I was reincarnated as bait for the summoned hero
“Oh, that’s a big ship!”
“Yeah. It’s much larger than I imagined.”
The ship chosen to head toward the Empire is a large sailing vessel.
It measures over 30 meters in length and has four masts.
The hull is rounded and built solidly, giving it a sturdy appearance.
Haruto to looks up at the large sailing ship with sparkling eyes.
His sister Natsuki is much calmer, carefully checking the ship’s entrances and escape routes.
“It looks like a caravel, developed around the 15th century.”
This is the first time Akiyuki is seeing the ship they will board, and after observing it for a while, this is his impression.
“A caravel?”
“Yeah. It was one of the ships used during the Age of Exploration. It was built for long-distance voyages, so it’s suited for long trips.”
“Then, does that mean it’s a bit reassuring?”
“…Just to be safe, I’ll consult with Tohma .”
They might be able to purchase lifeboats or life vests through a summoning magic online store.
“Oh, it looks like boarding is starting. Let’s go.”
The sharp-eyed Haruto to points to the gangplank.
A board, like a ramp, is laid down, and passengers are boarding the ship one after another.
“Don’t get too excited, Haruto . You’ll fall into the sea.”
“I won’t do something that clumsy. Are we handing over the tickets?”
“Yeah. I have the tickets and an introduction letter from the guild.”
Thanks to the letter written on parchment, they were able to board the ship, albeit a little forcefully.
(Though, there’s also a job to deal with sea monsters… but I don’t think it’ll be a problem.)
Since they’ve already defeated high-ranking monsters in dungeons, they are more than capable of handling wild magical beasts. It might be a bit difficult on the sea, but they can deal with them from a distance using magic.
Besides…
“I’ve found that aquatic magical beasts in this world are delicious. You both are up for it, right?”
“Of course! That delicious fatty tuna-flavored meat, right? That was amazing.”
The meat of the lake serpent sent by Tohma via the Item Box.
The meat of the sub-dragon they defeated in the dungeon had the texture of high-quality fatty tuna.
“That serpent lives in lakes. What we’ll be facing now is the sea. So…”
“Could there be a sea serpent?”
“Yeah! That makes it even more exciting. If we defeat one, we’ll have a sea serpent feast tonight!”
Haruto to laughs merrily.
A sailor passing by overhears this and frowns deeply.
“Hey, kid. Cut it out. If a sea devil like a sea serpent shows up, the ship will almost certainly sink.”
“Are they that strong?”
“If a kraken is the sea devil, then a sea serpent is the sea queen. They hate their territory being disturbed more than anything, and they’re proud magical beasts.”
“I see. Thanks for the information.”
Akiyuki thanks him and hands him three copper coins. The man immediately softens his expression.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. It’s our first time at sea, so we welcome any rare information.”
“I see. Well, it’s going to be a long journey. Take care of us.”
“Same here.”
They wave goodbye with smiles and head toward the gangplank.
“Is the kraken a giant octopus?”
“Wasn’t it a squid?”
“A giant octopus or a giant squid. Either way, it sounds fun.”
Yes, magical beasts in this world are delicious.
Even carnivorous monsters or magical beasts can be edible, and their blood and flesh, rich in magical energy, are considered a delicacy for humans.
“Normally, large vegetables or fruits would taste bad, but that doesn’t happen in this world.”
“Yeah, right? The meat of big birds, deer, and wild boars was delicious. So, that means big squids and octopuses…”
“…are incredibly delicious.”
Natsuki and Akiyuki say the same thing at the same time.
They exchange glances and grin.
“There’s no way Tohma ‘s ever fought one at sea.”
“Then, let’s let him try the kraken.”
“Even though it hasn’t shown up yet, you’re already thinking about it. But I definitely want to hunt a sea serpent.”
Thinking of the fatty tuna-like meat, Natsuki sighs with longing.
“I’ve always wanted to try a seafood bowl with a tower of fatty tuna on it…”
“Wow. That sounds amazing. The ultimate luxury bowl.”
“Tohma would love that too.”
(If we send him the kraken, I’m sure he’ll make some delicious grilled squid or takoyaki.)
“Let’s recharge our spirits on this sea voyage and challenge ourselves to hunt some delicious magical beasts. It’ll be a perfect way to get rid of our lack of exercise.”
“Agreed! Being cooped up at the base all the time can’t be good for our health.”
“Yeah. We’ll definitely need to do some running on the deck in the morning and evening.”
For these three, who are sports elites, morning training and stretching are practically part of their daily routine.
While enjoying the thrilling tales of dangerous fishing, their turn finally arrives.
A man who looks like a crew member asks them for their tickets in front of the gangplank.
“May I see your tickets?”
