Chapter 155 - Episode 6: To Uminohara
While the spirits and the ghost were shouting with joy, the humans—Beatrix and I—were completely worn out.
They had said it would be slow at first...
I was thinking that the speed wasn't increasing at all, when suddenly we began to accelerate and were blasted away. Thanks to that, everyone ended up being pressed against the back.
"My apologies. In theory, it should have gone more smoothly."
Apparently, Wilson's theory was based on when there were three people on board.
"As expected, with this many people, it was necessary to give it some momentum at first. I'll devise something a bit better next time."
Why are you so composed?
"This much is no problem."
Will, don't say unnecessary things.
However, the theory was impressive, and after the sudden start, we flew along quite comfortably. I've never been on a ship at sea, but advancing while looking at the horizon is quite refreshing. The bowl has its rim set quite high and Paul-san has put a lid on it, but since it's transparent, we can see the surroundings.
Because we were so far from land that a house looked small enough to be hidden by a thumb at arm's length, I couldn't tell how fast we were flying. But seeing as we overtook a white seabird the moment it came into view, we must have been flying at a considerable speed.
"I lost out by dying so early. There were such fun things in the world."
Fiona was also very satisfied.
The journey, which should have taken three days by carriage, passed in about two hours, and we arrived at the edge of the northeastern cape of Uminohara.
Uminohara is a large, scooped-out inlet from the northeastern cape to the southwestern cape, and the flat land from the coast to the mountains is about half the width of the flat land in Nakanohara. If you used a post station to gallop a horse, it would be about an hour's distance. Well, that's impossible for me.
The place Henry-sama chose for a rest was a fort on the northeastern cape. Looking at the bay from the tip of the cape, several islands were floating offshore. There were about four large ones, and many small ones, including rocks. Villages were lined up along the inlet, but a large town could be seen in the middle. It seemed to be the town of Uminohara. In Uminohara, there is a base for the Kingdom Navy, and six warships that can carry fifty people are reportedly afloat.
Fiona was clinging to the rim of the bowl, looking at the islands and tearing up.
"It's been a long time since I've returned to the island. This is what it looked like from the sky."
The island had an inlet as if two places, east and west, had been carved out from a circle. There were villages in both inlets, and several ships were also afloat. The south side had a sandy beach, and the end of the beach was a rocky shore where strangely shaped rocks poked their faces out of the sea. Fiona pointed and told us various place names. Fiona's house was apparently in the village of the eastern inlet. It seemed the island's topography hadn't changed even after more than fifty years.
"When I was a child, I often played on the rocky shore of that inlet. I would peel the shells stuck to the rocks with a knife, roast them, and eat them. They're delicious because they're roasted after being dipped in seawater, so they taste like the sea."
Fiona eats a lot. Apparently, it's delicious. She doesn't feel full. That said, she isn't hungry either. She eats when she wants to eat. She eats so much that if we don't decide on a portion for one person, she'll eat until the food is gone. Dune is the same, but I wonder where the things they eat and drink actually go.
"Then, shall we eat dinner on the rocky shore?"
"That's right. Shall we find a suitable hole in a rocky area somewhere and stay there?"
The wealthy royalty were saying something strange. Why did we have to stay in a hole in a rocky area by the sea in this cold?
"Henry-sama and the others, do you not have any money again?"
"Indeed. Being penniless is the best part of traveling far."
He was puffing out his chest as if to say, "Isn't that amazing?"
"There should be a hut in the shade of the rocks by the sea. If we go there, we can drink clean water, and it'll be fine even if it rains."
I nodded emphatically as if to show off. It's much better than camping in a hole. And there are those who dislike the sea breeze.
Arriving at the island and going to where Fiona's house used to be, a large church had been built. It was on a hill slightly north of the village, with a cliff on the east side dropping into the sea. The southeast led to the rocky shore, and the south led to the village. The north was just mountains.
"Such a large church has been built on the island."
According to Fiona, there used to be only one small church per village. It was half-joyful and half-lonely, so to speak. We immediately went to give our greetings. Since the story would get complicated, we asked the ghost and spirits to refrain for a while and decided to go with the five of us: Henry-sama and the others, and Marcelo-san.
When we made our request to the receptionist, an elderly head of the church came out. He was from the island, and after studying in the Royal Capital, he returned to the island and was now apparently the Bishop whose diocese included the islands floating in the bay.
