Chapter 135

Hey everyone~

We're back with a new upload \ ( ' 3')7

Hope you guys enjoy it, and we're really sorry for the delays these past weeks. Things got busy for Zo and I with work and school.

Regardless, thanks for all your support and for taking the time to read TNBS until now.

As always, keep safe, stay hydrated, and may you all have a nice week ahead of you!

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Owly then asked, "What do you need, HOOT?"

Hearing this, Naell could only brace himself for what was about to come.

"We've detected some strange movement coming from the western shore."

Fle then further explained to them that they suspect it was likely the pieces of Lucile. While there were occasions when pirates (coming from the vast western shore) would eventually try to land near Awdita, it was often just to an extent where they could easily fend them off.

"But the present is different. They are able to somehow escape my detection, and I'm afraid it is possible for them to eventually penetrate our shorelines."

For a while Naell and Owly pondered her explanation before nodding. Judging from the recent events happening across Mundo, it was plausible that the pieces of Lucile now targeted Awdita to weaken the allied force.

"It is not just Awdita but other kingdoms have also sighted strange movements near their borders and around small villages." Said Queen Selve.

Their talks took a while longer before they concluded, but as soon as they were done, Naell and Owly explained how they opted to immediately leave. This pleased both Selve and Fle.

"We're truly thankful Naell and Owly. If only I was a little stronger I could perhaps—."

Before the queen could continue, Fle interjected by poking her forehead, saying, "Your job is to rule, it is actually me who is lacking since I cannot defend the kingdom while being away for a long while."

Seeing their interaction, Naell couldn't help but smile. It was pretty intimidating meeting them for the very first time. Yet he felt that once he got to know them after their long discussion, both elves were quite like his mother Lilia, and Auntie Andrea.

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On the longshore of the western border of Awdita, Naell, and Owly arrived just before the sun could start to set.

Under normal circumstances, the duo would be asleep or eating in the inn, yet as they were there to investigate the sighting of unknown beings, the two were on high alert. The same could be said with the rest of the party, including the elven knights assigned to them.

It had already been weeks since the normal two-guard routine was changed to four knights. Including the adventurers who were sent by the guild to help with the investigation.

It is likely that Reyna is here, or a user of the same magic, HOOT. -

Naell agreed with Owly's telepathic words which he then relayed to the party. In response, the knights who had been stationed reported what they found, alas they didn't really have anything significant to add.

"We apologize, but even the slightest glimpses of shadows, aura, and mana, instantly fade away." Said one of the knights who was patrolling with them.

As a safety precaution, all of them were just near the coastline while other knights and adventurers were stationed far back to be their onlookers.

"Even the boats patrolling in the area didn't find anything, that is until the footprints they encountered." Added the adventurer who went by the name of Sead.

He was a B-rank elven adventurer that primarily went to the sea, and so he was assigned to the mission as his expertise might come in handy. A few other C-ranks also partook in the mission with him.

Seeing how proficiently the knights were doing their duties, Naell and Owly immediately found it odd, considering they still found no more than some loose-end clues.

Due to their circumstance, Naell grew deep in thought, 'Even if it was Reyna, she could not have walked so casually out in the open, with everyone on high alert. Unless—'

Naell then realized that perhaps all of those thoughts were red herrings. He then telepathically asked,

Say Owly. -

What, HOOT? -

Is it possible for a dungeon to spawn deep in the sea? -

...Go ask them, HOOT! -

From Owly's reaction, Naell knew it was information that even the son of Wisdom didn't know.

Understanding that Owly is still young, Naell then went on to ask the knights, "Can a dungeon spawn deep in the sea?"

His question was instantly met with concern and the grimace of all who heard it. Although they had no certainty that a dungeon in those conditions was possible, their reactions showed just how worrisome the thought was.

"We need to report it to the Queen!" As one of the knights spoke, a horse was already prepared for one of them to quickly mount.

And yet as if their enemies had also heard their discovery, without warning, shadow-like beings began surfacing the ocean.

Seeing this and waiting for no one, the knight hastily mounted the horse and immediately took off, whereas the others and Naell stood their ground under the fleeting sun.

The waters that they had just watched with deep orange hues, slowly grew darker and darker, reflecting the frightening beings. Soon, what appeared in their sights were creatures resembling large reptiles.

"They are... standing like us." with caution said one of the knights.

From what all of them could see, those monsters resembled what was called Buwaya; four-limbed cold-blooded beasts found in the continent of Summer. They were considered dangerous to ordinary beings.

With powerful jaws and clawed webbed toes, they were interesting predators with unique body forms for swimming and even running on dry land. The plate-like scales on their thick leathery skin even reached the very end of their long and massive tails.

Yet although their current foes resembled those said beasts, what they were now seeing terrified them far more; the said monsters appeared to have snake-like bottoms that acted as their hinds, making their movement much faster than Buwayas.

Added to this were their muscular arms wielding spears, and well-armored bodies making them far more invulnerable. It appeared that not one of those creatures that day arrived unarmed.

Truly, their party and every single knight grew intimidated in the presence of their foes. By the time they had all appeared, the monsters' collective forces covered and blocked the entire shore of Awdita.