There's No Escape.

Karina-chan here. I thought I'd secured a tribute for the Goddess — then I goofed, big time.

Ugh, I'm such a dummy! Dummy!

 

 

"Those bandages — you don't need them, right? … Fine, I'll take these as the treatment fee. They were on your feet — maybe they'll count as sock-adjacent."

"Who are you…?"

"No need to pry. Now, close your eyes while I get you to safety."

They obeyed.

I moved them into a time-stopped storage space separate from Dea-kun's. No fuss where I can't watch.

"Now for Gomez…"

Dea-kun's sister wasn't here. I'll have to make Gomez cough up who bought her.

Check the slavers in Véraldo? Maybe, but he might not have used them. Better to grab Gomez first. He sounded ready to make new victims. Also — the artifact.

"Shoot, I changed my anchor — lost track of Gomez. Now what?"

I could scan with spatial magic, but healing those feet drained me. Wide-area magic is tiring.

"I'll grab the artifact first…"

I headed back to the artifact room on foot.

"'Scuse me — coming through."

"Huh? A woman? Why are you—gup."

"Hey you—ugh!"

I decked passing pirates and reached the door — locked. Of course.

Spatial magic makes locks trivial—

… No keyhole?

Then I have to jump inside directly.

Huh? I can't see the room clearly. Walled off? What's going on?

It doesn't even feel like the door is locked.

Is the door a magic tool? Maybe it only leads to Poseidon's room when Gomez opens it. Either way, Gomez has the key.

Which means I gotta Gomez.

"Think positive. Catch Gomez and everything resolves!"

Yup. Clean and simple.

If I rampage on deck, he'll come to me. Great idea.

To the deck!

Which way… never mind. I'll punch a straight shaft through the ceiling.

Aaand I'm back on deck.

I appeared with a boom; the armed pirates stared.

"W-what the hell!? You made a hole in the ship!?"

"Isn't that the woman who outdrank the captain…"

"Eek! M-monster!"

Some didn't know me, some knew me from the drinking match, some from the warehouse.

All armed — swords and guns.

Guns exist here? First time seeing them.

"So, boys. Know of a certain elf girl?"

"Even if we do, like we'd tell you! And the hole—!"

"Direct line to the hold. It's more efficient this way. I asked nicely — so obey and talk."

Apparently they don't speak simple Japanese — oh right, not Japanese.

"Aim for her limbs! Take her alive! She'll pay for the repairs with her body!"

"Hahaha! If you dare defy the Goddess, try taking me alive! I'm strong!"

A few ran. Nowhere to run on a ship.

They went to get Gomez — perfect. Bring him on.