Chapter 539: Onboard the Ship
After finishing dessert, we moved to the port. I called out to Faramia.
“Is it alright?”
Instead of answering me, Faramia turned to Soleil for confirmation.
I had included the clause about silence regarding me in the contract, but since she was contracted to Soleil, it made sense.
“Yes. There’s probably no need to hide it from them… right?”
Soleil smiled, not at me but at Haulon.
“Note, don’t you think Soleil and Haulon seem to understand each other? Or is it just my imagination?”
“It is not your imagination.”
Note replied with his usual expression, confirming that it wasn’t just a figment of my mind.
I understood it wasn’t just my imagination, but why? He answered, but I couldn’t expect an explanation from Note, who was smiling.
As always, Naruadeid was crowded with buildings, giving it a cramped feel. However, there was a flow of people, creating a lively atmosphere, even if it varied in density.
Some were focused on their business, while others wandered around, peeking at various sights like tourists. Naruadeid was filled with ambitious individuals or those who had gained some wealth.
With limited land and buildings, many wanted to occupy the available spaces, so if you made a mistake, you could be quickly ousted. It wasn’t uncommon for a ship to sink and for someone to fall from grace overnight. Some even became shipmen without leaving Naruadeid.
“Hey? Isn’t it more crowded than usual? Did a cargo ship just arrive?”
The port was bustling with people, many of whom were looking up at the same ship.
When something rare arrives, crowds gather to catch a glimpse. They wouldn’t get too close to the ships, though; if you got in the way, they’d shove you aside with their handcarts without hesitation.
“They’re here to catch a glimpse of Captain Goat.”
“Eh?”
I couldn’t help but exclaim at Soleil’s answer.
Now that she mentioned it, I recalled Soleil saying something like that. Back in Japan, even a cat stationmaster could turn a deserted station into a tourist spot, so human behavior was the same here.
“This certainly stands out. I’ll spread a few rumors before I join you up there.”
With that, the butler suddenly vanished, his presence disappearing without a trace.
Startled by his sudden disappearance, I looked around, but the butler was already gone.
“Where did he…?”
A faint wrinkle formed between Faramia’s brows, who usually had a blank expression. Oh right, Faramia was in the same line of work, wasn’t she?
For a moment, Faramia scanned the surroundings without moving her head, but then she sighed softly, as if giving up.
“Soleil, I’ll join you on the ship.”
She bowed to Soleil and disappeared into the crowd.
“We’ll go in through the front. Until things settle down, we won’t be revealing any concrete information about the country. —It might be easier if we become a topic of gossip among the merchants in Naruadeid, right?”
“Yes, both purchasing and selling rely heavily on reputation and trust. Being invited onto Captain Goat’s ship adds a layer of prestige.”
Soleil and Haulon stepped out of the crowd. Ah, the rumors the butler mentioned must be about the Great Sage and the new country he belongs to? In terms of credibility and recognition, Haulon certainly had more than Karn, who had been in the desert for so long.
Setting that aside, the two of them were planning to climb the rope ladder in skirts and robes in front of a crowd. Haulon seemed quite adept at climbing, but what about Soleil? She was in high heels; wouldn’t that be tricky? Would her skirt be okay? Should I climb last to block the view from below? But then I wouldn’t be able to see them…
“Whoa!?”
“What the!? It’s floating!?”
In my confusion, I followed along, and Haulon carried me up with an Ittan Momen. The crowd was buzzing with excitement.
“What is that!?”
“What’s going on?”
“They say it’s the Great Sage!”
“Eh! The legendary one?”
“Why is he in Naruadeid?”
“So, is that spirit doing it?”
“They say he’s finally serving some king!”
“Soleil from Blue Spirit Island, Captain Goat, the Great Sage! What a lineup!”
“What kind of business are they discussing?”
“Is it a new sea route?”
“No, they say they’re building a country!”
Amidst the astonished and curious voices, words like “Great Sage,” “spirit,” and “kingdom” began to circulate more frequently. It was clear the source was the butler. Thank you very much.
In that crowd, it felt like I had overheard a word or two from a stranger before moving on a few times. There were probably people who recognized Haulon, but I doubted they knew anything about the kingdom.
As for me, I was completely overlooked. Hooray for recognition suppression!
When we landed on the deck, I saw Faramia and a large man who usually accompanied Captain Cat. The large man silently opened the door to the ship’s cabin.
Everyone entered, and the door closed tightly behind us.
“Ahhhhh! What are you doing here where Retze can’t see you! What are you doing!?”
“Wait, I didn’t hear about this! The Great Sage!?”
“Who on earth is that elderly gentleman?”
Haulon and Soleil gripped my collar or shoulder, shaking with intensity. Meanwhile, Faramia stood a step back, expressionless, asking her question. The crew was frozen in place, having just closed the door.
The narrow corridor was pure chaos!