Translator: CinderTL
"Absolutely true, Mr. Roland!"
Hoby stood on tiptoe, straining to see better, his face beaming with pride as he nodded vigorously.
"That's the Seabird! My Big Brother's first ship when he sailed the seas! Impressive, isn't she?"
Hearing this, Roland's gaze followed the halfling's line of sight once more.
He looked past the nearby fishing boats and coastal barges, settling on a deeper, dedicated berth at the edge of the port.
There, moored, was a ship.
A colossal vessel that bore no resemblance to the "small boat" Trevor had casually mentioned at the banquet.
Its sheer size was astonishing.
Even compared to the massive merchant ships returning from long voyages, it held its own, and in terms of mast height and deck width, it seemed to subtly outclass them.
The dark oak hull, weathered by countless storms, bore heavy salt stains along the waterline and several conspicuous repair marks.
Yet meticulous maintenance kept the ship in remarkably good condition overall.
The tung oil-soaked wood gleamed, the deck was tightly fitted and smooth, showing wear but no rot.
Brass rivets on the thick bulwark railings glinted steadily.
Three sturdy masts pierced the sky, their ropes and rigging meticulously coiled and secured.
"The Seabird?"
Roland's lips twitched involuntarily as he gazed at the colossal vessel, a stark contrast to its diminutive name.
He had imagined Trevor's "small boat" would be only slightly larger than a small fishing boat, never expecting such a massive ship.
A vessel of this size was more than capable of long-distance voyages, let alone serving as a training vessel for his sailing skills.
"Your Big Brother is truly generous," Roland murmured, turning to Hoby. "But Hoby, I only taught you some basic combat techniques. Using the Seabird as a return gift is far too extravagant."
"Mr. Roland, please don't refuse!" The halfling shook his head slowly. "My Big Brother taught me that friendship cannot be measured by mere material possessions. Besides, as you can see, he now has a better ship. This one would just sit idle. You shouldn't feel obligated at all."
Worried that Roland might still refuse, Hoby added a few more earnest pleas.
Unlike the red-skinned Orc Freddy they had encountered earlier, the halfling possessed remarkable eloquence, as if he had rehearsed his persuasive arguments beforehand, delivering them in a continuous, impassioned stream.
Roland wasn't one to be coy. After Hoby's repeated entreaties, he accepted the kindness with grace.
"Alright, alright, Hoby, I understand your meaning," he said, waving a hand to stop the halfling's rambling. He ruffled the little fellow's hair and chuckled softly.
"No wonder Galvis likes you so much. It seems you might have a brighter future telling adventure stories at the tavern than being a warrior."
Far from taking offense at Roland's teasing, Hoby's face lit up with delight.
"So, Mr. Roland, you'll—"
"When you write to your Big Brother next time, remember to thank him for me."
"No problem!" Hoby patted his rather thin chest, eager to agree. "Then, Mr. Roland, let's go check out the ship right now!"
Roland nodded slightly and followed Hoby toward the Seabird.
Stepping onto the deck, Roland surveyed his surroundings.
As he had observed from a distance, the ship's hull bore several repaired breaches, each patched neatly and meticulously.
Overall, the vessel was remarkably well-maintained, showing no signs of decay.
Roland gently tapped his foot against the solid deck, but the initial surge of joy began to dissipate rapidly.
Though he had never commanded a large ship before, Roland understood the basics.
To sail smoothly at sea, a ship required not only key personnel like the captain, first mate, helmsman, and lookout, each with their specific duties, but also a large crew to manage the sails and ropes, and to propel the vessel.
After all, maritime navigation relied not only on the wind but also on human effort.
A ship as large as the Seabird would conservatively require at least one to two hundred crew members to generate sufficient momentum for normal sailing.
Roland wasn't worried about the daily expenses of supporting such a large crew.
He had just received a brand-new card from Colin, loaded with enough funds to splurge on honing his seafaring skills.
The real challenge lay in personnel.
Unlike land journeys, seafaring demanded facing the raw power of nature head-on. Even the most seasoned mariners could find themselves swallowed by the depths with a single misstep.
Though Roland's strength now ranked among the elite of the extraordinary, he remained powerless against the ocean's untamed fury.
Therefore, the crew needed to possess considerable maritime experience.
In the coastal capitals of the River Domain Nations, experienced sailors weren't hard to find. However, most were already employed by major Chambers of Commerce.
If Roland began recruiting now, it would likely take weeks before he could truly put his seafaring skills into practice.
And he had no desire to waste time on such matters.
The thought had barely formed in Roland's mind when the words spilled from his lips.
Unexpectedly, the halfling seemed to have anticipated this problem.
Hoby proudly raised his head, his voice firm.
"Rest assured, Mr. Roland! My Big Brother and I have already considered this."
"Among the crew who previously sailed with Big Brother, many were injured or too old to continue long voyages. However, in recognition of their past service, Big Brother sets aside a portion of the ship's profits each month to support them, allowing them to perform maintenance and repair work on the vessels."
"Since you only wish to practice your sailing skills, their expertise would be more than sufficient."
"If you agree, I can gather them aboard tomorrow. All expenses during this time will, of course, be covered by Big Brother."
Roland's expression flickered with surprise.
He hadn't expected Hoby and Trevor to have considered everything so thoroughly.
According to their plan, he could begin practicing as soon as he boarded, without needing to worry about any trivial matters.
Moreover...
As Roland reflected on Hoby's description of Trevor supporting the retired sailors, he gained a deeper understanding of the burly halfling.
Both his capabilities and character were impeccable.
No wonder he had become a captain at such a young age.
Even without Hoby's connection, a man like Trevor would undoubtedly be worth getting to know better.
Thinking this, Roland slowly shook his head and gently patted Hoby's shoulder.
"Hoby, I'm deeply grateful to the Seabird for letting me practice my sailing skills. Therefore, I'll cover the crew's expenses during this time."
Seeing Hoby about to protest, Roland waved his hand dismissively, cutting off his words.
"It's settled! Do you think I'm some miserly penny-pincher?"
He winked at the halfling, a smile playing on his lips.
"Of course not!" Hoby quickly shook his head.
Seeing Roland's resolute expression, he could only nod reluctantly.
After a brief discussion, they finalized the arrangements for practicing sailing.
Once the conversation ended, Roland intended to immediately give Hoby the card containing gold coins that Colin had given him.
But the halfling stubbornly refused to accept it, insisting on waiting until they returned to calculate all expenses, prepare an itemized list for Roland's review, and then collect payment.
Seeing the little fellow's stubbornness, Roland had no choice but to give up.
He gently ruffled Hoby's hair, and the two walked home, discussing the details of their adventure.
As they reached the courtyard gate and pushed it open, a familiar voice drifted over.
"Roland! What took you so long? I'm starving!"
"Avril?"
Roland followed the sound and saw a slender figure slumped over the stone table in the distance, raising his eyebrows in surprise.
"You're still in the capital? I haven't seen you at meals these past few days. I thought you'd already left with the Shadow Veil Organization to hunt the Wolf King."
"Huh?"
The elf girl straightened up, her face puzzled.
"Roland, how did you know about that? I don't remember telling you."
"Is that even a question?" Roland shot a withering glance at the slightly dazed Avril. "The capital's guards have been mobilizing constantly lately. I'm not blind."
"Ha... ha ha ha..."
Realizing she'd asked a foolish question, the elf girl scratched her cheek awkwardly and quickly changed the subject.
"Your observation is correct, Roland."
She rose from her chair and stretched languidly.
"I'm setting off for the Mistland tomorrow, so I came to have a farewell dinner with you tonight."
(End of the Chapter)
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