WM V4C0721

Chapter 0721 A Peaceful Voyage…?

Translator: Jay_Forestieri

Editor: Tseirp

 

On the second day after the Skidbladnir departed Whitnash,

His Majesty the King could be seen on deck, swinging a sword from early morning.

 

A little distance away from there, the knights were also swinging their swords.

Not all of them.

Naturally, if everyone did it at once, they knew they would get in the way of the crew working on deck, so it seemed they were taking turns with about ten people at a time.

 

“Just seeing this scene makes it clear that Abel is flaunting his royal privileges.”

“Yeah. I do feel glad I became king.”

Abel laughed as he acknowledged Ryo’s words.

 

“That’s rare. You usually argue back.”

“Do you remember what I said when we were coming back from the Eastern Countries, Ryo?”

“What did you say? I heard so many things that I’m not sure which one you mean…”

Ryo tilted his head.

 

It was not sarcasm; he really did not know which words Abel was referring to.

 

“That I wanted to become stronger.”

“Oh, yes, I remember that.”

Abel answered while continuing to swing his sword, and Ryo answered while sitting in an ice chair and looking at the magic formula written on an ice slab.

 

For both of them, it was not that important a conversation.

 

“If you want to become stronger, you have to train. To train, you need time. I have that time now.”

“True. This trip to the Western Countries looks like it’ll give you plenty of time to train.”

“Yeah. We’re apparently going to stop at a few maritime nations along the way, so I’ll show my face there as king, but… other than that, it looks like I’ll have time.”

“Maritime nations exist?”

“Yeah. Apparently, there are a few island nations that even we in the Knightley Kingdom, and even the Western Countries, didn’t know about.”

“If sea routes open up, maybe we can resupply in places like that.”

Ryo nodded at Abel’s explanation.

 

Not every ship had the kind of speed that the Skidbladnir did.

Small ships probably could not manage it in the first place, but a large trade vessel of a certain size might be able to travel between the Central Countries and the Western Countries while linking up with those maritime nations.

 

Until now, no one had even attempted to connect the two regions by sea, so these countries had remained unknown to either side.

 

That said, the Skidbladnir had apparently made port stops on its way from the Western Countries to Whitnash.

 

“According to Captain Paulina, there are also some fairly large islands. Of course, they only stopped at ports that were on the sea route, so only a few of the crew went ashore on the islands.”

“That reminds me of the Archipelago Region.”

From Abel’s explanation, Ryo remembered the Archipelago Region, where the two of them had been flung by the mana rampage of the djinn Garwin.

 

“King Abel’s port calls may bring the clouds of war to a peaceful group of maritime nations.”

“Don’t say ominous things.”

Abel frowned at Ryo’s words.

 

If the Western Countries and the Central Countries were connected by sea, those nations might end up having long-term ties.

As a king, it would be natural to want to build peaceful relations.

 

“You only have fifty Royal Knight Order members as your military strength, you know? Don’t go starting wars with some half-hearted idea like, ‘Let’s just occupy it a bit’.”

“As if I would.”

“And if it really comes to it, there is a chance you can gain the support of the premier duke by turning your once-a-month cake privilege into a once-a-week cake privilege.”

“Yeah, I’m not planning to fight, so I don’t need any support.”

For some reason, Ryo tried to negotiate by provoking him, and Abel, looking exhausted, refused the negotiation.

 

“Why are you radiating danger before we even make port?”

“Because if we get caught up in trouble first, then we can’t negotiate!”

“Don’t drag a peaceful ship and nation into your desires…”

Abel sighed.

 

The Skidbladnir, moving steadily ahead, continued its peaceful voyage.

Delicious food and a disciplined daily routine.

A peaceful voyage is symbolized by those two things.

 

The cooks, led by Chef Kobatch, continued to provide delicious meals for more than a hundred crew members and passengers.

 

The crew, led by Captain Paulina, carried out their work flawlessly without anyone slacking off, and nothing went wrong.

 

 

However, there was one king who had questions about the food.

“Captain, I have a question.”

“Yes, Your Majesty, what is it?”

 

At dinner one evening, Abel asked Captain Paulina, who was seated at the table in the VIP cabin.

“I don’t mean this as a complaint, of course… but why hasn’t there been any fish dish?”

 

Yes, the Skidbladnir was moving over the sea.

Everything around them was ocean.

There were fish in the sea.

If they fished or used nets, they should be able to get as many fish as they wanted.

 

And yet, not a single fish dish had appeared.

 

It was only natural that Abel would find that strange.

 

 

“If you strike a sea bream, the world turns upside down.”

Before Captain Paulina could answer, Ryo muttered under his breath.

 

Ryo remembered it.

He remembered the first time he had dived into the sea near the Rondo Forest.

The moment he speared a fish like a sea bream… the sensation that the whole world had turned against him.

 

To touch the creatures of the sea meant that sort of thing.

 

 

Ryo had muttered before Captain Paulina answered, so Abel was the surprised one.

Rather, Captain Paulina looked at Ryo with a smile and asked,

 

“Could it be that you experienced that underwater, Your Grace?”

As if asking whether he had had an experience where the world turned against him.

 

“Yes. It was terrifying.”

Ryo nodded honestly.

 

He had been ignorant.

Ignorance puts life in danger.

 

And there is still one ignorant person here.

“What happened underwater?”

Abel asked, tilting his head.

 

“If you mess with sea creatures, the sea monsters… no, not just monsters, but those things attack you.”

“What?”

“So fishermen only fish in areas where there are no terrifying monsters. We don’t have information on the sea monsters that live in the waters we’re traveling through, so we avoid touching them.”

“I see… the sea is frightening.”

Abel nodded at Paulina’s explanation.

 

“Unless it’s a place without powerful monsters, or a place like an island rather than a ship, I don’t recommend fishing.”

“Ah, understood.”

“Of course, this ship does have a ward against sea monsters, so monsters won’t come near us…”

“No, there’s no need to invite danger on purpose. Unlike some water-attribute magician I know.”

“Abel, if you’re looking for a fight, I’ll take you on!”

Abel deliberately said something provocative, and Ryo answered in kind.

 

At that moment, Chef Kobatch came in.

“Your Majesty, I have brought the Rindo pie for dessert.”

 

An apple pie that looked absolutely delicious!

 

“I’ll forgive Abel on account of that delicious-looking pie.”

“I’ll throw that same line right back at Ryo.”

Ryo and Abel were both saying bold things, but their eyes were already fixed on the Rindo pie.

 

It seemed that delicious food really must be the key to world peace.

 

 

Seven days after departing Whitnash, the Skidbladnir would call at its first maritime nation, the nation of Piskan.

 

 

Previous  |  Main  |  Next​​​

If you like my translations, please support me on  Patreon and unlock early chapter releases! 7 day free trial is available for Bronze tier now! Patreons are enjoying 5 to 9 chapters early now depending on subscribed tier!