CH 170

Drifter

Translated by SoundDestiny

Edited by SoundDestiny

Justy and his second-in-command reached the port of Raddockhorn.

A sea breeze blowing from the north brought cool air and the scent of the sea, gently caressing Justy’s cheeks.

The Kingdom of Zain, located in the western part of the continent, has a temperate climate, but Raddockhorn, which faces the North Sea, is often cooler than other towns, and in winter the ice floes sometimes wash ashore.

Where once there were many trading ships covering the harbour and sailors and merchants constantly coming and going, it is now deserted.

Most of the boats have been sunk by the tsunami and only small fishing boats remain at anchor in the harbour.

In the middle of all this – there is a place where people are gathering in a corner of the harbour.

A group of fishermen were gathered around a small boat and seemed to be making some kind of noise.

“Something is happening over there…”

“What happened”

Justy walks with his deputy to a place where people are gathering.

“What’s the matter? What’s all the fuss about?”

“It’s the Captain! What brings you to such a place?”

One of the sailors turned around and looked up when he noticed Justy.

The young sailor had volunteered for the new ‘navy’ and was familiar with Justy.

“I’m just doing a tour of the town,So …… did something happen?”

“No,but a boat washed up in the harbor a few minutes ago.”

“Mm…..”

Justy looked suspiciously into the small boat.

A small figure was lying in the boat, which was big enough to hold three people.

He is a well-dressed boy. His bluish hair is cut above his shoulders and his brown skin shows that he is of western origin.

“Could this skin tone …… be a castaway from Athena?”

“Yes, probably. He’s still breathing, so I’m calling for a doctor…….”

“……I don’t think they made it to Zain in such a small boat. The main ship must have been wrecked and they had to change to a smaller boat.”

Justy narrowed his eyes behind his glasses.

It would take a week to get from Raddockhorn to the Kingdom of Athena, no matter how good the wind.

The weather at sea can be changeable, with high waves and choppy seas. Such a small boat would probably capsize before it reached its destination.

As the young navy and Justy can guess, they were on their way from the Kingdom of Athena to the Kingdom of Zain in a larger ship, and for some reason the ship was wrecked.

Perhaps they were caught in a storm, or perhaps they were attacked by a large demon. Either way, it was a disaster.

“……It’s a pity he’s still a kid. There are people from Athena in this port. You can leave him with them.”

“Well, ……, could you look at this?”

“Mmm ……, is that ……!”

The sailor pointed to the boy’s chest, he was hugging a ‘thing’.

The boy was unconscious, and the ‘thing’ he was hugging  was a large sword. The sword, in its scabbard, was as tall as a small boy and could be used by anyone.

The problem was the guard on the tsuba. On the border between the blade and the hilt was engraved the royal emblem of the Kingdom of Athena.

The royal coat of arms, of course, is not something that can be displayed by a commoner or nobleman.

This means that……this castaway is a person with royal connections.

“I see… this is going to be a hassle. Things are going to be extremely troublesome soon.”

Due to an earthquake and a demon, the Kingdom of Zain and the Kingdom of Athena have been temporarily cut off.

In such a situation, a person who is related to the royal family comes to the Kingdom of Zain on a ship – this is not an unusual situation.

Justy doesn’t know if this was a messenger or an exile, but whichever it was, some sort of problem must have arisen on the side of Athena.

“I’d like to carry this boy, but he won’t let go of his sword…….”

The boy is holding a two-handed greatsword of a kind known as a “claymore”.

(TL: In Scottish lang is claidheamh mór) (Author: クレイモア )

The weight was such a mass of iron that even the strongest sailor could not hold the boy in his arms.

“No matter. I’ll carry it.”

Justy said without hesitation, and stepped into the boat as it was pulled into the harbour.

“Mmmm ……!”

The muscles in his arms bulged and swelled up like logs, lifting the boy’s body, including the big sword.

Justy held the boy’s body on his side and tried to carry him to the building.

“As if we’re going to let you do that sir……”

“I’m not going to let him sleep in the boat forever. Especially if he’s a man of honour …………”

Justy shook his head hawkishly at the sailor who had rushed to aid him, but he suddenly noticed something strange.

“If he is truly a member of the Athena royal family, we can’t just throw him into some inn. I’m going to take him to my house. Tell the doctor to come to me.”

“We understand.”

“Go ahead and boil the water. And get some clothes, water and food.”

“Ha, yes, sir!”

Leaving the sailor and his lieutenant to their own devices, Justy walks back into the town, carrying the boy and his sword.

As Justy carries the small boy and the large sword together, the townspeople look at him, wondering what is going on.

But…..they didn’t seem to mind, and Justy strode down the main street with an unhurried gait.

A mysterious boy wanders in from the kingdom of Athena.

It is only a matter of time before they all learn that he is the spark of a new conflict.