episode_0212

Port city, Floria.

A city with an impressive peaceful atmosphere, filled with the sea scent unique to the ocean.

This was the place I was guided to in order to head to Raftia, to arrive at the Holy Kingdom as quickly as possible.

“There’s a way to get to Raftia here?”

“Yeah, that’s right. To be exact, it’s in this sea area.”

“Is that so….”

Having come this far, I have no choice but to follow Levia’s words. And anyway, I decided to trust Levia.

“At least we won’t be sleeping outside tonight. Let’s get a good rest for about a day before heading to Raftia.”

“Okay.”

After arriving in Floria, the first thing we did was, of course, getting a room at an inn.

We had been camping for quite a few days while coming here, so my body was very stiff, and I thought it would be great to get a good night’s sleep on a fluffy bed.

No, to be honest, I had gotten somewhat used to sleeping outside after camping for about 3 months, but I also really wanted to eat proper food, not something roughly made. Moreover, since this is a city adjacent to the sea, I felt even more attracted because seafood dishes were mainly prepared.

“Could you give us the recommended dish here? What do you want to eat, Levia?”

“…Polpo alla Galleta.”

“Polpo alla Galleta, you said? I understand~”

The clerk who took our order headed straight to the kitchen.

I turned my gaze to Levia.

“Polpo alla Galleta?”

“Yeah…. It’s one of the dishes here. A dish using octopus….”

“Hmm…. Have you been here before?”

“…Yes.”

Levia nodded.

She opened her mouth to explain something, then closed it again.

Perhaps she thought it would be better to see it directly than to explain it with words. If that’s Levia, then that’s just like her.

“By the way, you said Raftia is sunk in the sea, right?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s sunk in the sea, so how is the country being maintained?”

“They created a barrier that prevents seawater from entering so that people can live. Thanks to that, the inside of Raftia is no different from the surface. But if the barrier fails, it will be swept away by the deep-sea currents and water pressure….”

A barrier….

No matter how much I hear the explanation, I can’t grasp what kind of country it is.

But I’ll probably find out soon enough.

“Polpo alla Galleta and today’s special, Benisch Leka, are here~”

“Oh….”

The Polpo alla Galleta that Levia ordered was a dish that cooked fresh octopus sliced with bread, just as she said it was a dish using octopus. It looks delicious at first glance….

“Benisch Leka….”

“…Levia?”

Levia frowned slightly when she saw the food I received, Benisch Leka.

Then she quickly turned her head to the clerk who brought the food.

“Is ‘the Wave’ coming?”

“Huh? How did you know? Are you perhaps from here?”

“…No. It’s okay.”

With those words, Levia closed her mouth and began to eat the food she ordered.

Only I, not knowing what was going on, kept looking back and forth between Levia and the food, tilting my head.

Thanks to that, I couldn’t properly taste what the first meal after coming here tasted like.

* * *

“Levia? What’s going on?”

“….”

It was only after we finished eating and entered the double room we had booked that I could finally ask Levia the question.

“What do you mean, ‘the Wave’ is coming? What’s that about?”

“Um…. Benisch Leka is a recommended dish eaten during a special time.”

“A special time?…. Is that related to ‘the Wave’?”

“Yes.”

Levia nodded at my question.

And as if it wasn’t something to hide, she immediately opened her mouth.

“‘The Wave’ is a phenomenon caused by a certain creature that comes periodically.”

“A certain creature?….”

“Yeah. And while it’s causing ‘the Wave,’ most ships don’t go out to sea. If they recklessly go out to sea, they’ll be swept away by the wave and sink into the deep sea.”

“!!”

I didn’t expect such a terrible thing to be happening.

No, more than that….

“What is that creature? What is it?”

“…One of the seven disasters that have settled on this land. 『The Demonic Beast that Swallows the Sea』.”

“S, seven disasters?…. That’s…”

“They are monsters that actually exist. It’s just that they’re not properly active right now.”

Seven disasters.

They are monsters that are known to have appeared in the world a long time ago. Stories and information about their appearances are all different from country to country and region to region, but only their names are accurately passed down.

『The Demonic Beast that Devours the Earth』

『The Demonic Beast that Swallows the Sea』

『The Demonic Beast that Tears the Sky』

『The Demonic Beast that Hides the Sun』

『The Demonic Beast that Gazes at the Moon』

『The Demonic Beast that Burns Fiercely』

『The Demonic Beast that Freezes Eternally』

It is said that when these seven monsters were active, the world was no different from hell.

