Crafted from the bones of a baby Netherwhale, Deimos was Simon’s exclusive undead for naval warfare. The massive creature let out a resounding roar. Standing at the prow of the boat, Simon pointed a finger toward his summon.
’Cloud’
A cyan line shot forward like an arrow, wrapping around Deimos’s body before snapping back into Simon’s waiting hand. He gave it a hard, sharp tug—like pulling on a horse’s reins—and secured it to the hull.
"Let’s show them, Deimos!" Simon called out.
Deimos answered with a piercing, echoing shriek. The undead beast surged forward. The boat jolted violently before tearing across the water at breakneck speed.
"Whoa!"
"Ahhh!"
The rest of the group immediately flattened themselves against the deck, gripping the edges for dear life. Simon, the only one still standing, curled his lips into a smirk and snapped the reins. Fierce streams of water surged up on either side, and Deimos charged straight through the churning wake.
Up ahead, Kinter’s eyes went wide.
"Are you insane?!" He whipped around to glare at his teammates. "What are you doing? Destroy that thing!"
"What?" one of them stammered.
"Everything is allowed except directly attacking the students!" Kinter barked. "We can attack the summon!"
"R-Right!"
However, the true value of Combat Magic lay in close-quarters brawls and raw physical power. Riding a speeding boat, they could launch a ’Bayonet Charge’ from a distance, but its power and speed suffered significantly. Deimos easily dodged their scattered attacks, rapidly closing the gap.
"Wait a minute!" one of the boys yelled. "Down below!"
The water churned violently. Sea foam bubbled up around Deimos, followed by a massive swarm of marine life rising to the surface. It was the Netherwhale’s innate ability: ’Domination’. Even in death, Deimos could replicate this power, commanding all marine life within its area of effect.
"They’re catching up, Kinter!"
"Damn it!" Kinter spat.
He pushed his Jet-Black output to its absolute limit, but something was wrong. The boat wasn’t picking up speed. Frowning, he peered over the edge.
Thick, squirming tentacles—likely belonging to a massive marine monster—were wrapping around the hull. Crabs scuttled onto the deck, while schools of fish plastered themselves flat against the boat’s underside. Unable to break free, Kinter had no choice but to pull his hands back and cut off his dark magic. Their vessel ground to a dead halt, completely besieged by the swarming sea creatures.
His teammates spun around, their faces pale with panic.
"We’ll be going on ahead!"
"See ya, idiots!"
With Dick’s taunts ringing in the air, Simon’s boat zoomed past. Simon issued a new absolute command via telepathy.
[Take them on a little cruise through the western sea.]
Deimos let out a sharp cry in response. Slowly, Kinter’s boat began to drift as the clinging marine life forcefully pushed the vessel.
"No way..." Kinter muttered.
The water rushed against the hull as the boat was dragged in the exact opposite direction of the grasslands. Kinter’s furious curses echoed across the open water.
"Nice!"
"That was amazing, Simon!" Meirin cheered.
"You were amazing too when we were gliding, Kami," Simon replied warmly.
The four of them clapped and high-fived, celebrating their hard-won victory. They had pulled it off together. Watching Kinter’s group drift further and further away, Dick chuckled and laced his hands behind his head.
"Man, we can finally relax a bit!"
"Then let’s head straight for the grasslands," Simon said, pulling on the reins. Deimos cut through the waves, surging powerfully ahead.
A heavy, miserable silence hung over Kinter’s group. They had no idea where the sea creatures were dragging them, and the gap between them and Simon was already insurmountable. As time passed, the effects of Deimos’s command weakened. The monsters fell away one by one, but a thick swarm still churned in the water around them.
It would take hours for the rest to finally disperse.
"What do we do now, Kinter?" one of the boys asked.
Kinter sat slumped on the deck, grinding his teeth in sheer frustration. He glared toward the horizon, where Simon’s boat had long since vanished.
"Get ready," he muttered.
"Get ready for what?"
Kinter stripped off his shirt and began rolling his shoulders.
"We’re abandoning the boat. We’ll swim across the sea and enter the grasslands on foot."
"What?!" The other three jumped to their feet. "Are you out of your mind?"
"It’s the only way to catch up," Kinter snapped. "We have to swim for it right now before they gain any more ground."
"No way. Swimming through that is suicide!"
"Did you forget our ocean training? As long as we manage our Jet-Black properly, Combat Magic majors can easily make the crossing."
