Chapter 4 “The tryrant and villainess ” part 4
Nexas scanned the area, eyes sharp and calculating.
The Coral Maw clawed at the ship, its massive talons raking the wood. Sailors clung desperately, fear etched into every movement.
Ai clenched her fists.
“Master… can’t we do something?”
Nexas’s gaze flicked upward. High above the bay, a faint crack shimmered in the barrier—small, unstable, but enough for a ship to slip through before the attack.
His eyes narrowed.
He turned to Ai. “Do you have your weapon?”
Ai’s nod was instant. “Yes… but why?”
Nexas tightened his cloak. “Cover your body with mana. We’re jumping into the water.”
Ai froze, blinking. “Jump—wait, what?”
He didn’t answer. Instead, he sprinted toward the edge of the nearest building.
<No time to think. That crack won’t stay open.>
Ai swallowed hard, then followed, mana forming a thin, protective veil around her body.
They reached the edge. Far below, the sea churned.
The crack in the barrier shimmered faintly above them.
Nexas stopped, glancing at her.
“You handle the deck, the monster” he said calmly. “I’ll take care of the ship ”
Ai’s eyes widened. Then, a small, determined smile appeared.
“Understood.”
Then—
They jumped.
Wind roared past their ears. Mana flared, wrapping their bodies like second skins. The sea rushed up to meet them.
Below, the Coral Maw screeched in fury.
Ai kicked hard, propelling herself toward the ship’s deck.
Nexas followed, long, powerful strides cutting through the water, eyes locked on the Coral Maw.
On deck, the monster lunged at Ai, claws raised, jaws snapping.
Six small blades hovered around her, spinning like living shadows.
“Master… go first!” Ai shouted, stepping forward.
Nexas tied his boot straps with a swift motion, eyes still on her. “Yeah Cover me.”
Ai’s fingers weaved mana threads around the six blades, lifting them into deadly motion.
The Coral Maw lunged.
Ai hurled the blades—five struck the coral spikes embedded in its body, each clang reverberating across the deck. The beast roared, thrashing wildly.
“This isn’t enough!” Ai muttered.
She stepped forward, sending a surge of mana through the threads.
The six blades danced faster, slicing through water and air. The Coral Maw staggered, howling, retreating from the barrier.
Nexas ran, aura flaring. Chaos unfolded on the deck like a storm.
He reached the edge, stepping onto the ocean. A faint aura wrapped his feet. Water rippled beneath him, but didn’t touch him
He muttered under his breath, “I need its attention first.”
The Coral Maw paused, black eyes locking on him.
Nexas raised his sword, angling it toward the sun. A dazzling beam reflected across the waves.
The Coral Maw froze, mesmerized. Its claws lunged instinctively—one toward Nexas, the other still scrambling up the ship.
<Better than expected,Coral Maw has crazy affection for shiny things>he thought.
He ran across the water, swinging in blinding arcs.
The Coral Maw’s leap ended abruptly as Nexas struck its legs and shell. Cracks spidered across the coral, precise and lethal.
On deck, sailors gasped. “ Is… is that person walking on water?”
The guards finally noticed the chaos.
Even the captain’s face betrayed shock as Nexas fought in the middle of the ocean like it was nothing.
Nexas didn’t look back. His focus remained razor-sharp.
The Coral Maw staggered, its massive body failing under the precision of his strikes. The battle had only just begun.
Meanwhile Ai moved with unhesitating precision.
Mana surged, threads snapping tight. The six blades shot forward in perfect synchrony.
Two Coral Maws barely had time to react. One tried to retreat—blades pierced its eyes, joints, and coral spikes, crushing them from within.
The second lunged, panicked—Ai twisted her wrist. The blades reversed, shredding through its core.
Both beasts screamed, then collapsed beneath the waves.
Ai landed on the deck lightly, expression composed.
“They’re dead,now only Master,work left ” she said simply.
Nexas sprinted toward the Coral Maw clinging to the ship.
<If I attack, the ship could break… >
His eyes scanned the deck. A shiny fragment—probably part of the mast—was near the monster.
“No choice,i need to attack'” he muttered, swinging his sword in four precise strikes.
The Coral Maw froze, then toppled. Half the deck cracked under its weight.
One more Coral Maws retreated into the depths.
Nexas stepped carefully over broken wood. “Are you all safe? Is anyone injured "
A trembling voice replied, relieved.
“We’re okay! The upper deck was damaged, but we made it!”
Nexas exhaled slowly. “Good… though my clothes are ruined.”
He noticed blue blood smeared across his uniform.
“but what i do now,” he muttered, brushing it off.
Minutes later, Nexas returned to the deck with the ship.
Before Ai could reach him, a knight stepped forward, sword raised.
Nexas froze briefly, then remained calm.
“What are you doing? You broke the barrier! State your identity” the knight barked.
Cloaks concealed both Nexas and Ai. The knight couldn’t see their faces.
