Poskein was the biggest lake in the continent.
It was obvious that you could see the horizon, and when the wind was too strong the waves were also rough.
Daiv, who grew up in Pierr village, followed his fisherman father since little and lived on the lake just like it was his room.
He looked at the horizon that was spread ahead of him and raised a dream.
âOne day I will roam this lake as I wish!â
But even after he became a youth, that dream was still a dream.
âMoney and soldiers. I need a ship that doesnât break even after meeting a monster and soldiers who can face those monsters.â
But two months ago, his father passed away.
What he left him was an old and shabby house and some wealth.
Daiv spent all of the wealth to repair and remodel the ship.
Because of that, it became a ship that was exaggerating to call a fishing ship.
âBut itâs still lacking.â
The ship he was imagining was completely different to what he had right now.
He needed a lot more money.
âOne dayâ¦â¦â
As he was suppressing his dream like that, he discovered Roan, who was looking for a ship in a street of Boodoo, in a market.
âIf I take him to Potter region will he give me a lot of money?â
Quite an interesting story.
He would gain a lot more money than catching fishes at the shore.
For others it would be nonsense, and something they had to put their lives on it, but for him it was an opportunity to realize his dream.
On top of that he had a method to go to Potter region.
âItâs not that I have to cross the lake.â
Daiv, who finished his thoughts, went to Roan.
âHey. About going to Potter region. May I do that?â
*****
âHow peculiar.â
Roan looked at the ship he was on and put on a weird smile.
The shape of Daivâs ship was different to what he saw until now.
âIt feels like itâs floating?â
What was fortunate was that the crew seemed quite experienced.
Then, Daiv approached him and said with a voice with strength.
âI only have to take you to Potter region, right?â
âYes. The faster it is, the better.â
The reason Roan chose to travel by water wasnât simply just to conquer Poskein lake faster than anyone.
âI became a bit late because of Slen battle.â
Because of that, his plans of reaching Potter region were late.
âIf I travel by ground, I may not be able to reach there before that accident happens.â
If he wanted to go there by ground he had to take a detour with an arc like direction.
Compared to that, if he was to travel by lake he would be able to at least save 10 days.
Roan didnât have that much time.
Then, Daivâs voice was heard.
âIâm planning to move following the shore.â
âAhâ¦â¦â
Roan exclaimed lowly.
âThere certainly was a reason he stepped out confidently. Butâ¦â¦â
The method to reach Potter region in the shortest time was to cross it.
But this method was too dangerous.
Because the farther they got from the shore, the more monsters there would be.
On the other side, if they followed the shore it was safer on the point of the attacks of the monsters, but it was difficult to sail.
âAs the shore is shallow and the winds are too strong, if heâs not a skillful person thereâs a high probability to crash.â
Roan looked at Daivâs two eyes fixedly.
âBut a person that has only sailed a ship for one month chooses to go by the shore?â
Something difficult to believe.
Roan said his thoughts honestly.
âYou sailed a ship for only a month, do you think that will be possible?â
At those words Daiv smiled brightly and shook his head.
âIt is indeed one month since I sailed the ship myself, but itâs already my tenth year that I ride one.â
He looked at Roanâs eyes.
âAnd just because my experience is short, it doesnât mean that I donât have the skills.â
An overconfident voice.
âOn top of that, I have a secret weapon with me.â
âA secret weapon?â
As Roan asked back, Daiv smiled brightly and pointed his ship.
âThis guy is different than the others.â
âAhâ¦â¦â
Roan exclaimed lowly.
âThatâs why I felt that it was floating, but there really is something different.â
Then, Daiv turned his head and looked at the crew.
âNow! Are you all ready!â
âYes! Captain! We are all set!â
The crew yelled in one voice.
Daiv stood at the deck and raised his right hand after looking at Pierr village once more.
âFlangtek ship! Sail off!â
âSail off!â
A loud yell.
At the same time, the shabby ship started to move along with the sound of creaking wood.
Swhooosh.
Then the warm west wind blew.
The wind hit the sail.
Flop!
The sail pushed the ship and it raised.
The ship split the waters and started to move towards the south.
*****
Roan was standing at the stern looking at the Poskein river.
âDaiv.â
He gathered information about Daiv while sailing.
âHe followed his father since he became 10 and grew up on the ship.â
As his head was bright and his body swift, he did the work of an adult person.
âThe problem was that his thoughts were peculiar.â
The guy that boasted about his great number of fishes caught, started to dream of a peculiar thing.
âAnd that is moving on Poskein lake as he wished.â
After Daivâs father died and left him his ship, he started to act earnestly.
He ripped off the ship and repaired it.
As he couldnât go somewhere far from the lake immediately, he planned to make a lap following the shore.
Because of that the ship became a really strange and shallow one.
âAnyways, all of the crew members recognize his brilliance.â
Roan smiled faintly.
âThe courage of not fearing Poskein lake at all, and a dream that others hadnât thought of. On top of that outstanding skillsâ¦â¦â¦â
He would be a big help in the conquest of his plans.
Roan kept looking at Daiv with interesting eyes.
*****
âAmazing.â
Roan was truly amazed.
He was now looking at Daiv and the crew while standing at the stren.
âGrab the ropes for the sail!â
âDonât get pushed to the east! Itâs dangerous if we get far from the shore!â
âWatchmen, donât ease your nervousness!â
Daiv certainly wasnât an ordinary sailor.
Take into account his suitable orders and commanding abilities without flaws, but first his abilities to sail the ship were amazing.
His eye to be able to read the current of the water was good and his abilities to utilize the wind was also outstanding.
âThe words of the crew were true. Daiv is a genius.â
Roan, who didnât know much about ships, could clearly feel it.
