novelraw Chapter 117 : Fishing
Chapter 117 : Fishing
Chapter 117: Fishing
As the wooden crate burst apart, what appeared inside was a strange cone-shaped object. Levi looked at the bizarre thing and shrugged helplessly. Then he turned his head and looked at the First Mate who had followed him.
“Take this to the stern immediately! And inform the captain—not to start the ship until I say so!”
“Y-Yes!”
Although he had no idea what Levi was planning, the First Mate nodded and, together with two sailors, carried the strange cone-shaped object away. After watching them leave, Levi shook his head and reached out his hand.
“Didn’t expect I’d need this so soon. Hope it works.”
As he spoke, he pressed his hand against the nearby wall. Instantly, a mysterious and eerie skull-flag pattern appeared on the surface.
At the same time, a system prompt appeared before him.
【Ghost Ship Core assigned to target. Activate trait?】
“Activate.”
Levi gave a firm response.
In the next moment, a strange sensation connected Levi to the Arctic Star.
From that instant, the ship felt like an extension of his own body. He could sense every corner, every inch of the vessel, and even what each person onboard was doing—clearly and completely.
Not only that, the Arctic Star itself began to change.
Before, Levi could feel its weight floating on the sea. But now, it felt almost intangible—like something between reality and illusion. It seemed to exist in the ocean, yet also not entirely within it…
At the same time, a mist began to spread around them. It wasn’t just physical fog, but something like a mental haze—distorting direction and distance.
Because of this, Levi sensed that the monster charging toward the Arctic Star had slowed down, circling hesitantly as if it had lost track of the ship.
This thing really works well.
But this alone wasn’t enough.
Levi refocused. Under these conditions, the Arctic Star couldn’t sail properly either. The priority was to deal with the monster.
With that in mind, Levi left his cabin and rushed to the rear deck.
“Rumble————!!”
The storm still raged violently. Combined with the fog created by the Ghost Ship Core, everything looked eerie and dangerous.
Levi had changed into his hunter outfit—leather, more suitable for the rain than formal wear. At the stern, he watched as the sailors moved the strange cone-shaped object into position. The First Mate ran over, wiping rain from his face.
“What do we do now, Detective?!”
“Bring the harpoon launcher. Follow my command.”
Levi stared at the fog-covered sea. Through 【Soul Sight】, he could see the monster circling aimlessly, unable to locate the ship.
However… its size really did seem smaller.
Levi remembered clearly—when he first saw it, it was as large as the Arctic Star even from a distance. Logically, it should appear even bigger as it approached.
But now, even up close, it was only about fifty meters long… still enormous, but far smaller than legendary sea monsters.
And its movements didn’t seem very agile.
Could Annie’s explanation actually be right?
Levi pushed the thought aside. At least now he wasn’t facing a monster hundreds of meters long like an island.
So how to deal with this “smaller” sea monster?
Levi already had a plan.
He watched as the creature drew closer. Despite being confused by the fog, it clearly knew its prey was nearby.
Closer… closer…
Levi raised his hand and waved sharply.
“Throw it in!”
At his command, the First Mate and sailors pushed the cone-shaped object into the sea.
“Splash!”
The object plunged into the water. At the same time, Levi activated his 【Puppeteer】 ability. As soon as it entered the water, the propeller at the rear began spinning rapidly!
“Splash splash splash————!”
With a surge of water, the object shot forward toward the monster.
At that moment, the monster noticed the movement and turned sharply, charging toward the “bait”!
Got you!
Levi inwardly cheered and controlled the “bait” to flee, pretending to escape. As expected, the monster accelerated, unwilling to let its prey escape!
The monster was incredibly fast. Within minutes, it had nearly caught up. From Levi’s perspective, he could see the water churning behind—like scenes from shark attack films.
Thankfully, Levi himself wasn’t in the water.
Even so, his legs felt weak.
He had seen corpses, monsters, ghosts… but sea monsters were different.
Still, fear didn’t stop him. He continued controlling the “bait,” making it flee desperately. The monster took the bait completely and surged forward!
Perfect!
Levi suddenly turned the “bait” around and sent it straight toward the monster!
The sudden move caught the monster off guard. Before it could react—
The “bait” plunged directly into its open mouth!
Now!
Levi snapped his fingers.
“Click!”
The “bait” instantly expanded outward!
That’s right—this “bait” was actually… a lifeboat!
Levi had prepared it in case the Arctic Star sank. Inspired by past stories, he had Irene build a compressed lifeboat using mechanical and steam principles.
Normally folded into a compact form, it could expand instantly using hydraulic and air pressure into a full-sized vessel—large enough to carry dozens of people, even with enclosed shelter.
But now—
It wasn’t being used for rescue.
It was being fed to a sea monster!
“———————!!”
As the lifeboat expanded inside the monster’s throat, it became lodged firmly.
Unlike a fishbone, it was like a blade stabbing into its throat!
“Splash splash splash!!”
The sea roared.
“What’s happening?!”
The First Mate and sailors panicked, staring at the chaotic waters. Though they couldn’t see clearly through the fog, the violent waves alone were terrifying.
Levi said nothing, simply watching.
If the monster survived, he would finish it.
If it died… even better.
Suddenly, Levi’s expression changed.
“Fall back!”
He quickly retreated, and the others followed.
At that moment—
“ROAR——————!!!”
A deep, thunderous roar erupted.
The sea exploded upward.
A massive shadow burst from the water!
It was taller than the Arctic Star, shaped like a whale, roaring like something from ancient times.
Even through the fog, the sight alone was enough to terrify.
The First Mate and sailors collapsed, trembling in fear.
“Now! Aim at it!”
Levi grabbed a sailor and shouted.
This monster would die—but it couldn’t die without value.
Levi had already tested how “legends” could influence reality. If people believed sea monsters weren’t so terrifying… would they become less terrifying?
He didn’t know—but it was worth trying.
“Now!”
Levi rushed forward. The harpoon launcher had already been prepared—a large ballista-like device designed to fire barbed harpoons strong enough to pierce whales.
Whether it would work on a sea monster… remained to be seen.
Despite their fear, the sailors obeyed. Levi locked onto the target.
A flash of cold light—
“BOOM!!”
The harpoon shot forward and pierced straight through the monster’s open mouth, penetrating its head!
“———————!!”
The monster’s roar intensified. Thunder and lightning raged as if echoing its fury.
Then—
It sank.
The rope attached to the harpoon stretched taut, spinning until it stopped.
“Thud!”
The entire deck shook violently.
Levi gripped the railing, pale.
If this thing had been hundreds of meters long… he would’ve just run.
The storm raged on.
Eventually, it subsided.
Levi stepped forward and looked down.
There, floating on the sea, was the massive corpse, rising and falling with the waves.
“Phew…”
Finally, Levi relaxed.
He turned to the stunned First Mate.
“Get some people. Haul it up.”
he said.