WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

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◈ Sword Master of the Fallen Kingdom

Chapter 98

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How to Cross the Waves (4)

Incantationless wind magic, then flame magic. Enrico silently opened and closed his mouth. His gaze remained fixed on Kyle's hand, where the flower had vanished without a trace. What had just happened was that difficult to accept.

Wasn't he a mercenary who mainly used a sword?

That made no sense. The woman in the white robe was one thing, but Kyle, wrapped in a black cloak, looked like a sword-wielding mercenary to anyone. Enrico knew that better than most. As the head of a trade company, he had met every sort of mercenary, knight, and noble. People who wore rough cloaks and leather coats while carrying swords were swordsmen, ten times out of ten. A small number of them could produce simple flames, but none could use magic that precise.

No, before that, what kind of magic was that white flame? How did it leave not even ash behind? Did that make any sense?

"Were both of you... mages?"

Enrico spoke while doing his best to hide the tremor in his voice. Kyle glanced briefly at the ring on his left hand and answered as if it were nothing.

"Close enough."

"By that, you mean..."

"It means there is no need to divide swordsmen and mages so strictly. What matters is my skill."

Cutting and burning the flower in the vase with magic. It sounded simple, but what Kyle had just shown him was not simple at all.

Anyone with even a little knowledge of magic would know that the mana control behind that spell had been absurdly precise. Enrico Seran, head of the Black Swan Trade Company, had enough discernment to understand that. That was why he could not help being shocked. Kyle's level was so deep that Enrico did not dare try to look for the bottom. It was hard to believe he was merely a mercenary.

"...I understand. Further proof would be meaningless."

Enrico pulled a handkerchief from his coat and wiped away his cold sweat.

"Pardon the question, but what is your rank?"

"Silver Rank."

"Silver Rank... high, yes, but compared to the skill you showed, it feels somewhat lacking. May I see your Mercenary Badge?"

"Are you planning to write up a contract?"

Kyle tilted his head slightly. Enrico looked flustered and muttered as if making an excuse.

"No. I am not doubting you. It is only a formal verification process..."

"Then things will get complicated. I am very expensive. Is that what you want?"

Kyle's Mercenary Badge did not only have his name on it. It also had brief personal details written on it. Now that he had put this much distance between himself and the Empire, he did not need to worry too much, but there was no reason to leave a longer trail behind.

"That is..."

"......."

"No. Please forget I asked. With skill like yours, you must have your circumstances."

Enrico rose from the sofa. He took a clean sheet of paper from his desk drawer, picked up a pen, and returned to his seat.

"First, I will arrange a room for you."

Enrico sat down again across from Kyle and Elysia. Then he spread out the small blank sheet he had brought and began writing at a brisk pace.

"Departure is at seven tomorrow morning. Please be aboard by six at the latest."

"Do we need to pay separately?"

"No. It is a verbal contract, but on the surface, the two of you will be boarding as guards. So there is no need for separate payment. The voyage will take about a week. In exchange, there will be a few duties, including guard work."

"I see."

"Please do not worry too much. We would not put honored mages to menial labor. A simple patrol around the deck once in the morning and once in the evening should be enough. You can hear the details from the trade ship's captain."

The pen tip scratched across the paper. At last, Enrico stopped writing and handed Kyle the small sheet. Beside him, Elysia poked only her head forward and peered at the paper in Kyle's hand. It contained simple information and Enrico's signature.

"Go to the pier written here early tomorrow morning and show this paper to the boatswain or navigator. The captain should help you board."

"Anything else worth noting?"

"You may encounter pirate ships from the Corsa Archipelago in the middle of the strait, but do not be alarmed. Paying a toll to the pirates of the Corsa Archipelago is something of a custom on the sea route connecting the Federation and Cadis."

"Even in autumn storms?"

"Yes, even in autumn storms. The pirate ships of the Corsa Archipelago are different from ordinary ships. Thanks to the Magic Stones they use, they are far sturdier and much faster. Those families have built their power on the sea for hundreds of years."

Kyle recalled what he had heard from the Serentia branch in Nibelmund before crossing the duchy. Back then, Branch Chief Nadia had said the pirate families of the Corsa Archipelago had held their place for hundreds of years. In truth, they were families that ruled the small island nation known as the archipelago. Another ruler of the sea, one that neither the south nor the Federation could easily interfere with.

"I want to ask one last thing."