With that, dark energy flared around him as he vaulted over the railing. With a heavy splash, he cleared the immediate swarm of monsters and dove deep into the sea, his body shooting forward like a torpedo.
"He’s completely lost it," one of them muttered.
"We came here to relax. What the hell is this?"
"Wait up, Kinter!"
The other three reluctantly flared their Jet-Black and dove in after him. Three heavy splashes echoed in his wake. Cutting through the harsh currents, Kinter’s eyes flashed with fierce determination.
’Just you wait!’
Simon’s group pressed steadily forward. For a while, there was nothing but the endless horizon, until a dark strip of land finally appeared in the distance. Dick pointed eagerly.
"We’re here! That’s the mouth of the grassland river!"
"Yeah, I see it," Simon nodded.
They had officially entered the waters of the Shahed Kingdom. The group stood at the bow, staring ahead in awe. Beyond the sea lay a blanket of mist, parting to reveal a lush, overwhelming expanse of untamed nature. Towering cliffs and cascading waterfalls painted a magnificent picture.
"The forest looks incredibly dense!" Kamibarez marveled.
Vibrant flowers and thick vines wrapped elegantly around the ancient tree branches. Flocks of colorful parrots took flight, their fluttering wings looking like a spreading rainbow.
"It’s beautiful," Meirin murmured, mesmerized. Then, she tilted her head. "But it looks more like a jungle than a grassland, doesn’t it?"
"That’s because a dense forest has formed along this river," Dick explained, unfurling a map. "We’re right here." He tapped the border between the sea and the river. "We’re going to head straight upstream from here."
A lush green zone bordered the water. If they kept following it upstream, the terrain would eventually give way to a flat expanse of light green and ochre.
"It’s all part of the Mecria Grasslands, but where we are now is the lower region. The area further inland is the upper region. Professor Hongfeng’s hometown is right here."
He pointed to a village situated at the exact midpoint between the dense jungle of the lower region and the flat pastures of the upper region.
"You guys know Professor Hongfeng’s full name is Hongfeng Tun Sokum Marlat, right? The Marlat tribe is an ethnic minority that roams along that border. Staying there means we get to experience the sights and activities of both regions."
Simon smiled warmly. "You’ve really done your research, haven’t you?"
"Heh! I am the information officer, after all. Just trust me and follow my lead!"
The boat finally left the open sea and entered the mouth of the river. The current here was fast and the water rough, but Deimos tore straight through the rapids without hesitation. Once they cleared the rough patches, the water became unbelievably calm. Seeing that Deimos had run out of Jet-Black, Simon recalled the undead back into his subspace, and Dick fired up the boat’s mana engine.
As the boat hummed slowly forward, the four of them settled in to enjoy their little river cruise.
"Ah! The bread got squished!"
"Just eat it!"
They laid out quaint wooden plates on the deck and enjoyed their packed desserts over hot cups of tea. Meirin sat demurely, brushing back her hair as she took a delicate sip. She gazed out at the tranquil river, watching the colorful leaves flutter down from the canopy above. Closing her eyes, she savored the peaceful atmosphere.
She let out a soft sigh, a blissful smile on her face. "This is so nice. I’m so happy."
The rest of the group also relaxed, the warm tea soothing their tired muscles. They continued upriver, chatting merrily. The exotic scenery was breathtaking, the tea was perfect, and above all, the company was wonderful. It was the kind of idyllic afternoon that made you want to write a poem.
"The river seems really wide!" Kamibarez noted, leaning over the railing to peer at the water.
Dick quickly waved his hands in warning. "Careful until we reach the middle of the river, Kami. If you lean out too far, the monsters at the bottom might notice you."
"Oh, sorry!" Startled, Kamibarez shrank back and glued herself to the center of the deck.
Meirin shot Dick a glare. "Don’t scare her!"
"It’s the truth! A boat ride is nice and all, but safety comes first."
"You’re right," Kamibarez nodded. "I’ll be careful."
Just then, the mana engine that had been humming so smoothly let out a loud ’Clunk!’ and died. Dick inspected the machinery for a moment.
"The equipment is pretty old. It probably just needs to cool down a bit."
At that, Simon rolled up his sleeves and grabbed the oars. With smooth, powerful strokes, he began to row. Surprisingly, the boat surged forward just as swiftly as it had with the motor, prompting Meirin and Kamibarez to clap their hands in delight. Veins bulged clearly on the back of his hands and forearms.
