We have no choice but to talk them down.
I promised I would become the world’s best mage, so I have to get over any wall, no matter how high.
I take out my staff from the item box, and activate a spell.
“Air Ride.”
I chant, and wind magic energy concentrates on my boots, making me levitate a few meters from the floor.
As the name implies, this is a spell that lets me walk on the air. I don’t normally use it, but it’s useful when I have to fight on places without footing, like the sea.
“Look! Mister Loyd is walking on the air!”
“Is that the highest rank spell Air Ride!? He can use something that incredible!?”
“Sensei! Sensei! He really is amazing! He’s gaining my respect more and more!”
The adventurers are all looking at me with amazed expressions.
Even Mars, who has been getting used to my magic lately, is very moved by this spell, and sounds excited.
I guess a guy would like the idea of flying magic? I’ll ask him later.
“So there’s someone other than Crowley who can use Air Ride? No wonder Isolte gave him her stamp of approval.”
Meanwhile, Noir is silently observing my magic, and comparing me to her exclusive mage.
It sounds like Crowley can use Air Ride too, but was this supposed to be a tough spell to use? The director said it was beginner magic that even a goblin can use, when she taught me…
Come to think of it, I’ve never seen a goblin use it…
Oh well. What’s important now is the mermaids, not my magic level.
I kick the air, and fly until I’m in front of them.
“W-wah!?”
“A person fell from the sky!?”
“Who is this!? Is it really a human!?”
They sound shaken and grab their weapons, while looking at me with caution.
“Sorry for scaring you. I jumped off the ship to talk to you.”
I’m trying to talk them down, so I have to be as polite as I can.
“Nothing comes from talking to humans. This is Kaleid mermaid territory, so go away!”
“You’re not getting through here unless you beat us.”
“That’s right!”
Hm, it looks like it won’t be easy.
Do we really have to fight? I don’t want to be rough with people Vermeer might know.
“Hm, if you want to fight that badly, I’ll oblige, but I’m not used to fighting on the water, so I don’t know how much I can hold back.”
“T-this guy! Hold back!? He’s looking down on us!”
“We are a part of the Water Seven! We’ll carve it in your body how much you need to hold back!”
“Tifa, Chloe, beat up this cocky human!”
They all raise their voices as they surround me, and attack me with their weapons.
But I’ve already activated Full Grow, so my kinetic vision is a hundred times better than normal. I can dodge their attacks with minimal movements just as they’re about to hit me.
“What’s with this guy!? Three people are attacking him, but nothing’s hitting him!”
“You still wanna go?”
I stop for a moment to ask them.
“O-of course! Now we’re moving ten times faster than before!”
“And with three people, that means thirty times!”
Their attacks are faster, but I’m faster.
I keep dodging them.
“Dammit! You…! Stop dodging! I can’t hit you when you keep moving!”
One of them yells angrily, but I keep dodging.
This keeps going for thirty minutes.
“Ahh… Ahh…”
“Huff… I-I’m tired…”
“I’m at my limit…”
The three of them are exhausted, and look like they’re on the verge of collapsing.
“B-but he’s also been moving for thirty minutes… We just have to keep going a little more.”
“Full Recovery.”
I cast healing magic on myself, and remove any exhaustion from this fight.
“““…”””
That healing magic broke their hearts, and they fall face up without saying a word.
“Looks like I won. Honor your promise.”
“I-I know…”
“Lemme rest for a bit… Huff…”
“Ahh… Ahh… Who are you?”
I’m asked my name, so I stand proud and say it. I don’t have the complex from my exclusive mage days.
And then their eyes open wide.
“Mister Loyd!?”
“The legendary mage who defeated Levithesis!?”
“No way!? The real Loyd!?”
Both jump and run towards me.
Now they’re looking at me with respect.
“You know me?”
“Of course we do! You’re the legendary great mage who saved Atlanta!!”
“That’s right!”
“H-hum! Can I get your autograph!? I’m actually your fan!”
Sounds like that incident gave me a good reputation in the Kingdom of Atlanta.
If I introduced myself before the fight, it would’ve been over faster, but they’re willing to listen to me now, so it worked out in the end.
“Ah, Mister Loyd, I have something to tell you.”
The one that seems the most mature says with a more formal tone of voice.
“This area has had askar for a long time, so be careful about them.”
“The ones that are like Levithesis?”
Yes. They’re not as strong as Levithesis, but they’re really big. We have been patrolling and eliminating them, so it’s more peaceful than before, but it’s still dangerous.”
“Is that why you were driving us away, to protect us from askar?”
“Eh? Ah, hum… Y-yes. We were patrolling, that’s right.”
(I can’t tell him we were just bored and being kind of mean.)
So that’s why they were acting like that and trying to get us to leave.
“It was a misunderstanding, but still, sorry for disturbing your work. And thanks for the important information!”
“Eh, now I feel guilty. That hurts more than an attack.”
“I-I took damage to my conscience too…”
“Let’s not do this anymore.”
““Yes.””
They all nod and leave.
And after I can’t see them anymore, I go back to the ship, to tell Noir negotiations went well.
“Thank you Loyd. Thanks to you, the fishing tournament can begin undisturbed.”
She says with a satisfied smile.
We’re a little behind schedule, but it looks like we’ll get to the Tetra island safely.
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