Chapter 328 - 328. Eastward, Ever Eastward
Leaning against the ship's railing, I gaze at the shoreline. Unlike when I boarded last time, the wind against my cheeks was cold. It was because the season was turning to winter. The trees covering the coast were dyed brown, and the blowing wind swept away their leaves.
In the village where Fam lived, it might have already started to snow.
Perhaps because the wind was strong, the river's surface was rough, and the ship's rocking felt more pronounced.
We boarded this merchant ship through an introduction from the church in Heilong, via Maira, and are heading east. Our destination is Shamonto Island, located midway between the city of Heilong and the Demon Kingdom. It will be a five-day journey, stopping at small towns along the way.
The ship is a galley with a large mast, with a hull about one size larger than when we went down from Flucht to Heilong. This is likely to account for the increased transport volume, as the river has widened and the current has become gentler. It forms a fleet of five ships, advancing eastward.
For now, relying on the power of the sails and the river's flow, the rowers were resting. However, that doesn't mean the ship was deserted; some were working, others were maintaining their weapons. If pirates appeared, they would transform into combatants.
On my left and right, Fam and Maira were each resting their hands on the railing, standing as if sandwiching me.
"I never imagined that you, Master, had stolen the fiancée of the King's brother of the city of Heilong," Fam said.
"And I never thought that what was supposed to be a date would end with you having relations with so many women in the brief moment I looked away... You used to be more timid around the opposite sex, not that kind of person..."
They both sighed at the same time. I need to tell them this was unavoidable, but I'll start by calming Fam's anger, which seemed genuine.
"Fam, they approached me. And Shizuka took it upon herself to get the Chairman of Longhorn Street's request as a substitute for lodging. Turning down that man's request is clearly not a good idea. Besides, I haven't done anything with Stella yet."
Stella is the fifth daughter of the king who rules Leoniass, one of the city-states said to be south of Heilong. After her engagement to the King's brother of Heilong was broken off, she immediately switched her target for forming friendly relations from Heilong to Migurutto.
Thinking about it now, the Chairman must have intended to give me a different request. I don't know how much money she poured into getting her own request through. Or perhaps the Chairman thinks she has created a greater debt by mediating between Migurutto and Leoniass.
"Hmph, didn't Miss Stella end up heading to the city of Migurutto anyway!"
"That was her decision. You wouldn't force someone who doesn't want to marry, would you!"
"That's true, but the cause was the curse placed on the King's brother. The two weren't necessarily opposed to marriage. Me, Mo, and Sam worked hard to break the King's brother's curse. The King's brother realized his mistake. This way, not only is it meaningless, but the King's brother will think of you and us..."
"Wait, weren't you originally talking about finding a partner for Samueim? How did that turn into a discussion about the troubles of the King's brother of Heilong? You're not getting dragged into trouble, are you?"
"Well..."
Fam quickly averted her gaze. At that moment, her dog ears were caught by the wind and fluttered. I patted them as I held them down. However, she didn't seem to be in a better mood, but it seemed I could temporarily escape her questioning. Just as I thought that, Maira pushed her shoulder into me.
"Then, what about that cat-eared girl and the girl named Houan? What exactly is your intention?"
"I don't know about the cat-eared girl. Shizuka chose her on her own again! Well, she might be a good playmate for Lini."
The cat-eared girl, received as compensation for the Chairman's request, was very wary of me, but for some reason, she was attached to Shizuka. Like with Lini, she is overwhelmingly good at winning over children. And for some reason, Houan also seemed to get along well with Shizuka. Perhaps Shizuka is better at getting along with people than Mizuki. As I thought about that, Maira pressed her shoulder against me again.
"And saying that, you intend to make a move on them when they grow up, right?"
Maira's eyes narrowed. Feeling uncomfortable, I cleared my throat lightly.
"That depends on the girl."
"Then what about Houan? A child like that..."
"As I've explained many times, it was necessary for the 'Rite of Covenant' with the Ancient Dragon. Besides, she's fifty years old. You shouldn't judge people by their appearance."
What was necessary was a kiss, but I'll keep quiet since it's troublesome. After sending Houan from the Phantom Beast World to the city of Heilong, she was asked to escort Shizuka and the others back to Migurutto. It was an uneasy situation with only Toratsuna capable of fighting, so entrusting it to Houan was reassuring. I haven't seen her fight, but no one would challenge her in her dragon form, and Stella has guaranteed her strength.
