Chapter 0716 Visit to Whitnash
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Two days after His Majesty the King and the Premier Duke's party left the Royal Capital, in the morning.
They arrived in the port town of Whitnash.
They entered the city in the carriage, but even then, crowds were already gathered along the sides of the road.
No flags were waving, but the mood was clearly one of welcoming His Majesty the King…
Through the middle of that, King Abel's carriage moved forward, escorted by the First Guard Regiment and the Royal Knights.
"Long live His Majesty the King!"
"Abel-sama!"
"Oh, he waved at us!"
"So noble and regal…"
"The person in the robe beside him is cute too."
Such voices could be heard from among the people.
Abel smiled and waved back from inside the carriage.
He stayed inside the carriage because Knight Captain Dontan of the Royal Knights had explicitly warned him not to step outside.
"When I came here before, it was for a festival, but it is just as lively as it was then."
"Whitnash has seen remarkable development over the past two years."
To Ryo's comment, Abel answered while smiling and waving toward the crowd.
"Whitnash was already a major port town, but now it has become one of the top five cities in the entire kingdom."
Abel smiled and waved as the party continued onward and arrived at the port.
There too, the people kept their distance and watched the group arrive.
And then came cheers for Abel as he stepped down from the carriage.
To continue the theme of putting up a display.
Ryo, following behind Abel, muttered,
"Being king sure is rough."
When Ryo and Abel got down from the carriage, two people, a man and a woman, were waiting for them.
One was a woman in her early thirties with long hair, blue eyes, and striking brown skin.
"Your Majesty, I am truly sorry to have troubled you with such a long trip."
"Darlene Dingley, it seems you are governing well as magistrate. Excellent work."
"I am honored."
Abel praised her, and the Whitnash magistrate known as Darlene lowered her head.
The other was a man in his late forties with chestnut hair, black eyes, brown skin, and a tall build, though he gave off a generally supple impression.
But more importantly, he was someone Ryo already knew well.
"You're Goro-san, right?"
The person Ryo called out to was Goro Ganda.
The magistrate of Kona Village, producer of the Kona coffee Ryo loved so much… why was he here?
"Ryo, do you know the Lord of the Admiralty?"
Abel asked in surprise.
"Lord of the Admiralty? The minister of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs… huh? Goro-san, you became the Minister?"
"Yes, Lord Duke Rondo."
Goro, still wearing the same gentle smile Ryo remembered, greeted them.
"The Ministry of Maritime Affairs is the place Abel told me about before, right? It handles everything related to the kingdom's seas…"
"That's right. Ryo said it before, too. That, as the corrupt premier duke, you would inspect the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and confiscate their property."
"What…"
Ryo was stunned by Abel's words.
Magistrate Darlene and Minister Goro both widened their eyes in shock.
"T-That was obviously a joke."
"So you are admitting that you said it."
"How underhanded, Scheming King Abel!"
It was just Abel and Ryo fooling around.
The two who watched them did their best to avert their eyes.
They seemed to be desperately holding back laughter.
Of course they had to hold it back.
The two people in front of them, even if they were acting silly, were the king and the premier duke.
They were the two highest-ranking powers in the Kingdom.
"Due to His Majesty's administrative reforms, the main headquarters of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs has been moved from the Royal Capital to Whitnash. Your Grace is welcome to inspect at any time."
With a slight chuckle, Goro joined in the interlude between the two.
"O-of course, with Goro-san serving as the Lord Admiral, I'm certain everything is being handled flawlessly, so there would be no need for me to step in."
Trying to hide his flustered expression… or at least thinking he had hidden it, Ryo nodded grandly.
"Are you sure about that, Ryo? If I recall, back then you said something along the lines of… 'Even though they escaped the pitfalls of compartmentalized bureaucracy, they've grown far too bloated and lost their innovative edge.' Didn't you claim that was the exact state the Ministry was in?"
"I-I might have said that… but now that Goro-san is at the helm, I am positive he is reforming things in the right direction. I just know it."
"Oh, really?"
"Goro-san has been sending me Kona coffee, after all. That alone is enough for me to vouch for his competence."
"You base your judgment on that…?"
"A relationship of trust is a sacred bond forged between individuals, Abel. I suggest you try a little harder to become a king whom people can actually trust."
"I haven't the slightest clue why this is being turned back on me…"
It was a fierce, rapid-fire battle of wits between the Premier Duke and the King.
Unsurprisingly, both Goro and Darlene kept their expressions completely blank, pretending they hadn't heard a single word.
A sudden memory surfaced in Ryo's mind.
It harkened back to the very first time he had ever visited Whitnash.
He had come here on an escort mission alongside the trio from 'Room No. 10' and the members of 'Coffee Maker'.
Back then…
"I seem to recall Whitnash having a noble lord ruling over it."
"Ah, yes, it did."
"Did you fire him?"
"You remember the massive uproar that broke out during the garden party back then, right?"
"Yes, I know it well. That was the time you locked yourself in your room and just waited for the whole commotion to blow over, wasn't it, Abel?"
"I mean, you're not wrong… but something about the way you phrased that is incredibly irritating."
Ryo flatly stated the facts, leaving Abel to grimace in frustration.
During the garden party, Abel had been cornered by the guildmaster of this city and dragged off into a detached room for a private meeting.
On top of that, because they had been using a soundproofing magic tool, he hadn't noticed a single thing happening at the main event.
As a result, he had escaped completely unharmed, but still…
"Because of that incident, the lord was reassigned to a different territory. And Whitnash became a direct crown territory."
"Don't tell me… that entire uproar was a scheme orchestrated by the royal family just to get their hands on Whitnash?!"
"No, it was the work of the assassin cult that had been bribed by the Union."
"Oh, is that so?"
It seemed the Kingdom's government had done quite a thorough investigation after all.
Ryo's wild delusion was, as it turned out, entirely just a delusion.
"And the magistrate of this crown territory is you, Darlene-san?"
"Yes, Your Grace."
Darlene nodded as Ryo confirmed the facts.
"You mentioned that the Ministry of Maritime Affairs moved from the Royal Capital to Whitnash, but why is that?"
"What use is a maritime department in a landlocked capital?"
Abel replied to Ryo's naive question, his expression suggesting the answer should have been obvious.
"I suppose so, but…"
"Flip it around. Why does it have to be in the Royal Capital?"
"…To secure a budget?"
"That's something for the people allocating the budget, namely me and Marquis Heinlein, to look out for. A ministry's job isn't to chase budgets; it's to devote itself entirely to its actual duties. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs does its work on the sea, so shouldn't it be right next to the sea?"
"That is a completely unassailable argument."
Ryo nodded, thoroughly convinced by Abel's explanation.
Indeed, there was absolutely no reason for government ministries to clutter up the capital city.
In fact, Ryo often felt that when officials were constantly plagued day in and day out by the tangible and intangible pressures of politicians, they became entirely unable to focus on their actual jobs.
As a result, bureaucrats stop looking out for the citizens and instead focus solely on pleasing the politicians.
Or rather, they are forced to focus on them.
A state like that brought happiness to no one.
If the central ministries themselves relocated, the regions they moved to would naturally prosper.
