One year and 20 days later (Day 386 in this world)
Alright, we're out to sea!!!
…
No, no, not the plot going off the rails—I mean literally out to sea, sailing from the port!
What's interesting, unlike our old world, is that this world isn't big on sea travel for trade. Sure, every coastal city has its main port, but they're used maybe 2-16 times a year. Yup, that's including round trips and ships docking. (Not counting local fishermen who don't use the ports and stick close to shore anyway.)
But it makes sense, I guess.
This time, I'm hitching a ride from a mid-sized city near a medium-risk forest, Nasca City—one of 12 coastal cities in the three border nations of this continent.
Splash! Splash! CRAAASH!
The sound of waves slamming against the fleet echoes as we sail out after two full days of prep. The massive flagship—over 200 meters long, 25 meters wide, and 20+ meters tall—holds 2,000+ crew and passengers. It's flanked by four mid-sized ships, each carrying 1,000+ people, surrounded by 16 semi-combat passenger ships with 500+ each, and eight armored warships with 100+ crew at the front, rear, and corners. Then there are private ships—merchants, nobles—tagging along. Your ship's safety depends on how much you paid to join the caravan.
Every ship's linked by countless bronze chains, enchanted for strength, holding the fleet in perfect formation. Bronze platforms below connect the ships, letting people walk between them. It's like a giant floating city!
Ticket prices depend on your ship's position—the closer to the flagship, the pricier. A standard ticket on the flagship costs four months of Miss Pepper's salary… and that's not even VIP or the cheapest seats. The four mid-sized ships are more reasonable, the outer warships cheaper still. Merchant and private passenger ships take folks for fair prices. Some hitchhikers camp on the connecting walkways for free… but they're on their own. Adventurers with survival or building skills often pool cash for cheap spots, setting up temp shelters on the unguarded outer edges. I bet there are hundreds, maybe nearly a thousand, doing this. The fleet probably loses revenue, but I suspect they turn a blind eye because when attacks hit, these reckless types are the most dangerous defenders…
Yup, that's the gist of it.
You got it—this world's seas are insanely dangerous, so caravans are the only way to travel! We're talking real danger. Sixteen semi-combat ships and eight armored warships? That's no joke!!!
But whatever. Everyone's safe on this trip, thanks to yours truly. That's right—every ship has one of my bodies on board! Mice, birds, insects on the smaller ships, all ready to shift back and protect everyone!!!
Oh, I'm pumped!!!
Splash! CRAAASH!
As the caravan sets sail, the thrill of the wind hitting my face is just epic!
On the armored warship at the front…
"Hey, you're one of the adventurers who paid to join the front-line defense, right? How much did you shell out?"
"2,000…"
"Whoa, same as me! Even as human shields, we still gotta pay, huh? Food's on us unless we risk fishing with those crazies down there… and while we're stuck on this ship, no earning cash or leveling up. Total loss, right?"
A buff, handsome guy strolls up to a woman just as muscular, wielding a massive sword-crossbow hybrid. Her slightly tanned skin glows in a tight, form-fitting outfit that really shows off her eye-catching assets—chest and hips that scream sexy. She's leaning on the ship's edge, staring at the endless sea.
This woman? Yup, one of my bodies. I randomly pieced her together from various girls (no real person here) and hacked her name into the system with a bit of cheating. (I'll explain that trick later, but you can probably guess with my skills.)
"Probably covers water, room cleaning, and toilet fees…"
"Man, you've got no sense of humor. I'm Gaston, nice to meet ya."
"SeaNeight."(Sea No.8 > SeaNeight)
"Heh, that's a poetic name, perfect for the sea! Hmm, now I'm curious if your voice is as sweet as these waves."
"?"
No surprise—Gaston's not just here for a chat. His eyes on SeaNeight are pretty obvious about wanting some fun to kill the boredom of the voyage.
Alright, let's play along… I'm bored anyway.
Huh? What's that? Even when I'm not playing a hero's sidekick, I'm getting flirty vibes in a female body? Nah, nah, I'm just gonna mess with this guy using [Emotion Charm Magic] I picked up. Let's see how much he "enjoys" thinking he's having fun with me in his head, haha!
"How 'bout we grab a drink? My treat…"
"Sure thing, Gaston."
"Heh, let's go."
Pat.
Whoa, a quick pat on the back… Oh man, the sea's full of stuff to experiment with! Those goddesses barely pay attention out here, heh. Time to test my magic on the ship's crew and have some real fun!
End of Chapter 33
Here We Go, Out to Sea!