Chapter 56
After parting ways with Bohn's ship from the Vahl Archipelago, we headed straight for Merka Island.
Along the way, we passed through the area known as the 'Archipelago Waters,' where a hundred small islands were scattered across the sea. Because of the islands, the wind and waves tangled together in complex patterns, making it a notoriously difficult stretch of water. Of course, for the experienced sailors under Captain Maurice, it was as familiar as their own backyard. Even so, the high waves rocked the ship violently, leaving Borel, Gatt, Zeze, and Jini thoroughly seasick. Al, who had overcome his seasickness, laughed at them and earned their reproachful glares.
After passing through the Archipelago Waters and continuing onward, a large island came into view beyond the open sea.
A massive mountain stood at the center of the island, covered in lush green trees. Gray cliffs towered along the eastern side, where waves crashed against them. On the western side, I could see a yellow sandy beach. And to the south, where the ship was headed, stood a gray stone harbor.
Aboard the Lazybones, Captain Maurice called out orders while the sailors hurried about.
To avoid getting in their way, I waited for the ship to reach the harbor at the bow, where the sailors rarely came. Zeze was there too, excitedly looking at the island, while Jini urged Zeze to calm down. Borel watched the seagulls, Gatt was still seasick, and Paula-san slowly rubbed Gatt's back.
"It's quite a large island, isn't it, Captain Romelia!"
A voice came from overhead. When I looked up, I saw Al, his red hair bright against the sky, standing in the lookout platform atop the mast.
"I thought it would be smaller."
As he spoke, Al left the lookout platform and slid down the rope supporting the mast. Once he had descended far enough, he let go and leaped onto the yard supporting the sail. He used the momentum to jump again, then landed lightly on the deck.
"Merka Island is the largest island in the Mebyum Inland Sea, after all."
I leafed through the history books in my mind.
According to the history Velli-sensei had taught me, the name Merka Island had appeared in records dating back a thousand years. Since it was such a large island, it must have been easy for people to settle there, and it had likely prospered as an important trading center since ancient times.
As I spoke to Al, I saw Ray approach from the deck, his blue hair visible above his clothes. He had been using magic to propel the ship.
"Ray, thank you for your hard work. You did very well."
"Not at all, Romelia-sama. It was hardly enough to warrant your praise."
"We arrived ahead of schedule. That's thanks to you, Ray."
I smiled at him. Ray's contribution had truly been significant. We had originally been scheduled to arrive tonight, but thanks to his efforts, it was only just past noon. If we started working now, there should still be things we could accomplish. When I praised him, Ray blushed and lowered his head.
While we were talking, the ship continued drawing closer to Merka Island. It came alongside one of the many piers extending from the harbor.
A gangplank was laid from the ship to the pier, and the sailors hurried down it, using ropes to secure the ship to the pier.
"It looks like we've arrived. Shall we disembark as well?"
I urged everyone onward and descended from the deck to the pier using the gangplank. Paula-san, Jini, and the others followed me, but Al apparently found it bothersome, so he kicked off from the gunwale and jumped straight down onto the pier.
"Oh, it's not rocking! It's not rocking! Solid ground!"
Al stamped along the pier, rejoicing in setting foot on land for the first time in a day and a half.
"Wow, this is amazing. Even though we're on the ground, my body still feels like it's rocking. Hey, Jini, Jini!"
"I know. I'm feeling it too."
Zeze laughed as she swayed unsteadily, while Jini shifted his feet back and forth in place. What Zeze and Jini were experiencing was probably land sickness. Their bodies had become accustomed to the rocking ship, so when nothing was moving, they felt as though they were swaying instead.
"It'll go away after a while."
I spoke to the two of them as I walked along the pier. I felt a slight rocking myself, but it was not enough to affect my steps.
We walked along the wooden pier and arrived at the harbor built from gray stone.
"This is quite an impressive harbor."
Al looked around the harbor, clearly impressed.
Merka Island's harbor was indeed broad and impressive. First there was a large plaza paved with gray stone. A rectangular monument towered in the center, bearing an inscription stating that the harbor had been opened more than a thousand years ago.
Several large red-brick warehouses stood in a row on the left side of the plaza. On the right, wooden taverns, inns, and restaurants stood side by side. Straight ahead stood a church coated in white plaster and a building that appeared to be a town hall.
For a harbor with a thousand-year history, it certainly had all the necessary facilities. However...
"It's kind of run-down, isn't it?"
Al looked around the harbor once more.
Merka Island's harbor had impressive facilities. But it lacked any bustle.
