Volume 4 Chapter 85 Spirits
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
When I awoke, Queen was no longer in the bed. Even running my hand across the sheets, I felt no warmth—she must have left quite some time ago. The bed beside mine was empty too; her partner, Akeshino, was gone as well.
Unfortunately, that left only Fredys, our squad leader, lying face-down in full naked glory, looking thoroughly satisfied with drool dripping from her lips, legs spread wide—absolutely everything on display.
”Wake up.”
I gave her head a little shake, and she finally propped herself up on both arms, raising her upper body without lifting her gaze. For a moment, she seemed frozen, as if still processing her situation.
”Acting Captain, what are you looking at?”
She lifted her face, noticed me, and suddenly yanked the sheets up to cover her chest before spouting something utterly ridiculous.
”Wait, after all that you showed off last night, you’re suddenly embarrassed about being naked?”
Maybe I’d said too much. She looked like she wanted to retort but couldn’t. Still, given her duties as deck crew squad leader, the exposed parts of her face and arms were tanned to the point of sun-darkened pigmentation—yet her hidden areas were startlingly pale. Come to think of it, last night, even her bust had seemed more full than I’d expected.
”What are you staring at!?”
”Oh, nothing—just noticing you’re surprisingly fair-skinned in natural light.”
For some reason, she gave me a triumphant look and pulled the sheets up to her neck.
”No way. I don’t have anything to do with men over eighteen.”
”Uh, I’m seventeen, though.”
Well, physically, anyway.
”Hah! Where in the world does there exist a seventeen-year-old who gives off this much middle-aged man energy!?”
Our normally calm and collected Squad Leader Fredys let out a yelp like that. Wait—we were literally just talking; you already knew that.
Seeming to realize her slip, she made an awkward face and turned toward me.
”I only keep company with cute male brides.”
Something about that sounded extremely condescending.
As we continued that exchange, Amazoness maids brought over my clothes, so I dressed quickly and was led to a room for breakfast.
The table was large, the room fairly spacious, and beyond the wide-open windows spread a sea glittering under the morning sun—exactly the kind of setting for an elegant breakfast. As expected of a viscount’s palace.
But then, in walked the Regent—a massive, imposing figure—accompanied by Leakle, an official who also served as his interpreter.
”Please, feel free to continue eating,” he said.
Still, eating while speaking with a nation’s regent felt rude. Yet having nothing at all seemed equally discourteous, so I raised the teacup beside me to my lips.
”In the Land of the Fire Ring—the nation of the Androgynos Group—Elder Rocani has been brought before an investigative committee. The Transfer Gate connecting his home to the Hub Tower has been shut down, and he has been placed under house arrest.”
That was harsher than I’d expected. True, he’d treated us poorly, but those actions were taken in the interest of his nation’s benefit—I’d assumed it would end with little more than an apology. This response, I suspected, was thanks to Queen having sent this formidable Regent.
”Two and a half hours from now, Lord Larry will use the Transfer Gate to proceed to the Hub Tower in the capital. In the Land of the Fire Ring, Professor Lilith of River White, Tenth Generation, from the Research Institute, has agreed to receive you.”
Professor Lilith—if I recalled correctly, she was an authority on summoning magic. Still… two and a half hours.
”May I return to the Izumo first?”
I asked, and was told not to be late; we’d meet at the dome housing the Transfer Gate. I also mentioned that I’d bring the elf mage Pamela along, and was informed that Professor Lilith had specifically requested her presence. As for the Amazoness side, they’d merely see us off.
When I explained our plan—to return here after refueling with coal in the Land of the Fire Ring, resupply with water and provisions, then sail halfway around the North Pacific to Nicaragua—both the Regent and Leakle tilted their heads in puzzlement.
”Something wrong?”
”Well, if you’re headed to the Land of the Fire Ring, there’s a warm current flowing west at this time of year. If you ride it, you’d reach Nicaragua a full month earlier than the route Lord Larry just described.”
”Really?”
The Regent traced positions on the table with his fingertips—the Dragon God’s nation, the Land of the Fire Ring, the Land of Shura, Nicaragua—showing me their geographic relationships.
I’d always thought New Zealand was directly south of Japan, so I was surprised to learn it was actually much farther east. I’d have loved to visit the Land of Shura—which I assumed was Japan—but there was no way I’d get the rest of the crew to agree to that. In fact, Squad Leader Fredys was watching the Regent’s fingertips with laser focus.
