Ch.9494. Voyage (1)

The week needed for preparations to sail to the Temple of Chronima—seven days in total—passed in the blink of an eye.

During that time, which felt neither long nor short, I diligently gathered information, purchased some supplies on the appointed date, and then met with Sophia.

“Hello, Sophia.”

“…Gregory, good morning.”

Having seen each other occasionally over the past week to share information, we greeted each other warmly as we joined up. Soon after, we boarded a gondola—Venice’s public transportation that had somehow become familiar to us—and headed toward the port on the outskirts of Venice.

Venice’s harbor was filled with at least dozens, if not hundreds, of docks and massive sailing ships constantly moving about.

It was a port teeming with vitality, where trade goods and sailors boarded and disembarked ships without pause.

In one corner of this bustling Venetian port, on a particularly well-constructed military dock among various warships… a familiar face caught my eye.

“Druid! Lady Sophia! Over here!”

“Ah, yes! We’ll be right there!”

The red-armored holy knight, who seemed like human-shaped bundle of energy and vigor, waved her hands enthusiastically above her head.

Knight Dorthea, the holy knight of the war god Chronima, called out to us with visible delight.

“Is this the Venetian naval warship we’ll be boarding?”

“Yes, indeed! Despite appearances, thanks to High Elven shipbuilding technology, it’s a massive transport vessel capable of accommodating up to 500 people!”

Indeed, as Knight Dorthea mentioned, this warship—or more precisely, what could be described as an “armed transport vessel”—emanated traces of mystery and magical energy.

I suspected that this vessel likely had magic cast upon it by a mage. Simply put, it probably had spatial expansion magic applied to it, making the interior space larger than what could be measured from the outside.

Additionally, simple barriers protected the hull’s structure, and the interior cabins were incomparable to ordinary vessels of this era.

“This is… a ship?”

“Elves… what exactly are they capable of?”

The technology incorporated into what was merely an armed transport vessel was so unbelievable that it made both of us think such thoughts involuntarily.

“Now, everyone! Please come this way!”

“Understood, Knight Dorthea.”

In any case, upon arriving at the ship, we were led by Knight Dorthea to our assigned single-occupancy officers’ quarters.

Since the vessel was primarily operated to transport supplies and troops, there were many spare cabins due to the relatively small crew needed for navigation compared to the number of available quarters.

A standard lamp-style magic light, a hammock bed, simple shelves and a wardrobe, along with basic fixtures secured to the floor.

For a cabin in this quasi-Age of Exploration world, it was truly an exceptional environment, but…

‘…Have my standards become too high?’

Honestly, having grown too accustomed to the fantastic environment of “Nature’s Hut,” I wasn’t particularly impressed.

Of course, given the circumstances, I had no intention of being a nuisance by complaining.

Rather, I thought that if I didn’t like the cabin, I could simply modify it myself.

[Come, Nature’s Hideaway. Guardian who protects.]

I slowly chanted in Elven language, summoning magical power. I placed shadow oak totems in each corner of the room to obscure its mystical concept, then linked with Tarasque, who was physically distant but spiritually connected.

And then…

-…Thoom!

With a sound that was both loud and soft—audible but not echoing beyond the room—the deployed simple barrier began to transform the interior environment.

The hammock bed, though carefully crafted, transformed into a soft bed with a plush mattress and blankets.

All the fixtures and amenities also changed to match the results of my “Nature’s Hut” spell.

This should be enough to avoid any discomfort for a while.

※ ※ ※

About two days after the fleet departed from Venice harbor, I was gradually getting used to life aboard the ship.

“Ah, Druid! You’ve come!”

“Yes, Captain. The weather is quite lovely today!”

“Haha, if only it were always like this!”

Perhaps it was because I had helped disperse a storm that nearly engulfed the fleet on the first day of the voyage, with Corin and Sophia’s assistance, that had earned me goodwill.

After responding appropriately to the captain’s unusually friendly greeting, I promptly pulled out a sailor’s ultimate weapon that I had brought along.

“Captain, would you like a sip of this?”

“…?! H-Hahaha!! How kind of you.”

Rum—the eternal friend of sailors navigating these treacherous seas—a cheap liquor made from molasses, a byproduct of sugar.

