Chapter 179: The Sea

Ren and the others went to get confirmation from the king, while I asked Lua-san where the sea was located.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t far. After crossing the border, it would take less than half a day to reach. She even marked it on a map for me, so there was no chance of us getting lost.

And just like that, Ren and the others also received the king’s permission without any trouble. By the very next day after our talk, everything was already prepared for departure.

I was sure it would be impossible, but thanks to the king’s understanding nature, it seemed Ren and his party were ready to head out right away.

“Alright! All set! We can leave whenever!”

“Sato-san, are you really okay with lending us the carriage?”

“Of course. Ash is much faster than regular horses. He can carry a lot too, so transporting four people will be no problem.”

I had been feeding Ash magic crystals, and about a month ago, he evolved from a Lizard Runner into a Dragon Runner.

His appearance hadn’t changed drastically, but his fangs grew sharper, his muscles bulked up, and… his scales had gained a sleek shine, giving him a stylish look.

“Thanks! Then we’ll gladly borrow him. Ash, we’re counting on you!”

“Grrr.”

Ash let out a low growl, almost like a reply to Shoji-san’s words. He seemed fired up, so we’d probably arrive even earlier than expected.

“…Hey, there’s something I hesitated to say, but can I?”

“Of course. If it’s something I can prepare, I’ll do my best.”

“It’s not an item or anything like that… but, Sato, why don’t you come with us? We’ll protect you!”

I braced myself for something heavy, but Mika-san’s words completely blindsided me.

Of course, I wanted to go see the sea. But honestly, I hadn’t seriously considered going.

“…Wouldn’t I just be a burden if I came along? I’d be nothing but dead weight.”

“It’s fine! We’re plenty strong!”

“Really? But I still have farm work to take care of…”

“Three days won’t make a difference! If we leave now, we’ll reach the sea by tonight. Tomorrow we can hunt monsters all day, then return the day after tomorrow at night!”

Hmm… she’s really pushing hard.

The more they pressed, the more my curiosity grew. Maybe I should at least ask Sheila-san for permission.

“…Then, could you wait a little while? I’ll go talk with Sheila-san.”

“Of course. I think an adventure with Sato-san would be fun.”

I went to ask Sheila-san, and she granted permission easily—but then insisted she wanted to come too, which caused some trouble.

But the carriage only seated four, and even if it didn’t, six passengers would put too much strain on Ash. So Sheila-san reluctantly agreed to stay behind.

And so, with Ren and his party, I set out for the sea in the Lusanso Republic.

We decided to take turns riding in the driver’s seat, and soon enough, the journey began.

Honestly, I was bursting with excitement.

Up until now, I’d only gone on dungeon expeditions, since I was too weak for proper “adventuring.”

But this time, it was the real deal. A genuine adventure, aiming for unknown ingredients.

Unable to contain my giddiness, I rode with them toward Lusanso Republic, like a kid off on a school trip.

Since the carriage ride was full of lively chatter, the journey felt incredibly short, and before we knew it, we had arrived.

I was worried about passing immigration, but the ID granted by the king was apparently extraordinary. We weren’t even subjected to a baggage check.

So easily, we crossed into Lusanso Republic.

From here, though, the roads grew more complex, so careful driving was needed.

These days, people back in Japan just relied on smartphones to guide them, but when I was younger, I used to drive using paper maps.

Because of that, I was actually better at reading maps than Ren and the others. So I took the reins and guided Ash forward.

That said, Ash basically ran himself, and all I had to do was give directions. With no other carriages around, the ride was smooth and comfortable.

“Ah, everyone! I see the sea!”

Before long, the blue horizon came into view.

It looked no different from the seas I knew in Japan, and for some reason, I felt a surge of emotion.

“Whoa! It’s so blue and vast here too!”

“Yeah… seeing it up close, it really is moving.”

“Right? And just knowing monsters live in there makes it even more exciting!”

Our excitement was only rising. We guided the carriage closer to a spot where we could access the shore.

The salty scent of the tide drifted through the air, making me crave seafood.

Up until now, I’d avoided raw seafood out of fear, but… maybe it was time to try sashimi or sushi again.

Well, if this adventure allowed us to hunt delicious sea monsters, then all those worries would be solved in one go.

Our goal: to turn monster meat into seafood dishes!

And so, Ren and his friends prepared to begin their first ocean hunt.

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