”There is one problem,” the Regent continued. “The current forms a massive whirlpool, and if you stray into its center, both the currents and the winds can die down for days at a time. In the worst case, you could be stuck for nearly a month—dead in the water in the middle of the ocean. But with the Izumo, which can move even without wind, it shouldn’t be an issue.”
When I asked what the Amazoness would do in such a situation, he explained that experienced sailors could sense when such conditions were approaching and would simply take a more southerly route before that happened. That windless zone was truly in the middle of the open ocean, with no islands or reefs nearby—and no fish to catch either.
”If you’re trapped there for more than two weeks, there’s nothing left but to die.”
That was terrifying to hear.
”The Regent also advises,” Leakle added, “that since the Izumo appears sturdy, if you steer as far south as possible, you’ll encounter a strong cold current. The seas will be somewhat rough, but you’ll reach the southern continent quickly.”
”Somewhat rough?” I thought. No—please, anything but that endless violent rocking that never seems to stop.
Still, I expressed my gratitude for their advice and told them we’d take that route—the warm current—to Nicaragua.
”So… you won’t be coming back here, then?”
Leakle said this not as an interpreter, but with clear loneliness in her voice. Maybe it was just the warrior race’s nature that suited me, but my stay had felt far too short.
”Well, perhaps not right away. But the Transfer Gate is still here, and I will definitely return. There’s still the matter of the black ships, and the New Continent—lots of things we need to discuss.”
The Regent extended his hand for a handshake, and when I accepted, he gripped it so hard I thought my bones might break—again.
”Oh—I almost forgot something important,” Leakle said, raising her voice slightly.
It was about the bounty Queen had mentioned last night—the elimination of the seeding fleet’s vanguard.
”As a down payment, one kin of gold. For each ship you sink, an additional three kin. The vanguard consists of three large junk ships, so if you eliminate all of them, that brings the total, including the advance payment, to ten kin of gold. How does that reward sound?”
We also agreed that Mahaka from the trading company would board the Izumo as an observer, and the reward would be delivered via Transfer Gate.
”Food and water resupply has been completed, and we have confirmation from Department Head Gida of the Izumo. As for the remainder—after deducting the sale of slaves, the proceeds from Ring Five and the maidservants, and the Nicaragua Canal transit fee from the bounty’s down payment—you’ll have two kin of gold left. I’ll have that delivered to the Izumo shortly.”
I told them to put those two kin toward the food and water supplies they’d provided—but for some reason, the formidable Regent became angry. Even Leakle couldn’t interpret through the sheer force of his presence, so we relented and accepted the gold. They also mentioned that because we hadn’t been able to identify the escaped Amazoness from Takshurgan, Queen couldn’t grant her a special pardon.
They worked fast, I thought.
After the Regent and his party left, Fredys and I wolfed down breakfast and returned to the Izumo.
When I reached the bridge, the usual crew was there—Squad Leader Roland and the others—along with Mahaka.
”You’ve heard about me, right?” she said.
I’d been told by the Regent that she’d be boarding as an observer for the vanguard elimination mission.
”Yeah—you’re going to be Kenze’s nursemaid, right?”
”I told you, I’m still active duty!”
We exchanged some banter, then I briefed them on the vanguard elimination mission and reminded Katarina not to waste the suicide drones.
Just then, Kamea—who had guided us when we arrived—came up to the bridge. She had a special skill: she could determine her current position using her internal clock, the stars, and the sun. Her accuracy surpassed even the calculations made by Dwarf Bridge Squad Leader Romy using her instruments and observation equipment. Squad Leader Roland had already decided to rehire her for the return voyage.
”Also, regarding our return route—it’s been decided we’ll use the Amazoness canal, and I’ve already paid the fees.”
The bridge crew, already aware of the situation, cheered.
”Originally, we planned to come back here, sail halfway around the North Pacific, and then head to Nicaragua. But after refueling with coal in the Land of the Fire Ring, we’ll ride the current heading east-northeast.”
Once we hit the continent, we’d head north to Nicaragua, pass through the canal into the Caribbean, exit into the Western Ocean, then ride the Gulf Stream to the waters off Celt, Albion, or Charle.
”If everything goes well, we’ll be home in five months!”
Everyone raised their voices in joy at finally having a clear path home. The fact that the route ran through relatively calm waters with no enemies made the cheers even louder. Eventually, the excitement spread from the bridge throughout the entire ship—I could hear laughter and battle cries echoing across the decks.
Even I couldn’t help but feel happy.
I also informed the upper management about Elder Rocani’s near-dismissal, and that I’d purchased a maidservant for Kenze’s sake.
