Chapter 53 – The Youngest Daughter of the Count’s Family (16)
Relying on crude telescopes and human eyes, the odds of encountering the enemy fleet mid-ocean are slim.
But!
Humans aren’t machines—rest is essential. Especially for those unaccustomed to ships.
“Ugh!”
I’d bragged about never getting seasick before sailing.
But the ship rocked like a rollercoaster all day, and I surrendered, emptying my stomach.
Pat pat!
“Lord Baron, are you all right?”
Lady Valentine rubbed my back as I leaned over the deck, retching.
She remained unruffled even in this misery.
“And you, Lady Valentine?”
“This is tame compared to a wild stallion.”
“Jealous—bleurgh!”
A glance around showed I alone suffered.
“Baron, hang in there. The island will appear soon.”
“That’s the fifth time you’ve said that…”
The duke’s steady stance, feet glued to the swaying deck, offered no comfort.
“If the imperial main fleet hasn’t reached the island first, we can rest immediately.”
“Ugh…”
An island in the open sea serves as a rest stop.
A must for seasick landlubbers like me.
In small skirmishes, it can be ignored, but in large-scale naval battles with vomiting troops, rest is a critical factor.
In short,
“The island will decide the war.”
Whichever side—kingdom or empire—secures it and its supply line wins.
‘Please!’
I just want solid ground.
“Your Grace! Island sighted!”
“Finally!”
At the sailor’s shout, I stared at the horizon with hollow eyes.
‘It’s real!’
Something faintly visible.
“The empire?”
“…Imperial flags. They’ve taken the island.”
“No choice. Signal all ships! Full speed! Strike before they notice…!”
The duke issued resolute orders.
Extremely disadvantageous.
But delay would widen the gap—no time to hesitate.
“For Somaek!”
“For Somaek!”
Everyone roared.
Especially the men standing like comrades beside Baron Somaek—their aura overwhelming!
Talents diligently gathered by the baron, gifted with “eye for people” by the author.
‘He really worked hard.’
Result of my advice: to become king, you need excellent vassals.
But even movie-like 1-vs-100 fights aren’t possible, so their impact on victory is limited.
“Your Grace.”
“Baron Amolang, prepare quickly!”
“What are our chances?”
“…The imperial fleet, without the emperor’s weakness, is formidable.”
That answer sufficed.
“Do you trust me, Your Grace?”
“Of course.”
“Then abandon the surprise attack and wait until dawn tomorrow.”
“…A way to win?”
“If I return alive, we will win.”
“Will?”
“Yes. Will.”
A life-or-death gamble begins.
***
Spotting the kingdom’s fleet, the empire stayed put on the island. Time was on their side.
Fighting from fortified positions minimized losses, so no need to rush.
Night fell amid the standoff.
“Time to go.”
I painted myself pitch-black from head to toe.
“…Lady Valentine, where have you been staring?”
“At Lord Baron’s future heirs.”
“…”
Her bold declaration left me speechless.
“Baron, isn’t the island too far for infiltration? A small boat could get you closer…”
Baron Somaek alternated worried glances between me and the island.
“That would get us caught.”
The empire, no fools, lit the surroundings with torches. A small boat would trigger instant alert.
“True, but…”
“I’ll be back.”
I dove into the sea, body blackened.
Splash!
‘A national swimmer should manage this!’
I’m a contender for the 10 km open-water team—stamina is my forte.
Exact distance unknown, but I won’t collapse and become fish food.
Shhh—
I stayed submerged, surfacing only to breathe, avoiding sentries.
‘Nuclear submarine!’
I’ll prove that nickname is no exaggeration.
How long did I swim?
“Phew.”
Finally ashore, I hid behind a cliff beside the imperial fleet’s anchorage, steadying my ragged breath.
‘Whew! Nearly died!’
Rough waves and currents were bad enough, but this distance far exceeded 10 km.
Still, reaching undetected was what mattered.
Now?
“Let’s begin.”
Splash!
Submerging again, I swam toward the clustered imperial ships.
“Kingdom?”
“Quiet.”
“Night raid? Strange. Stay vigilant.”
“Yes, Lord Baron!”
Ignoring voices from the deck, I dove beneath the hull.
‘Here goes.’
Poof!
I summoned the legendary sword—pudding-cutter of ships.
Slice—
The sturdy wooden bottom parted silently, like sawing butter.
‘Good. Next!’
A huge hole would sink it fast and alert the empire.
I needed gradual flooding—controlled damage.
Slice—
I didn’t count, but every anchored ship, big or small, got the blade.
One full lap around the island.
Deciding exposure was now fine, I grew bolder for a second circuit.
“W-Water!”
“Secure food first…!”
“Ambush?!”
The empire finally noticed; the island erupted in chaos.
Greed would be dangerous, so—
Poof!
I dismissed the sword, rested in hiding, then swam back to the kingdom fleet.
***
“I’m back.”
“Baron… you truly succeeded…?”
“Yes. Every ship at the island is sinking.”
“…”
The duke gaped, frozen in shock.
Thud.
