Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: Dispatch Mission: Smelt Fishing
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*
Before leaving the Inquisition Keep with their gear packed, Leia said she had some preparations to make and departed first. She mentioned she would dock the fleet at the nearest port.
The closest harbor from the Inquisition Keep was the royal family's Merlinport. Fernandez looked at his prancing horse as he slung the saddlebags over it.
"Merlinport, huh. It's been a while since I've headed that way."
"Ah, Brother Zephys."
Zephys entered the stables and tossed over a bundle wrapped in a blanket. Fernandez caught it lightly and peered inside. More travel supplies? When Fernandez unfolded the blanket, he found a round shield.
"A shield...?"
"Now that you're a brother, shouldn't you equip some armor? Tanking hits with your body isn't the Demonica way."
"...Yeah. Was it?"
Fernandez, who had only ever seen people tanking with their bodies, was flustered. Zephys chuckled and nodded toward the shield.
"Brother Marco consecrated it for a very long time, and Brother Martirio spent days in the smithy with the smiths, living there to craft this holy relic. Take a look."
It was truly a shield soaked in the blood and sweat of countless brothers. Fernandez felt a touch of emotion as he examined the back of the shield.
—Saint of the Great Wilderness, Fernandez Cerned. Even if we cannot deflect the red dust of the mortal world, may no harm come from the dark arrows of the wicked.
"My name's engraved on it? Have I gotten permission to carry personal weapons?"
"You've got plenty of other stuff anyway. What's the big deal?"
King Dane's sword and Beitasser's key-sword—those two weapons he hadn't donated to the armory but kept personally, and the other inquisitors knew and turned a blind eye.
Fernandez strapped the shield to his left arm and gauged its weight. The sturdy heft of the steel shield finished with saintmetal felt reassuring.
"It's not the finest relic of this era. But it's a useful piece of equipment."
"Considering the amount of saintmetal needed to melt down for one shield, 'useful' is putting it mildly."
Given the Inquisition Keep's material shortages, investing saintmetal in armor was highly inefficient. Their weapons were mostly destroyed mid-operation, and maintenance consumed vast resources.
The iron ore for reforging one shield could forge three longswords. As Fernandez said this, Zephys smirked.
"You're starting to think like Enmagicka. Brother. Enough chatter—take it. You can't refuse anyway."
"Want me to carry it for you?"
"...Don't say creepy shit."
"Hahaha."
Fernandez laughed and mounted the saddle. He stroked the horse's withers and gave it a nudge, and the horse began to move forward slowly.
Behind him, he could see Zephys quietly offering a silent prayer. On the main avenue below the keep, Abel and Kirhas, already mounted, waited for him. As the operation leader, he had reports to make to the superiors and thus departed late.
"You must be cold. Sorry for the wait."
"No, dragons don't get cold."
"Hmm... beastkin either..."
Kirhas sniffled, her nose red to the tip, and said so. But beastkin were highly susceptible to cold. Fernandez chuckled at her words and urged his horse onward.
*Clop, clop, clop.*
The three horses descended the main avenue from the Inquisition Keep and headed down toward the forest. It was dawn, and snow had begun to fall again.
*
Merlinport was about three days' ride from the Inquisition Keep. Fernandez's group were skilled enough to rest atop their horses, allowing them to push through two sleepless nights.
But cold, fatigue, and hunger were separate issues. Even Abel frowned at the journey of galloping without sleep for two days.
"Me-Mer-Merlinport!"
Kirhas shouted, spotting the distant port city at the horizon's end from the hill below. The winter sea under falling snow was dreamlike.
Galloping across fields blanketed in soft snow, Fernandez patted his horse's overheated neck.
*Snort.*
The foaming horse panted as it ran. Seeing their destination seemed to improve Kirhas and Abel's conditions a bit. Fernandez brushed snowflakes from his face and took a deep breath.
*I'm tired.*
*Was there any need to rush preparations like this?*
*Winter camping is rough. Better to suffer a bit shorter.*
A Demonica's body doesn't degrade much after three sleepless nights. But Abel now had a body no different from a normal person's, and Kirhas was even a young woman.
Rather than make them camp in winter, he chose to push hard. Fernandez slowed his horse as Merlinport's gates drew near.
*Snort.*
The horse shook its head, panting heavily. The city guards raised their spears slightly at the sight of them.
"Halt. State your identity."
"Order of St. John, Angelo. These are my squires."
"My apologies, Sir Angelo. It's just rare to see a knight on a winter pilgrimage."
"You have it rough."
Winter was the season when merchant traffic dwindled. Even the massive port city of Merlinport was somewhat quiet this time of year. Fernandez pulled out his knight order certificate from his bosom and handed it over; the city guards nodded and stepped back.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Sir Angelo."
"Security's tight. Are monsters still appearing in the city?"
"Ah, were you here last year too? No. But since that incident, we've had orders from above to strengthen inspections at Merlinport."
"Wise decision. It was a horrific event."
"Many died or were injured. It must never happen again."
The city guard nodded gravely, moved his spear aside, and cleared the path. Fernandez and his group walked through into Merlinport.
*
The rendezvous with Leia was at Merlinport's [Sky Sylph Inn]. Fernandez eyed the upscale inn's exterior and the grinning Kirhas.
"Staying at a proper place this time?"
"Yeah. Not an infiltration mission."
