Volume 4 Chapter 98 The Arrow
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Hojo gave the order to continue sailing south, against my own wishes.
Then—
A sound began: ping-ping-ping against the Izumo’s iron hull. It wasn’t volcanic ash—these were larger fragments, pebbles from the eruption.
Before I knew it, the starlight had vanished. The world outside had gone pitch black.
”Recall all crew on deck immediately. Close every hatch.”
My orders transmitted through the speaking tube. But before I could even give the command, Pole and the others from the crow’s nest had already made it back to the bridge.
”Acting captain… this is bad.”
Pole handed me one of the fallen stones. It was light in my hand.
”Cut the craft engine. Seal the water intakes—now.”
The dwarf bridge squad leader moved instantly at my command.
”What did you just order him to do?”
Hojo didn’t understand the Schweilitz language. He drew his blade, shouting in Japanese.
”I shut down the ship’s propulsion.”
I answered him in kind.
”You arrogant fool! Keep the ship moving!”
He was glaring at me with murder in his eyes—one wrong word and that blade would swing.
”This is pumice.”
I showed him the fragment Pole had given me.
”Thousands of these are falling right now. That means the sea is covered with them.”
”So what?”
”This ship moves by taking in water and expelling it. If it sucks up a bunch of this stuff, it’ll clog the engine and break it.”
On top of that, we’d burned through so much coal that the ship was lighter, riding higher in the water. The front intakes were now dangerously close to the surface. If we activated the craft engine now, the Izumo would swallow a mouthful of floating pumice.
Hojo tried to issue orders directly to Squad Leader Roland—bypassing me entirely. Roland wouldn’t budge. With a face twisted in fury, Hojo slammed both hands onto the chart table.
Inside the bridge, the only sounds were the ping-ping-ping of pumice striking steel plates. The only light was the dim glow of poor man’s lamps. The air itself felt thick, suffocating.
Even so…
I couldn’t see the sea from here. But if this pumice kept falling in greater numbers, if the ash followed in sheets—the entire area would be buried. Could we even sail out of this zone under wind power alone?
That worry proved unfounded. Within moments, a new sound filled the air—shhhhhhh—like heavy rain. I’d always imagined volcanic ash falling as softly as snow, but it was louder than I expected. And it was coming down in waves, patchy and irregular.
Still—how much would pile up? I cracked open the rear door of the bridge—the one we never used—and took a look. In that short time, nearly two centimeters had already accumulated.
’Katarina… do you have any sheer fabric?’
On my way back from the door, I brushed her hand.
’Well, sure. But most of it is used for undergarments.’
’Could you make something that covers and protects the eyes?’
She bristled slightly. ‘What are you even talking about?’
’Look. At some point, we’ll have to clear all this ash away.’
’Wouldn’t it just blow away? Or wash off in the rain?’
’Naive. Ash doesn’t just blow away. And if it gets wet, it turns into mud. If rain hits after several dozen centimeters of this stuff piles up—what do you think happens?’
’Walking would be tough, I suppose.’
’It’s not just that. What happens when dozens of centimeters of mud settle on top of a fifty-meter-long ship?’
’It becomes unstable?’
’Exactly. Our coal is nearly gone, so our center of gravity is already too high. Add a layer of mud on top, and we’ll be at risk of capsizing.’
Finally, she seemed to grasp the situation.
’We had to remove the ash. But volcanic ash isn’t soft—each grain is as sharp as broken pottery. If it gets in your eyes, it can scratch them. In the worst case, blindness.’
’So… we need eye protection.’
’Yeah. You got it.’
’But… using my undergarments for that…’
What a pain.
’For now, just take it to Section Chief Tatyana. See if she can handle it.’
She was calm, levelheaded. If anyone could figure it out, it was her.
As Katarina left the bridge, Hojo grumbled something at her. She dismissed him with a single line—”It’s women’s business”—and walked out.
Hours passed. Dawn came, but the darkness didn’t lift. It wasn’t until late afternoon that the smoke began to thin, and the world finally grew brighter. We immediately donned makeshift goggles—made from those undergarments—and started shoveling ash.
After that, we caught a weak east wind and moved forward. At sundown, we dropped anchor and every crew member scrambled to clear the deck.
We finished clearing the ash just past midnight. That was when the wind shifted. By the early hours, it had turned northwest—and we hoisted full sail.
By midday, we spotted what Ms. Aoi had described: two volcanoes with separate peaks on the right. And then the Izumo entered a great bay.
Ahead, a mountain still spat thin columns of smoke in the distance. Sunlight finally filled the sky—but the mountains surrounding the bay were blanketed in gray. No sign of life. Nothing.