There were only a few ships at the many piers. Other than the Lazybones, the only vessel moored there had a bird statue on its prow. Empty bottles and scrap lumber lay outside the warehouses, which showed no sign of being in use. The restaurants and taverns did not appear to have any customers, while people sat or slept outside them with bottles of liquor clutched in their hands. Even the large plaza saw little foot traffic and felt deserted.
I noticed a child behind the monument. The child looked to be about five years old—around the same age as Borel's younger brother, who had fallen in front of me just a few days earlier. However, the child's thin limbs protruded from their clothes, and their face was deathly pale. They seemed to lack even the energy to play and sat motionless in the shade.
Captain Maurice, having finished mooring the ship, came walking along the pier toward us as we gazed at the harbor.
"This place used to be much better, you know."
Captain Maurice narrowed his eyes as he looked at the desolate harbor.
"Ships loaded with cargo used to gather here from all over, and the harbor overflowed with people and goods. Things started changing about ten years ago."
When he said ten years ago, something occurred to me. That was exactly when the Demon King's army had appeared on this continent.
"The Demon King's army extended its reach into the Mebyum Inland Sea as well. They seized the coastal towns and took their ships, trying to bring the entire inland sea under their control."
I lowered my chin as I listened.
At the time, the Lionel Kingdom had no harbor on the Mebyum Inland Sea, so the fighting there had seemed like a distant fire. Still, I had heard about how fierce the battles had been.
"To oppose the Demon King's army, we brought the islands of the inland sea together and formed the Archipelago Alliance."
Captain Maurice clenched his fist tightly. I nodded along with his words.
Merka Island had the longest history and greatest influence in the Mebyum Inland Sea. As the leading power among the islands, its people had risen to the occasion.
"Each island lined up its warships, and we sent out a great many vessels. Ships from all across the inland sea gathered, but we couldn't defeat the Demon King's army easily."
"...The Demon King's army is strong, after all."
Captain Maurice bobbed his bearded chin at my words.
"Aye, they're strong. They don't give a damn about their lives. They're nothing like the pirates who turn up around here."
Captain Maurice and his men fought pirates in their role as escorts, and at times they likely became pirates themselves and attacked other ships. But they were not specialists in warfare. Piracy was merely a way for them to earn occasional extra income. The Demon King's army, on the other hand, was a fighting force whose sole purpose was combat. It was organized for war, never neglected training to kill, and continued producing weapons without pause.
It was like a fight between street thugs and an army. Though they knew the Mebyum Inland Sea inside out, they could not face such an opponent head-on.
"We gradually began to lose ground. That's when the coastal nations offered us aid. We eagerly accepted their proposal. We were that desperate. We borrowed soldiers, fought the Demon King's army, and somehow managed to drive them back."
"Oh, you did it!"
Al, who had been listening to the story, exclaimed brightly. But I found it hard to accept.
The Lionel Kingdom had no harbor on the Mebyum Inland Sea, so it was understandable that we saw the fighting as a distant fire. But to the coastal nations with harbors on the inland sea, the war was happening right before their eyes. They should have been willing to send soldiers from the start.
"...I have heard what happened afterward."
"Aye. In exchange for their aid, the coastal nations stationed troops on the various islands. Officially, it was to oppose the threat of the Demon King's army. In reality, they used military force to rule the islands."
"Seriously? That's awful."
After hearing Captain Maurice's story, Al grimaced.
The actions of the various nations were, as Al said, deplorable.
There is a saying in the East about lending someone the eaves, only to have them take the main house. That was exactly what happened.
"We of Merka Island refused to allow troops from the coastal nations to be stationed here. Then the other islands, which had received aid from the coastal nations, began raiding our territory. Even if we wanted to fight back, we had lost so many ships and men in the battles against the Demon King's army that we couldn't put up a fight. As a result, our fishing grounds were taken from us, and merchant ships stopped coming here."
Captain Maurice let his shoulders droop with a sigh.
The coastal nations' goal had been control of the Mebyum Inland Sea's economic interests from the very beginning. The fact that they waited until Merka Island was in dire straits before sending troops made that clear. But the response of the other islands was even more appalling. Instead of joining Merka Island in resisting the coastal nations' domination, they had foolishly become the coastal nations' agents. They must have been blinded by the prospect of taking Merka Island's territory, which the coastal nations had dangled before them.
Yet even if they obtained Merka Island's territory, becoming vassals of the coastal nations would make the gain meaningless. It was fine while the coastal nations were treating them leniently, but once circumstances changed, they would become the ones being exploited. By then, they would have no way to resist.
Captain Maurice turned his gaze toward the plaza. His eyes held sorrow as he looked at the adults with no work, their heads bowed, and the children with sunken cheeks.
"Well, sometimes the current just runs against you. Now then, I'll take you to Radick-san's place."
Captain Maurice pulled himself together and urged us onward.