165 - The Vera Trace
Many ships were docked at the port north of Beim.
Some were the type to hoist sails, while others had smokestacks. As I made my way to the designated location, feeling the sea breeze, a particularly large ship stood there.
The slaves carrying cargo were sweating as they discussed where to go drinking today.
There were many people around, and it felt as though Shannon and the others might get separated if I let my guard down for even a moment.
Glancing back at Shannon, I saw Miranda holding her hand.
Reassured, I looked ahead as we walked toward the largest ship in the port.
(I had Adele-san and Damian stay behind at the mansion... but still, this is a massive ship.)
As I approached and looked up, I was amazed by the ship's size.
Inside the Jewel Orb, the Third Generation was excited.
『Amazing. To think they've become capable of creating something like this. It really makes you feel the difference in eras.』
The Fourth Generation was also excited.
『How much funding and manpower went into moving this... If it's turning a profit, it makes me want to buy one.』
The Fifth Generation stopped the Fourth Generation with an exasperated look.
『Stop it. If it sinks, it's all over.』
The Seventh Generation, perhaps not having known of a ship this size, was honestly impressed.
『Hmm, if we loaded cannons onto this, we could attack cities near the sea. Wouldn't we be able to sink as many ships as we pleased?』
Hearing that, the Third Generation was appalled.
『Just because your weapon of choice is a gun, could you stop recommending cannons? Guns and cannons are weapons for the rich, and they feel more like a hobby.』
Indeed, gun-related weapons were quite expensive. Even though they could be replaced by magic, gunpowder and bullets were required for every single shot.
While they could exhibit a certain level of performance, they weren't widely adopted because they could be defended against. However, there seemed to be enthusiasts, and improvements were still being made on a small scale.
The Seventh Generation spoke as if boasting about his own weapon.
『You don't understand. The era of swords and bows is over. From now on, the outcome of wars will be decided by how guns are utilized.』
The Fifth Generation ignored that opinion.
『Rejected because it costs too much. Just training the personnel takes too much time and money. Then there's the guns, the gunpowder, and the bullets... it would be faster to substitute them with bows or magic.』
While many of the ships were made of wood, the Trace family's ship was made of metal. It had a smokestack, and smoke was rising from it.
As I gazed at the ship, a voice reached me.
"Are the preparations ready?"
"Lady Vera's luggage has already been loaded. Now we just wait for the urgent cargo and the guards."
"Guards?"
Turning around, I saw a woman on the gangplank holding a parasol. She wore a red dress on top, but the bottom was a mini-skirt.
Black thigh-high socks and brown boots. Her hair was black, styled in two-side-ups. The sides were long, but the rest reached only to her shoulders.
And holding a brown travel bag, a golden pocket watch hung from her waist—and the grip of a gun was visible at the small of her back.
When our eyes met, she looked at me with a sharp gaze. Her purple eyes captured me, and she set down her bag and pointed a finger.
"Aren't those the adventurers over there? I mean, why are you letting them on? I haven't heard anything about this."
The sailor—the captain, specifically—was apologizing to the girl.
"My apologies, my lady. However, it seems large monsters have appeared in the waters we'll be passing through... your father felt that even you would be in danger."
Sighing, the girl picked up her bag and walked up the gangplank and onto the ship. She looked back at us—.
"Hurry up and get on. Even for guards, if you don't board within the time limit, I'll leave you behind."
We gave a wry smile and headed for the ship.
A man dressed like a captain looked at us with a serious expression. I took the Trace family's letter of introduction from my hand luggage and handed it to the captain.
"...Confirmed. Please, come aboard. However, this is not a passenger ship, so it won't be a very elegant voyage. Once you're inside, I'll have a crew member guide you."
I nodded and led my party members up the gangplank.
Novem looked around.
"To think they've become capable of making something of this caliber."
He seemed impressed. As for Miranda.
"In Vanseim, we don't have much connection to ships. We ride smaller boats or vessels on lakes and rivers, but... Shannon, watch your step."
As Miranda warned her, Shannon tripped on the gangplank.
"...Why isn't this gangplank easier to walk on?"
To Shannon, who was protesting with teary eyes, the captain laughed.
"This is actually the best gangplank we have. It's better than that board over there, isn't it?"
Then, we looked at a board placed across a wooden ship near us. Indeed, it was better than a mere board.
"On top of the ocean... humans are strange."