The water was calm. Pumice floated on its surface. The Izumo crept forward slowly.
To the right, an inlet came into view. And beyond it, two stone piers—well-built, sturdy.
”Lower the sails. Let momentum carry us in to dock.”
Hojo’s expression had grown unnerving, so I issued the order myself.
Beyond the piers, I could make out what had once been a town. Now, it was buried under ash. Near the harbor, I spotted several warehouse walls—each one two-thirds submerged in gray.
No food. No water. We’d have to resupply elsewhere.
The closer the Izumo drifted to the pier, the more I could see the devastation. Hojo’s hometown was destroyed beyond salvation.
”Hey, think we could use that deer scare thing on the foredeck to blast away the ash? We can’t even see where to tie the mooring lines.”
Pole, from the deck crew, made the suggestion. I gave the order to ready the Shishi-odoshi.
Though it shared a name with the traditional garden ornament, this was no bamboo fountain—it was an air cannon, designed to create deafening noise and scatter incoming arrows or momentarily disable enemy hearing.
I ordered Chief Bebel of the Artillery Department to fire it toward the pier. The accumulated ash erupted into the air, swept away, revealing the ground below.
He fired repeatedly as the ship approached. Then something emerged from the ash—a mound of some kind.
Chief Bebel didn’t stop. He kept firing.
Then suddenly, he did.
”There’s a body here. Someone’s been killed.”
His voice echoed across the silent inlet, bouncing back as a hollow echo.
Not “a body.” Not “dead.” Killed.
The word unsettled me.
There was still time before docking. Hojo had been on the bridge—but now he scrambled down to the deck and leaned out over the railing. I followed close behind, tracking Bebel’s line of sight toward that mound.
It wasn’t an animal.
It was the body of a child—kneeling, doubled over, struck through the back with an arrow.
People gathered on the foredeck. Among them were Aoi and Tomoe.
I watched Ms. Aoi’s expression shift in slow motion. First—uncertainty. Trying to make sense of what she was seeing. Then recognition. Then—dawning horror.
She screamed—a wild, broken sound.
Tomoe tried to hold her back, but she thrashed free and dove into the sea.
We were only a few meters from the pier. If she’d been off by a step, she would have been crushed between the hull and the stone. But Ms. Aoi clawed her way up, scrambled onto the pier, and gathered the dead child in her arms.
A boy. Three, maybe four years old.
Hojo’s child?
She sobbed, clutching him—calling his name again and again.
Kenma… Kenma…
By the time the ship docked, rain had begun to fall. Heavy drops—like a squall in the dry season. Black clouds rolled overhead.
Hojo stepped onto the pier, approached Aoi, and pulled the arrow from the child’s back.
I recognized that arrowhead.
A long, narrow iron plate. The ends cut into sharp corners, then joined in three blades—like a cross between a fletching and a blade. Uncommon. Unforgettable.
The same type that had killed my brother Iffens.
The same that had killed Alisa’s father—and Monica’s former husband, Denis.
”You recognize this?”
Hojo had followed me off the ship. He’d seen me staring.
”The same arrow that killed my brother.”
That was all I said.
Never in my wildest imagination had I expected to see this kind of arrow on an island tens of thousands of kilometers away.
The only connection between this place and the Western nations was through Boltechino.
”I see.”
Hojo said nothing more. He gestured for me to follow.
First, we went to the storehouses. Every lock had been broken. Hojo said the valuables were gone—but a stash of tennis-ball-sized Red Flame Balls remained, bound in wire nets.
He ordered me to take them.
The fuses were stitched in place, impossible to remove without triggering a chain explosion—but he warned us to be careful. Eight small Red Flame Balls per net. A pile of them sat in the corner of the warehouse. We called over more men and loaded every single one onto the Izumo.
So much for resupplying food.
Hojo gestured again. Come.
I had no idea what was coming, so I grabbed three men from the Engine Department and followed.
By then, the rain had turned the ash into mud—and the mud was beginning to flow downhill. We trudged up the slippery slope. At the top, a vermilion Torii gate came into view.
There had been a shrine atop a stone staircase. But the stairs were buried in mud, and as we drew closer, I realized—the shrine itself was gone. Probably burned by whoever had raided this place.
”Clear this mud.”
Hojo’s tone was imperious, but I complied. We grabbed some planks lying nearby and scraped the mud from the shrine steps.
”Move this stone.”
Hojo himself gripped one of the steps and lifted it free—revealing a horizontal opening behind the staircase. We removed the rest of the steps. At the back of the hollow was a door. He opened it.
