Danmachi: Westward Cloud [Complete]

[Vol.4] Quest 340- School District

When night came, the student returned and gave them the green light.

"Alright, we are far enough away that returning would be a waste of time."

"Thank you once again for smuggling us in," Haku said.

"We will make sure we are not caught." Said Retsu.

"I doubt it," the student said. "If Leon could find some students who ditched class in the belly of the ship, then I doubt your presence would remain hidden from your father." They looked at Haku. "Or your mother."

"!!" All four shuddered.

"I-is sensei really here!?" Musashi spoke, frightened.

"A-and w-we are stuck here," Mairu said, shaking.

"Do you think we can take a boat off this ship?" Retsu said, trying to remain calm.

"Not at this distance, plus, do any of you guys know how to sail or navigate?" the student asked.

"Uhh… I know how to sail?" Haku said. "But not navigate."

"Well, guess you’re stuck here."

In the shadows, a pair of kaleidoscopic eyes looks at the group and disappears.

Ai and Cirrus’ room.

"Master," Fafnir speaks, popping her head above Cirrus and Ai from the ceiling.

"Fafnir," Cirrus said with Ai in his arms.

"Did you find something?" Ai said, placing her head on Cirrus’ chest.

"Lord Hakushika had bribed one of the students to let him and his friends on board."

"Like I said, Cirrus, he gets it from you," Ai said, tracing her fingers on his chest.

"He gets his sneakiness from you." He said, glancing up at Fafnir. "Fafnir, show me where they are."

"Can’t you get him in the morning?"

"Hmm…" Cirrus tilts his head left and right. "I guess so. Kinda don’t wanna get out of bed."

"He would remain in the location for a while now. Waiting until morning will do nothing." Fafnir said.

"I see, then you can do as you wish, Fafnir."

"Thank you, master." She returned into the shadows and left.

Say, Cirrus, do you want to go again?"

"I'd rather not; you know Art could tell."

"Hm, but that makes it all the better!"

"As I said, Haku gets his sneakiness from you."

The next morning.

"…" Haku looks around the corner. "Were good."

Musashi, Mairu, and Retsu followed him.

They moved with swiftness and caution.

"So, where are we headed?" asked Mairu.

"Anywhere but here," Haku said.

"I suggest somewhere loud," Musashi said. "We should also look into getting new clothes to better blend into the area."

"Why didn’t you suggest it when the student Haku bribed was here?" Retsu said.

"I was more worried about sensei being here to think about other stuff."

"Fair enough."

"Yes, she is pretty scary," Cirrus said.

"Especially with her sword," Mairu said.

"If we aren’t quiet, she will... Hm?" Haku heard a familiar voice. He turned around to see his father behind them.

"Hello~," Cirrus said, waving at his son.

The others slowly turn to see him as well.

"H-hello, sir!!" Mairu said, having never met Cirrus in person.

"I have to say I am very proud you found a way to sneak in." Cirrus nodded.

"T-thank you, Dad." Haku nodded as well.

"But also fucking livid." Anger laced his words. His eyes have a painful gaze to them.

"Well, uh—"

"You can think of your excuses on our way to the headmaster's office." Cirrus turned to walk towards the center tower of the ship. "Come along. I don’t want to have to drag you along."

They all slowly followed along, looking down at the ground.

Baldr’s office.

Pat~

Pat~

Pat~

Cirrus was tapping his foot, his eyes on his son and his friends.

"So." He said. "What is the best excuse you can come up with?" Cirrus tilts his head.

"U-uh, well, um... We... wanted a tour of the school?" Haku spoke unassuringly.

"A… tour?" Cirrus looked at the others beside him. "Does he speak for all of you?"

"Y-yes sir!!" Mairu shouted.

"Hm! Hm!" Retsu and Musashi nodded.

"A-fucking-mazing," Cirrus said, tilting his head again, his eyes growing intense enough that Haku, Mairu, Musashi, and Retsu swore they would begin to swirl. "Well, Lord Baldr." Cirrus looked to the god who runs School District. "Why didn’t you say you had tours of the school?"

Cirrus wasn’t actually that angry; he just needed to put on a show. But he would be lying if he wasn’t a bit pissed and proud that he did this.

"Ugh…" Baldr didn’t like the piercing glare Cirrus was giving off. It reminded him too much of Freya, Odin, and Loki. "W-well, um… we uh…" Baldr looked at the kids, and they were sweating bullets. "W-we do, but, um, given the situation at hand, we d-denied anything of the sort!"

"So answer me this," Poseidon said. "How did you get in?"

"I-I promised I would not say!" Haku said it with a forced smile.

"Answer," Cirrus said.

He made a mistake. The way he phrased it implied that someone was involved.

"D-dad y-you said a man i-is only as good as their word!" Haku managed to say out loud. "If I say then I would be scum."

He quite liked how Haku was adapting. But as a father, he wanted to use the belt on his son for using his own words against him.

‘He’s fucking lucky I don’t have chanclas.’ Cirrus thought.

"Lord Poseidon, Lord Baldr. Would it be possible to take them back?"

"Of course, but we would be wasting time," Baldr said.

"The Leviathan would and will move through the entire sea, so the faster we get to it, the less damage it will do." Said Poseidon.

Cirrus also knew this. To be honest, he is confident that he will be fine. Fafnir was in his shadow to keep him safe, along with his friends. A reason why he let him remain on board was for the chance to show up in front of his son, whom he hadn’t seen much of.

"U-um dad, where is mom?" Haku asked.

"Do you think your mom will be any easier on you if she was here?" Cirrus looked back at his son with a piercing gaze.

"Gulp!" They all made an audible gulp.

"Lord Baldr, are there any chores or jobs that the students of this establishment don’t want to do?"

"There is the cleaning duty and the janitorial work," Baldr said.

"Dad, please don’t make—"

"They will do it after some lessons with Ai in the training area."

"T-training area?" Musashi said.

"Yes, a rather large one for the students to regularly train. Oh, by the way," He said, looking back to Baldr. "Since they won’t give up the person he promised who snuck them in, I suggest every student participate in Ai’s lessons."

"!?" Haku realized where he went wrong.

‘Shit!’

"Very well. I see no problem in them getting some hands-on lessons from the Red Crown."

"Well, seems your day is gonna be hell." Cirrus smiled.

"Ugh…" The kids groaned.

Later on in the day, Cirrus was lying in the grass on the back end of the ship.

‘They are fighting the Behemoth, you know?’ Vesta said.

‘And how goes the raid?’ Cirrus says, staring at the clouds.

‘Good. Their might is easily able to cut through whatever the Behemoth has. In fact, I should be dead soon.’

‘How soon exactly?’

‘Right now. I am absorbing as much of the corrupted flame as I can.’

‘And how fucked am I?’

‘You will be fine. It is with the Leviathan that you will begin to feel something as White Night hits its limit.’

‘… Cool.’

He closes his eyes as a heavy feeling overcomes his body.

"One foot in the grave." He softly spoke to himself.

Rumble~

Off in the distance, Cirrus could see dark clouds coming. The air smelled a bit more salty.

"… Why am I cursed by the sea?"