To the Katus Empire (5)

Kapatum, reached after three days of sailing.

The first thing they saw was undoubtedly an exotic landscape.

Although it didn’t seem to be a very large city, the walls built with dark gray stones solidly defended the city, and armed soldiers patrolled the tops of the walls, vigilantly guarding the surroundings.

But Kapatum was also a naval port, so most of the docked ships were warships.

Amidst the ships with numerous hatches on their sides that could open to reveal cannons, their ship slowly entered and dropped anchor. When the gangway opened, the group was finally able to set foot on land.

While unloading was in full swing and they waited for the imperial servants to unload their luggage, Yona sat in a chair under an awning, breathing heavily.

“Is this really alright? Miss Yona, your face is half gone.”

James looked over Yona with apparent concern.

Despite the short three-day voyage, Yona’s face had become haggard, literally becoming half of what it was.

During those three days, all Yona had eaten was grain powder dissolved in water, and even then, she had thrown up about half of what she ate.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen someone get this seasick.”

“Kaiyak, you’re just used to it because you’ve been on many ships…”

Yona chided Kaiyak in a half-dead voice.

But Kaiyak’s face remained impassive.

“This was my first time too. Why would a land creature like me have any reason to ride ships in the first place?”

“Huh… Then why don’t you get seasick?”

“It’s because I’m not a human species like you. The strong warrior of the Lizardmen doesn’t succumb to such physical ailments.”

“Damn it…”

Yona didn’t even have the energy to curse properly, so she leaned on Amira.

Amira had been smiling brightly throughout, and during those three days, she had been the one sticking close to Yona and taking care of her.

Alec had wanted to do so, but because Yona’s weakened body felt more pain when Alec approached, there was nothing he could do.

“But now, the rough part is over, so it should be alright—”

As Amira said, the ship had now entered Kapatum.

The ship that entered Kapatum was scheduled to stay here for a day before heading to Kubs.

“Um, Princess Amira.”

Alec, who had been watching Yona for a moment, approached Amira while scratching his nose.

The guards around Amira glanced at Alec but didn’t show any further vigilance.

This was because Amira, despite being a princess, had volunteered to be the maid of Yona – the saint of Berbaria, the snake god – and Alec was part of Yona’s group.

“Yes, Knight of the Saint—”

‘…A title I can’t get used to no matter how many times I hear it.’

It’s long, but well, it’s not that bad of a title.

It’s even pleasing to hear.

“Where is our next destination from here?”

“Eh… From Kapatum, we’ll next go to Kubs—”

From Kapatum to Kubs.

And from there, Amira’s group will head to Esima, the capital of the Katus Empire.

During the boat trip, everyone, including Yona and even Alebiang, had discussed and decided to head to Esima first.

Esima in the Katus Empire is where all species gather, and the current royal family, the Azrami family, are snake beastkin.

And as can be seen from Amira, the Azrami family is clearly very favorable to Yona, so going to Esima is the right choice.

Even Alebiang can’t suddenly find where the next archduke might be without any information.

She needs some information, and based on that information, she needs to analyze. So it’s right to go to a place where there’s likely to be as much information as possible, and Esima is perfect for that.

“Do we have to go through Kubs to get to Esima?”

“Not necessarily— but it’s the fastest way—”

The currents of the Lube Sea flow from Kapatum towards Kubs.

They would ride the currents flowing from the Flavus Sea through the Bitia Strait into the Lube Sea from Kapatum to Kubs, and from there take the waterway to Esima.

‘The problem is that Yona probably can’t endure that voyage…’

They hadn’t expected Yona to get this seasick.

Among those who boarded the ship, including Alec – even Rubina had adapted to the seasickness after about a day of sailing, but Yona hadn’t adapted at all and remained in that state for three days.

Going from Kapatum to Kubs and then taking the waterway to Esima in that state is simply impossible.

“Is it not possible to go from Kapatum to Esima by land?”

“It’s possible— Why wouldn’t it be— But it’s a bit slower… That’s the problem—”

“How much difference is there?”

“It takes about three days longer— If we go to Kubs and then to Esima— we can arrive in a week from now—”

The ship moves even while the group is sleeping.

But on land, everything stops when they sleep.

The time loss that occurs there is the problem.

“You’re worried about the Saint moving by ship, aren’t you—?”

Amira looked up at Alec with a bright smile.

It was a bit difficult to deny, so Alec closed his mouth and slowly nodded.

“I thought that might be the case— I didn’t know the Saint would get this seasick— In that case—”

Amira called a maid.

