CH 10

――――――The girl who introduced herself as Ruri seem to be an apprentice merchant.

Some time had passed since that time, we left those place after I put the dead bodies of the murdered guard adventurers into a hole which I made using Earth magic and bury them. This is something like the manner of the adventurers, where you must bury the dead body of your fellow adventurers. For the reason, there’s the case of wanting to prevent the monsters crowding the corpses from showing up, and it is to prevent them from turning into undead under the influence of the magic power in the area if the corpses are left unattended … are the two main reasons. Although the first one is what it is, the second one is a pretty difficult talk.

When a humanoid animal died and left unattended in the nature, it will adsorb the magic power from the ground turning them into an undead, that’s the common sense for the adventurers. Although the undead in itself is just below C-class if they don’t have a great magic power, there seems to be a case of someone unable to lift their sword to fight as the friend they have a good relationship with turned into an undead. To prevent such a situation, it could be said that this is a necessary work. It’s not a job where I could just say “It’s a pain in the ass”.

Once Ruri and I finished with that, I overturned the carriage sideways to rebuild it, and I pulled the horse that somehow stayed without escaping. Ruri grips the reins of the horse.

“But still… for a kid like you to be a merchant…” (Setsu)

“Don’t call me a kid! Didn’t I tell you many times already that I’m an apprentice? APPRENTICE!” (Ruri)

Oops, that right.

This girl, Ruri used to accompany her grandfather who’s a merchant, and she use to help him with the work, but her grandfather seems to have died because of a disease several days ago. Although she had acquired some experience as a merchant, her grandfather didn’t allow her to be a full-fledged one until his very last breath, saying she should still remain as an apprentice.

“…But if I managed to deliver this brooch to the Devil continent, even Ojii-chan in heaven will recognize me.” (Ruri)

[T.N: Ojii-chan(grandpa). Oji-chan(uncle). Take note kids, this term might come up the next time you read manga/hentai]

Her aim seems to be delivering the brooch to a certain person in the Devil continent. The person asked her grandfather to repair it when her grandfather goes to the Devil continent previously, so he accepted it at that time. He’s already received the money, so all that’s left is delivering it.

“Ojii-chan died when he was going to send the brooch… therefore I as his apprentice should properly deliver it.” (Ruri)

“…And once you leave while thinking that, you had such an experience on the way…” (Setsu)

“Uuu…” (Ruri)

I look at the commodities piled up inside the carriage. Most of them are miscellaneous goods, and although there are some raw foods, the bags are packed with dried meat and other preserved food.

These seems to be a proper products, it seems that she intended to do business on the Devil continent once she had sent the brooch. I guess as expected from a merchant’s grandchild..? Well that’s probably why she got targeted by the thief.

“Although I give a request for guards… and I did managed to hire some using the last of my funds, but I can’t employ adventurers of higher rank” (Ruri)

It’s those murdered people.

“Well there’s no way I would be able to hire the high-rank without offering a large sum of money…” (Ruri)

You need at least 3 months of salary to hire the S-class or higher. Judging from their equipment, they seems to be a C-rank party. Well it’s the kind of adventurers that you will be able to employ if you splurge a bit of your money. To be frank they’re on the level of unreliable.

“Um… although it’s good for me, is it really alright for you not to get any reward?” (Ruri)

“Didn’t I said that it was fine? It’s enough if you just tell me the way to the port town.” (Setsu)

While she gave me a ride to the port town, I accepted the duty as her guard.

Since she had become alone, it really makes me hesitant to just sprint and leave her unattended. It would be the worst if she got attacked again and got sold after I’ve spend all that trouble to save her…

“But…” (Ruri)

“Then please treat me to a meal once you’re done delivering the brooch.” (Setsu)

“Eh!?  You’re going to follow me there!?” (Ruri)

“N? Yeah… since my destination is also the Devil continent.” (Setsu)

If we’re going to the same destination, it wont be boring even with all the long time spent. Since I’m really in that much of a hurry to return…

“Is that so!? By the way, what are you going to do there?” (Ruri)

“I’m going to meet some friends. It’s been around 5 years since I last met them.” (Setsu)

“I see…” (Ruri)

First of all I’m going to deliver my fist once we met… or rather aren’t you supposed to be at that(Demon Lord) castle? What are you doing being absence during the war…

(Well, I guess that’s fine? I’ll just wait for you while sitting on the throne… kukuku)

I wonder what your face would looks like, seeing some unknown guy sitting on your chair.