Inside: stacked rice bales.
”This is the food I promised you.”
Twenty bales of rice. And on a small plate, pieces of gold the size of Go stones.
”With this, you will do as I ask.”
He thrust the plate toward my chest—commanding, not asking. Still that tone, even now.
”Fine. You want me to take you to the Royal Capital of the Luzon Kingdom, right?”
Hojo held my gaze. Yes.
”On the way. I’ll take you to the Land of Shura too.”
”If we’re still alive.”
”I won’t let you die. I have questions of my own to ask in the Land of Shura.”
We called over the men who had finished their tasks and cleared a path through the mud to transport the rice.
Then—from the distance—came the sound of women cheering.
And then again, a second time.
The first cheer was for two children found hiding under a house.
The second was for a boy discovered in a well.
We called out, searched everywhere we could—but in the end, only those three were saved.
But the boy from the well had seen it all.
Two days ago—just before the volcano erupted—the Horsemen came over the eastern pass and attacked the town. At the same time, dozens of small boats arrived from the sea.
The Horsemen slaughtered the townsfolk one by one. Then hundreds of armed men stormed in. From the sea, filthy pirates landed and joined the carnage.
”And the samurai?”
”There was an earthquake in the next village. They went to help. Uncle Nai, Uncle Tate—they all took the young men with them.”
Not every one of the hundred-and-eight samurai was gone, but with the five who had sailed to Oceanus, the town’s defenses must have been crippled. Likely, that vulnerability had been targeted.
The boy said his older brother had dropped him into the well when he saw women and children being taken. His brother never came back.
We were listening to this in the Izumo’s dining hall when the gong suddenly rang.
Over a dozen small boats had entered the inlet—heading straight for us.
”Those are—”
Hojo had appeared at my side. I didn’t even hear him approach.
”The pirates that brat was talking about. They followed the Izumo here. Coming all this way in the middle of a disaster—persistent bastards. Fine. I’ll handle it myself. Tomoe—my bow.”
Tomoe, standing behind him, handed him a quiver. She began stringing the bow—a heavy, powerful thing. Her face was red with strain. I doubted I could even draw it.
Hojo took the bow. He stabbed a small Red Flame Ball onto the arrowhead, pulled a cord, then nocked it slowly. He released the first shot.
It arced beautifully across the sky—a perfect red sphere that dropped onto one of the small boats and exploded.
One hundred meters. I had to admire his aim.
The second arrow followed. Another red sphere. Another boat gone.
In an instant, Hojo had sunk five vessels.
The pirates scattered. I thought they might retreat—but no. They were still circling, still coming for us.
Did they really think we were that soft a target?
Hojo’s arrows sank one more boat. But then something changed.
They abandoned ship and dove into the water.
Even Hojo looked troubled. But if they got close, we’d take them down with the Coilguns.
We had men ashore, still burying the dead—so I had the gong struck to recall them.
Hojo kept firing arrows at the water where the pirates were clustered, but the effect was minimal.
I had the Artillery Department station men with Coilguns at key positions. And I ordered Katarina to launch a fixed-wing drone for reconnaissance.
”Light signal fires. And retrieve Ms. Aoi.”
Ms. Aoi was still on the pier—still crouched there, holding her dead child. No one had been able to approach her. But now that we were under attack, she needed to come back. I ordered the deck crew to fetch her.
But no one went. Too busy, maybe. Or too afraid.
Fine. I’ll go myself.
I turned my gaze back to her—
And in that instant, her shadow shuddered.
What—
An arrow had pierced through her head.
Ms. Aoi collapsed slowly, still clutching the dead child.
No.
No way.
”GYAAAAAAA—!”
A piercing, inhuman scream tore from Hojo’s throat. He vaulted through the bridge window onto the deck, leaped onto the pier, and dove into the sea—toward the direction the arrow had come from.
—
Summary:
The Izumo navigates volcanic devastation and docks at Hojo’s ruined hometown where Aoi discovers her dead child Kenma, prompting Hojo to recognize the murder weapon as the same arrow that killed the narrator’s brother. As the crew recovers survivors and supplies, pirate boats approach, leading Hojo to retaliate with explosive arrows until Aoi is shot through the head, triggering Hojo’s vengeful pursuit into the sea. The chapter ends on Hojo’s unhinged dive, leaving his fate and the fate of the attacking pirates unresolved.
—
Trivia:
The Red Flame Balls are explosive devices that Hojo weaponizes by attaching them to arrows.
The Shishi-odoshi is an air cannon used to clear ash and debris, not a garden ornament.
