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Chapter 43

A Lesson At The Sea Of How Big The World Really Is And The Realization Of How Small We Are

 

The blue scenery that reflects the sunlight spreading in front of me looks so… mysterious.

 

「……You’re telling me that all of those are water?」

 

「C-Come on, Russell, there’s no way all of those are water, right? …Right? There’s no way that’s the case, right?」

 

Sybilla started laughing at us after hearing our country bumpkin-like comments.

 

「Ahahaha! Whew~ Thanks for your splendid reaction, it’s a full mark for both of you! That’s right, everything in front of us there, all of it is water. A tremendously vast, large body of water that surrounds a continent and contains a lot of salt. That’s the sea.」

 

Neither Emmy nor I could say anything to Sybilla’s explanation, and we just dumbfoundedly stared at the huge lake-like thing called 『Sea』.

 

「By the way, this world largely consisted of the sea rather than the land, and the difference is so big that it would be more appropriate to say that there’s a land in the middle of this vast vast~ sea.」

 

「You’re joking… is what I wanted to say, but it seems that you’re not.」

 

「Of course. I’m not trying to trick you or joke around this time, that’s just the fact. The land and continents were much smaller compared to the sea. And just for your information, the continent on the other side of the sea is several times larger than our continent with all its kingdoms and such.」

 

Several times…? Several times, you say!?

That’s just really unbelievable.

 

「You’re joking, right? There’s no way that there’s a country bigger than the Kingdom, Duchy, and the Empire…… I mean, the distance from Hammond to the Empire alone is already a hell of a lot further than just a few miles.」

 

「Sybilla-san, you’ve gone to Hammond as well, right? For you to say that a continent we can’t even see from here is bigger than that city and all the other castle towns combined, that’s just impossible.」

 

Seeing our reaction, Sybilla didn’t say anything and just looked at us with a faraway gaze.

With the sea in the background, her hair swayed by the sea breeze, the Goddess revealed one truth.

 

「What I’m trying to say is…… that’s just how big the 『real world』 you guys haven’t gotten to see and experience yet.」

 

Hearing those words, everything fell into place in my mind and made me understand that all those things she just said were true.

 

I see… so the world is actually that big of a place, huh.

 

When I was just a kid, I had Vince, Emmy, and Janet. There were also Gemma Baa-chan and Frederica.

They were my whole world with everyone having their own personality, and Frederica’s cooking was always delicious.

I thought that it was always fun being around them and they were all I ever needed.

 

Once I left the city, I was reminded once again of how small the world I lived in was.

Even back in Adria village, where I was born and raised, I didn’t have everyone’s name memorized, and it was even worse when I was in Hammond, where the Goddess bestowed us our Jobs.

I didn’t think I could even remember anyone’s faces, let alone their names.

On top of that, Hammond was not even the biggest city. On the contrary, it was rather small.

 

And the view of the sea from Seiris, which was presented to me by Sybilla, showed me with overwhelming persuasive power just how small the world of a single human is.

 

While the truth is, the world is much, much, more bigger than we know.

 

「You know…」

 

Sybilla spreads her arms out as if trying to feel the sea breeze with her whole body.

 

「When you look at the sea… don’t you think that it makes the worries and troublesome thoughts that we have as humans seem so small compared to it? That’s why I love it!」

 

The wind blowing on her jacket made a sound as her silver hair glistened in the sunlight.

The face that peeks out from that hair is as clear as the sky without a hint of cloudiness.

 

While I was staring at Sybilla, Emmy suddenly jumped up next to her.

It wasn’t just me, but even Sybilla was also surprised by her sudden action. Emmy then opened her arms to catch the wind—

 

「Waaahhhh———————!」

 

—And shouted.

Emmy suddenly started screaming at the sea. Honestly, I was startled.

 

While I was still surprised, it looked like Sybilla had already understood something as the corners of her lip raised into a smile as she looked at Emmy.

Emmy seemed satisfied after shouting her lungs out and spun around to face me.

 

「……Yep! I think I also love the sea now!」

 

The face that Emmy made after she was done shouting was brighter and less cloudy as if she had blown away whatever she had been holding in with her voice.

 

「Nnn~! As I thought Emmy-chan is cute, isn’t she? Oh, how I wish I had a younger sister like you!」

 

「Kya! W-wha, Sybilla-san!?」

 

Just what made her so happy that she pulled Emmy into her arms and began to stroke her head, I wonder.

Emmy was puzzled at first, but soon she happily began to get comfortable and let Sybilla do her thing. Anyone who sees this would think that they’re two lovely sisters without a doubt.

 

「…Do you want to get in here too, Russell?」

 

「As if I would.」

 

As if I would do such an embarrassing thing. 「Ehhー」, Emmy is making a disappointed face for some reason, but even so, I have no intention of getting myself in between them.

……I just gonna leave the thoughts that I probably won’t resist if they forcefully pull me in, in the back of my mind.

 

But still… the sea, huh?

 

I also try to catch the wind while looking at the ocean.

The sun was shining brightly, but the breeze made the air feel much cooler.

I have to say, it’s quite a nice feeling.

 

——She’s right.

It’s sure is vast… the sea.

