Chapter 82

"We're almost at the town with the port."

This event is supposed to gather at the town with the port.

The other heroes seem to be traveling in carriages provided by the country.

They apparently left before us, but with Filo's speed, it's highly likely we've overtaken them.

Filo is in a good mood, as this is her first leisurely carriage ride in a while.

"Ah, Naofumi-sama... Can we make a quick detour?"

"Hm?"

It's rare for Laftalia to specify a place she wants to go.

It's not that far, so it shouldn't be a problem.

"Sure, go ahead."

"Then, Filo, please turn inland on this road."

"Okay!"

So, we headed to... an abandoned village.

The remnants of dilapidated buildings tell us that this was once a village.

An abandoned well, houses without roofs, a burned-out house.

A collapsed mansion that was likely the lord's residence... This village evokes a complex mix of emotions.

It seems too new to have been abandoned long ago, but not just a few days either.

I wonder how long this village has been abandoned.

"..."

Laftalia silently observed the village as we passed through it.

There are countless graves at the edge of the village.

Come to think of it, Laftalia is from a rural area not far from a seaside town, which was hit by the first wave.

Could this be the village where Laftalia grew up?

I've been in this world for over three months now.

Considering the process of the heroes being summoned, it's been at most four months.

Thinking that just four months ago, there was a village of demi-humans here, it speaks to the intensity of the wave.

The queen mentioned that the person in charge of internal affairs died in the first wave.

If the demi-humans were well-liked, they might have been the lord of this village.

"Laftalia, how far are we going?"

"To the cliff overlooking the sea."

"Okay, got it."

In the swaying carriage, I continued to look at the village where Laftalia might have been born.

We eventually reached a steep cliff overlooking the sea, and Laftalia got out of the carriage.

At the edge of the cliff, there was something made of piled-up pebbles... I think it's a grave.

Laftalia picked a flower nearby and placed it in front of the grave.

Then she clasped her hands and prayed.

The sun was setting, and the surroundings were bathed in orange light.

I couldn't bring myself to speak to Laftalia at that moment.

Thinking about it, Laftalia lost her family about four months ago.

She's a very strong person mentally.

She lost her family, yet she continued to live... and she told me she went through a lot before meeting me.

What can I do for Laftalia?

No, when I return to my original world, what will happen to Laftalia?

Filo has Melty, but Laftalia has nothing.

Sometimes Laftalia asks me about my reasons for returning to my original world, maybe she's worried about what will happen after everything is over.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting."

"No problem. Let's go."

"Yes!"

...After this wave, I decided to think more about Laftalia.

"Ugh..."

"Ugh..."

"Ugh..."

The heroes gathered at the port town and boarded the ship.

Incidentally, the ship is large enough to carry Filo's carriage.

Everything was fine until then.

However, about half a day after Ren, Motomu, and Itsuki boarded the ship, they were down with seasickness.

While the cabins are assigned, so it's not a problem, the crew asked us to greet the heroes, and as soon as we gathered, the three of them groaned and vomited into the sea.

"Seasickness..."

I've never been seasick, so I don't really understand, but it seems many people are weak on boats.

Maybe because of the seasickness, the three heroes are unusually friendly with each other.

Honestly, I have no intention of getting too close...

"Naofumi doesn't get seasick, huh..."

"Yeah, I've never been seasick."

"Kyah-ho!"

Incidentally, Filo, in her monster form, jumped out of the ship and swam in the sea like a water bird.

Or rather, she's floating?

Excited by the sea she's seeing for the first time, Filo dove into the sea. After that, she occasionally swam in the sea while on the ship.

The ship is large, so I'm a bit worried, but Filo can use wind magic, so she can get back on her own if needed.

"Ah..."

A large fish shadow is approaching behind Filo.

"Filo, be careful!"

"Hmm?"

As Filo turned to look at the fish shadow, a shark-like monster opened its mouth wide and attacked.

"Take this!"

Filo kicked the shark monster's jaw, sending it flying into the air.

She then kicked it towards the ship, landing it on the deck.

The crew and adventurers screamed.

Filo finished off the thrashing shark monster on the deck.

"You're mistaken if you think you can make a meal out of Filo."

And she's tearing the shark monster apart with her claws and eating it.

"Don't make a mess on the deck."

"...She's doing something incredible."

Kyouya, who has turned pale, muttered to me.

Well, it is impressive, but it's Filo.

There's even a ballista-like weapon on the back of the ship, so we can fight if needed.

