I returned to the marked spot with Salkenia. Perhaps because the sun was nearly down, I heard insects chirping instead of birds. I took several wrong turns, and having Salkenia behind me made me feel a little sheepish.
“Should we have brought the skeleton sailors, too?”
[If there are enemies inside, taking the sailors with us would be right. However, I believe leaving them on standby was a reasonable decision, as they could cause confusion.]
“Right? We can check what’s inside first. It won’t be too late to bring them afterward.”
We needed people to clean and guard the ship, and more importantly, I would be in trouble if the people of Lindana saw the skeleton sailors. They would try to capture me, even if they had to send sea monster hunters after me.
“We’re here.”
By the time we reached the gap between the rocks, the sun had set completely, and I had to light a lantern. Of course, I knew that its light would be powerless before the darkness lurking within that crevice. I set the lantern on a flat section of rock for a moment.
“Then let’s hide.”
[I will obey your command.]
I drew in as much air as I could and held my breath. As though she had been waiting for it, Salkenia raised her right arm and withdrew the light that illuminated the night.
‘This is only the second time I’ve seen it, but it’s really amazing.’
The faint light filtering through the leaves went out one by one. Once I had confirmed that all the light was gone, I climbed down into the crevice.
‘There’s no guarantee that the Unknown in here merely swallows light.’
As the innkeeper had once said, a blade might suddenly shoot out and cut my throat. But there was no way to find out what was inside without going in myself.
“Whew!”
Salkenia could withdraw the light only while I held my breath. That was why she had told me to hold my breath when we hid the ship. When I exhaled, the light Salkenia had been holding slipped through the gaps between her fingers.
Whoosh.
The cluster of light rose slowly into the sky. Rather than drive back the darkness, the light that brightened the night subtly seeped into it. My view opened, if only dimly, and the scene within the darkness was revealed.
‘……This is.’
It was a path. A winding path, like a long thread carelessly laid out. Beyond the path lay a sheer drop. I had not imagined that there would be a cliffside path right in front of me, so I had no choice but to take a step back.
Woooooo......!
There was definitely something at the end of the path, but the faint light did not let me make out what it was. When I looked down, black darkness filled the space beneath the path. It was so deep that even the light brightening the night could not reach it. I could faintly hear water, but I did not think I would survive a fall.
Whoosh.
The light returned to the sky, and the cave was illuminated for only a few seconds. When darkness filled it again, the path vanished as though it had never existed. I asked Salkenia a question.
“Can we hide in here, too?”
[Captain, you are already hidden within complete darkness.]
“I was asking if you can call in the light of night. Like you did before.”
[That is impossible. I cannot hold light in my hand where no light exists.]
Just as one could not draw water in a waterless desert, that was impossible. In other words, the only moment I could inspect that winding path was immediately after climbing down into this crevice.
‘So I have to see that complicated path only briefly, and only vaguely at that, memorize it, and make my way across?’
It was practically a death sentence.
***
“I’ll take this one and that one, too.”
“Thirteen cutlasses. Is that correct?”
“Yes. These really do look brand-new.”
I paid and bought thirteen secondhand cutlasses. The reason I bought thirteen when I had fifteen sailors was that I already had the two swords taken from the bandits. By that count, I should have had three swords, but I had not managed to take the blade from the beggar I killed in Semeln’s streets.
“I picked out only good ones. If you’re going to use them at sea, oil them regularly. Saltwater eats through blades in no time.”
“I’ll take good care of them, just as you said. Thank you for looking out for me.”
“Ahem! Right, right. You don’t look like the type to use a sword carelessly. Ah, what the hell! I’m feeling generous! Take these, too!”
“Really? Wow. Thank you!”
“It’s nothing! Come again next time, brother!”
I even managed to get some oil and a whetstone from the good-natured weapons dealer.
“Hup.”
The thirteen cutlasses were heavier than I had expected. As I passed the Trading Post, I saw a boy arguing with a sailor. It was the boy I had seen when I entered Lindana.
“Just trust me and take me on this once.”
“What could a little brat like you possibly do? Not a chance, so get lost!”
“Then what do I need to do for you to take me?”
“Have you ever worked aboard a ship?”
“No.”
“Then go get some experience working aboard a ship!”
“If you only hire people with experience, how are beginners supposed to make a living?”
“Hey! Being unreasonable won’t get you anywhere!”
It seemed that he had stopped begging. He appeared to be trying to get work on a ship, but judging by the sailor’s stubborn attitude, he did not seem likely to be hired. I passed them and headed for the cliff where I had hidden the ship.
“Here. Swords. Pick one each.”
The skeleton sailors each took a cutlass and raised it high into the air. Some of them clacked as though they were excited.
[It would be good to equip cannons.]
