Chapter 229
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 229
Glyphe was a city built upon the sea.
Under the blessing of Elahim, massive stakes had been driven into the seabed through the power of spirits, and the city’s foundations were raised upon them. As an artificial metropolis constructed entirely on water, it was often compared to Venice.
“Please board the boats in an orderly fashion.”
After disembarking from the floating ship, we followed Ariel’s lead and boarded smaller vessels.
Splash.
As I stepped onto the gondola, the boat swayed gently under the shift in weight. There were no carriages or horses here; the waterways, spread like a spiderweb throughout the old city, served as the only roads.
We split up into the gondolas—the primary means of transportation in Glyphe—and headed toward our respective lodgings. A boatman in a fine hat pulled his oar, and the gondola glided leisurely along the water.
I found myself enjoying the gentle rocking of the boat, the cool sea breeze flowing through the canals, and the city’s slightly damp, nostalgic aroma.
Swoosh.
The gondola drifted past magnificent buildings that seemed close enough to touch and slipped under the arched stone bridges that dotted the city. The sun had begun its slow descent, casting a golden afterglow across the sky. The classical architecture was bathed in the sunset’s light, which reflected off the water’s surface like a mirror, creating a moment of fleeting, ethereal beauty.
The city’s scenery shifted with every passing moment, changing with the angle of the sun. Watching this spectacle while gliding through the canals was an excursion in itself. I could finally understand why the Chairman had chosen this place for our school trip.
“What do you think? Isn’t our city amazing?”
“…”
It would have been more romantic, however, if it weren’t for the pointy-eared elf chattering incessantly next to me.
I pushed aside Kiriel, who had practically bounced out of her seat, and said flatly, “You’re at your most beautiful when you’re quiet.”
“Huh…? Hey!”
Kiriel hesitated, unsure if that was a compliment or an insult, before flaring up in indignation.
Honestly, if only she were half as composed as her older sister. Even if her clumsiness was unavoidable, she might stand a chance if she could at least act the part of a noble. She did have a pretty face, after all.
After traveling for some time with Kiriel’s chatter as background noise, the gondola finally pulled up in front of a building.
Creak.
We stepped onto a dock made of weathered wood and looked up at our destination. It was a slightly worn but elegant European-style structure.
Professor Isley checked his wristwatch and announced, “This is your lodging. You have free time for the rest of the day, so just make sure to be back by 10 PM.”
*
Since we had the evening to ourselves, I had planned to scout the city and find a place for dinner. However, I received an unexpected invitation to join Ariel for a meal.
We met at a restaurant with a wonderful atmosphere in the heart of the old city, overlooking the harbor at dusk.
Jingle.
As I entered the restaurant to the clear chime of a bell, Ariel—who had changed into much more comfortable attire—gestured to me from across the room.
“Over here.”
She was seated at a terrace table where a cool sea breeze blew. Ariel greeted me with a warm smile.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“Yes. Thank you for the invitation.”
Ciel and Kiriel were also at the table. It was the same group that had shared a meal at the maid cafe during the academy festival. I wondered if this arrangement was intentional.
Ariel poured sparkling water into my glass. “You treated me last time, so it’s only natural that I return the favor. Eat as much as you like. I’m sure it will suit your palate.”
Clap, clap.
At Ariel’s signal, waiters began bringing out the courses. It was a traditional Glyphe feast.
First came an appetizer of bread served with a spread made of salted cod—similar in texture to a tuna salad. Next was a vegetarian risotto. I knew it traditionally as a dish of rice and peas, but this version was topped with crispy bacon, perhaps as a concession to my tastes. This was followed by pasta with onions and sardines, and finally, a meat dish prepared with pork liver.
The ingredients made it sound like a bizarre concoction—reminiscent of a British sardine pie—but the flavors were surprisingly refined.
As Ciel and I ate heartily, Kiriel spoke up with a smug expression.
“How is it? Delicious, right? We have a very respectable food culture here.”
The Sea of Trees was generally perceived as being behind the times in terms of culinary development, so her comment was clearly a defensive jab at that reputation.
I savored the flavors and thought to myself, ‘The spices taste like they’re from the continent.’
Still, I didn’t bother to argue. It would be incredibly rude to point that out as an invited guest. However, as if she had read my mind, Ariel revealed the truth.
“While these are traditional Glyphe dishes, we actually brought in a chef from the continent to refine them. We had to cater to your tastes, after all.”
“…”
At Ariel’s blunt explanation, Kiriel froze, completely at a loss for words. I added a small comment of my own.
“Your sister seems to be particularly fond of the food from other academies.”
Kiriel was a frequent visitor to Eredor’s dining district.
Ariel shrugged. “It can’t be helped. The palate doesn’t lie. Besides, my sister has the taste buds of a child.”
“Ugh!”
We continued our pleasant meal, engaging in light small talk. Eventually, Ariel subtly shifted the topic.
“By the way, Kiriel, I heard you can summon high-ranking spirits now?”
At her sister’s question, Kiriel beamed and shot up from her seat.
“Yeah! Want to see?”
Spirit users capable of summoning high-ranking spirits were extremely rare; there were fewer than a few dozen across the entire continent. It was only natural for Kiriel to be excited, but…
“Sit down. Are you trying to flip the table?”
Thwack.
“Ow! Why’d you hit me?”
At the very least, it wasn’t something to do in the middle of a restaurant. Summoning a high-ranking spirit with its massive spiritual body here would cause absolute chaos.
Ariel, having hastily restrained Kiriel, bowed her head to me in gratitude.
