I'm a Immortal Tavernkeeper, But My S-Rank Daughter Doesn't Know That!

Sensing the growing attention around him, Demetrius decided to use the moment to tell his story in a more dramatic way. While the rest of the crew unloaded the crates from the ship, he climbed onto a nearby crate, towering over the curious onlookers who were beginning to crowd around him, and spread his arms as if he were on a theater stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to recount the terrible experience we had with the Devourer of Ships," he began, his voice filled with a drama that only a theatrical storyteller could emulate. "We were crossing the treacherous waters between Klento and Naeross. The winds were favorable for a swift and peaceful voyage. Our mission? Simply to bring supplies to the island. The crew of my beloved ship, the Traveling Mermaid, were singing along when suddenly a deafening roar echoed across the sea. The calm waters began to churn, and gigantic tentacles rose from the depths of the sea, plunging us into utter chaos.

The audience’s eyes widened as they hung on Demetrius’ every word.

"So it’s just like I heard!" Someone in the audience said, and others followed.

"Yes, they say the Devourer of Ships has a hundred tentacles!"

"My cousin told me that her husband cut off one of the tentacles and another grew in its place.

"No! It’s even worse! His tentacles can regenerate!" Demetrius continued, gesturing vigorously to emphasize the critical moments of his tale. "And this monster really did have huge tentacles that rose up like living towers, whipping the air and the deck of our ship. My crew fought bravely with our spears, which looked like mere toys, against the creature’s thick hide..."

Victor crossed his arms and watched skeptically as Demetrius recounted what had happened. He didn’t remember this story the same way Demetrius did, because he didn’t remember seeing spears in the hands of any sailors.

On the other hand, Franky found it funny, but not because of his story, but because of the expressions Victor made.

"Yes, my friends!" Demetrius continued. "That beast was relentless, like a sea hydra. We were overpowered, one by one, and our ship was lifted high into the air by its tentacles until..."

He paused dramatically, gazing at the horizon as if reliving the moment.

"What happened, for God’s sake?" Someone in the crowd asked.

"Until I, Demetrius, was grabbed by one of those monstrous tentacles! The pressure I felt all over my body was overwhelming, and I could feel my ribs buckling under the force of that infernal creature. At that moment, I knew for sure that my end had come. I saw my life flash before my eyes, and as I struggled to breathe, something miraculous happened.

The audience was in absolute silence, everyone holding their breath.

"Suddenly, a flash of steel cut through the air. The tentacle holding me was severed in a single blow, releasing me from its deadly grip. As I fell to the deck, I looked up and saw the silhouette of a man with hair. He was a warrior of unparalleled skill who had joined our crew at the last minute, just before we left. This warrior was huge, but he was very agile, shooting down tentacles one after the other, but..."

Demetrius took a deep breath, enjoying the captivated attention of the crowd around him. He slowly lowered his arms, as if preparing the atmosphere for a more intense climax.

"You see," he continued in a more serious tone, "the Devourer of Ships was a proud creature and would not back down easily. With overwhelming fury, the beast attacked with even more ferocity, throwing two of our brave crew into the sea and pulling them down with its deadly tentacles."

A murmur of horror ran through the crowd, every face reflecting the growing tension.

Though the form of the story Demetrius had chosen to tell wasn’t exactly true, Victor could see in the faces of every single person on the dock that they were involved in the story, demonstrating Demetrius’ talent for storytelling and persuading people.

"At that moment, I thought all was lost. Losing two companions would be terrible, heartbreaking..." Demetrius continued, his eyes fixed on a distant point as if reliving the moment. "But the warrior, this man of unparalleled courage, did not hesitate. Without trembling his legs, he plunged into the murky waters and disappeared into the treacherous depths to save my companions."

The listeners were now completely absorbed in the story, some of them clenching their fists in fear. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"There, in the dark depths, the battle continued. We could only see the surface of the water churning violently. It was a terrible sight, my friends, something I will never forget. But for a moment everything was still, as if the sea itself held its breath.

Demetrius paused dramatically, letting the tension permeate the air. The sound of the waves on the nearby beach and the creaking of the parked ships was all that could be heard at that moment, not another sigh.

"Then," he continued in a low, intense voice, "the water began to bubble and suddenly he appeared! The warrior emerged from the depths, carrying our two men, one in each arm, and holding his sword in his mouth. The huge body of the Devourer of Ships appeared just behind him, floating dead on the surface as the red waters of the sea slowly calmed."

The crowd around Demetrius erupted in applause and cheers, with shouts of "Bravo!" and "A savior!" filling the air.

Victor, still with his arms crossed, shook his head with a wry smile, but couldn’t help but feel a slight sense of pride as he listened to the dramatized version of his deeds.

On the other hand, Demetrius’ exaggerated role-playing and Victor’s expression amused Franky. He approached Victor and whispered, "I think you’ve gained a few extra admirers today.

Despite the seafaring community’s unity against those who only lived on land, there were skeptical members, particularly regarding the history of pirates, merchants, and fishermen.

"Who is this warrior you are talking about? Does he really exist? Huh?" A pirate asked.

"It is true! If he exists, we should thank him for killing the Devourer of Ships! Bring him here!"

"Thank him? We should make him ruler of this island! But he doesn’t exist!"

"But it makes sense that the Devourer of Ships has been defeated. He hasn’t appeared for days!"

"And where have you been all this time, Demetrius?" Cassandra, the tall woman with the clipboard in her hand, asked, joining the crowd of questioners. "You should have left Klento three years ago."

"A single man would never defeat the Devourer of Ships!"

"I just remember that the people in the harbor heard a rumbling sound coming from the sea a few days ago. Could it be...?"

"The hunters hired by the merchants of Klento said it would take an army of warships and cannons to defeat that sea monster!"

Demetrius was lost in the midst of so many voices and questions. He thought he had told the story with such eagerness, desire, and detail that there would be no room for doubt.

"Come on, Demetrius, show us the sea warrior who saved your crew! Hahaha!"

Nervous and unsure of what to do, Demetrius had no choice. He turned dramatically to the "Traveling Mermaid" and pointed to the man with crossed arms who was watching from the deck.

"That’s the warrior! His name is Victor Shieldman!" Demetrius announced.