“I looked into it, but they’re too expensive. If I buy them, there won’t be any money left.”
[I see.]
Having briefly voiced her opinion, Salkenia dropped the matter as though it had been nothing more than a suggestion. We would certainly be better protected if we armed ourselves with cannons, but we did not have enough money yet. Buying essential supplies for sailing, such as a compass, mooring lines, and food, had to come first.
‘Money is a problem, too.’
When I first held a platinum coin, I thought I would be able to buy everything in the world. One platinum coin was a great deal of money for me to spend alone, but as a captain, it was nowhere near enough. It seemed I would have to think of some way to earn money, too.
‘It’s a good thing my sailors are skeletons.’
The skeleton sailors demanded neither wages nor food, not even rest. That was the only reason the money needed for sailing had been cut so drastically. If I had hired ordinary sailors, I might have gone bankrupt long ago. Or a rebellion might have broken out over the poor conditions.
“I’ll get you more oil later, so oil them regularly. I hear swords rust easily at sea.”
I had received a small amount of oil, but it was not enough to maintain thirteen cutlasses, so I would have to buy more separately. Perero clacked as he saluted.
‘Should I give him some sort of reward?’
He had an awfully playful attitude, but Perero was fairly good at carrying out the tasks he was given. I decided to give him a reward as soon as I thought of one.
“Perero, from now on, you’re the boatswain.”
Perero threw both arms into the air in surprise. Then, as though asking whether I meant it, he pointed to himself. When I nodded, he lifted his jawbone high and began urging on the skeleton sailors with a swaggering gait. It was a title in name only, but I liked seeing him look so carefree and happy.
‘The Maritime League, the Unknown, and now money, too.’
There were still many things I had to buy and many problems I had to solve, but I had gained another worry. Being a captain was not such an easy position.
‘This is fun.’
I continued buying the supplies I needed and carrying them to the ship, then stopped hauling them around evening. I had heard that sailors worth recruiting gathered at taverns around this time.
***
“Hahaha! This guy is at it again!”
“I’m telling you, I really saw it!”
In the boisterous atmosphere, powerfully built men drank rum. They treated their exploits at sea as drinking fare, and many of the stories I heard were difficult to believe.
“Did you ever see the red sea?”
“If I had, I wouldn’t be here! You’re the one drifting around the blue sea, talking big!”
“An island was breathing! No one thought it would be a massive sea monster!”
“This bastard tells that story every time he starts drinking. Aren’t you sick of it yet?”
I walked up to the tavern owner. Perhaps because I had bought quite a lot of salted fish from him earlier that day, he acknowledged me.
“Oh. You’re back. What can I get you?”
“I’m looking for crew. Someone skilled at sailing.”
“If you’re looking for sailors, you should look at the Trading Post.”
“One glass of port wine, please.”
“Aha. Who are you looking for?”
The tavern owner was a man with a merchant’s instincts. I had already grasped that through our brief exchange earlier, so I immediately ordered the rather expensive port wine. As he poured it, the tavern owner said,
“By the look of it, you aren’t simply looking for an experienced sailor. Do you need a navigator?”
“Yes.”
“Navigators are scarce, so if you want to find one, you’ll have to go to a large port city. How about looking in Semeln?”
It was an inconvenient suggestion. I did not think I could go back to Semeln, of all places. Everyone there would have seen my face by now. But it was also true that Semeln was the only large port city nearby.
“There are a lot of ships docked in the harbor. It’s not as though all of them sail without navigators, is it?”
“Of course there are navigators in Lindana, too. But they’re all assigned to ships, so it would be awkward to introduce one to you.”
“Are there no navigators without ships?”
“Would a navigator without a ship wait here until a ship comes along to take him on? They all went to Semeln. There are plenty of ships there eager to hire navigators.”
Every word he said was true. Was it impossible to find a navigator in Lindana? As I was considering that, an unfamiliar voice suddenly spoke up.
“Why! You could introduce him to that guy! You know, the one who goes around saying he’s a navigator!”
It was an older man drinking rum beside us, apparently listening to the tavern owner and me, who had butted in.
“Who?”
“Who else! That impudent brat!”
“Come on. This young gentleman drinks port wine, unlike you, who pours cheap rum down your throat all day! And you want me to introduce that guy to him? Please. Save your jokes for someone else!”
“I’ve spent more money here than you have!”
“That’s because all you do is drink every day! You drunkard!”
“Hahaha!”
They must have been close, because the two of them traded jokes. I took a sip of the port wine. It was so sweet it seemed to stick to my tongue. It was not to my taste.
“Excuse me.”
“Hm?”
“Who is that guy?”
The tavern owner grinned.
“Tomorrow morning, just linger beside the Trading Post and pretend you’re looking for someone. He’ll latch onto you like a leech right away.”