I Became a Raid Boss-Chapter 101: Departure (1)

The sunlight was just right, and a cool breeze was blowing.

It was a perfect day.

“...After taking a few days off, I’m really... really... really... you idiots! This is all because you kept nagging! I only went to train because you kept calling me weak! And to be honest, I’ve been streaming nonstop recently! Seriously, I was on all day for weeks, except when I was sleeping. Can’t I take a break? Right or wrong? Tell me! Say I’m right already!”

For someone, though, it seemed like it wasn’t such a great day.

Daeun, standing a little apart from our group, was fervently venting to... well, someone. Despite her loud voice, no one found it odd, suggesting that it had to do with “that other world” of hers.

“...I’m sorry. It was my fault....”

Raising her voice only to end up backing down—now that was very Daeun.

But... doing a handstand out of nowhere? Really?

With her hands together as if in prayer, she balanced on them, a sight that caught the attention of Selene and everyone else around. Apparently, Edel’s filter didn’t block that kind of behavior.

“...Journey?”

“Ah, h-huh? Yes? Did you call?”

“What are you doing?”

“...It’s an exercise that’s trendy among the apostles these days.”

“I... see. But why are you doing it now?”

“Whew... I just felt a bit out of shape lately. It’s great for building core strength, flexibility, and balance. Selene, would you like to try?”

“No, thank you. I’m not good with physical activities.”

“Hmmm....”

“...Journey?”

“I think it’s better if Selene doesn’t try this either. ‘Do a grand bow to Selene, and you’ll get ten thousand won’? Do you think I don’t see what you’re up to? I already said I’d upload a clip of my fight with Krumo’s-whatever, and I did the grand bow too, so enough already! Honestly, you all are a bunch of pervs....”

“Quite the unique person....”

“Agreed,” I nodded in response to Atisha’s comment.

It wasn’t in a bad way. If Daeun weren’t so unique, we probably wouldn’t be this close.

Atisha’s expression showed a similar sentiment, as a small smile appeared on her face as she watched Daeun.

“Thanks to Journey, there’s been a significant decrease in hostility toward humans....”

The long-standing war between demons and humans—the Second Race War—had left strong hostility between the two sides. While demons had given humans reasons to fear them, they too had their own “survival” concerns.

Born during or after the war, many young demons viewed humans with unfiltered hostility, lacking the complex feelings of the previous generation. But on the day Krumo’s Shadow attacked the village, they witnessed a human who ran tirelessly, uncaring of injuries, to protect them. A human who unhesitatingly risked her life to save a stranger child.

Of course, it wasn’t enough to erase all hostility accumulated over time, but—

“Now that they’ve seen there are good people, things might improve bit by bit....”

Atisha seemed particularly troubled by the young demons who held a deep-seated hatred for humans.

Breaking the cycle of hatred, huh?

...Well, I don’t know. Even if one side breaks it, the other side might still cling to it. It wasn’t something I understood, and it wasn’t my place to argue, so I shifted the topic instead.

“Are we ready?”

“We’re all set.”

She had prepared the ship, supplies, route, and everything else for the journey to Raxia. Proudly, Atisha puffed out her chest as she confirmed this.

“...You’ll be steering, as we discussed?”

“Yes... among those who can handle a ship, I’m the only one who can resist the miasma.”

“Hm.”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

I had been eyeing the dark circles under her eyes, but I shook my head.

Well, it should be fine. Worst case, I can just give her a little smack to wake her up.

“...?”

Atisha, sensing something, glanced over her shoulder and nervously rubbed the back of her head.

“Is it too late to ask... are you sure you’re okay? You don’t need more rest?”

“I’ve rested plenty. If I take any more time off, I’ll start losing muscle.”

“True...”

“You’re one of the people who made me stay in bed, and now you’re agreeing with me?”

Annoyed at her contradictory response, I glared at her.

“I’m not one to forget grudges. Keep that in mind.”

“...That’s... kind of scary.”

Atisha shivered.

That’s the normal reaction.

Unlike someone who, upon hearing such words, would momentarily be frightened only to laugh and give me a hug, Atisha’s reaction was refreshingly textbook.

“Kana, I got you!”

“...Sigh.”

Speak of the devil. No sooner had I thought about her than someone came up behind me and wrapped me in a hug, lifting me off the ground.

The source of this c𝓸ntent is frёeweɓηovel.coɱ.

As I felt myself rising, I spoke flatly.

“Put me down.”

