NOVEL WEB chapter 67
Chapter 67
“Mmm, the sea breeze feels nice…”
White-capped waves, a deep blue reminiscent of jewels, and a clear sky—
Splash, splash, splash…
The goddess statue attached to the bow, carrying a water jug on her shoulder, scatters a large amount of monster-repelling water into the sea as it parts the waves.
Apparently, this keeps weaker monsters from approaching.
So, hello there.
I’m Yamamoto, the wandering production-class player.
By the way, I’m currently at sea.
I’m aboard a super luxurious cruise ship.
This ship—apparently prepared for the Grand Martial Arts Festival event—is large, lavishly decorated inside, and grand enough to flaunt the kingdom’s authority.
I’m freeloading on such a ship, feeling as if I’ve won a luxury cruise trip in a sweepstakes, enjoying the journey.
Yeah, I’ve been cooped up in town lately.
The sea, the ship, everything is new and exciting, sending my mood through the roof!
“Seeeeeaaaa!”
I’m in such high spirits that I can’t help but shout like that!
Right after the Grand Martial Arts Festival ended, I heard there was a ship taking participants to the human nation, so I blended into the crowd and somehow managed to board.
It seems this ship operates for free during the event period.
Because of that, there are many players traveling back and forth between the human and monster nations.
Look, even now, if you look around the deck, there are many players.
Occasionally, you see non-humans wandering around the deck, but you can tell they’re players too. It doesn’t seem to be causing any confusion.
“Ah!”
Something like a dolphin just jumped over there!
“Hey! Hey!”
I wave excitedly, and a group of dolphins gradually approaches—
Yeah, they turned out to be monsters with vicious faces…
“[Sawdust Daphnia]”
Since they’re not cute at all, I instantly turn the group into polygons.
Sorry. Come back when you’ve developed more charm, okay?
▶Gained 254 experience points.
▶Acquired 124 reward stones.
▶[Balance] has been activated.
Adjusting the balance of acquired items.
▶Additionally acquired 130 reward stones.
Yeah. That was an unpleasant incident…
“Hmm. The monsters that approached disappeared.”
It seems some passengers noticed the dolphin-like monsters approaching.
A passenger right next to me grabs the safety railing and slumps his shoulders in disappointment.
“Looked like it might’ve been good eatin’…”
Thinking there are people as food-obsessed as Tsuna everywhere, I look at the player and—
“It’s Tsuna-san!?”
“Hm, God?”
It was the muscle-bound, loincloth-wearing pervert!
“What are you doing here, Tsuna-san?”
“Just felt like going to a different country in search of new tastes and dishes.”
That’s why he boarded this ship, apparently.
Well, I guess that’s typical of Tsuna-san?
By the way, this ship is headed for a country called the Farland Kingdom, which is thriving due to its rich soil supporting agriculture and steadily growing population.
Well, that’s the official story, but currently the reigning king is bedridden, and three princes are vying for the throne, apparently causing various skirmishes behind the scenes.
As for where I got this information…
I bought it from an information broker!
I originally intended to just ask about local specialties, town names, and country characteristics, but the information broker’s sales talk was so good that I ended up buying different information too. What a predicament.
I’m the type who’d buy unnecessary things from late-night TV shopping shows, so I really couldn’t resist when targeted like that…
Also, I’d never used an information broker before, so my excitement might have been a bit off. I kept repeating things like “For a good LIA life” and such.
Anyway, I share the information I got from the broker with Tsuna-san, who’s my friend.
It’s not like the broker’s words about me probably not having many friends hit home or anything, okay? Really!
“They say Farland is big on wheat cultivation, so there are lots of breads and pastas.”
“Western food, huh. Looking forward to it.”
“Yeah, me too.”
I like bread too, and I’m fond of white cream-based pastas. I hope they have something like tarako cream pasta.
By the way, LIA seems to be adjusted to be more modern rather than restrictively medieval when it comes to food, perhaps to avoid stressing players.
So, there’s no such thing as knowledge cheats related to food.
However, it’s not like the flavors from the real world are everywhere, so when tastes from famous fast-food chain restaurants are recreated, it tends to create a buzz among players.
I’d be happy if they could recreate the taste of certain famous beef bowl chain restaurants or convenience store sweets, but I wonder if they will.
As I’m pondering such minor culinary matters,
“Oh my, if it isn’t the poison soup shop girl…”
A tall woman clad in all-black equipment addresses me.
Yeah, it’s Aika-chan.
But she seems to be in bad shape, and as I’m thinking this, Aika-chan grabs the railing with incredible force and starts retching towards the sea.
Yeah.
She’s always been prone to motion sickness…
I wonder if she’s okay?
