Chapter 313: I Want to Board the Ship

Perhaps judging that my questioning was finished, Rosso and Tran exchanged what looked like regular reports regarding supplies and the ship’s status. Deeming that they had done enough of that, Rosso cut the conversation short and turned to us.

“Now then, do you have any final requests?”

To Rosso‘s words, I answered immediately.

“I want to board the ship.”

When I announced that, Tran’s eyes went wide as he looked at me.

“…Does that mean you intend to steal our technology?”

“Yes! If possible, I want to build a ship too!”

When I answered childishly, Tran froze for a moment, blinked, and immediately burst out laughing.

“Hahahaha! No, excuse me. You said it so bluntly that you’ve taken the wind out of my sails.”

Tran started speaking in a rougher tone, as if he had forgotten his previous polite wording. His hearty personality seemed to be oozing out.

“Is that a no?”

It is a military secret, so it’s probably impossible. Thinking that, I asked again. Then, Tran laughed as if exhaling a breath.

“I cannot teach you the details of our ship, but if it is just boarding it, I suppose I do not mind. However, only Viscount Van and his servants may board, understood?”

“Really!? Yay!”

I cheered with great joy at Tran‘s words. It was an honest reaction. At that, Panamera pursed her lips in dissatisfaction.

“If the Viscount is allowed, I, a Count, would like to be let on as well.”

When Panamera said that, Tran smiled wryly and shook his head.

“My apologies, but I must ask you to refrain this time. Well, since Viscount Van said he wants to see the ship out of pure curiosity, I am merely granting special permission.”

“Mumumu…! It can’t be helped… Then, at least for Viscount Van‘s safety, I want you to include a few more guards.”

“Hmm, guards… If it is just a maid serving as an attendant, I do not mind, but…”

Tran clearly showed hesitation at Panamera‘s proposal. His desire not to show secrets to military personnel was transparent. And it seems he thinks secrets won’t leak even if women and children see them.

That underestimation is a huge mistake.

Without showing a single bit of what I was thinking inside, I answered with a smile.

“Understood! Then, I want to take Lady Arte, Khamsin, and Till with me! Everyone wanted to go on the ship!”

We boarded the small boat and advanced across the sea. Even though the wind wasn’t strong, it rocked significantly. It was probably because the boat was small. And Khamsin, who gets motion sickness easily, was pale-faced and trembling.

“I-I never said I wanted to go on a ship…”

Muttering in a small voice, Khamsin stared longingly at the land. Although called a small boat, it was four or five meters long. Tran, standing at the bow, probably couldn’t hear him. That said, five of Tran‘s subordinate sailors were on the boat. Men standing on the left and right adjusted the boat’s direction with oars, and Tran, the captain, seemed to be moving the boat using Wind Magic.

The boat had a long, thin shape like a canoe, but Tran‘s use of Wind Magic must be very skilled. It advanced smoothly across the sea, cutting through the waves.

However, what rocks, rocks.

“Probably, that big ship will shake less. Hang in there a little longer.”

“U-Ugh… U-Understood…”

Pale-faced Khamsin—’Blue Khamsin‘ for short—said in a tragic voice.

After about five to ten minutes, we arrived right under the large ship. Since it was a ship capable of crossing the open ocean, it was huge enough that we had to look up when we got close.

“I-It’s huge…”

Arte muttered quietly, as if dumbfounded. Next to her was a maid-type doll of the same size as Arte, hastily built for protection this time, but strangely, it moved just like Arte who was operating it.

I wondered how we would get up to the deck, then four ropes came down from above. There were tying points on four places on the left and right of the boat, and we were hoisted up like a crane game.

This lifting was also harsh for Blue Khamsin, but he managed to avoid making chum (vomiting). Instead, after getting on the deck, he sat in the corner, repeating rough breaths while staring into the distance, motionless.

Seeing that state, Tran burst out laughing.

“He is still a child, so it can’t be helped, but can he protect his master in that state?”

At Tran laughing and saying that, Khamsin stood up while trembling. And he drew his sword.

“N-No matter who comes, I-I will p-protect Lord Van… Urgh.”

Khamsin said that with serious eyes. But his legs were trembling like a newborn fawn. Smiling wryly at that, Tran patted Khamsin‘s shoulder.

“Don’t push yourself, Boy Swordsman. There are no enemies on this ship.”

Tran said that gently, but Khamsin did not sheath his sword.

Seeing that, Tran looked at me with a troubled expression. Returning a wry smile, I spoke.

“Despite how he looks, Khamsin is an amazing knight. He is my reliable guard.”

When I said that, Tran laughed as if exhaling a breath.