It would act as a catalyst for regional revitalization.
Officials could raise their children while fully enjoying the local delicacies and outdoor activities of their new homes.
And with the cost of living being overwhelmingly cheaper compared to the capital, a central bureaucrat's salary would allow them to live an incredibly comfortable life.
The bureaucrats' families would be happy.
The officials themselves could focus on their work.
It truly was a wonderful world for everyone involved.
The ideal embodiment of that concept was right before his eyes: the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, which had relocated here to Whitnash.
Ryo couldn't help but feel that the rapid economic development Whitnash had experienced over the past two years was largely thanks to the ministry's relocation.
The crucial point wasn't just moving a few minor departments; it was relocating the core ministry itself.
"Lord Admiral, I have read the report concerning the 'Opening of the Eastern Trade Route'."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. The information you shared regarding the Rain Shooter washing ashore in the Archipelago region proved to be the deciding factor. However, regarding the exploration the Rain Shooter was conducting, none of its crew members have returned. Therefore, I believe we must proceed with a certain degree of caution."
"I agree."
Abel nodded in response to Lord Goro's words.
Magistrate Darlene nodded along as well.
Yet, the Premier Duke alone was tilting his head in confusion.
"What's this about opening an eastern trade route?"
"It's a plan to pioneer a naval route from the Kingdom to the Archipelago region, and ultimately, to the Eastern Countries."
"Say what…?"
Ryo was astonished.
It was true that they had personally spotted the Rain Shooter, which had originally set sail from Whitnash, all the way out in the Archipelago region.
Currently, it served as the Bralcau, the royal vessel of Queen Iliaja of the Kingdom of Suje.
But frankly, no one actually knew how the Rain Shooter had managed to reach the Archipelago region in the first place.
No one knew what lay along the path.
Nor what kind of creatures lurked there.
Ryo suddenly remembered something.
It was about the king standing next to him.
"Abel, you were on a smuggling ship when you washed ashore by my place, right?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"Was that ship anchored here in Whitnash?"
"It was."
"So that means a ship could go from here to the Rondo Forest?"
Ryo asked cautiously to confirm.
"That… may be true."
"The coast where you washed up? Has Krakens, you know?"
"That… may be true."
"And on the land where I used to live, there are even worse neighbors, you know?"
"That… that is a problem."
It seemed Abel had finally grasped the weight of Ryo's concerns.
They might end up charting a course through waters where Krakens were guaranteed to be waiting.
Furthermore, if they dropped anchor on the way and managed to anger Ryo's neighbors… namely dragons, behemoths, or griffins…
Sensing something ominous in their conversation.
And perhaps sensing a connection to his own work as well.
Goro interjected,
"Forgive me, Your Majesty, Your Grace. But what exactly is the Rondo Forest?"
"It's Ryo's… Duke Rondo's territory."
"Good heavens…"
"It's incredibly far away from the Kingdom's mainland. Uh, what was it called? The Devil's Mountain? It's on the other side of that."
"The other side of the Devil's Mountain…"
Goro was completely struck dumb.
Naturally, Darlene was left speechless as well.
To the citizens of the Kingdom, the Devil's Mountain was literally a mountain of death.
A forbidden zone where no human should ever set foot.
The idea that a territory existed beyond it was hard enough to believe… but if it were true, the implications were even more incomprehensible.
Furthermore, judging by the flow of the conversation, King Abel had apparently washed ashore in that very place in the past.
"Lord Admiral, let us proceed with the eastern trade route even more cautiously than I initially suggested."
"Understood, Your Majesty. For now, let us focus our efforts entirely on the 'West'."
Goro nodded in agreement with Abel.
Yet, there was still a certain Premier Duke who was completely failing to follow the conversation.
To begin with…
"Abel, I still haven't been told what exactly is supposed to be happening here in Whitnash."
"Hmm? Is that so? Did I not mention it?"
"You didn't say a word. You told me there was a ceremony, and you told me we'd be returning to the capital in a single day, but you didn't tell me anything about the actual event."
"Ah… well, you see…"
Just as Abel was about to explain, a booming shout echoed across the harbor.
"I see it!"
The cry came from a lookout scanning the western horizon from the watchtower.
"Ryo, it looks like it'll be faster for you to just see it for yourself rather than have me explain."
Abel chuckled.
"Your Majesty, your spyglass."
Dontan, the Captain of the Royal Knights, handed a spyglass to Abel.
Similar spyglasses were handed out to Goro, Darlene, and Ryo as well.
Ryo immediately peered through his glass toward the west.
"It's… a ship, right?"
Well, obviously.
If a horse-drawn carriage came flying across the ocean, that would be far more shocking.
However, the shape of its sails felt distinctly different from the vessels currently floating off the coast of Whitnash.
As it drew closer, it revealed itself to be a massive vessel.
Or rather, while the ship itself was large, the sheer scale of its sails was breathtaking.
The ships floating off Whitnash were at most the galleon type.
But the ship approaching had sails much larger than those, while its hull seemed rather slender.
It looked vaguely familiar…
"Wait… a clipper ship? Oh, could it be… the Skidbladnir?!"
Yes, it was the Skidbladnir, the very vessel Ryo had procured in the Republic of Mafalda.
Needing a ship for a joint maritime survey with the Theocracy, Ryo had traveled to the Republic… After navigating a series of immense hardships, Neil Andersen had ultimately ended up fleeing the Republic, leaving a half-built clipper ship abandoned in the dry dock.
Ryo had successfully purchased the vessel by personally completing its alchemical systems.
It was a ship that stood as a proud testament to Ryo doing an impeccable job as the Premier Duke of the Knightley Kingdom…
"I can't believe it… To think it could actually travel all the way from the Western Countries to the Central Countries…"
"Yeah. I couldn't believe it either when I first received the report… but it really is magnificent."
Abel agreed, nodding beside him.
According to the contract Ryo had drawn up, the crew members were supposed to be from the neighboring Goslon Duchy.
They were highly capable sailors who had acquired seafaring techniques on par with the mariners of the Republic, a nation renowned for its maritime prowess.
Regarding the management of the Skidbladnir, a formal international treaty had been struck between the Knightley Kingdom and the Goslon Duchy.
In a sense, top-tier talent had been gathered at a national level to operate the ship… which was undoubtedly the reason it had successfully traversed such a vast distance.
Of course, that wasn't the only factor.
The oceans were home to terrifying monsters like the Kraken.
If a human vessel were to be ambushed by them, it wouldn't stand a chance.
Therefore, ships relied on 'monster-repelling' technologies to avoid attacks…
"So the reason you talked about opening an eastern trade route just now was that you figured that with the monster-repelling technology used on the Skidbladnir, the Kingdom could make it all the way to the Archipelago region."
"Exactly. But setting the Krakens aside, those terrifying land-dwellers you mentioned…"
"Yes, quite. Let's put the East on hold for now."
"Agreed. Let's start with the West."
While they spoke, the Skidbladnir smoothly glided into the port of Whitnash.
The citizens of Whitnash welcomed the unprecedented vessel with roaring cheers.
Naturally, because the ship proudly flew the flag of the Knightley Kingdom, they understood it belonged to their own nation.
