The grains of sand warmed under the shining sunlight. The cool, but somewhat humid wind smelled slightly of salt in this place, the Island of Beginnings, Laemia. However, the vast sea stretching along the horizon was not visible.
[You have entered the Great Sea on the sixth floor.]
The first thing I saw when I crossed the portal were more than a hundred super mega sailboats lined up along the coast. The number was so large that even the vast sea seemed narrow.
«Now, now, if you have crossed the portal, quickly move to the side! The others have to go up!»
Without a moment to look around, I left the portal following the direction of an explorer wearing the Scout Guild insignia. His tone of voice was so light that I asked Erwen, who told me that he was not a regular employee of the guild. Apparently they were explorers commissioned by the guild. The guild had received a request for cooperation from the palace to manage the explorers, but not having the manpower to send, they had resorted to subcontracting.
It is true that it would be difficult for ordinary guild staff to reach the sixth floor.
As the war had been going on for more than a year, the rigidly divided procedures developed naturally and fluidly.
«Come this way! First, you will register for war and be designated a unit!»
After waiting in a long line that stretched along the east coast, I presented my nameplate and finished the war registration. Then there was a little commotion. Erwen had become too famous.
«Erwen Fornacci di Tersia... Uh... uh, B-Blood Spirit...?»
«Is there a problem?»
«N-no... there isn't! Sorry for the fuss!»
They could have asked Erwen why she was checking in on her own, but the check-in clerk felt uncomfortable even chatting with her and simply finished the procedure quickly.
«Rank 5 scout Emily Raines. You have a previous history of involvement in the war. Registered». Amelia went after Erwen and this time the record really ended in a second. As a name made two years ago, his age was twenty-two. Apparently, she started out as a rank 9 scout and slowly rose through the ranks. He even paid taxes, among other things, to completely create a new identity. Unless she met someone who knew her naked face as Erwen, her identity left her free of problems.
Unlike me, who was getting some peculiar looks.
«The rank 5 scout, Riehen Schuitz. You have no proof of participation. Could you take off your helmet please?»
The identity Amelia found for me, Riehen Schuitz, was that of an explorer who was active five years ago. Of course, the broker had paid the taxes faithfully all that time so there were no problems with the documents.
«Mmm.» The reaction I received was mixed, probably because my face looked less than twenty-nine years old. I felt like a minor trying to buy cigarettes. Still, I managed to get through safely, perhaps thanks to my hair being dyed light brown, as written on the ID card. I made sure to choose an identity with the same eye color as mine.
«What, is there a problem?»
«No, it looks like you're coming back from a long break. I wish you good luck».
«Thank you.»
I lifted the helmet once, but luckily the search ended without much incident. There were many cases of people returning from retirement after the war, so there wasn't much suspicion, as Amelia said. Two of the Powerful Seven were also similar cases.
«So we just have to be designated as a unit now.»
After completing registration, we move on to the bulletin board next to it. On the board was a short list of the ships currently waiting and the number of people on board. Deciding which ship to board was quite important in the war. This was because the scouts on the same ship formed a unit once they reached the seventh floor.
«There is no need to think about it too much. Since this is your first participation, you can only take the third class boat», Amelia said.
«Third class ship?»
«It is a ship manned primarily by scouts without war achievements or those who do not come from a large team such as a large clan. As a result, they are located in the rear as support since their combat power is on the lacking side. »
Haha, so newbies have to come up from the bottom? Well, it would be troublesome for a rookie to stop you on a dangerous battlefield.
«Then I'll ride that one.» We chose the least crowded ship among the third class ships and boarded all three together, judging that it would be advantageous to choose a room with fewer people.
«Fortunately we were able to get a room for three people», Amelia said.
«Why is it difficult to get a room for three people?»
«Not really, but it's the most popular».
I was able to learn the reason for that without having to ask.
Oh well. Binding magic was updated while he was away.
At this time, six-person teams were commonplace. Divided into two groups, a room for three would surely be popular.
«Then let's take some time to rest until departure tomorrow».
«Okay! What should we talk about now?»
«... I said to rest.»
«Yes, exactly. That's what I'm doing».
I looked at Amelia with eyes for help, but she had already finished organizing her belongings and was lying on the bed.
Geez, pretending to sleep.
«So should we talk about war...?»
«Okay! Do you have any questions?»
«I heard that participants in third class ships are usually placed in rear support. What exactly are the tasks?»
«Uh... I'm always in front so I really don't know... But I think I heard they're in charge of securing retreat routes or escort missions».
I wasn't particularly tired so I talked to Erwen to hear several stories. After a while like this passed, suddenly, there was a visit.
TOC Toc.
He was someone we all knew well.
«... I heard he was in the same boat so I came to say hello. It's been a while, Miss Tersia».
I didn't expect to meet so soon.
***
«Phew...» The blonde woman standing in front of the closed booth adjusted the collar of her uniform. Then he sighed deeply.
Why does this woman have to be so unpredictable?
Blood Spirit, Erwen Fornacci di Tersia, was the reason why Raven was standing in front of this cabin right now. For some reason, this member of the Mighty Seven was on a third class ship instead of a first class one.
Honestly, they always force me to do annoying tasks.
