Against the World II: Transgression
Special Story: Threat from the East, part 4

Whoever the creator of this ship is, he is someone who deserves the respect of Hernandez. Although there was basically not a single complex rune formula here, the series of rune formulas themselves was something extremely complex.

A normal rune user would probably assume that the rune formula sequence did not have any function, but Hernandez was different. He can't just be fooled. That series of rune formulas was nothing else was what made this ship work. And, it was connected to this chair that was in front of him.

“This ship has existed since the beginning of the Centaur Village Alliance first,” Ramatra's response while approaching Hernandez. “However, there is no information whatsoever about the name of the creator of this ship. Whether it was to make a more mysterious impression or what, we found absolutely nothing about it.”

“How can not know?” asked Retsu who had been standing in front of the chair that was the object of Hernandez's attention. “If this has become a valuable item for centaurs, anything related to this ship must be an important knowledge as well.”

“Of course.” Ramatra did not deny. “But for uncertain reasons, there is no record or news of any ship creator. It's just that, from what is separated from the many rumors circulating, the creator of this ship is a very shy individual. Because of her shyness, she never once visited any place other than her home and this underground lake.”

“If the rumors are true, it is not surprising all the things about it do not exist.”

Hernandez nodded in agreement to Retsu's words. Even if there is information about the centaur that leaked, the centaur will certainly try to overcome it. People who like to be anonymous will not like if their identity is revealed. If Hernandez wanted to maintain his status of anonymity, he would certainly do something further than this shipbuilder did.

“Keeping aside the capabilities of this ship, the design itself has already shown the individual who is what the maker is like.” Hernandez said as he flicked his shoulder, then focused his gaze on Retsu's amber iris. “Why don't you sit in this chair, Retsu? No doubt this is the seat of control, and it is through this seat [where] you are absorbed.”

“Lah, isn't this ship absorbing fire as a source of energy?” asked Ramatra quickly before Retsu had time to respond to Hernandez— his expression was a little surprised.

“It is not wrong to say the power source of this ship is fire,” response Hernandez while gesturing Retsu to sit down. “But, what is more accurate is that this ship system converts [where] into fire.”

“And as we know,” continued Hernandez, “someone normally can only convert his [whichever] into his carrying element. Because of that, one cannot use magic that he does not have without undergoing special rituals or relying on certain magic artifacts. The same can be applied to these ship systems.

“The reason why fire magic users are needed is because it is more effective and efficient if using [where] magic users other than fire. If using [where] other magic users, there will be a certain amount of [where] wasted and the process becomes inefficient. If it uses [where] the fire magic user, [where] it will be able to be directly supplied to the main system without having to adapt its molecules to the fire element. Less is more like that.”

“Oh, I did not expect it to be like that,” Ramatra commented while nodding in understanding.

“Well, Retsu, try to get your [where] out. It will activate the rune system applied to this chair.”

Retsu nodded at Hernandez's request, just as soon as he issued his [whichever].

Instantly Retsu felt his [where] start to get absorbed by the chair he was sitting on. And, somehow, Retsu feels himself to have connected to the ship system. Retsu can instantly find out each part of the ship in detail. Although he did not fully understand, he could confirm that he could control this ship with just his mind.

“Try to activate this ship,” pinta Hernandez as if to understand what Retsu feels. “You should be able to do that with just your mind.— this chair is made in such a way that it is connected to your mind.”

Retsu nodded slowly, giving no verbal response at all. A few seconds later, the room that had only been illuminated by a [Light Stone].

“What now, Mr Hernandez?”

Hernandez was not quick to respond to Retsu's question, his irises looking at the ceiling of the room full of observation. The light that illuminated the room came from the ten rune formulas circling the [Light Stone] that were installed in the middle of the ceiling. The rune formula is made in such a way that it takes nothing but [where] to light up.

“Try to make this ship sail, Retsu.”

