The Riel Coalition
It was on the third day after leaving the Valentine Countship that Schwarz and Milia boarded the ship bound for the Riel Coalition.
And then…
"Ugh…"
On the deck of the vessel sailing toward the Riel Coalition, Schwarz hung halfway over the railing, his face a deathly shade of blue.
His complexion was ashen, his eyes dull and lifeless. The dark circles etched beneath them made it plain at a glance that he was far from well.
"Ahahaha! All this fuss over a little seasickness!"
"It's not 'a little' seasickness… Ugh…!!"
Schwarz tried to answer Milia, who was doubled over with laughter at the sight of him—only for another wave of nausea to surge up. He whipped his head toward the water just in time.
A wretched retching sound followed as something unspeakable poured out of him.
He might have been a royal knight of the Elianos Kingdom in name, but what good was that title now? In this moment, the only thing Schwarz wanted was to set foot on solid ground as soon as humanly possible.
"I told you to rest in the cabin."
"Even so, I can't just… Ugh…!!"
The truth was, remaining on deck had been entirely his own choice. As a servant, he had insisted he could not leave his mistress's side—and now he was paying the price in full.
"Honestly. At this rate you'll keel over before we even reach land. If you won't rest, then I'll just go to the cabin myself."
"There's no need for you to— Aaagh…!!"
Milia let out a short sigh as she watched him, and Schwarz waved a hand as if to say he was fine. Of course, Milia was never one to let such things slide.
"Enough nonsense. Quietly follow me."
"My ear! You're going to tear my ear off!!"
Above the crash of the waves, Schwarz's shriek rang out across the deck.
How much time passed after that?
"Urgh…"
Inside the ship's cabin, Schwarz rested his head on Milia's lap, letting out low, pained groans. It was better than being on deck, certainly—but to Schwarz the difference felt negligible.
"I'm sorry, My Lady…"
"Don't worry about it. These things happen."
She answered his weak voice while gently stroking his hair. To think that a dragon—whose true form could level mountains—would be reduced to this by mere seasickness… The sheer gap between the two images struck her as oddly endearing, and a faint smile touched her lips.
"They say we'll arrive soon. Just hold on a little longer."
"Yes…"
The words seemed to lend him a flicker of strength. With a strained little laugh, Schwarz nodded.
Just then—
Clang. Clang. Clang. Clang.
The ship's bells rang out, announcing their arrival at port, and hurried footsteps began to echo through the corridor.
"Sounds like we're here. Time to get ready."
"Yes…"
Milia rose, and Schwarz slowly followed. Supporting his unsteady steps, she helped him toward the deck.
The door stood open, and beyond it the sharp, briny scent of the sea rushed in. When they stepped out onto the deck, both of them let out soft gasps at the sight before them.
"Wow…"
"It's incredible…"
A city floating on the sea. There was simply no other way to describe it.
At the center of the open water rose a colossal stone structure, its strange, towering form thrusting skyward like a great spire. Its height made even the royal palace—the largest building in the kingdom—look modest by comparison. Clustered along the sloping sides of that central edifice were countless buildings, packed tightly together. Painted in blue and white, they glittered under the sunlight like a scatter of jewels.
The two of them stood transfixed by the never-before-seen vista—until a voice cut through the air.
"My Lady!"
Van, who had already unloaded the carriage from the ship, spotted them and called out. Startled, they looked around and realized they were the only passengers left on deck. They hurried down the gangway, climbed into the carriage, and once Van confirmed they were seated he cracked the whip with a sharp cry.
The horses whinnied, and the carriage rolled forward along the long stretch of the harbor road.
"I'm really looking forward to this. Aren't you?"
"Yes. I am."
Schwarz nodded as he watched the sea flash past the window beside Milia.
A short while later—
"Halt! Halt!"
At the gate dividing the harbor from the city proper, soldiers stepped forward and stopped the carriage.
"Whoa! Whoa!!"
At Van's call the horses slowed, then came to a full stop. A soldier approached and addressed him.
"Present your identification."
"We're foreigners. We have none…"
As people of the Elianos Kingdom, they naturally carried no papers from the Riel Coalition. Van answered with an awkward look.
"Foreigners must obtain a permit from the immigration office over there. Unauthorized outsiders are not permitted to enter the city."
