"…And that’s the gist of it."
"I see. So their standard of living—or rather, their diet—has improved. That’s good to hear," Saki said warmly. She had acquaintances in the demon territory, so news of them living peacefully brought her a sense of relief.
"Onii-chan, don't you think the name 'demon race' is the problem to begin with?"
Hanna, who had been listening quietly, voiced the thought that had just occurred to her.
"Eh?…Ah, I see what you mean. 'Demon race' does carry a pretty negative connotation," Jin agreed.
Genetically, they were no different from humans. The only distinction was that they carried the blood of the Progenitors more densely.
"Maybe calling them the 'Northern Clan' would be better…" Jin mused. While he wasn't entirely sold on the name, everyone understood his intent and nodded in silent agreement.
Just then—
『Magical beasts approaching. Transitioning to alert status.』
An announcement broadcasted throughout the ship.
『The beasts are Death Sea Serpents. Estimated count: five to ten.』
"Death Sea Serpents, huh…" Marcia grimaced.
The Death Sea Serpent was a ferocious carnivore. It was a species with which coexistence was impossible.
"I’ve heard they sometimes drift down from the north on the ocean currents," Goose added.
"You're quite well-informed," Saki noted, impressed.
"I did plenty of research beforehand," Goose replied.
"Are they heading for us?" Rodrigo asked.
『Negative. Their course is almost due west, toward the Elias Peninsula.』
"That’s still a problem, Jin!" Marcia cried out.
"You’re right." After a moment’s deliberation, Jin issued his orders. "Alright. Order the escort cruiser Azusa to intercept and eliminate them."
『Understood. Shall I provide a live feed?』
"Yeah, please do."
『Acknowledged, My Lord.』
The special cruisers Azuma and Edo were escorted by four cruisers—the Seki, Katsura, Kamo, and Azusa—protecting them from all sides.
Of these, the Azusa, guarding the right flank, broke formation and veered west.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Oh, there it is."
A section of the dining hall wall in the Azuma transformed into a magi-screen, displaying the vast expanse of the ocean.
『This is the feed from the bridge's magic eye.』
Since the camera was on a gimbal mount, it felt like they were looking out from the bridge itself. In fact, given the zoom capabilities, it was a far superior view.
『Death Sea Serpents confirmed five kilometers ahead. According to data from Raptor 3, there are seven in total.』
Having aerial support accompanying the escort made situations like this significantly more manageable.
『Approaching at First Combat Speed.』
"Combat Speed" was the term for a fleet's designated battle velocity… or so Jin assumed. In reality, the terminology came from Jin himself, based on fragments of anime he remembered.
Terminology aside, the cruiser Azusa charged westward at approximately sixty kilometers per hour. The distance would be closed in less than five minutes.
"Those are definitely Death Sea Serpents."
Seven serpents appeared on the magi-screen.
"Jin, is a single ship really enough?" Saki asked with a hint of worry.
"Yeah, of course. These cruisers weren't built to fight Death Sea Serpents; they were designed to take on the Sea Dragons that prey on them."
"I—I see. When you put it that way, I suppose it is fine."
"Look, the engagement is starting."
＊ ＊ ＊
One of the Death Sea Serpents sensed something larger than itself closing in. It pivoted ninety degrees to face the Azusa head-on.
Whether out of instinct or raw aggression, it reared its head and unleashed the most powerful magic in its arsenal.
It was the water-attribute spell, Tidal Wave.
A wall of water surging over forty meters high crashed toward the Azusa.
However, the Azusa, specifically engineered to combat marine beasts, activated its force generator and rose into the sky. At an altitude of one hundred meters, even a Tidal Wave was rendered harmless.
The magical swell dissipated quickly, and the Azusa touched back down on the surface.
The Death Sea Serpent reared its head again, fixating on the ship. However, even for a creature like this, Tidal Wave was not a spell that could be cast in rapid succession.
Instead, it launched a mid-level water-attribute spell: Water Spear. But such a simple attack was easily deflected by the ship's barrier.
Exhausted by the consecutive magic use, the Death Sea Serpent needed a moment to recover and began to submerge—but the Azusa didn't give it the chance.
The cruiser's secondary guns roared.
While the main cannons were deck-mounted and couldn't aim below the horizon, the secondary guns were specifically designed for underwater threats.
They were magi-cannons at their core, capable of firing several types of ammunition.
This time, they fired explosive shells—projectiles that detonated upon contact with the water's surface.
The "explosion" was not chemical; it was an application of Mana Explosion. It generated no heat, only a pure, concentrated shockwave.
With the target only five hundred meters away, there was no chance of missing.
The blast erupted directly above the serpent's head just as it tried to dive. Half-stunned, the creature floated limply back to the surface.
The second shot followed immediately.
Another explosive shell. The Death Sea Serpent's head was shattered, and the beast went still.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Whoa."
"Incredible..."
Gasps of admiration filled the room as the group watched the magi-screen.
『Since this is the cruiser's maiden battle, we are testing the systems' ease of use as we conduct the attack,』 explained Laojun, who was overseeing the fleet's operations.
"I figured as much."
Knowing the ship's full capabilities, the current offensive seemed almost sluggish to Jin.
『Furthermore, we are prioritizing methods that neutralize the threat safely while minimizing the impact on the local environment and ecosystem.』
"Ah, that explains it."
The Death Sea Serpent’s greatest weakness was lightning-attribute magic—electricity. However, using such attacks would also wipe out all the fish in the vicinity. Consequently, lightning was reserved for extreme emergencies.
The ship also possessed Sonic Bombs—an overpowered modification of the sonar used for underwater surveys—but these, too, harmed marine life and were restricted.
In reality, submarines or the Mermaid unit were better suited for underwater combat than a cruiser. But this was being treated as a test case for cruiser deployment, so the Azusa handled the engagement solo.
Had the Azuma itself been threatened, Jin would have likely used every resource available to annihilate the enemy instantly. However, in these waters, the only ones at risk were the local fish.
As the commander-in-chief, Laojun took the lead in this skirmish, viewing it as a valuable opportunity for live combat trials.