Chapter 57
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Bran River (6)
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"Is that what it means to be a knight aspiring to become Sir Zaroph? And do the other knight orders and swordsmen corps consider such pointless nonsense to be chivalry?"
"……!"
Lindelmann's face twisted as if he'd been struck hard by Blake's successive words, leaving him speechless.
It wasn't that he couldn't think of a rebuttal; he looked like he'd received a massive shock.
But soon, his eyes grew heavy as he sank into deep thought. It was an unusually serious expression, unlike his usual self.
"……."
Blake gazed at him blankly for a moment before turning his eyes away.
It was obvious what the conclusion would be, even without hearing the answer.
Regardless of Lindelmann, most knight orders and swordsmen corps were no different from Grime.
He didn't understand it, but it wasn't bad for him. He could just use them usefully, like he had at Elbera Port.
"Captain, among the ships affiliated with the Clear Stream Alliance, are there any that cross the strait?"
"Of course there are."
Rodi, who had been about to head below deck, answered.
"Then, once we arrive, could you look into a ship heading to Revat Port? I'll make it worth your while."
"Hmm. Rendalt Trading Company is scheduled to head to Revat Port at month's end, but I don't know the exact date. If you want, I can check for a spot, but no need for payment."
"Hm?"
Blake's eyebrow twitched slightly.
Rodi, having spent the past three days with him and knowing this wasn't anger but a sign of curiosity, chuckled lightly.
"We've benefited from both you and the mage guest, and from our Clear Stream Alliance's perspective, a knight of Prince Henrik is always welcome."
"Is the Clear Stream Alliance on bad terms with Earl Darlington, by any chance?"
Rodi was impressed by Blake's sharp question.
"Ho! As expected, impressive. Yes, to be precise, we're not on good terms with the Central Shipping Union, which is under Darlington's influence. So from our standpoint, treating someone who might give Darlington a black eye is good business."
"I see. Anyway…… thanks."
Blake hesitated for a moment but still said it.
"Whoa?"
Rodi's eyes widened in surprise.
But soon, pleased to hear such words from this rock of a man, he laughed heartily.
"Hahaha! No need, no need. Instead of payment, keep tormenting Darlington from now on. Alright…… Ah! Right."
As he descended below deck, Rodi turned his head.
"By the way, what about that young lady? Doesn't seem like she'll cross the sea with us. Given her status, if she spins some tale to the water gate guards, it could give us trouble……."
Blake glanced toward the cabin where Annrose had holed up without stirring since the day before yesterday.
"She'll be fine. She's not as foolish as she looks. She knows full well which choice benefits her more."
"Is that so? Still, might she not run straight to Earl Darlington? The Veniard family is famous enough that even riffraff like us wouldn't ignore her outright."
"The moment she jumped into the Bran River, her ties to Darlington were severed. Clinging back to him now gains her nothing."
"Hmm! Fair point. Alright then."
Rodi shrugged once and headed below deck.
Soon, his shouts barking orders at the rowers echoed, and the ship's speed picked up slightly.
The ship cleaved through the river at a brisk pace. A favorable river wind filled the sails, speeding it up even more.
The river was wide, and the vessel forged ahead through the rough waters.
Thus, by the time dusk began to fall.
A massive artificial water gate and canal system came into view, blocking the river—which spanned hundreds of meters wide—and dividing the entrance into about ten passages.
And in the middle of the vast river, a colossal stone structure sliced through precisely, so immense it seemed carved by a giant's hand, caught Blake's eye.
A gigantic statue, over 50 meters tall, bathed in sunset hues that lent it a mystical, majestic reddish glow.
Wearing a laurel crown and extending both arms as if welcoming ships passing beneath the water gate, it was the Lumina Grand Statue—the symbol of the Empire that travelers ascending the Bran River encountered first.
"Ah!"
Rubens, the mage receiving mana from the white horse, looked up at the goddess statue with an enraptured expression.
Though he'd seen the grand statue every time he sailed the Bran River, this was the first time it emitted such mystical and majestic light at this hour, so even the crew removed their hats in awe or prostrated themselves, offering thanks for the divine protection during the voyage.
In contrast, Blake gave the grand statue a cursory glance with little emotion before shifting his gaze to the water gate, where ships large and small passed through.
Whether information about him had reached the capital was far more important than the Lumina Grand Statue, and passing the gate would reveal it.
If word had spread, Earl Darlington—the real power in the capital—would surely have made arrangements.
Meanwhile, the ship slowly approached the water gate.
"Two, three!"
Splash!
At Rodi's command, all fourteen oars lifted from the water simultaneously and retracted through their holes.
To pass through the water gate.
"Glorista of the Clear Stream Alliance!"
Rodi handed the alliance's manifest to the guards manning the gate.
They startled briefly at the sight of Blake on deck.
Even as they eyed him suspiciously, the guards scrutinized the manifest closely before nodding and shouting.
"Verified! Raise it!"
Creeeak!
At his call, the gate blocking the ship's path opened.
"May the Water God's blessing be upon you! Keep up the good work!"
With Rodi's shout, the water gate receded behind them.
Blake indifferently turned his gaze from the gate.
Fortunately, news of him hadn't reached here yet.
Securing the fastest ship with money had indeed been the right choice.
'Gotta arrange a ship across the strait quickly too. Lingering in the capital is dangerous.'
In a way, this capital was like the jaws of a lion.
At that moment, beneath the deep sunset, towering walls stretching endlessly and curving, along with an uncountable cluster of buildings, drew near.
