92. Rendezvous at the Pier and the Small Boat Across the River
On the wooden pier stood a woman wrapped in her usual black clerical robes.
The surrounding waters were a serene blue, rippling gently with waves, while a soft breeze danced across the surface, tousling her long hair.
With her hands clasped behind her back, she began walking slowly toward the end of the pier.
Reaching the tip, she stared intently at the water's surface for a few seconds.
She did a little hop-step and turned around, her ample chest bouncing with the motion. Looking around as if searching for someone, she headed back toward the shore. Then she sighed, faced the river again, and walked back to the end. She repeated this over and over.
I took advantage of the moment her back was turned to approach. Whenever she spun around to come back, I ducked into the shadows.
But either my timing was off, or she turned too soon—I got spotted.
"Mm! I'm standing here waiting for you, so why are you hiding?"
I gave up hiding and walked over to Myra.
"Because you look way too cute just standing there waiting."
"...I never thought you were the type to say stuff like that, Mash."
I meant it from the bottom of my heart, but she apparently took it as a joke after teasing her.
"This kind of rendezvous feels kinda fresh and nice."
The breeze that lifted Myra's black hair brushed against my cheek.
"Yes. I was waiting all excited and nervous too... but Mash, you..."
She seemed a little miffed. She took my hand.
"Let's hop in a boat right away."
The rental boats were two-person rowboats. Several were already out for cruises, some paddled far into the river.
"They said we can go all the way to the other shore. I'm counting on you, Mash."
Was this payback for my teasing?
"No way. How many meters is that thing?"
I gazed at the distant opposite shore. Nothing but despair.
We paid two silver coins and boarded the boat.
There didn't seem to be a time limit.
I rowed out toward the middle for starters. At first, we arced instead of going straight, but once I got the hang of it, we moved as I wanted. Still, the other shore was a pipe dream.
Timing it right, I pulled out some skewered fish and ale I'd bought at the morning market from my Storage.
Items in Storage don't change condition. They stay exactly as they were when stored—super convenient.
We clinked our drinks and dug into the fish. It looked and tasted just like ayu. Salty and delicious. I sipped the ale. Myra sat across from me. Perfect way to start the morning.
"Did you see any elves?"
Myra asked, sounding surprised. I'd only caught a glimpse of one going into a room, so my impression was faint, but I remembered Fam saying it was an elf.
"Yeah, a kid with pointy ears. Staying in the room next to ours. There was one with leaves on their head too."
"Flower tribe, perhaps? They live at the western edge, or so I've heard."
"Flower tribe—like, flowers from plants? You mean..."
In the myths, humans interbred with all sorts of creatures to create new races.
"Yes, I know what you're wondering, Mash."
Myra seemed reluctant to elaborate on the flower tribe. Once, this world was full of adventurous humans. They created new races left and right, but now they discriminate against other species.
"Residents of the kingdom to the west?"
I shifted the topic to their homeland. The western kingdom was where Lead of the Wind's Blade hailed from.
"It's north of the kingdom."
"Is it now?"
Geography still threw me for a loop.
"There's a great forest and mountain range between the empire and the western kingdom. It stretches northwest around the kingdom, and the northern part has coastal lowlands and wetlands where many flower tribe live."
"Got it. Fulft has a king too, but the western kingdom's similar?"
"No. The western kingdom is an independent nation outside the empire's influence. Fulft is one of the empire's subject city-states."
The empire's city-states had varying governments—monarchies, democracies, oligarchies—which made it confusing. As long as they paid tribute, the empire left them alone.
"So roughly, from east to west: demon kingdom, empire, western kingdom?"
"Yes. South of the empire are independent city-states, and even further west of the western kingdom are more countries."
No good. My head was spinning; I couldn't keep it straight. Anyway, we were heading to Migurutt, west of the empire.
"By the way, Mash—which do you like more, Fam or Mizuki?"
Myra changed the subject. I nearly choked on my ale.
