound at all.

It was as though the fog had devoured every stray noise in the world.

Only then did I realize how rich and varied sound truly was.

We drifted on, swallowed by mist and silence.

How much farther?

The warmth of the liquor spread through me, softening the edges of the chill. Even the oppressive fog seemed almost romantic.

It stirred in me a foolish urge to recite poetry.

Blame the drink, maybe. Or maybe not. What did it matter? I was always a man who did as he pleased.

I called out to Shushruta, holding the dagger at the prow.

“Hey, Shushruta.”

“What is it.”

“Want to hear a poem?”

“No.”

“I was once called the Poet of the Back Alleys.”

“Poet, my ass.”

Her tone was getting rougher by the day. Who was she picking it up from?

“Poetry is talent. Listen well.”

“…Then why bother asking?”

She grumbled, but I ignored her and declaimed proudly:

My heart is the lake,

Row your boat to me.

If you do not come,

I’ll shatter your hull to pieces.

“……”

“Well?”

“Ashuban.”

“Yeah?”

“Your only talent lies in fighting.”

I glanced at the three knights.

“What about you gentlemen?”

“Ahem.”

“Hrmm.”

They all fixed their eyes on the fog as if it were the most fascinating thing they’d ever seen.

“What about you, Master?”

[Haaahm… what was that?]

“…Forget it.”

Only Mad Linda applauded.

“Wow! Devil, that was so moving! I almost cried!”

“Really?”

“Yeah! Can I nibble your ear?”

“No.”

Just then, something splashed and bumped gently against our boat.

Schneider, squinting hard into the dark, shouted, “Another boat!”

Shing—

All three knights sprang to their feet, blades drawn, only to stumble as the skiff rocked violently, threatening to capsize. They had to crouch again quickly.

“Calm yourselves!” Shushruta called. “It’s just a drifting boat.”

“…A drifting boat?”

Even so, the knights kept their swords ready.

The strange vessel gave no reaction.

Exchanging quick looks, Curtis and Walpole stood poised for action while Schneider cautiously pushed the other boat aside with his oar.

Shushruta hopped over, raising the dagger’s light.

And there we saw it.

“A skeleton?”

Indeed. A bleached skeleton sat slumped in the tiny vessel. Who knew how long it had drifted here.

Shushruta returned to her spot, light-footed as ever. The boat didn’t even shudder beneath her leaps.

“This lake is steeped in strange magic. Does this unnaturally dense fog seem natural to you? Without the dagger, we too would wander here forever, circling aimlessly. Look.”

She tossed me a compass.

The needle spun wildly in circles, never finding north.

The knights stared, grim-faced.

“We’ve a long way to go. Row faster.”

They shoved the skeletal passenger adrift, then pressed on toward the glowing beam.

Shushruta explained.

“According to Hans, there are three trials on the path to Ophosis’s legacy.”

With nothing else to do, we listened.

“The first trial was reaching this place. Evading the fiends who covet the dagger and deciphering the code tied to it.”

“Mm.”

That alone had been trial enough.

Every kind of monster had hounded us for it.

Now that I thought about it, only Sir Fluffy and Linda had shown no interest in the dagger.

When I glanced at Linda, she met my eyes.

“Can I nibble your ear?”

“No. What’s the second trial?”

Shushruta went on.

“The second is the Trial of Mist Lake. Only the one who holds the dagger may pass. Enter without it, and you’ll wander here forever.”

I thought of the skeleton drifting away into the fog.

“And the third?”

“The Guardian of the Legacy.”

“Guardian?”

“In the island at the lake’s center lies a passage to Ophosis’s tomb. The guardian stands before it.”

A guardian?

How long had it been since Ophosis’s death? Forty, fifty years at least.

And still guarding it? Clearly not ordinary.

“The third trial can only be passed by one who inherits Ophosis’s will. Ophosis loved riddles. He often gave them to his disciples, and they memorized them whether they liked it or not.”

“Mm.”

“When intruders reach the island, the guardian presents one of Ophosis’s riddles. Fail to answer, and you are devoured.”

“…Devoured?”

The knights all stared at her in confusion.

“It is called a Sphinx. A beast with the body of a lioness, the head of a human woman, the wings of a bird, and the tail of a serpent.”

[A beast?]

The Heavenly Demom, who had been yawning lazily, perked up.

I too was startled.

“What? What’s a beast like that doing here?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps it has always lived in this lake.”

“So the thing gives riddles. Fail, and it eats you?”

“Correct.”

The knights’ faces turned grim.

That meant the creature could speak human language.

And the more intelligent a beast, the more dangerous. Its grade rose accordingly.

Which meant…

“There’s a good chance it’s S-rank,” I muttered.

The Heavenly Demom sounded intrigued.

[Ho… an S-rank beast? A bit different from that pitiful mutt we saw last time, eh?]

“That was a D-rank, I told you.”

An S-rank beast…

They weren’t just monsters. They were natural disasters given form.

Beasts were graded from S down to F, roughly comparable to mercenary ranks:

Silver-rank mercenaries could take down a C-rank beast alone. Several together could handle a B-rank.

Gold-rank meant you could slay a B-rank beast single-handedly, and with enough of them, even bring down an A-rank.

