By Zephyria 
Still, getting a little wet from the rain was better than being doused in water. I couldn’t be sure of this ship’s durability, so I didn’t want to take a bigger gamble. After a brief hesitation, I sliced through the waves.
I split the falling water a few more times, weakening it. The broken and shattered waves fell like a downpour. I hoped Ruben, held tightly in my arms, wouldn’t get wet, but the next wave followed immediately, so I gave up.
Several angered Nereids summoned high waves repeatedly.
The child gritted his teeth and clung to me. The reason was obvious. He was worried that if I put too much strain on my injured left arm while holding him, the wound might worsen. Feeling pity, I wrapped my arms around his waist again and focused on slicing through the waves.
How many times did I slice through waves as big as houses, as big as castles, as big as Mount Tai?
I sliced through all the water within my sight, but I couldn’t eliminate the water falling onto the surface. The merchant ship, originally built to cross the calm Indus Bay, lurched violently. It swayed so much that it was pushed backward with a thud.
The anchor had broken.
Immediately, the ship began to move towards Yulan. It seemed the ship’s helm was inside the captain’s cabin. It was fortunate that the sails had been furled when the anchor was dropped. It was incredibly strange how the ship moved forward even without wind.
Several Nereids, who had been approaching us, were seen clinging to the golden island again.
Only then did Ruben relax his grip on my arm. He had been holding me so tightly that the ribbon of his neatly braided hair had come undone, and his soaked hair covered his face like a ghost. I guided his hands back to my waist and gently brushed his hair back with my own.
Ruben passively rested his face against my hand. His pale, wet cheeks looked pitiful. He had come out wearing thick winter clothes, and I worried if the soaked clothes weren’t too heavy. I knew full well that Ruben was a martial artist and that this weight was nothing compared to a sandbag, but I couldn’t help but worry.
The child hesitated and then asked.
“Are we… going to keep doing this?”
“Yes. Just in case.”
Ruben, who understood without needing a lengthy explanation that a few enraged Nereids might chase us, clung tightly to my waist. As the chill of the cold seawater subsided slightly, his body heat radiated through his wet clothes, making every spot he touched feel warm.
…A slightly, just slightly, impure thought crossed my mind.
But it couldn’t be helped.
If the Nereids’ target was Ruben, wouldn’t it be more dangerous if he were locked in a cabin with the other sailors and I couldn’t see him when they broke the ship apart? I couldn’t let the child out of my sight until we left this sea.
Ruben would occasionally loosen his grip to push back his wet hair, but he quickly re-wrapped his arms around my waist. When our eyes met, his shy, embarrassed smile was so captivating that I couldn’t find a place to look.
Fortunately, none of the sailors came out onto the deck, as they still believed it was dangerous outside.
It felt like we had reached Songbrue Port in an instant, but the sun was already setting, painting the sky red.
As soon as the ship docked, the sailors rushed out, bustling about fixing the anchor and inspecting the sails. I grabbed one of them and asked if they had any spare clothes, but he looked greatly surprised and scurried away, only to return with an armful of towels.
It seemed there were no spare clothes. For now, I took Ruben and got off the ship.
Ruben kept glancing at me, his face still flushed.
“Are you very cold?”
“No, no… It’s not that…”
Then Ivan, who had called for the coachman, clicked his tongue and chided me.
“Mikael, button up your vest. It’s all showing through.”
“…Ah.”
“I should have known when you came out wearing just a white shirt and vest in winter.”
I had forgotten that I had unbuttoned it to avoid it restricting me while I was using my sword. Feeling unnecessarily embarrassed, I tidied my clothes and grumbled at Ivan. I was still very concerned about Ruben, who couldn’t lift his head.
“If you’re a merchant, you should have prepared clothes beforehand.”
“People who only wear custom-made clothes, what can you expect? It’s fine. There are hardly any wizards here, so let’s hurry.”
Ivan, perhaps conscious of the onlookers, didn’t ask anything further.
However, as soon as we got into the carriage and left Songbrue Port, he demanded an explanation.
“What was that just now? How can such waves appear on a calm sea?”
“There were Nereids swarming around. Around that island.”
“Then why did they attack us? This has never happened before.”
What should I say to that?
I didn’t have a strong feeling that my guess was the answer. After a moment of hesitation, I opened my mouth hesitantly.
“Ruben…”
“Your Highness?”
I glanced at Ruben. The child said nothing. It seemed to be the same reason the God of Oasis and the Sun God disliked Ruben. I had no idea what that first human had done in his lifetime.
“…Isn’t it because he’s pretty…?”
“What?”
“What did you say?”
“Cough! Gak! Keck!”
Ruben exclaimed, his face beet red.
“H-how can you say that, Mika! That’s not it! You should say it’s because I resemble that human…”
“That human?”