The Third Magical Corps to which he belonged was also scheduled to board the third class ship because a body made up of mages was essential for defense. However, this was not that ship. Somehow, she was reassigned here by order of her superiors.
We're not even that close anymore. And we weren't that close in the past either.
Her superiors assigned her to this ship because they were once part of the same clan, but Raven wasn't sure. How could he control that crazy woman when he had no idea what trouble she would cause in the future?
But as I have been ordered, I have no choice but to at least talk to her and probe what she plans to do...
Sighing, Raven knocked on the door.
TOC Toc.
The door opened about ten seconds after the knock.
Crunch.
The hinges rusted by the sea breeze creaked open and the closed cabin came into view. According to the information he received, there were three people in total.
The exploradora of rango 5 Riehen Schuitz and Emily Raines.
One wore a helmet even indoors and the other covered her eyes and ears with a black cloth that reached up to her nose. This made Raven even more curious. Who were these people who were suddenly working with Blood Spirit?
«Stop looking at the man and say what you want».
At the almost cold and aggressive voice, Raven stopped looking at the cabin and looked at Erwen. Then he tried to put on a business smile. «I heard he was in the same boat, so I came to say hello. It's been a while, Miss Tersia».
«Yeah. So if you're done, can you leave?»
Tsk, when will you fix that attitude of yours?
Even as he grimaced inwardly, Raven didn't show it and continued talking. That was because he had too many questions to leave like that. For example...
«Did you just say sir?»
Why did this woman refer to that man as Lord? Wasn't that nickname reserved for that man?
Unfortunately, Erwen did not respond. She just looked at Raven with eyes asking her what that had to do with her. But his eyes seemed a little nervous, almost as if he had shown Raven something he didn't want her to see.
«Mmm.» Raven moved her eyes from Erwen to the man. He was a stranger and couldn't even see his face because he was covered by a helmet, but for some reason, the air he gave off looked very familiar. I couldn't say exactly what for sure.
No, even if there was nothing in common, however, he strangely looked like that person.
«I-it's you! This man...» Soon, Raven dropped her jaw and looked alternately between Erwen and the man.
***
The longer the silence lasted and the longer Raven's eyes were fixed on me, the more I began to think.
That? Have you already noticed? So what happens next? Can I convince her that I am not an evil spirit? Even if I can't convince her, the news will definitely reach the palace...
When I moved only my eyes to look at Erwen, I saw that she was also looking at me as if to say: Lord, what do we do now?
I was a little dumbfounded. I mean, she was the one who made a mistake.
«Could it be..." Just then, Raven opened her mouth and ended the awkward silence? «I didn't know you were so damaged».
... Huh? What do you say now?
While Erwen and I were confused, Raven continued in a somewhat sad voice. «Miss Tersia... no, Erwen... it's not right to look for something to replace it.»
«¿Ah...?»
«It is impossible for someone like that to exist. It must be difficult, but all you can do is get over it».
«¿Eh…?»
Only then did I understand the situation. Raven didn't understand well. She thought Erwen missed me so much that she found a similar man and covered his face to role-play.
«And you.» In his little uniform, Raven turned to look at me. «I know what you're thinking, so you better stop using Miss Erwen. Because I'm not going to let that happen. I'm going to keep an eye on you and, if you cross the line, even a little one...»
When Raven shut up, I found myself making an excuse. «Wait! I don't know what you think this is, but I'm not thinking about—»
«Voz...»
«¿Voz?»
When I tilted my head, not understanding, Raven shuddered and avoided my eyes. «Your voice... is... similar.» It seemed like he understood why Erwen had acted like this. «That's why...» Raven muttered in a bitter voice before telling Erwen: «Still, you shouldn't. Something like this... he wouldn't want it either».
Sincerity was fiery in his voice and his tone surpassed advice and was almost a plea. However, that wasn't going to work with Erwen. To begin with, I had the wrong idea about all this.
«W-who are you to interfere? You do not know anything!» Erwen came to her senses and chose to defend herself. Simply put, it meant that she attacked her. «Get out and don't come back!»
Erwen forced Raven out and slammed the door shut.
***
After Raven's visit, time passed quickly. On the day of departure, not only did the warships floating on the coast spread their sails, but the identity of this ship was also determined.
«Escort of the Magic Corps, huh?»
As soon as this ship reached the seventh floor, the scouts on it would participate in the battle as escorts of the Third Magic Corps. For reference, battle formations and tactics were taught on deck.
That's why they tie troops to every ship. Because there is time to teach them as they go.
The estimated travel time to the seventh floor was approximately fifteen days. Aside from training, most of the time was free, but he spent it on deck. The reason was simple. Once again I realized that the barbarians were weak in this sea.
«¡Blaaaargh!»
Even though the boat was that big, I couldn't stay in the cabin because of the seasickness. Here I could vomit anywhere.
Anyway, spending so much time on deck, there were times when I ran into Raven, and with considerable frequency. For some reason, it was always when Erwen wasn't there.
«...Even motion sickness is the same. How annoying».
«…Blargh.»
«Why are you hiding your face? Why did Erwen tell you?»
«Agh...»
«It's true, your face is very different from his. Why do you hide your face like that? Don't you have any pride? I swear, if you make a mistake, I won't let it go».
Ugh, I'm already going through a difficult time. Why doesn't this kid leave me alone?