A boy raised by a demon king and a dragon king seems to be peerless in his school life.

Volume 11 Chapter 12 The Pirate King’s Dedication

“This island… used to be a normal island.”

As Ruisha met the skeleton, it began to explain while running.

Beside were Ruisha and Cindy, moving their feet as they listened to the story.

“When you say a normal island, do you mean it was above the sea?”

“That’s right. Moreover, ordinary people used to live on this island. Well, by the time we landed, they were all gone.”

“Why is that?”

Ruisha asked, and the skeleton shook its head.

“I don’t know. Whether they abandoned the island or whether they all died. There’s no way to know that now.”

While running, they occasionally noticed remnants that seemed to have been people’s residences.

Since all of them had weathered away, it was difficult to speculate what happened to the inhabitants.

“We pirates came to this island upon hearing about the ‘hidden treasure.’ At first, we didn’t have much faith in it, so we didn’t expect much. But when we found it hidden behind a massive barrier, we were truly excited. We thought, ‘This is the real deal.'”

“…So, you’re saying you didn’t hide this island?”

When Ruisha and his group arrived at this island, it was concealed by a barrier. Ruisha had thought that the pirates had cast the barrier to hide the treasure. However, it seemed that was not the case.

“Some of us can use magic, but there’s no way any of us could create such a powerful barrier. That was there long before we arrived. By the time we got here, the barrier was already starting to break.”

Ruisha reflected on the barrier. The barrier concealing this stretch of the sea was deteriorating. He had initially thought it had started to break recently, but it was already in a state of decay when the pirates arrived. In other words, it had maintained its weakened state for nearly a hundred years. Normally, to sustain a barrier spell for a long time, regular maintenance and replenishment of magic were necessary, or it would collapse.

Despite this, the barrier had exhibited an exceptional durability lasting for several hundred years. Ruisha was astonished by this extraordinary resilience.

“We crossed the barrier and reached this island. What we found there wasn’t treasure… but a monstrous creature.”

“A creature, you say?”

With unexpected words, Ruisha tilted his head in confusion.

“If there was no treasure, couldn’t you just leave? Why do you and Captain Bat continue to stay here?”

“Ah, yes, indeed. If it were an ordinary creature, that would be the sensible thing to do. But what we found wasn’t an ordinary creature.”

“…What did you see, exactly?”

When Ruisha asked, the skeleton spoke as if recalling something terrifying.

“When we saw it, it was already sealed. It had been wounded, its movements restrained by layers of magic, immobilized with dozens of magical and cursed items piercing its body. Normally, one would die from such treatment. However, what we found was alive. It glared at us with luminous, resentful eyes.”

“Something like that on this island… What on earth is it?”

As Ruisha inquired, the skeleton uttered its name with a fearful demeanor.

“One of the three wicked beasts that once plunged this world into chaos, ‘Ku-Ruu.'”

Hearing that name, Ruisha exclaimed, “What…!”

“That’s one of the Three Calamities, isn’t it?! So, you’re saying the one who sealed Ku-Ruu here was…”

“Yeah, undoubtedly the hero, Orger.”

The Three Calamities, known as such, existed five hundred years ago.

Each of the three had a wicked power and tormented people for a long time, but thanks to the deeds of the hero Orger, they were all brought to a halt.

Official records only mention the subjugation of the tyrant king Jabberwock, but since around the same time, the activities of the other Two Calamities ceased, it’s believed that Orger had defeated all of them.

“When we found it, the seal on the Sea Calamity Ku-Ruu was starting to unravel. The hero had securely sealed Ku-Ruu, but nearly four hundred years have passed since then. It’s deteriorated as expected. If anything, the fact that it’s still sealed is surprising.”

“Why did the hero leave Ku-Ruu in such a state? He must have known it could awaken at any time.”

“I don’t know. We’re just as curious about that.”

Ruisha pondered. Sealing it meant the hero Orger probably couldn’t defeat Ku-Ruu at that time.

So, they sealed it. That was understandable.