Since Stella is also heading to Migurutto, she will be accompanied by her escort.
"Muu..."
Maira puffed out her cheeks greatly.
"I'll make it up to you properly, so please don't be angry."
I poked her cheek with my fingertip.
"I can't believe you!"
Maira turned her face away, but her body leaned against me.
"Now, about the matter of Nefy..."
Fam began in a formal tone.
Regarding the curse placed on the King's brother of Heilong this time, the King's brother suspects the involvement of the Demon Kingdom. The idea is that such machinations are not limited to Heilong but are also occurring in cities adjacent to the Demon Kingdom's territory. The reason we took a detour using waterways from the city of Richelle to Migurutto was to avoid passing through cities in a state of civil war due to secessionist activities from the Empire.
And Fam said that the King's brother had pointed out that the Demon Kingdom was likely heavily involved in the civil war in Migurutto as well.
"The people of House Airally, the people of House Leafclout, the Crimson Brigade, the plots of Clovis and Yuki... Nefy is a demon, a person from the Demon Kingdom. There might be a reason for her to act with us. However, we have faced such suspicions before, and there have been several opportunities for her to make a move."
But in the end, she never made any move, and we have come this far as companions, cooperating with each other. The story regarding the civil war in Migurutto is somewhat complicated, but initially, one of the Four Great Houses, House Airally, started it by spreading false information that "the other three Great Houses are betraying the Empire and trying to sell Migurutto to the Demon Kingdom." The actual motive was the private lust for power of House Airally and House Leafclout, and there was no secret communication with the Demon Kingdom. Rather, House Airally tried to bring in the power of the Empire, which is of the same human race, to oppose the Demon Kingdom.
Of course, civil war greatly depletes national strength. It wouldn't be wrong to say that the chaos in the city itself was the Demon Kingdom's goal.
"If Nefy were a man, Mash would definitely not have made her an ally," Maira muttered venomously.
"No, that question is meaningless. I don't understand why a spy from the Demon Kingdom's diversion would approach me. Even if she were given two missions, I don't see a reason for her to target me, and Nefy's actions rely too much on chance."
"There is a reason to target you, Mash. The Hero summoned by Lady Racshell is a special Hero. And it's an extremely troublesome existence that brings disaster to the Demon Kingdom. That would be a motive for Nefy to be in the Messiah, who kills otherworldly Heroes. Besides, the probability of being male or female is fifty-fifty."
"What's also strange is that the Hero brings disaster to the Demon Kingdom. The Demon Kingdom was originally further east, wasn't it? At the very least, the Demon King was defeated by Akizuki Uta, an otherworldly Hero from a hundred years ago. If Racshell had been telling previous summoned individuals to defeat the Demon King as well, then the Demon Kingdom would have been repeatedly invaded by those led by otherworldly Heroes. Despite that, the Demon Kingdom has succeeded in expanding its power."
"That's true. Now, half of the territory of the Old Empire belongs to the Demon Kingdom. There might be a well-prepared system to repel such otherworldly Heroes. Could Nefy be that?"
"No, isn't that a bit of a stretch?"
Transferred individuals summoned by the Five Pillar Goddesses must fight and defeat the transferred individuals summoned by the other Fifty Gods. On top of that, they have to defeat the Demon King. Moreover, Akizuki Uta, who achieved this, didn't seem to have gained anything and sleeps eternally beneath the church. Rather than something being missing, it seems highly likely that the Demon King was a mere decoration.
And Maira still hasn't let go of her concerns about her. It wasn't something that would easily clear up. I turned my gaze to Fam.
"Did you get any information about her from Samueim?"
"Sam was surprised that Nefy had joined Levant, but he said he didn't know her well. He apparently didn't like the members of the Messiah."
"Well... he was used conveniently as a slave. He would have resentment, not gratitude. Fam, what do you think about Nefy?"
"I..." Fam's gaze fell to the river's surface. "I don't know. But..."
"But?"
"It's certain that she is acting with us for a purpose. I don't know if she is hiding something other than her desire to return to the Demon Kingdom. Also, it might not have been her true intention, but I think we should not forget that she tried to defeat people from the same world as you, Master. Sam regrets that too."
Indeed, Nefy had been with the Messiah longer than Samueim. I couldn't let her suddenly meet face-to-face with Hyakka and others who hold grudges against Yuki.