Furthermore, they had already been informed that King Abel himself had traveled here specifically to welcome this very ship.
"It's huge!"
"Look at those massive sails!"
"The sails are incredible, but the hull is so narrow."
"It looks slender at a glance, but it seems like it can hold a decent amount of cargo."
"But what about its stability? With sails that massive…"
"Yeah, I am quite curious about that myself."
As expected of the citizens of the Kingdom's premier port city.
Such technical discussions could be heard rippling through the crowd.
Perhaps inspired by that.
The Lord Admiral and the Magistrate began a conversation of their own.
"Indeed, its stability is quite intriguing."
"Considering it traveled all the way from the Western Countries … it must possess some sort of mechanism that keeps it from capsizing even when hit by massive broadside waves or caught in fierce storms…"
"It would be great if that technology could also be applied to the Kingdom's ships."
"I hear it's scheduled to be ported here for twenty days. Let us request to see the interior during its stay."
The two of them were, in a sense, the top administrators, but they also seemed interested in technical matters on the ground.
Hearing this, Ryo nodded along in deep approval.
Ryo knew that this exact attitude and willingness to engage with the frontlines was what gave a nation the momentum to move forward.
Conversely, he also knew that once a country matured and passed its peak, administrators would lose this drive; their actions would become petty and diminished, and they would cease stepping foot onto the field entirely.
It was a tragic historical cycle.
"That's exactly why I moved the Ministry of Maritime Affairs to the place closest to the frontlines."
Abel said with a smirk.
Yes, that was exactly the kind of decisive leadership required in politics.
"Abel, you really are an excellent King."
"Hm? Is that so?"
Ryo praised him from the bottom of his heart, causing Abel's face to flush slightly.
No matter how much time passed, Abel remained easily embarrassed.
The individuals who disembarked from the Skidbladnir were all familiar faces to Ryo.
The trio hadn't originally been slated to join the diplomatic envoy to the Western Countries, but after a bizarre sequence of events… one of them turned out to be Abel's nephew, carrying the precious, direct bloodline of the royal family.
The three men dropped to one knee before Abel, offering a formal salute.
"Your Majesty, Harold, Zeke, and Gowan have returned as representatives of the diplomatic envoy."
Yes, the three men were none other than the members of 'Room No. 11'.
"Harold, you look like a completely different man."
Abel called out, his voice filled with genuine joy.
Before leaving for the Western Countries, Harold had been immature in many respects.
In fact, in a foolish pursuit of quick power, he had fallen victim to a Djinn's 'Rupture Spirit Curse'.
Because lifting the curse required dripping the blood of a Demon Lord onto his forehead, he had been forcibly attached to the diplomatic envoy.
But the Harold who stood before them now was, without a doubt, a fine and honorable gentleman.
Watching from the side, Ryo nodded with a distinctly proud, superior air.
Of course, Ryo had played a part in Harold's growth as well…
"We have brought back personal letters from each of the Order Captains."
Harold stated, prompting Zeke to retrieve them from his coat.
Captain Dontan accepted the documents and passed them along to Abel.
"I have received them safely. I shall read them through later. Splendid work, all of you. Rooms have been prepared for you at the magistrate's manor, so go and rest for now."
At Abel's words, the three stood up.
However, instead of heading straight for the manor…
"Ryo-san… No, Duke Rondo, Your Grace. It has been a long time."
They walked over to Ryo and bowed deeply.
"The three of you have grown so much in the short time we've been apart. Harold, I know you will be founding a new ducal house, but as the Premier Duke, I can now support you with absolute confidence."
"…Thank you very much."
Harold replied, blushing slightly as he bowed his head in response to Ryo's unreserved praise.
Behind him, Zeke and Gowan beamed with pride.
The reason these three had returned ahead of the rest of the envoy was precisely that Harold was Abel's nephew and a vital member of the direct royal line.
While allowing him to gain further experience in the Western Countries wouldn't have been a bad thing… Hugh McGrath, who led the envoy, had likely judged that it was time to return him to the Kingdom.
After all, Harold's primary reason for traveling to the West was to lift the curse.
Now that it was done, it was best to bring him back safely while he was unharmed.
Of course, they also served as guards for the Skidbladnir.
Even with monster-repelling devices installed, monsters weren't the only threat on the open sea.
There were also pirates to consider.
As a countermeasure and a frontline combat force, the trio from 'Room 11' was already incredibly formidable.
From multiple angles, putting them on the ship bound for the Kingdom was an ideal arrangement.
"Hugh-san's judgment is as impeccable as always."
"Yeah, he's a man capable of weighing many complex factors from every perspective."
Abel agreed as he and Ryo discussed the trio's early return after sending them off to rest.
"You're keeping the three of them stationed here in the Kingdom, right?"
"Yes, I'll have them build up their experience here. Once that's done, Harold will officially establish his ducal house."
"Things are really starting to look up across the board, aren't they?"
"Look up?"
"Your father has recovered, the North and East are settling down, Harold has returned fully matured, and our relationship with the elves, including Sera, is in an excellent place."
"That's true."
Abel agreed, nodding along with Ryo's summary.
After a brief pause, he murmured,
"Perhaps it's finally time we turn our gaze outward."
"Outward?"
"The domestic front is steadily recovering from the chaos that lingered since the Liberation War. The East is still dragging its feet a little, but looking at the Kingdom as a whole, we are firmly on a trajectory of recovery. If we keep this up, we'll hit our peak productivity within a few years."
"I see. And once we hit that point, domestic production will plateau… and unless we secure a new market, things will contract and plunge us into an economic recession."
A state where supply outstrips demand.
A form of deflation.
"Which means… we march straight into the Empire and seize their markets!"
"Not a chance!"
"If you need a military force, I'm happy to lend a hand, you know?"
Ryo suggested, twisting his face into an intentionally villainous grin.
"That look on your face… You already know exactly what I mean, don't you, Ryo?"
"Alas, we shall not lay a finger on the Empire. What you actually want is to fully legitimize and scale up our trade with the Western Countries, and eventually the Dark Continent beyond them… Is that it?"
"I knew you understood!"
"I was merely playing the part of the corrupt Premier Duke whispering dark temptations into the ear of the Tyrant King."
Ryo chuckled.
"So you want to turn Whitnash into a fully fledged international trading hub."
"Exactly. I had hoped to open up the East as well, but…"
"A gateway connecting the West and the East. However…"
"Yeah, the East will have to be shelved for a bit. Let's not rush things; we start with the West."
On this point, Ryo and Abel's thoughts were in perfect harmony.
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Chapter 0717 King Abel's Decisiveness
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The morning after the Skidbladnir docked at Whitnash, Ryo and Abel departed for the Royal Capital.
"So we really only stayed in Whitnash for a single night…"
"I have all sorts of scheduled appointments waiting for me back in the capital. It couldn't be helped."
"A Whitnash lightning tour…"
Ryo murmured, shaking his head slightly.
Even after welcoming the Skidbladnir, the two of them were kept busy with various duties and didn't have the chance to go out into the city.
It was an official duty, so it couldn't be helped, but still…
"Next time, I want to come here strictly for leisure."
