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Chapter 69: Spartan Tutor
Powered by the bizarre awakening of the Dying Will Bullet, Bell tore across the landscape toward Melen at blinding speed.
Melen was a bustling port town situated along the shores of Lake Lolog, a massive brackish lake connected to the sea. Every day, countless ships from foreign nations docked there, unloading imported goods while taking on Orario's exports to trade across the world.
"UOOOOOOOH!!"
"KYAAAAAA!!"
"W-What the hell is that!?"
"P-Pervert!! There's a pervert sprinting at top speed!!"
Bell charged straight through the streets of Melen like a runaway freight train. The sudden appearance of a half-naked man with a blazing forehead and a demonic grimace sent the townspeople into absolute panic.
.....
Around Lake Lolog.
"Njord-sama, we can handle the rest of this," a Familia member offered.
"I'm the one who made this stuff. It's only natural I dispose of it myself," replied a shirtless man with messy brown hair and a towel draped around his neck, pushing a heavy cart stacked high with sacks.
This man was Njord, the patron deity of the maritime and fishing-focused Njord Familia. As the God of Fishing, he had a warm personality and deeply loved the children of the lower world.
Melen's booming fishing industry was largely due to the Njord Familia's operations. The fish they caught were sold not only in Melen but across the markets of Orario. Simply put, without the Njord Familia, Orario wouldn't be able to enjoy fresh seafood.
"Whatever the reason, I went and did this behind your backs. Let me at least do this much."
"Njord-sama…"
Despite being a fishing Familia, their operations had recently been plagued by aquatic monsters eating their catches and claiming the lives of their crew members. Desperate for a solution, Njord had engineered a special powder to act as bait. Unfortunately, the powder's nature was highly unethical. Its existence had recently been exposed, but considering his good intentions, his punishment was limited to a strict ban on using the powder. Chastised, Njord had sworn off such shortcuts and resolved to conduct their fishing operations properly from now on.
"Hm? What's with all the racket in town?"
Njord paused, wiping sweat from his brow. A thunderous, rapidly approaching noise caught his attention.
"UOOOOOOOH!!"
"W-What the hell is that!?"
Suddenly, a half-naked man with a demonic expression burst out from the town and came barreling toward him. Njord stared in total shock.
Without shedding a fraction of his momentum, Bell vaulted off the docks and plunged headfirst into Lake Lolog. He immediately began swimming across the vast body of water at a terrifying speed.
"Hey!! Come back!! The monsters will eat you alive!!"
Even if the monsters outside Orario were weaker than the ones in the Dungeon, fighting underwater was a completely different story. Even an adventurer with a Falna was practically helpless in the water, making them easy prey for aquatic beasts. Njord frantically screamed for Bell to return, but the boy was already too far gone.
"So that's where he went."
"Whoa!? Did that baby just talk!?"
Reborn strolled up to the docks, completely unbothered by the chaos. Njord jumped back, thoroughly spooked by the articulate infant.
"Leon," Reborn called out.
The chameleon resting on Reborn's fedora leaped toward the lake. Mid-air, it rapidly expanded and shifted its form, transforming seamlessly into a fully functional motorboat.
This was Leon, Reborn's shape-shifting chameleon partner. He could perfectly replicate the form and function of any object he had seen before.
"H-Hey!! What do you think you're doing!?"
Ignoring Njord's protests, Reborn hopped into the chameleon-turned-motorboat, revved the engine, and sped off across the lake in hot pursuit of Bell.
.....
Meanwhile, Bell had already crossed the lake and was now swimming out into the open sea.
"Eh…!?"
Suddenly, the brilliant flame on Bell's forehead extinguished. He blinked, shaking his head as his consciousness abruptly snapped back to reality.
"T-The ocean!? And why am I dressed like this!?"
Bell frantically treaded water, completely bewildered as to why he was floating in the middle of the sea in nothing but his underwear.
"You ran out here yourself. Seems like you instinctively knew what you needed to do," Reborn called out.
"Reborn-san!? What is going on!?"
Reborn's motorboat pulled up alongside the panicked adventurer. He held up a strange bullet adorned with a flame emblem between his thumb and forefinger. Bell stared at it, utterly lost.
"Anyone shot in the head with this dies once, then resurrects with the 'Dying Will' to resolve whatever they regretted right before death. The effect lasts for five minutes."
"W-Wait a minute!! What if I didn't have any regrets…!?"
"You would've stayed dead. That's for sure."
"!!?"
The blood drained from Bell's face as the sheer horror of Reborn's words sunk in.
"You should worry more about your surroundings," Reborn pointed out coolly.
"Eh?"
Prompted by Reborn, Bell looked around. Disturbing ripples were forming on the water's surface as aquatic monsters began to close in on him.
"This is the first step of your training. Swim to the opposite shore—with your dying will."
"Eh!? Wait, Reborn-san!?"
Without another word, Reborn spun the motorboat around and sped back toward the distant shore. Bell thrashed in the water, completely abandoned in the middle of the ocean. The monsters were inching closer by the second.
"UWAAAAAAAH!!"
Sensing imminent death, Bell began to swim frantically toward the shore. His movements were heavily restricted in the water, he had no weapons, and his Firebolt was completely useless submerged. His only option was to swim for his life.
I-I'm gonna die!! I'm going to die before the War Game even starts!!.....
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