"Hmm. Understood."
It was only natural. No matter how high one's noble rank, that status held only within the Elianos Kingdom. A certain measure of respect might still be shown, but expecting the same treatment as at home was unrealistic.
Following the soldier's directions, the carriage drew up before the immigration office.
"I'll handle things from here."
"Are you sure you'll be all right?"
Milia asked with clear concern as Schwarz rose from his seat. She still remembered all too well the state he had been in only a short time ago.
"I'm fine. Still a little dizzy, but it won't stop me from walking."
"All right. Be careful just in case."
"Yes."
Schwarz nodded, stepped down from the carriage, and made his way slowly toward the building—another structure of white and blue stone like those they had seen earlier. He reached for the door—
And at that exact moment—
"Out of the way!!"
"Whoa?!"
The door burst open and a man came charging out of the office. A sword was clenched in his hand. Schwarz recoiled in shock.
"Catch that man!!"
Shouts erupted from inside. In an instant Schwarz grasped the situation and lunged straight at the fleeing figure.
"Wh-what the hell are you?!"
"Stay still."
The man swung his blade in panic, but Schwarz slipped past the strike with fluid speed and seized his wrist.
"What…!? Gah!? Aaaargh?!"
Schwarz applied the lightest pressure. The man cried out in agony and dropped the sword; with a metallic scrape Schwarz kicked the weapon skittering far across the stones.
Soldiers and what looked like office guards closed in at once, surrounding them.
"Damn it!! Let me go!"
"I'm afraid I can't do that."
The man thrashed and shouted, but Schwarz ignored him completely and turned to the nearest soldier.
"Would you like to take him from here?"
His original purpose had been to obtain an entry permit, not to apprehend criminals.
"Ah—yes… Thank you for your assistance."
The dazed soldier gestured to his comrades, who brought restraints and bound the man's hands.
"Damn you!! I've memorized your face! Just you wait!!"
"Hmph."
As the soldiers dragged him away, the man snarled with pure venom. Schwarz merely snorted.
I've never once met anyone who said "just you wait" and actually amounted to anything.
He brushed the dust from his hands. A man who appeared to be the soldiers' captain approached and bowed his head.
"Thank you. Thanks to you we were able to take the suspect without trouble."
"I did catch him, but… what exactly happened? A man running out with a sword doesn't sound like an ordinary incident…"
"An illegal entrant. He's from Dead Man's Port—people from there aren't allowed into the city."
"Dead Man's Port?"
Schwarz tilted his head. The man looked puzzled for a moment, then seemed to realize something.
"Ah—right. I forgot you're a foreigner. Simply put, it's a pirate den. A nest of the most vicious scum, sitting beyond the Sea of Demonic Beasts."
"Ah…"
Pirates…
So such people really existed.
The Valentine Countship enjoyed relatively stable public order; Schwarz had never so much as glimpsed a bandit, let alone a pirate. The idea felt both foreign and strangely fascinating.
"By the way… might I ask your name?"
The man studied him carefully, then asked with a cautious, almost disbelieving expression.
"My name? I am Schwarz. I serve House Valentine of the Elianos Kingdom."
"Schwarz…? You don't mean the Schwarz who was recently appointed a royal knight?!"
The man's eyes went wide.
I never imagined the story had already reached this far…
Schwarz made a mental note to travel in disguise while moving about the city, and simply nodded.
"Then the lady in the carriage is…?"
"The young lady of House Valentine—Milia Valentine."
"House Valentine—the very…?!"
The man froze, thinking hard for a second. Then he sucked in a sharp breath, and every trace of color drained from his face.
"Is something the matter?"
"I-I'm terribly sorry, but could you wait here just a moment? Only a moment!"
Before Schwarz could press further, the man turned on his heel and hurried back into the office.
"Hey—wait a second!"
Leaving someone standing there like that was more than a little rude. Schwarz wanted nothing more than to march after him and demand an explanation, but he could hardly start a scene in front of Milia. He swallowed his irritation and let out a short sigh.
After what felt like an eternity, the man reappeared and approached with careful steps.
"P-please come inside. The office director says he has an urgent matter to discuss with you."
"…What?"
Schwarz could only stare at him in pure disbelief.