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TL: ALT
Chapter 36 – Boat Trip Part 2
Many sailors were on deck.
A large mast stood upright, and the ship was powered by both sails and oars.
The merchant ship, which was owned by the Welcome Trading Company, was actually jointly owned.
William had also invested in the ship, and the captain was one of the owners. He was also carrying his own cargo.
Looking closely at the ship, Wataru noticed something painted on the deck.
His shoes stuck to the deck; perhaps it was a non-slip coating or waterproof liquid.
Yeah, ships are great.
Regardless of whether he could do it, he wanted to try steering the ship himself or standing on top of the mast.
He wanted to shout, “Hard to starboard!”
As he gazed at the strange ship from another world, a man with an obvious air of authority approached.
The captain, Masques, is a healthy-looking sailor with dark, sunburned skin.
His face is covered in a thick beard, from his sideburns to his chin.
Perhaps because his skin is so dark, his teeth look bright white when he smiles.
He wore a coat that was probably made of water-resistant material; it looked sharp and stylish.
He holds a letter William gave him.
“Hey, you’re Wataru, right? I’ve heard all about you from William. I’m Captain Masques. Nice to meet you.”
“I look forward to working with you over the next few days.”
“All right. We’ll reach the capital in three days. Leave the safety of the journey to me. I’ll take care of any bandits or monsters that get in our way. We’ll stay in town until evening to load and unload the cargo, so you can go out and do as you please until we set sail the next morning. But don’t be late—I won’t wait for you if you oversleep!”
“Got it. I’ll make sure not to get in the way.”
“That’s all I ask!”
Masques’s deep, loud voice resonated in his stomach.
He gave off an air of reliability.
If he’s in charge of the ship, he can really trust this man.
“Have you been a sailor for a long time, Masques-san?”
“Yeah, I started as an apprentice when I was ten, and I’ve been on ships for thirty years. Now, I feel safer on the water than on land.”
“That’s amazing.”
“Hey, do you have any profitable business opportunities for me? That bastard William is making a fortune with sugar, and I’m jealous.”
Despite talking about his own desires, there was no trace of malice or greed.
His bold personality must serve him well.
Wataru answered honestly and didn’t seem uncomfortable.
“I don’t have anything right now, but I’m thinking about my next product.”
“Let me in on it. I’ve got connections from the capital to the sea. I’ll make sure we make a profit!”
“That sounds good. Once the product is ready, let’s discuss the terms.”
“Really? You understand. I want to decorate this ship more luxuriously. Please help me out.”
Wataru had been thinking about expanding his business beyond the Welcome Trading Company.
A joint venture is a little concerning, but it’s advantageous that there’s little chance of getting into trouble by bringing up the subject with the wrong people.
It should be fine to bring it up in the future.
They shook hands firmly; Masques’ hand was large and strong.
He must use it to steer the ship and protect the cargo and crew from all kinds of weather.
He seemed very reliable.
Apparently, the passenger cabin was used to store cargo when there were no passengers.
It was quite austere with foldable tables.
Small holes filled with translucent stones served as windows.
The attention to detail was impressive.
Wataru wondered if a skilled shipwright had built it.
“Hey, everyone! We’re setting sail! Hoist the sails!”
“Ooh!”
A loud voice called out from outside, and the ship shook with a jolt.
The large hull swayed slightly, probably due to the recoil of the ropes used to moor the ship during departure.
Eventually, the ship began to move forward at a steady pace.
“We’ll have to stay in this cramped cabin for a while. I need something to keep me entertained…”
“I think I’ll practice my sword techniques. My skills have gotten a little rusty lately.”
“I’d like to read the book Master bought me the other day.”
“Oh, you brought that heavy thing with you?”
Mariel placed an encyclopedia on the table with a thud.
It was certainly the kind of book you would read if you were intellectually curious, but it was quite heavy.
It wasn’t the kind of book you would carry with you on a trip.
Mariel glanced at Aire.
“Yes, I asked Aire to carry it for me in exchange for some Chikama snacks.” T/N: Chikama refers to a cheese-filled fish cake. It’s a popular Japanese snack often sold in convenience stores or as part of bento boxes. The cheese is usually wrapped inside a cylindrical piece of kamaboko, a fish paste product, making it a savory and slightly creamy treat.]
“Hehe, Chikama is delicious, after all!”
“What a cheap way to bribe…”
“W-what are you talking about? It’s really delicious!”
“I know that. Don’t get so angry.”
Wataru looked at Aire with a bewildered expression, but that was probably only because he trusted her.
In front of him, she always acts cute and charming. However, Aire is neither stupid nor overly kind.
On the contrary, she is a reasonable and even cold-hearted warrior.
That’s why she shows her vulnerable side to him and expresses her trust in him, which makes him happy.
“I’ll think about how to reply to that email and watch the video you downloaded.”
“Do you want to practice with me?”
“No, I’m no match for you. Maybe next time you can teach me the basics. I’m interested in Aire’s martial arts.”
“Sure, when you’re ready, I’ll train you hard so you can get stronger!”
“Please go easy on me…”
“Fufufu, I’ll make sure you don’t get too beat up, Master.”
The number of emails asking about purchasing potions continues to increase.
Word of mouth has slowly spread, and now many people are waiting for their turn.
Until now, he had been responding to each request individually. However, once he secures a new sales location, he plans to have several customers come in at once each day.
He takes great care when replying to emails.
The clients are top-notch professionals, and their requests are serious business.
He can’t just brush them off as routine work, so he responds to each one honestly and sincerely.
Wataru racks his brain over the email while Mariel concentrates on her reading.
As Aire silently practices sword techniques, he hears the songs of men rowing a boat.
“Up the river and across the sea!
Hoisting sails and rowing oars is our work!
Connecting countries through trade routes,
Seeking profit and adventure, we go wherever we may.
The wind is both friend and foe.
Adjusting the sails to the wind is our work.
Wisdom and skill create wealth.
Hoisting sails is our pride forever…”
The ship moved steadily upstream against the current.
[Anti-slip Deck Material] A substance made by burning and crushing blue shells found on the shores of another world, then mixing them with water.
It has strong water repellency and anti-corrosion properties, and is used by sailors on ships.
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This boat trip is for them to relax until they reach the shore. Thanks for the treat.
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He’s regressing to a child
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