The Drifting Ship Incident (1)

"A drifting ship?"

"Yes. The navy discovered it while on patrol and towed it to Gadeland. It seems to have drifted when the sea turned rough a week ago. We were lucky to find it. Apparently, it would have been in serious danger if we'd found it even a few days later."

As soon as we reached the office, Rays-sama explained, looking troubled.

"Um, what does that have to do with me—or rather, Rufa?"

It's not just an ordinary drifting ship. Lapiria-sama cut into Rays-sama's explanation.

"It's registered to the Empire."

"What!? Then you brought an Imperial ship here!?"

"Yes. Naturally, we couldn't just leave it there. However, all the crew have been placed under guard. There's one troublesome individual among them."

"A troublesome person?"

"They haven't revealed their identity, but they're very likely an important figure from some country on the southern continent. We can't treat them like the other Imperials. So, Rufa, I'd like you to speak with them."

"Me...?"

"Yes. If possible, find out which country they're from. And, if you can, find out why they were heading to the Empire."

"Do you think I can do it?"

"Of course, you don't need to force them. Since we don't know who they are, we can't afford to take too hard a line with them. Also, Roa—and Wickhart..."

"Yes."

"You two will accompany her as guards. Wickhart has a gentle appearance for a knight. And Roa, you have a certain common touch that knights lack, so they'll feel at ease."

Though the explanation left me a little unconvinced, I understood what we were supposed to do.

"We'll make a few arrangements before heading over. Roa, you leave as soon as you're ready. I'll assign Ryuzel's squad to you. I'm counting on you."

And so, we departed as though we'd been driven out.

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From the royal capital of Ludectrad to the port of Gadeland, it takes four or five days on foot. On horseback, you can manage it in a single day if you ride at full speed.

But that would be reckless with Rufa, who was inexperienced on horseback, accompanying us. We told Ryuzel we would go on ahead and headed for Ruelue, one of the three towns along the highway.

Ryuzel's squad would leave at first light the next morning once preparations were complete, so they were expected to catch up with us within half a day of our leaving Ruelue tomorrow.

Only about thirty people would be dispatched from Ryuzel's squad, a small force. There was no need to bring many people. The reason was simple: a knight order was stationed in Gadeland, a strategic point.

The Third Knight Order was stationed in Gadeland. It was led by the fierce general Zackhart-sama. Zackhart-sama was the longest-serving of the knight-order commanders and was widely known as a battle-hardened veteran. He took pride in his long, beautifully groomed white beard and was also known as the Lord of the Magnificent Beard.

Therefore, Ryuzel's squad's role was limited to escorting us along the way and serving as a liaison. That said, the route between Ludectrad and Gadeland was the busiest in Ludeck, so security was quite good. That's why we could go ahead to Ruelue.

I had Rufa ride behind me on my beloved horse, Arrow, and we proceeded along the highway at an easy pace. We didn't hurry, since someone unused to horseback riding could get sick.

Still, people passing us kept glancing sideways at us—or rather, mainly at Wickhart and Rufa—as they went by. Those two really stood out. Mostly because of their looks.

Thinking too deeply about Rays-sama's earlier remark left me a little unsettled, so I looked up at the sky to avoid dwelling on it. It was so blue.

Roa, is something wrong? Seeing how I was acting, Rufa turned around and peered at me.

Nothing. More importantly, are you all right? Are you feeling sick? Does your butt hurt? All of that was based on my own experience, so my words should have carried some weight. Probably.

I'm perfectly fine,

Rufa replied, and she really did look fine. I had a rough time when I first started riding.

...Could she have ridden a horse before? Riding a horse...? A girl this young? That would be impossible for a commoner. How had Rufa come to be under Rays-sama's care?

I was curious. But there was an atmosphere that made it difficult to ask about her background, so I had never managed to. My goal was to change the future in which Ludeck was destroyed. To do that, I couldn't give up the powerful card I had worked so hard to acquire: the Tenth Knight Order.

"I was curious about Rufa's background, but I wasn't about to stir up trouble and incur Rays-sama's displeasure. I would wait until she brought it up herself."

Roa-dono, I can see it now. That's the town of Ruelue.

Wickhart's words, as he rode alongside us, pulled me back from the sea of my thoughts.

Looking ahead, I saw the town walls looming before us.

"〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜"

It's lively...

The town of Ruelue was livelier than I had expected. No wonder; it was in the middle of a festival.

"Ruelue, bustling with merchants traveling from the port toward Ludectrad, was beautiful, and it was immediately obvious that no expense had been spared on the festival."

Apparently, a songstress is coming tonight. I can't wait.

I overheard a merchant passing us say that.

With the town this lively, we might not be able to find lodging,

I said worriedly, but Wickhart puffed out his chest and assured me there was no need to worry.

Apparently, a section of each town's lord's mansion was set aside as lodging exclusively for the knight-order commanders. The Knight Orders really had it good.

Following Wickhart, who headed toward the lord's mansion with practiced steps, we arrived there. When we announced our arrival, the lord hurried out and apologized that, since the festival was underway, he would be unable to provide us with proper hospitality.,