 

「Russell, why don’t you try shouting too?」

 

「Nah, I’ll pass. Uwoaa!」

 

Suddenly, a big gust of wind hit me, making my robe flutter.

I see… I guess it’s not strange that I’m more easily affected by the wind compared to those two since I wear this kind of clothes.

 

As I was trying to keep standing on my feet, suddenly I felt like my body could stand firmly without any resistance from the wind.

I look over and see Emmy holding my body.

 

「Are you okay, Russell!?」

 

「Y-Yeah… you’ve saved me. Thanks.」

 

「You’re welcome! Ehehe, I was able to protect Russell right away.」

 

I wondered what made her so happy that her face slackened like that.

As I was thinking about this, she looked at me with a determined expression on her face and the corners of her mouth upturned.

 

「I will never let Russell get injured again! I will protect you and won’t let even a scratch on your skin or your hair!」

 

「I don’t think getting my hair cut counts as an injury though.」

 

I don’t know what suddenly makes Emmy so motivated, but it’s good that the clouds on her face have cleared up completely, and she seems to be in high spirits.

 

「……Emmy-chan~ you sure are bold for clinging to him in front of me in the middle of the day, huh!」

 

「Hyaah—!?」

 

At Sybilla’s words, Emmy’s face turned red like boiling water in a kettle bathed in Fire Dragon’s breath as she quickly backed away.

Sybilla was laughing out loud seeing her reaction and went to hug her.

……Do your best to get used to it, Emmy. That Goddess loves to pull something like this whenever she finds the chance.

 

……But still.

 

「——It’s really vast, huh.」

 

I look back at the sea and realize once again of how vast it is.

 

Compared to the vastness of this sea, the troubles and worries I’ve had in my life feel so small.

It’s not a simple comparison… but somehow, when I feel the endless swaying of the water’s surface and the rhythmic sound it makes with all my senses, it feels as if my whole body is enveloped by its magnificence.

Aah…… just because of this reason alone, I already feel glad that I came to this place.

 

Could it be… the reason Sybilla brought me and Sybilla to the sea was for this?

If that’s the case, it looks like Sybilla can be thoughtful on top of being smart after all.

It’s difficult for me to say it directly to her, but I’m really grateful.

 

Sybilla must have noticed because when I nodded with the corners of my mouth slightly upturned, she shrugged her shoulders and smiled gently.

It was a reaction that suited Sybilla, my adventurer-senpai.

 

White buildings that lined up on both sides of the streets, coupled with the clear blue sky were creating a refreshing atmosphere.

Soldiers wearing armor occasionally patrol the streets with their eyes glaring from inside their helmets.

They give an impression of being so strict and scary, contrasting with the refreshing atmosphere around the city, but when I think that they are protecting the peaceful daily life of this city, I can’t help but think that those strong soldiers are also part of the city.

 

Emmy and I followed Sybilla, who was leading the way, as we looked around the city of Seiris.

Everything looks so unfamiliar to me that I can’t help but look around like a country bumpkin.

 

「By any chance, are you guys worried you are staring too much? If you are, then don’t worry too much, because Seiris is a trading city.」

 

「So you noticed, huh? But well, if that’s the case…」

 

Let’s stop hesitating and start looking at things I find interesting too then.

Emmy was already looking here and there without hesitation.

Then, her gaze stopped at one point. And when I stopped my gaze in the same direction, what I saw was…

 

「……What is that red-colored blob-like thing?」

 

「Hawawa—! Russell, that’s definitely some kind of monster!」

 

When the man in the store touched the monster, the pattern on its skin changed into speckles.

Yeah, that must be some kind of monster, no doubt about it.

Are they really selling something like that around here?

 

By the way, Sybilla was looking at me the whole time with a wide grin on her face.

……That’s definitely the face she made when she knew very well what that was. Well, Sybilla was the one who brought us here in the first place, so there’s no way she doesn’t know what’s in this town.

 

After passing through the busy market, we saw a white, square building in front of us.

It looks like a stylish luxurious inn.

 

There, we show our adventurer tag to the receptionist and pay the amount based on the information in it using magic.

Apparently, it’s Adventurers Guild’s system to deposit money and make payments, but I’ve never used it much. Sybilla seemed so familiar with it, though.

 

「Room for three people of the members of 『Twilight Pact』 party, is that correct?」

 

「Yes. Please give us a room on the top floor.」

 

「I understand.」

 

We were guided to a room that obviously looked very nice, and when we entered it… it was a spacious room with beautiful furniture and a large window overlooking the city.

I completely feel like a tourist.

 

「Alright! Now I’m going to explain the guidelines for what we’re going to do in this city.」

 

Finally, she’s going to tell us what we’re going to do at Seiris.

As Emmy and I nervously wait for Sybilla’s next word——.

 

「First of all! Let’s try out all the foods in Seiris to our heart’s content!」

 

——The answer was so unexpected that Emmy and I were left dumbfounded.

 

……As I thought, we’re not coming here for my sake or something, but because this girl just wants to go sightseeing, huh!

Well, whether that was the real reason or not, it was interesting because, in the end, I thought, 『This is just like Sybilla』.

 

But well, if that’s the case——let’s enjoy sightseeing to the fullest!