"I completely agree."
"Still, I was able to verify the sea monster repellent installed on the Skidbladnir. The magic formula had evolved significantly compared to the one I intended to install when I was modifying the designs back in the Republic."
"Evolved?"
"Yes. Remember how I mentioned before that the sea monster repellent in the Western Countries are based purely on magic formulas?"
"Ah, right. You did mention that before."
Back when the two of them had been flung across the world to the Eastern Countries, Ryo had shared that piece of information with Abel.
In comparison, the monster-repelling technology used in the Central Countries was lagging.
Ryo figured that because anything related to the sea, even alchemical engineering, fell strictly under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, the sheer size of the organization naturally made it sluggish to adapt.
"Apparently, the new formula used for the monster repellent on the Skidbladnir is so powerful that it keeps almost all monsters away, even Krakens."
"That is incredible…"
Abel said, his eyes widening in surprise.
Indeed, while the oceans were teeming with monsters, the greatest threat the two of them had faced was the giant squids… the Krakens.
They had tasted bitter defeat so many times that Ryo frequently grumbled, muttering, "Not those things again!"
And now, a device existed that would keep even those Krakens at bay…
Ryo possessed direct knowledge regarding the core 'sea monster-repelling magic formula' used in the Western Countries.
He had been shown the highest level of civilian technology available within the Franzoni shipping company, one of the absolute top maritime companies in the Republic of Mafalda, a nation famous as a maritime power.
That was where it started.
Later, after they had secured the Skidbladnir, it had been explained to him that a monster repellent utilizing that very magic formula would be installed on board.
However, the version he had just inspected was an even further evolution of that technology.
Even so, the fundamental principle remained identical.
By emitting specific vibrations loathed by sea monsters from the lower section of the hull, it prevented them from approaching.
A whale's voice can travel up to five hundred kilometers away… which meant that vibrations could traverse five hundred kilometers underwater.
Of course, this occurred because the sound utilized specific 'layers' within the ocean, bouncing along them to cover vast distances.
But even without that phenomenon, vibrations naturally traveled a considerable distance through water.
Above all, the
Therefore, fields involving vibration could be considered Ryo's forte.
That being said, he didn't possess the data regarding exactly what kinds of vibrations the monsters disliked.
Because of that, replicating the effect on his own had been an immense challenge…
However, he had now been given a thorough look at the monster repellent on the Skidbladnir.
He had even transcribed the entire magic formula onto sheets of ice.
It seemed he would be able to study it thoroughly.
"Do you think the monster repellent from the Skidbladnir can be adapted for the ships of the Central Countries?"
"Let's see… it might be difficult to do right away. From a brief look, it seems necessary to adjust the settings depending on the specific sea region."
"Adjust them by region? Meaning that even for Krakens, there are variations depending on where they live?"
"Yes, exactly. Even with humans, people's preferences for food differ depending on the region, right? Some people love spicy food while others can't stand it. It seems the Krakens have their own distinct traits as well."
"I see. Which means we'll need to conduct surveys across the seas of the Central Countries first."
"Precisely. Before leaving Whitnash, I obtained permission from Goro-san to conduct research and development at the Royal Alchemy Workshop, so I'll consult Kenneth once we get back to the capital."
"…Extremely efficient, as always."
Abel remarked, thoroughly impressed by Ryo's words.
Goro was the Lord Admiral, the absolute head of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs.
Within the Kingdom, all administrative affairs relating to the sea fell under his ministry's jurisdiction.
Therefore, Ryo had figured it would be best to follow proper etiquette and secure official approval first.
"From the Royal Capital… I believe the Royal Alchemy Workshop, not just the Royal Castle, is now capable of establishing direct communication with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs in Whitnash."
"Is that the alchemy tool Kenneth developed a while back to link separate cities together?"
"Yes, that's the one. It was precisely because we had that technology that I judged we didn't need to keep the Ministry of Maritime Affairs bound to the capital."
"I see."
As technology advanced, the shape of governance shifted along with it.
It was a perfectly natural progression.
And within the Knightley Kingdom, that ideal was actively being realized.
Just like their departure, the King and the First Duke's retinue took two days to journey back to the Royal Capital.
Ryo headed straight for the Royal Alchemy Workshop.
Abel stepped directly into his office to tackle his work.
For those residing at the core of the state, rest was a luxury that simply did not exist!
…Of course, on occasion, a certain someone could be found sprawled out limply across a sofa, but that was by no means an act of slacking off.
Yes, absolutely never… probably.
It wasn't until five days later that Ryo returned to the King's office.
Incidentally, during those five days, Abel had apparently been locked in fierce, exhaustive debates with various related departments… but that was a tale for another time.
Ryo was provided strictly with the conclusion.
"I've decided that when the Skidbladnir sets sail for the Western Countries, I'm going to be on board."
"…Excuse me?"
Ryo failed to process Abel's words.
However, humans possess the remarkable ability to recall their memories and re-evaluate information.
"Do you just want to see the view from the deck? You should have just asked to climb on board the other day."
"No, I mean that I will be traveling to the Western Countries aboard that ship."
"…Excuse me?"
Ryo failed to process Abel's words a second time.
However, humans possess the remarkable ability to recall their memories and re-evaluate information… as many times as necessary.
"Ah, so you're going to put a statue of yourself or something on the ship and have them transport it to the Western Countries? I'm not sure if increasing the ship's cargo with something so eccentric is a good idea, though."
"No, I myself will board the Skidbladnir to travel to the Western Countries, and eventually to the Dark Continent."
"There is absolutely no way that would ever be allowed!"
Ryo finally scolded him out loud.
"You are the King, Abel. You can't just abandon the country on a whim."
"But when we were thrown into the Eastern Countries recently, I was away from the country the entire time."
"That was an unavoidable accident! It was entirely the fault of that Djinn!"
Garwin's magic power or spell had gone completely out of control, which was what had flung Ryo and Abel across the world.
"Just listen for a moment. As we discussed before, the Kingdom's reconstruction is firmly on track. However, that reconstruction will eventually conclude, and the manufacturing capabilities of our guilds and workshops will end up producing a massive surplus. We will desperately need a market for those goods, but finding one within the Central Countries will be incredibly difficult."
"Yes, I understand that part."
"At this exact juncture, the Western Countries… or rather, the Van De Vie Theocracy is looking to establish maritime trade routes between the Western and Central Countries. And in reality, the Skidbladnir has successfully bridged the two regions. As the Kingdom that holds Whitnash, I believe we must position ourselves as one of the primary hubs for that trade."
"Yes, I understand that as well."
"If the King of this nation visits in person, the governments of the foreign nations will understand just how serious we are about this trade alliance. That is why I must go myself."
"…"
Abel laid out his arguments with flawless logic, leaving Ryo momentarily speechless.
Of course, if Ryo truly wished to argue back, there was plenty of room to do so.
Ryo understood that perfectly well.
But… more than anything, he understood Abel's true underlying feelings.
"You've armed yourself with a flawless theoretical defense, but at the end of the day, you just want to go yourself, don't you, Abel?"
"Well, yes. That's exactly it."
