Published: July 3, 2025
"Since everyone is taking too long, I'm eating first."
"No, I don't understand the meaning of that..."
In response to Ryo's words, Nils shook his head slightly.
The six of them went to take a bath, leaving Ryo behind.
Ryo had already finished bathing, so he remained in the lounge.
((It seems everyone has gotten involved in something troublesome.))
((Even if you say something, it doesn't quite convey...))
Since Ryo was somewhat bored, he started talking about the king in the royal capital, and Abel would respond somehow.
Abel was a good guy even after becoming king.
((I’ll ask for more details during dinner later.))
((Ryo is going to have dinner soon... but is he eating cake now?))
((How did you know?!))
((The echo of the soul shows not only sound but also images...))
((Ah, right. I wanted to report or ask Abel something. This time, it's about the negotiations with the delegation and France.))
((Saying 'this time' implies that the usual situation isn't like this...))
((...))
((I understand that, so I'm not angry or anything.))
((Is that so? Well, chief negotiator Ignis seemed to be having a lot of trouble regarding trade by sea.))
((Hmm. Well, it seems that there’s quite a distance even by sea...))
((If the kingdom were to trade with the Western Nations via sea, wouldn't the central port be Whitnash? And that reminds me, there was that super cool ship called the Queen Rain Shooter in Whitnash.))
((Ah, I see...))
Suddenly, Abel’s reaction became poor.
((I thought it would be good to use that ship for trade with the Western Nations since it looked fast. That ship was commissioned by the royal family, right? If Abel permits, couldn't we use it?))
((Ah...))
Ryo said it in a way that suggested it was a brilliant idea, but King Abel’s reaction was quite bad.
((I mean, I am suggesting this after considering it as a noble of the kingdom, but what kind of reaction is that from Abel? If you have something to say, you should say it clearly.))
((Well... Actually, the Queen Rain Shooter doesn’t exist anymore.))
((...What? I’m sorry, could you say that again? I think I misheard.))
((The Queen Rain Shooter doesn’t exist.))
((...I'm sorry, I must have misheard...))
((No, you heard it right! The Rain Shooter is gone! It disappeared a year ago!))
((It's gone...))
Ryo became intensely depressed.
It had nothing to do with him whether it existed or not...
The Queen Rain Shooter was a trimaran, called a revolution in ships, revealed at the Whitnash Port Festival three years ago.
Its appearance was astonishingly beautiful, and of course, Ryo and the three from Room 10 were entranced by it.
Additionally, its navigation method involved using water attribute magic below the waterline and wind attribute magic above the waterline, propelling it through repulsion, which was a hybrid navigation method.
It was a ship ordered to be built by the royal family...
((A ship that cost 370 billion florins has disappeared?))
Ryo’s muttering was transmitted through the echo of the soul, so naturally, Abel heard everything.
((...You knew the construction cost well.))
Abel sighed deeply in response.
Ryo could understand that Abel himself was very disappointed.
((A year ago, it set sail from Whitnash for ocean research... and hasn't returned since.))
((What a situation... Wait, could it be that it was a sacrifice to the kraken...?))
((Ah, that’s a possibility. Besides the kraken, there are also huge monsters in the sea... Of course, it was armed with powerful monster repellent... Well, that's why the Queen Rain Shooter is no longer here.))
It was a sad story.
((What about building another one?))
((I believe they were constructing a different ship specialized for transport... but it will still take a while to complete.))
((I see... that's unfortunate.))
"Eh? Demon? Eto, did you just say 'demon'?"
Ryo's voice slightly cracked in surprise.
"I knew you were aware of it after all."
"You said before that coffee is as black as a demon, as hot as hell, as pure as an angel, and as sweet as love."
Nils nodded, and Amon added.