MasekiGurume Side Story 1 Part 1 (2308 words)

Krone & Graff [Before] 
クローネ＆グラーフ[前]

「Ladies and gentlemen. We have just entered the waters around the continent of Ishtalica」

It was the first shipment carrying the sea crystals from Euro.

On the ship were people from the Augusto family, including Graf, who were heading for Ishtalica.

More sea crystals were mined from there than in Ishtalica, this ship was filled with it and proceeding smoothly through the sea.

「I've heard of it before. But this ship was really fast huh」

「I used to ride on the outbound route only. However, the speed seems to have increased a lot since then」

「Yes. The last time Graf-sama was on board was three generations ago. Compared to the ships of that time, the stability, speed, and basic performance have all been improved」

The person who was showing Graf and the others around was a civil servant of Ishtalica, who was a direct subordinate of Prime Minister Warren.

A salon was set up in the room for the nobles, and they gathered there to drink tea and receive explanations.

「No wonder I felt a difference. However, the fact that three generations have evolved in the past few decades is a testament to the power of technology」

「We have many engineers working day and night on this project. This is the result of their efforts」

「You're right. That person of Ishtalica, Ainz.....No. Ainz-sama had crossed to Ishtalica with another ship huh?」

Krone thought it would make a bad impression to call Ainz out to the people of Ishtalica, so he quickly avoided it by adding sama.

「When Her Highness the Second Princess left, another ship came to Hyme. It was a ship specially designed for Her Highness the Second Princess Oliva. It is slightly larger than this ship, but in terms of facilities and performance, it is incomparable」

「I'd like to take a look at it. Right, grandfather」

「I'm certainly curious to hear something that even outperforming this ship」

「I hope you will have the opportunity to see it, as its periodically serviced on regular basis」

「I see, that's good to know」

The White King, the private ship of King Sylvird of Ishtalica, also appeared at the unveiling of the operation.

Its size, equipment, and performance of the ship was a surprise even to the people of Ishtalica.

「Does Princess Olivia's ship's speed is different than this?」

Krone asked.

「Of course. There is a reason why this ship has a large load capacity, but even if we subtract it, it’s still about 30% faster than this ship」

「Just as expected of a Royal's ship huh. It's no wonder that when Her Highness the Second Princess wanted to return to her homeland, she was picked up so quickly」

The civil servant heard this and smiled gently. Then he coughed once and reopened his mouth.

「....Well then. I will now explain the process. May I have your attention please?」

「Please do」

「Yes, please do」

The reason why this civil servant was here to guide us was because he was also going to explain the flow of events after we arrived in Ishtalica.

We had to stay on the ship for a while after arriving at the port because there were some details to check.

「First of all, we will check Graf-sama and Krone-same status cards to confirm your identity. After that, we will ask you to check the documents and sign them. The contents of the document are about prohibited items and terms and conditions」

In order to welcome them, a great noble of Hyme, Ishtalica had to ask them to confirm some things, such as their responsibilities in case something happened to them and what they would do in Ishtalica.

「After that, you will be tested for any dangerous pathogens. This is to prevent accidents」

「Of course, we'll comply」

If they don't comply here, it will give them bad feelings. That would be meaningless in the future, and it would be disadvantageous for Krone too.

「Thank you very much. And last but not least, I'd like you to have a little chat with my superior」

「I understand. What kind of person will it be?」

「It's Warren-sama, who serves as our Prime Minister. He will be there and ask you a few questions, which I hope you will answer」

Graf did not know that Warren would come. This caused a bit of confusion.

In Graf's mind, the Augusto family would be nothing more than a remote nobleman in Ishtalica.

Why a Prime Minister, would go to the trouble of welcoming such a remote nobleman.

「I didn't expect for Warren-dono to come too」

「The situation would have been different if you had entered Ishtalica by a different means.....In this case, you mentioned the name of the Princess and Ainz-sama. Therefore, the Prime Minister will be welcoming you」

「....Ainz-sama, is he doing well?」

Krone asked about Ainz, whom she hadn't heard from in a while and didn't know what was going on with him.

「Ainz-sama is enthusiastically  working on his martial training and the studies necessary for royalty. He seems to be enjoying his time together with the princess」

「Is, that so. Thank you very much. I'm so relieved to hear that」

Upon hearing the answer, Krone smiled and thanked him.

「I have not had the opportunity to speak with Ainz-sama directly. So i just heard about his personality」

「Let me tell you a little about Ainz-sama. He has a very good reputation in the castle. As I said before, he is a man who does not spare any effort, and above all, he is a polite and intelligent person」

「――That's good. He hasn’t changed huh」

Krone muttered in a small voice, so they didn't hear her.

She was more than happy to know that Ainz had not changed.

「But...Well, what can I say? he can be a bit mischievous sometimes. He and the First Princess get along very well, but there are times when the two of them plot things together or conduct mysterious experiments that cause a little commotion」

She heard something about Ainz that Krone hadn't known, and nodded that he was just like that.

「It's good to see the castle bustling with activity since Ainz-sama's arrival. Her Highness the Second Princess has returned, and Her Majesty and the Queen are very happy to see her」

「....All can we say is, we're really sorry」

It is a fact that what happened in Hyme has caused some displeasure to Ishtalica.

