Navy Marigold

1.

Beautiful scenery, vibrant islands and Marine city, delicious seafood all year round, and a geopolitical location far removed from the continental wars, except for some pirate activity.

There were many reasons why Lancel Dante specifically chose the archipelago for his vacations.

But now that he thought about it, perhaps it was because this was the only land that hadn’t been touched by his sister.

Yes.

A map untouched by the game director.

How could such a thing exist?

‘These are all free assets, should I just use them?’

‘Wouldn’t that be better than what my sister made?’

‘They all look good, should I just put them all in? The more, the better.’

‘……Wouldn’t that be a bit much?’

‘Don’t you know the saying, the more the merrier?’

‘……?’

It was a map where every sea-themed asset that could be used was thrown in.

‘A secluded island, you say, but what are all those ships?’

‘There could be secluded islands with a lot of ships, right?’

‘That person over there is riding a whale.’

‘Cool! Fantasy!’

‘That’s clearly paragliding.’

‘Can’t it be there?’

‘This city isn’t on land, it’s floating on the sea?’

‘Wow! Fantasy!’

Now that he thought about it, that disjointed combination of free assets was what made this extraordinary environment so unique.

Seventeen islands and cities scattered across the sea, a land always bustling with numerous merchant and fishing vessels passing through. In the game, it was mainly used for ‘summer vacations.’

“Have we perhaps met somewhere before?”

“No. It’s our first time meeting.”

“Hmm.”

For some reason, Marigold was there. Wearing a naval epaulette, she stared intently at Lancel.

==========

—Imperial Calendar 816, July 21st. Weather: Very clear.

—Event triggered! ‘Picked up a knight.’

※Picked up the knight ‘Lancel Dante’ while he was drifting on the wreckage of a ship. We picked up a noble, this is a great achievement! Morality, grace, charm UP!!

==========

“I heard news that a ship had wrecked nearby, but you’re the only one who was rescued. You almost died. You were lucky to meet me.”

“I was already unlucky to be on a wrecked ship…….”

“No, you can’t be so pessimistic. If you’re alive, that’s always a good thing. Always think positively. That’s my advice as a four-year veteran of the navy.”

“Four years?”

Really?

“You have more experience than you look.”

“Hehe.”

Marigold, who was only fifteen, was already a four-year veteran of the navy? That meant she had chosen the path of the navy at the tender age of eleven.

Considering Marigold, who had been a Miss of a Coral Baron Family until just a year ago, it was an incredibly fast career change.

It meant she had shed her sensibilities as a Miss in just one year and chosen a demanding profession.

“You joined early. You still look young.”

“……Actually, after coming to the island with nothing, I realized there wasn’t much for me to do. But I heard the navy doesn’t have an age limit, so I quickly joined.”

“That’s quite a story.”

When you first joined the navy, all the tasks you were given were cleaning the deck, scraping barnacles, and raising whales.

It was simple but labor-intensive work, so the navy would take anyone, even children. As long as they didn’t get in the way, they were willing to take any helping hand.

“First, I’ll take you to the island where our headquarters is located. You can meet the squad leader there and talk to him.”

Marigold’s rank, as indicated by her epaulette, was Private First Class. She was a navy personnel who had just moved beyond miscellaneous tasks and entered the practical stage.

She seemed to be filled with a strange confidence, as if she had just been promoted.

“……But I’m late for my return time, so you’ll have to hold on tight. If I get scolded this time, I’ll be stuck cleaning the deck…….”

“Do you often get scolded?”

“N, no way.”

Marigold was sweating and avoiding eye contact.

“Be careful not to fall off. Ruby is really fast.”

“Ruby?”

“Yes.”

Marigold said that as she raised the reins.

“Ruby!”

A whale poked its head out of the water. Its body was connected to the small patrol boat that Lancel and Marigold were riding in.

It looked unusual, but it was nothing special. It was a kind of carriage. Whales were doing the job that horses did on land.

“We need to hurry, so can you speed it up a bit?”

-Beeeeeep!

The whale named Ruby emitted a high-frequency sound from its mouth. It spouted water from its back.

Swoosh-!

It sliced through the calm sea like a torpedo.

“Let’s go!”

Only then did the surrounding scenery enter Lancel’s eyes. The vast sea, the bright blue sky, the huge clouds visible far beyond the horizon, and Marigold……Marigold?

‘Why is Marigold really here?’

Why did she come to the archipelago?

Lancel’s question was soon forgotten as the first island of the archipelago came into view in the distance.

1.

“Why are you so late!”

“I, I’m sorry! I was rescuing a castaway…….”

“Really? I’ve already heard the report that you ran away during patrol and took a nap! Did you think I’d let you off for admitting it honestly! Get over here right now! Aren’t you going to clean!”

“I, I’m going now!”

“Did you think I’d let you off for being honest about your dereliction of duty! Get over here right now! Aren’t you going to clean!”

“I, I’m going now!”

Marigold looked dejected and drooped.

“Now that a junior has come in, you’re slacking off. Tsk tsk.”

The squad leader clicked his tongue for a moment, then approached Lancel.

He returned the nameplate proving he was from the Dante Family to him.

“I apologize for doubting your identity, Sir Lancel. It was a little hard to believe that a landlubber soaked in seawater was claiming to be a noble, so please understand.”

“Don’t worry about it. If I saw my own appearance right now, I wouldn’t believe it either.”

“I’m grateful that you understand. But what brings someone from the mainland so far away?”

“Does there need to be a reason for travel?”

“If it’s travel……do you have any expenses……?”

His eyes were filled with worry. He really looked like a beggar. He was only wearing tattered clothes, and he didn’t look like a noble at all.