"...You like Fam, right, Myra?"
I fired back a question to steady myself first.
"Yes. As I said before, if Fam were a boy, it'd be love at first sight."
She's dangerous after all. Gotta keep her away from Fam.
"Chihiro thought she was kinda cute too, right?"
"Mm, what are you trying to make me say? Sure, I'm a shotacon. But that's not quite the same as romantic interest. You're my number one, Mash."
How does that even work? But I wasn't getting more out of her.
"So, what about you, Mash?"
Myra circled back. Why did I have to talk about other women in front of her? Cecily would've blown up.
"Hard to compare them. Preference-wise, I like Fam's face more. Mizuki's too perfect all around."
"I see..."
Myra nodded, then lapsed into thought.
"Myra, I wanna ask you something..."
Might as well get this off my chest.
"Yes, what is it?"
"Is Mizuki really a beauty?"
"...What do you mean?"
She looked puzzled, not getting my drift.
"Like, am I the only one seeing her as a beauty because of Rakushel's power or something?"
"No, anyone would think she's beautiful. I do too."
"Huh..."
Momoka had said Mizuki gave a different impression back home, which had been bugging me.
"Mash."
"Hm? What?"
"You've stopped rowing. At this rate, we'll never reach the other shore."
"You're serious about this."
Myra was dead set on the opposite bank.
We finally made it to the boat landing on the opposite shore.
The boat had no shade, and the sun was brutal.
I was beat. My arms were pumped. I didn't even want to think about the way back.
"Sorry. I didn't realize it'd be this tough."
Myra stroked my arm sympathetically, casting a healing spell that eased the ache.
"If you'd just sandwich them between those tits for a massage, it'd fix me right up."
"Eh?" Myra stared at me in shock.
"Ah..." Must've been exhaustion—my inner voice slipped out. Myra froze at my words.
"J-Just kidding. Please, forget I said that."
"N-No, it's fine since you're my lover. D-Did you always look at me like that, Mash?"
Awkward. Nothing to say. Figured I'd weirded her out.
"Give me a chance to make it up to you. Forgive me!"
"I thought you weren't interested in my body..."
"Of course I am. That's all I'm interested in."
I wanted to dive into those magnificent breasts and drown.
"You say pervy stuff to Fam and Mizuki all the time, but never to me."
"Well, saying it to you feels kinda..."
Myra clung to my arm. Softness enveloped it—but she let go quick.
"It's really embarrassing, so just a little."
We walked hand in hand.
"You had a reason for coming to this shore?"
"Right. This town has churches on both banks, and I heard the one here is putting on a play about the myths. I wanted to watch it with you."
"You know where?"
"Yes."
That's when a noisy group hurried past us.
"Something going on?"
Myra turned back. She stopped short, looking stunned. I heard her catch her breath.
I turned too.
A little ways from our landing was a large wooden sailing ship docked—or rather, run aground. It was heavily decayed. Mast broken, hull tilted and holed. Eerily like a ghost ship.
"Was that there?"
I should've seen it approaching by boat. Too wiped to notice? But Myra shook her head too.
"Intriguing. Let's check it out."
She headed toward the shore.
Myra gathered info from the people staring at the wreck.
The ship had been aground and abandoned for ages. Owner and operators were different, locked in endless compensation disputes.
Kids used it for adventures and dares. But since yesterday, some hadn't come back after boarding.
Their fathers had gone searching at dawn but hadn't returned.
It was over 20 meters long, but search areas were limited. Shouldn't take long. Someone shouted toward it, but no shadows moved, no reply.
"I'm worried. Let's take a look."
Myra said.
"Bad vibes. Leave it to the guild or knights here. If we go, all six of us."
"Just check for a dungeon entrance?"
Like at the mountain castle—Mii's Crystal Control might've spawned a dungeon, trapping kids and searchers. Myra was thinking the same.
"Fine. But we bail if it's sketchy."
Myra nodded.