“Magic? Where from?”
Reiko focused on her detection for a brief moment before answering.
“Yes. Based on the sensation, it is near the turnaround point.”
The thought that immediately crossed Jin’s mind was that Marcia might be the target.
“I doubt it, but is someone trying to interfere with the race?”
“I cannot tell from here.”
“So there’s a possibility they’re targeting Marcia as well, then.”
Jin crossed his arms and thought for a moment. Even though they had only teamed up by chance, he wanted Marcia to win. He wanted to see a ship he helped build take the victory.
“Alright, let's head to that sea zone.”
Besides, he had no patience for anyone who would sabotage a fair competition.
“The race officials should be nearby too. If it is a saboteur, we’ll find them and hand them over.”
He spoke with resolve.
“Yes, Father. I shall assist you.”
Naturally, Reiko followed his lead.
“Okay, let’s take the boat we borrowed from Marcia.”
The makeshift paddleboat they had borrowed the day before was still moored at the pier. Jin and Reiko left their seats and hurried toward it.
“Oh? Where are Jin and Lady Reiko going?”
Reinhard, watching from the top-tier VIP section, noticed the two of them leave their seats. He watched as they hurried toward the pier.
“Hmm, that’s an interesting boat. It has paddlewheels on both sides... I’d love to take a closer look, but I suppose leaving the VIP section is out of the question.”
The VIP section was partitioned into private rooms for each noble, with guards stationed at the entrances. One could not simply leave on a whim.
Reinhard glanced at the two maids standing behind him on either side and gave a sigh of resignation.
As Reinhard continued to watch, the two boarded the boat and prepared to leave the harbor.
“Oh? Oho? H-He’s fast!”
The words escaped him involuntarily. It was only natural; the paddlewheels Reiko was turning kicked up high plumes of spray, and the boat cleared the harbor in the blink of an eye.
Since most people were focused on watching the race, only Reinhard and a few people on the pier actually witnessed their departure.
“Alright, good, Reiko. Keep it up.”
Knowing that most of the crowd’s attention was fixed on the competition and not on them, Jin had her push the speed from the start.
Once he confirmed that the spectator stands were no longer visible, he gave the order.
“Reiko, you can go up to twenty percent.”
“Yes, Father.”
Reiko had plenty of strength to spare, but the paddlewheels—fashioned from whatever materials had been on hand—likely wouldn't withstand any more than that.
Reiko’s slender arms turned the paddlewheels at a speed that blurred into invisibility. Water spray kicked up several meters high, and the boat shot forward like an arrow.
Its speed likely exceeded sixty kilometers per hour—more than double the speed of the boats leading the race.
“I-It’s fast.”
Since it was a standard boat and not a catamaran, it lacked stability. Nevertheless, Reiko handled it skillfully, preventing any swaying that felt dangerous.
“Whoa, what is that?”
One of the sailors aboard the ship tasked with broadcasting the race via magic eye blinked in shock.
A boat about the size of a canoe was passing them at an unthinkable speed.
On board was a small man and, of all things, what looked like a young girl wearing a light blue dress and a pinafore.
“Is something wrong with my eyes...?”
When he rubbed his eyes and looked again, the boat was vanishing over the horizon, leaving a long, white wake behind it.
Since they weren't part of the competition, Jin and Reiko bypassed the reef zone and headed straight for the open sea.
They steered directly toward the magic Reiko was detecting.
“Reiko, how is it? Have you learned anything about what we're facing?”
“...”
Reiko didn't answer immediately. While rowing, she was concentrating everything she had on magic detection.
Finally, she opened her mouth and spoke apologetically.
“Father, this is not a human. The magic has grown stronger. It is undoubtedly a swarm of Death Sea Serpents. There are approximately forty of them.”
“What did you say?”
Those were the same magical beasts that Reiko and Reinhard had defeated before.
“They are heading this way at considerable speed. Since we are also moving toward them, we are closing the distance rapidly.”
“A Death Sea Serpent... that’s the monster you dealt with before, right?” Jin asked to confirm.
“Yes, Father.”
“And? Can you defeat them?”
Reiko nodded.
“Yes, without issue.”
“Without issue, huh...”
“If I were to cite a problem, it would be that it might take some time.”
There were forty of them, and only one of her. If it took too much time, the impact on the race would increase accordingly.
“I suppose we can't turn back now...”
They were currently on the open sea, about ten kilometers away from Io, the uninhabited island that served as the turnaround point. There were no other ships in sight.
With the paddlewheels now wearing down, they likely couldn't maintain their current speed for long. Even if they turned back now, there was a chance they would be overtaken and attacked from behind before reaching safety.
The bearings of the paddlewheels had worn down significantly. While performing emergency repairs on them, Jin muttered as if to convince himself.
“We have to do this.”
Jin gave a wry smile, thinking he had rushed out a bit too hastily, and began to devise a strategy based on what he knew of the Death Sea Serpent's nature.
He would trust in Reiko’s strength and do what he could. Time ticked away.
“We will make contact in a few minutes.”
Reiko announced that she had sensed the enemy. At the very last moment, with a sliver of hope, Jin tried asking one more time.
“Reiko, about the Death Sea Serpents—is there any chance they won't attack?”
However, Reiko replied firmly.
“There is none. The waves of magic they emit are ferocious and filled with destructive impulses. Additionally, the Death Sea Serpent is carnivorous.”
Hearing that, Jin made up his mind.
“I understand. Reiko, we’ll take them down from as far away as possible.”
“Understood.”
A few minutes later, the surface of the sea to the northeast began to churn and whitecap.
“They are here.”
Reiko, whose eyesight was far superior to Jin’s, spotted them first. Jin immediately gave the command.
“Alright, do it!”