“Setsu-san, you’re making a really bad face…” (Ruri)

“Oops, my bad.” (Setsu)

I inadvertently start thinking about making fun of that person by habit. Although that person got some bossy tone, the reaction face is really interesting once you make fun of that person.

I start smirking again once I imagined that person’s teased face, but then I sensed something in my head.

“Nー?” (Setsu)

“What’s wrong?” (Ruri)

I don’t know what…but I detected something.

“No… it’s nothing.” (Setsu)

“? Is that so?” (Ruri)

After that I searched for a while, but I didn’t managed to find anything.

――――――And so the carriage drove all night, and we finally arrived at the port town on the afternoon the next day.

“We have arrived, Setsu-san!” (Ruri)

“Yeah… what a great smell of the sea.” (Setsu)

Although I’ve been to the sea a few times in Japan, that was when I’m still a kid. So its been a while since the last time I saw this blue scenery that continues , so it’s very fresh to my eyes.

Once we enter the town, there are stores selling various fish, and middle-age men shouting loudly trying to promote their stores. Somehow it kind of feels like the market in Japan?

“Although I’ve come to this port town a few times already, I still loved this atmosphere and the smell of the sea.” (Ruri)

Ruri’s eyes are sparkling, and start paying attention to the shops spreading on the main street. As a merchant, you need to take what other person are selling into account.

Although I’m not a merchant, I didn’t hate this atmosphere.

“Oops, while it’s fine to admire the town, for now shall we check the schedule of the ship? We could also get lunch while at it.”  (Ruri)

“Ah, that’s right huh… it never hurts to be able to depart early.” (Setsu)

Once we decided on our destination, we bought a whole roasted fish on skewer for lunch, and then head to the seashore that should have ships leaving while eating.

…N? Wait a minute.

――――――Ship?

“AH!!” (Setsu)

“Huh? There’s no ship going there you know? We’re at war with them after all.” (Sailor)

Guoooooo!! As I though!!

“N-no way…” (Ruri)

Ruri dropped down remarkable on the floor..

It’s the same pose as mine from yesterday.

(―――――There’s no way the ship would move during war, stupid me!!)

First of all, they will attack if a ship from the continent you’re hostile with arrived… it can’t be helped no matter how much of an emergency you have.

Not to mention it should be the same on the other side too…

At this moment the choice called the ship had completely vanished.

“The situation for transportation between continent would remain for now, should just give up and return.” (Sailor)

“Uuu…” (Ruri)

In the end we need to go back the way we came from.

Even the horse that pulled the carriage seemed depressed somehow. No, it seems that Ruri’s depressed state had even affected the horse.

“…Stop getting that depressed.” (Setsu)

“That’s impossible you know… and to think that was my chance to prove that I’m an adult.” (Ruri)

When I looked at her face that was on the verge of crying, it really makes me wanted to do something.

Although there is that one method… hmm.

“Say, Ruri?” (Setsu)

“Yes?” (Ruri)

“There’s this one method, but…” (Setsu)

The atmosphere around Ruri changed when I said that, and start asking me right away.

“What kind of method is it!? Please tell me!!” (Ruri)

“No… will you promise not to tell anyone?” (Setsu)

“I will absolutely not say anything!!” (Ruri)

――――――In that case

“Then, follow me for a bit.” (Setsu)

I pulled Ruri’s hand while her eyes are full of expectations, so I decided to take her to the place where she’ll understood the method.

[T.N: Pulling a little girl’s hand while saying you’ll take her where she wanted. Yeah, that doesn’t sound suspicious at all.]

“――――――I guess here is good?” (Setsu)

We walked along the shore for a while, and after searching for a deserted place, I found a few spots that doesn’t have that many people, and chose a rocky place. Here looks good.

[T.N: you’re getting more suspicious, MC]

“We have arrived.” (Setsu)

“Is it here… U-um…”(  Ruri)

“N?” (Setsu)

Even though right now we can cross the continent, Ruri is looking down and looked so stiff.

“What’s wrong?” (Setsu)

“T-that… the hand…”( Ruri)

“N?――――――ah, sorry.” (Setsu)

I’ve been holding on to her hand. It might have been unpleasant for a girl going through puberty.

“I lacked consideration there, I’ll be careful in the future.” (Setsu)

“Eh!? No…yes.” (ruri)

N? Could it be, that she’s embarrassed with holding hand? Hahaha, this girl.

