The sails, filled by the wind blowing across the lake, stretched tight without slack, converting the wind’s force into the ship’s movement. The far shore of huge Lake Selta remained hidden beyond the horizon, impossible to see even from the deck.

The light infantry company accompanying Walm was divided across three vessels, a warship and two merchant ships, sailing toward Anxio which was the naval port city located at the center of the Selta peninsula.

Unlike the open ocean, the lake’s waves were relatively calm. Even so, for infantrymen who had spent most of their lives on land, the environment was harsh. Many were struck by severe seasickness.

Even though he didn’t show it openly, even Friug looked pale. That was hardly surprising. Many of the soldiers had little connection to water, and nearly half of the infantry couldn’t swim at all. Unless one belonged to an occupation close to the water, there had never been any foundation for learning to swim in their homeland.

The army of the Highserk Empire, proud of its strength on land, was no different from a sahagin flopping helplessly on a cutting board when they were on water.

Originally, the Highserk Empire had been a small inland power. Through defensive wars it expanded its territory, eventually swallowing neighboring states whole. Poor in resources and funding, they had no choice but to prioritize its army. Even after gaining coastal territory during its expansion, history had not been kind to its naval ambitions. Beyond the bays were the fleets of the Libertoa Trade Federation, while Lake Selta itself had long been controlled by the Mayard navy.

Looking toward the stern, Walm could see the ships following behind in a single-file formation. Unlike the flagship he rode on, the two vessels behind were slightly smaller and classified not as dedicated warships but as merchant ships.

Because of their slower speed, several sails on the main ship had been furled, while the merchant ships kept all their sails spread wide. It was necessary to keep their speeds aligned.

Furthermore, the waterline of the two ships behind sank noticeably lower. Besides Highserk soldiers, they carried all kinds of cargo. The cries of livestock packed into the holds drifted across the wind. Unfortunate as it was, the soldiers aboard those ships were probably suffering now from the smell and noise of the animals.

From experience, Walm had learned that ships were busiest during departure and arrival. During the voyage itself, however, there tended to be idle manpower and spare space.

Rather than joining the soldiers groaning on the middle deck, it was far more productive to find a corner on the deck where he wouldn’t get in the sailors’ way and pass the time staring at the unchanging lake.

“Hey. You’re looking awfully calm.”

When Walm turned toward the voice, a sailor stood there with a scowl on his face. It was hard to tell whether he was in a foul mood or if that was simply his natural expression. One thing was certain, he carried the distinctive presence of a man backed by experience and skill.

“I’m just not used to being on a ship.”

“Tell a better lie. Your face doesn’t look like someone fighting nausea, and you’re not clinging to the wind either. Even with that armor on, the way you balance yourself on the deck isn’t bad. The other infantry are already whining about the rocking and taking their gear off.”

His words were rough, but he had seen right through him. Like many sailors, this man probably disliked the idea of land-dwellers acting superior while on water.

Moreover, unlike the army which had suffered repeated defeats across Mayard territory, the forces of Lake Selta had at least managed to push back the Highserk Empire in the past. That pride lived within them.

Given that, it was only natural they carried a certain rebelliousness and stubborn pride. As long as it didn’t turn into outright hostility, Walm considered them nothing more than tough-minded people with strong habits. He didn’t dislike that type.

“You really infantry?”

Not wanting to leave the man with unnecessary suspicions, Walm explained.

“When I wasn’t with the army, I spent about a month traveling by ship through the Archipelago countries. That’s probably why I look used to it.”

“A Highserk soldier traveling the open sea these days, huh? That’s a rare one… I hear merchant ships from the Archipelago are heavily armed.”

“It’s like comparing a dragon to an imp. The little boats Highserk struggles to use on small rivers are on a lower level. In Archipelago their sterncastles are built in multiple layers, and the number of mounted ballistas are on a completely different scale. The sailors doubled as crew for them, and there was even a full squad of sea mages onboard that time.”