Faced with Ryo's point, Abel roared with laughter and readily admitted it.
When Ryo had traveled to the Western Countries and shared the sights with him through the Soul Resonance, Abel had been content with just that.
But after being flung to the Eastern Countries and walking the earth with his own two feet… he realized he truly wanted to go himself.
Naturally, if the Kingdom were in a state where such an endeavor was impossible, he wouldn't have pushed the matter.
But currently, the Kingdom was in a position where it could afford to be flexible.
In fact, it almost felt as though everything was aligning at the absolute best possible moment.
A circle of highly competent vassals.
Nobles working hand-in-hand with their people to bring prosperity and development to their territories.
An enterprising spirit brought about by the momentum of recovery.
The entire Kingdom was brimming with these positive forces.
Furthermore, an alternative ruler was readily available… a proxy king who would absolutely never harbor any desire to usurp Abel's throne.
"In fact, it made me realize that right now might be the only chance I'll ever get."
The figure that flickered through Abel's mind was his father, Stafford IV.
His father was still only in his fifties, and Abel had always felt that his father harbored a deep sense of unfulfilled duty as a ruler.
In the midst of the Kingdom's Liberation War, Abel had been forced to ascend the throne out of sheer necessity.
Afterward, because Stafford had been confined to his sickbed for so long, Abel had never been able to ask about his true feelings, nor had it been possible for Abel to simply hand over the crown.
But now, he had recovered.
Because Abel's popularity within the Kingdom was absolute, he couldn't simply hand the throne back to his father at this late stage.
His father likely wouldn't desire that either.
But if there were still unfulfilled regrets lingering within his father's heart…
"I think leaving things to Father for a little while wouldn't be a bad idea."
In the past, he had been known as a highly brilliant monarch, standing on equal footing with Rupert of the Empire.
But after being systematically drugged by the Empire's machinations…
It was harder to believe that he didn't have lingering regrets.
"When you proposed traveling to the West, Abel, what did your vassals have to say? For instance, what did His Excellency the Prime Minister say?"
"Alexis, you mean? Naturally, he opposed it at first."
"I knew it."
Ryo nodded in deep agreement.
"But he granted permission, provided a certain condition was met."
"Good heavens…"
Ryo gasped in shock.
Ryo had assumed that Marquis Alexis Heinlein, the Prime Minister, would be the absolute first person to put a stop to Abel leaving the country… especially to travel to a place as unimaginably distant as the Western Countries.
"W-what about Knight Captain Dontan? Surely he opposed it as well?"
"Yeah, he opposed it at first. But he granted permission, provided a certain condition was met."
"W-what about Rihya? Didn't she fiercely berate you for intending to leave Prince Noah behind?"
"Yeah, she opposed it at first too. But she granted permission, provided a certain condition was met."
Abel replied, shrugging his shoulders.
Ryo's face contorted into a frown.
The very people he was certain would absolutely oppose it… had indeed opposed it initially, but then every single one of them had granted permission under a specific condition?
"What exactly is this condition?"
"They said it's acceptable as long as you accompany me as a bodyguard, Ryo."
"…Excuse me?"
"As long as that requirement is fulfilled, they're fine with it. After all, I won't be gone for years on end. It's not a matter of the state failing to function in my absence; their concern is entirely about whether my life will be safe over there."
"So because having me along as a bodyguard resolves that… they agreed to such a condition?"
"Exactly. So, what do you say, Ryo? Don't you want to visit the Western Countries, and even the Dark Continent beyond them?"
Abel asked with a laugh.
The expression on his face alone made it entirely clear that he already knew exactly what Ryo's answer would be.
While Ryo certainly had a few complaints he wanted to voice, his final answer had been decided from the very beginning.
"Of course I'm going too."
There was simply no other possible response.
And thus, the 'Western Tour' of King Abel I of the Knightley Kingdom was officially decided.
-x-X-x-
Chapter 0718 Foreign Tour
-x-X-x-
"The development of technology is beginning to connect different cultural spheres, or even economic spheres."
"Hm?"
In the usual royal office, the Premier Duke was giving an impassioned speech while His Majesty the King drank coffee.
It was a very unusual sight.
It was unusual for the Premier Duke to be speaking so passionately… normally, he would be sprawled out on the sofa reading a book.
It was unusual for His Majesty the King to be drinking coffee… normally, he would be drowning in paperwork and signatures.
On Earth, there was once an era called the Age of Exploration.
Many technologies made it possible… but among them, perhaps the greatest crystallization of technology was the compass.
Its practical use made it possible to know the direction even in the vast open sea.
By day or by night.
Even if the sun, moon, or stars could not be seen.
In this world, 'Phi', there is magic. There is alchemy as well.
Those can serve in place of a compass.
However, there is an even greater difficulty.
Sea monsters.
That is why the most crucial part of seafaring technology became how to avoid being attacked by sea monsters.
"Even so, in the end it's nothing more than monster repellent."
"Hm?"
"It's not technology that can defeat a Kraken."
"Well, of course not."
"The dominion of the sea is still in their hands!"
Ryo protested bitterly.
Yes, Ryo had not forgotten.
The tragedy of the Rondo-class first ship, Rondo, being sunk by a Kraken.
To prevent that tragedy from happening again, the Rondo-class second ship, Neil Andersen, had been built, and vengeance had been taken.
But that had only been a one-on-one victory.
Even now, if they had to face a group of Krakens, there was no guarantee they could win.
The dominion of the sea was not in human hands.
"It's not just the sea. Humans don't have dominion over the sky, or even the land either, do they?"
"Huh?"
"Asides Wyverns in the sky, you couldn't beat a Griffin, right? And on land, Vampires aside, you couldn't beat a Behemoth or a Dragon, right?"
"Th-that's true…"
"And on top of that, not even against Djinns… right?"
"The sea can't be helped, but on land, we need to train much harder."
Receiving Abel's words, Ryo nodded with a determined expression.
"Train?"
"If people train hard, they can become stronger."
"Well, sure, to an extent. But whether they can become strong enough to defeat a Djinn…"
"You won't know unless you try!"
"Really? I can tell without trying…"
"You only think you can. First, let's have the Royal Knight Order do twenty straight hours of training a day for seven days. After observing that, we can think about future training schedules…"
"Yeah, no, they'd collapse, so stop."
Ryo's Spartan-style training method was stopped.
"Then, to provide an example that it can be done, Abel should do continuous training…"
"Why me? You should do it yourself, Ryo."
"I-I'm busy with alchemy research…"
"As a special exception, I'll allow you to train while doing research."
"I don't need that kind of special exception!"
Apparently, when something falls on them, people wake up to reality.
"Well, about the Royal Knight Order…"
After saying that much, Abel sighed.
"What's wrong? Don't tell me they've gone back to being a hopeless knight order like before?"
Ryo tilted his head as he asked.
At one point, the Royal Knight Order's reputation had dropped significantly.
But after its reconstruction, it had risen once more to become the knight order admired by the kingdom's citizens.
At least as far as Ryo knew, the captains at the core were all competent people…
"Of course they're competent. That's not it. It's just that Dontan, about me going on a foreign tour…"
"Dontan-san, the Captain of the Royal Knight Order? Well, of course he'd object."
