A Clueless Genius Wolf (BL)

The first three days of the voyage across the Sunset Sea passed in a blur of serenity and sunshine.

The Royal Horizon sailed smoothly and proudly, its rune-stabilizers humming gently beneath the surface. I spent the days indulging in what few luxuries I allowed myself—after all, even kings deserved moments of reprieve. Plus, it is a vacation, somewhat.

On the first day, I spent hours playing in the onboard arcade, besting enchanted reflex games, and rune-ball challenges until Kyle begged me to stop "showing off." Also, did some blowing and played some fighting games, and racing games. Afterward, we cooled off with a swim in the top-deck pool, laughing as the enchanted waves danced with us. My guards—Zackarey, Seraphine, Arin—remained ever-present, though I could tell they enjoyed seeing me act my age for once.

In the evenings, we dined at one of the Royal Horizon's restaurants—each themed after a region of Dusklight. The Seaside Grill served grilled fish caught by the navy earlier that morning. The Highlands Hearth offered meat pies and warm soups. There was a restaurant for different cuisines as well. Then there was the fancy dining experience, and the common mass hall for an all-you-can-eat buffet. I even tried the onboard gym on the second morning, lifting weights, and keeping in shape. Kyle watched on and handed me water bottles like a worried squire.

At one point, I passed by the glowing doors of the cruise casino, only to be gently steered away by Seraphine. "Sorry, Your Majesty. You're twelve, not twenty-one," she teased. I huffed but didn't argue. Rules were rules, even for a king.

I made my rounds with the ship's captain, Halren, and checked in with Commanders Vyla and Ren aboard the Duskwind and Ironwake via magic mirror. Their crews were disciplined and alert, watching the seas with sharp eyes.

On the second day, I answered a call from the Ministerial Council. Their mirrored faces greeted me in the ship's conference chamber, each one appearing inside a silver-rimmed communication mirror.

"Everything remains in order," I assured them. "The voyage is going smoothly. I'll report again in two days." It was a short, boring meeting.

Afterward, I brought Kyle on a tour of the Royal Horizon's grand onboard library. His eyes practically lit up like enchanted lamps. The library housed everything—from medical texts to magical bestiaries, all bound in elegant tomes and glowing with runes. However, it didn't compare to my own personal library. Nevertheless, Kyle had to be dragged out, promising to return every day.

On the third day, Kyle decided to shadow the medbay team. He eagerly assisted the healers and watched as magic-infused tools and potions were used to treat sea sickness and minor injuries. Even asked the in-charge non-magical Doctor about medical facts, and shadowed the nurses in their duties as well. Meanwhile, I lounged on the upper deck in a dark blue Speedo, tanning under the blazing sun. Yes—I wore sunscreen. A lot of it.

My snowy wolf ears twitched in delight, tail lazily wagging behind me as I sipped chilled ice-cold Sprite through a straw.

But the peace didn't last. Sadly.

On the morning of the fourth day, everything changed.

The first sign was the sudden, violent lurch of the Royal Horizon. The ship groaned as it was shoved hard to starboard. I bolted upright on my lounge chair, the sunshade snapping closed above me.

Emergency runes along the deck flared a bright red. Sirens blared.

"Impact—port side!" shouted a navy officer over the intercom.

Before I could even move, my guards were at my side, weapons drawn. Magic shields shimmered faintly around us as pre-set wards activated.

I ran to the railing—my tail stiff with tension—and saw them.

Three.

Three huge ass mother fucking sea serpents.

Each one towered above the waves like a living mountain, its body covered in spiked scales the color of tarnished silver. Their glowing eyes fixed hungrily on the Royal Horizon, which now shuddered under the strain of their assault. Water cascaded off their coiled forms as they circled us like sharks.

The defensive wards—woven into the hull and reinforced with emergency magic—held strong, repelling their snapping jaws and thrashing tails. But the impact was still jarring.

Then the call to arms went out.

Magic Division personnel surged forward, casting coordinated spell barrages—fire lances, ice spears, lightning blasts—all hammering into the serpents with synchronized precision. Navy cannons rotated and opened fire, enchanted projectiles slicing through the air and exploding against the serpents' hides. Army soldiers armed with enchanted bows and arrows took up battle positions along the decks.

From the horizon, Duskwind and Ironwake sprang into action.

Under Commander Vyla's leadership, the Duskwind moved into a flanking position, launching harpoons and magical sea mines. Ironwake, with Commander Ren, acted as a distraction—unleashing waves of ice magic that froze the water around the serpents' tails.

"Your Majesty, we may need to retreat below!" Seraphine said.

I shook my head, already summoning my magic. "Not yet. I can help if the shields fail." If the wards and sheilds failed, I would have to cast defensive magic to protect this vessel.

But thanks to Posiden's firm, muscular butt that they didn't.

The crew performed flawlessly.

After an intense twenty-minute skirmish, the serpents faltered. Their massive bodies were scorched, pierced, and frozen in places. Finally, with one final combined strike from all three ships, they fell.

Thunderous crashes rang out as the dead serpents hit the sea, waves rippling out for miles.

A cheer erupted from every deck.

We had survived.

But I wasn't done.

"We're anchoring," I commanded. "Secure the bodies for study. I want their resources and their data."

They were far too large to haul aboard, even for the navy vessels. So I stepped forward, called upon my space magic, and activated my personal inventory spell—an advanced subspace container keyed to me and powered by my mana.

With careful gestures, I opened glowing portals and slowly pulled the massive serpents into my item box. Each one vanished with a shimmer of light.

"Stored," I confirmed. "We'll analyze them later."

That night, the crew remained on high alert.

Watch rotations doubled. Shields were reinforced. Mages took shifts meditating to recover mana.

We had entered a new region of the sea—one not charted by any map.

And from this moment forward, the journey was no longer just a voyage.

It was a trial of endurance, patience, and fighting power.