”Sorry, but I’m taking Pamela and heading to the Land of the Fire Ring ahead of you. I’m leaving the rest to Squad Leader Fredys—take care of things.”
I saluted and, with Pamela in tow, left the ship with a heavy heart.
I wished I could have stayed with the Izumo. But the summoning for Henrietta was a personal matter—and time was tight. Yet they were letting me go anyway. I couldn’t be more grateful.
When I entered the Transfer Gate building, Queen—who should have been busy—was there with the Regent and Leakle.
”You will come back, yes?”
When Queen said that to me, I had no choice but to agree. There was still the matter of purchasing black ships, the New Continent partition negotiations, Kenze and Emma’s situations, and various other issues. I promised I would definitely return.
”Wait.”
As I turned to leave, she embraced me in front of the Regent and his party. The Regent looked down coldly at Queen’s behavior, muttered something, and extended his hand to me. Reluctantly, I took it—and he squeezed so hard I thought my bones would break. This was exactly why I’d wanted to avoid shaking hands.
Finally, Leakle. I quietly asked her what the Regent had muttered just now.
”‘Even a Queen who falls in love is just a foolish woman,’” she said. That had definitely reached Queen’s ears too.
Which is why Queen fired back with something like “grass widow.” It seemed the Amazons’ interpretation of that term differed from the human version.
Just then, the Transfer Gate began to shimmer.
”Well then—I’ll be back. Definitely.”
I saluted and stepped into the shimmering light.
I emerged on the first floor of the Hub Tower—right next to the Schweilitz Transfer Gate.
”Welcome back.”
Greeting me was, as I’d been told, Professor Lilith, the authority on summoning magic. Beside her stood a woman who looked to be in her forties.
”This is Zoten, Valley of Green, Fifth Generation. She’s the one borrowing Cisco’s Mother Mushroom.”
Cisco was currently studying abroad in Schweilitz, and during that time, this Zoten had been loaned the Mother Mushroom—essential to the Androgynos Group’s reproduction.
”No time to waste,” Professor Lilith urged.
I was rushed through the Transfer Gate to Cisco’s Colony on the upper floor.
I found myself in what seemed like an old wooden house. Stepping outside, I saw shacks for drying pottery and what appeared to be a climbing kiln—a staircase-like furnace. The house had been built into the mountainside, with a mountain stream flowing nearby.
”Now then—I’ll have you connect with the person you’re summoning.”
”Huh?”
”Connect? What does that mean?”
”The person whose consciousness links with the target—they’ll come into contact with a vessel that has emerged from its chrysalis inside the Mother Mushroom, and perform the transfer summoning.”
So that meant I had to exercise, have s*x, drink, sleep, connect with the Larry in Japan, and have skin-to-skin contact with the daughter Henrietta had parasitized.
”Please have the final intercourse inside the Mother Mushroom,” she added.
I mean… I was fine with that. The pace was so fast I could barely keep up with my own thoughts, but for now, I decided to focus only on doing as I was told—connecting with Larry in Japan.
”Alright—I’ll go for a run first.”
There was a path leading down to the mountain stream, so I jogged down it. I’d been told there were no venomous snakes here, so I could run freely.
When I reached the stream, I found a path crossing it and another leading upstream. Since I didn’t know where the crossing would lead, I chose the upstream route. The undergrowth was sparse, but the trees grew thick overhead, nearly blocking out the sky.
I walked up the quiet, dim path for about two kilometers before it abruptly ended.
So this was it.
I climbed down to the stream, splashed cold water on my face, and sat on a rock to rest. That’s when I noticed them—faintly glowing spheres floating around me.
”Are these… spirits?”
It was the first time I’d ever seen them. They ranged in size from ping-pong balls to human heads. Upon closer inspection, some even had thin, mosquito-like legs.
I reached out my hand, and one of them—a yellow sphere, perhaps curious—drifted closer and touched me.
As soon as it made contact, I felt a tiny drain on my mana.
—
Summary:
Larry awakens alone, finds Fredys naked and embarrassed, and negotiates bounties and navigation routes with Amazoness leadership before being summoned to perform a ritual involving Mother Mushroom and spiritual connection with a parallel version of himself.