"He said he'd agree if Ryo came along, but naturally, he insists I bring the knight order as guards…"
"Ah, I see."
Ryo nodded.
From Ryo's perspective, that demand was only natural.
After all, one of the Royal Knight Order's duties was surely 'to protect the king'.
"But he says I have to bring a hundred men. There's no way that ship can carry a hundred guards alone."
"Yeah…"
Abel shook his head slightly, and Ryo nodded.
This was the king's foreign tour.
Naturally, the civil officials in charge of practical matters and the attendants who supported daily life would also be aboard.
This was not 'Adventurer Abel' going on a journey.
Even simply appearing before the people of another nation, he could not show up looking shabby.
That would call into question the dignity and standing of the Knightley Kingdom itself, known as one of the great powers of the Central Countries…
"Being king sounds tough."
"Yeah. I think so too."
Both Ryo and Abel sighed.
The Skidbladnir was, in Earth terms, a clipper ship.
A clipper ship was characterized by three or more massive masts, a great many square sails for high-speed travel, and a narrow hull stretched long from bow to stern.
For that reason, its cargo capacity was never particularly high.
Of course, the Skidbladnir itself was a fairly large ship with a hull over one hundred meters long, so it could carry plenty of cargo.
The mainstream ships in the Central Countries, what would be called galleons on Earth, were just over fifty meters long… compared to those, it could certainly carry more.
Ryo thought back from memory.
When he had improved the Skidbladnir in the Republic of Mafalda, he had stared at its blueprints until his eyes nearly bored holes through them.
There, along with the crew size, were the listed cargo capacity and passenger limit…
"The expected crew size is fifty, and at full load the passenger capacity should have been one hundred twenty."
"That's quite a lot."
"Yes. The hull is narrow, but it's very long from bow to stern. It was originally built for ocean voyages… apparently designed for trade between the Western Countries and the Dark Continent, and for transporting important figures."
"Important figures?"
"A means of travel for the Republic's VIPs going to the Dark Continent, or the Dark Continent's VIPs coming to the Republic."
"It wasn't a government ship though, right? Just a normal merchant company's ship?"
"Yes, right. But because it was said to be the fastest ship in the Republic, the government planned to pay to use it… or at least, that was how it was supposed to be at first."
"And then that alchemist left the Republic, and the ship was never completed…"
"The latest technology is difficult to use."
Ryo shook his head slightly.
"One hundred twenty people… yeah, bringing a hundred guards just for myself really is impossible. Well, it can't be helped."
"Why do you sound so happy about that?"
Abel was making excuses in a way that sounded just like Ryo.
After a while, Ryo seemed to think of something.
"I've come up with a good idea."
"When you say that, Ryo, it usually isn't…"
"What a thing to say! This time it's the real deal!"
"Fine, whatever. So what is it?"
"How about using my Ice Golems as Abel's guards?"
"Ice Golems?"
Abel tilted his head at Ryo's proposal.
"Come forth, Oniwaban First Squad!"
In response to Ryo's voice, eleven ice golems appeared.
The golem at the front had 'horns' on its head.
It was Herald No. 1-kun, who led the First Squad.
Of course, Abel remembered them.
"They're the golems that were guarding the Rondo Manor in Darwei, right?"
"Yes, yes, them. I gave Friendship Token No. 2-kun to Captain Luyao, so the Second Squad is without a captain, but the First Squad led by Herald No. 1-kun, can work just fine. Shall we have them handle your protection, Abel?"
"Ah…"
At Ryo's words, Abel looked at the golems.
"Starting with No. 1-kun, they all have expressions full of motivation."
"I-is that so…"
Ryo said happily, but of course Abel could not read the expressions of the golems.
No, probably no one but Ryo could.
And not being able to read their expressions meant not being able to know what they were thinking.
To be honest, as beings to entrust his life to… that was frightening.
Of course, since they were the golems of Ryo, whom he trusted most, nothing strange would happen…
But this wasn't a matter of logic.
It was a matter of emotion.
"No, you keep those golems for yourself, Ryo. I'll have the Royal Knight Order handle my protection after all. I'll have them narrow down the numbers, but considering the future too."
"Ah, I see. You want to let the knights gain experience. A royal expedition is something that hardly ever happens. It'd be a waste not to make use of such a valuable opportunity. As expected of Abel, that's deep."
"O-oh… well, it's nothing much."
Ryo nodded with a slight misunderstanding, and Abel answered while hiding his expression.
What Ryo was saying wasn't wrong.
It really was an opportunity to let them gain valuable experience.
"These kids need to be upgraded more too."
"Upgraded?"
"I mean, made stronger. Well, they weren't originally for combat… but even so, they can still serve as shields when guarding someone like Abel."
"I see…"
"But they still can't keep up with Abel, the king who races through the sky."
"Races through the sky?"
"Abel, you can fly through the sky with your 'Flight Ring', right?"
Ryo tilted his head.
It was true that Abel had removed the Flight Ring after returning to the kingdom.
As king, even the accessories he wore were prescribed.
"One day, these Oniwaban will also be able to race through the sky with ice glider wings and
"I-I see…"
"Together with the Golden Hind, they'll protect the kingdom's skies… and if we think of the sky as the kingdom's garden, then there are no better people than the Oniwaban to defend the skies alongside the Golden Hind!"
Saying that, Ryo happily patted No. 1-kun's shoulder.
His thoughts drifted toward the Kingdom's skies of the future.
Watching Ryo like that, Abel realized something.
True, Abel wasn't wearing one either, but neither was Ryo…
"What happened to your Flight Ring?"
"I gave it to Kenneth."
"You gave it away? Come to think of it, you originally bought two of them, didn't you?"
"Yes, yes. One was for dismantling and research… but I completely took it apart and couldn't put it back together."
"Ah…"
"Well, I understood a lot from that, so I got my investment back."
"I see…"
Research costs money.
"The one I'd been wearing, I gave to Kenneth, and apparently he finished most of the analysis in three days. He said it was much easier to understand than the magic-nullifying cylinder. As expected of him."
"That's amazing…"
Both Ryo and Abel were impressed.
"But apparently it still devours magic power like crazy."
"Hm? Over there, everyone was flying, weren't they?"
"Yes, in 'Chuo Chuang'."
"Ah, so that's it."
Abel immediately realized and nodded.
Abel's Flight Ring had been modified by Ryo, allowing it to fly anywhere.
But as a result, they learned that its magic power consumption had become astonishingly high.
In the region called 'Chuo Chuang', where Darwei was located, it seemed that magic power was supplied to the Flight Rings like wireless charging, so the user's own magic power consumption was low.
As a result, outside of Chuo Chuang, Flight Rings could not be used.
"Kenneth was shocked after calculating how much magic power was needed to use a Flight Ring outside of Chuo Chuang."
"Hm?"
"For an ordinary person, it apparently consumes so much magic power that they couldn't even fly for thirty seconds."
"I… practiced with it quite a lot, didn't I?"
"My point exactly. He was surprised, thinking that even though you can't use magic, Abel, your magic power reserves must be unusually high."