“Keck! Kehek! Gak, ugh, cough!”
Ruben, flustered and unable to contain himself, ran his hands through his hair. Ruben had taken off his jacket, which only stole his body heat, and his white dress shirt clung to his forearm. Seeing his skin peeking through made my vision blur.
Ruben, angered, covered his face with both hands and bowed his head deeply.
“…Later, when we arrive. I’ll tell you when we arrive. I need to sort out my thoughts.”
“Yes… Please do.”
“Kek, kkeup, heu…”
“…We’re the ones who are wet, so why are you catching a cold…”
“No, that, that’s not it.”
Ivan glanced at me.
Only then did I realize belatedly that what I had thought in my head and what I had wanted to say had been swapped. Greatly embarrassed, I deliberately looked out the distant window to avoid Ivan’s gaze. Ruben was still ashamed, his head bowed.
Then Ivan grabbed his wife and kissed her.
Ivan’s wife, who had been coughing, instantly fell silent.
I, who had inadvertently witnessed their intimate moment up close, was startled and recoiled. Ivan breathed his breath into Sienna Bicov’s mouth, gently stroked her broad back, and after a few silent kisses, casually lifted his head.
That guy. That. That. Is he. Now. My jaw dropped.
“Are you feeling a bit better now?”
“…Yes…”
Now Sienna was curled up in the same pose as Ruben.
It was quiet for a long time until we reached the mansion of the Imperial Noble Yearbook’s Yulan branch. Did Ruben see what they did? What if he did, and what if he didn’t?
I was too shocked to even question it. What Shayden had told me once came back to mind.
The way I believe is right only needs to be applied to myself.
…However, I couldn’t stand by and watch them do such things in front of the innocent and shy Rubel. Yes, I would have to call Ivan aside later and talk to him. I needed to ask him not to do such things in front of Rubel.
My insides burned so much that I didn’t even feel the cold.
❖ ❖ ❖
As soon as we arrived at the Imperial Noble Yearbook’s Yulan branch safe house, a swift informant announced the arrival of Ranunculus. Unlike other regions that were relatively far, this message came from Felix, which was very close.
In Felix, reinforcements sent by Duke Widrow were stationed.
However, since it was no longer possible to know the current whereabouts of the Ninth God’s Origin, news from Felix had a relatively low priority. Therefore, Ruben and I washed up, changed into dry clothes, and then brought Ranunculus into the room.
From Ranunculus, who had come from Felix, Hugh Benson’s voice emerged.
“I am delivering this reply under the command of the Second Prince. Please understand that some formalities are being omitted for the sake of rapid situation reporting.”
Although the tone was polite, as if anticipating a third party listening, both Ruben and I were greatly surprised to recognize the sharp ending of the voice. I unconsciously adjusted my posture.
Hugh Benson was among the strongest in the group. He was positioned near Benjamin and Marianne, possessing exceptional martial arts skills. Ruben had expected him to lead a group towards the Sanctuary of the Sun.
So, he was in Felix? Naturally, I tensed, worrying about the safety of the others.
Perhaps knowing we would react this way, Hugh Benson skipped further pleasantries and immediately began reporting the current situation.
“Wizard Philodendor, Knight Claudian, Mercenaries Leon, John, and Giselle. These five individuals have been confirmed to have evacuated towards the Sanctuary of the Sun. Knight Benson and Brooks remained at the scene to rescue the two mercenaries, Peter and Ann, who were stranded along with falling rocks, and succeeded in the rescue. The injured parties were in serious condition, so they were transported to the nearest village from the rescue site. With the help of reinforcements waiting in Felix, evacuation procedures for both injured individuals to their home country have been completed.”
…At least they all survived.
I was proud of Hugh and Elvin for not giving up on the mercenaries until the end. On the other hand, I was heavy-hearted, worrying about Marianne and Benjamin, who had headed into the desert without their help. Ranunculus continued without pause.
“Including myself, Count, 54 reinforcements are currently engaged in eliminating remaining zombies and monsters at the Felix border, organized into teams of five or four. And…”
Ranunculus let out a short sigh, “Hugh.” Mimicking Hugh Benson’s speech pattern, he puffed out his chest, which had a round body. Over that round form, Hugh’s furrowed brow seemed to overlap.
“Since the incident, I’ve been infiltrating the Indus Canyon once a day whenever I had the capacity… but… it seems these guys have gone quite far. Celestial observation has become possible within the Indus Canyon.”
“…”
“We are prepared to move and fight at your command, but it’s not easy due to reasons of rank and administrative procedures. For this reason, I would like to request that Your Highness grant me temporary command authority. Well… if not, then not.”
“…”
“I await your reply. Count Hugh Benson.”