"Well, well, Henry-sama, Eleanor-sama. Welcome."
"It's been a long time. Bishop, I'm glad to see you're well."
"Bishop-sama. It's been a long time."
They seemed to be acquaintances here as well. We were taken inside and given wine.
"By the way, what brings you here today? Did an octopus appear on some island again?"
"An octopus?"
Apparently, monsters appear along the islands in the bay of Uminohara, and they are octopuses. I haven't seen one, so I don't know, but they are like slugs with eight legs attached, and they reportedly attack by spitting black ink. They eat the shells on the rocky shore and the crabs in the sea indiscriminately, so the island's fishermen are troubled. The island's guard unit gathers the young men to exterminate them, but it seems the islanders don't produce powerful mages, and the octopuses immediately dive into the sea and escape. They are reportedly struggling against an opponent that is slimy and squishy and cannot be easily hacked to pieces.
"Usually, the Navy comes out from Uminohara and exterminates them with lightning magic. We often participate in support, and lately, it's a single blow from Eleanor's magic from the bowl. The exterminated octopuses are delicious when roasted, the black part can be used as a substitute for ink, and the dried meat sells for a high price on the continent. Exterminating one becomes a good source of income for the village. See, isn't that amazing?"
He said, puffing out his chest.
"In that case, this time too?"
"No, it's not like that this time. Actually, I have something to talk to the Bishop about."
"Please tell me anything."
"Actually..."
When Henry-sama told the story of Fiona, the Bishop knew about Fiona.
"She was of my generation. We often played together on the rocky shore when we were young. I see, so she fell ill and passed away at a young age. Let us pray for her."
Saying that, he offered a prayer.
According to the Bishop, Fiona's father and the former lord of this island were both fine people who cared for their subjects. However, they couldn't throw away their noble pride. They must have chosen pride over their interests as landowners.
"In that case, this will be quick. Bishop. I want you to listen without being surprised. Actually, Fiona's ghost has come."
"A ghost?"
"That's right. She was haunting the Royal Family's villa in the Royal Capital area, but we brought her here with us."
The Bishop began to laugh uproariously.
"Henry-sama, you are too much. Teasing people with such a joke again. I won't fall for it."
"No, this time it's the truth."
"Hahahaha. Traveling with a ghost during the day. You've really thought this through. Hahahaha."
Thanks to his daily jokes, he wasn't believed. It's his own fault. He should reflect a little.
"No, Bishop-sama. Please believe us. It's the truth."
"Even Eleanor-sama is in on it? No, no, was it always like this?"
Honestly, just how many good-natured priests has he tricked with his ill-natured jokes?
That said, things wouldn't progress at this rate, so I stepped in and explained. Perhaps because I properly follow the commandments daily, the Bishop believed me as if he'd had a change of heart. Henry-sama and the others also looked embarrassed, as expected.
"That's why I've told you many times to stop," Wilson-san said, also grinning. He was likely the biggest victim.
"Well, well, so it was true. I am truly sorry for my rudeness. I deeply apologize. Please forgive me for doubting your words."
The Bishop bowed deeply, but...
It's good medicine for them. You can just leave them be, Bishop-sama.
It was decided that he would meet and talk with her directly, and we were led in a group to the Bishop's office. Even the Bishop was startled and lost for words, but his memories gradually seemed to return.
"Is it Fiona? You were just a child when you were on this island, but it seems you've grown up safely. No, is it strange to say such a thing to a ghost?"
"I'm sorry. Who might you be?"
They weren't quite clicking. It couldn't be helped, since for one of them, time had stopped over fifty years ago. In the end, the Bishop gave his name, and as they talked about various old stories, Fiona finally remembered. The Bishop's own memory was vague, so it was difficult, but it was good that they were able to renew their old friendship. In the first place, that itself wasn't the purpose of coming here.
"Actually, Bishop. We are looking for the grave of Fiona's grandfather."
When we explained, the location was easily found. Apparently, the family burial ground of Fiona's house was behind a small shrine on the church grounds.
"The shrine was originally built at Fiona's house. These church grounds were donated to the church by Fiona's father, along with the preparation money he received from the lord, upon his departure from this land. In exchange, he reportedly asked for the ancestors' graves to be protected. This is something that has been passed down by the heads of this church from generation to generation."
With this, we would know the location of the grave.