"Brings back memories, huh. The Stars and Mermaid Inn wasn't bad either."
Fernandez smirked at Kirhas's joke. The maniac serial killings, the lich, the Walker outbreak. The past operation that had burned over half of Merlinport came to mind.
Kirhas laughed cheerfully and dismounted. An inn boy rushed out, bowed, and took the reins.
"Welcome! Staying with us?"
"Seems like it. One more in our party."
"Wait... knight sir, two lovely ladies... Ah! You're with that elf guest! Heard about it. Head to the lobby! She's having lunch!"
"Thanks."
Fernandez tossed the boy a half silver from the east and pushed open the swinging doors. The inn's lobby buzzed with chatter and food aromas.
"Finally, some real food."
"Not sure about meat dishes this season. Like seafood?"
"If I didn't, would I have buried you on the coast?"
Abel smiled softly and followed Fernandez. As they entered the lobby, nearby crowds' gazes briefly turned to Fernandez and his group.
*Definitely a standout combo.*
Abel was a radiantly beautiful woman, and Kirhas was no less. The stares from around felt prickly.
*I get why the brothers tease me about being a lecher.*
*Don't get cocky, you lightweight.*
Feizashi grumbled. Fernandez ignored him and looked straight ahead. The winter midday dining hall was sparse. A classical band played listlessly on instruments.
And there, at the most luxurious table in the distance, laden with every delicacy, Leia smiled at them.
*
*Clink.*
Only the sound of cutlery clinking echoed over the table. Fernandez was the quiet type, while Abel and Kirhas were lost in the first proper meal in ages.
Meanwhile, Leia kept pulling out her pocket watch, glancing at the window.
"Do you know why I chose this inn?"
"Fancy place?"
"That works too. I'm queen now, aren't I? A bit of luxury is a matter of pride for my people."
Leia smirked and sipped her coffee. Fernandez cut his meat small, popped it in his mouth, and listened.
"The biggest reason? You can see the sea from here."
Leia gestured out the window. Through the sparse snowflakes, the churning black sea was visible. The inn faced the harbor directly, perched at the best spot on Merlinport's port street.
"It's about time. Hurry your meals."
Leia grinned mischievously and set down her coffee cup. Even Abel, who had been eating with perfect table manners, set down her fork and dabbed her mouth.
*Bwoooo...*
A massive horn sounded from afar. Soon—
*Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong!!*
*To the harbor!! Head to the docks!!*
Sea guards ran about, and the bell tower's bells rang noisily. Fernandez frowned slightly and looked out the window.
Far off, through the thick snow even visible to Demonica eyes hazily, at the horizon's edge—
*Enemy attack! Enemy attack!!*
*Everyone to stations! Prepare cannons!!*
*Bwoooo!!*
The horns blared loudly. Fernandez turned to Leia with a bemused expression. She still wore that playful smile, arms crossed, gazing out the window.
"Didn't you notify the city hall ahead?"
"Procedures were complicated."
City officials had balked at Leia's words or dismissed them as jokes. Following the docking permit clauses they'd handed over grudgingly would have taken a week.
Leia had no time for such delays. Instead, she had the North Sea's mightiest golden fleet.
*Bwoooo—!*
This sound wasn't a horn. A deep, bone-rattling bass boomed over the harbor—the elf ship's foghorn. Requesting docking...
"I told those officials who I am and where I'm staying. Now, let's hope they're not total idiots."
"Queen Leia, you've changed a lot."
"Ruling as my people's queen requires authority. Being too casual is poison. It's about their pride."
Leia chuckled. At that moment, the inn door burst open, and sea guards along with suited men poured in.
"Haha, not idiots after all."
"A-Are you Qu-Queen Leia Fin Gaimern?"
"Queen 'Your Majesty'."
"Y-Your Majesty the Queen?"
"Yes."
Leia grinned playfully at the pale-faced city nobles. She rose languidly and sauntered toward them.
The sea guards gripped their spears threateningly. Leia's brow twitched at the sight. She slowly placed her index finger on her sword hilt.
"Rude."
*Shing.*
Accounting for the draw and sheathing, excluding the brief flash, few here would have seen her strike.
Fernandez admired how much purer and cleaner her swordsmanship had become. Soon, the spearheads held by the sea guards split in half and clattered to the floor.
The officials' faces turned ashen blue. They wanted to tear their hair out. Merlinport was a key trade port with the royal mint, and after the Walker incident halted city functions, recovery had taken immense time and effort.
Now, just hitting growth spurt with the new Infermer North Sea trade route reopening, if the elf warships attacked the city...
"Guide my fleet. And tell your soldiers: if they don't attack first, we'll leave quietly."
"Don't worry." Leia patted a noble's shoulder and walked on. The sea guards encircling her shrank back in fear.
The inn was at the prime spot on the avenue to the harbor. Beyond Leia's slender frame, amid the gusting winter sea wind—
*Splash.*
Her silver hair rippled like the icy northern waters, and beyond, a grand fleet filled the horizon, approaching.
*Bwoooo!!!*
The foghorn echoed through the harbor. Sea guards, citizens, dock laborers, nobles—everyone panicked and fled.
"Ha..."
Fernandez covered his face and sighed. Leia beamed radiantly at the sight.
"Your kingdom's food wasn't bad. Now, let me invite you to my kingdom, Inquisitor. It'll be a fun sea voyage."