Ch.207The Navigator’s City. Vecarium (1)

November 13, 1201.

We finally arrived at Becarium.

Becarium was a massive coastal city with over 30 million inhabitants. Its coastline, stretching more than 60km, was packed with docks and berthing facilities, giving the impression of a greatly extended Parcifal.

“30 million… that’s an enormous number.”

“Is it?”

Raisha, who grew up in Faerus Vale where over 500 million people lived together, spoke while nestled in my arms.

Hmm… Since most Heart Cities have tremendous populations, it’s natural that her standards would be calibrated accordingly. But having grown up in Parcifal with a mere population of 8.6 million, I thought the idea of 30 million people living in there was an incredible scale.

“If I say it’s enormous, then it’s enormous. Got it?”

“Ah… y-yes… sorry, Master…♡”

Feeling somewhat petulant, I pulled my wife close and buried her head against my neck.

Before long, my heated wife grabbed my chest, rose up, and pressed her lips against mine. And so we shared our affection while overlooking the city.

When it was all over, Lucia, who had been watching us, muttered with an expression of utter disgust.

“I wish all couples would die.”

“We’re not a couple, we’re married.”

“I wish all married couples would die.”

“Aren’t your parents a married couple?”

When I retorted like that, Lucia seemed at a loss for words. She pushed out her lips like a duck and blocked her protruding mouth with a bottle of alcohol.

Gulp! Gulp!

In an instant, a bottle of alcohol was emptied, and her younger sister Casia was looking at her pitifully.

“Don’t look at me like that! If I wanted to, I could seduce any man!”

“Then why don’t you want to?”

“What do you know!!!”

After mentally murdering one elf, we began to lower the Sky Warden to land.

*

“Welcome to Becarium, Lord Victor! The city of true navigators and brave sailors!”

“I heard this is where the first intercontinental sailing vessel was built. Is that original ship still around?”

“Ah! Of course. We’ve been maintaining it for hundreds of thousands of years! If you go to the center of the city, you’ll be able to see the first ocean vessel preserved as a statue.”

The receptionist helping us with our paperwork exuded the salty smell of seawater.

It might be a fishy odor to some, but to me, it was the familiar scent of home. That’s just how the sea is.

“Ugh. I can never get used to the coastal smell.”

“But you were fine at the Besfeld coast?”

“That’s because there weren’t many people. The smell of a bustling port is different. Human and livestock excrement. And all those marine creatures stuck together… plus the peculiar mixture of rotting wood and rusting iron.”

“I see…”

Indeed, the smells in Parcifal and Besfeld were different.

I thought it was just a matter of whether people were present or not, but when she described it so specifically, it might be a bit unsettling…

“Well, let’s find an inn first. The facilities on the airship aren’t bad, but they’re not exactly top-tier.”

After saying that, I asked the receptionist where the best inn was.

“As you can see, we’re blue-blooded. Where’s the best inn or hotel around here?”

“Ah. If you’re asking about the best hotel here, that’s a bit difficult to answer. Many people come and go through this city, and everyone has different standards for what’s best.”

“Hmm…”

Now that I think about it, that’s true. I can’t argue with that.

I suppose I need to be more specific.

“Where has the best view?”

“Ah! I can tell you that right away. Do you see that hill over there?”

The receptionist pointed to a tall building on a high hill.

“Right there. The Scallop Hotel.”

“Scallop Hotel?”

“It’s named that because the owner supposedly made his fortune selling scallops. Whether that’s true or not, nobody really knows, but they do make exceptional scallop dishes.”

“Oh. Is that so.”

Good. We’ve decided on our lodging. Now for the troops’ arrangements.

I called the brigade commander, who approached me flaunting his red eyes.

“My lord. You called?”

“We’ll be staying here for a while. Ensure the soldiers and non-commissioned officers have free time from 09:00 to 30:00, but they must remain inside the airship from 30:00 to 08:00. They may freely use facilities within 3km of the airship.”

“Understood. What about the officers?”

