Chapter 28

The blue sky, white clouds, and then—the sea stretching endlessly!!

So, we are now on a ship.

"Captain, look, there are so many seabirds flying!"

"I know, so stop making a fuss."

The captain, looking pale, was leaning against the railing. He must have weak semicircular canals. Ever since we set sail, he has been battling seasickness.

Looking out at the sea, the ship swayed slightly.

"Ugh!"

The captain clutched his mouth, his eyes watering.

"Here, I'll give you a sachet to prevent seasickness."

It was my first time on a ship, so I had prepared for seasickness just in case.

This sachet was made by mixing apple mint, lavender, and frankincense, then dripping it onto a piece of cloth and placing it in a small bag. The scent would ease seasickness.

Apple mint has a calming effect that relaxes the mind and body. Lavender helps with headaches and nausea.

I made it based on what I learned from the village's medical practitioner when I was a child.

"Is it medicine?"

"No, it's a sachet."

"Fine. If I smell something strong now, I'll throw up."

"What nonsense."

"You don't understand because you don't get seasick."

"Hmm."

I couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

Seeing the captain in such a weakened state was quite refreshing, but I also felt a bit sorry for him.

"Oh, right. There's a pressure point to ease seasickness!"

This knowledge was also taught to me by the village's medical practitioner. I thought it wouldn't be useful while living in the forest, but I was wrong. Any knowledge can come in handy someday.

"A pressure point to prevent seasickness... Does such a thing exist?"

"Yes."

The point called Neiguan, located on the wrist, can alleviate discomfort in the chest and stomach.

"Can you clench your hand and tilt your wrist inward?"

"Like this?"

"Yes."

When you clench your fist and bend your wrist, two tendons appear on your arm. I was taught to press firmly in the middle of these tendons.

"It's also effective for loss of appetite, stomachache, and hangovers."

"Really?"

"I'll try it now."

To find the Neiguan point, place three fingers at the junction of the hand and wrist, pointing towards the elbow. The point is between the two tendons at the location of the third finger. I pressed it with my thumb.

"Ouch!"

"I'm not pressing that hard, am I?"

"Don't lie! It hurts!"

"I was taught to press firmly."

"Where's the 'firmly'? You're using all your strength!"

He was surprisingly weak-willed. I sighed.

Still, pressing the pressure point was quite a task. As I was rolling up my sleeves and getting ready to try again, a voice called out from behind.

"Mel, shall I do it for you?"

Turning around, I saw Zarra offering to help with a smile.

"Where should I press?"

"Here."

"Got it."

"Thank you. It's quite a job."

"I thought so."

Zarra. She's so kind. Since she offered to press the point for me, I decided to let her.

"By the way, Mel, why don't you and Vice-Captain Berry go have some tea?"

"Is that okay?"

"Yes. I've been resting, so go ahead."

"Thank you."

I was tired of taking care of the captain, so I took her advice and invited Vice-Captain Berry for tea.

"Oh, right."

I took a sachet out of my shoulder bag.

"This is for Zarra."

"Oh, how cute. What is it?"

"It's a sachet to prevent seasickness."

I had made one for everyone, so I offered it to her.

Zarra happily accepted it.

I tied the captain's sachet to his belt without asking.

"Then, I'll be off."

"Okay, see you later."

As I turned to leave, I heard the captain's scream immediately.

"Ouch!! What are you doing, you bastard!!"

"Oh, this is treatment."

"It's definitely not! That's violence!"

It seemed the captain was feeling better. The pressure point treatment was quite effective.

Vice-Captain Berry was in the aftcastle, gazing at the sea.

"Vice-Captain Berry!"

When I called her name, she looked at me in surprise. She seemed to have been deep in thought but quickly smiled and approached me.

"Lis-Lis, the medic, is there something wrong?"

"I thought we could have some tea in the dining room."

As I tried to move closer to Vice-Captain Berry, I almost tripped on some seaweed on the deck.

"Be careful!"

"Whoa!"

I almost fell headfirst onto the deck, but Vice-Captain Berry caught me by the waist just in time.

"Are you okay, Lis-Lis?"