The maid, with a thinner tail than Amira, approached Amira with her hands neatly folded, and Amira whispered something in her ear.

“A Jakerocco should be possible, Your Highness. Shall I prepare it?”

“Yes— Please prepare a Jakerocco—”

What on earth is a Jakerocco?

As the group stared at Amira, dumbfounded by this unfamiliar word, Amira once again smiled brightly and clapped her hands.

“It seems— that it would be difficult for the Saint to move by ship in this state— So let’s go to Esima by land—”

“But if it takes three days longer…”

While they’re not in a rush, the sooner they arrive, the faster they can gather information.

There’s no room for unnecessary delays.

If it takes ten days for a journey that should take a week, wouldn’t that be a problem?

“Since the Saint’s knight— is so worried, we should do this much for the Saint— There’s a way, so don’t worry—”

According to Amira, Kapatum is literally just like a forward base, so there’s nothing to see.

It’s just a stopover, there’s nothing to look around, let alone tourist attractions, and as it’s a military city, there’s no need to stay here long.

“This is a Jakerocco—”

“……”

The entire group fell silent.

Especially Yona, who lost her words in front of the ‘thing’ called a Jakerocco.

To put it simply, it was a scorpion, a scorpion.

But it was a scorpion that was beyond common sense in its size.

A tail raised high and waving.

At the end of that tail was something like an iron ball the size of an adult’s head, and at the tip of the tail was a large stinger.

Not only that, but the body, which was shiny black mixed with brown as if covered in steel, was flat and wide enough for three adults to lie down on comfortably.

But the two eyes on the head in front were glowing red, and the arms stretching out on both sides with pincers at the end looked sharp enough to bisect even a cow in one go.

“This is… a Jakerocco…?”

“Yes— It’s for military use— but, well, we use it for times like this— What could be more important than escorting the Saint—”

It’s too much joy.

It’s too joyful and grateful that Amira is taking care of her, but…

This… isn’t this a bit too much?

“Jakeroccos never go berserk if there’s a skilled trainer with them— I’ve ridden them a few times myself, so I know—”

Yona looked back and forth between the Jakerocco and Amira.

Amira, smiling as if there was nothing wrong in the world, didn’t lose her relaxed smile even as she tapped the ground with her thick tail, while the Jakerocco in that fence—

“…No, that thing, smoke is rising from its mouth…?”

“It’s because it’s happy—”

“…Its eyes are flashing…?”

“It’s because it’s happy—”

“Its pincers are clicking…?”

“It’s because it’s happy—”

From where?

Yona felt like those words were about to come up her throat.

“Let’s just go by carriage, okay? I think we can go by carriage? Is there a problem with being three days late…?”

Yona felt like crying.

She was too scared of the hellish seasickness to ride a ship, but she was just plain scared to ride a Jakerocco.

Even if they’re three days late, there shouldn’t be much of a problem, right?

“I can’t be three days late— If you go by carriage, I think I’ll have to go separately—”

At those words from Amira, Yona closed her mouth.

They were going to Esima because of Amira.

Moreover, Amira already knew that Yona was the saint of the demon realm and the owner of Berbaria—

“…No, then can’t I just summon Berbaria and ride him?”

“You mean you’ll go ahead alone?”

Yona would have no problem riding Berbaria.

But it’s a different story for Alec, Kaiyak, or James.

“If you say you’ll ride the Jakerocco— I can go with you— but a carriage is impossible—”

Amira was smiling brightly.

From Yona’s perspective, there was no choice left.

“Is, is this really okay…?”

On the slippery back of the Jakerocco, a cushion made of some unknown fabric was spread out.

On top of that cushion sat the Jakerocco’s trainer, Amira, Yona, and Alec.

It was a space that was neither too wide nor too narrow, just right.

“It’s fine— It’s actually quite fun once you try it—”

Yona glanced down at Amira’s words.

Those thick three pairs of legs.

Including the pincers, it would be four pairs, but right now those pincers were raised forward, so three pairs.

“…The pincers can’t attack backwards, right?”

“They can’t— Ah, don’t stand up too suddenly— There have been people who died from getting their heads pierced by the stinger—”

At Amira’s words, Yona quickly bent her waist.

Seeing this, Alec laughed.

“Now then— Let’s depart—”

A Jakerocco carrying Amira, Yona, and Alec.

A Jakerocco carrying Alebiang and Rubina.

A Jakerocco carrying Kaiyak and James.

And three Jakeroccos carrying Amira’s servants.

A total of six Jakeroccos left Kapatum.

Their plan to stay for a day had been completely revised.