The Great River and the Bustling Harbor's Commotion (1)

The vast plains of farmland, vineyards, low scrub brush, and endless reed fields had stretched out in monotonous boredom. Then, like a heat haze vanishing, the scenery suddenly ended. Pirel let out a childish gasp of wonder.

“Whoa……”

I did too.

Whoa……

And so did Rin inside my head.

Whoaaaaaaaa……

At the same moment, the fragments of Rin that had been following us in the forms of crows and squirrels, covering our eyes and trailing behind, all let out the same sigh of awe.

We stood on the riverbank of a waterway so immense that the opposite shore was barely visible in the far distance. A wide sandy shore dotted with reeds stretched out as broad as the river itself, making it feel exactly like we had arrived at the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠seaside.

“This must be the Drankiz Great River. I’ve heard so much about it, but this is my first time seeing it in person……”

“It really is huge.”

The width must be around four kilometers……

I knew the Han River was considered quite wide for a river passing through a major city, but the Drankiz Great River felt even broader than that.

“Hehe…… Well? Well? Isn’t it bigger than any river you knew back on Earth, Kaira?”

It seemed Pirel had been thinking the same thing.

“Earth has rivers whose estuaries exceed two hundred kilometers in width, so it’s not necessarily bigger than everything there… but it is wider than the largest river I remember from my hometown.”

“Kilometers?”

“…There’s a thing like that.”

Even though she had received the memories, they had come to her “like reading someone else’s diary,” so it made sense she might not know minor details like units of measurement.

We walked for a long time upstream. In truth, it was the ash-gray headwind that carried our steps.

When night fell, we built a fire on the riverbank overlooking the vast water, laid down boundary trap magic, and crawled into our sleeping bags. At dawn, we ate with Pirel, prepared any magic that might have been depleted, and climbed back onto the horses.

The journey, with the river always glittering like fish scales at the edge of our vision, was tedious—and for that very reason, peaceful. We didn’t encounter anything like the gang rape that had happened on the road from Mittenburg to the capital, or the horrors we suffered at the hands of the cultists in the forest.

Since it was a wide road running alongside the river toward a port city, traffic was heavy. It simply wasn’t an environment where such criminals could openly run wild.

Late one morning, after we had used up all the firewood the old man had given us for free—which was supposed to last eight days—Pirel suddenly reined in her horse atop a gentle hill overlooking the river.

“Look at that, Kaira……”

Without even turning her eyes toward me, she spoke in a voice trailing off with emotion.

“It’s beautiful.”

I answered honestly, lost in admiration as well.

Lofty castle walls gleaming with pure white light. Inside and outside those walls, a vast cityscape the color of marble. The orange and red hues of rooftops packed together like fish scales across the land. And behind the entire panorama, the great river flowing in sweeping waves like a scenic backdrop.

This was the port city of Drankafen.

A shining star at the southern edge of the Empire. The gateway to the sea. It was the first proper city we had encountered since leaving the countryside and the capital.

Across the river, which was nearly as wide as a strait, lay an endless wild forest, and on the far side, a small port town pioneered by even the bravest souls from Drankafen.

“Well then, shall we head into the city? It’s lovely even from afar, but I’m sure it’ll be even more interesting up close.”

“Yeah!!”

And so, mother and daughter, our purple-tinted eyes sparkling, stepped into the first great city we had met since leaving the capital.

The lively streets that unfolded from outside the castle walls were every bit as vibrant as the market alleys on the western side of the capital where we once lived, or the bustling entertainment district in front of the eastern gate.

Pirel and I couldn’t keep our mouths closed from the moment we arrived, marveling at the splendid streets and the people walking with such energy. But the harbor itself lay inside the walls, so we still had to pass through the gates.

Fortunately, entering through Drankafen’s tall gates was not difficult. The entrance was crowded with merchant caravans loaded with cargo and travelers heading upriver for journeys or pilgrimages. There was no need to rely on the iris lenses Rin had given us.

“It feels a little anticlimactic.”

“Those guards didn’t even make eye contact with us.”

“There are so many people that they probably only pay attention if someone looks obviously suspicious.”

Still, now that we were inside a bustling city, we needed to stay somewhat alert. This wasn’t just any place—it was a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠port city. It wasn’t merely lively.

It would be piled high with drifters chasing opportunity, rough sailors, and lowlifes like the ones who might follow the great river, just as we were.

Nothing would happen to us in broad daylight in the city… but at night the story would change, so we had to be careful. If I were ever separated from Pirel here for any reason, the chances of finding her again in such a vast city full of countless people would be nearly zero.

I glanced down anxiously at the two pistols holstered at Pirel’s waist.