As a member of the Augusto family, the great noble of Hyme, he can't help but apologize for that.

「....A lot of things had happened, and a number of things that we had to accept even if we didn't agree with were happening. There is no way we can just flush it all into the water. But it is not a bad thing to try to move forward. That's all I can say for now」

The Ishtalica's civil servant said this calmly without changing any attitude.

「When you arrive in Ishtalica, be sure to enjoy the scenery of the port city first. It is a huge city and one of the best port towns in Ishtalica. You can get a lot of fresh fish too. I'm sure everyone will enjoy it」

「I'll look forward to seeing how much the town has changed over the past few decades」

「It's my first time. I'll imprint the scenery of the port city with my eyes」

「Well then. I'm going to leave now. I'm going to hand over some documents to Alfred-dono. Alfred-dono, may I have your time to review them?」

「Very well」

Alfred replied, and the civilian handed him some documents.

It seems to contain information about Ishtalica and some other important matters.

They want us to check them before we arrive.

After handing it over, the civil servant quietly left the room.

「Krone. I just want you to be prepared. Ainz-sama is now royalty of the great nation of Ishtalica, and he is not someone you can easily meet」

「I understand. But I can at least.....hope for him to see me, right?」

＊＊＊

A few hours passed, and the ship carrying the sea crystals arrived safely at the port city of Magna.

The scene that Krone and the others saw from their room was truly breath-taking.

It was much larger than the port town of Round heart in Hyme, and the houses were beautiful.

The cobalt blue sea, where you can even see the fish swimming in the water. And the many piers and various ships moored there.

Although Graf had been to the port city of Magna in the past, he was shocked to find that Magna had become even more prosperous after several decades.

「I guess this is what they mean with something that made you can't even close our mouth, Grandfather. I can't believe there's a town like this in the world」

「It's very different from what I used to see. I feel the same way about you, Krone」

「.....I had thought about this too when I was with Graf-sama in the past, but now my feelings are even stronger. The strength of the country of Ishtalica is beyond Hyme's imagination」

What Alfred says is the very truth. She understood just by looking at the town that there was such a huge difference in culture, scale, and technology.

「Just walking around the town seems to be fun」

「It must be. I'd love to spend some time shopping there someday」

The power of the ship seemed to have completely stopped and the ship was secured to the harbor.

Near the large pier where the ship had stopped, there were a number of personnel waiting to unload the cargo and civilian officers to perform detailed checks.

A water train was parked on a small hill visible from the ship.

「Grandfather? What is the thing that parked on there?」

Krone had no knowledge of trains, so he asked Graf what it was.

「That is the water train, the main means of transportation in Ishtalica. You can travel to many places on the continent with it」

「That's convenient. Is that water train also fast too?」

「It's no match for any horse, even for a fast horse. It can keeps moving at a high speed」

「Th-there is such a vehicle in Ishtalica huh.......」

In Hyme, means of transportation was basically by using horse carriage. Therefore, once she saw the water train, she could not understand it, it was an over-technology from Hyme's point of view.

「But, such a ride must be expensive right」

「That's not true. It depends on the distance, but it's just about enough to pay for an average commoner's meal」

「....Even commoners could use it too huh. As expected of Ishtalica」

Even though she hadn't gotten off the ship yet, Krone's hopes continued to grow with each new discovery.

Would she be able to ride the water train herself? It was exciting to think about what kind of ride it would be.

「Excuse me, Graf-sama, Krone-sama. We've arrived, so if you could please prepare to disembark」

「Yeah, sure」

「As I explained to you a short while ago, there are a few things you need to do. As soon as those tasks are completed, you will disembark the ship and have a meeting with the Prime Minister」

「With Warren-dono huh」

Graf was far away from Hyme. Even he felt nervous when he thought about what kind of person Warren was.

He was the Prime Minister of the great nation of Ishtalica, and one of King Sylvird's closest aides.

If he were to raise an objection, they might even be rejected from Ishtalica.

When he thought about it, he couldn't stop the sweat from forming on his forehead.

「Yes. We also have to unload our cargo, so it may be a little noisy. We apologize for the inconvenience, but we would appreciate your understanding」

「Of course. We're grateful for bringing us here」

「Me too, thank you very much」

When the two thanked him, he smiled and said "Don't mind it".

「You can bring your belonging with you, but we'll also unload them together for you. We'll give them to you later at a place where you can relax」

The items the Graf brought with them were all the necessities for their daily lives.

When we add in the belongings of several escort and servants, and the Graf's own belongings, it was a considerable amount of stuff, so Ishtalica kindly stored it and place it in the loading area.

「Thank you again. We've had everything packed in a box, so we don't have a lot of stuff to bring in here. We're ready to leave now, so I'd like you to show us around」

「Very well. I'll take you there then」

There was nothing in particular to prepare, so we left the room we were staying in as we were led.

As we had been told, the noise got louder and louder as we went along the road.

Grateful for the ship that he had been a nuisance for a while, Graff headed to complete the necessary procedures.

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