“They may roam the city freely, but they must be contactable immediately when I reach out. Have you set up communications?”

When I asked, the brigade commander’s eyes lit up as he established contact.

[Of course, my lord.]

[Good.]

“Make it clear that there will be consequences for any vulgar behavior or excessive drinking that undermines an officer’s dignity. Understood?”

“I shall humbly obey your command.”

“Good. Now go.”

The brigade commander gave a sharp salute and entered the airship, while the receptionist, watching this, began to flatter me while rubbing his hands.

“They say clear water at the top means clear water below! Seeing Lord Victor’s dignified demeanor, your soldiers must surely be elite!”

“That’s enough. You may go now. Oh, could you stop by the Adventurer’s Guild on your way?”

“The Adventurer’s Guild, sir?”

“Yes. Ask if they need military assistance, and they’ll direct you to the Mercenary Guild. If there’s work, it will end there.”

“…”

After hearing my words, the receptionist silently extended his hand, and I placed a gold coin in it.

“I shall swiftly convey the wise Lord Victor’s message!”

“Good. Tell them to find me at the Scallop Hotel.”

Indeed, there’s nothing quite as thrilling as dispensing money.

*

The reception desk at the Scallop Hotel.

As soon as I entered, everyone’s eyes turned toward us.

It was due to our flamboyant attire typical of successful adventurers and the weapons plastered all over our bodies.

The security guards’ eyes narrowed at the sight, but the right of adventurers to carry weapons anywhere was recognized by the Four Great Ministers. There was nothing they could do about it.

“Adventurers, I’ll assist you with check-in.”

Upon reaching the reception desk, I could definitely feel a change in the employee’s attitude.

To think attitudes would change so much from 170 to 220… is height really everything for a man?

“Sir?”

“Ah… my apologies. The room with the best view…”

One room for me and Raisha. One for Simon… One for the elf sisters… And one for the dwarf brothers…

“Four rooms, please.”

“These are suites, so they’re quite expensive. Is that alright?”

Silently, I took out a lump of gold coins from my spatial storage and placed it on the desk.

The employee took 12 gold coins and returned the rest while shrinking back, and we divided the keys to the four rooms before taking the elevator up to our respective rooms.

“Order room service with your own money.”

I said that and entered the elevator. After confirming no one else was there, I began to freely knead my wife’s soft body.

We’re probably being monitored by CCTV, but what could the observer do about it? At most, they’d just explode with inferiority complex after watching us being lovey-dovey, thinking, “You should pay 100 times more in taxes!!!”

“We can see the statue tomorrow. Today, let’s rest and recover from our journey.”

Of course, that “rest” includes marital relations.

[Refrain from intense exercise~]

My father-in-law’s advice from when he had mechanical eye implants flashed through my mind, but my wife wouldn’t approve of such restraint.

And well, if it comes to it, I can just lie still and let my wife do the moving.

Besides… if the mechanical parts malfunction, I can just cut off a limb and regenerate it.

There must be plenty of implant shops here too, and it’s not like I’m short on money.

Money really is the best. Always thrilling!

Thinking that, I got off the elevator and entered the suite.

Indeed, the suite, with a size comparable to a small detached house, was enough to explain why the wealthy want to separate themselves from the lower classes.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have the luxury to examine the suite in detail.

My wife, whose body had heated up from being fondled in the elevator, was carrying me to the bed at a fierce pace.

Whoosh!

Boing!

Ah… this hotel uses good mattresses…

I closed my eyes and began to summon strength throughout my body to deal with my beast-like wife.

Hnnngh! Implants, give me strength! Power to my waist and pelvis!

[Strength augmentation initiated]

[Joint reinforcement in progress.]

[Spine strengthening complete.]

Come at me, my wife!!!

*

But it was futile.

My wife inserted her tongue so deeply I couldn’t breathe, embraced me so tightly my heart nearly stopped, and in the process, my implants worth dozens of gold coins displayed the abominable notification [Normal operation impossible] before shutting down.

And from 14:00 to 32:00 that day, I endured an immeasurable amount of extraction.