The Ultimate Sage Who Faked Incompetence and Was Disinherited Just Wants to Enjoy His New Life! - Episode 28: The Journey by Ship

Episode 28: The Journey by Ship 

The ship’s interior was bustling. It was almost like an entire town in motion. Food and drinks were being sold inside. 

Sancho-san had arranged a small room for us. It contained just a single bunk bed. However, it was a private room. It seemed he had rented one just for Lilia and me. 

As I explored the ship, I noticed that most passengers were staying in large shared rooms, with only nobles or wealthy individuals using private rooms. There were probably very few adventurers who could afford such accommodations. 

“It’s small, but I’m glad it’s just the two of us. I doubt we’d be able to relax in a shared room.”

“We should thank Sancho-san later. I don’t think any trouble will arise on the ship, but it’s still best to stay alert.” 

“Where would anyone even escape to on the water? No one would try anything here.” 

“You never know. They could always escape on a lifeboat.” 

Since this was my first time traveling by ship, I wasn’t sure how to stay on guard. But I planned to take every precaution I could. I decided to constantly monitor the ship’s interior with my Analyze spell. And for good measure, I should also keep an eye on the surroundings outside. 

“Lilia, can you watch the area around the ship?” 

“Got it. A giant fish might attack us, after all.” 

“A giant fish? Don’t say creepy things like that…” 

A fish big enough to swallow this ship… Could such a creature even exist? 

At that moment, a deep, booming sound echoed through the air. It seemed the magic ship was setting off. Lilia and I quickly rushed to the deck. 

Many people had gathered there. They were waving toward the riverbank. The massive wheels on the ship’s sides had begun turning. It was an incredible sight. 

The ship slowly moved toward the center of the river. 

Once it reached the middle, the wheels stopped. The royal capital was downstream. So from here, the ship would simply drift along with the current until it arrived. Water transport seemed like an incredibly efficient way to move goods. 

“That was amazing. I wonder how those wheels move.”

“I’d love to see what kind of magic tools are being used.” 

“Who knows? Maybe it’s just people pushing them.” 

…Surely not. There was no way slaves were being forced to turn the wheels, right? That couldn’t be the case—there wasn’t even room on board for them. 

Lilia and I stood in silence for a while. We watched the ripples created by the magic ship. 

— 

We were now in the ship’s dining hall with Sancho-san. I wanted to thank him for the private room and learn more about the ship. 

“So, Sancho-san, this ship doesn’t travel at night?” 

“That’s right. Navigating a pitch-black river is extremely dangerous. A long time ago, some ships tried to make up for lost time by sailing at night. And many of them sank. It’s now strictly prohibited.” 

I had assumed a large river would be safe. But it seemed there were still dangerous spots. Even so, the ride was much smoother than a carriage. It made it a far more comfortable way to travel. It was no surprise that so many people used it. 

“Do you always take a magic ship when traveling to the capital, Sancho-san?” 

“These days, yes. It’s safe, and I can transport a lot of goods. When I calculate the profits, using the magic ship is far more beneficial. The return trip takes longer than the journey there, but only by a day.” 

“On the way back, those massive wheels start turning again, right?” 

“Exactly. Many people come just to watch them in motion. It’s quite a spectacle. I’ve gotten used to it, though,” 

Sancho-san said with a chuckle. 

I could imagine how impressive it must be. I definitely wanted to see it up close. 

According to Sancho-san, the ship would stop at towns and villages along the river. However, since there weren’t proper docking facilities for a magic ship, they would lower small boats to transport goods and passengers. 

It seemed there were also magic tools installed specifically for lifting and lowering cargo. Watching them in action was apparently another major attraction, drawing many onlookers. I wanted to see that, too. 

“Magic tools sure are amazing. Lilia, weren’t you surprised?” 

“Of course, I was. To think people can create something this incredible now. But in the past, there were even more amazing devices. Back then, we called them ‘machines’.” 

“Machines? Are they different from magic tools?” 

“They were much more complex than magic tools. I could never remember how to make them. You’d need highly detailed blueprints.”

It seems that in this world, there was once an incredibly advanced civilization that used magical tools called “machines”. However, it no longer exists. Perhaps the remnants of that civilization are what we now call magical tools. 

Still, why did such a great civilization completely disappear? 

“Lilia, why did the civilization that used machines vanish?” 

“Because they angered someone they shouldn’t have.” 

“Who?” 

“That… I’d rather not say.” 

Hmm, too bad. But if Lilia doesn’t want to talk about it, then it must have been someone closely connected to her. Maybe the Fairy King or something? If they had angered the Fairies, it wouldn’t be surprising if all their machines stopped working due to Fairy mischief. I should be careful not to upset Lilia too. 

“Here, Lilia, try this fruit. It’s delicious.” 

I held a piece of fruit up to Lilia’s mouth. It was already sliced to make it easier for her to eat. 

“What’s this all of a sudden? Do you have some ulterior motive?” 

She saw right through my attempt to keep her in a good mood. Sharp as ever. I just wanted Lilia to stay the way she is. 

“Fel-san, you’re free to do as you please while on the ship. There shouldn’t be any trouble. And Count Hauzinha will always have a few guards around him.” 

“Will you be okay, Sancho-san? Do you have protection?” 

“I have my own guards, so no need to worry.” 

“Uh… am I even needed here?” 

Sancho-san let out a hearty laugh. What was that supposed to mean? 

“You’re our trump card in case anything happens. A trump card should always be held in reserve. And if nothing happens, that’s the best outcome, isn’t it?” 

Sancho-san laughed again. He had a point. But somehow, it made me feel like I wasn’t doing anything useful. Then again, it would be a problem if something big did happen. I guess I was just worrying over nothing. 

As I sighed in frustration, Lilia rubbed her cheek against mine. It seemed like she was trying to comfort me. 

I wanted to return the gesture. But her face was too small, making it difficult. If only I could shrink down to her size… No, actually, if I could do that, I might lose my sense of reason. So maybe it’s better that I can’t. 

The magic ship even had a bath. Since the water was drawn from the river, it was essentially unlimited. However, using fire was strictly prohibited—after all, a fire on board would be a disaster. 

Instead, cooking was done using “heating magic tools” that didn’t require fire. 

Of course, the bathwater was also heated using magic tools. The high price of a ticket on this magic ship was probably due to the massive amount of magic stones it consumed. But thanks to that, the demand for magic stones remained steady. It allowed adventurers to earn money by selling them. 

It seemed that magical craftsmen and adventurers had a mutually beneficial relationship. In that sense, the monsters that continued to generate magic stones could be considered incredibly valuable beings. 

Why do monsters even exist in the first place? Thinking about that might keep me up at night.