"Having lots of magic power when I can't even use magic doesn't do me much good…"
"W-well…"
Abel shrugged, and Ryo could not think of any words to comfort him.
"M-maybe someday, Abel might become a grand magician…"
"No chance."
"Right… probably not…"
"Being able to fly is enough for me."
Abel said that and gave a wry smile.
To fly through the sky.
A dream many people had imagined.
Just being able to do that, thanks to having more magic power than most… Abel thought that alone made him fortunate.
-x-X-x-
Chapter 0719 Departure
-x-X-x-
It just so happened that Ryo was leaving the royal castle at that moment.
It definitely wasn't because he'd overheard talk in the castle dining hall about "a delicious crepe shop that had just opened" and decided to go check it out.
No, of course not. Absolutely not.
When he stepped outside, he found three familiar faces and one box at the castle gate.
Apparently, an old man in red clothes was complaining, a young man and woman were watching with wry smiles, and the box itself was standing there in silence.
There was a guard there too, but he wasn't acting arrogant or overbearing. Instead, he looked terribly apologetic, like he was saying there was just no way around it…
The royal castle guards were, fundamentally, earnest men.
And so, to save both sides from further trouble, Ryo stepped in.
"Um, Merlin-san?"
"Hm? Oh, the Fairy King's favored child… no, pardon me. Since we're at the royal castle, I should call you Duke Rondo."
"No, Ryo is fine. More importantly, what's going on?"
"Well, it's simple enough. I asked to see my old acquaintance, King Abel, but the gatekeeper refused to let me through."
Merlin explained.
Behind him, Roman and Nadia still wore strained smiles.
They probably understood that meeting the king wasn't exactly something one could do so casually.
"That's why I'm telling him that we've already sent word to our superiors, so please wait just a little longer. Your Grace, could you please ask them to wait as well?"
Apparently, another guard had already gone running to report to his superior or arrange an audience.
Given a little more time, they would probably be let through…
"Ah… then how about I take responsibility and bring them to Abel myself? They know each other, and Abel would definitely want to see them anyway."
"Would that truly be acceptable, Your Grace?"
"Yes, leave it to me. Just tell your superior that Duke Rondo took them to the king."
Ryo nodded to the guard.
"Oh, thank you kindly."
"Sorry for the trouble, Ryo-san."
"Thank you, Ryo-san."
"As expected of the one who sealed me."
Merlin, Roman, and Nadia thanked him, while Regna, inside the coffin, sounded impressed.
The guard nearly jumped out of his skin when a voice suddenly came from inside the box, but that little detail remained a secret.
And so, Ryo guided the three of them + one box to the king's office.
When Ryo returned only five minutes after leaving, Abel looked puzzled, but the moment he saw the three people + one box following behind him, he understood.
Even so, Merlin's request made him tilt his head.
"King Abel, would you let me accompany you to the Western Countries?"
"Merlin-dono, to the Western Countries?"
Abel shot a glance at Ryo.
Ryo hurriedly shook his head.
Of course, he hadn't told Merlin or anyone else yet that Abel was planning to board the Skidbladnir and sail west.
That glance from Abel clearly meant, 'Did you tell them?'
"I heard a survey ship from the Western Countries had arrived. If it's a survey ship, that means it'll be going back there, won't it? I'd like you to let me ride it."
"I see."
Abel nodded at Merlin's explanation.
Sure enough, rumors of the Skidbladnir had already reached the royal capital and spread among the citizens at astonishing speed.
The Kingdom government hadn't officially announced anything, but rumors like that spread on their own.
"To be blunt, taking you aboard wouldn't be difficult. But… are the two of you fine with that?"
As he said this, Abel looked at Roman and Nadia standing behind Merlin.
The two of them couldn't return to the Western Countries because they had escaped the Western Church.
Maybe someday that would change, but for now, things hadn't cooled down enough….
"We'd prefer Merlin-san to stay here…."
"But Merlin-san's mind is made up…."
Roman and Nadia both shook their heads.
"I've already seen the two of you married. I've got no lingering regrets. Besides, it would be rude to intrude on newlyweds…."
Merlin said.
That was right. While Ryo and Abel had been sent to the Eastern Countries, Roman and Nadia had gotten married.
As ordinary civilians, they had apparently held a small ceremony in the city of Rune.
"And besides, I've left my dungeon unattended this whole time. If I don't go back every now and then, it'll sulk."
"A dungeon can sulk?"
Ryo muttered in surprise, unsure if Merlin meant that literally or metaphorically.
"To be honest, I had thought to borrow the power of this coffin, like when I sent off the Fairy King's favored child. But this one refused to cooperate."
"Obviously. I would assist the one who sealed me. That much right belongs to him. I might even heed the Demon Lord's words. But I have no reason whatsoever to help you, red-clothes."
"See what I mean! You've been trailing after me all this time, and when I actually need your help, you refuse!"
Merlin fumed at Regna's response.
From an outsider's perspective, though, they were both equally at fault.
"What if we ask Nadia-san, as the Demon Lord, to speak to Regna-san for you…?"
"No."
"Eh…? Why?"
"Just no."
Merlin flatly rejected Ryo's suggestion.
Nadia was smiling awkwardly.
And judging by Roman's expression, he was too….
"A grandfather who doesn't want his grandchild to see his weak side…."
Ryo muttered so quietly that no one heard him.
Merlin shot the coffin a glare, then turned to Ryo.
"Fairy King's favored child, undo the seal on this coffin."
"Huh?"
The proposal was so sudden that even Ryo couldn't help letting out a ridiculous yelp.
"I'll show this fool my power and force him into submission."
"Hah. Go ahead, if you think you can."
"No, absolutely not. The royal castle will be wiped off the face of the map."
Merlin threw down the challenge, Regna accepted it, and somehow Ryo ended up being the only reasonable one in the room.
Abel, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.
"You're right, I can't allow a battle here. In that case… Merlin-dono, and the one in that box… Regna-dono, was it? I think it would be best to grant the two of you permission to board the Skidbladnir. We depart in ten days."
The king's ruling.
The three of them bowed their heads.
"That was almost a disaster."
After the three people + one box had left, only Ryo and Abel remained in the king's office.
Of course, Abel was the master of the room, and there were countless documents still waiting for his signature…
"I'd heard Merlin-dono was a calm Djinn…"
"He's apparently sleep-deprived, so maybe he's irritable."
"Sleep-deprived?"
Abel tilted his head at Ryo's explanation.
"It seems Djinn sleep and wake in cycles measured in centuries. But Merlin-san says he hasn't slept in thousands of years. That Akuma, Jean-Jacques, mentioned it before. Djinns grow weaker when they're sleep-deprived. So apparently he's in a weakened state right now."
"He didn't look weak at all. As expected of a Djinn."
Abel shook his head.
"So Abel, you need to make sure you get proper sleep too. Sleep deprivation isn't good for you."
"I'm fine. Since returning from the Eastern Countries, I've been able to get enough sleep."
That answer.
Shocked Ryo.
And it made him certain.
"As I thought, Abel, you've gone soft!"
"Hm?"
"Before, you would have thrown your whole body and soul into ruling the Kingdom. To the point where you'd barely have time to sleep.
