Chapter 105
I watched the situation from the ship until they departed.
Several rowboats swayed atop the calm waves.
People attempted to make a catch while balancing on the shaky decks.
The men threw nets.
The nets did not stretch as far as expected.
[Clever] nitpicked, saying they lacked technique.
“They’re more clumsy than I thought.”
It seemed Vale also felt their movements were like those of beginners.
“Did you ever come out to sea when you stayed at the castle?”
“I heard the soldiers fished to kill time. But this is the first time I’ve seen them come out to sea prepared like that.”
“Why haven't you used the sea until now?”
“I suppose because there were no ships as large as this one, or the necessity to go to sea was lacking? Food was abundant in the city after all.”
He answered as if making excuses and broke into a cold sweat.
“I get the feeling the information isn't quite clear?”
“I was no different from a bystander when I was at the castle.”
“Which is probably why you were kicked out.”
“Don't poke at my sore spots.”
Leaving Vale’s dejected face behind, I observed the boats on the sea.
One boat seemed to wobble before flipping over in an instant.
It was a mistake so foolish it was hard to watch.
The three people who fell into the sea swam over and climbed onto another comrade’s boat nearby.
Then they left the area without recovering the overturned boat.
“Tsk tsk, they’re leaving that valuable thing behind.”
Vale clicked his tongue as if it were a waste.
“Sir Vale, take the wheel.”
“Now all of a sudden?”
“We’re taking that boat.”
“……Understood.”
Vale went to his station and gripped the steering wheel.
As I unfurled the sails, the ship caught the wind and crossed the sea.
When we reached the vicinity of the abandoned rowboat, he skillfully stopped the ship.
“How was it?”
“Your skills are getting better as time goes on.”
“Right? Ahahaha.”
I threw my shirt onto the deck and flung myself into the sea.
The ice-cold seawater surrounded my entire body.
“Over there.”
With his help, I swam to the location where the boat was.
As my hand reached the edge of the boat, I enveloped my arms in [Strength Enhancement] magic and pushed with force.
The overturned boat returned to its original state.
Grabbing the railing, I climbed onto the deck and bailed out the accumulated seawater.
“How does it look?”
“The oars are missing, but other than that, it’s fine. We’ll need a rope.”
“Understood.”
While Vale went to get a rope, I also cast a formula on the rowboat.
It was a magic for transparency.
When I looked toward the castle, the people who had been here were already out of sight.
“Catch!”
I firmly tied the rope I received from him to the bow of the boat and gave a signal.
The rowboat ended up being towed by the caravel.
I sat down and thought.
Obtaining the boat was a harvest.
Only Vale could handle the caravel, but anyone could handle the rowboat.
I had gained a means to travel between the mainland and the island without his help.
Nevertheless, I couldn't be purely happy.
My head was filled with thoughts related to the castle.
“……Whew.”
When the people of Saint Stalia came out to the sea.
I only remembered seeing bad endings.
* * *
“Tell me if you’re going somewhere!”
When we returned to the island, Leo was huffing.
Not just the boy, but all of our comrades were out waiting.
“I thought you were abandoning us to start a new life somewhere else.”
“It seems your trust in me was lacking, even though you rely on me so much.”
They flinched like people whose weak point had been poked.
The male students whistled and feigned ignorance, while the female students changed the subject.
Before I knew it, only Leo and Adela remained in front of me.
“Ahem, so what was the real reason you moved the ship?”
“I brought that thing back.”
When I gestured toward the rowboat towed onto the sand, the two of them showed interest.
“It’s a rowboat. Where did you get it?”
“I brought it back after it was abandoned at sea.”
“Really? You were lucky huh.”
Leo simply took my words at face value.
On the other hand, Adela pursed her lips and groaned.
“That thing, people from the castle brought it out, right?”
“Yes.”
“A-Ahem.”
Leo cleared his throat in embarrassment.
As if trying to reflect on his light behavior, he crossed his arms and took a stance.
“As expected, I thought so from the beginning too.”
“Pretending to know when you didn't have a clue.”
Adela grumbled, seemingly displeased with the boy.
“That’s enough. More importantly, I have something to consult regarding this matter.”
The gazes of the two turned toward me.
“It’s strictly a guess, but there’s a possibility a problem has occurred at the castle.”
“If they brought out a boat…… is it a food problem?”
“Likely.”
“I think Sir Vale would know better than anyone else.”
Vale stepped forward as if it were his turn to act.
“In the castle, there are fields, orchards, and a livestock farm with sheep.”
“Wow, as expected of a city.”
“You might be impressed just by hearing it, but it’s not as abundant as you’d think. Even for a city, they have no choice but to reduce mouths in the winter, and filling the warehouse is a different matter.”
I looked at Vale.
“What would happen if a problem occurred with any one of the things you mentioned?”
“They’d be fine for a few months. I don't know after that.”
“Isn't that actually a good thing?”
Adela, who was listening, cut in.
“As time passes like this, the castle will fall into chaos, and the lord will lose trust. That’s when Sir Vale makes his appearance. How about it?”
She asked me as if seeking agreement.
“I don't think it’s a bad idea.”
“Right?”
“……May I point one thing out?”
Vale raised his hand.
“The Mother, no, the Countess, will take action before the problem festers and bursts.”
A witch lived in Saint Stalia.
Chloe Glover.
The current Countess and, since the lord’s death, the practical head of the Glover family.