“E-Excuse me…”
If you’re feeling sick, you don’t have to force yourself to act tough, you know?
I silently rub Aika-chan’s back.
“Th-Thank you…”
“It’s nothing.”
Tsuna-san twitches at my falsetto, but doesn’t bother to point it out. I like his attitude of only showing interest in food.
“This is strange… I thought I’d feel better if I came to the deck to look at the scenery because I wasn’t feeling well… But somehow it’s getting worse…”
Saying that, she starts retching again.
Ah, come to think of it, one of the [Compounding] requests was for motion sickness medicine. I wondered what it was for, but I guess it’s for situations like this.
So, I hand Aika-chan the item [Motion Sickness Pills].
“Drink this and rest in your cabin.”
“Th-This is…”
“It’s [Motion Sickness Pills].”
“I see, as expected of the poison specialist… You even have such medicine…”
She seems to have misunderstood something terribly, but I guess there’s no need to correct her?
I do have [Compounding] after all.
And I am quite resistant to poisons.
“I’ll repay this debt someday… on my honor as a [Saint]…”
Oh, Aika-chan was a saint.
Hey, look, your mouth is dirty.
I’ll wipe it for you with a cloth that serves as a handkerchief.
The way she needs a bit of care makes her seem like a child.
Fufu, Aika-chan is cute.
“Ah, Aika. So this is where you were.”
While I was doing that, Aika-chan’s party members arrived. I recognize the flashy pretty boy Yuu-kun, but it’s my first time meeting the other two.
Were they participating in the Grand Martial Arts Festival?
A tall, heavily-armed, muscular warrior and a girl dressed like a magician wearing a triangular hat.
Moreover, the girl is wearing an eye patch over one eye in a conspicuous manner!
How chuunibyou!
I feel a bit of kinship!
…………
No, I’m not chuunibyou…
But since they actively participated in the Grand Martial Arts Festival, I guess they’re combat-oriented?
Big sis is a bit worried about you associating with such kids.
As I was thinking that, Yuu-kun gave me a light nod.
He may look flashy, but Yuu-kun is actually quite a nice person.
Seeing that, the muscle guy and chuuni girl also give slight bows. Yeah, they might be good people?
“You’re that girl from the poison soup shop, right?”
“Well, yes.”
The muscle guy and chuuni girl make strange faces at my falsetto, but I ignore that. I continue talking with Yuu-kun.
“You took care of Aika? Thanks.”
“It’s nothing.”
Well, I am the big sister after all!
And the sadness of only being able to show my big sister side in situations like this!
“It might be unnecessary advice, but when seasickness is severe, it’s better not to go near the bow or stern. The further you get from the center, the more it sways.”
Here’s some useful information from Tsuna-san!
As expected of a man of the sea! He’s knowledgeable about maritime matters!
“No, that’s helpful. She wasn’t this bad on the way here, but suddenly got like this on the return trip, so we were quite troubled. Come to think of it, our assigned cabin might be pretty close to the bow. I’ll ask other players if we can exchange cabins.”
“That would be best.”
And so, the exhausted Aika-chan is carried away by her party members.
Left behind are just me and Tsuna-san, but…
“An acquaintance from real life?”
Tsuna-san sees through me in an instant.
“Why do you think that?”
“Deliberately changing your voice, I couldn’t think of any other reason.”
I look up to the sky.
Tsuna-san is obsessed with food, but he’s not stupid.
There’s no point in hiding it, I guess.
I’ll reveal a little bit.
“Yeah, a real-life acquaintance.”
“Why hide your identity?”
“If she finds out I fought an EOD solo, I’ll get scolded terribly. She said she’d lecture me until I cry.”
“She must care about you a lot. Wouldn’t it be good to tell her?”
“Could you endure being forbidden from eating for a month, Tsuna-san? For me, it’s an ordeal with about that much pain.”
“Yeah, maybe it’s better not to reveal it.”
I’m glad you understand.
I nod with satisfaction and start gazing at the sea scenery again. They say you get bored looking at the unchanging sea scenery, but I’m not bored at all.
Because the shape of the waves and clouds are never the same. When I think about how I’d paint this scene, time just flies by.
“But you know, that’s something.”
“What is?”
Tsuna-san is talkative today.
Is he in that kind of mood?
Well, he’s not rambling, so I think it’s perfect as background music.
“Even when you’re out at sea, EODs don’t attack you.”
I hadn’t really thought about that, but…
“Wouldn’t EODs normally be in the sea?”
As per convention, there should be a giant squid or octopus waiting in the deep sea or something.
When I explain this to Tsuna-san,
“God, why don’t you try falling into the sea once?”
He says this with a straight face.
No way!
Tsuna-san really does become greedy only when it comes to food!