Chapter 378: [Another Perspective] The Subordinates' Desperate Efforts

[Tribute]

When the ship returned, those waiting in Tribute were astonished to learn of the situation.

“Wh-What in the world……!”

Hearing the report first, Rosso opened his eyes wide and raised a voice of surprise, knitting his brows as he looked at Dee and the others. He tried to say something, but his expression showed he was at a loss for words upon seeing their utterly exhausted state.

At that moment, Havel, Ortho, and their groups also came rushing over. Hearing the story from the other knights, they looked up at the ship missing Van and became visibly shaken.

“Wh-What did you say!? Lord Van fell into the sea……!”

“W-Weren’t countermeasures against magic beasts taken!?”

When Havel and Ortho voiced this, Law, who had investigated the ship with Kusala, answered with a despondent look on his face.

“……I don’t know. In truth, there was absolutely no sign of magic beasts until that large one appeared. Furthermore, after crashing into the ship, the magic beast disappeared somewhere…… Perhaps there was a flaw in our countermeasures……”

Kusala and Pluriel reacted to Law’s words.

“D-Did you search underwater?”

“……With Miss Arte’s puppet, wouldn’t they have managed somehow, even against an underwater magic beast……”

Law could not give any answer to the anxious words of the two. Only those actually at the scene would understand, but the massive ship had been tilted so severely that its bow pointed toward the sky. Dee and the others near the center of the ship could do nothing, and they had no way of knowing if Van and the others thrown into the sea had managed to do anything.

Meanwhile, Khamsin, who had witnessed the four of them falling right before his eyes, had become as haggard as someone who had suffered a severe illness for a long time. Seeing this, even the knights of Panamera’s Chivalric Order wore grim expressions and found themselves unable to say anything.

Even so, upon returning from the sea, Dee hardened his heart, questioned Khamsin thoroughly, and strove to grasp the current situation. Understanding that this act deeply gouged Khamsin’s heart, he refrained from speaking to him any further.

Dee and the others had remained in that area of the sea for a while to continue the search, but no matter how much they searched, they could not find Van and the others. When the decision was made to return to Tribute, everyone looked at Dee, who gave the order, with complex expressions. However, seeing his ghastly, intense expression, no one opposed him.

“L-Lady Panamera……!? Lady Panamera fell into the sea too!?”

Panamera’s Chivalric Order was also violently shaken, and voices carrying a tone of blame were raised. However, when Dee bowed his head and explained what had happened on the ship, they could say no more. None of them had ever experienced such an extreme situation at sea.

“Lord Rosso. We believe in Lord Van’s safety. Many things from the sea should wash up on the coast…… I apologize for the imposition, but I ask you to organize a search party.”

Dee requested this of Rosso in a manner that brooked no argument. It might have been a disrespectful attitude toward a high-ranking noble. However, Rosso accepted the proposal with a serious face.

“I understand. Also, although it will only be in the coastal waters, we shall send out ships to search. What do you intend to do, Sir Dee?”

When Rosso asked that, Dee clenched his fists tightly and opened his mouth.

“We will prepare for a voyage and head out to sea once more.”

At those words, Rosso directed his gaze toward Dee’s subordinates. He thought everyone would be exhausted, but seeing the expressions of Arb, Law, and Khamsin, he let out a short breath.

“……There is a condition for your search. My subordinates will also board. I am sorry, but I need you to keep moving without staying in one place, and return to Tribute before their magical power runs out. In exchange, I will lend you two who can use wind magic.”

When Rosso said that, Khamsin furrowed his brows and opened his mouth to speak. Perhaps noticing this, Arb reached out a hand and stopped Khamsin from speaking.

Then, Dee bowed his head deeply and replied.

“We are grateful…… We will absolutely repay this debt of gratitude.”

“……Umu. Then, we shall help with the preparations. You all should rest at an inn for now. Your hearts may find no rest, but you will not be able to search unless you rest your bodies even a little.”

When Rosso firmly stated that, Dee raised his face and spoke.

“You have my thanks. We will take you up on your offer and rest for a moment. If possible, we would like to set sail before sunrise.”

“……Then, that will be in ten hours. You can leave the preparations to us.”

“Sir! Then, if you will excuse us.”

Listening to Rosso’s words as if chewing on them, Dee led everyone toward the town. The sight of Khamsin moving with his back supported by Law was painful to watch, and Rosso saw them off with a grim expression.

“……To think it would come to this.”

The maiden voyage of the prototype ship. Originally, neither Van nor Panamera had planned to board. However, it was also true that with the presence of a dwarven blacksmith and an Apkallu, a somewhat optimistic atmosphere had taken hold. Furthermore, thinking it would be disastrous if something happened during the voyage, Van had boarded the ship himself. In either case, it would have been difficult to stop them.

Thinking that far, Rosso suddenly remembered something important.

“……That’s right, the Apkallu. If it is him, a member of the legendary race, shouldn’t he be able to search underwater without any problems?”

When Rosso voiced this, a low voice was heard from the direction of the sea.

“I have no knowledge of the sea. It would be difficult to search alone.”

Turning his gaze toward the voice, he found Ladavista in the shallows of the sea. At those words, Rosso wrinkled his brow and groaned. He understood what Ladavista was saying, but his feelings were driven by a desire to increase the chances of success, even if only slightly.

However, hearing the next words Ladavista spoke, Rosso came to harbor a different emotion.

“……I reached out to my friends of the sea beforehand, but I wonder what came of it……”

Saying that, Ladavista looked back toward the open sea and narrowed his eyes.