His well-defined muscles flexed and relaxed in a steady, hypnotic rhythm. The girls’ gazes were entirely fixated on Simon. Dick, who was rustling around trying to fix the engine, noticed their undivided attention and let out a dramatic, choked sob, closing his eyes.
"Is this the tragic fate of an engineering student...?" he muttered.
"What are you talking about, idiot?" Meirin scoffed. "Just hurry up and fix it."
"Yes, ma’am."
Despite the setback, Dick confidently guaranteed that they would easily clear the middle of the river and reach the upper grassland area by nightfall.
Suddenly, the wind howled.
The sky darkened in an instant, and a torrential downpour began to pound the river. The raindrops were heavy, and the fierce wind sent the boat rocking violently.
"Ugh!’ They weren’t kidding when they said the weather here was unpredictable!" Dick yelled over the storm.
It was a stark contrast to the peaceful cruise they had been enjoying just moments ago. Dick quickly pulled out a makeshift pole, secured it to the deck, and spread a tarp over it to block the rain. However, it only stopped the water pouring from directly above. It did nothing against the sideways gale, and within seconds, the fierce wind tore the tarp wide open.
A low, guttural growl echoed through the rain. To make matters worse, massive crocodile monsters began leaping out of the murky green river. They thrust their heads upward, gaping their massive jaws wide as if trying to drink the pouring rain.
Fortunately, the beasts were too distracted by the downpour to notice the small boat. Everyone covered their mouths, holding their breath as they carefully slipped past the crocodile-infested waters.
"It’s raining a lot harder than I thought," Kamibarez murmured, finally exhaling once the monsters were out of sight.
Drenched to the bone, Simon made a quick decision.
"For safety’s sake, we’d better head to land and take shelter."
"Agreed!"
"Let’s do it."
The four of them quickly disembarked. Worried the boat might wash away in the storm, they dragged it high onto the muddy bank, secured it tightly with stakes and thick ropes, and then scouted their immediate surroundings. The rain battered the jungle canopy.
Once they were under the cover of the dense trees, the thick foliage significantly reduced the amount of rain hitting them. The jungle was filled with exotic, oversized flora they had never seen before. Occasionally, the distant cries of wild beasts echoed through the trees.
"Guys! That tree over there is huge!" Dick pointed. "It’ll be perfect for taking shelter."
With the rain pouring so heavily, getting out of the storm was their top priority. The four of them huddled together beneath the massive trunk. To warm their chilled bodies, they passed around a fresh thermos of hot tea.
Meirin let out a sudden sputter. Just as she tried to take a sip from her magically heated cup, a heavy raindrop plopped right into it. Brushing back her damp, sky-blue hair, she couldn’t help but laugh.
"Ugh, what is this? Seriously!"
Her laughter was contagious. Soon, the others were chuckling along. The tension of the storm melted away. Simon laughed heartily, and Dick was outright cackling, his voice going hoarse.
"But isn’t this kind of fun?" Dick grinned. "Unexpected variables like this are part of the joy of traveling!"
"As long as I’m with you guys, I don’t mind at all!" Kamibarez beamed.
Just then, a fierce gust of wind snatched the hat right off Dick’s head. He flailed his arms and chased after it, but every time he got close, the wind teased him, blowing the hat further away. Dick kept running in circles, letting out dramatic yells of frustration while the other three burst into a fit of laughter.
Finally throwing his hands up in defeat, Dick stepped completely out from the tree’s shade and took the pouring rain head-on.
"I’m a grassland crocodile!" he announced. He threw his head back, opening his mouth wide to catch the rainwater just like the monsters they had seen earlier.
"Oh my god, seriously. Stop making me laugh!" Meirin wheezed, clutching her stomach.
Leaning into the bit, Dick fell to his knees and dramatically recited, "If the world forsakes me!" like the tragic protagonist of a famous play—only to end up violently coughing as rainwater flooded his nostrils. The group laughed until their sides ached.
It was a chaotic, miserable detour, but in a way, wasn’t this what youth was all about? The four of them huddled together beneath the giant tree, chatting and joking as they waited for the storm to pass.
’Hmm.’
It was fun, but Simon’s mind was already shifting toward more practical matters. The torrential downpour had lost some of its initial fury, but there was still no sign of it stopping anytime soon. Scanning the darkening jungle around them, Simon spoke up.
"Let’s set up camp here for the night."
At those words, a sudden hint of tension flickered across the group’s faces.

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