And now… this. How tragic! "
"For some reason, it feels like I'm being criticized."
"The people of the Kingdom are working themselves to the bone every day just to get by, and meanwhile King Abel is slacking off."
"I'm not slacking off. You're the one who said sleep deprivation was bad, Ryo. I told you I'm getting enough sleep, and now you criticize me for it? That makes no sense."
Abel's argument was entirely reasonable.
"A proper King Abel should be buried under paperwork, spending every waking hour signing documents."
"That sounds like a very unfortunate image of a king."
"That's exactly the kind of thing that earns the people's sympathy."
"I don't know about sympathy, but compared to before we were sent to the Eastern Countries, I do have more time now."
"That's because the approval system changed while we were gone. His Majesty the former king and the Prime Minister are signing things too…"
"Exactly. That's why I can afford to go to the Western Countries."
"So that was your goal all along!"
"My goal?"
"It's possible Garwin sent us to the Eastern Countries just so you could arrange all this. The whole thing was King Abel's conspiracy!"
"Yeah… that's pushing it."
Abel dismissed Ryo's wild theory with ease.
"Putting that aside, Abel, the former king and the prime minister may have allowed it, but did Rihya really, truly approve?"
"You mean the trip to the Western Countries?"
"Yes. We were gone for a whole year after being sent to the Eastern Countries…"
"W-well… she did allow it."
Abel answered, but his eyes wandered.
"That's a lie! Eyes speak louder than words. Yours just darted all over the place."
"No, I'm not lying. As I said before, she allowed it on the condition that you'd act as my guard. But… when I get back, she made me promise that the three of us, including Noah, would tour the Kingdom together."
"As expected of Rihya… She knew stopping you was impossible, so she demanded something in return. She's far better at negotiations than King Abel."
"I think so too."
Ryo said admiringly, and Abel nodded in agreement.
But then Abel thought of something.
"What about you, Ryo? Are you going to be okay?"
"Me? What do you mean?"
"Sera."
"She asked me to bring her back souvenirs."
"O-oh."
"She apparently visited the Western Countries long ago. So she told me all kinds of things."
"As expected of an elf."
Abel nodded in admiration.
Elves apparently lived far longer than humans.
Neither Ryo nor Abel knew their exact lifespan.
But they did know that Sera's grandmother, Obaba-sama, the Great Elder of the western forest, had lived for over two thousand years.
As for her exact age… no one had ever asked.
Ten days later, Whitnash.
The place was packed with so many people that it could have been mistaken for a grand harbor festival.
It had been announced that at noon today, the kingdom ship docked there would depart for the Western Countries.
And not only that, King Abel I himself would be aboard, making an official visit.
Previously, thanks to the envoy jointly dispatched by the Central Countries, relations with the Western Countries had improved.
This voyage was meant to deepen that even further.
Among the kingdom's citizens, a sense of hope had begun to spread that the kingdom would go out as far as the Western Countries from now on.
The nation's future was bright!
Such hope was being born.
Giving the people hope was one of the duties of a nation's leader.
In that respect, Abel was performing his role as king flawlessly.
In one corner, where government officials had gathered.
A man in a white robe and an elf woman were talking.
"So you're even going as far as the Dark Continent. I've never been there myself, so I'm jealous."
"Yes, someday… once an official sea route is established, let's go together."
"Really? You promise? Absolutely?"
"Y-yes, of course."
Taken aback by Sera's intensity, Ryo smiled and made the promise.
In another corner, the Skidbladnir's captain and officers were being introduced to King Abel I.
"To have the honor of welcoming the renowned King Abel aboard is our greatest pleasure."
"Captain Paulina, I'll be in your care."
Abel greeted the female captain, her short-cut dull blond hair and striking black eyes leaving a strong impression.
Paulina continued by introducing her crew.
"This is my vice-captain, Yaya. In any situation, either he or I will command the ship."
"I am Yaya. Your Majesty Abel, please leave the Skidbladnir to us."
"Vice-Captain Yaya, I'm counting on you."
He was about the same age as Paulina, a little shorter, but gave off a bright and energetic impression.
Finally, Paulina introduced the first officer.
"This is First Officer Rochea. She will take the lead in opening the sea route between the Western Countries and the Central Countries."
"I am Rochea, First Officer. It is an honor to take part in establishing the route between the Western Countries and the Central Countries, one that will endure for decades, perhaps centuries."
"Yes, Rochea-dono. For the sake of all the ships that will follow, I'm counting on you to find the safest route."
Normally, a first officer handled most of the ship's practical navigation duties, but aboard the Skidbladnir, which served as both a trial voyage and advance survey, route development itself was also part of her role.
Behind Abel during these introductions stood Queen Rihya and Prince Noah.
Noah was only three years old, but he gazed at his father, King Abel, with shining eyes.
Smiling softly, Rihya stroked his head.
Much is demanded of those born into royalty, and at times those demands can even be inhumane… such as having no freedom to choose one's own path.
Even so, there was still a warm family there.
From yet another corner, two company captains of the Royal Knights were watching.
Normally, a company of the Royal Knights consisted of fifty knights.
But for this royal escort, twenty-five elite knights had been selected from each company, for a total of fifty.
And so there were two company captains.
Zack Cooler and Scotty Cobook.
The two captains, and Abel's old schoolmates, would be leading the knights as his escort to the Western Countries.
"I will not betray Sera-sama's trust!"
"Zack, Sera-dono has nothing to do with this mission."
"That doesn't matter!"
"I genuinely have no idea what you're talking about anymore."
Ever since the royal capital disturbance, Zack had carried unrequited feelings for Sera.
Of course, he had never confessed them.
Instead, he had resolved to become a knight worthy of standing beside her… and lived each day by that vow.
His friend Scotty watched him with a warm, tolerant look.
He knew Sera and Ryo were in love with each other.
That left him with mixed feelings… but in the end, all he did was shake his head and keep silent.
Their superior, Dantan, Captain of the Royal Knights, placed his hands on both their shoulders from behind.
"I'm counting on you."
"Leave it to us!"
"We'll protect him with our lives."
Dantan urged them on, Zack nodded, and Scotty bowed his head.
And in the final corner stood an odd trio + one box, an unusual combination for government personnel.
"Roman, Nadia, live happily together."
"Merlin-san, take care of yourself too."
"Please come visit again."
Merlin, Roman, and Nadia exchanged their farewells.
It looked exactly like a grandfather saying goodbye to his grandson and granddaughter-in-law.
The coffin watched the scene in silence.
To put it mildly, it was a bizarre sight.
After all those scenes had played out, King Abel finally boarded the Skidbladnir.
Naturally, the king's boarding itself was a ceremony.
To show himself to the people. To give them hope for the Kingdom's future.
That too was part of the duty of a ruler.
Instead of climbing aboard by the rope ladder hanging from the ship, Abel walked up the gangway…the temporary staircase set in place.
As he climbed, he waved to the people gathered at the harbor.
"Your Majesty!"
"Long live King Abel!"
"Safe travels!"
Amid those thunderous cheers, the Skidbladnir, carrying King Abel and the others, departed for the Western Countries.