"There should have been a tree growing by that grave."
"An oak tree? A large, magnificent tree is growing there. There is a hollow at the base of the tree, and I've always thought it looked like there might be something there."
When I looked at Fiona, she was nodding. We immediately decided to go dig in that hollow.
The shrine was a mossy, old, small building, but it was a solid structure made of stacked stones. Villagers were not supposed to enter, and it seemed the church priests used it for personal prayers. Inside, facing the front, was a stone statue of the Goddess, and it was large enough for four or five people to enter and pray. Fiona remembered the shrine and went inside to pray. It's a strange story for a ghost to pray, but the Goddess shouldn't discriminate whether one is a ghost or a human.
Going around to the back, the graves were lined up. Fiona's grandfather's grave was also there, and we offered the wreath we had obtained on the way to the church. The grave was in the northwestern corner of the church, and an oak tree was planted on the west side to protect it from the afternoon sun. It was a tall tree, and there was a hollow at its base. When Eleanor-sama dug with magic, a small iron box bound with chains came out. It was covered in something like black soot, as if it had been scorched by fire. It must be rustproofing.
When Henry-sama cut the chains with the tip of his spear and opened the box, a piece of parchment coated in wax came out. Something like a map was drawn on the parchment, and words were added.
"The Sea Cave."
That's what the letters read.
"How wonderful. If it were a fairy tale, treasure would come out."
It's just as Beatrix said. Since they went to this much trouble, there must be something.
"But even if it's a cave, where is it?"
When Henry-sama looked at Fiona, she was smiling brightly.
"There is a cave that no one knows about. It's said to be connected to the sea. That's why we called it the Sea Cave in my family. Only my family knows about it."
According to Fiona, it was a secret place passed down through generations. Apparently, one is told about it upon reaching adulthood. Something that was said to be taken out if something happened to the house seems to be hidden there.
"Could it be fortune or something?"
Beatrix's eyes sparkled, but there was one problem.
"Is your family not alive on the continent?"
As Eleanor-sama said, the legitimate heirs are alive on the continent. I believe it's her younger brother. If something is to be received, those who are living should take precedence.
"My father said that unless one reached adulthood on the island... not just this island, but the entire White Island, one would not have the right to inherit. My brother was seven years younger than me, so he hadn't reached adulthood in the year I died. According to Henry-sama's story, the fort fell shortly after I died, didn't it? If so, my brother wouldn't have reached adulthood on this island. Besides, I haven't heard that a ghost shouldn't inherit."
Well, certainly, one wouldn't assume a ghost would inherit. From royalty to ordinary commoners, and even nobles in other countries, I don't think there are any rules regarding ghosts.
"But usually, inheritance is for living people, right?"
"But where is such a thing written?"
Beatrix was also tilting her head, but Fiona wasn't backing down either. Such matters should be for Eleanor-sama.
"In the laws of the Kingdom of Sertoria, there is no mention of general inheritance. Ultimately, the arrangements between the parties involved—for example, a will or a family council—are respected."
That's no help at all.
"What about the Royal Family?"
"There is no inheritance of property for the Royal Family. Everything belongs to the state. The money we royalty use all belongs to the state, and there is no individual property. Conversely, all assets managed by the state belong to the Royal Family. Though, of course, the King's approval is required for their use."
The scale was too large, and again, it was no help at all.
"What if commoners have a dispute over inheritance?"
"If there's a dispute over inheritance, the parties involved file a report with the town hall. After that, it's up to the town or village chief's ruling. However, only citizens of the Kingdom of Sertoria have the right to file. Therefore, in this case, there is no one to file."
This time it was Will, the town hall employee. Will gave a slight bow to Eleanor-sama's smile. For some reason, Henry-sama was looking down. Come to think of it, neither Fiona nor her living family were citizens of the Kingdom of Sertoria. As I thought, it was no help at all.
"Then, it's first come, first served."
"That's how it is."
"That's how it goes."
"That's right, isn't it?"
Beatrix, Eleanor-sama, and Will all smiled at Fiona. I wonder if this is okay.
"For all the complicated talk about laws and such, the conclusion is quite rough."
Mel was half-exasperated. Come to think of it, it was the same with Wilson-san.
"To understand that at your age is quite something."
I decided to ignore the fact that the Bishop, who was presumably in his late sixties, was praising Mel, who was over two thousand years old.