19-12 part 1
A Race That Was Never Chosen Even Once
1/2
Translator : PolterGlast
The triangular sail
is a great invention of our pioneers. To catch the wind from the side and turn
it into forward propulsion isn't something one easily comes up with. To those
unfamiliar with ships, it's a little bit of magic, and right now, we were in the
middle of completely ruining that maritime romance. If you add the power of Movement
Speed LV 2 to Carral's ability to accelerate the fleet, the schooner
dashes through the blue sea at an explosive speed that ignores all principles.
The emerald sea created by coral reefs vanished in the blink of an eye, the
land was also swallowed beyond the horizon, and the schooner bounded across the
vast ocean. Due to the tremendous speed, intense sea spray scattered across the
deck, and a storm-like wind pushed against the sails and stern. According to
the records in the Book of the Evil Dragon, the ship Carral rides
will always change to have a favorable tailwind no matter the situation, but it
seems I had underestimated it. Once we opened the lid, it was an absurd power
that mitigated frontal air resistance and further boosted our acceleration with
more acceleration.
「Wahahaha,
isn't it as if the ship is bouncing on the surface of the sea! Hey, you sailor
over there, why are you reefing the sails!?」
「It's
obviously because we're worried the mast will break from being too fast! More
importantly, Sigrun, don't stay in a place like that and come over here!」
With this much wind
blowing against us, managing the sails wasn't so easy. Under Carral's
instructions, the sailors adjusted the sails, struggling to manage the
propulsion. As for Sigrun, she seemingly took a liking to the bow; even
if she was drenched in seawater or the ship bounced on the waves threatening to
throw her overboard, she refused to leave her fixed position.
『Kukuku...
What an amusing miracle this is.』
Zirant was of
the same breed. Whatever caught her
fancy, she had climbed
up to the lookout post at the top of the mast and was gazing out beyond the
sea. Even though we had anticipated a two-day journey including today, we might
actually arrive at the opposite shore of Merkwell before the day was
over.
「Ah, Shinza,
you can rest down below. Because, those two are just crazy...」
「No,
I'm fine here too. Whether I'm below or above, the swaying won't change. Besides,
it looks more fun next to you.」
「I-I'm
happy you'd say that... But me on a ship might be too valiant, it might
disillusion you, Shinza...」
「No,
don't hold back on my account and go all out. I want to see you exactly as you
are.」
「That's
not the problem here!? And if you focus on me, it makes it even harder to work!」
『Good
grief, you really are a guy who doesn't understand a maiden's heart...』
Looking up at the
top of the mast, Zirant was looking down at us with a sidelong glance. A
maiden's heart, huh. I might never be able to understand it in my entire
life...
「Understood,
I'll help with handling the sails. Treat me like an apprentice sailor and work
me hard.」
「You
know, Shinza, there's just nothing prince-like about you at all... Ahh,
jeez, I get it. I'll work you to the bone, so be prepared!」
「I'm
looking forward to it. I've always wanted to try being a sailor for the Hez
Company anyway.」
「Then,
will you take up... permanent employment?」
「That
doesn't sound bad either. Once the Empire regains its order, take me to the
farthest reaches of the south.」
「Yeah,
okay. I'll take you wherever you want to go, Shinza...」
Given tasks by a
strangely meek Carral, I swapped posts with a burly sailor. It was a job
that required strength and was quite delicate in many ways, but I thought
becoming a sail-handler wouldn't be bad.
And so, that
evening, we arrived at the ruined city of Merkwell. The one who guided
us was Zirant. She
hadn't just climbed the lookout post seeking the view, the wind, and the thrill;
it was to guide the ship here.
My first impression
was a desert town—no, a desert ruin. The port was large but devoid of people,
and when we went ashore like this, dust and sand were piled up everywhere,
making it quite slippery. Both the port and the town beyond it were dead
silent; it was as if the city alone stood there like a giant gravestone.
Perhaps because it had been swallowed by the farthest wasteland, the air was
dry, and the town's state of preservation was extremely good. No, it would
probably be more accurate to call this place ruins now.
「So
this is a ruined city! This feeling, it's sending shivers down my spine...!」
「The
town is so clean, yet there's no sign of life...」
In complete contrast
to the highly satisfied Sigrun, Carral stated a normal impression
with the sensibilities of an ordinary person. The sailors felt the same. Being
deeply superstitious, they were honest about the things they could feel with
their skin.
「You
guys can stay on the ship if you want.」
『Umu,
it's better to limit our numbers. Just you and Sigrun should be no
problem.』
「Yeah,
let's just go with me and Sigrun.」
「I
believed you'd say that, Shinzaaa♪」
「I-I'm
going too! Because... just Shinza and Sigrun, you're both strong,
but personality-wise it makes me anxious!」
She has a point.
Since Carral came down from the schooner towards us, I took her hand so
she wouldn't slip.
「Uwa?!」
「Forgot
to mention, but it's slippery.」
「You
should have told me sooner...!? U-Uuu...」
I caught her from
behind, somehow supporting her back. Then, for some reason, the sailors started
blowing teasing whistles at us one after another. It seemed to stimulate Carral's
sense of shame, and I saw her turning bright red.
「Well,
let's get going. Sigrun, take the front.」
「Leave
it to me. Even if monsters of the farthest reaches appear, I will cut them down
with this gyuuiiin sword!」
「Stop
it, if you do that, it will only draw more enemies in.」
「That
sounds great!」
「No, it
doesn't sound great at all!」
Leaving the watch over the ship to the sailors, we headed towards the ruined urban area. It felt somewhat strange. Even though we had arrived at Merkwell, there must be some reason why the Book of the Evil Dragon hadn't reacted yet.
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