A few seconds later, the floor of the ship slightly calibrated, indicating that the ship had moved from its berth. And along with that, footsteps rang out hurriedly down the stairs outside the room. Elemetra and Diatra stopped at the doorway, looking dumbstruck across the room before stopping at the chair that Retsu was sitting on.

“I know for sure you guys will be able to do it!” exclaimed Diatra with a proud smile, stepping into the room.

Hernandez looked down at the two of them. However they express themselves, he will not ignore if the two had deliberately left him and Retsu. Of course, Hernandez did not bother if it was for no reason, but they deliberately left him and Retsu so that they would not have to hear the long-forgive babbling of Elder Ramatra!

However, now is not the time for that; there are important things that are a priority.

“How to get this ship out?” ask Hernandez to Ramatra.

Hernandez did not see any access to the ship as big as he was on. The mouth of the cave itself was three times smaller than that of a ship. Although it can pass by positioning the ship perpendicular to the mouth of the cave, the height of the ship still makes it unable to get out without heightening the mouth of the cave. The only normal way that Hernandez thought of it was to teleport this ship out.

“We'll fly up!”

“Ya,” nods Ramatra approves Elemetra's appeal. “We'll fly up.”

“Then, I will open the roof of the cave.” Diatra immediately left after saying that.

Hernandez was not at all surprised to learn that this ship could fly. From the design alone it is enough to give a hint. Only, he did not expect them to open the roof of the cave.

“Retsu, can you do it?” asked Hernandez, his gaze shifted to the woman he intended.

“Not a problem.”

And, to prove his point, Retsu made the ship slowly lift into the air. Not only that, Retsu sent sensory signals to the ship's system that left the ship's ceiling half open, revealing a large hole above the cave ceiling there.

“As rumored, this ship is really cool!” diatra shouted while jumping in from the ceiling of the ship that was half open.

“Retsu, quickly raise the speed to the top!”

Welcoming the cry of Elemetra, the Vegasus Ship shot upwards at high speed. In just two seconds they were already ten meters above the open cave roof. And it doesn't stop there. The ship continued to accelerate upward at the same speed. It was only after they were a kilometer in the air that the ship stopped.

“I will close back the roof,” said Retsu suddenly—and the roof of the ship back closed slowly. “Old Ramatra,” call him while turning on the owner's name. “I will test many things about the offensive and defensive of this ship. Do you want us to take you to the village hall, or want to see the ability of this ship?”

“What kind of question is that? Of course I want to see it!”

Retsu could tell that the centaur was overjoyed and impatient. The same can be seen from the expressions of Elemetra and Diatra. And that's really not surprising. Although they had known the existence of this ship for a long time, this was their first time entering it. How could they miss seeing the capabilities of this ship directly?

“Mr Hernandez?”

Hernandez nodded at Retsu's question call. “Show us the capabilities of this Vegasus Ship, Retsu.”

Without further ado, the ship sped past the speed of sound toward the north-west of the centaur territory.

In this flight, there is no fibration in the ship— different from when it was about to sail earlier. Nor did they feel any backlash, but he and the others were standing there holding nothing. And although the speed of this ship is no faster than the full speed of Hernandez, at least Hernandez will be pushed backwards following the law of action-reaction. Let alone that, they didn't even feel anything.

Minutes later, the Vegasus finally broke through the boundary between the continent and the ocean.

“This is the right place,” Retsu said as he stopped the boat several kilometers from the shore.

“So, can we start the trial?”

...—Rhodessemia, Ilamia Kingdom—...

“As you may have guessed, the culprit is indeed the prime minister.”

That was the conclusion Evana gave her after the woman had sucked one of her plants to spy on the prime minister. And, that's not at all a surprise. Evana's remarks are nothing but justification for her assumptions, even if they are unproven assumptions.

“I don't like to say this, but I have to say it. Thank you, Evana, you were very helpful.”

“Of course. So, when do we handle it?”

