Home/The Seven-Year-Old Village Chief of Exile/ch 118

Chapter 118

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While Hebenia and Chairman Kommer were visiting the Sanctuary of the Divine Beasts.

Ian, with his hair dyed black, visited the T'mari port with Ceblis Octo.

"Wow, the wind is salty."

"That's because of the sea salt."

"My skin feels tingly, maybe it's just my imagination."

"Haha, it actually has a high salt content. That's why the port undergoes anti-corrosion maintenance every year."

They had come here at Hebenia's request.

"I don't understand why the Emperor covets the port."

"Just in case, could you go take a look? If you find anything strange, take pictures and show me later."

While Ceblis explained various parts of the port, Ian secretly took photos.

Ian asked.

"What kind of cargo does the T'mari port usually handle?"

"Mostly industrial goods."

The T'mari port is connected to a freight railway that transports cargo to various territories, including Int'mari.

'Antema Territory is also on the list.'

Ian took pictures of the cargo ships with his watch.

"Industrial cargo would include things like steel and fuel, right?"

"Yes."

Ceblis said.

"From liquid fuel to ores, machinery parts, and even gunpowder..."

"To someone like me who knows nothing, all of that sounds dangerous."

"Actually, most of the cargo here is hazardous. It's all strictly managed and graded."

As Ian listened, he noticed something strange.

A group of about ten people by the dockside.

They were wearing dark blue overalls, surrounded by unfamiliar equipment.

"They seem to be testing the bedrock."

Ceblis noticed Ian's curiosity and answered.

"The T'mari area has solid ground, but with heavy cargo being unloaded every day, they test it monthly for safety."

"But that..."

Ian, who had been watching the workers, narrowed his eyes.

"Bombs...?"

They were holding bombs that looked dangerous at a glance.

"Do they use bombs for safety inspections?"

"They're special bombs for testing bedrock strength. When submerged in water, their destructive power almost disappears, only creating a large shockwave..."

Ceblis's face, as he explained, grew stiff.

Then he muttered in confusion.

"Why are the bombs being put in there..."

Before Ceblis could finish.

The workers put the bombs into iron boxes and threw them into the sea.

Ceblis's face went pale.

"If, if they do that, it'll be a disaster...!"

"Mr. Ceblis, what do you mean?"

"Th-those bombs are powerful enough to explode even underwater. That's why they must never be detonated above water! But if they're put into a box and partially submerged..."

The steam generated by the bomb's heat would get trapped, causing a massive explosion.

Just then, the workers turned toward them.

Ian quickly hid Ceblis behind his back and drew his sword.

'This is...!'

He'd only experienced it once, but he'd never forget it.

A killing intent on a different level from humans.

'It's a demon!'

Ian quickly located the demon.

A woman with unusually pale skin, apricot-colored hair, and yellow eyes smiled at Ian, her red lips curling up to her eyes.

Then she mouthed.

'Too late.'

The demon extended her arm to the side.

"...Ah, ah!"

"Fire! Fire!"

A fire broke out on a docked ship.

Taking advantage of the chaos as people rushed to put it out, the workers in overalls began to flee.

Ian hesitated for a moment, wanting to chase them.

'Damn it, the bomb!'

If he chased the demon now, the bomb submerged in the water would be left unattended.

According to Ceblis, he needed to quickly retrieve the box and soak the bomb in water.

But if he let the demon escape, the same situation would happen again.

Just as Ian gritted his teeth, unable to decide.

"Catch them!"

An undeniable voice came from behind.

Ian's legs reacted faster than his head. His lower body muscles bulged, his pants tightening, and he shot after the demon.

"Ugh!"

The demon, glancing back, cursed.

"Aaaah!"

"Aah!"

"H-hot! Aah!"

The fleeing thugs suddenly screamed and stopped. Bright red flames erupted from their bodies.

Ian deflected the burning men with his sword, dodging them all.

"Wh-what...!"

The demon's face twisted in shock.

"Why aren't you burning!"

Instead of answering, Ian swung his sword.

But the demon barely dodged, a few drops of blood spraying as his shoulder was grazed. The demon gritted his teeth, pride wounded.

"You fucking bastard...!"

"You're too late."

"Sorry. But here we are again."

A calm voice came from behind the demon.

"......"

Overwhelmed by the presence behind him, the demon trembled like an aspen.

"Because of you, I'm going to get scolded by my Lady again."

Thud. A sharp pain slowly pushed from his back to his front.

A golden spearhead, slowly piercing through the demon's chest, dripped with droplets of water.

It was a mix of cold sweat and terrified tears from the frightened demon.