“I have plenty of money……huh?”

Only then did Lancel realize that his pockets were empty.

‘Oh, dear.’

It was gone.

Lancel had brought a generous 19 Gold coin with him this time.

But it had all disappeared without a trace during the shipwreck, leaving him without even enough money to stay at an inn for the night.

No, he didn’t even have the fare to return to the mainland. He was trapped on the island with absolutely no money.

‘I have no choice.’

He didn’t want to use this method.

Lancel looked at the squad leader.

“I would like to meet Coral Baron, the head of the naval garrison. Would you please tell him?”

“……Please wait a moment. Mary, take good care of Sir Lancel. Don’t treat him carelessly, he’s a high-ranking person.”

“Y, yes sir!”

“Your voice.”

“Yes sir!”

Marigold was a complete mess.

“I’m sorry for not recognizing you, noble sir…….”

Marigold, who was completely dejected, handed him a canteen.

“Have a sip of this…….”

“Is it water?”

“It’s fruit juice……but! P, please keep this a secret! I’ll get scolded again if I carry anything other than water.”

“…….”

No wonder it smelled so sweet.

Lancel immediately began to pour everything inside into his mouth. He was thirsty and hungry after being adrift for so long.

Gulp, gulp.

“A, ah, h, leave just one sip……uaaaaaa.”

Gulp.

“Hiiiik!”

Marigold despaired as she watched the fruit juice all go down Lancel’s throat.

“That was good.”

“……I, I’m glad you enjoyed it…….”

Her smile twitched. Tears welled up in her eyes.

The navy paid poorly, even though they provided food, clothing, and shelter.

Something as precious as fruit juice was something that Marigold had made herself by picking the surrounding fruits, and it was a cherished snack that she had carefully filled.

‘Come to think of it, Marigold is my savior, in a way? She’s the one who rescued me from being adrift.’

Hmm.

“Wuuu.”

Marigold’s sad eyes as she looked at the empty canteen.

He wondered if he had been too harsh.

He could pay her back later, right?

“Sir Lancel, the captain is looking for you.”

.

.

.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Pleased to meet you. Call me Coral Baron.”

A middle-aged man wearing a navy hat shook his hand.

A burly, muscular man with a pointed mustache that he kept stroking. He was Coral Baron, the head of the naval garrison.

‘To think I’d be looking for this man again. My vacation is off to a bad start.’

Emergency situations were bound to arise when you were spending time indulging in pleasure.

Whether you had gambled away your fortune, left your travel expenses at an inn and had them stolen, or simply spent too much and realized you were broke.

Whenever that happened, Lancel would look for this Coral Baron. He couldn’t borrow money as easily as from Baron Ibil Shen.

“I heard you’re in trouble because you don’t have any money. A noble young man shouldn’t be without money! How can you maintain your dignity! That won’t do.”

“…….”

“I’ll take care of any difficulties you have here for the time being. A large room, food, clothes, even servants. So, about that…….”

Coral Baron rummaged around and took something out.

“Here, take this.”

A Gold coin and a familiar object were attached to it. This was the third time Lancel had received this object.

‘Damn it, not again!’

It was a naval seal made of gold.

To be exact, it was a ‘Senior officer seal.’ It was an object symbolizing the third rank out of five.

When a knight joined the navy, this was where everyone started.

In other words.

“These days, there are so many ships, merchants, Mercenary, and pirates flocking to the archipelago all the time. Even if I work all night, there’s no end to it.”

“Ah, yes.”

“But knights only want to live on land and have no interest in the navy, so how can things get better!”

“……I know you’re having a hard time, and I sympathize, but why are you telling me this…….”

“Think about it! The empire’s sea is all lawless, but would the empire be safe if we only defended the land!”

The land is important, though.

The initial wars only take place on land.

Full-scale naval battles were only a few times in Lancel’s memories, which he had repeated dozens of times.

But Coral Baron, who had no way of knowing that, pounded his chest and couldn’t help but lament.

“Is this even right! As a member of the Dante Family with chivalry deep in your heart, and as a respectable knight, think about it! Can we just stand by and watch this happen!”

He quickly wiped away the saliva that was flying like rain with a handkerchief.

“……Personally, I think it’s unfortunate. But I’m more suited to the land…….”

“Thank you.”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for understanding our situation. Here, take this!”

Coral Baron almost forcibly handed Lancel a Gold coin and a Senior officer seal. He seemed determined to shake his hand firmly, as if he was afraid he would put it down again. He was determined not to let go of a knight who had walked in on his own two feet.

“Sir Lancel. Congratulations on enlisting!”

The imposing presence of the burly, muscular garrison commander with his tanned skin.

Most people would be intimidated.

“……Coral Baron, I’m just here for a trip…….”

“Congratulations on enlisting!”

“……Trip…….”

“Congratulations!”

That day, Lancel became a temporary officer.

Normally, he would have refused somehow. He would have even run away.

Lancel in the past would have pretended to accept the officer position, found another route, and quickly escaped.

A naval officer? That was out of the question for Lancel, who was here for a vacation.

But the reason he accepted the officer position this time was, of course.

“Mary! Where have you been!”

“Yes! Petty Officer! I was picking clams for a moment!”

“Did you think I’d let you get away with dereliction of duty just because you’re being honest! Get over here right now! Aren’t you going to clean!”

“I, I’m going now!”

For some reason, Marigold, who was in the navy of the archipelago, was the cause.

‘Right. If I slack off properly and somehow coast for 10 years, that’ll be fine.’

And that girl is here, too.

That’s how lightly Lancel thought.