Chapter 306 - Cap 305: Eclipse Merchants

After leaving the Dungeon I came across a lot of things that I didn't understand, the size of the boat was bigger than I initially expected, moreover, the boat looked bigger inside than outside somehow, I even thought I was getting the wrong impression. 

Other things left me in doubt, the boat was in the ocean but even with the small waves hitting the boat it almost didn't sway, besides I didn't see any anchor, but even so the boat didn't leave the same position it was in. 

One thing I also didn't understand was why there were so many Lamias on the beach that the boat is close by, I also don't know why the Lamias are wearing even more revealing clothes than usual. 

Luckily it seems that one of the people on deck was Jade, so she came over to talk to me and I took the opportunity to ask some questions that were running through my head. 

"I don't know much about the boat, it would be better to ask Irina, Nira, and Lyra."  (Jade) 

"All I know about the boat is that all the best Wizards in the village worked on it."  (Jade) 

"About Lamias the answer is simple, we are cold-blooded, so it's hard for us to keep our bodies warm, that's why we like physical contact, it makes it easier to keep us warm."  (Jade) 

"But when the weather is nice and we have an area that gets so much sunlight, Lamias like to lie in the sun, that's very comfortable for us."  (Jade) 

"The master may not know, but because we Lamias are very affected by changes in temperature our bodies move by themselves during the night to fully embrace the nearest heat source, so we like to live in groups so we can sleep stuck together to keep us warm."  (Jade) 

"(I can understand this if I compare it to the reptiles of my ancient world, so I think other races will have similar problems like the Lizardman and the Snakman.)" (I) 

"Thanks, your answers helped me understand things a bit."  (I) 

"Nira and Ivan are in the room on the other side of the boat, if the master needs me I'm going to the beach to get some food for my mother and the other Lamias."  (Jade) 

"Alright, try to enjoy those Suns a little too, I imagine you would like to relax a little together with them."  (I) 

"I'll do that, see you later master."  (Jade) 

After Jade walks to the edge of the boat she jumps back into her Lamia form during the jump, then she swims like a snake in a zigzag to shore. 

After seeing Jade arrive at the beach, I turn my attention to other things like the beauty of this beach, the way these waters are crystal clear, how beautiful it is to look at the horizon of the ocean. 

I spent a few minutes enjoying these simple pleasures, at least until I saw what looked like a giant crocodile and whale mix jump to an absurd height with a big fish in its jaws, for how long it took the waves to reach where the boat is after that one monster fell back into the water I have a notion he was very far away, but that only freaks me out even more as it means the monster would be even bigger up close. 

For fear of being attacked by that thing I run to the other side of the boat and open the door where I find an office with some cabinets and a table with maps on top, Nira and Ivan was looking out the window when I entered. 

"That one was big."  (Ivan) 

"Yes, but I wanted to know what he was eating."  (Nira) 

"Why are you two so calm!?"  (I) 

"Did you see that thing? We have to get out of here soon!"  (I) 

"Master, have you finally woken up? Are you feeling better?"  (Ivan) 

"We don't have time to talk right now, how do we make this thing move? We have to get out of here!"  (I) 

"Don't worry master, we are safe."  (Nira) 

"What do you mean safe? Did you see the size of that thing?"  (I) 

"Exactly because of its size, the waters closer to the shore are too shallow for these giant sea monsters."  (Nira) 

"That's right, I'm actually surprised that one being this close should be chasing its prey this far, now that it's caught that fish it should go back to the ocean."  (Ivan) 

"As long as we don't go too far from the mainland coast we'll be fine."  (Nira) 

"Are you sure?"  (I) 

"Yes, traveling by boat is usually faster and safer than traveling by wagon overland, most sea monsters don't need to attack boats and most of them are weak near the coast."  (Ivan) 

Sigh 

"It looks like I got scared for nothing, but I'm relieved I don't have to face that thing."  (I) 

After finding out that everything was ok I enter the room and sit in a chair nearby, I was very stressed before but now I'm ok. 