"P-please, spare me...!"

"Inverted seal."

Reverse summoning.

---

Five minutes earlier.

"Go through that door to the T'mari port. With your ability, you can do it, right?"

"......"

Hebenia was confused.

The chaotic tea party.

The still-shaking forest.

And Crown Prince Edelros, who had recognized her.

'He knows exactly what my ability is.'

Moreover, judging by what he'd said to the Crown Prince earlier, he also seemed to know what was happening here.

Hebenia wanted to ask what was going on.

But there was no time.

They quickly ran to the caretaker's hut.

"The demon's ability is probably 'heat accumulation.'"

"You know that too?"

Hebenia, reaching for the doorknob to use her ability, was shocked.

But Crown Prince Edelros just kept talking, giving her the information she needed most right now.

"It's the ability to raise heat up to the ignition point. You need to either fully submerge it in seawater or get it as far away from the ground as possible."

"They're trying to cause an accident on purpose to expand the port."

"Go now."

"......"

"Otherwise, Poppy and Chuchu's efforts will be wasted."

He even knew about our Duke couple.

Hebenia furrowed her brow slightly.

"...We'll talk later."

"I hope so too."

"We'll definitely meet again!"

"Yeah."

"And if you want to become Emperor, I'll help you."

"Go now."

Click—.

When Hebenia opened the door, a luxury carriage appeared. It was the inside of the carriage carrying Ian and Ceblis, who had gone to the T'mari port at her request.

"Habi."

Left alone, Edelros quietly murmured.

"My dream is to be a sugar daddy. I wouldn't take the throne even if you offered it."

---

When the carriage door opened, the T'mari port came into view.

'Damn it, my head hurts!'

I used the 'location tracking' app on my watch to find Ian's position, pulled out my scooter from the subspace, and quickly hopped on.

Then I pedaled as fast as I could.

'What the hell is that Crown Prince's real identity?'

Is he actually the mastermind?

'He didn't just know about the demon—he knew exactly what ability the demon we were chasing had!'

Could he be a possessor?

I pushed harder with my right foot.

'Please don't let it be true! Possessors are summarily executed! Ugh, I'd be really sad if you died!'

After riding for a while, I arrived at the dockside, right by the sea.

I jumped off the scooter as if throwing it aside and quickly assessed the situation.

A burning ship, Ceblis sitting in front of it with his head in his hands.

And suspicious thugs in overalls fleeing, while Ian watched them but didn't chase.

'The demon is there!'

I shouted toward Ian's back.

"Catch them!"

Only then did Ian start running.

I asked Ceblis.

"Uncle! What about the bomb?"

"Th-the thugs just put it in a box and threw it into the sea...!"

"Fuck!"

And I dove straight into the sea.

I heard Ceblis shout "My Lady!" behind me, but there was no time to hesitate.

Wrapping a round barrier around my body to secure my breathing, I searched for the box.

'There it is!'

Thanks to the summer sun being directly overhead at noon, the sea was brighter than expected. I quickly spotted the sinking box.

I rapidly expanded the barrier downward.

The box soon touched the barrier, and I quickly opened my subspace to put the box inside.

"Phew..."

Relieved, I sank all the way to the bottom.

Knowing I had to go back up, I decided to rest for a moment, overwhelmed by the belated fatigue.

'At least I got to see the underwater view like this...'

Instead of fish, the underside of the ship took up most of my view, but the curtain of light created by the rippling waves was truly spectacular.

"Ah..."

I let out a long sigh.

"I missed another chance to catch a demon."

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed.

I needed to catch a demon myself to get a wish for my Korean belongings, and this time, I really hadn't done anything.

I couldn't even insist on claiming half a wish.

'But I saved people.'

If I'd been stubborn and tried to catch the demon myself, there would have been a massive loss of life.

It was disappointing, but it was the right decision to give up this time.

'Well, at least I gained a new application for the barrier.'

I confirmed that I could breathe underwater and move freely within the barrier.

That alone was a significant gain.

---

After lounging around underwater for a while, I surfaced to find the dockside still in chaos.

'Phew, good thing I put on the cloaking cloak beforehand.'

The fire on the ship had been put out quickly, with no smoke in sight.

But a different problem had arisen.

"The burned men from earlier—they set fire to the ship..."

"They had fuel on their bodies, so they caught fire."

"Sigh, even in death, they cause trouble."

In the middle of the murmuring crowd, several figures covered in white cloth lay side by side.

I knew at once.

'Corpses.'

Just then, a hand covered my eyes.

"Our Lady only looks at pretty things."

I tilted my head back and saw Verity, looking at me with pride.

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