“Armed like that for a merchant ship, huh… Well, they are the rulers of the seas, so how would they compare to the warships on this lake?”

“I’m no expert in naval combat to say that but…”

Sea battles were far outside the specialty of an infantryman like Walm. As he began considering the question, he pictured the Adelina in his mind.

“…in boarding combat, the larger number of sailors here would probably win. But if they kept their distance, the difference in ship performance would probably decide it. The Adelina had many drainage pumps installed so even if the hull was breached, it would only take on a slight tilt.”

“You say that without any hesitation. Wait… breach the hull? Were you in combat?”

“Yeah, we were under a monster attack.”

“What kind?”

“There was a mid-sized kraken and a swarm of sahagin. Even after killing them they were a pain in the ass. And the smell was strong enough to sting your eyes.”

Their immense strength and massive bodies had been threatening enough, capable of causing severe damage to both ship and crew. But the cleanup afterward had been just as unpleasant. The rotting stench of their slime-covered membranes and organs had dulled his sense of smell for quite some time. Many people complained about having headaches. Faced with that kind of odor, the foul sludge in the ship’s bottom almost seemed preferable.

“Hah. There’s no such thing as a water monster that doesn’t stink. A kraken though… even a mid-sized one. You won’t see those in Lake Selta. Tell me about it.”

There was no reason to refuse. Walm had already grown tired of watching the unchanging lake surface and the occasional waterfowl passing by, so he began recounting the events.

“…Letting people use fire magic on a ship? That’s crazy. If anyone tried that here, we’d kick them into the lake for trying to burn the ship.”

“So the stories about krakens appearing with a rotting stench are true.”

“Guess sahagin guts stink no matter if it’s the sea or a lake.”

At some point, other idle sailors had gathered around to join the conversation. After finishing his story and feeling his throat grow tired from speaking, Walm switched roles and asked them about the most famous monster of Lake Selta.

“So, what exactly is a lake dragon?”

“It’s a half-aquatic dragon. They wander along the water’s edge with their mouths wide open looking for food. Not an easy opponent, but their hides are flexible and waterproof. Plenty of uses for them, so if you can hunt one, it’s like finding a treasure.”

“That’s right. They’re slow and easy targets while they’re on land. In the water though, they’re fast and dangerous. But don’t worry, people here are used to fighting them. Besides, they’re pretty quiet these days.”

“Breeding season?”

“Nah, not that. We’re not sure exactly why, but it’s probably because of the change in the lake’s ruler. The previous one was so vicious it used the Libertoa floating cities as feeding grounds. Now the others are busy fighting over the empty territory.”

“…Like humans, monsters are busy fighting each other too.”

As humans fought over land, the waters of Lake Selta were filled with endless and brutal competition for survival.

“Alright, get back to your stations! We’re about to enter the harbor!”

A hoarse voice unique to sailors echoed down from the sterncastle. The sailors who had gathered dispersed instantly like fog clearing, each returning to their posts. Leaning over the railing and looking into the distance, Walm could see the tip of the peninsula jutting out sharply like the point of a blade.

The Selta peninsula, which had been hidden beyond the horizon, finally revealed itself. The ship began turning to port, curving around the blade-like point.

“Guess it’s about time for me to leave too.”

The deck and the masts were becoming crowded like a harvest festival. As land approached, the sails required constant adjustment due to shallows and shifting winds. If he got in the way of the crew’s work, he might end up getting kicked into the lake.

Deciding on a strategic retreat, Walm hurried down the steep staircase. It was truly a design that showed little consideration for human comfort.

“Hey, look! Land!”

“So that’s the blade of Selta.”

“Finally… we’re getting out of this damned cargo hold.”

Soldiers leaned out from the windows set into the hull, peering outside. At the sight of the long-awaited land, life returned to their voices and faces.

Walm joined them, quietly waiting for the ship to enter port.

Translator – Lyxxna