Even before the sun had fully set, the buildings and spires blazed with light as if lit aflame.
"……."
Blake silently stared at the brilliant yellow spectacle that even pushed back the deep sunset glow.
The city, fittingly called Golden Glory, the capital of the Villand Empire—Alteria—welcomed Blake.
Creeak. Thunk!
The Glorista bumped against the dock.
While the rowers busied themselves with cleanup, Blake entered the cabin, grabbed his pre-packed gear, and emerged.
His gaze briefly lingered on the figure sitting rigidly in a chair in the corner of the cabin.
But he quickly turned his expressionless face and left.
'Scoundrel! Insolent bastard!'
Annrose, who hadn't stepped out of the cabin for nearly two days, glared at his retreating back—treating her worse than luggage even at the end—and bit her lip hard.
"Miss, we're here."
Rubens cautiously addressed her.
"I know."
Unable to snap at the mage who'd cared for her over the past two days, Annrose replied curtly but slowly rose.
Having drunk only sips of water all day, her body swayed slightly.
"Whoa! Are you alright?"
Rubens hurriedly grabbed her collar and supported her.
With any other man, she'd have slapped him first, but knowing this kind, beautiful mage saw her as less than a woman, Annrose faintly smiled and accepted his help.
"Thank you, Mage of Gentle Winds."
"Please, I asked you not to call me that……."
"Yes, yes. Got it. You can let go now. Thank you."
Free of his support, she stepped out of the cabin.
The air, somehow familiar, approached with the red sunset.
"Haa!"
The surroundings were unfamiliar, but instinctively sensing she'd reached the capital, Annrose took a deep breath and headed to the deck.
Her gaze suddenly fell on Lindelmann, sitting near the prow, lost in serious thought.
'Hmm! He can make that face too?'
He'd always seemed decently handsome but a bit frivolous at first glance, so his earnest expression felt somewhat novel.
But recalling what he'd said to her two days ago, she unconsciously wrinkled her nose and pouted.
'Birds of a feather with that rogue.'
The young rowers, who hadn't stopped glancing her way since she emerged, stared blankly at the vivid expressions flickering across the beautiful girl's sunset-lit face.
"Hey! You lot, hurry up! Not going home tonight?"
Rodi's immediate bellow rang out.
"Y-Yes!"
The startled rowers scrambled, and Lindelmann relaxed his stiff expression, suddenly looking up.
Their eyes met.
Lindelmann flinched at Annrose's deeply furrowed glare.
'Feel sorry? Then come over and apologize properly.'
Annrose inwardly expected him to apologize, guilt-ridden over the incident two days prior.
But betraying her hopes, he walked straight toward someone utterly unrelated.
'What the……!'
Irritation surged, but she couldn't express it.
The person he'd approached was none other than Blake.
"Blake."
Blake, who had just shouldered his combat pack, turned to look down at him.
Backlit by the sunset, his eyes gleamed with an even colder, chillier light.
Lindelmann suddenly recalled first seeing him a month ago at Northernrocks Fortress.
His expression and gaze hadn't changed a bit since then.
But unlike the discomfort and intimidation he'd felt back then, Lindelmann now sensed his mind calming unexpectedly.
Thus, in this inexplicable mood, he voiced the conclusion he'd wrestled with for half a day.
"I've thought about what you said…… You're right. Pointless hypocrisy. True chivalry isn't that."
"……."
Blake said nothing.
He merely silently regarded Lindelmann's changed expression and earnest eyes—changes even Annrose, who'd traveled with him for three days, had noticed.
"Traveling with you, I saw many things. At first, I hated it. You were so different from me…… I couldn't understand you, didn't want to. Of course, I still don't claim to understand you. But…… I can understand what you told me. And I realized I've been wrong."
Blake, who had only turned his head to stare silently, fully faced him.
His massive frame, backlit by the sunset, seemed even larger and more imposing, but Lindelmann straightened his back and spoke.
"You asked if that's the kind of knight I want to be? No. I don't want to be someone who mistakes such pointless hypocrisy for chivalry. Even if until yesterday I did, from today onward, no."
Suddenly, Blake naturally sensed the truth in Lindelmann's words.
"Then what kind of knight is one aspiring to become Sir Zaroph?"
Lindelmann paused briefly at Blake's question.
But soon, he proudly squared his shoulders and answered.
"One who isn't ashamed of himself. No matter what others say, if I'm not ashamed before my own conscience, I'll choose and walk that path—a knight like that."
Whoosh!
A river wind blew between the two men just then, flipping Blake's hood upward.
"……."
Blake looked down at Lindelmann with unwavering eyes.
Sensing his sincerity so naturally no longer felt strange or awkward.
Blake slowly opened his mouth.
"Sir Zaroph will surely become such a knight."
Whoosh!
The river wind danced fiercely between the two men.
"Haha……."
More pleased by Blake's words than the cool breeze flapping his cloak, Lindelmann unwittingly grinned broadly.
"Hm."
Blake turned away from Lindelmann's beaming face.
He wanted to say more but didn't know what or how.
"But……."
Lindelmann's immediate follow-up halted Blake's steps.
"But to do that, I have a small…… a very small favor to ask."
Blake furrowed his brow at Lindelmann, whose prior earnestness had vanished, replaced by his usual sly smile.
A vague unease and faint expectation mingled, though he didn't want the latter noticed.
"What is it?"
"Take me to Soriya too!"
"……."
Blake's eyebrow twitched.
(To be continued in the next installment)