I hoped they would at least help a young girl protect herself.

We asked directions from passersby and soldiers until we reached the streets near the harbor. Where ships docked, there were bound to be plenty of restaurants, inns, and shops. The general stores here would surely be well-stocked. They might even have maps.

I left Pirel on horseback and entered the general store alone. I was a little afraid to stay with the horses by myself since I wasn’t good at handling them, and on horseback, any bad people we might encounter would be less likely to bother Pirel.

“Hello. Do you have any maps?”

The shopkeeper, wearing spectacles with lenses dangling from strings and flipping through a ledger, glanced up at me. Naturally, the owner was not a goblin.

“What area are you looking for?”

“The southwest. The Light Denomination’s direct territory, and if possible, anything beyond that into foreign lands would be even better.”

The owner flicked his gaze toward a corner.

“Southwest, huh… You’ll find those maps on the very bottom shelf of the bookcase over there.”

He added with a sidelong look, “I’ve heard there’s not much ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠worth visiting beyond the southwestern border. The maps aren’t all that accurate either. Makes sense, since the people living there are those creepy……”

“I know. We’re originally heading to the Light Denomination’s territory. I just wanted to collect some foreign maps for reference.”

The shopkeeper nodded and returned to his ledger.

I picked out four maps and a small compass, paid with silver coins, and stepped back outside. The horse carrying Pirel was now surrounded by several men.

What happened in such a short time……

They didn’t look like sailors or a criminal gang, but Pirel’s expression was clearly uncomfortable. I approached her side with a slightly displeased look.

“Excuse me.”

Hearing my cold voice, the men turned toward me.

“Did my little sister commit some kind of offense?”

One of the men looked me up and down before speaking in a sleazy tone.

“Ah, so the mage lady is this little one’s big sister?”

“That’s correct.”

“Both sisters are real beauties.”

It was an unpleasant appraisal dripping with sticky desire and very little sincerity.

“Thank you for the compliment. So, what is your business?”

“Well, this little lady here rode her horse wrong and my junior got his head slammed into the horse’s knee. You know getting hit by a horse can be life or death, right?”

Pirel frowned and shouted.

“That’s a lie, Kai…!”

Pirel hesitated for a moment, then corrected herself with a name that was far too familiar.

“…Karin! I was just standing still and Ashwind was being good too, but these uncles moved and their arms bumped into the firewood……”

This was going to be a headache.

The fact that they would pull something like this in the middle of a market street in broad daylight meant they were skilled con artists. At the very least, they could either brush it off with the local security officers or guards, or even get the guards to take their side.

I couldn’t exactly behead them here.

I suppose so.

Negotiation was the only option left.

“Then what do you want?”

“The big sister’s easier to talk to. We’d appreciate it if you could at least cover the medical costs……”

Heh. Of course. That’s usually how it goes.

“I see. Could you show me the wound?”

One man stepped forward, limping with ridiculously exaggerated gestures. From my experience working at the hospital, I could tell immediately that he wasn’t injured at all……

“I understand. Fortunately, I’m a healing mage. Could you come a little closer?”

The man looked slightly flustered at the words “healing mage,” but since he had claimed to be hurt, he couldn’t back out now. Hesitantly, he approached.

“Then……”

I formed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the simplest healing spell formula with my mouth and hands, then lightly touched the man.

Good. Return to the moment right after you had just eaten a hearty meal and were bursting with energy……

And so it returned. At the cost of vanished memories.

The man suddenly opened his eyes wide and began to panic. The scenery had changed abruptly, so it was only natural.

“It’s all healed. Since it was a powerful healing spell, there may be some temporary confusion in your memory. Please have your companions take good care of you. Since it was partly our fault in the first place, I won’t accept any payment.”

I gave a small smirk, then mounted the horse.

“What are you doing, Pirel? We need to get moving.”

“Uh, eh? Y-yes……”

Hearing my cold urging, Pirel moved Ashwind forward. We still needed to find a place to stay before boarding a ship.

Finding a large inn with stables inside a city like this was no easy task. The big, expensive inns had stables attached, but the cheap places that only offered a spot to lie down for the night did not.

After wandering the harbor streets until the sun began to set, we eventually decided to spend a little more money and stay at an inn that had stables.

I saved up quite a bit of money from selling my body……

The moment we stopped our horses in front of the stable, a person came running out from inside.

“Hello! Are you guests looking to stay?”

“Yes. Can we leave this child here?”

“Of course. If you get down right away, I’ll take her to the room where the horses can rest most comfortably. Ah, you can pay the fee to the owner inside.”

“Thank you.”

It looked like a rather noisy and flashy inn. I suppose it was like a hotel with its own parking lot.