“Nope~! You’re not fully recovered yet. Just let yourself relax in your sister’s arms! Hehe, you’re so soft.”

“....”

I felt warmth on my head.

What did she find so appealing about my hair that she had to rub it like that?

If this was the “girly” image my dad wanted for me, I’d say becoming a “girly girl” in this lifetime was out of the question.

The one who’d get tired of holding on would be Daeun, not me. Thinking this, I let myself go limp, and Daeun chuckled happily.

“You look like a kitten like that.”

“I don’t care if I look like a cat or anything else. Let’s just get moving if we’re all set.”

If we’d stuck to the plan, we should’ve already set sail. We were delayed by Daeun’s impromptu handstand show.

I wasn’t upset—I’d had my share of entertainment—but now it was time to get going, wasn’t it?

“Or do you want to do it again?”

If so, I could help. Sailing upside-down from the mast would be a unique experience, after all.

Daeun, catching my hint, shook her head vigorously.

“N-no, I’m good!”

She then immediately carried me onto the ship Atisha had prepared for us. The ship was impressively large. Large enough that I couldn’t help but wonder if only four people could manage it.

It wasn’t about wasting resources—it was a genuine concern about whether the four of us could handle this big of a vessel. It would probably take a lot of hands to operate a ship of this size.

‘If she prepared it, she must know what she’s doing.’

Surely, she didn’t prepare this just as a way of repaying us without thinking it through.

“Don’t worry, I’m good at sailing....”

Atisha, reading my thoughts, reassured me.

“When you live near the sea, you get used to it whether you want to or not... you have to go out to catch fish, after all. Besides, I just really enjoy sailing....”

“Oh, really? So, fishing is a hobby of yours?”

“No... I just like steering the ship. Feeling the waves and the wind from Raxia... it brings back memories....”

“I see...”

“Well, you must be glad, then. You finally get to go to Raxia.”

“Yes... though I still won’t be able to set foot on land....”

Taking over Daeun’s stammering, I nodded.

While we were chatting, Selene climbed aboard and checked to make sure we hadn’t forgotten anything.

After confirming everything was set, Atisha raised the sails and hoisted the anchor embedded in the seabed.

“Nng... cha...”

“Do you need a hand?”

“No, I’ve got it....”

Her strained grunt made Daeun approach and ask if she needed help, but Atisha firmly shook her head.

Though her sounds were strained, she managed to hoist the anchor on her own. Apparently, her enthusiasm for sailing was no joke, as she prepared to set sail without any help, wiping sweat from her brow with satisfaction.

“Alright, then, let’s set sail....”

“Do we need to row?”

“Do you want to row? Go on, then.”

Thump.

“Ah, no, that’s not what I meant...!”

Daeun looked dismayed as Atisha handed her an oar.

But then, glancing at me, still in her arms, she brightened a bit.

“Well... it wouldn’t be so bad if I could row with Kana by my side, you know?”

“Why me?”

I hadn’t even agreed to help, so I tilted my head, puzzled. She looked down at me, betrayal in her eyes.

“...Really?”

“What’s so strange about not wanting to row? Don’t you think it’s a waste of a valuable resource like me?”

“I mean... true.”

“I wanted to go on a cute little rowboat date...,” Daeun murmured, sounding dejected.

Watching her look so forlorn, I reached over and snatched the oar from her hand.

Whoosh.

And tossed it far into the distance.

“Ah!”

“We don’t need that.”

It wasn’t like Atisha actually planned to make us row. She probably just wanted to tease Daeun.

Seeing her trying to suppress a smile confirmed it.

Atisha opened her hands wide.

Rumble—

From her outstretched hands and intact horn, a deep miasma emerged, gathering into a powerful gust of wind that caught the sail.

“Whoa?!”

Daeun stumbled as the ship picked up speed suddenly.

Her arm around my waist squeezed, pinning me tightly against her. Though I wasn’t truly suffocating, the sudden pressure forced a gasp from me.

“...Ugh.”

“Oh, sorry...!”

“If you’re really sorry, could you maybe put me down?”

“Are you tired of me already?”

“If I’m about to be, yes, put me down.”

Finally freed from Daeun’s hold, I stretched my arms toward the sky, loosening my stiff muscles as she watched, pleased.

“...What?”

“Nothing. I just think you’re cute when you stretch.”

“...?”

Cute for something like stretching?

Ignoring her familiar doting gaze, I continued my stretches, noticing that her gaze didn’t waver until I was done.