Or more precisely, expensive rum made from sugarcane juice, the raw material for sugar.

“This is for the hardworking crew members to share, and this one is for you to enjoy whenever you wish.”

“Boys! Did you hear the Druid? Come get a sip each!”

“”””Hooraaaaay!!!””””

Believing that now was the time to build goodwill, I boldly offered two bottles of rum purchased at the port. As the sailors rejoiced, I approached the captain, who was watching his crew with an amused expression.

“Captain, you really care for your crew, don’t you?”

“Well, yes. Since it’s too late for me to get married now, those monkey-like fellows are practically my sons. Speaking of which, you and your companion…”

“—Haha what are you saying there’s absolutely nothing romantic between Sophia and me.”

“Ah, yes. I understand.”

Due to a momentary slip of the tongue, the atmosphere suddenly became awkward. Meanwhile, the boisterous laughter of the sailors and the sound of them sipping alcohol filled the deck.

And then…

“……..?!!”

“……..Something’s coming!”

Just as I sensed approaching life force and reacted instantly, the captain, perhaps due to his years of experience, hurriedly drew his cutlass and shouted to his crew.

-Click!

-Shing…

No sooner had the captain’s shout ended than the sailors, who had been grinning and chattering just moments before, quickly began drawing their weapons.

About half of them unsheathed one-handed blade weapons like main gauches (parrying daggers) or cutlasses, while holding loaded pistols or blunderbusses—shotgun-like weapons the size of pistols—in their other hands.

Meanwhile, the remaining sailors raised blunderbusses not much different in size from ordinary rifles, while some marksmen brought out expensive custom sniper rifles.

“Gunners! Gunners to positions!”

“Call the harpooners! Bring them up!”

Several sailors who hurriedly came up from below deck began loading enormous hand cannons that could be fired from below the waist, and the ship’s mid-level warrior, known as a “harpooner,” appeared with a harpoon almost as large as a pillar.

“Corin, Astra! Come out!”

I also responded by summoning Corin, capable of aerial combat, and Astra, responsible for healing.

As commotion began below deck with some passengers (priests) seemingly about to emerge…

[……..■■■■■■■■■!!!!]

“Sea dragon! A sea serpent has appeared!”

Finally, the identity of the enemy emerging from beneath the surface was revealed—a subspecies of dragon kind that inhabits the sea.

It was a sea dragon, a Sea Serpent, with the appearance of a gigantic sea snake.

Unlike other sea snake monsters, this creature is distinctly classified as a draconoid species. Though its outward appearance might not seem much different from an ordinary sea snake monster.

But despite appearances, this creature is undeniably one of the draconoid species. It possesses enough power to not disgrace the name of lesser dragon.

With physical abilities derived from its size—averaging 30 meters in length—far surpassing ordinary sea snake monsters. The hard scales characteristic of draconoids and its exceptionally destructive teeth cannot be overlooked.

Of course, it can also exhale breath unique to each individual from its mouth, making pure physical combat somewhat risky.

What makes the Sea Serpent particularly fearsome is that while it may be classified as mid-tier according to some standards… purely in terms of size, it’s comparable to high-tier creatures.

The ocean environment, with its relatively reduced effect of gravity, has caused inflation in the size of creatures forming its ecosystem, and as a result of this competition reminiscent of the “Red Queen Effect,” the marine ecosystem has naturally become more dangerous over time.

Therefore, how could a Sea Serpent, which has survived as a predator in such conditions, be weak?

-Rumbllllllle!!!

Thanks to the helmsman’s seemingly divine steering skills, we were able to avoid the Sea Serpent’s charge, but the creature still hadn’t lost its fighting spirit and continued to swim threateningly beneath the lower part of the ship, roaring.

Thus demonstrating why it was considered a fearsome predator of the sea, the Sea Serpent began to thrust its head forward and let out a roar infused with magical energy with all its might…

[■■■■■■■■──!!]

“Fire!!! Shoot!!!”

-Ratatatatata!!!

With the sound of gunpowder exploding, bullets fired by the sailors flew toward the Sea Serpent’s body as it emerged from the water’s surface.