—
Trivia:
1. Queen sent the formidable Regent to handle Rocani’s punishment—showing she takes Larry’s mistreatment seriously.
2. The warm current route saves one full month compared to the original plan.
3. Fredys is tanned on exposed areas but pale underneath—revealing her warrior lifestyle.
4. The bounty totals ten kin of gold if all three vanguard ships are sunk.
5. Larry’s body is 17 but his mind is middle-aged—a constant source of internal tension.
6. The Mother Mushroom is essential to Androgynos Group reproduction, not literal fungi.
7. Cisco is studying abroad in Schweilitz, lending out the Mother Mushroom in their absence.
8. Kamea’s navigation skill surpasses dwarf-made instruments using only her internal clock and celestial observation.
9. The windless zone in the ocean can trap ships for weeks with no wind, no currents, and no fish.
10. Queen’s embrace and the Regent’s muttered insult reveal romantic tension and political dynamics.
11. The summoning ritual requires exercise, s*x, drinking, sleeping, and skin-to-skin contact with Henrietta’s parasitized daughter.
12. The spirits at the end drain a tiny amount of mana upon contact.
Notes:
• Akeshino – Queen’s partner. Mentioned only as absent from the bed beside Queen’s.
• Fredys – Izumo’s deck crew foreman and squad leader is a battle-hardened former slave with a formal, pragmatic bearing. Related to the Ullmans via Uncle Torge and living with Roland, she serves as the Acting Captain’s voice of reason, calling out his behavior while remaining loyal. Refusing command while Larry lives, her sharp judgment makes her an indispensable advisor focused on rescue operations following the Whale Eater attack.
• Captain – The middle-aged commanding officer of the Izumo is outwardly calm, experienced, and traditional, masking a ruthless, pragmatic leader who prioritizes vessel survival over subordinates and civilians. While rarely reprimanding his men, he will execute deserters. Bebel reports directly to him, holding orders to return to Kure should the protagonist fail to return from their mission.
• Leakle – Amazoness official assigned to the Acting Captain. Displays formal, respectful speech. Becomes visibly alarmed when informed about the Hole-Eaters and quickly mobilizes to take action. Serves as the primary intermediary between the Acting Captain’s crew and the Oceanus authorities. Amazoness official at the Viscount’s Palace in Oceanus. Speaks Schweilitz language. Assigned to handle Larry-san’s affairs. Reacts with visible concern to Whale Eater accounts.
• Rocani – An Elder of Oceanus and calculating leader of the Androgynos Group, this figure appears as a beautiful old woman but is male inside. Emotionally performative yet casual compared to the Regent, they wield significant authority, welcoming the Acting Captain, hosting Larry’s party at the Transfer Gate, interpreting during the Hole-Eater meeting, and remaining ambivalent about the handmaid trade.
• Lilith – Professor and summoning magic authority from the Research Institute in the Land of the Fire Ring. Holds the title “River White, Tenth Generation.” Greets Larry upon his arrival at the Hub Tower. Rushes him through the summoning process.
• Larry – Larry is a dark-haired, weary 16-year-old reincarnated Second Lieutenant, cynical Acting Captain of the Izumo, and Associate Professor. A pragmatic, sardonic narrator and Mana user, he founded the Fee Grand Principality, carries Philip IV’s sword, and seeks to protect his companions. Haunted by past trauma and complicated relationships, he struggles with moral conflicts while awaiting his next assignment.
• Lili – An older, slightly plump maid with exceptionally large breasts, she is an associate and quiet bondservant to the protagonist and the Getys household. Handling most of the housework, she maintains close, supportive relationships with those she serves, joining the family to inspect new land and accompanying Monica to see the narrator off at Obernbach Station.
• Izumo – The iron-hulled primary vessel, named and personified as a character herself, who loyally carries the protagonist and his crew throughout their journey.
• Pamela – Pamela is a blunt, sharp-tongued older mage who balances archaic speech with a rural Southern American dialect. Petite and telepathic, this scholarly mentor to the protagonist and Earnest acts as an affectionate, no-nonsense romantic partner to Larry. Whether offering unsentimental strategic assessments or assisting with rituals, she pairs old-fashioned warmth with a confident, authoritative presence.
• Pam – An escort to the protagonist who is observant and loyal.
• Ho – Ho is the family name of Oliver, a 17-year-old deck crew member and comrade of the protagonist. As a member of the military unit that defended Garao Village, the young man was ultimately murdered during a night watch, slaughtered alongside Marx-san.
• Mahaka – An elderly Amazoness shipping merchant in Takere, former mercenary, and experienced sailor with deep knowledge of local waters, who predicted whale sightings. Serving as a navigation advisor for a Nyunpai-funded trading company, she is blunt yet full of pragmatic folk wisdom. She speaks with a heavy accent and accompanies Rocani as an interpreter for the Hole-Eater strategy meeting.
