Published: July 5, 2025
"Kavui Somaru was a very persuasive person..."
"Give up, I've already given up."
Ryo and Abel were on the deck of the Rondark, returning to the royal capital Pyuri of the Sujay Kingdom.
As usual, they were sitting on ice chairs with coffee placed on the ice table... Meanwhile, Andalusia and Feiwan were sunbathing as if it were the most natural thing.
"The pressure to meet Queen Iliriaja was immense."
"Yeah... it was the same kind of pressure as when Alexis gets serious."
"Marquis Heinlein? I imagine our chancellor's serious pressure would be quite something as well."
"There's no point in resisting the pressure from those who have gone through thick and thin."
Both Ryo and Abel sighed softly at the thought of Kavui Somaru and Marquis Heinlein.
Indeed, they were being persuaded by Kavui Somaru to head towards the royal capital Pyuri of the Sujay Kingdom.
To meet Queen Iliriaja.
"There's no helping it now. We’ll be a little late returning to the Naitorei Kingdom, but let’s enjoy this new journey."
"With how much we've traveled through the Eastern Nations, I feel that being a little late is just a minor detail."
Both Ryo and Abel were quick to switch gears.
Just then, Kavui Somaru, who had strongly urged them onto the Rondark, arrived.
"If you two are here, Her Majesty the Queen will be especially delighted."
"We didn't get to talk much at the recent conference in Kubevasa."
Abel replied, recalling the joint conference of the Eastern Nations held in the Autonomous City of Kubevasa.
"By the way, Lord Protector, you used to ride on the Rain Shooter, didn't you? Like when you came to the Komakyuta Feudal Kingdom. But this time and when you came to Darwei, it's the Rondark, right? Has the flagship changed?"
"No, by the time we met in Darwei, the only ship and crew capable of sailing north of Kubevasa was the Rondark. Besides, I feel that the Rondark carries some sort of mysterious protection."
"Protection?"
Ryo tilted his head at Kavui Somaru's words.
"When in crisis, somehow we can escape it... Of course, that's thanks to the crew's daily training. Many who live in the sea have various experiences that can't just be explained by rationality. Including myself."
"There's also luck, whether it's with people or ships."
Abel nodded at Kavui Somaru's explanation.
For those in leadership, who hold the lives of others, relying on things like 'protection' or 'luck' is not possible. At the same time, it can't be completely ignored.
Because lives are at stake.
"I don't want to say that my subordinate died because of bad luck," ... no one wants to say such words.
"If it works out well with protection or luck, I want to use it, to be protected... I honestly feel that way," Kavui Somaru said clearly, even sporting a smile.
Ryo watched that expression with a sense of awe.
To clearly state such things in front of a third party is the mark of a big-hearted person.
Ryo knew.
Compared to the principles of the world, the influence of humans is very small.
Kavui Somaru's words were those of someone who understood this yet had continued to strive.
It was precisely because he had continued to strive that he could honestly ask for help from protection and luck.
It goes without saying that wishing for things to go well without putting in effort is on a different level.
After Kavui Somaru left, Ryo spoke to Abel.
"Luck, or feeling like the tide is with you, that happens in battle too."
"It does. I don't know why or how it happens, though."
"Someday... yes, maybe a few hundred or a thousand years from now, we might find or identify some scientific... logical explanation for that."
Ryo nodded gravely while saying this.
Seeing that, Abel shrugged.
"Sometimes, Ryo says interesting things."
"How rude! It's not sometimes; I always try to say interesting things!"
"Yeah, that's a completely different meaning."
After a while, a duo approached.
"Long time no see, Your Highness Abel... No, Mr. Abel, Your Grace Duke Rondo."
Yes, Captain Gorick knew that Abel was the king of the Naitorei Kingdom, and Ryo was the Duke Rondo.