“Yeah yeah, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.” (Setsu)

“―――――Wha!? It’s not embarrassing.” (Ruri)

“I got it already, so just follow me.” (Setsu)

“You didn’t get it, right!? Setsu-san is a really nasty person!” (Ruri)

I apologized nonstop. This girl is the type that is really fun to tease, so let’s make fun of her again in the future.

I went ahead of Ruri and advanced towards the rocks. There’s a place I’m looking for.

“Oh, if it’s here―――――” (Setsu)

“Is there anything there?” (Ruri)

“Well, just wait and see… here we go.” (Setsu)

The place that I’m looking for is a point where the surface of the sea water is really near that you can touch it. There’s a lot of rocks making it moves in unstable form.

I crouched down, and touched the surface of the wave with my hand.

“―――――Come forth, 〈Leviathan〉.” (Setsu)

Although I muttered that, there’s no chance in the surrounding.

“…Nothing happen you know?” (Ruri)

Although Ruri said that, it’s just that it’s ‘still’ hasn’t occurred yet.

Although she might have not noticed anything, the wave gradually turning more intense.

And a presence began to rise on the surface of the sea.

“Did you come?” (Setsu)

“Wha….what is….this…” (Ruri)

A huge dragon’s head appeared on the surface of the sea. The head is covered in blue scales, sharp fangs in its mouth, and also having long and narrow red eyes that had a shot of dignity showing a dragon’s strength.

If you compare the size, just the head alone is the size of a normal house. The size of the body is uncertain. I still haven’t seen how long it really is…. but it’s going to be really huge for sure.

“Yo, been a long time―――――’Levia-san’.” (Setsu)

“―――――Didn’t I asked you to stop that since that name seems like you’re making a fool out of me? Setsu… where did you go for 5 years? Didn’t you still have a promise with me? (Levia)

“Sorry, there’s various things happening.” (Setsu)

[T.N: リヴァイアサン= Leviathan. リヴァイアさん= Levia-san. Both spelled and pronounced the same(le-vi-a-san), but the first one used Katakana while the second one use Hiragana for the “san” which is the same way you put in behind someone’s name(Setsu-san etc).]

The head of the dragon that appeared from the sea speaks with the voice of a young woman.

Although the dragon’s face is expressionless, the corner of its mouth rose up a little, somehow leaking some kind of happy atmosphere.

“Well I’ll forgive you, considering that I’m the sea god with a heart as big as the ocean.” (Levia)

“I’ll tear off your scales.” (Setsu)

“I’m sorry.” (Levia)

Her high tone is still the same as ever… I wonder how, for her to still not changed even when I didn’t come for so long, I’m kind of felt relieved somehow.

“U-um… what’s going on…” (Ruri)

Oops, I forgot about Ruri.

I threatened the dragon to be quiet and asked her to introduce herself. It’s clear that Ruri is still scared from a while ago.

“*Cough*…I am the god that manages this sea, the sea god Leviathan. It is rare for me to make an appearance in front a human’s child like you. Show some gratitude.” (Levia)

“Fu….Fueeeee!?” (Ruri)

[T.N: The words ‘god’ there is from ‘神’(kami) which is more inclined for god, but since Japan’s version of then varies, it might also means deity or something else. For the sea god, it’s from “海神” or “kaijin”, which can be called sea-god or the emperor of the sea. I’m not sure if I really should use the term god here, where considering this is an isekai novel, the chance of another type of god/goddess making an appearance is kind of high so it might get confusing later on. Just a head’s up]

Ruri is surprised with both eyes opened wide. Since the name of the sea god is pretty famous in this world, it’s no wonder that she knew of her. However, the myths around her is just the same with celebrity. It’s not that much of a story once you’ve met the real thing.

Since the real myth is right in front of us, it can’t be helped that she got that surprised.

“Well as you can see, I called upon an SSS-rank monster. The sea god Leviathan. She got carried away easily, but she’s an interesting person.” (Setsu)

“Wait a minute!! Who got carried away easily!?” (Levia)

Does she even know what ‘carried away’ mean, but should I just ignore her here? It’s time to move on.

“S-Setsu-san called that!?” (Ruri)

“Yeah. This person is the method I’m talking about.” (Setsu)

“D-d-d-d-d-don’t tell me….” (Ruri)

“Now then, let’s get on top of her head.” (Setsu)

I said that while grinning, and thus Ruri released her second cry for today―――――