• Gida – The Izumo’s Maintenance Section Chief is an older, disheveled former finance bureaucrat on the Acting Captain’s crew. Pragmatic and outwardly insolent yet polite, she handles logistics—from transferring rescued women and seeking shore supplies to negotiating coal with Rao. Known for using skincare sesame oil, she clashes with Daran and initially resisted hiring Raphael.
• Roland – Roland is a dwarf bridge squad leader, former ship captain, and indispensable navigator for the Acting Captain’s crew. Practical, cautious, and authoritative, he expects clear communication, uses telepathy, and advises tactical withdrawals. Implied to be gay, he lives with Fredys and a young boy, and is the only male unmoved by bikini-armored Amazonesses. His unmatched precision is proven by his remarkable ship docking maneuvers at Oceanus.
• Kenze – Kenze is a muscular, brown-skinned Amazoness and former Takshurgan operative turned research student. A dragon-tattooed guardian and crew member, she rooms with Larry, whom she would prioritize over any mission. Once deeply bonded with Earnest, she is now quietly wasting away while nursing her egg and larva. Despite declining health and a rural background, she remains a strong, warm, and sea-wary presence.
• Katarina – Katarina, a voluptuous 30-year-old Izumo flight squad leader and volatile telepathic mage, is a complex handful who enjoys teasing protagonist Earnest by listing his exes. An older former Magic School student, she pressures subordinates while advocating for Gida. Often the target of Eida’s frustrations, she is known for being after Larry and refusing orders unless they involve a rescue.
• Kamea – Amazoness sailor and Larry’s physical partner. Brought rice to the trading city. Unrelated to the syphilis outbreak’s origin.
• Romy – An Academy assistant professor from Baron Wilson’s territory, this sea-loving crew member arrived in Cain on a black ship. Though a struggling troublemaker, she built a graphite timepiece that caught the Dwarves’ attention. Saved from slavery by Larry, she shares a deep bond with him and works with Marie. She is frequently discussed despite her absence in recent events.
• Al – Alberto (Al), a massive red‑haired man recently wed to Mary, lives near the Dish Basin. He’s a companion of Hans, helping intimidate and rally elders as a villager and leader.
• Charle – A mercenary and faction captain from Great Qin, referenced in passing. Associated with a group of remnants, their flagship and crew were involved in the conflict, during which their ship was targeted.
• Celt – In his twenties, this former tenant farmer and 303rd Unit militia leader is now a pragmatic, calculating Deputy Commander of the Town Guards—equivalent to a sergeant or officer—overseeing Strock Village’s fortifications. Dressed in simple work clothes, he quietly admires Teressa-san’s skill and serves as the village’s trusted gossip source, having earned his land with reward money. Once a sandal-maker and translator of Bours’s jargon, he maintains a careful working relationship with Larry while balancing political interests, embodying calm kindness beneath his disciplined exterior.
• Henrietta – Earnest’s fourth wife, Henrietta, is a muscular, busty orphan, mage, and Royal Magic Academy researcher who served as a royal guard until her assassination during the Haritz Rebellion. Now parasitizing Larry’s daughter—identified by Pamela via scent—her telepathic link persists. Larry must contact her inside the Mother Mushroom to test his observation device and considers summoning her via their bond.
• Emma – A twenty-four-year-old Amazoness slave with a small face, large black eyes, and a cold, sorrowful expression, her black hair tied in a bun adorned with a three-colored crest; once Deputy Commander of the Durara Assassination Squad, she’s an expert bowwoman now serving at the inn alongside Ferris-san, witnessed a healing session, and is a candidate for Larry’s rite—regarded as incredibly cute yet suspected of drugging Edmond, with a legendary side-boob presence that draws attention despite her quiet, tragic demeanor.
• Schweilitz – This kingdom, featuring towering academy spires and a full military arsenal of Royal Army troops, forces the protagonist to return. Ruled by a king involved in a hostage exchange, this political power holds a captive feared for execution. It also ordered the confirmation of Princess Rosa’s corpse, driving a scheme that the Queen has caught onto.
• Cisco – Cisco Cliff-Blue the Sixth, an earnest and friendly young Androgynos, leads the colony near the coal outcrop. A pottery artisan who collaborates with dwarves on engineering, he is a reincarnated former student who naively accepts the handmaid trade. As Earnest’s primary contact for negotiation, Cisco serves as the crucial link to the human trafficking information brought to Rao-san.
• Zoten – A woman who appears to be in her forties. Holds the title “Valley of Green, Fifth Generation.” Borrows Cisco’s Mother Mushroom during Cisco’s absence abroad.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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