Chapter 143

< 142. Dispatch Mission: Ice Fishing >

*

Before leaving the Inquisition Office with his fishing gear, Leia said she had something to prepare and left first. She informed them that she would dock the fleet at the nearest port and then departed.

The closest port to the Inquisition Office was Merlin Port, belonging to the Phaeirn Royal Family. Fernandez looked at the horse he was saddling, adjusting the saddlebags.

“Merlin Port, huh? It’s been a while since I last went there.”

“Ah, Brother Zephis.”

Zephis entered the stable and tossed a bundle wrapped in a blanket. Fernandez caught it lightly and peeked inside. Was he bringing more travel supplies? When Fernandez unfolded the blanket, he found a round shield.

“A shield…?”

“Shouldn’t you start carrying defensive gear now? Relying on your body isn’t Diemonica’s style.”

“…Oh, really?”

Fernandez, who had mostly seen people relying on their bodies, was taken aback. Zephis chuckled and tapped the shield.

“Brother Marco spent a long time blessing it, and Brother Martirio worked in the forge for days with the blacksmiths to create this relic. Take a good look.”

It was a shield forged with the sweat and blood of many brothers. Fernandez, slightly moved, looked at the back of the shield.

– Saint Fernandez Sernerd of the Great Wilderness. Though you cannot avoid the filth of the world, may you remain unharmed by the claws of evil.

“My name is engraved on it? Does this mean I have permission to carry personal arms?”

“You already have plenty of those anyway. No big deal.”

King Dane’s sword and Vaitas’ Keyblade—these two weapons were not donated to the armory but kept personally by him, and the other Inquisition Officers tacitly allowed it.

Fernandez strapped the shield to his left arm, testing its weight. The solid heft of the steel shield, finished with Saint Metal, felt reassuring.

“It may not be the greatest relic of this era, but it’s a useful weapon.”

“Considering the amount of Saint Metal needed to forge a single shield, it’s more than just useful.”

Given the Inquisition Office’s resource shortages, investing Saint Metal in defensive gear was highly inefficient. Their weapons were often destroyed during operations, and maintaining them consumed a significant amount of resources.

The amount of iron ingots needed to reforge a single shield could produce three longswords. When Fernandez pointed this out, Zephis smirked.

“You’re starting to think like Enmagika. Just take it, brother. You can’t refuse it anyway.”

“Should I hug you?”

“…Don’t say creepy things.”

“Hahaha.”

Fernandez laughed as he mounted the horse. Stroking the horse’s back, he nudged it with his heels, and the horse began to move forward slowly.

Behind him, Zephis quietly bowed his head in respect. On Sovereign Main Street, Abel and Kirhas, already on their horses, were waiting for him. As the operation leader, he had to report to the superiors, which delayed his departure.

“You must’ve been cold. Took you long enough.”

“Nah, dragons don’t feel the cold.”

“Um… um. Beastmen too…”

Kirhas, her face red to the tip of her nose, sniffled as she spoke. However, Beastmen are notoriously weak against the cold. Fernandez chuckled at her words and urged his horse forward.

-Clop, clop, clop.

The three horses descended Sovereign Main Street of the Inquisition Office and headed into the forest below. It was dawn, and snow had begun to fall again.

*

Merlin Port was about three days’ ride from Inquisition Keep. Fernandez and his companions were skilled enough to rest even on horseback, allowing them to ride through two nights.

But the cold, fatigue, and hunger were separate issues. Even Abel frowned at the thought of riding for two nights straight.

“Me, Mer, Merlin Port!”

Kirhas shouted as she looked down the hill at the port city on the horizon. The winter sea under the falling snow was dreamlike.

Riding across the snow-covered fields, Fernandez patted the heated neck of his horse.

-Whinny.

The horse, foaming at the mouth, panted as it ran. Seeing their destination seemed to lift Kirhas and Abel’s spirits. Fernandez brushed the snowflakes off his face and took a deep breath.

‘I’m tired.’

-Was there a reason to rush like this?

‘Sleeping outdoors in winter is tough. Better to suffer a little more for a shorter time.’

Diemonica’s body doesn’t degrade much even after three sleepless nights. But Abel now has a body no different from an ordinary person, and Kirhas is even a young woman.

Rather than making them sleep outdoors in winter, he chose to push forward. Fernandez slowed the horse’s pace as they approached the entrance of Merlin Port.

-Whinny.

The horse shook its head, panting heavily. The city guards at the gate raised their spears slightly upon seeing them.

“Halt, state your identity.”

“Angelo of the Order of St. John Knights. These are my attendants.”

“My apologies, Sir Angelo. It’s rare to see knights traveling in winter.”

“Times are tough.”

Winter was a season when merchant traffic dwindled. Even the bustling port city of Merlin Port was relatively quiet during this time. Fernandez handed over his knight’s certification, and the city guards nodded, stepping aside.

“Thank you for your cooperation, Sir Angelo.”

“Security is tight. Are monsters still appearing in the city?”

“Ah, you must’ve been here last year! No, but since that incident, we’ve been ordered to strengthen inspections.”

“A wise decision. That was a terrible incident.”

“Many people died or were injured. It must never happen again.”

The city guard nodded somberly and moved his spear aside, clearing the way. Fernandez and his party walked through and entered Merlin Port.

*

The meeting place with Leia was the [Sky Sylph Inn] in Merlin Port. Fernandez looked at Kirhas, who was grinning as she admired the upscale inn’s exterior.

“This time, we’re staying in a proper place…”





“Yeah?”

“Right. It’s not a covert mission.”

“Must have been nice, bringing back old memories. The Star and Mermaid Inn wasn’t bad either.”