My seemingly infinite stamina depleted; I collapsed on the deck.
“Lord Baron, I’ll dry you.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Lady Valentine wiped me with a dry towel.
‘Ah! Not there… mm…’
I wanted to handle sensitive spots myself, but exhaustion pinned every finger.
“Terrifying.”
“…”
I answered the duke’s mutter with silence.
“Annihilating the imperial main fleet alone, without a scratch… a myth come to life.”
“So it scares you?”
“Yes. Enough to want you dead right here.”
Lady Valentine jolted.
“Your Grace?!”
“Haha! Calm yourself, Lady Valentine. If I wanted Baron Amolang gone, I’d have done it quietly. Right?”
“Y-Yes…”
She clutched the blanket meant for me, sighing in relief.
I spoke calmly.
“Let’s go. Victory’s glory is yours, Your Grace.”
“Pretend to be scared, at least.”
“If you wish.”
“Never mind.”
The duke, lips pouting like a sulky child, gazed at the island.
“When you proposed the plan, I was certain it would fail. Too far for a man to swim.”
“You lied.”
“Ahem! Still, I abandoned the raid and waited—proof I believed in your success.”
“Ah, yes.”
Results-wise, true.
“Baron, I’ll spread a rumor now.”
“Attack?”
“Why strike a weaponless foe? The moment you succeeded, this battle became ours—no, the Sea God’s victory.”
“Sea God…?”
Why invoke a deity now?
“Baron Amolang, yield your credit to the Sea God.”
“Why me?”
“Because from today, you are the Sea God protecting the Somaek house.”
“…”
Like the genius shaman Yoo Il-am, I became a fraud.
***
“Behold! The Sea God, guardian of Somaek, has sunk every imperial warship!”
“Waaah!”
“Waaaah!”
The duke, now a cult leader, didn’t attack the island even after dawn.
Instead, he swayed naïve nobles and soldiers with propaganda and lies.
Even,
‘This actually works?’
Overnight, the kingdom’s nobles and troops witnessed the “miracle” of the empire’s fleet sinking.
They began praising a nonexistent Sea God.
“Warriors of the great Sea God! Encircle the island.”
“Yes!”
The troops moved with unbelievable vigor and morale, defying their long voyage.
‘The power of superstition!’
I understood why religion fuels politics and war.
“But Your Grace, is surrounding enough without fighting?”
“Didn’t I say it? Victory was ours the moment the baron succeeded. Cut their supplies, and they’ll collapse on their own.”
“Ah!”
The imperial warships carried most of their food.
With no troop losses, consumption was rapid!
The duke calculated they couldn’t last long on a self-sufficiency-limited island.
Meanwhile,
“Your Grace, supply ships have arrived.”
“Maintain the blockade and resupply. No rush.”
“Yes!”
The kingdom had supply issues but no starvation risk.
Five days later,
“Your Grace! Imperial fleet!”
“Here they come! Avoid full engagement—clear a path to the island!”
“Yes!”
The duke’s odd order after blocking supplies thoroughly.
I felt a bad omen.
“Baron Amolang.”
“No thanks.”
First time was ignorance; no second round.
“How about this?”
“What?”
Thud!
The duke suddenly knelt before me, pleading.
“Great Sea God! Protector of Somaek! Please!”
“…”
“Sea God! Many women and children await our safe return in the duchy.”
“…Last time.”
“Haha! Sea God! Thank you! I’ll erect a statue in your honor upon return!”
“Tch.”
This isn’t just for the kingdom. Surrender without battle means no imperial deaths either.
Wishing everyone caught in this war returns home safely…
Splash!
They’d heightened security after the first hit, but I’d grown more skilled.
“Sea God!”
“The curse on the ships…!”
“Gasp! The Sea God again?!”
Oddly, imperial troops knew of the “Sea God.”
Panic spread—even commanders were rattled, no control.
Then,
“Don’t fear! The enemy is human! Follow me!”
“Baron Pimaang?!”
Splash! Splash!
Those spotting me dove in.
‘Can they catch me?’
Lifelong coastal swimmers, but still ordinary.
No match for a national-level athlete.
Whoosh—
‘Huh?’
One refused to be shaken off.
A handsome man with blue hair.
Memorizing every trait of the romance-fantasy men, I recognized him instantly.
‘Baron Pimaang.’
No surprise—he’s canonically an excellent swimmer.
Anyway,
“Blub blub?!”
Slice—
I couldn’t let him live after realizing I’m no god, just human.
‘Farewell.’
Baron Pimaang, foolishly trying to block the legendary sword bare-handed.
Both arms severed, he sank slowly, staining the sea red.
“Glub…”
“…”
Witness eliminated, I sank every imperial ship and slipped away.
Two days later,
Flutter~
A small boat with a pure white surrender flag approached slowly.
“We won.”
“Haha! Thanks to the great Sea God’s efforts!”
The duke grinned at me.
“The Sea God retires now.”
“Gasp! Retirement’s impossible—how about a vacation compromise?”
“I’ll think about it.”
Somehow, the novel had turned into <I Became the Duke’s Sea God!>
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