The Schweilitz language is spoken by some crew members, which Hojo does not understand.
Boltechino is the only known connection between this island and the Western nations.
The Land of Shura is a destination Hojo seeks, with the narrator having personal reasons to go there as well.
Aoi was holding Kenma’s body when she was killed by the arrow shot from the sea.
The Horsemen attacked the town from both land and sea in a coordinated assault.
The arrow that killed Kenma matches the one used to kill Iffens, Alisa’s father, and Denis.
Notes:
• Hojo – An unsettling, aggressive male warrior from a fallen clan and ambassador/lord of the Land of Shura, this “Berserker” commands Imai and the Izumo. Dressed in sumo referee-inspired garb with a gauntlet, knee guards, and hip-mounted longsword, he has an intense, unblinking gaze. Linked to the Hojo clan, he speaks in imperious, clipped Kamakura-period Japanese. Driven by honor and trauma from his family’s slaughter, he views lethal violence as jest, yet shows restraint before outbursts.
• 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.
• Izumo – The iron-hulled primary vessel, named and personified as a character herself, who loyally carries the protagonist and his crew throughout their journey.
• Pole – An orphaned Celt soldier and anxious Izumo sail-handler, this youthful, enthusiastic deck crew member guides Earnest and the protagonist. Proficient in Turku, he is a loyal, gossipy aide who rows the landing boat, leads marlin hunts, and once brought a large, same-sized eel to the Dining Hall. A former gambler seeking his first love’s freedom, he counts Rafaela as his childhood friend.
• 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.
• Roland – Roland is a dwarf bridge squad leader, former ship captain, and expert navigator for the crew. Practical, cautious, and authoritative, he uses telepathy and favors tactical caution. A man of precision known for his masterful ship docking, he lives with Fredys and a young boy. Implied to be gay, he remains famously unmoved by the allure of others, serving as an essential, steady pillar for his team.
• 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.
• Tatyana – Tatyana, 31, is a pragmatically blunt divorced mother, Magic Academy Assistant Professor, and former Golems Battalion mage. As the Izumo’s Torpedo Department Section Chief, she manages drones and flight crews. Loyal to her Captain and linked to Nikole, she acts on Katarina’s recon. She currently accompanies the protagonist, managing ship stability while implicated in the rebellion plot against Hojo.
• Aoi – Hōjō’s quiet female attendant and Kenma’s grieving mother on the Izumo, who watched over the protagonist and shared details of Hōjō’s past. Known for sewing children’s clothes, she was emotionally shattered by a dead child before perishing in a pirate attack. Serving silently, she handed Hōjō the Red Flame Ball on command and delivered the physical blow that knocked Earnest unconscious.
• Bebel – Sergeant Major Hagen, a confident Larland War veteran with white teeth, is a high-mana artillery NCO in Earnest’s division. Rescued by Earnest, this woman from his past knows his history, teasingly provoking him while acting protectively. Using rough, informal military speech and crude, dark humor, she bluntly motivates her squad and openly discusses her sexual encounters with servants.
• Tomoe – A tall, strong, and sincere warrior woman serving Hojo as an attendant and watchman. The daughter of Higuchi, she is skilled with a naginata, a heavy bow, and crafts, yet maintains a blank expression in battle. Easily flustered by nudity and naive around men, she has grown close to the other women, aids the protagonist with language, and holds deep emotional ties to the deceased Children.
• Kenma – A young boy, approximately three or four years old. Found dead on the pier with an arrow in his back. Likely Hojo’s son.
• Iffens – Eldest Fee son, older brother to Larry and the protagonist, and an older brother figure who left the main house with his family. As the solemn, battle-scarred head of Strock Village, he fell in combat. His death casts a heavy emotional shadow over the household and fuels Yutia’s fear.
• Monica – One of the women in Earnest’s history, this dark-skinned, sun-tanned, slender 15-year-old with a missing front tooth was his tomboyish, free-born concubine and sister-in-law. Tied to Larry’s countryside home, she was his strong-willed wife at 13, bore twins including Alisa at 14, and wet-nursed niece Maria. Widowed at Vod Fortress, her demise remains a source of concern for him.
• Alisa – Larry’s shy, three-year-old primary wife, chosen to continue the Getys House lineage. The daughter of the former family head and niece of a rock salt merchant, she fears strangers and hides behind her mother. Under a new political arrangement, she faces demotion to concubine status.
• Denis – A yeoman farmer and the deceased former husband of Monica, he was killed alongside Iffens.
• 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.
• Boltechino – An entity that departed from Rus, this explorer traveled to discover a continent that became the birthplace of shipping trade.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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