“I heard you took the time to tutor Kiriel. I wanted to express my thanks.”
I had a history of giving Kiriel private spiritology lessons for about an hour a week in the past. I hadn’t been able to continue her training after entering my third year due to a lack of time, but it seemed she had managed to master the summoning of high-ranking spirits in the interim.
I wiped my mouth with a napkin and replied modestly, “It wasn’t because of me. The student’s own talent was outstanding.”
“Outstanding… While I can’t deny my sister was born with a gift for spiritology, I also can’t deny that her head is empty. Getting her to understand the theoretical aspects is a monumental achievement.”
“Sister!”
“Quiet. You should be ashamed. You might have to succeed me one day, and at this rate… If you’re done eating, you can go now.”
Ariel shooed Kiriel away with a wave of her hand. Understanding her intent, I gave Ciel a subtle glance.
Ciel stood up and helped Kiriel to her feet. “Lady Kiriel, shall we go get some fresh air?”
“Why? What’s wrong all of a sudden? Whoa!”
Kiriel was practically dragged outside by Ciel.
“Hoo.”
Ariel watched them leave, let out a deep, weary sigh, and then got straight to the point.
“Roen, I’ve heard the general situation from the Chairman. The Union is in a critical state, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. Thank you for taking in our students on such short notice.”
Even for the representative of the Elven Kingdom, abruptly accepting over 20,000 students must have been a difficult political decision. Some citizens had apparently vacated their homes just to provide us with lodging, so none of this could have been easy.
“No need for thanks; it was the right thing to do. Besides, our citizens get to experience the floating ship in exchange, so it’s a fair trade.”
Indeed, the citizens who gave up their homes were given the opportunity to tour the floating ship, making it a mutually beneficial arrangement.
“The Chairman mentioned that as long as the Spirit King’s blessing remains here, we will be safe.”
At that, Ariel sighed, her expression darkening.
“The Spirit King’s blessing. Yes, the blessing exists. But that was established hundreds of years ago.”
She sounded displeased. Sensing something unsettling in her tone, I cautiously asked, “…Is there a problem with the blessing?”
“It’s not exactly a problem; perhaps it’s just the natural order of things. It has been over a hundred years since the five Spirit Kings have manifested in the mortal realm. In all that time, not a single contractor for a Spirit King has been born.”
Ariel took a sip of wine before continuing.
“A blessing isn’t eternal. It is bound to weaken as time passes and as the connection to the mortal realm fades. The last time Elahim personally appeared in Glyphe was during the previous king’s reign—a full 700 years ago.”
“…”
“Personally, I have high hopes for Kiriel, but there’s a chance she will fail to form a contract as well. I failed, after all.”
Ariel gazed silently at the contract crest engraved on the back of her hand. Though she had already contracted with five high-ranking spirits, she had been unable to reach the level of a Spirit King.
Ariel fell silent for a moment. Then, she looked up and smiled, as if to reassure me.
“But don’t worry too much. We aren’t that easy to take down. We can defend ourselves even if they attack. We still have the Orb of the Spirit King.”
‘The Orb of the Spirit King.’
It was the physical proof of the covenant between the Sea of Trees and the Spirit King. The high elf families, led by Ariel, had protected the orb for generations as witnesses to this ancient pact. As long as that orb remained safe, the Spirit King’s blessing would endure, however faint it might become.
Ariel, finished with her meal, dabbed her lips with a napkin. “In any case, rest easy. We will do our best to assist you during your stay. However, there are a few things you should be wary of.”
“Wary of?”
“Yes. There are hostile groups within the Sea of Trees who do not welcome your presence.”
Hearing Ariel’s warning, I recalled a specific piece of information from the game.
“…The Sons of Boana.”
“You know of them. Yes, that’s the group.”
Ariel looked down at the city beyond the terrace with a heavy gaze.
The Sons of Boana were an extremist faction that insisted on maintaining the racial purity of the Sea of Trees. They rejected the very idea of continentals setting foot in their lands. This animosity stemmed from history; whenever continentals showed interest in the Sea of Trees, it inevitably led to conflict, ranging from small riots to full-scale wars.
The history of conquest aimed at the region’s rich resources and the dark legacy of beastkin being sold into slavery had fueled the formation of their organization. They even claimed that Ariel, despite her high elf blood, was a corrupt figure who had sold out to the continent.
Ariel spoke softly. “…It’s not that I don’t understand their grievances, but the way they express their will is wrong.”
They had vehemently opposed the Sea of Trees alliance joining the Union and had since been committing acts of terrorism while demanding total independence. From their perspective, the 20,000 students arriving in the Sea of Trees must be an intolerable sight. They might even be planning to target the students.
From this perspective, the Sea of Trees could be seen as a dangerous destination for a school trip, but…
‘Extremist groups exist everywhere.’
The Holy Kingdom had terrorists who opposed the Lu Cult, and the Empire had anti-government factions centered around blood magic. The situation was the same no matter where you went.
As I pondered this with a grim expression, Ariel added, “But don’t worry too much. Our kingdom will do its utmost to guarantee your safety. Oh, and you know the festival week starts tomorrow, right?”
“Yes, the Glyphe Masquerade is famous.”
The festival week in Glyphe featured traditional games, water snake hunts, and the renowned acrobats’ masquerade. I had studied it in my Union history class.
“Right. When the mood is grim, a festival is exactly what’s needed. I’m sure you have a lot on your mind, so I hope you can relax and enjoy the festivities.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Ariel slowly raised her wine glass. I raised my own in response.
“Yes, let’s have one last toast. And please… take good care of my little sister.”