At the same time, she was a mage of high-level skill.
And she was a cold-blooded woman who tried to kill the heir, even if he wasn't a child she had given birth to.
To her, people were tools.
If a tool didn't listen, she simply disposed of it.
“What do you mean by taking action?”
“It means there will be blood.”
“……Killing the people of the fief is disadvantageous for her too, isn't it?”
“She’ll dismiss such things as trivial matters. The woman I know is someone who will return a blade to a throat without hesitation if one is held to hers.”
I just listened to the story in silence.
Even if I didn't intervene, the story continued like flowing water.
“It means that, depending on the case, there might not even be anyone left to win over the hearts of the people.”
Silence fell.
Everyone was terrified that things would go wrong.
I finished my thoughts, and for some reason, a laugh escaped me.
“Haha.”
The atmosphere turned chillingly cold.
My comrades seemed to think I had lost my mind.
When I looked around at their expressions, a sense of despair as if the world had ended was draped over them.
“Are you okay?”
Adela asked in a worried voice.
It also sounded a bit like she was sobbing.
“There is no problem.”
“Then why did you suddenly laugh?”
“Because I got the feeling that nothing is ever simple.”
“Is that something to laugh about?”
“It’s not something to laugh about. Because it’s clear that what happened at the castle is not a good sign. But for some reason, I felt as if it didn't matter.”
My comrades stomped their feet with expressions draped in anxiety.
Watching them, I thought.
At one time, I thought that my personality traits occupied a large part of adapting to this world.
A person who was an ordinary game tester had fallen into hell.
I believed that if I had endured until now, it was because I had relied on something else to survive, not my own will.
It wasn't.
Suddenly my head cleared, and I came to realize who I was.
I looked at the world and others differently.
“Rest assured.”
I gave a glance to the gathered comrades.
My comrades felt a sense of relief at my firm voice.
“There is always a way.”
* * *
Leo let out a yawn from the observation deck on the ship.
He couldn't sleep much last night.
He woke up several times and tossed and turned on the bed.
The people of the castle came out to the sea.
He wondered how they would react if they discovered us.
Fight, or negotiate.
He thought they might even ignore us.
Fortunately, they didn't have a ship as large as this one.
Since it wasn't a distance that could be swam, they would have no choice but to be cautious.
“You’re working hard I see.”
Vale climbed up to the observation deck.
“Here, take this.”
He handed over a warm hard-boiled egg.
Leo cracked the shell and took a big bite of the top.
Perhaps because he was in a distracted mood, he couldn't tell what it tasted like.
“How is it?”
“It doesn't seem like they’re trying to come this way.”
The rowboat appeared again today.
The time was similar too.
The difference was that the people on the boat today were not bad in their skills.
“They’re throwing well, aren't they?”
“It seems they gathered and selected people. There must have been people who were fishermen.”
“Is that bad news for us? Because it means they’ve solved the problem.”
“I’m not sure.”
Vale tilted his head.
He lacked the insight to look ahead as Joshua did.
“Is this what they call sleeping with the enemy?”
“Wouldn't it be a bit further than that?”
“This much is what they call right under your nose.”
“Heh, I suppose so.”
Trivial conversation flowed.
Many things had happened, but there was no big change in life on the island.
Joshua also told the group to live as usual.
He said to manage the vegetable garden, look after the livestock, and strive in training.
His words felt like magic, instantly quieting the students’ anxiety.
“Is it really okay like this?”
“It should be.”
Leo spoke in a voice full of conviction.
“Because he said he has a plan.”
“You trust Joshua.”
“Because I’ve never lost out by trusting Joshua until now. We all owe him a debt. You too.”
“Didn't you used to dislike Joshua?”
“Disliking someone and acknowledging them are different matters.”
“You mean it’s meritocracy?”
“Something like that.”
Leo saw Vale’s arm trembling.
“You’re trembling, Sir Vale.”
Vale looked at his arm with surprised eyes.
Just as the boy pointed out, his arm was wriggling of its own accord.
“Are you afraid?”
“A little. But this isn't because I don't trust Joshua. It’s because I don't trust myself.”
“Don't speak so weakly. You might get abandoned by him if you do.”
“……If it’s Joshua, he might really abandon me.”
Leo confirmed the ship was leaving and descended to the beach.
Joshua was waiting for him on the sandy beach.
“The ships have disappeared from the sea.”
“Yeah.”
“Are you really planning to go to the mainland with just Luna?”
“If we move together, it’ll be noticeable. One person, Luna, is enough to move covertly.”
“When do you plan to return?”
“I’m thinking about a week.”
Leo exhaled a deep breath.
Leading the group without Joshua was always a burden.
“Consult with Adela when something happens.”
“I don't feel like it, but I understand. I’ll do that.”
“And I’ll give you a task.”
“A task?”
“3,000 stabs. 3,000 slashes. A total of 6,000 times. Do it every single day without fail.”
“W-Wait a minute. When on earth are we supposed to rest if we have to swing a sword that much while also working?”
“If you finish the training quickly, you’ll be able to rest.”
Joshua headed toward the sea, pulling the rowboat.
Leo’s inside seethed.
He thought his demand was absurd.
“Sir Vale!”
“Hmm?”
“You see why I dislike that bastard, right?”
“Y-Yeah.”
Vale laughed awkwardly.
While Leo was with Joshua, he would always be the one being tormented.