Kyle stared at the paper for a while, then tucked it into his coat and spoke.

Enrico straightened his lowered upper body and fixed his posture.

"Please ask."

"What are the odds the ship gets swept up by a storm?"

Enrico's eyes went wide. Only for a moment, though. Soon he laughed lightly, as if he had heard an amusing joke.

"You do not need to worry about that. Every ship belonging to the Black Swan Trade Company is a specially built merchant vessel. They are larger and sturdier than the ships of other trade companies."

"You sound very confident."

"Yes. In truth, this is not our first voyage like this. We have already launched ships into autumn storms several times. Each time, we succeeded without a single failure. The captain and sailors aboard this trade ship are hardened veterans as well, so there should be no problem."

"Anything else to say?"

Kyle asked. Enrico could not answer right away and paused. After a moment, he barely managed to speak.

"You must keep everything that happens during the voyage confidential."

"Everything?"

"Yes. From start to finish. All of it."

"Sounds like the ship has circumstances you cannot talk about."

"That is..."

"The chance of anything happening is low."

"Probably. And because of that low chance, you are using us as guards."

In the end, both sides had things they were hiding.

Since they were in the same position, Kyle had no intention of picking apart every detail. There was not enough time left to get hung up on every small thing.

Kyle rose from his seat. Elysia followed one beat late. Just as they opened the door and were about to leave the room, Enrico's voice came from behind them.

"Departure is at seven. Boarding is at six. I will inform them in advance. Please do not be late."

"I will remember."

Kyle closed the door after that answer. Once the two left, the room sank back into silence. Outside the window, the sun was already close to setting. Late afternoon light slanted into the room.

***

After leaving the Black Swan Trade Company's headquarters, Kyle and Elysia bought a few simple items at the market and headed straight back to the inn.

The inn was crowded in the early evening. The Beacon of the Sea, the most expensive and best-equipped inn in Cadis, bustled with guests from all over. Merchants who looked like they had money, sailors, and mercenaries. All sorts of people swarmed inside the small building. Kyle and Elysia were two of them.

"It feels like you ordered quite a lot..."

"Eat what you can and leave the rest. It is our last meal on land. Once we board the ship, you will miss solid ground. The food is one thing, but you probably will not have much appetite because of seasickness."

"Seasickness?"

Several dishes were laid out on the table. Steam rose from the food that had just been served, and Elysia tilted her head behind it. Unlike Kyle, she did not seem to fully understand the concept of seasickness yet. Since Kyle could see the future all too clearly, he had no choice but to meddle a little.

"You said this is your first time seeing the sea, right?"

"Yes. This is my first time."

"Then you have never ridden a ship either."

"Of course not. Why would that be a problem?"

Elysia's tone was calm. Faced with that serenity, Kyle swallowed a sigh without realizing it.

"A ship is different from land. You have to live on a deck that shakes every moment. Of course seasickness can get bad."

"I barely got sick even when riding carriages."

"Hard to say. Seasickness is completely different from carsickness."

"Carsickness?"

"Think of it as something similar to carriage sickness."

Kyle handled motion sickness well too, but seasickness was on another level. On top of that, unlike Earth, ships in this world were far behind in technology.

Even if the Black Swan Trade Company's ship they would board this time was a specially made giant trade ship, it could not compare to modern merchant vessels. Even Kyle could not help worrying. Fighting on land and fighting on the sea were completely different matters.

"No, it may be a pointless worry. Let us eat for now. We have to wake up early tomorrow."

They would not know until they rode it themselves. Kyle picked up his utensils and started dinner. Elysia watched him for a moment, then tasted the food filling the table one dish at a time and let out sounds of admiration.

"It is delicious."

"You do not mind seafood?"

"After I ended up alone, I was in no position to be picky about this or that. Besides, I have always been quite curious by nature, so I do not really reject unfamiliar food. Ah, this is delicious too. Not bad."

Elysia's mouth kept moving without pause. She still did not eat much, but compared to when Kyle had first met her, this was remarkable progress. Her expression was softer too, as if she truly enjoyed the taste.

And the food really was good.

Kyle picked the flesh from a large fish and put it in his mouth, then moved the squid dish nearby into the bowl in front of him and cut it up. Most of the dishes were strongly seasoned and spicy, carrying the flavor of foreign spices.