“I don’t think I broke any rules,” Nexas said smoothly.
“Mocking me? We all saw you were outside the barrier!” the knight snapped.
“ Judging by your clothes there No way you’re part of the ship’s crew!”
Ai whispered tensely. “Master… should I attack?”
Nexas raised a hand. “Don’t say scary thighs”
He stepped forward, aura faintly suffocating.
“Is that how you treat someone who just saved lives? For your information, ”
“we came from inside out, not outside. Your justification doesn’t hold on to me”
The knights flinched instinctively.
“We saved people you weren’t protecting. If that’s a crime, I’d have explained it to your master directly,” Nexas said sharply.
One knight snapped. “How dare you!”
An older knight stepped forward, chest glinting with three stars.
<Three Star ranker>
Nexas recognized him as a senior officer.
“We apologize,” the man said, bowing. “You were right. You may go.”
the knight snapped“what but he didn't explain anything and his identity ”
The older knight is calmly “we are the ones who need to do something he helped people so i don't think we have the right to interrogate him ”
The younger knight hesitated“but still sir i need to hear what kind of justification he has to say anything about our master name”
Nexas didn’t respond, moving past. Ai followed silently.
The younger knights hesitated, murmuring among themselves.
Nexas glanced back, voice cold yet amused.
“You asked for my justification… well I am a tyrant, after all.”
The old man laughed, shaking his head.
“I suppose that explains it i think they don't understand please forgive them for rudeness ”
Nexas smirked faintly, continuing toward dock.
Ai matched his pace, both silently contemplating the strange balance of fear, respect, and power in this city
They both stood at the edge of the dock, dripping wet. Ai wrinkled her nose and took a step back.
“You’re… stinky,” she said, crossing her arms.
Nexas groaned. “Shut up. you’re wet too so why I'm only stinky ”
Ai huffed, glaring. “At least I didn’t have to shower in blood.”
“Yeah, sure, that was part of our job so stop complaining” Nexas muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
“We need to change clothes. Now but”
Ai hesitated. “Ahh… but where? The only place I know is the Duke’s estate. ”
“You’re not planning to scare your future in-laws, are you?”
Nexas rolled his eyes. “No. Of course not. Let’s just go find somewhere help”
Their bickering was interrupted by a group approaching.
They froze for a moment—Nexas’s presence alone was intimidating The tension broke when a young boy bowed quickly, followed by the others.
“Thank you for saving our lives. We’re in your debt,” they said politely.
Nexas waved a hand dismissively. “You don’t need to say that. It was our choice to help ”
One of the young men stepped forward. “If you don’t mind, there’s a place near our little office where you can change clothes pardon i hear that conversation”
He bowed again, introducing himself. “I’m Hubr, from the Sanitaryford Mercantile Group.”
Nexas’s eyes narrowed slightly. <Sanitaryford… that merchant group was notorious in the game. >
<And the leader… I remembered her A villainess from the second series, of the game.>
Hubr continued, bowing low. “We’d also like to show you our items, if possible. ”
Nexas smirked faintly.
“We’ve heard of your… merchant expertise.”
Hubr calmly waved his hand in panic. “Please. No need to flatter us. It’s an honor to meet you. ”
“We’re just… small players compared to other groups Our merchant is small right now”
Ai glanced around, already scanning the area. “Looks like we’ll have a little shopping and change to do,” she muttered.
Nexas chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Yeah… first things first, we clean up. Then we see what these merchants have.”
The group led them through a narrow alley, the smell of the sea mingling with the faint scent of exotic goods.
Nexas and Ai arrived at the merchant office.
Nexas stopped at the entrance and looked up at the building. His gaze slowly moved from the wide doors to the tall storage towers behind it.
“…This is not little,” he said flatly.
Ai nodded seriously. “This is very not little.”
Hubr scratched his head, looking embarrassed. “My lord, the storage system here isn’t even full yet.”
Nexas stared at him in silence for a moment. “I really don’t understand the merchant mindset,” he muttered.
“Let’s just check the clothes.”
They were led inside.
A few minutes later—
“No,” Ai said firmly.
Nexas turned. “What do you mean, no?”
“There is no proper maid dress here,” Ai replied, arms crossed.
Nexas looked at her, expression calm but dangerous. “Go change. Before I cut your salary.”
Ai puffed her cheeks. “That’s abuse.”
She walked off anyway.
After some time, she returned wearing a black-and-blue outfit.
It had a modest skirt, fitted sleeves, and light armor details—clearly not a maid dress, but close enough.
“This is at least half a maid dress,” she said stubbornly.
Nexas ignored her and stepped out next. He wore a deep blue outfit common in Aqualis—clean lines, wave-pattern embroidery, and a silver sash at the waist.
Ai looked at him up and down. “…You look unfairly good.”
“Focus,on your work” Nexas replied.
He turned to Hubr, his presence instantly shifting back to business.
“Now,” Nexas said calmly, “let’s talk properly.”