"Either way, I'll ask her directly myself."
"Muu!" they both exclaimed at the same time.
Leaving Fam and Maira behind, I returned to the cabin to find Mizuki and Mami reading a book on the desk. Thinking they might be looking at 'How to Walk the World,' I peered in from the side.
"Mash, perfect timing. Explain this to me."
Mizuki held out the book. It was written with things I didn't understand. I took it and checked the cover. It said 'Physics Basics.' A high school textbook.
"Mizuki, are you studying even after coming to a world like this? More importantly, can Mo read what's written here?"
Mami nodded quietly.
The words in this book are definitely Japanese. I didn't think she could read them. Since Mizuki and I have Racshell's protection, we can understand the language and writing of this world. I hadn't even thought about what language 'How to Walk the World' was written in, but since Fam reads it with love, I assumed it was written in this world's language.
However, I remembered that Fam had read the conversation between Mizuki and Yuki left on the smartphone. I didn't understand how that mechanism worked. Perhaps the inhabitants of this world originally speak Japanese.
"What are you spacing out for?"
Mizuki's voice brought me back to reality. She took the textbook and put it back on the desk.
"Are you teaching this to Mami?"
Mizuki shrugged lightly.
"When I'm studying, Mo wants to know the contents too..."
Mami nodded slightly beside her.
"Is this not just today?"
The two nodded as if in agreement.
"Is it okay to teach things like this to people of this world?"
"Isn't it too late for that? After all, people from our world who came before us must have left various things, and the world has already changed."
Mizuki dropped her gaze to the textbook. I was impressed that she could study in such a dimly lit, swaying room without getting seasick.
"More importantly, I want you to teach me this part."
Mizuki tapped the textbook with her pen.
"Do you think I understand something like that?"
Mizuki's eyebrow twitched.
"Then how did you graduate high school!"
"Hmph, humans are forgetful creatures."
Mizuki stared at me with half-lidded eyes.
"I won't become an adult like you, Mash!"
"Well, I'd be troubled if you became like me, but more importantly, it's impressive that you can study so diligently even after coming to a world like this."
"Because..."
Saying that, Mizuki averted her gaze. It was clear she was thinking about returning to her original world.
If the Phantom Beast World is connected to this world, then the path to the original world might not be as difficult as I thought. Thinking that, the reason Mizuki was opening a textbook on this ship felt strangely poignant.
But there is still something I haven't told her. That time is stopped in the Phantom Beast World by the Fifty Gods. That the original world might be in the same fate. And that the Ancient Dragon, Houan's mother, hated Racshell as well. Racshell didn't deny that hatred.
We are now working as that god's pawns.
When it comes to that, defeating the Demon King might be a trivial matter in comparison. However, when it comes to that level of dimension, I didn't feel like we could do anything.
"I wonder if we can break Racshell's seal? Like Fam's curse or the King's brother of Heilong's curse," Mizuki murmured as if reading my thoughts. Then she glanced at Mami.
"...I don't even know what is cast on Lady Racshell, or if it's a curse at all," Mami quietly shook her head.
"If Mo can't do it, there's probably no one else who can."
After all, Racshell constantly creates an enchantment barrier. There's no escaping it.
I placed my hand on Mami's head and petted her. Her silver hair was fine and soft, slipping smoothly through my fingers. After repeating this a few times, I noticed Mizuki staring intently at us. When she noticed my gaze, she quickly looked away.
"What? Do you want to pet Mo's head too?"
"No."
Mizuki pouted slightly.
"Then, do you want to pet my head?"
"Why would it be that!"
Even though she raised her voice, she didn't seem genuinely angry.
"Could it be that you want to be petted too?"
When I said it playfully, Mizuki, still pouting, nodded slightly.
I placed my hand on her head. I thought about messing it up roughly, or teasing her by trying to crush it with my fingertips, but since she obediently leaned her head in, I lost my resolve. Blue hair. When we first met, it was black hair. Thinking about it, although we acted separately at first after coming to this world, I never once forgot her existence.
"It's because of you, Mizuki, that we've come this far."
The words slipped out unintentionally.
"Eh."
Mizuki looked up at me with wide eyes.
"No, I'm glad you're here, Mizuki."
"I never expected you to say something like that."
Saying that, she hugged my waist and buried her face in it. As I petted her head, Mami also hugged me in the same way.
Thank you for reading.
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