However, their handling of the situation afterward was too careless. They should have reinforced the seal or prepared a way to defeat it.

Why did they neglect to do so and leave it unattended? Ruisha thought, but no answer came.

“…So what did you do when you found Ku-Ruu?”

“The captain said, ‘We’ll stay on this island.’ If Ku-Ruu is unleashed, this sea will be over. The enraged Ku-Ruu will destroy all ports and ships, turning it into a sea of death. The captain, to protect the beloved sea, decided to reseal Ku-Ruu using the legendary item once believed to be possessed by the hero.”

The skeleton continued, reminiscing about the past.

“The captain further used the hero’s item to sink this island to the bottom of the sea… To ensure no one ever comes to this island again. That’s why we became skeletons, so the seal wouldn’t be broken. So the captain tried to stop you, fearing that if the hero’s treasure was stolen, Ku-Ruu’s seal would be released.”

“That’s…!”

Ruisha, upon hearing the skeleton’s story, was astonished and lost for words.

Legendary pirate Captain Bat had sacrificed himself to protect the peace of the sea. Even if he lost his physical form and became a mere skeleton, even if he was falsely accused of suddenly disappearing and fleeing, he chose to continue fighting at the bottom of the sea.

Beside Ruisha, Cindy was equally astonished.

“Captain Bat didn’t flee after all…! He was fighting for the sea!”

Something seemed to shimmer in her eyes. How Captain Bat lived was evidently quite significant to her.

“…I understand the story now. But if that’s the case, why did Ku-Ruu start moving only recently?”

“In fact, not long ago, a person came to this island. They had entered the body of a giant sea serpent and come this far. And that person opened the lid of the well where Ku-Ruu is sealed and jumped inside.”

“Inside the well? Why would they do that?”

“That person’s eyes were clearly not normal. It seemed as if they were being controlled by something, that kind of feeling. The captain said Ku-Ruu might have emitted a hypnotic wave, luring that person. They lured that person, had them unseal the seal, and then they further consumed that person’s body to revive.”

Ruisha, upon hearing this story, felt a jolt.

The vampire boy, Viness. He heard a strange voice at sea.

He had been troubled by that voice from the depths of the sea. Perhaps it was the voice of Ku-Ruu.

If that were the case… his life could be in danger.

“Uh, excuse me! When did that person go into the well?”

“It was just the other day. Even though they went in, Ku-Ruu didn’t revive, so we sealed it again and escaped unharmed, but Ku-Ruu should have regained some of its strength nonetheless. If another person were to jump into the well, it would be dangerous—I thought that. Perhaps the worst-case scenario has already happened.”

“…!”

Ruisha felt a strong sense of foreboding.

The awakening of Ku-Ruu at this timing. There was a high possibility that Viness was involved.

“We need to hurry…!”

“W-Wait up!”

Ruisha increased his running speed.

The skeleton and Cindy followed closely behind.

◇

Volume 11 Chapter 13 Sea calamity

“Yaaaahhh!!”

Captain Bat, roared as he lunged at the multi-armed monster Ku-Ruu.

His bone fists packed the force of cannon shots with each strike. Ku-Ruu’s arms were sturdy, but they easily shattered before the might of his attacks. However,

“Ruurgh!”

With a swing of its arm,

Bat’s body was sent flying, taking significant damage. No matter how robust Bat’s bones was, the difference in size made it an uneven match. It didn’t turn into a fair fight.

“…Not bad.”

Wobbling, Bat slowly stood up.

The light in his vacant eye sockets hadn’t dimmed in the slightest. His fighting spirit was still abundant.

“Ruurgh! Ia!”

The octopus-like creature, Ku-Ruu, began devouring the trees growing around, emitting a discordant noise. After being sealed for so long, Ku-Ruu’s nutritional energy had dried up.

Although Ku-Ruu was a carnivore, now even plants felt like a feast. Hunger was the best spice even for monsters.

“You have the nerve to dine gracefully in front of me. I’ll make a meal out of you!”

