Chapter 300
Chapter 300
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 300
Chapter Title: The City of Gods and Prophecies, Delphi #2
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Delphi is a port city carved into the mountains near the sea.
Unlike the flatland town of Small Town, the city itself is divided into lowlands and highlands.
The lowest port district is mainly home to enthusiastic fishermen, merchants, poor adventurers, travelers—lively sorts like that—while the central district has various mixed facilities and nobles.
And on the highest plateau, the temple of the sun god stands majestically, where its priests and ascetics reside.
Thanks to the guidance of Delphi's priestess, Cassandra, we were able to secure lodging in a spot high up where the city and sea were visible at a glance.
"I think we can put you up for about a day."
Of course, it was just for a day.
Still, for us who had just arrived in the city and needed to find a proper inn, having a temporary place to crash was quite helpful.
"Th-this... such enormous water... it's truly moving...!"
Paranoia stuck her face over the terrace railing and shouted at the distant sea. It looked like this was the first time she'd ever seen the ocean in her life.
I'd seen the sea plenty through TV and such since I was a kid, but in this world without those things, the wonder of seeing it for the first time must be something incredible.
"Can we go to the sea later?"
I pondered Paranoia's question for a moment.
I didn't know what kind of place this city was yet, or what shady characters might be around, so I was a bit worried about letting her go alone.
Just then, Luna chimed in brightly.
"Want me to go with you? It's been ages since I hunted clams and crabs!"
"Does Lady Luna know a lot about the sea...?"
"I'm from Ideope. It was surrounded by ocean on all sides! Smelling these waves brings back memories of home."
Luna's eyes sparkled as she gazed at the distant horizon. Maybe she was thinking of her homeland somewhere beyond that sea.
I'd always thought of her as a mountain girl who foraged for mushrooms and herbs in the woods, but come to think of it, Luna was from an island.
The sea and Luna.
I pictured her diving deep into the ocean, swimming gracefully.
Then, other Ideope girls with neatly tied pink hair dove in one after another, gathering clams and oysters.
What the hell is Ideope like anyway? I really want to visit someday. Probably crawling with girls who look like Luna.
Lost in those thoughts as I stared blankly at the sea, someone spoke up.
"Then, how about we have lunch and head to the beach together? What do you think, Smaarian?"
I mulled over Hippolyte's question briefly. The weather was clear, not too hot, with a warm autumn breeze.
A bit late in the season for scorching beach fun, but since we'd come to a seaside city for once, taking it easy for the day didn't sound bad.
"Sure, why not."
*
*
*
"Master Hassan! Look at this...! P-Paranoia caught a giant crab...!"
After flailing around in the shallows for a while, Paranoia came back holding a massive crab in both hands. Its body was as big as her face.
"This one's about the size of a border lord around these parts...!"
It was one damn big crab.
Big enough to call a king crab, so I was genuinely startled, lounging under a parasol on the beach.
"No way, how'd you catch that?"
"Just grabbed it with my hands...! So, I'll offer this, my first sea creature catch, as tribute to Master Hassan...!"
Who knew Paranoia had this kind of consideration? Something tugged at my heart.
"Thanks. Hey, but don't go into deep water."
"Got it...! And it's not like I'm giving it because it's a hassle to hold anymore...!"
Paranoia tossed the crab roughly into the big bucket-like thing in front of me and headed back to the sea.
The bucket was already stuffed with clams and such that Luna had gathered. Adding the giant crab made it look like a full-on aquarium.
Seafood stew for dinner tonight.
Wish we had some chili powder. Did Luna pack something like that? Thinking of that spicy, refreshing broth put me in a good mood for once.
Crack, crack-.
I grabbed the king crab's back shell and lifted it. It felt hefty—nice and full inside. Steaming it would be delicious.
"How the hell did she catch this?"
As I shook the crab around, Elfride, sitting in the shade beside me reading a book, furrowed her brow slightly.
"Hey, you not scared of crabs?"
"Why would I be scared of crabs?"
"It's like sea spiders."
"Nah, that's different. But aren't you gonna get in the water at least once?"
I glanced at Elfride, lounging lazily on the beach bed—or mat, whatever you call it—reading her book.
For a white, fluttering one-piece swimsuit that cost a whopping 5 silvers, she didn't look like she was enjoying the sea at all.
"You came to the beach; you should enjoy the beach."
"Same goes for her."
Elfride flicked her finger toward Hippolyte, sprawled out beside me. Outside the parasol, Hippolyte lay flat, slathered in some weird oil all over her body.
"As expected of the city of light—the sunlight feels wonderful. My body feels like it's melting."
But Hippolyte was just photosynthesizing as usual.
Her tank top and short black panty swimsuit clung tight, not much different from her everyday clothes.
"That's her way of enjoying the beach."
"I'm good. You go play plenty. Like a kid."
Elfride seemed content just lying in the shade on the beach. And calling people playing in the sea kids?
What aristocratic mindset is this?
Feeling mischievous, I hooked my arms under her legs and shoulders while she lay there and hoisted her up.
"Wh-what are you doing-!"
Elfride shrieked in surprise. I carried the wriggling girl full speed to the water's edge and tossed her right in.
Splash-.
A decent splash sprayed everywhere. Now Elfride would come out dripping wet. Wonder how she'd react.
I was looking forward to it a bit, but what actually happened before my eyes veered a little from my expectations.
"Eek, eeeek, h-help, save me-!"
Splash, splash.
Elfride flailed her limbs like a duck in a bath, panicking wildly.
"S-save me! Help!"
"What the... seriously?"
