"Are you really not leaving?"

Bangbu, who had just run away, ran back in a panic.

"I think we'd better get out of here. He said, "Those guys don't look like they're going to give up easily, maybe they'll come to them!"

There was no need to look back, Iss could hear the voices of people coming from afar on the sea - they certainly wouldn't give up easily.

He was weak now, but he could at least dive in and swim a little farther......

Bertram looked at him silently for a moment, then suddenly grabbed him and caught him under his arm without saying a word.

“...... Hey!" Iss yelled in exasperation, "Let me down!"

"Stone, keep up! Bangbu, pack up this place, don't let anyone find out. Bertram ignored him, but clamped him tighter, ran to the edge of the reef in a few steps, and jumped down with a thud.

Eth gritted his teeth in anger and clenched his fists. Of course he couldn't bite him again, that would be ridiculous...... But sooner or later he'll make this guy pay!

Even with a man, Bertram was as nimble as a fish in the water, and he swam for a long time before he came to the surface, turning Is's head around so that he could continue to stare at him face to face.

"You don't even have the strength to resist me, what are you going to do with those guys?" asked Bertram calmly, wiping a handful of water from his face.

With a cold face, Isis raised a dagger to him - he had just reached his waist and could have stabbed him in the back if he wanted to...... He is also more than capable of protecting himself.

“...... Oh. Bertram groaned in surprise as he touched the empty scabbard on his belt.

"But I saved you. You've got to admit it. He quickly changed tactics, "So at least a little bit of news about Behring can be exchanged?"

“...... You let me go first. Isis said. He hated being held like a child.

Bertram hesitated and let him go.

"I don't know much. Iss told him. "You should go back to Limestone Fort and ask your mother. ”

He had always thought that Behring was probably dead...... But of course he couldn't say it.

Bertram tread the water in silence and did not respond.

"Hurry up! Hurry up! Are you going to take a bath here?!"

Bumbu shouted as he swam past them as fast as he could, slippery as a moray eel, not even splashing much, and the stones followed awkwardly, but not slowly.

"Come with us. Bertram suggested again. "I don't know what happened to you, but we have a mage who might be able to help a little...... Or at least. There is also a safe place where you can rest for a while. ”

His tone was sincere, but Iss shook his head resolutely.

"That's not safe. He said, "The dagger lends me." ”

He threw his head down into the water, not waiting for Bertram's answer.

The sea is warm. Isse knew that meant his body temperature was low—even lower than usual.

He dived as hard as he could. The safest place is the deep sea, which is inaccessible to humans. But if there is the help of magic......

Dragons were the first to master magic. And their power comes from the world itself.

He had no reason to lose to humanity, but failed again and again. And this time...... Probably no one will come to his rescue.

He became agitated in another intense bout of frustration, kicked his legs harder, and dived deeper. The depths of the ocean were dark and silent, but he could hear chirps that humans could not hear. The boundless ocean is the last refuge for many ancient creatures – some of them older than dragons.

A monotonous and long voice calmed him down, and he unconsciously stopped his movements and listened attentively.

It was a lonely and sad song...... But it seems familiar.

He unconsciously swam in the direction where the song came from, but there was a sudden tearing pain in his chest. It was as if someone had pulled out the invisible sword that was stuck in his body.

The body convulsed, and the remaining strength disappeared in an instant. His eyes went dark. was swept over by the undercurrent in the sea, and drifted upwards involuntarily.

The pale moon approached quickly, and then fell clearly into the eye. He struggled for a moment, but before he could turn over, a hand grabbed the corner of his shirt that was floating on the water, dragging him over.

“...... See you again. Bertram grinned at him teasingly, "It's faster than I expected." ”

He grabbed Is's arm and made him half-lie on his back, babbling as he swam forward, "Didn't Eren tell you? when you need help...... When you can get help, you should be generous enough to accept it!"

Isis wanted to refute, but gasped for a while and couldn't speak.

They swam south for a while, and in the distance, the sea in the north was getting brighter and brighter. Bertram fell silent, and as he approached a black cliff, he spoke, "Hold your breath. “

He descended and led Isis into a crevice in the reef, and the channel gradually opened upward, and a flock of panicked swimming fish rushed past them, the flickering light of the fire shining through the water, illuminating the floating weeds...... and stone stout calves.

The stone bent down and grabbed Is, carried him ashore with ease, grinning at him.

“...... Where did you get a kid back?"

An unfamiliar voice asked curiously, "Some pirate cub?" Bertram, we can't do such an immoral thing. ”

Bertram, who was climbing up the shore, slipped and laughed half-out in the water.

Isis broke free of the stone's hand and tugged at his clothes angrily, glaring hard at the ground. He doesn't have enough power to transform...... But there are more and more people who need to be silenced.

"He's not any 'man' child, captain. Bertram laughed and coughed as he climbed ashore, "Let him tell you for himself...... If he wants to. ”

...... Of course he didn't want to!

A young man walked up to him quickly, crouched down and smiled and handed him a piece of clothing.

"Your clothes, wet. He said, "Swap it out." ”

His accent was strange, and his lingua franca was not smooth, but his voice was beautiful, and every syllable rose happily as if he were singing.

Iss looked up and glared at him. The dress had a strange rancid smell...... But the young man's smile was too bright to refuse.

He was naked, his skin was brown that Iss had never seen before, his muscles were well-proportioned and strong, his black hair was curled down to his shoulders, and his warm black eyes were large and deep, and he looked a little like Ed...... Even his smile is as simple and bright as Ed's, and he is much more handsome than Ed.

Isis silently took the clothes.

"This is Jancy. Bertram told him, "That's Captain Grufeld over there......"

Not far away, the gray-bearded captain put away the doubt in his eyes, took out his pipe from his mouth, and smiled kindly at him. He was sturdy, his face was covered with knife-like wrinkles, and his left arm was half wrapped in a bandage, faintly revealing a little blood.

"And that's our mage, Terry. Bertram gestured to the fire in the corner.

A young man lying there with a sallow face, freckles on either side of his nose, waved weakly, and then wrapped himself back in a pile of tattered blankets and continued to shiver.

“......”

Eth glanced at Bertram wordlessly. Although he didn't expect anything either...... But how can this dying fellow help him?!.

(To be continued.) )