"You worry too much, we wouldn't stay here if it was dangerous."  (Ivan) 

"I should have known that, but when I saw that monster I didn't have time to think."  (I) 

"Forget about it, I've been meaning to talk to you guys to ask about this boat."  (I) 

"Do you like it, master?"  (Nira) 

"Yes, it looks simple, but it's really pretty."  (I) 

"But how did you guys build it so fast?"  (I) 

"There are many strong and capable people in the village, Anton helped a lot with the construction as well, but the Nymphs and the Village Guardian were also of great help."  (Nira) 

"Layla also helped, I thought she could use space magic to enlarge the inside, but with her current power she was only able to make the inside 10% bigger."  (Ivan) 

"I didn't know she could do that."  (I) 

"The space element is very versatile in things that the other elements wouldn't be useful for."  (Ivan) 

"Irina and other Mages also used various spells to strengthen the boat and also put up a barrier."  (Nira) 

"This is amazing."  (I) 

"But all this comes at a cost to keep the magic working, we can use monster cores, global coins or some mage can use their own mana to recharge the hole core."  (Nira) 

"We have a lot of monster cores, so everything will be fine."  (Ivan) 

"So it's these spells that keep the boat still and keep it from rocking?"  (I) 

"Impact resistance magic to prevent it from swaying from the waves crashing into the boat and Space seal magic that trapped the boat where it is."  (Ivan) 

"How do you manage all this?"  (I) 

"With the help of Lyra and Irina, I used a reading crystal to connect these spells to this reading crystal and connecting to the ship's core, so we used a reading crystal as a key, so no one can control the boat but us."  (Nira) 

"But this boat is only temporary, in the future, we will ask someone who specializes in shipbuilding to make a big ship for us."  (Ivan) 

"That would be nice, but before that, I wanted to know why you asked for this boat, to begin with, Nira?"  (I) 

"To get into the city easier, Ivan and I are registered with the Trading Guild as a traveling trade company, I used the name Eclipse Merchants."  (Nira) 

"I thought about using the mansion's name at the time, I guess I forgot to talk to the master about it."  (Nira) 

"I like the name, it would also be easier for us to sell the things we have in excess if we arrive by boat, right?"  (I) 

"That's what I thought, this boat holds a crew of up to ten people, the others could stay inside the Dungeon until we leave town."  (Nira) 

"Actually you gave me an idea to make a carriage where we could open the dungeon from the inside."  (I) 

"I imagine the master is thinking this so Nix can be with everyone instead of always taking us around."  (Ivan) 

"You're right, I already have plans on that, but I need to acquire certain skills first."  (I) 

"But before anything else I need to maintain priorities when we get to the city, we have to think about building the village first."  (I) 

"It's actually going to be a city since the number of people is comparable to a small town."  (Ivan) 

"I don't like to hear that, it makes it sound like I have even more work to do later."  (I) 

"But changing the subject, do we know where we're going?"  (I) 

"We discussed and came to the conclusion of a good place where we should go, but first we have to talk to you master."  (Nira) 

"What place would it be?"  (I) 

Nira, Ivan, and I stand around the table where Nira stretches out a map, so she starts pointing out our approximate location before pointing out the place where she has a port of a small Kingdom. 

"We should be in this area by now, if we go underneath we'll reach a small-sized Kingdom, but I don't advise going there."  (Nira) 

"Why that?"  (I) 

"Because this Realm has strong commercial links with the Realm of Light, it is also a Human supremacist Realm."  (Ivan) 

"Then forget about this place, it sure wouldn't be nice to go there."  (I) 

"But the Kingdom next door is a more liberal place, the level of prejudice is almost non-existent and this Kingdom only has this port city as a city, all the rest of the territory only has small villages."  (Nira) 

"This is also a commercial Kingdom, we were thinking of going there, a boat trip should only take a week and a half."  (Ivan) 

"Fine with me, let's go to that realm you guys talked about last."  (I) 

"Then it's decided, we can leave whenever you want to master."  (Nira) 

"We can go tomorrow, the Lamias seem to be having fun on the beach so let's join them."  (I)