Chapter 411: Confirming the Current Situation

With His Majesty’s scolding over, it was decided we would once again confirm and report on the current situation.

We went to see the ship I actually built, and I made a simple gazebo in front of the pier to hold our meeting.

His Majesty sat at the head of the table, with Rosso and Aperta positioned on his left and right. From there, Pista, Panamera, and I sat alternately, and furthermore, Arte and Dee were specially permitted to take a seat. Being seated at the same table as His Majesty, Arte was pitifully tense. Khamsin and Till were standing behind us as a guard and caretaker, respectively.

And since various technical discussions would be included this time, we had the dwarf blacksmith Havel participate at the edge of the gazebo as well.

By the way, the gazebo was in a Greek Pantheon style so that it would look striking when viewed from the sea. It was tall, with many large round pillars lined up to support the roof. Even I had to admit I’d built a pretty cool resting place.

“……In other words, this ship is an imitation of the Fiesta Kingdom’s technology. However, you do not know why it failed, correct?”

“Indeed, crossing the dangerous open ocean where many large aquatic magic beasts reside would require some sort of mechanism. No matter how capable you are, Lord Van, such special devices and equipment would not be easy to create.”

“……Indeed. Viscount Van, how did you determine whether or not you could set out to sea?”

Asked that, I pointed toward the pier.

“I thought there was some mechanism underwater, so I had Mr. Ladavesta of the Apkallu cooperate with me. After that, I continued trial and error together with the dwarf Mr. Havel, and I judged that we were able to install a mechanism similar to the large ships of the Fiesta Kingdom.”

“What? Is Lord Ladavesta here?”

Hearing my explanation, His Majesty looked at the sea in surprise. Then, the figure of Ladavesta poking his head out of the water could be seen on the other side of the pier. Ladavesta crossed his arms, exposing about half of his upper body, and opened his mouth.

“……It has been a while, Great Chief.”

When Ladavesta greeted him with an attitude of an equal, His Majesty narrowed his eyes and nodded.

“Ooh, Lord Ladavesta. It is good to see you are doing well too. So, as far as you can see, Lord Ladavesta, was the ship Viscount Van built an adequate substitute?”

His Majesty nodded with a smile at Ladavesta’s attitude and asked that question. Well, it was probably because he knew Ladavesta was paying ample respect in his own way. In response, Ladavesta also nodded with a serious face and answered.

“Umu. I confirmed that at the bottom of the sea, every time the ship took a wave, mysterious high and low-pitched sounds would ring out, and small magic beasts would move away.”

Ladavesta answered. At that, Aperta, who was listening behind him, groaned with deep interest.

“I see…… Is that special mechanism the device that keeps magic beasts away? However, what exactly is the mechanism?”

When Aperta voiced his doubt, Havel crossed his arms and answered.

“A metal plate is affixed to the bottom of the ship, and it has a strange groove-like pattern on it. It seems that when a water current hits those grooves at a certain speed, a sound rings out underwater that is almost imperceptible to humans.”

Havel explained simply. Hearing that, His Majesty and Aperta widened their eyes in surprise.

“……To think they could make something like that, I suppose it’s only expected of a maritime nation.”

“That is indeed astonishing, but the fact that it was replicated just by looking at it is also quite remarkable.”

The two looked at me with expressions of both surprise and exasperation. Smiling wryly at that, I directed my gaze to Ladavesta.

“Well, we had Mr. Ladavesta investigate it secretly from underwater, and we went through trial and error over and over again. If the only information we had was that there needed to be grooves on the bottom of the ship, we wouldn’t have completed it no matter how many years we had.”

It was precisely because we had Ladavesta check it underwater numerous times that we got this result. When I said that, Havel also furrowed his brow and groaned.

“Exactly. Besides, testing the alloy ratios was quite a bit of labor. Well, since Lord Van can create alloys in an instant, it was far easier than making them normally, though.”

Havel talked about the points he struggled with while snorting. Paying no mind to such an exceptionally insolent attitude, His Majesty nodded deeply and looked up at the ship floating in the sea.

“I suppose that’s true. Creating something of this caliber is no simple matter. Even so, the Fiesta Kingdom is the one that is truly astonishing. To think it is so difficult to develop even with all of you researching it together.”

When His Majesty said that, I could hear the sound of Havel’s pride taking a hit.

“I-It’s certainly difficult, but if we tackle it seriously, in a few years…… no, I’ll have it completed within a year. We’ve already figured out how to do it, after all.”

“Ooh, as expected of Lord Havel, one of the dwarves’ leading blacksmiths. I look forward to it.”

“Mu, guh…… L-Leave it to me!”

Met with a straight reply, Havel was at a loss for words. His Majesty had the upper hand, huh. Havel easily found himself in a disadvantageous position.

After all, let alone one year, there’s no telling if the ship’s research will advance even after several years. With Ladavesta’s cooperation, it should be in a state that is almost completely finished on the surface. If so, what should be improved?

Probably, the interior. Even saying it’s the interior, we couldn’t figure it out just by walking around inside the ship, so if we were to research it by ourselves, it would truly be groping in the dark. We must not underestimate the history of the Fiesta Kingdom’s research into ocean-going vessels. Knowing that, Havel was at a loss for words as well.

“……I guess it really will be impossible unless we meet with Mr. Tran once more and get a hint.”