Mei was pushing Eva from behind as she climbed the gangplank with a pale face.
"Hurry up and go first!"
Behind them, Clara was already walking with unsteady steps.
"I-if I fall... I'll d-die."
As she said such things, Monica and Aria, at the very back, shook their heads.
"You won't die. It's okay, Chicken-yarou will save you and give you mouth-to-mouth as a bonus. He'll definitely not miss such an opportunity. Right, Chicken-yarou?"
"Monica, what do you take me for... enough already. Come on, let's go."
Aria grabbed Clara's arm and walked along with her.
"Honestly, you just have to not fall."
Seeing us like this, the captain took off the hat he was wearing.
"I wonder if this party is going to be alright."
He seemed to have become anxious looking at us.
On the ship.
As we watched the ship depart from the deck, someone called out to us.
"You're in the way there. Go inside."
The one who called out was the black-haired girl in the red dress from before. I'd guess her age was the same as mine or slightly older.
"No, we heard someone would come to guide us."
At that, the girl sighed. She folded her red parasol.
"Follow me. I'm busy right now, so I, who am free, will guide you."
Told that, we looked at each other and decided to follow the girl—Vera Trace.
As we began moving with our luggage, Vera-san spoke.
"Hey, by the way, is that all your luggage? You've left some somewhere, right?"
"No, this is all. Ah, please be assured that I have other things as well."
Hearing my response, Vera-san thought for a moment, nodded, and guided us through the ship.
The crew members we passed cleared the way and smiled when they saw Vera-san. Just as I was thinking that she was well-liked, we arrived at our first destination.
"These are the guest rooms. I've prepared three rooms, so use them as you like."
When we were guided into the rooms, there were two bunk beds in the narrow space. Three such rooms were provided, and signs saying "For Guards" were hung on the doors.
Novem spoke.
"In that case, shall we put our luggage away first?"
Since he said that, Vera-san added.
"Putting your luggage away is fine, but make sure to manage your valuables yourself. There are locks, but since we're on a ship, be careful about various things. Also, many of the crew are rough types, so don't start fights carelessly."
Hearing that, Aria scratched her head.
"We're the guards, though?"
At that, Vera-san laughed.
"Can you fight properly on a ship? Besides, this is like the sailors' home turf. It's better to avoid fights. Now, once you've put your luggage away, lock the doors."
We put away our valuables and, upon stepping outside the rooms, accompanied Vera-san.
She showed us the dining hall, toilets, and bath that we would likely use... as for the bath, it seemed they only provided the space, and if we wanted to bathe, we had to prepare it ourselves.
Since Clara can prepare hot water with magic, I thought I'd ask her when it was time to bathe.
After guiding us through those, she gave us a general tour of the area. She showed us where the escape boats were and the places we were not allowed to enter.
And finally, we were guided to a large room at the rear, which could be called Vera-san's room.
It was a spacious and luxurious room.
Ornaments, cute dolls, clothing, a bookshelf, and various decorations.
In the room covered with a red carpet, there was a rug that seemed to be made from a monster's pelt. A pelt with white and black stripes. A large monster like a cat.
Clara noted.
"Isn't this a white tiger? And a large one at that."
Then, Vera-san sat on the sofa, rested her elbow on the armrest, and placed her face in her hand.
"That's right. Sit wherever. I get these as souvenirs every time, and it would be a waste not to use them, so I do. I got the big stuffed animal many years ago."
The large bear stuffed animal had a large bell attached to its neck.
Wondering about it, I asked for confirmation.
"Why did you bring us to this room?"
Then, Vera-san looked at me with a serious expression, sat up straight, brought her right hand to her mouth...
"I wonder why? But, for some reason, I was curious. Ah, you might be the first man to enter here other than the crew."
As I looked at the laughing Vera-san, her gaze shifted toward Novem.
"Hey, what's your name?"
Novem replied with a smile.
"I am Novem. Novem Foxus."
Then, Vera-san looked pleased.
"I see. You probably know, but I am Vera Trace. I suppose I could say I'm one of the pieces of cargo you're meant to protect? Though I don't actually need it."
It seemed she didn't need us.
(The Goddess of Fortune, huh.)
The ship she boards never sinks, no matter how rough the waves. Because she had such a jinx, the sailors called her the Goddess of Fortune.
As I was about to introduce myself, Vera-san held her palm toward me and said "Stop."