We opened the door on the first floor, from which cheerful noise was spilling out……

“Welcome! Oh my, what a cute young lady!”

As expected. Like most inns, the first floor was a tavern and restaurant combined, just like Arto’s brothel. Pushing through the crowd of people noisily gulping down fermented liquor, a sturdy-built female employee greeted us.

“We’d like to stay the night. Do you have a room for two?”

“Of course. Follow m—”

“Hey, mage lady! Fancy seeing you again!”

A booming voice cut off the employee and flew toward us. It was a voice I had heard once before.

…Ugh.

It was those sleazy men who had tried to shake us down for pocket change earlier. Of all places, we had to run into them here. Was this some kind of improbable coincidence?

Well, it wasn’t that extreme of a coincidence.

In a busy harbor, the space available for any single shop was limited. Buildings were crammed tightly together in narrow rows. Therefore, there weren’t that many inns with attached stables.

Which meant there also weren’t that many inns with large, spacious first-floor halls—that is, generous taverns.

In other words, this was one of the best places to run into idle layabouts who loved noisy, extravagant fun.

“…Hello. Are your injuries alright?”

“Ah, yeah. Thanks to you, miss.”

Pirel had already shrunk behind me. I took off the backpack I was carrying and handed it to her as I spoke.

“Pirel, go up with this staff member and unpack our luggage in the room. If I’m late, you can rest first.”

“O-okay… Karin.”

Pirel clearly didn’t want to get involved with the scary uncles either. She quickly followed the female employee up the narrow wooden staircase.

“Whew… I sent my sister away.”

“Sharp-eyed girl. Must be because she’s a mage?”

I gave a small laugh and boldly walked over, picked up a chair, and slipped it in among the group of men.

“Well… it’s a bit pitiful for five men to be drinking alone in such a dreary way, isn’t it? In return, you’ll be buying the food and drinks. Consider it instead of medical fees.”

The men burst into laughter.

“Alright, alright. We’ll buy you a glass of distilled liquor made from the finest malt in the south!”

Was it… whiskey? Come to think of it, I had never drunk any proper liquor like that in this world. I had only ever had fermented drinks that were probably two or three percent at most.

No reason to refuse. I’m curious about the taste too.

They probably wouldn’t treat a mage carelessly.

After eating a few pieces of sausage and taking several sips of the brown ethanol juice that was rougher than Earth’s whiskey but still carried the scent of years spent in oak barrels, my body gradually began to heat up.

“So where are you ladies headed? Did you come here to board a ship?”

“Ufufu, that’s right. We are… hic… heading to the… the Light Denomination’s direct territory……”

This liquor tasted rough at first, but it’s actually pretty good……

“What, are you pilgrims? I heard mages don’t believe in gods much, but I guess that’s not always the case.”

“Ehehehehehe. I don’t believe in gods. But Pirel… I mean, my little sister isn’t a mage, so she wanted to go see it once.”

Rin was practically screaming inside my head. So even this child had a weakness.

Rin’s thoughts cut off abruptly.

“B-but…… hic. Hey, mister, honestly… tell me the truth…… Earlier, you were trying to scam us, right? Hic…… What exactly did you take a mage… for…?”

“Ah. That was a bit of a shameful thing to do. I thought you were clumsy girls who would hand over some pocket change if we pushed a little. I apologize.”

“Ugh! Apologize, apologize…… That’s right…… Can you make liquor out of an apology too……? Just one more glass, ehehehe, can you buy me one……?”

“Um… mage lady……?”

W-wait. Why am I acting like this……?

Did I drink too much? Maybe because my body is so small. Back on Earth I could drink way more without any problem. That’s right, I used to do hard-boiled research while pouring whiskey……

I’m still… yeah, still… far from…

The men’s expressions looked somewhat dumbfounded. They seemed to be exchanging glances. I wonder what that meant.

Hehe, maybe they’re scared because I’m drinking so well.

“Miss. You seem to have had too much. You should stop now……”

“I’m fiiiiine…… Hehehehe. Even so… at Arto’s place, you know? Hehehe…… Even if I look like this…… What was it again. Ah, that. A… S……? Ufufu, ace……”

The men’s bewildered faces rippled like waves.

Waves……

The sea……

Seasickness……?

“U-urp…… Blegh……”

“This woman looks like she’s about to throw up.”

“Hey, ma’am! Bring a rag, quick!”

Hehehe…… Why am I throwing up. Like thiiiiis…… It’s so taaasty…… I ate… so much……

“Blaaaaaargh!!!”

Eh?

Why is it so sticky. This…… smells bad.

There are chunks too. Is this… porridge?

It smells like bread too.

Ehehehet…… So gooood……