"Yes, thank you."

After that, she supported me by the shoulder, saying it was dangerous.

She whispered in my ear that she was glad I wasn't hurt.

Vice-Captain Berry, though a woman, is so cool that my heart raced, needless to say.

In the dining room, we drank juice made from tropical fruits.

It was sweet and tangy, and delicious.

"Still, this is quite a situation."

"Yes."

This time, we were heading to a southern island, a vacation spot for the royal family.

The ship was specially provided by the naval forces.

We were heading to the southern island to clean up after the royal family.

The one who caused the problem was the Seventh Princess (age 7). On her birthday, the king gave her a baby griffin, but she didn't like it and refused to board the same ship with it, so they left it on the southern island.

It had been about a week since they left it there.

"I wonder if the baby griffin is still alive."

"Probably not. It can't get its own food until it's about three months old."

"I see."

It seems the contract with the griffin hasn't been made yet.

The Seventh Princess had begged her father for a griffin after seeing it in a picture book, but the griffin they found was a bit mischievous.

The princess was shocked by the difference between the gentle griffin in the picture book and the real one, and refused to make the contract. The griffin also didn't show any willingness to compromise.

"People say it's easy to make a contract, but the griffin also chooses its master. Not everyone can make a contract."

"I see."

Our mission this time is to capture the griffin.

The princess has said she doesn't want it anymore, but the griffin is a protected creature.

The country is trying hard to protect rare species and prevent their numbers from decreasing.

The reason it took a week is that the princess had strictly ordered her servants and guards to keep it a secret. They must have been in a difficult position, unable to disobey her orders.

However, when the king visited the princess, he discovered that the griffin was missing.

"Can we catch the griffin?"

"It's a delicate creature, so I hope the captain and Gar don't scare it."

While we were talking, it seemed it was time for dinner.

I had been looking forward to it because the kitchen had been emitting a delicious aroma.

I went to call the captain, Zarra, Urgas, and Gar.

"Captain, are you feeling better?"

The captain, who had taken his seat at the table, looked much better.

"Thanks to Mel's pressure point therapy."

"What's pressure point therapy?"

Urgas, who sat next to me, asked.

"Technically, it's called an acupuncture point—"

In simple terms, stimulating an acupuncture point connected to a part of the body that is feeling unwell can change the blood flow and improve the condition.

"Wow, that's an amazing treatment method."

"Yes, I learned it from the village's medical practitioner."

"A medical practitioner?"

"Like a doctor who uses magic for treatment."

The medical practitioner didn't recommend using magic for treatment but taught knowledge that anyone could use, such as herbs and pressure point therapy. I never thought it would come in handy one day. Life is full of surprises.

As we were talking, the food was brought out.

"Wow!"

On a large plate was something that looked like a white stone.

What is this...?

The chef, seeing my puzzled face, explained.

"This is salt-baked fish."

It seems the fish is wrapped in a mixture of meringue and salt and baked thoroughly in an oven. I was impressed by this fish dish I had never seen before.

"How do you eat it?"

"You break it open with a mallet."

"Wow."

Vice-Captain Berry explained. She grew up in a port town and often ate salt-baked fish.

Gar broke open the white meringue and salt covering the fish with a mallet.

A red fish appeared inside.

Zarra cut it with a knife, and vegetables came out from the belly.

"I see, you stuff the vegetables inside and bake it."

It looked delicious.

Zarra divided the fish into portions for everyone.

Bread, pickled fish, oil-marinated shellfish, and grilled prawns with cheese were also brought out.

A luxurious array of seafood dishes was laid out.

We said a prayer before the meal and started eating.

When I pierced the fish with a fork, fat oozed out of the white flesh. I brought it to my mouth.

I thought it might be too salty, but it wasn't. It was full of concentrated flavor.

The skin was indeed salty, but it was delicious when placed on bread.

Squeezing citrus on it made it light and very tasty.

The vegetables inside the fish were also delicious...! The leafy greens and root vegetables had absorbed the fish's broth and had a refined taste.

The bounty of the sea is the best.

It was a good start to the first night of our expedition.