Fernandez chuckled at Kirhas’s joke. The series of murders by the madman, the Lich, and the Walker incident—it all came flooding back. The operation that had burned nearly half of Merlin Port.

Kirhas cheerfully dismounted. The inn’s servant rushed out, bowing and taking the reins.

“Welcome! Will you be staying?”

“Looks like it. There’s a group coming.”

“Just a moment… A knight, two lovely ladies… Ah! You must be with the elf guest! I’ve heard about you. Head to the lobby! They’re probably having a meal.”

“Thanks.”

Fernandez tossed the servant half a coin and pushed open the swing door. The bustling lobby and the smell of food filled the air.

“Finally, some real food.”

“Doubt there’s much meat in these times. Do you like seafood?”

“If I didn’t, would I be buried by the coast?”

Abel smiled softly and followed Fernandez. As they headed to the lobby, the gazes of the crowd briefly fell on Fernandez and his group.

‘Definitely a noticeable combination.’

Abel was a radiant beauty, and Kirhas was no less striking. The stares from the crowd were sharp.

‘Now I see why the brothers tease him about being a womanizer.’

-Don’t get too cocky, you lightweight.

Faijashi grumbled. Fernandez ignored him and looked straight ahead. The winter noon restaurant was quiet. A traditional band listlessly played their instruments.

And in the distance, at the most luxurious table, surrounded by all sorts of delicacies, Leia was watching them with a smile.

*

-Clink.

Only the sound of utensils clinking filled the table. Fernandez was a man of few words, while Abel and Kirhas were engrossed in the first proper meal they’d had in a long time.

Meanwhile, Leia kept glancing at her pocket watch and looking out the window.

“Do you know why I chose this inn?”

“Because it’s high-class?”

“That could be a reason. I’m a queen now, after all. A little luxury is a matter of our people’s pride.”

Leia chuckled and sipped her coffee. Fernandez cut a small piece of meat and listened.

“The biggest reason is the view of the sea.”

Leia gestured out the window. Beyond the scattered snowflakes, the dark, churning sea was visible. The inn faced the harbor, perched in the best spot along Merlin Port’s waterfront.

“It’s about time. Hurry up with your meal.”

Leia playfully smiled and set down her coffee cup. Abel, who had been devouring her food with perfect table manners, also set down her fork and wiped her mouth.

-Boooo…

A deep, bone-rattling horn sounded in the distance. Soon—

-Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!!

-To the harbor!! To the docks!!

Sea guards ran about, and the bell tower’s bell began to clang noisily. Fernandez frowned slightly and turned his head toward the window.

In the distance, through the thick snowfall, barely visible even to Diemonica’s keen eyes, at the edge of the horizon—

-Enemy attack! Enemy attack!!

-Everyone to your positions! Prepare the cannons!!

-Boooo!!

The horn blared loudly. Fernandez looked back at Leia with a blank expression. Leia, still smiling mischievously with her arms crossed, gazed out the window.

“Didn’t you notify the city hall in advance?”

“Bureaucracy is complicated.”

The city officials had either frowned at Leia’s words or told her not to joke. Following all the clauses in the docking permit they handed over would have taken a week.

Leia didn’t have time for such luxuries. Instead, she had the strongest golden fleet in the northern seas.

-Boooo—!

This time, the sound wasn’t a horn. A deep, bone-shaking rumble engulfed the harbor. The sound of an elven ship’s horn. Requesting permission to dock…

“I informed those officials of my identity and where I’m staying. Now, let’s hope they’re not complete fools.”

“Queen Leia, you’ve changed quite a bit, haven’t you?”

“To rule as the monarch of my people, I need authority. Being too humble is a weakness. It’s a matter of my people’s pride.”

Leia chuckled. At the same time, the inn’s door burst open, and sea guards and well-dressed men poured in.

“Haha, they’re not fools after all.”

“Y-you are Queen Leia Pin Guimerin?”

“Her Majesty the Queen.”

“Y-your Majesty?”

“Yes.”

Leia grinned mischievously at the pale-faced city hall nobles. She lazily rose and walked toward them.

The sea guards threateningly gripped their spears. Leia’s eyebrow twitched as she slowly placed her index finger on the hilt of her sword.

“How rude.”

-Swish.

The time it took for the blade to be drawn and sheathed was so brief that few in the room could have seen her strike.

Fernandez admired her cleaner, more precise sword technique. The sea guard’s spear split in half and fell to the floor.

The officials turned pale. They wanted to tear their hair out. Merlin Port was a key trade hub with the Royal Mint, and even after the Walker incident, it had taken immense effort to restore the city’s functions.

Just as it was beginning to recover and step into the newly opened northern sea trade route to the City of the Awakened Dragon, if the elven warships attacked now…

“Guide my fleet. And tell your soldiers: if they don’t attack first, we’ll leave quietly.”

Don’t worry. Leia patted the noble’s shoulder and walked past. The sea guards, who had surrounded her, stepped aside in fear.

The inn was perfectly positioned along the main road leading to the harbor. Beyond Leia’s slender figure, the rough winter sea breeze poured in—

-Swish.

Her silver hair shimmered like the northern sea, and beyond it, a massive fleet filled the horizon.

-Boooo!!!

The ship’s horn echoed through the harbor. Sea guards, citizens, dockworkers, and nobles alike were running around in panic.

“Sigh…”

Fernandez covered his face and sighed. Leia laughed brightly at the sight.

“Your kingdom’s meal wasn’t bad. Now, I invite you to my kingdom, Inquisition Officer. It’ll be a pleasant voyage.”