WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 124: The Sea of Return (2)

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They would take every surviving sailor from the Black Crow Merchant Company to the Federation. Kyle had no intention of changing the original plan.

The distance from the Corsa Archipelago, across the Pargon Strait, to Belmar, the port city of the Kingdom of Rustin, was considerable. Naturally, Kyle and Elysia could not make the journey alone. Whether they took a small boat or a large one, they needed several sailors, including a navigator. Neither Kyle nor Elysia knew enough about sailing to manage it themselves.

So they would go together. It was more efficient to take the Black Crow Merchant Company's sailors than to borrow a navigator and sailors separately from Cesar. That was better than owing the Skaldir Family a favor for no reason. They would likely agree if he asked, since he had closed the rift, but the Black Crow Merchant Company's sailors would be more comfortable to deal with than complete strangers from among the pirates.

"We're going to the Federation? To Belmar as originally planned? Taking all of us?"

At Kyle's flat declaration, Jorde poured out questions in a fluster. Having been isolated for ten days, there were too many things he did not understand.

How were they supposed to reach the Federation after the trade ship had sunk? He knew they had fallen into the strait, so how had they returned alive without a ship? What relationship did they have with Cesar, the head of the Skaldir Family? How did they intend to take those who had secretly transported star iron swords in the first place?

"You seem very confused."

"To be honest... I am. Even now, it feels like I am looking at ghosts."

"That makes sense. You do not know anything."

Kyle began giving Jorde a condensed explanation of everything that had happened. He started with how he and Elysia had first ended up on the island, then explained how they had accepted Cesar's request and resolved it. He also told him that, in return, the Black Crow Merchant Company's crimes would not be pursued.

He deliberately left out the Dragon Heart and the rift. Though it had completely vanished, it had been a secret known only to a few members of the Skaldir Family until yesterday. There was no reason to spread word of it. After taking in the carefully filtered information, Jorde looked back and forth between the two seated before him and muttered blankly.

"You did the head of the Skaldir Family a favor?"

Still seeming unable to accept it, Jorde asked again with an incredulous look.

"You are not lying? It is true?"

"Yes. The Skaldir Family agreed to lend us a ship. We settled it all yesterday."

"If it is a ship from the Skaldir Family, it is a pirate ship. They are known to be extremely sensitive about outside leaks because they use Magic Stones..."

"It is not one of the fast ships they use to collect tolls. It is an ordinary sailing vessel meant for outside use. It does not use Magic Stones, so there should not be a problem. The Black Crow Merchant Company's sailors can handle the basic sailing."

"So... we have no choice."

Jorde let out a long sigh. He might have died if not for Kyle. Having already half resigned himself to death, he had no reason to refuse now that his life had been spared. More than anything, he wanted to leave this suffocating place as soon as possible.

"May I ask one thing?"

"Go ahead."

"Are the sailors really safe?"

"You are quite suspicious. You will see them tomorrow. They are all perfectly fine, just like you. I was told they received proper treatment."

"But the rain makes sailing..."

Jorde turned toward the window. Kyle and Elysia's gazes followed toward one side of the room.

Tap. Tap-tap. Tap.

Heavy rain was still pouring down outside beneath dark clouds. Jorde's expression darkened. Sailing was greatly affected by the weather. Since they had ended up in this situation after being swept up in a storm, he was clearly not pleased. Kyle, on the other hand, continued in a tone that showed no concern.

"We cannot delay here any longer. The storm is nearly over anyway, so this rain will stop soon. Even if it does not, we still have to go."

"What about the route...?"

"That is for your side to decide. I was told the navigator survived."

"And once we reach the Federation? What will happen to us?"

"You can return to Cadis as originally planned. Cesar and the Merchant Head of the Black Crow Merchant Company will settle the minor details themselves. They said they would return the star iron swords. Since they said they would not pursue the crime, they will not demand compensation either."

Kyle rose after finishing. Elysia, who had been beside him, stood as well.

"Wait!"

Just as the two turned toward the door, Jorde's urgent voice came from behind them. Kyle and Elysia turned only their heads to look at Jorde, lying on the bed. After hesitating as if choosing his words, he finally opened his mouth.

"There is something I should have said earlier, but I forgot."

After fumbling for a few moments, he added,

"Um... thank you. Truly."

