Chapter 84
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: What Are You Doing?
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Everyone was entrusting their bodies to the rocking carriage.
"Ack!"
Suddenly hearing Mika's shout, everyone lifted their heads.
"It's the sea!"
"Probably another lake."
Rin replied indifferently.
Because of Mika, who cried out "sea" every time she spotted even a glimpse of water, they had already gone through this a few times together.
"This time it's real! That can't be anything but the sea!"
"That's the third time you've said that."
Rin didn't believe her at all and closed her eyes again.
But this time, someone else's words affirming Mika followed.
"We're almost there. I can see the sea."
"Really!?"
"I told you it was real!"
At the coachman's words, everyone finally sprang up and peered outside.
"The sea!"
Ian peeked out slightly too, and far in the distance, the vast blue sea stretched out.
A salty sea breeze carrying heavy brine blew in.
"Is all that water?"
"It's enormous...."
Everyone craned their necks out, chattering like people seeing the sea for the first time.
And they were indeed seeing it for the first time.
There were no such things as photographs.
Paintings were an expensive hobby for the upper class.
It was only natural that, unless you'd actually been to the sea, a few words from a book couldn't even begin to paint the picture.
Astounded by the sight of the sea for the first time, everyone gaped out the window.
"We'll arrive shortly."
The coachman, clearly used to seeing reactions like this, gave a small chuckle as he drove on.
The carriage procession arrived at the city.
Ian and the members disembarked after completing their several days of escort duty.
Coastal city Altria.
A famous tourist spot near Labyrinth City—everyone had at least heard the name, even if they'd never been.
"Thank you for your service."
Now inside the city, the escort contract was complete.
For a typical escort job, they'd rest a day and scout for a return carriage right away, but since they were here on vacation, they planned to spend a few days.
The man who had commissioned this escort spoke to Ian.
"You're here on vacation, right?"
"Yeah."
"Haha, I haven't seen a single person come all this way just to turn right back. Most folks take these coastal requests to double as a holiday."
Ian hadn't explicitly said it was for vacation, but anyone could tell these were mercenaries here to sightsee.
Most mercenaries taking escort gigs in this direction had that in mind from the start.
That was why Ian had accepted the reasonably priced request.
"If you haven't picked a place to stay yet, want me to recommend one I know?"
"Sure, much appreciated."
An offer to recommend lodging.
Naturally, it would be a place where he got a kickback.
But this was unfamiliar territory, and there were no reviews to check beforehand in a place like this.
No matter who you asked, they'd steer you to their kickback spot, so Ian decided to go with the merchant's suggestion—their travel companion.
"It's a quiet place. You'll like it."
The merchant said with a meaningful smile.
Of course, recommending inns to mercenaries and pocketing a referral fee from the innkeeper was a decent side hustle in its own right.
But a seasoned merchant like him always prepared for two scenarios.
Inns that paid him kickbacks, and inns that paid him to send customers their way.
This time, it was the latter.
Mercenary corps were usually rated by rank or mission records.
But sometimes, the word among merchants spread faster—and more accurately.
Ian Mercenary Corps of Plaza Street Guild House.
No merchant in that trade hadn't heard of them.
"If you ever need new furniture, just say the word—I'll source it faster than anyone, from wherever."
After getting directions to the lodging, Ian accepted the business card for the man's shop.
...Not a single one ever promises a discount outright.
Ian already had two pouches in his room stuffed full of cards like this from merchants.
Ian walked along the road toward the recommended lodging.
Shops catering to out-of-towners stretched out long.
True to its purpose as a tourist city, the whole place brimmed with entertainment.
A bit further along, the bustling scenes began to thin out.
The destination lived up to the description: a serene spot.
A quiet, villa-like inn slightly removed from the crowded main beaches.
A little off from the central market district, it had few people and stayed peaceful.
Not as glitzy as the central beachfronts, but it bordered a sandy shore—you could head straight into the sea.
"The sea!"
After dropping their bags at the inn, the members bolted straight for the beach.
"So this is the sea...."
"It's insanely vast."
Seeing the sea right up close, the members stared in overwhelmed awe.
But gazing wasn't enough for long.
They exchanged glances, nodded, and plunged into the sea as one.