Zuthverth shook his head slowly at the question. “You have helped enough,” he said. “Again, this is my job. I should have finished this myself.”

“And here I think we can work together...”.

Zuthverth again shook his head slowly, but his lips curved slightly.

“Maybe next time, Evana.”

With that, Zuthverth darted out of his temporary resting place, leaving Evana alone.

...—Exercise Room, Royal Palace, Warebeast Great Kingdom—...

“Without using magic and [where]?”

“Without using magic and [where].”

Minner frowned, apparently Zestya was very serious with his words. Normally, he would say that Zestya would not be able to compensate if he did not use [where]. But today Zestya looks very serious. Minner had trouble refusing his invitation.

“Alright,” said Minner in the end. “We will be sparing without using magic and [where].”

“Do not hold back, Minner,” said Zestya while putting up his fighting horses.

Minner simply nodded slowly in response, putting up his own fighting position.

The two individuals looked at each other full of observation, before then darting away at each other slashing the distance between them.

To his surprise, Minner was forced to block Zestya's right fist first, but they darted together. But the surprise lasted only a second. Minner immediately focused and launched his attack instead of attacking.

Zestya can block any Minner attack. But as his brother's power was greater, he was pushed back every time he blocked. His opening attack was nothing more than the superiority of his body in accelerating. In fact, Minner is superior in physical terms to him.

“I will not be half-and-half,” Minner said as he floated a kick around his right leg on Zestya's shoulder, which the woman could block with both hands, although in the end he still bounced a dozen meters to the side.

Zestya was able to balance her body well, but her expression was not at all pleased. Although his speed was no less than Minner's, his power was inferior. But that's why Zestya wants to deal with it. He has to prove that he can be balanced with Minner either with or without [where].

“I'll be serious,” said Zestya while clenching both hands.

However, before he had time to dart in attack, someone interrupted their activities.

“Sorry to interrupt your training, but I came carrying the task of Pope Gramiel.”

Zestya immediately let go of her fighting position, looking intensely at the new messenger. “Say,” his orders in a monotonous tone.

Minner also looked towards the messenger, but he did not say a word.

“The squad from Veria is already sailing at high speed. The informants there estimate they will arrive in Islan in a minimum of two weeks. Hence, Pope Gramiel asks you to deliver a written letter to Emiliel Holy Kingdom. And, if Fie Axellibra is there, you are asked to say the situation directly. Thus, we can expect its participation.”

...* * *...

Buuuuuum!

A hole hundreds of meters wide appeared to be gaping on the surface of the ocean right after the huge laser that the Vegasus Ship fired hit its surface. Malignant waves shot in various directions, splashing water until it soared high as did the rain that was hit by the storm.

“That is the strongest laser this ship can fire,” said Retsu ended the various trials they conducted against the offensive capabilities of the Vegasus Ship.

Hernandez nodded in satisfaction at Retsu's words. The ship has an equally powerful attack and defense system. And considering that the soldiers from Veria will be on board, the Vegasus Ship will be greatly benefited. He could see why Pope Gramiel had persuaded the centaur elder to take this ship out.

“How about his [where] intake?” ask Hernandez to be sure.

“Hm... I think I've lost more than half the total [where]-ku.”

“Hm...” Hernandez carried his hand to his chin with a thoughtful expression. “To lighten the load of the wearer, it looks like we have no other choice but to utilize the reactor [where] it is.”

Hernandez then looked intensely at Ramatra. “Chairman, after this I want you to collect all the centaurs of fire magic users, minimum ten. They'll be [where] supplies until the empty reactor is full. That way, this ship will be able to survive at least two days in a state of continuous expenditure of energy. I hope it doesn't matter..”.

“Of course, Elemetra and Diatra will make sure at least ten centaurs meet your request.”

Hernandez nodded slowly and returned his attention to Retsu. “You can take us back to centaur village, Retsu.”

The Vegasus quickly left the ocean sky.