"......."

"You may find it difficult to believe after hearing words like this, but I survived because of you. Until just now, I had been prepared to die. You may think it is shameless of me, as an accomplice who secretly transported star iron swords..."

"I do not care about that now. Since you understand, I hope you will sleep early tonight. I want to set sail as quickly as possible tomorrow."

Jorde gave an awkward smile and obediently nodded. Kyle left the room with Elysia. Humid air lingered in the quiet corridor. After staring out at the rain for a while, the two returned to their own room.

* * *

After returning to their room, they rested well for the remainder of the day.

Everything with Cesar had already been settled. All that remained was to set sail for the Federation. The other side had agreed to prepare the ship, food, and supplies for the voyage, leaving Kyle and Elysia with nothing to do. They only had to eat the dinner provided for them and turn in early for tomorrow.

The following morning,

"The rain really stopped..."

One of the Black Crow Merchant Company's sailors muttered those words. Fortunately, the rain that had poured down until yesterday had vanished overnight. The early morning sky, cleared of dark clouds, looked like a bright blue canvas brushed over with orange paint. The sun slowly rising at its center was the same.

"The ship is in better condition than I expected."

"Stop talking nonsense and check the sails again!"

"What is the wind direction?"

"Southwesterly winds!"

"Not bad."

The Black Crow Merchant Company's sailors, who had diligently arrived at the harbor before dawn, could not stop admiring the ship provided by the Skaldir Family. Of course, they did not forget to prepare for departure in the meantime. It was entirely different from when they had embraced their comrades after being released from isolation for the first time in ten days.

"We are finally leaving. When we first ended up on this island, I worried whether we would ever get out."

Elysia spoke as she gazed at the horizon beyond the other side of the island. Kyle and Elysia were currently enjoying the breeze at one corner of the deck. As nominal escorts, they had nothing else to do.

"We have already fallen behind schedule. We need to reach the Federation as quickly as possible."

Kyle, who was also looking toward the sea, spoke quietly. Elysia glanced at him and spoke as if objecting.

"Even so, this is not enough of a delay to cause serious problems, is it?"

"That is true for about ten days. Originally, we would have waited in Cadis for a week before taking a passenger ship."

Still, the fact that they were late did not change. Each day was not as critical as when they had been pursued by wyvern knights, but Kyle wanted to reach the Kalov Kingdom, where the Federation council was located, as quickly as he could.

"It is fortunate that the weather is good."

Elysia murmured softly. Kyle nodded in agreement.

"It is not bad. It took some time, but we gained more than we lost."

Kyle lowered his gaze. The multicolored ring on the middle finger of his left hand shone brilliantly as it reflected the light of dawn. The mana he had exhausted while capturing the Ice Dragon had long since recovered. He had only used a few sword techniques without using personal magic.

And the Dragon Heart.

Kyle touched the Dragon Heart tucked deep inside his clothes through his cloak. Since parting with Alfred, Kyle had followed his advice and always worn the Dragon Heart around his neck.

Yet he had not felt any clear sensation of it assimilating with him. Or perhaps it was progressing so slowly that he could not notice it. One thing was certain, though. The Dragon Heart's mana felt more and more familiar, as if it were part of his own body.

He said it would be soon.

What will happen to me when that time comes?

My condition is not bad, thanks to getting plenty of rest yesterday.

"Kyle! Are you there?"

A voice suddenly called for Kyle from the dock below the ship. The sailors, who had been busily preparing to depart, instinctively stopped what they were doing and flinched. Captain Jorde and the deck boss, who had been giving instructions to the sailors at the center of the deck, did the same.

"That voice..."

"How did he get here? Did he not leave the work to his subordinates?"

"At this hour...?"

Leaving the sailors' murmurs behind, Kyle told Elysia to wait for him. Only after seeing her nod once did he look down toward the dock below the deck.

Cesar, the master of the island, stood there with Malik, his right-hand man. Since no additional knights or mages had come with them, they seemed to have slipped out quietly. A few pirates who had already been at the harbor to assist with the departure deeply bowed when they saw Cesar and Malik.

"As expected, you were there."

Cesar chuckled. Ignoring the gazes pouring down on him, Kyle jumped straight down to the dock.

"I did not expect you to see us off personally."