"Yahoo!"
-Splash!
The moment they hit the water amid sprays, agonized cries rang out.
"Ugh...."
"Keuk."
The members, who had been splashing around, all tumbled back out onto the sand.
Looking at his sprawled squadmates, Ian finally remembered the key point.
"Ah. Seawater's salty—don't drink it."
"W-why mention that now...."
He'd forgotten to warn first-timers that seawater was salty.
They'd leaped in just like they would into a stream or lake from memory, gulped down seawater, and collapsed on the sand.
"Ugh... why the hell is seawater salty?"
Mika spat out seawater and went limp from gulping it down, asking the question.
That was....
There were various reasons, but after pondering the question, Ian opted for the simplest, most digestible explanation.
"Long ago...."
As Ian began his tale, the members sprawled on the sand perked up and focused on him.
......
"Those relics that sank into the sea... they're still down there in the depths, churning out salt...."
"Oh...."
The members nodded solemnly as they listened to Ian's story.
A perfect, tidy explanation.
It might have been a bit complex, but they all looked like they'd grasped it completely.
Having gained new knowledge, they seemed deeply satisfied.
With that lesson on seawater's saltiness learned, they cautiously dipped their feet in this time.
Staying in shallower waters than before, they adapted bit by bit to beach play with light splashes—their first time at it.
"Huh, wait a sec...."
Rin's group, lost in the sea, belatedly realized one person was missing.
"Where'd Lia go?"
"Huh? She was with us when we headed out...."
Lia had been there when they reached the beach, but now she was nowhere in sight.
Mika snickered.
"Maybe she snuck off 'cause she can't swim? Let's dunk her when she shows."
She might have been embarrassed about not being a strong swimmer.
As they laughed and plotted the prank on Lia, she suddenly surfaced from the sea.
-Splash!
"?!"
She held several freshly carved wooden spears and dropped the fish she'd just caught onto the beach.
"There you all are. Not coming in? What're you doing?"
Lia, emerging from the water, asked with a puzzled look.
"L-Lia. Where were you?"
"Down below...."
Lia pointed into the sea, then realized everyone else but her was just doing light water play on the beach.
"Ah.... You were playing around in the shallows."
Meeting their stares, Lia realized something and flushed slightly.
"Where I'm from, catching fish is playing...."
Lia... hailed from the coast.
The sun plunged below the horizon in a flash, and night fell.
Just as Ian had predicted.
After frolicking in the sea all day, the members were wiped out and fast asleep by nightfall.
First time seeing the sea—they couldn't have held back.
Ian confirmed everyone was asleep and stepped into the living room.
Lia, the only member still awake, looked up at him.
"Lia. What're you up to?"
"Just... can't sleep...."
"Must've been boring for you. Sorry."
"Nah. Been a while since I saw the sea—felt nice."
It probably wasn't anything special for Lia, with her seaside hometown roots.
She might've gotten a mood refresh from revisiting, but she couldn't have enjoyed it like the others.
With some rare free time on his hands, Ian thought of carving out a bit for her and made a suggestion.
"Lia. Wanna take a walk?"
"A walk?"
Ian nodded.
...The word "walk" sparked an odd thought for a moment, but Lia knew better now.
This mercenary corps wasn't anything like what she'd imagined.
She had no complaints, of course.
It was just that memories from her first day joining sometimes popped up out of nowhere, leaving her too embarrassed to sleep some nights.
A simple stroll around the inn.
Both in light clothes, they headed out.
The night sky was dark, but the bustling district a short way off still blazed with lights.
The city's clamor drifted faintly from afar.
It was a quiet, peaceful spot, a touch removed from the racket.
A promenade bathed in bright moonlight.
Ian paused and turned to Lia.
"How's this place?"
"...Looks nice enough?"
At Ian's abrupt question, Lia answered with a puzzled expression.
Maybe a spot to take a break. It seemed decent enough.
Lia nodded without much thought.
"What're you doing?"
"Huh?"
Ian plopped down on the bench and eyed Lia as she approached the spot beside him.
Lia, about to sit next to Ian, felt a sudden chill and froze.
"Take 'em off."
"Huh?"
Lia stared at Ian in dazed confusion.