Pick Me Up!

After almost pulling an all-nighter, I learned the underwater combat skill.

My movements in the water definitely improved. The resistance of moving underwater felt significantly reduced. I could now somewhat counter enemy attacks underwater.

However, since it was still level 1, my movements were not as fast as on land. More training was needed.

“We seem to have arrived at the first base.”

I emerged from the water.

Katiio was standing at the entrance of the training area.

Stepping onto the deck, Katiio pointed to the left.

“See that?”

At the tip of Katiio’s finger was an island, about 30 meters in size.

It was a rock island.

[‘Capitalism’ has arrived at the first base.]

[Obtain the first item!]

Atop the rock island, a small box was placed.

Aside from the box, it was completely empty.

“What shall we do?”

“What about the water dragon?”

“It’s roaming nearby.”

‘…I see.’

After two days of observation.

The water dragon, indicated by the red circle, was patrolling the area in a certain pattern.

If it didn’t move from the center, it would be easy.

“If it’s too dangerous, we could wait for it to move away…”

“No, we don’t have time.”

There’s one base in each cardinal direction.

We don’t have the luxury of time to just wait for him to get further away.

“I’ll go.”

“Should I call the other members?”

“I’m enough alone.”

Katiio began the chant.

Soon, light wrapped around my body. It was the water-walking magic. I stepped over the railing onto the water’s surface.

“Ah, I forgot to say.”

“…?”

“Start the airship. And be ready to flee at any moment.”

Katiio entered the cockpit.

I approached the island with my hand on the hilt of my sword.

With each step, ripples spread from my toes.

‘No monsters.’

The water’s surface was calm.

Not even a fish, let alone a monster, was in sight.

I climbed onto the rock and approached the box.

‘Hmm…’

It was an obvious choice.

To risk danger for an item, or to avoid danger by forsaking the item.contemporary romance

The answer was clear.

Bang!

I kicked open the lid of the box.

[‘Han (★★★)’ has obtained ‘Mermaid’s Tears (Lowest Grade) X 5’!]

[Trigger activated!]

Inside the box were glass bottles filled with a transparent liquid.

I swiftly packed the potions into a prepared leather pouch and then quickly left the rock island.

Kwoooh!

[‘Water Dragon Ktaart’ roars.]

[‘Blessing of the Water Spirit’ is applied!]

‘I knew it.’

The sky darkened to a navy hue.

Wind and rain began to lash out.

I ran across the churning water’s surface.

I jumped over the railing into the cockpit. The red circle of the domain was rapidly approaching.

“Han!”

“Let’s go.”

[‘Capitalism’s high-speed navigation system activates!]

I went to the deck.

The partially submerged airship was moving.

And behind the ship, something huge was breaking through the water, approaching.

‘It’s faster than before.’

We had easily fled the water dragon during our first escape, but this time, the distance wasn’t widening as easily.

Woooooong!

The airship’s siren began to blare.

Soon after, members of Party 1 rushed to the deck in a hurry.

“It’s already here?”

“Where’s Priasis?”

“I told her to stay in her room.”

Kwoooong!

The water dragon leaped from the water, spraying a water column, and soared into the air.

Opening its mouth in the air, it began gathering a blue light.

[Ktaart casts ‘Hydro Cannon’!]

I flung open the door to the cockpit.

“To the left!”

“Got it!”

Kwaaaaang!

The water cannon fired by the water dragon hit the right side of the airship.

Creeeak! The airship tilted dangerously before righting itself.

[Welcome to Pick Me Up!]

[Loading complete.]

[T O U C H ! (Select)]

[Master, ‘Party 1’ is in combat.]

[Click ‘here’ to check the status!]

Anytng’s control window popped up.

Did he just log in?

“We’re not getting any distance!”

I spread out the leather pouch.

[Mermaid’s Tears]

[Grade: B-]

[A magical potion that allows heroes to breathe underwater. However, there is a time limit.]

‘This won’t do.’

I closed the pouch.

Even though I had learned underwater combat, the skill was only at level 1.

At this level, it wasn’t effective enough.

[Ktaart casts ‘Hydro Cannon’!]

Boom!

The water cannon struck the front of the airship.

Capitalism sharply turned.

Waves surged, and an unexpected deluge of water flooded the deck.

“…There’s nothing we can do.”

Velkist clenched his teeth in frustration.

[Master, the party is in crisis! Summoning weapons is recommended.]

[Summoning requires a wizard. Would you like to issue the command?]

[Yes (Select) / No]

Iselle appeared above the control panel.

[Little Wizard! The master has ordered a weapon summon.]

“What? I’m swamped as it is!”

Bang!

The water cannon grazed the corner of the deck.

The iron plating was shaved off like tofu. I regained my balance and shouted.

“It’s okay, do it!”

“If the high-speed device activates, no one but me can touch it! If I step away from the controls…”

[Would you like to navigate the airship manually?]

[Yes (Select) / No]

Anytng’s screen changed.

It was an image of the airship racing across the sea. Behind it, the water dragon pursued.

And above the screen, two buttons and a gauge bar appeared.

[Manual Navigation Guide]

[Tilting the smartphone to the right will make the airship turn right.]

[Tilting the smartphone to the left will make the airship turn left.]

[The red button accelerates, and the blue button decelerates.]

[When the gauge bar fills, a booster is available.]

The water dragon, now close, opened its mouth.

[Ktaart casts ‘Hydro Cannon’!]

Whoosh!

A fierce wind noise followed, and the airship tilted sharply to the right.

The water cannon brushed past it.

[Nice Drift!]

[The acceleration bar is filling!]

This was one of Pick Me Up’s mini-games, activated under certain conditions.

[Ktaart casts ‘Triple Hydro Cannon’!]

The water dragon consecutively fired three hydro cannons.

Anytng deftly dodged the water cannons by swerving left and right.

[Nice Drift!]

[The acceleration bar filling up.]

[Nice Drift!]

[The acceleration bar filling up.]

[Nice Drift!]

[The cceleration bar filling up.]

‘…’

He’s surprisingly good, isn’t he?

I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!

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