Even considering that cities near the sea usually had good food, this inn's cooking was high quality. As befitted a place where goods from Azaril and the Federation crossed paths, the many ingredients blended together well. The price was high, but this was more than enough for a final meal before boarding a ship. Elysia, who had been focused on eating in silence, swallowed everything she had been chewing and spoke.

"Still, we were lucky. Honestly, when I heard from the sailor at the pier that there were no ships, I was prepared to stay in this city for weeks."

"It probably would have become that annoying."

"Because of what?"

"Because the ship is not ordinary."

The Black Swan Trade Company's trade ship that Kyle and Elysia were supposed to board tomorrow. Naturally, it would not be an ordinary trade ship. If they were launching it during autumn storms, there had to be a reason.

Either they had cargo that needed to be moved urgently, or it was a smuggling ship.

Elysia probably had some idea too.

"Well, we have no other choice, do we?"

Elysia stopped eating and looked at Kyle. Kyle nodded in agreement.

"If we want to save time, there is no other way. We cannot stay in this city for a week."

"Then that is enough. I do not care much what kind of ship it is."

"You are not worried either?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because you are here."

Elysia said it calmly. Kyle reflexively let out a small laugh at the golden eyes staring straight at him without wavering.

"That is true."

Whether the ship was a smuggling vessel or carrying something important, it did not matter either way. As long as they reached the Federation safely, that was enough. The fact that Kyle was escorting Elysia had not changed.

"If you are done eating, let us go up."

After roughly finishing their meal, Kyle and Elysia left the first-floor tavern and went up to the third floor, where they had reserved rooms in advance.

"It feels a little early..."

The early evening sunset poured in through the corridor window. Standing in front of her room, Elysia turned her gaze and looked up at Kyle. Kyle spoke to her.

"Sleep early."

"Should I?"

"We have to wake up early tomorrow. Managing your condition is part of the job."

"That is true too. If we need to arrive at the pier by six, we will have to wake up at least thirty minutes before that."

Perhaps reminded of when they had been chased by wyvern knights, Elysia chuckled. Not long ago, she had been staggering around from lack of sleep. Now she had so much time that she was complaining. It was ridiculous enough to be funny.

"I have grown complacent too."

"......."

"Good night, Kyle. I hope you have good dreams."

Elysia gave him her usual evening greeting, opened her door, and went inside. After confirming that the door right beside him had locked, Kyle used his own key and stepped into his assigned room.

The interior was quite large and clean, befitting its high price. Unlike the inn at Ligrid Fortress, which had not even had a proper window, this room had a large window and a separate washroom where hot water had already been prepared. Kyle looked around briefly, removed his sword and other arms, then took off his cloak and leather coat. Soon completely naked, he sank into the wooden bath filled with hot water.

Kyle wiped his face with tired hands and carefully washed every part of his body.

After the bath, he put his clothes back on. When he turned his gaze out the window, the sun had already set. Kyle opened the window and watched the scenery outside for a while. Around the time the sky grew dark, he closed it and turned off the Magic Stone Lamp on the bedside table. Once the soft spreading light vanished, the room sank into dim darkness.

Kyle placed the sword he had leaned against the bedside table near his pillow and lay down on the bed.

When drowsiness washed over him, Kyle did not resist. He let go of consciousness.

The boundary between reality and dream blurred for only a moment, then Kyle fell asleep. In his dream, Kyle saw countless scenes. Landscapes passed by like a panorama, regardless of his own will.

Memories he had wanted to forget, memories he had not wanted to forget, and the wish he had kept longing for.

And a dragon.

In a colorless space open on all sides, a dragon was curled up in the middle of a place where water rose to the ankles.

The dragon, covered entirely in pure white scales, was very beautiful. Before he knew it, Kyle was walking toward the white dragon as if enchanted. When the distance between Kyle and the dragon grew close enough to reach, the dragon sensed his presence and slowly lifted its eyelids.

When Kyle came to himself, sapphire-blue eyes that reminded him of a clear lake were looking at him.

You are...

Kyle muttered inwardly with his mouth closed.

Who are you?

No answer came. The vertically slit pupils stared silently at Kyle. Just as Kyle was about to part his closed lips, a low woman's voice rang inside his head.

...You who came from...

...You who came from another world.

He heard that voice when he took one more step toward the dragon.

Kyle's body froze cold. The dragon that had been curled up rose for the first time. The dragon was still looking down at Kyle with those piercing blue eyes.

Its giant pure-white wings spread wide.

At the overwhelming sense of deja vu, Kyle opened his eyes.

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