It was the goddess Pillesia, who is currently worshiped in the Holy Kingdom, who sealed them.

“That monster is active?”

“Yeah…. Of course, no one on this earth knows that. They just know that ‘the Wave’ comes periodically.”

Is that how it is?….

No, before that, how does Levia know that….

“Did you find out from that book?”

“No.”

“Then?”

“Because I saw it myself.”

I couldn’t help but be surprised at the story of having seen a sleeping monster.

“You saw that?! Are you okay?!”

“If I wasn’t okay, I wouldn’t be here.”

“Ah…, that’s true, but….”

“Anyway…. If it’s the time when ‘the Wave’ is crashing, ships won’t sail.”

Then isn’t that a problem?

More than that, the fact that the monster is rampaging….

“Isn’t that very dangerous? According to the stories, I heard that one or two countries can be easily destroyed even if only one of those monsters rampages….”

“…It’s okay. It’s just simple sleep-talking.”

“S, sleep-talking?….”

“So you don’t have to worry too much.”

Even if she tells me not to worry….

Who wouldn’t worry after hearing such a terrible story?

But Levia continued to speak without paying attention to that.

“I can get a ship, so it’s okay. However…. Since we’re launching a ship during this time, we might stand out a little to others…. But you don’t have to worry too much.”

“I, I see.”

“…I might have to use a little strength tomorrow, so I’m going to sleep first.”

“Ah, okay.”

After finishing the general story, Levia lay down on the bed and went to sleep.

Levia, who usually reads a book for quite a long time before going to sleep, is going to sleep so early today…. Does she not want to talk anymore? Or is she really trying to take care of her condition as much as possible because she might have to use her strength?

As I watched Levia for a moment, I soon heard her breathing.

As I watched her, I unconsciously spoke her name.

“Levia.”

Since she’s asleep, there’s naturally no answer coming back.

Of course, I don’t expect an answer from a sleeping person either.

I just…. Spoke the question that had been floating in my head recently.

“Why are you helping me?”

When I first met Levia in the back alleys of the kingdom, I could still understand it.

There’s no particular problem with helping someone in danger. There’s an old saying, ‘You may need a reason to kill someone, but you don’t need a reason to save someone.’

But….

The work starting from the underground of the royal capital went beyond that.

No matter how much it’s my request, from entering the royal capital without hesitation, which could be dangerous for civilians to enter, to willingly helping me and going on a wandering life with me for so long, even though she has things to do….

“What is the relationship between you and me?”

Levia’s appearance is very beautiful.

So…, to be honest, I’m not uninterested in her in terms of romantic feelings.

But conversely, what does Levia think of me?

“I don’t know.”

I want to ask, but I don’t have the courage to ask.

As things went by vaguely, I went on a journey to the Holy Kingdom with Levia for 3 months, and now I have reached this point.

“Sigh, I should go to sleep too.”

Originally, I was going to walk around Floria and look around after finishing the meal, but looking at the current situation, it doesn’t seem like a situation to go sightseeing.

I also lay down on the bed and closed my eyes.

* * *

“Is it you?”

“…Levia? Who is this person?”

“The person who will launch the ship.”

The next day.

The person Levia went to see was someone who seemed to be saying ‘I’m a pirate’ with his whole body, no matter how you looked at him.

“These arrogant bastards suddenly came and asked me to launch a ship? Are these two crazy?”

A man swaggering with a bad attitude.

No matter how I think about it, it doesn’t seem like he’ll cooperate willingly….

“Raftia.”

“!”

But with one word from Levia.

The face of the seemingly delinquent captain changed in an instant when she spoke the name of that legendary country that had sunk into the deep sea.

“Could it be you….”

“….”

“…Ah, is that how it is?”

The captain nodded as if he had understood something, and then shouted to his subordinates who were nearby.

“Hey kids! Prepare for departure~! Launch the ship~!!”

“Huh?! Are you talking about now?!”

“We have to go and come back quickly because it’s now! Finish it within 1 hour!!”

“Yes, sir!”

He’s really launching the ship?….

Levia approached me as I was panicking because I didn’t know what was going on.

“We’ll be able to arrive soon. In Raftia.”