Bat approached Ku-Ruu and lunged, then slammed his torso with all his might. His signature move, ‘Savage Shell Fist,’ was nothing more than an ordinary punch.

However, his punch, which had elevated him to the position of Pirate King, carried immense weight…

Ku-Ruu, after taking a direct hit from a critical blow, floated slightly and moved slightly. Seeing this, Sharo and Iris were astonished.

“W-What is that thing…!?”

“I’ve never seen a skeleton that strong…”

The two were watching the battle from a short distance away.

There was a high possibility that Viness was inside Ku-Ruu. Iris wanted to join the fight, but it was at such a high level that she couldn’t intervene.

It was okay if she got beaten, but she couldn’t afford to be a hindrance by forcing her way in.

Perhaps sensing her feelings, Sharo placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“There will come a time when you can definitely be of help. For now, rest your body.”

“…Alright.”

Meanwhile, Captain Bat relentlessly attacked the off-balance Ku-Ruu.

“Take this, and that!”

Fists, kicks, elbow strikes, headbutts.

He rained attacks on Ku-Ruu’s body with every part of his being. Each strike was a powerful blow that could easily bring an opponent to their death. However,

“Is this… actually getting through!?”

Ku-Ruu’s body was covered in slime and extremely soft.

With minor attacks, the impact was dispersed, making it difficult to deal direct damage. Moreover, its colossal body spanning several tens of meters made it challenging for even Bat, bearing the Royal Crest, to inflict damage to its core.

“Grgh… Ia!!”

Ku-Ruu swung its massive leg and threw Bat off itself.

And just when Bat thought Ku-Ruu would counterattack, Ku-Ruu turned its back and started running away.

“What?! Why are you running, damn it!”

Bat pursued.

However, Ku-Ruu’s legs moved skillfully, and it walked surprisingly fast, making it hard for Bat to catch up.

“Fuggh… Ia…”

Ku-Ruu reached the edge of the island facing the sea.

Then, among the legs growing from its body, it extended eight particularly long legs and dipped them into the sea.

“…What are you doing?”

Bat, catching up, tilted his head in confusion at the sight.

In the next moment, Ku-Ruu lifted its leg. At the end of its leg were numerous sea creatures tangled up.

Ku-Ruu greedily stuffed these creatures into its mouth and chewed.

Slurp… crunch…

Ku-Ruu enjoyed its meal, making nauseating sounds.

Then, its body swiftly regained its shine and expanded.

“Could it be… it was weakened by that…!?”

When Ku-Ruu was fighting Captain Bat, it was in a severe state of hunger.

It disguised its hunger by consuming plants, but that barely helped it regain stamina.

However, now, by devouring sea creatures, Ku-Ruu was rapidly regaining strength.

Power surged, and a foul stench enveloped the surroundings.

Ku-Ruu, the Sea Calamity.

Once said to have descended from the sky and wreaked havoc in the sea, it was a legendary beast even the hero Orger couldn’t subdue.

The true power of that legendary creature was on the verge of awakening.

“Ruru…gh!”

Ku-Ruu swung its leg again.

Its speed was beyond what it had displayed earlier. Bat’s reaction was delayed, and he took the blow head-on.

“Gu…ah…”

Bat was blown away like a withered leaf.

A cracking sound resonated from his chest bone, and it cracked. The impact was akin to a massive ship colliding, and even Bat, known for his resilience, bounced multiple times, knocking down trees before collapsing to the ground, devoid of strength.

“Ia! Ia!”

Ku-Ruu let out a victorious roar and submerged into the sea.

This island held too many unpleasant memories. It was eager to leave and indulge in its feast to the fullest.

“Dam…n it…”

While lying there, Bat glared at Ku-Ruu as it departed.

In his hazy consciousness, what he recalled was an event from about a hundred years ago.

It was a tale from the time when he was alive, racing across the vast ocean.

It was the story of a man who loved the sea and freedom more than anyone else, and as a result, a man who had forsaken both.