When I was working as a civil servant, I was found out to be a muscle-brained knight by the princess knight and got sent to the front lines - Episode 157

Episode 157

The cruise that Jez and the others were about to board would depart from the shores of Lake Rubiana and last for six days and five nights as it traveled down the Salal River. On the first day, the ship would set sail from the Tashman Kingdom’s port city of Zelinia in the afternoon. The ship would then sail down the river for two full days. On the third day, they would arrive at the port city of Capricia on the side of the Kingdom of Garanhorn. 

That day, the ship would remain docked in Capricia, where passengers from the Kingdom of Galanholn would board. A grand shipboard party would be held. The following day, around midday, the ship would depart from Capricia and spend two more nights on the river before returning to Zelinia, the port city of the Tashman Kingdom.

This particular cruise was a regularly scheduled exchange between the Tashman Kingdom and the Kingdom of Galanholn, which is why it was a relatively short journey of five nights and six days. However, depending on the season, there were longer cruises that spent as much as a month sailing around the Salal River. Regardless, this time the cruise had a political focus rather than being purely for commercial purposes. Its primary goal was to foster goodwill between the nobles, politicians, and merchants from both nations while showcasing the Tashman Kingdom’s wealth and power aboard a luxurious cruise ship.

While the Tashman Kingdom was often known for its austere, always-on-alert military image, they knew how to spend money where it mattered. This sense of balance was a testament to the talents of the Tashman Kingdom’s court nobles.

As such, this voyage did not have any regular passengers; all the passengers were participants in the exchange with the Kingdom of Garanhorn or their invited guests. Among the passengers were several students from the Royal Academy, invited for the same exchange purposes. For Jez and many others in the Tashman Kingdom, traveling to a foreign country was a rare opportunity. The chance for young people to visit the neighboring port city of Capricia was seen as a great learning experience, offering a valuable opportunity for the next generation.

On the first night of the voyage, a welcome party would be held for the participants from the Tashman Kingdom. This would be a relaxed and informal event. On the second day, there would be no major parties, leaving the entire day free for leisure. On the third day, during the shipboard party with the Kingdom of Galanholn, Erin would be expected to attend alongside her father William as a representative of the Saylor family. Meanwhile, Jez and the others could enjoy themselves at a more casual gathering in a separate hall suited to their tastes.

The fourth day would also be free time. And on the fifth day, there would be another party onboard, followed by the ship’s return to Zelinia on the sixth day.

Upon arriving in Zelinia from the royal capital of Nevorista, Jez and the others received a detailed explanation of the itinerary once again. As they had arrived with plenty of time to spare, their embarkation would be the day after tomorrow. They planned to spend the following day touring the city of Zelinia, then board the ship just before noon the day after.

The ship they would board was the Queen Amentis III, a luxurious passenger liner representing the pinnacle of the Tashman Kingdom’s technological prowess. The Queen Amentis III was named after the first queen of the Tashman Kingdom, who had led her army across the Salal River. She secured a landing point near the present-day Zelinia, becoming a founding hero of the kingdom. 

In honor of her achievements, the largest ships operated by the Tashman Kingdom on the Salal River were often named after her. As a side note, the first king of Tashman had led his legion across the seemingly impassable Volodia Mountains, advancing all the way to the vicinity of the current capital, Nevorista. Supporting her husband’s invasion by managing logistics was the queen, who led the troops that crossed the Salal River. Both the first king of Tashman and Queen Amentis remained popular figures with the people to this day, revered as founding heroes.

The Tashman Kingdom was founded by an extraordinary couple: the husband crossed natural fortress-like mountains, while the wife traversed a river once overrun by aquatic monsters. That was the legendary beginning of the Tashman Kingdom.

Returning to the present, Jez and the others were preparing to board the Queen Amentis III, a massive cruise ship measuring about 250 meters in length and 30 meters in width. It could accommodate around 700 passengers, with a crew of 600 and 400 cabins. This impressive vessel was being chartered for the voyage by William Saylor, the governor of the port city of Zelinia, in conjunction with the Tashman royal family.

The ship was usually operated by a large trading company headquartered in Zelinia. Interestingly, the company’s largest shareholders were the Tashman royal family and the Duke of Castillo’s family. So, in effect, it functioned almost like a state-run enterprise. For this reason, the ship was often used for politically significant events like the current voyage. It was also designated for military requisition during emergencies.

While the Tashman Kingdom’s ten legions were all land-based forces, they did maintain a small naval presence on the Salal River and other waterways. The crew aboard the Queen Amentis III had undergone combat training, and the governor of Zelinia held command over this naval force. They are responsible for dealing with the occasional appearance of aquatic monsters in the Salal River.

In the time of the first Tashman King and Queen Amentis, aquatic monsters were a major threat. They block human expansion along the Salal River. However, regular culling by the naval forces of both the Tashman and Garanhorn Kingdoms had made the river a much safer route today.

“…Aquatic monsters, huh,” 

Victor muttered as the group wandered through the port city of Zelinia the day before their voyage, guided by Erin. They had just visited a historical museum where they learned about the Salal River and the founding history of the Tashman Kingdom. Upon hearing about the aquatic monsters, Victor’s ears perked up in interest.

Victor had grown up in an inland country like Tashman with no access to the sea. For him, encounters with aquatic monsters were rare, which seemed to spark his curiosity.

“Victor, you know what I’m talking about, right?”

Miriam sternly warned him 

“I get that you’re curious, but no funny business,” 

Jez added casually.

“Please, Miriam, I’m counting on you.” 

Erin said with a sigh, completely passing the responsibility to Miriam.

Meanwhile, Seraphina remained unfazed as usual. 

“I’d like to visit the sea one day,”

She said while staying in her own world.

Hearing the various comments from his friends, Victor nodded earnestly. 

“I get it, I get it.”

…Why is it that the ones who say “I get it” twice in a row are usually the ones who don’t get it at all?