"I had to see you off at the end. You are practically a benefactor of the family."

Cesar wore the same Azaril-style silk clothes he had worn when they first met. Malik, with two cutlasses at his waist, looked much the same as before.

The only difference was probably the way they looked at Kyle. Rather than wary and suspicious eyes, they now looked at him with clear goodwill. It was a small change that had come after the rift disappeared completely.

"How is the ship? Do you like it?"

Cesar asked, gesturing with his chin behind Kyle. Kyle answered casually.

"I do. Honestly, I had lowered my expectations when I heard it would not be one of the family's fast ships."

"I cannot give you a fast ship because of confidential matters, but I would not give you some shabby vessel. It is the best of the ordinary passenger sailing ships currently at the harbor."

That was true. The sailing ship the Skaldir Family had lent them to travel to the Federation was clearly a high-quality passenger vessel.

It was less than half the size of the Black Crow Merchant Company's former trade ship, which had been over fifty meters long, but it was far more convenient and had better interior facilities. Unlike a trade ship, it had been designed to carry people. While the trade ship had mostly been cargo space, this vessel had much more room for people to use despite its smaller size. It showed how much care the Skaldir Family had put into it.

Silence passed between them for a while. As everyone's attention gathered in one place, Kyle and Cesar quietly looked at one another.

"There is still one payment I have not given you."

Cesar was the first to break the silence. He continued calmly.

"The first payment was passage to the Federation. The second was to put the matter with the Black Crow Merchant Company to rest. The third was one request within my power to grant."

"......."

"One remains. Will you state it now? If so, I will grant it immediately. Though an excessively unreasonable request would be difficult."

"No."

Kyle answered without a moment of hesitation. Cesar looked surprised. He asked in a voice full of doubt.

"You do not need it?"

"That is not it."

"Then?"

"I have nothing to ask for right now. We have more than enough money on this side. So let it remain as a debt."

"A debt?"

"Yes, a debt. So I can use it later, when the time comes."

"This is absurd. Are you not asking for something far too expensive?"

Cesar let out a hollow laugh. If Kyle had asked for money or an item, he would gladly have given it to him here and now. Even if it had been an enormous sum exceeding ten thousand Gold.

But Kyle did not do that. He simply left it as a debt. Cesar knew how costly that choice could be. Perhaps not if it were an ordinary person, but this was someone who had erased Dragon magic that had existed for thousands of years.

He could not imagine what Kyle might demand in return later. Besides, Cesar was the sort of person who always kept a promise once he gave it. If he accepted, he would certainly have to pay a very high price.

Still.

"What choice do I have?"

Cesar clicked his tongue with a sigh, then lifted his lowered head.

"Fine. Let us do that. The final payment will remain as a debt."

"You mean it?"

"Yes. Once, when you want it, I will help you in my name and the honor of my family. Without asking for anything in return."

Cesar accepted so readily that Kyle was the one who felt slightly taken aback. He had not expected it to go so easily. Since Kyle had naturally expected to be refused, it was almost puzzling.

"Do you not understand?"

"...A little."

"It is nothing special. It only means this matter was that important to us. Now that it has been resolved, we will have that much more room to breathe. We can grant one request from our benefactor."

Kyle looked away from Cesar and turned to the side. The twin-sword knight, who was practically Cesar's right-hand man, was looking at Kyle with an expressionless face. Since Malik did not object, he seemed to think much the same as Cesar.

"Preparations for departure are complete!"

Fabio called from the deck. Cesar glanced at the young navigator, then spoke to Kyle.

"You should go. Stay any longer and you will be late."

Kyle nodded. He turned, then leaped back onto the deck as easily as he had jumped down.

"What about the mooring ropes?"

"All untied!"

"Have all the anchors been raised?"

"Yes!"

"Then unfurl the sails! We are departing!"

The deck boss shouted in a booming voice. Long sails dropped down from the passenger ship. Then, carried by the rising wind, the ship slowly began to leave the harbor.

"It is a fine day."

Cesar narrowed his eyes and looked up at the sky. The orange color of sunrise had already faded, leaving a vivid blue spread overhead. Cesar unconsciously lifted the corner of his mouth. By the time he turned with Malik, the ship that had departed for the Federation was no longer within sight.

Footnotes:

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