“Here you go. This is an introduction letter from the guild master.”
“…Oh! You’re a high-ranking adventurer, a bodyguard. We’ll be in your care for this voyage. Let me show you to your room.”
The man gives a signal, and a boy who had been waiting nearby runs over.
“I’ll show you the way! Your luggage…?”
“Oh, I have a storage skill, so don’t worry about it.”
When Natsuki casually declines, the boy looks surprised.
Now that she thinks about it, storage is a rare skill.
The boy regains his composure and says, “This way, please,” and leads them to their room.
◆◇◆
The room they were guided to was a large room for four people.
There were two sets of bunk beds, and by the window, there was a small table and chairs.
Though it was called a “large room,” it felt quite cramped for the three of them.
“The dining room is on the lower floor. There are separate dining rooms for first-class, second-class, and third-class passengers, so please be careful,” the boy guiding them explained.
Haruto tilted his head in confusion.
“By the way, what about this room?”
“This is a second-class room.”
“I see…”
From the plain interior, it seemed like it might be a third-class room.
“If this is second-class, then what about third-class?”
“Ah… In the lowest floor’s large hall, the guests sleep in a dormitory style. Hammocks are rented for one silver coin.”
“Hammocks, huh… That sounds like it could be a bit shaky…”
“Once you get used to it, it’s quite comfortable. If you’re on a bed, you might fall off when the ship rocks in large waves.”
“I see…”
Haruto handed the boy a silver coin as a tip. The boy looked down at the coin, stunned.
“Is this really for me?”
“Yeah. I might need your help again later. Thanks in advance.”
“Yes!”
The boy left with a big smile.
They had been taught all about the ship’s facilities, so they were satisfied. In the dining room, they could have soup and bread, and for an additional charge, meat and fish dishes. Of course, there was no bath. As for the toilet, there was a bucket in the room, and after use, it would be flushed into the sea.
“Yeah, no thanks. Let’s just get out of ‘Home’ already,” Natsuki said.
“Right. Haruto, clean up the stuff in the room,” Akiyuki instructed.
“Got it!” Haruto responded.
Haruto stored the bunk beds and the table set into his [Item Box].
Once the furniture was gone, the dust and dirt became noticeable, so Natsuki used purification magic to clean the entire room.
Once everything was gone, the room felt much more spacious.
After assessing the space, they realized it was more than enough.
Natsuki set up a magical tool, the “Portable Mini House,” in the room.
“…Ah, I almost forgot this.”
Natsuki took out a summoning bell, also a magical tool, from her [Item Box] and attached it to the door of the ship’s room.
This way, if anything happened, they could respond to calls from outside even if they were inside the “Portable Mini House.”
Stepping into their now-comfortable home, Natsuki sat on the sofa in the living room.
Haruto, as usual, was munching on potato chips he had taken out from the [Item Box].
“What do you want to do about the dining room? Should we check it out?”
“I’ll pass. It’s already a world where the food isn’t great, and it’s a dining room on a ship with limited ingredients, right?”
“I’ll skip it too. I don’t want to get sick on the ship.”
“…Yeah, that’s true.”
Drinking water on the ship could be dangerous.
Magicians who can use water magic are highly valued on ships, as water spoils easily. Apparently, ale is preferred.
“I’ll skip the dining room too… Anyway, how about exploring the ship? Since it’s a special occasion, we should take a look around.”
At Haruto’s suggestion, the other two nodded in agreement.
Although they had ridden ferries a few times for club activities, this was their first time on a ship in another world.
“Yeah. I’d like to see the ship set sail.”
“It’s a good idea to check out the ship just in case something happens. Also, I’d like to greet the crew.”
The magical home had a protective barrier, so they decided to leave the room.
Though the ship hadn’t set sail yet, it was already rocking slightly on the water. Since all three of them had trained their core strength, they climbed up the narrow stairs without much difficulty.
On the deck, they could see a few passengers.
There was a group of well-dressed people who seemed to be first-class passengers, along with several adventurers who looked like bodyguards. The crew was bustling about, moving quickly.
“The weather’s great,” Akiyuki remarked.
“Yeah. The wind feels nice. I’d like to stay here and look at the sea for a while,” Natsuki said.
“Same here,” Haruto agreed.
They leaned on the railing, gazing at the port and the sea.
This was the first time they felt so at peace since being transported to this world.
The lively sounds of the crowd, the cries of seagulls, and the soothing sound of the waves created a peaceful atmosphere. They closed their eyes and relaxed, enjoying the moment.
Suddenly, the sound of a bell rang out.
It was time to set sail.
The sails were raised, and the ship began to glide across the sea with the wind.
“It’s the start of a fun journey,” Natsuki said, playfully smiling as she held down her long black hair against the sea breeze.
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