Above that was Platinum.

From there on, it was the realm of monsters.

Platinum mercenaries could kill an A-rank beast alone, and only with several of them combined could they hope to face an S-rank.

There was one more grade above Platinum, but that wasn’t important right now.

The point was this: an S-rank beast was a monster among monsters, requiring multiple Platinums just to have a chance.

A B-rank beast could raze a village. An A-rank could annihilate a city.

The standards weren’t precise, but roughly speaking, that’s how the scale worked.

And an S-rank… they said such a creature could destroy an entire nation.

Comparable, perhaps, to the Eight Sword Masters—legends among men.

In other words, an S-rank beast was the Sword Masters of the monster world.

The Heavenly Demom interjected.

[Isn’t that a bit exaggerated? A village, sure—but wiping out cities or nations?]

“I told you, the standards aren’t exact.”

Truth was, I didn’t know much myself.

I’d never even seen an A-rank more than a few times, let alone an S-rank.

They were treated like something out of fairy tales.

And yet, I’d heard S-ranks weren’t mindless killers like the rest. Because of their intelligence, there were stories of them helping people, or saving them from other beasts.

[For example?]

For example—

A man was once cornered by monsters at a dead end. Just as he closed his eyes, thinking it was the end, a low whistle cut through the air.

A mysterious creature appeared, unknown to him. The monsters whimpered, terrified, and fled.

The bewildered man opened his eyes just in time to see the creature glance at him once… before disappearing like smoke.

[Hoh…]

Of course, there were darker tales too.

A merchant caravan, escorted by mercenaries, was passing through the mountains one night.

A chilling cry split the darkness.

A long-necked monster appeared, and before anyone could blink, it tore them all to shreds.

Only the merchant managed to escape, fleeing blindly into the trees.

But when he finally dared to look back, a long head was peering at him through the branches, eyes fixed on him.

[Oh-ho…]

The dead can’t tell stories. Only the living do. Which meant most encounters—likely the worst ones—were never told at all.

So nothing about S-rank beasts was certain. Only tales and rumors.

But if one really lived on the island in this lake?

Then perhaps this unnatural fog was its doing.

Shushruta, trying to reassure us, spoke lightly.

“But there’s no need to worry. I’ve memorized all the questions and answers.”

“Seriously?”

She nodded with absolute confidence.

“Of course. Hans taught me the 101 riddles the Sphinx is known to ask. I memorized them all. Just trust me.”

We exchanged uncertain looks, then nodded.

Whether or not an S-rank beast was waiting, our mission didn’t change.

We couldn’t turn back now.

And with Shushruta that confident, what else could we do but trust her?

The boat pressed steadily onward, cutting through the mist.

“……”

I listened to the lapping water, lost in thought.

A beast that could speak… it reminded me of someone.

Someone who, whether I lived or vanished, would be sprawled in the sunlit window of our lodgings, napping without a care.

Infuriating creature. Wicked little thing.

But worrying changed nothing.

Better to savor each moment. The one who enjoys life most is the true winner.

With strength came leisure.

I hadn’t realized until now—I was becoming a man of larger spirit.

The boat rocked too much for meditation, so I decided to indulge in more poetry instead.

And, stealing a few more swigs from Curtis’s flask, I declaimed:

My heart is the lake,

Send me your sword aura.

Fail to come,

And I’ll shatter your prow to splinters.

“……”

No one answered. My words drifted into the fog.

The Heavenly Demom yawned.

Linda had fallen asleep against my shoulder, breathing softly.

We sailed on.

At last, the fog began to thin.

We pulled the skiff ashore and hauled it up, then followed the dagger’s guiding light on foot.

Mist still clung around us, but no longer as suffocating as on the water.

Through the haze, the moon glowed faintly above.

Hands on sword hilts, we advanced cautiously behind Shushruta.

And then, the mist parted.

A colossal beast appeared before us.

「Humans… it has been long indeed.」

Even lying prone, it towered over us.

Just as described: a woman’s face, a lioness’s body, bird’s wings, and a serpent’s tail.

It was a bizarre mix, even by beast standards.

Even knowing what to expect, the sight was shocking.

[It truly speaks…]

The Heavenly Demom marveled, as if admiring an exotic animal at a market.

The Sphinx spoke.

「You have come seeking the legacy of Ophosis?」

Its voice rumbled like the island itself speaking.

Shushruta met my gaze, then stepped forward.

“Yes.”

The Sphinx regarded her steadily.

「The dagger of Ophosis. At last, the time has come.」

It smirked, tail swaying lazily.

「You know the pact. I shall pose a riddle. Answer correctly, and I will yield. Fail, and I will devour you.」

Shushruta nodded.

The Sphinx licked its lips and smiled.

Then, without warning, it spoke:

「One voice, but walking first on two legs, then four, then three—what is it?」

We all stared at the back of Shushruta’s head.

But she gave no answer.

Her round little head froze, as if turned to stone.

‘What’s wrong? Why isn’t she answering?’

Then, creakingly, she turned to look at me.

Her face was twisted in distress.

“Ashuban…”

“What? What is it? You said you memorized them all.”

“This one’s new.”

“…!”

(End of Chapter)

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