Incidentally, this is the second shark.

The first one was disassembled and absorbed by my shield.

The conditions for the Blue Shark Shield have been unlocked.

The conditions for the Shark Bite Shield have been unlocked.

The conditions for the Shark Leather Shield have been unlocked.

The conditions for the Shark Meat Shield have been unlocked.

Blue Shark Shield

Ability not unlocked... Equipment bonus, Swimming skill 1

Shark Bite Shield

Ability not unlocked... Equipment bonus, Ship combat skill 1

Special effect: Shark teeth

Shark Leather Shield

Ability not unlocked... Equipment bonus, 2% reduction in aquatic attacks

Special effect: Shark skin

Shark Meat Shield

Ability not unlocked... Equipment bonus, Agility 3

Swimming skill... I can swim pretty well already.

"..."

"Probably a poor swimmer."

"Ah..."

"You guys think I'd sink if I fell into the sea, right? Sorry to disappoint, but I can swim."

The seasick heroes are whispering about what would happen if I fell into the sea, so I warn them.

"No..."

"What's wrong?"

"I meant Kyouya is a poor swimmer..."

"Me...?"

"I meant Ren is a poor swimmer..."

"I meant Motomu is a poor swimmer..."

What are they analyzing about who can't swim?

Well, never mind. Ship combat skill 1, does it affect movement on the ship?

It might be useful in a fight. I'll unlock it when I have time.

Since the monsters were of the same type, I left them alone this time. We can earn some experience and materials while traveling.

"Are you okay?"

At that moment, a pirate-like figure in different clothing from the crew approached the other heroes with a concerned look.

"They're just seasick. There's no need to worry. They'll get used to it soon."

"...I see."

"Who are you?"

"...The captain."

On closer inspection, she's a woman. She's also quite short.

Laftalia is taller. I didn't notice before because of her unusual attire, but she's a very pretty girl.

Her face is as good as the kind Motomu would try to flirt with.

She looks young. To be a captain at this age, what are the standards for sea men in this world?

"I'm the captain... and I built the ship."

"Captain and engineer?"

"...Yes."

"You're quite skilled."

"...Yes."

This person... keeps saying "yes." She's not hard to talk to, but it's difficult to have a conversation.

"...The sea is rough."

"I see."

"...A storm is coming."

"What should we do?"

"...No problem. The heroes should rest in their cabins."

"By the way, the crew asked me to greet them. I'm the Shield Hero. The others who are down are the other heroes."

"...I see. Nice to meet you."

The captain mumbled, and the crew announced the storm.

Then, we returned to our cabins.

Filo, sensing the high waves, didn't go into the sea and entered the cabin in human form.

The captain, who speaks little, indeed seems to be a capable worker.

The ship sailed through the storm without any issues.

"Laftalia doesn't seem to get seasick."

"I'm from a village near the sea."

"I see, you've been on a ship before?"

"Yes."

I wondered how the other heroes and their companions were doing, but we rested in the cabin.

It was a major storm, with the ship spinning in all directions, but we arrived at Carmila Island the next morning.

Filo was very excited, and even Laftalia, who is usually composed, was wide-eyed.

As for the other adventurers... well, you can imagine.

Carmila Island is a volcanic island larger than I imagined.

By the standards of my world, it's about the size of Hawaii...?

There's no guarantee the map is accurate, but apparently, Carmila Island is a nickname, and the official name is the Carmila Islands. Therefore, there are various islands nearby.

Unlike the rough sea journey from Melromarc, the waves within the islands are calm, and many islands can be walked to at low tide... apparently.

...Could I ride Filo to another island?

The islands are scattered like that.

"Well, we've arrived at Carmila Island..."

I watched the heroes, who were grateful to be on land, with a sigh.

Despite not sleeping at all last night and rolling around in the cabin, they were already exhausted upon arrival.

Bitch's face was blue, and she was almost vomiting. Serves them right.

"You guys are really weak on boats, aren't you?"

"Naofumi... you're the odd one out."

"I thought the ship would sink when it flipped upside down."

"Coming to another world and being surprised by that?"

Indeed, the ship flipped a few times.

I thought it might sink, but I couldn't keep panicking.

It was troublesome to be rolled around, so I set up a hammock in the cabin and slept.

The crew was experienced. They recommended using a hammock when sleeping during a storm.

The captain also mentioned that such a large storm was rare.

Is this also due to the wave of calamity?

By the standards of my world, it was a storm that would sink ships.

It was a journey that made me realize this is a different world.