"This klutz... she's such an idiot...!"
Beside her, Paranoia, belly-deep in the water, cackled like it was the funniest thing ever.
"The water here's not even deep...!"
"Eek, ugh-."
Only then did Elfride compose herself and slowly climb out of the water. She returned to her spot as if nothing had happened and picked up her book again.
Elfride's afraid of water.
That was new. Well, we'd lived together a while, but we'd never gone to rivers or seas.
Is it just her, or all elves? Maybe not just Elfride—all elves fear water.
Sure enough, plenty of other elves dotted the beach, just lounging around idly.
Splash-!
A big spray erupted right next to me.
Startled, thinking something burst from the sea, it was Luna emerging onto the sand, wet hair whipping, holding small clams in both hands.
"Hassan, check this out! Oysters! Tons of oysters right here on the shore!"
"Impressive."
"These are 1 silver each back in Small Town!"
"Impressive!"
Oysters worth 1 silver apiece everywhere. Makes sense—in a world without good refrigeration or transport, fresh ones cost a fortune.
"Hassan, let's go gather more oysters!"
"Sure!"
I dove deep into the sea with Luna.
I'd learned swimming and diving as a kid, so it wasn't hard. The current wasn't strong either.
After about an hour gathering oysters till our hands were full, we slowly surfaced toward the beach for a break.
That's when it happened.
"New face around here. Traveler?"
"...."
"There's a party at the marquess's mansion tonight. Wanna come with me? Could use you as my partner."
Someone was chatting up Elfride, leaning against the parasol.
Elfride got hit on a couple times a day anyway, and even on this hunting ground prime beach, it was no different.
"Y-you! Can't you see Sir is talking to her!"
But something was off. Who were these guys?
A bizarre duo.
A burly blond guy with his upper body bare, and a small girl with pumpkin-orange hair.
The guy seemed normal, but the girl had short pointed ears that unmistakably reminded me of someone.
"Wretched outsider, bow your head already! And be grateful for Sir's mercy!"
Another nymph.
Well, Delphi's a big city. One nymph isn't surprising.
"You're another one. Nymphs everywhere."
At Elfride's words, the nymph with pumpkin-orange hair tied in twin buns like rice cakes shouted proudly.
"I am the great Sir's right hand and top servant, the Ditch Water Nymph Alinoi! And as for our Sir, he is a great one who has inherited great blood!"
The Ditch Water Nymph named Alinoi rambled on. She kept repeating "great," so probably a nymph who loved greatness.
Watching her talk felt oddly like Paranoia. Kinda creepy.
Honey Water Nymph Doris was weird too. Maybe all nymphs are just made of bizarre quirks.
Paranoia wasn't special.
"Shut up and be quiet. Nymphs never know when to pipe down."
But Elfride, tempered by Paranoia, ignored Alinoi and just looked annoyed.
"You! Ignoring Sir isn't enough; now you're insulting his right hand, Alinoi too?! Unforgivable! And if you don't retract that nymph-hating remark, I'll report you to the Nymph Relief Foundation!"
"Alinoi, it's fine. To me, this lady's just shy. Too embarrassed to reply. Can't blame her; how could she not be flustered with me talking to her?"
"I-is that so...? I had no idea...! As expected of Sir's keen insight; Alinoi is at a loss...! Truly a demigod...! Eyes like a god...!"
"Huh, demigod?"
At "demigod," Elfride finally showed interest, lifting her eyes slightly from the book.
Catching Elfride's glance, the guy—probably Sir—regained confidence and spoke.
"Yeah, I just got permission to enter the Chamber of Awakening. See this?"
He showed Elfride a small bracelet-like thing on his wrist.
"What's that?"
"Number 221. My ticket for the Prophecy Festival starting today."
"Hmm, okay?"
"Impressive, right? Nobody under a thousand gets a number. I got such a low one 'cause there's strong divinity inside me."
"What do you do with it?"
"Enter the Chamber of Awakening and awaken the divinity sleeping within. I'm definitely a great god's son. Someday, I could build my own temple in Hypos—"
The guy droned on. Just then, Paranoia approached me with another huge crab.
"Master Hassan, what're you doing here? Anyway, see this? Paranoia caught another crab...!"
Seriously, Paranoia was a crab-catching pro. Who knew she had talent.
"The bucket's full now; won't fit anymore...!"
As she headed for the bucket, she spotted Elfride and the chatty duo nearby.
"Ah! Master Hassan, over there, a nymph...!!"
"I know, dude."
"Ah! Sir! Over there, a nymph...!"
"Oh-."
Our eyes finally met, me and the guy.
I'd been watching awkwardly from the side, not wanting to interrupt the pickup attempt, but the nymphs forced eye contact.
"I am the Ditch Water Nymph, Alinoi...! I am the great Sir's right hand and top servant!"
"I'm the Ditch Water Nymph, Paranoia...! I am—."
The two nymphs pressed foreheads in their signature greeting, leaving me and this Sir guy standing there awkwardly.
"...."
Felt a bit like Pokémon trainers.
Made me sense a weird camaraderie with this blond Sir guy.
Was he thinking the same? Did he bribe his noisy nymph with candy to shut up too?
Who knows.
But it hit me—no bad people among those with nymphs. Living with brainless nymphs turns guardians into saints.
Dunno for sure, but this Sir seemed decent.
As I thought that, Sir glanced at me, Elfride, and Paranoia, then smiled awkwardly.
"You've got company—sorry you saw that embarrassing scene. Anyway, think about joining the banquet tonight. Lots of other number-holders will be there. Bring your friends too."