Shadowed Gaze: The Highserk War Saga - Chapter 100

Walm, guided by Sarshef, arrived at the dock where numerous sailing ships were lined up. The size of these ships was evident even from a distance, but their enormity became even more striking as they got closer. Walm had previously ridden ferries to cross rivers, but these large sailing ships were entirely different, like comparing small fish to whales.

Many laborers were carrying water and provisions onboard. Heavy barrels, bundled with rough ropes, were being hoisted directly onto the deck using winches. It was reminiscent of ants carrying food into their nests, but the sheer volume being loaded was astonishing. The scale was incomparable to land transport.

While everything he saw was new, Walm couldn’t afford to be too visibly amazed, so he simply moved his gaze and observed quietly.

“Well, this is the ship you’ll be boarding, the Adelina,” Sarshef said, indicating with a nod towards a large sailing ship docked at the pier. Walm swallowed hard. The length of the wooden hull was likely around 50 meters. The forecastle and sterncastle resembled fortresses. The width of the ship was such that an entire squad could stand side by side comfortably. The main mast towered about 50 meters high, a height that made looking up from nearby a challenge.

At the ship’s bow was a statue a woman with huge breasts. Whether it was the captain’s taste or the work of the ship’s craftsmen, Walm couldn’t tell, but the preferences of the person who decided on the statue were quite apparent.

“Quite impressive, isn’t it?” Sarshef said proudly, puffing out his chest. Walm pondered whether he was talking about the size of the ship or the statue’s chest, but in either case, there was nothing to deny.

“Yes, it’s indeed impressive. I think I’ll like this ship,” Walm replied.

“Glad you like it. Before you board, as you probably already know from the tavern, my name is Sarshef,” he said.

Walm, understanding the unspoken request to introduce himself, responded, “I’m Walm.”

“Walm… got it. Now that we’ve introduced ourselves, let’s meet the captain. Follow me.”

Unlike the other ships docked, there was less hustle and bustle around the Adelina, suggesting that the loading of cargo was complete. Walm, passing by only a few people, arrived at the side of the ship and looked up. The gangway, like a handrail, was slightly lower than the deck.

“Don’t fall,” Sarshef warned as he ascended the gangway effortlessly, as if it were solid ground. Following suit, Walm stepped onto the gangway. He felt a slight creak under his shoe. The gangway swayed slightly due to the motion of the fixed pier and the rocking ship.

Although Walm’s steps weren’t as light as Sarshef’s, they weren’t clumsy either. He safely reached the upper deck, where large barrels and burlap sacks were still temporarily placed, and sailors were busy organizing them.

“Those sacks aren’t for the hold. Take them to the kitchen; they’re for today’s meal.”

“Slowly, slowly lower it. Be careful with the hatch. You’ll get scolded if you scrape it.”

Noticing Walm’s distracted gaze, Sarshef scratched his head and guided him. “It might seem new, but the voyage is long. You’ll soon get used to it. This way.”

They walked from the upper deck towards the stern, where Walm ascended the stairs leading to the sterncastle.

“Sarshef, are you planning a mutiny by bringing a mercenary aboard?” an elderly man leaning on the sterncastle’s railing called out to Sarshef. The sailors engaged in their tasks turned their gazes towards Walm.

“Deck Chief, let’s not joke about things like that,” Sarshef replied.

“Haha, sorry about that. The captain’s in his cabin,” the Deck Chief apologized straightforwardly to the sailors.

Sarshef, unfazed, beckoned Walm to follow him. The area they were heading to had an unapproachable atmosphere. Unlike the rest of the ship, which prioritized functionality with minimal decoration, this part had silver embellishments on the outer walls and gold-plated door handles.

“Excuse me, Captain,” Sarshef said with an unusually gentle knock for a sailor, before opening the door and entering. Beyond the door, the room was filled with fixed furniture, and the walls were adorned with several paintings.

In the center of the room was the person they were looking for, the captain. His face was deeply lined with wrinkles and scars, and his mouth was adorned with a well-groomed, ample beard. Judging by his appearance, Walm guessed he was approaching 60. Despite this, his eyes, visible from beneath his hat, were sharp, and his high nose added to the impression of undiminished vigor. He exuded the experience and character needed to command people.

Spread across the desk were sea charts, surrounding a suspended compass, rulers, and some calculations scribbled on papers. It was one of the most detailed maps of the Archipelago Countries’ seas that Walm had ever seen.

“I’ve brought a passenger bound for the Labyrinth City.”

“Have you informed him of the rules?”

“Broadly speaking.”

“A paper with the rules is posted on the wall. Can you read?”

Walm responded to the captain’s question.

“I can.”

The place Walm was directed to had a framed regulation paper nailed to the wall. He read through each rule. In addition to the information he had been told beforehand, there were supplementary rules, but most of them wouldn’t cause issues as long as one behaved ethically.

“I have confirmed. There are no problems.”

Walm noticed that his tone had become formal. It seemed he had been influenced by the strict atmosphere of the rules and the room’s quietness.

“You appear to be a seasoned mercenary, yet you don’t seem unruly. Passengers like you are always welcome. Welcome aboard my ship.”

After receiving the captain’s welcome, Walm paid the fare and left the captain’s cabin, following Sarshef down the staircase to the lower deck. Sailors were busy working, moving between the upper and lower decks.

Luggage was tied down even to the base of the various masts and the lining boards. The determination of the sailors to utilize every bit of space was evident to Walm.

“This is the passenger area. Though for long voyages, it’s one of the cargo holds too.”

The makeshift partitioned space indeed had various passengers. There were mercenaries and adventurers like Walm, traders, and even ordinary citizens. The passenger classes seemed to be segregated across different ships as there were no wealthy or privileged individuals present.

“I thought we’d be crammed into a shelf or something.”

“Some ships still use bunk beds, but they’re a nuisance. With hammocks, you can set up a sleeping area anywhere, and with partition walls, you can create a proper cabin. When they’re not needed, they can be folded into wooden boxes. Plus, bunk beds are dangerous during storms; people can fall and get injured or even die.”

Sarshef said this while tapping Walm’s head. Indeed, if one were thrown out in an unprotected state, serious head injuries or spinal fractures would be unavoidable.

“Your bed is over there. I have work to do, so I’ll be going, but get along with the others. Let me know if you need anything. I’ll help for my silver coin’s worth.”

With those words, Sarshef waved his hand and returned to the upper deck. Left alone in the tidy passenger area, Walm immediately checked his sleeping place.

The hammock, which he thought was made of rough rope, was actually sturdy fabric. It was probably used as a spare sail or as protective gear during battles. Avoiding a crude sleeping arrangement, Walm placed his belongings under his head and settled into the hammock. The fatigue from walking continuously for four days, combined with the tension he had been holding, had accumulated beyond Walm’s expectations.

Suppressing a yawn, his eyelids grew heavier. Finally giving in to the persistent drowsiness, Walm exhaled softly and allowed himself to succumb to the weariness, quietly drifting into a light sleep.

Translator – Lyxxna
TL note: We’ve reached chapter 100 finally!