"I know who you are. I just remembered—blue hair and eyes... you're the Holy Knight Lyell, right? I didn't think the talked-about adventurer would actually board this ship."
Looking at the giggling Vera-san, I spoke.
"I don't really like those two titles. Nice to meet you, I'm Lyell Wolt."
When I bowed politely, Vera-san also nodded, stood up, and greeted me.
"As you know, I'm Vera Trace. I bet Father or someone forced you to board, right? If it's for monster hunting, the guild also sends out ships."
Shrugging her shoulders, Vera-san sat back down on the sofa.
Then, the Fourth Generation's voice came from the Jewel Orb.
『Lyell, you should at least say something like "No, I wanted to board your ship."』
Ignoring the Fourth Generation's opinion, I asked about something that piqued my curiosity.
"Come to think of it, ships have names. What is the name of this ship?"
Vera-san made a slightly grumpy face and glared at me with half-closed eyes.
"I'm asking because I don't know, right? The name of this ship... it's The Vera Trace. My father named it. Even though it's a state-of-the-art ship, honestly."
Looking at Vera-san rubbing her temple with her right hand, we gave a wry smile.
Then, Monica spoke up.
"I heard it's state-of-the-art, but just how amazing is it?"
Then, Vera-san looked at us and smiled.
"I'd like to say it's a secret, but I'll tell you as much as I can. The important parts were created by processing rare metals. It would have been impossible with just craftsmen or shipwrights, so we asked a famous Dwarven craftsman to make the parts. There's no doubt it's a ship with a build that no other merchant house would go this far for. It doesn't have sails, and there's no waterwheel, right? There's something called a screw underwater."
Hearing that, Monica nodded repeatedly.
"I don't care about the screw, but the craftsman interests me. Could you introduce me?"
Then, Vera-san made a subtle expression.
"Wait, aren't you being a bit too intense? Well, the craftsman is out of the question. He's not an acquaintance of mine, but of my father's. I heard my grandfather supported him when he was young, so they've been acquainted since then."
After talking for a bit, Clara, perhaps wondering, asked Vera-san.
"Why did you bring us to this room?"
Then, Vera-san stood up. The sound of a knock on the door was heard, and a crew member entered the room.
"My lady, it is time to depart."
Then, Vera-san took out the pocket watch hanging from her waist and checked the time.
"Right on time. Very well, depart."
"Yes!"
As the crew member left the room, he cast a final glance at us with a slightly surprised expression. Once the door closed, after a while, the scenery outside began to move.
Vera-san sighed.
"I'm not the captain, but somehow it's always like this. Sorry. Also, as for why I called you here... I wanted to hear some stories. Since you're adventurers, you must know all sorts of interesting tales, right?"
Vera-san's expectant gaze. And then, my companions turned their gazes toward me. Vera-san, naturally, looked at me as well.
"...What is it?"
Then, Shannon spoke on behalf of the group.
"I mean, if it's interesting stories, Lyell is the only one."
Monica added.
"That's true. When Chicken-yarou is in top form, it's certainly a wonderful time full of laughter and tears."
I tried to correct Monica's lie.
"Stop saying it as if my 'top form' only exists after I grew up."
Then, Eva looked at me and put her hand over her mouth.
"...Eh?"
Mei was the same. She put both hands behind her head.
"No, no matter how you think about it..."
When I looked at Aria, she averted her gaze.
"Sorry. I can't defend you."
When I turned toward Clara, she was looking down, her ears bright red.
"I'm sorry. I just remembered..."
When I timidly turned my gaze to Miranda.
"Whether it's top form or not... in a certain sense, he's already the strongest."
She was laughing. Finally, when I turned my gaze to Novem.
"No matter which Lyell-sama it is, you are the best Lyell-sama to me."
He smiled at me.
However, laughter could be heard from inside the Jewel Orb.
『That's right! Lyell-san is definitely in top form!』
『Normally people fail, but he hasn't made any conspicuous failures!』
『...Give it up... Pfft!』
『As expected of the prodigy of the Wolt family. I am convinced that Lyell's comedic timing after growing up is the best in history.』
I collapsed to my knees on the spot and placed both hands on the floor. On the slowly swaying ship, I—.
"It's a lie. That wasn't the real me!"
Hearing those words, Vera-san looked a bit amused.
"Ah, so you've failed in various ways? I feel bad for asking... but would it be alright if I heard about it?"
It was shortly after that the other companions began to recount my past failures.