If it wasnât for Daiv, the ship would have already turned over or crashed.
âPotter region is already in front of me.â
While following the shore, there were several crises.
The ship could have turned over because of a strong wind, and they could have gotten done in by underwater reefs.
But every time, Daiv overcame it all with at the momentâs wits.
Most of all, the amazing thing was the shipâs performance.
Externally it looked shabby and old, but because of the repairs Daiv did, it showed a greater performance than what he had thought.
Especially, spreading and folding the sail was so comfortable they could dexterously act according to the direction of the strength of the wind.
âWhy couldnât someone like this show prominence?â
In his past life, there was no one like him.
Roan pondered for a moment and then shook his head.
âWith his temperament, thereâs a high chance he challenged the lake early on and died.â
He bit his lower lip.
âIn this life, I will take him to the end. If he doesnât die early and is able to further his abilities, heâs someone iâm expecting to be able to reach the distance.â
Then, the yell of the watchman was heard.
âI can see Potter region!!â
Roan and Daiv had finally reached Potter region.
âHow was it?â
Daiv approached Roan and asked.
Roan smiled faintly and nodded.
âIt was more amazing than what I had thought.â
Daiv just smiled.
Roan took out a big bag.
When he got on the ship, he had already paid him.
âBut what is this bag?â
Daiv looked at Roan with a weird expression.
Roan read that and smiled faintly.
âItâs an investmentâ
âAn inversion?â
Daiv still had a weird expression.
Roan continued saying.
âYes. Mister Daiv. I want to be your patron.â
âTo a sailor like me? Just what is the reasonâ¦â¦â¦?â
Roan replied without even a trace of hesitation.
âThe reason I want to do itâ¦â¦â¦â
He paused for a moment and then smiled brightly.
âItâs because thereâs a future in Poskein lake.â
âFuâ¦â¦ture?â
Daiv couldnât understand and frowned.
Roan added.
âThe country that dominates Poskein lake will be able to posses the water bodies of the four kingdoms.â
Strength was put in the voice.
âProbably, the commercial rights utilized in this lake will develop widely in a short time. Incredible amounts of goods will come and go with the 4 kingdoms as the center. And if there is perhaps someone that dominates Poskein lakeâ¦â¦â
âHe will be able to gain an incredible amount of passing rights. No, is it still lacking? You wouldnât even be able to sail a ship without permission.â
Daiv continued saying and opened his mouth.
âBut what are you going to do after I betray you? And if I act as if I donât know you even after receiving the investment?â
Quite a provocative question.
But Roanâs expression was still calm.
âI wonder. I will have to think of that by then. If I already start thinking about thatâ¦â¦â
His mouth raised.
âI canât do anything about it.â
Roan had many things he had to do from now on.
And also had many plans.
Because of that, if he focused too much on a failure there was a big possibility he would be too late or wouldnât even be able to accomplish it.
âItâs better to do several things at once taking into account the probability of failure.â
Even if Daiv failed or betrayed him, it didnât matter.
Anyways, itâs impossible to conquest Poskein lake alone.
Roan was planning to find other sailors, invest in them, and make a big organization.
âThis is no different than the first step.â
The light in his eyes dimmed calmly.
âI will slowly need a lot of money.â
His head spun quickly.
As he ran a plan, the other one came immediately.
Then, Daivâs voice was heard.
âThose are good words. That if you have many worries in your head, you wonât be able to do anything.â
He smiled faintly and continued saying.
Meanwhile, the ship reached a small fishing port in Potter region called Tig.
The west wind kept blowing,
*****
Spring was ending and summer approaching, but even if that was the case, it was too hot.
A heat wave raised on the main road.
âUgh. So hot.â
âRight? It is indeed hot.â
People gathered below a tree that was next to the road.
They kept fanning with their hands without stop.
Then, their sight was directed to the end of the road.
âThat person doesnât seem to be hot at all.â
âHe doesnât even shed a drop of sweat.â
âIs it because heâs young?â
The youth who was walking at the end of the road was walking towards them.
A strong body that couldnât be hidden with clothes and messy hair.
The identity of the youth that gave a wild feeling was Roan.
He separated with Daiv in Tig village and started to walk towards the south without stop.
âIf it wasnât because of Brentâs ring I would also be dying because of the heat.â
He touched the ring on his finger and let out a long sigh.
Roan could bear the heat because of Brentâs ring.
âOy! Youth! The weather is hot, come and rest for a moment! Drink some water!â
The people that were resting in the shade made hand signs towards Roan.
Roan moved towards them and then shook his head.
âI still have a long way to go.â
At those words, the middle aged man with a hawk nose asked.
âWhere are you going?â
Roan pointed the south.
âIâm going to Maiel mountain.â
âMmm.â
At that moment, the people glanced at each other and shook their heads.
The hawk nosed man let out a long sigh.
âWhew. If it isnât for something important donât even be around it.â
At those words Roan frowned.
âDid something happen?â
âRight. There is. Yes.â
The hawk nosed man nodded and then said as if he was whispering.
âNowadays peculiar thing are happening on the mountain. Just like beasts coming down the mountain, or bugs crying like crazy and dying, and even birds hiding themselves.â
âRight.â
Roanâs expression became severe.
âThatâs why it will be better to be away of the mountain for now.â
The hawk nosed man put a really preoccupied face.
Roan slightly bowed.
âThanks for worrying.â
He also put on a worried face just like the other people.
But he was a bit hurried inwardly.
âItâs already starting.â
Roan looked towards the south.
âI have to hurry a bit more.â
End
Translator: Subak
Proofreader: st8_lupe.
Editorâs Note: Happy Birthday Comrade