For the week since Skidbladnir had left the Banban Kingdom, it continued its peaceful voyage.

“Peace really is wonderful.”

“I could not agree more.”

Both Ryo and Abel were peace-loving citizens of the Knightley Kingdom.

“What has brought this peace into being is the sea-monster repellent. Which is, in other words, also the greatness of alchemy.”

“Yes, I won’t deny that.”

“I think our Kingdom should train even more alchemists.”

“We’re training plenty already, aren’t we?”

Ryo made his recommendation, and Abel tilted his head, seeing it as something already being done sufficiently.

In truth, the Royal Alchemy Workshop’s budget was generous.

Since Abel had become king and the Kingdom Liberation War had ended, it had received a budget incomparable to anything before.

Of course, the Royal Alchemy Workshop had produced results worthy of that budget.

“That is true of Kenneth and the Royal Alchemy Workshop. They’ve produced results worthy of it too. But there are other alchemists as well.”

Ryo said it plainly.

Up to that point, it was an entirely proper recommendation.

One could even call it direct counsel to the king worthy of the Premier Duke.

But after saying it, Ryo waved both arms broadly, bounced his body up and down, and made himself extremely conspicuous in Abel’s field of view.

Yes, as if to say, “Look, the person in question is right in front of you.”

“Ryo... you’re an associate researcher at the Royal Alchemy Workshop, aren’t you?”

“What...? W-well, yes, I am.”

“Then you’re included in the target of the budget allocated to the Royal Alchemy Workshop.”

“That’s... no, but I don’t really use much of the Royal Alchemy Workshop’s money...”

“You eat at the Royal Alchemy Workshop cafeteria, don’t you?”

“That’s only when I’m shut in the workshop for research...”

“That is enough. Give up.”

Abel stated it clearly.

The Royal Alchemy Workshop had a cafeteria for those who worked there.

Naturally, it was used not only by alchemists, but also, for example, by guards and cleaning staff.

They too could use the cafeteria free of charge.

After the Kingdom Liberation War, Ryo had been registered as an associate researcher at the Royal Alchemy Workshop.

As a result, he could freely use the workshop’s facilities.

Of course, all of that had been possible because he had continued producing results.

The Long-Range Diffusion-Type Panakeia Breath of Mercy deployed in the battle against Demon Man Garwin was one such example.

As an associate researcher, he even had a room prepared for overnight stays.

Basically, the alchemists of the Royal Alchemy Workshop had private rooms within the workshop itself and went back and forth between those rooms and their research rooms... yes, their lives were completed entirely inside the workshop.

An environment where they did not have to think about anything except research.

An environment where they could immerse themselves in research alone.

That was what it meant to be an alchemist at the Royal Alchemy Workshop.

Ryo thought it was only natural that alchemists throughout the Kingdom aimed for it.

All they had to do was research... and the state would prepare everything else for them.

For someone truly absorbed in research, it was a dream environment.

And if someone did not think so?

Perhaps that person was not suited to be a researcher.

Perhaps they should aim for something else.

That said, in reality, one could never know without trying.

Human life rarely goes the way one expects.

Told to give up by the king, the person ultimately responsible for the national budget, Ryo slumped.

He began thinking hard, trying to devise a new plan.

As the two of them stood there, one woman approached.

“I have a report, Your Majesty.”

It was Captain Paulina.

“We will soon enter the archipelago region.”

“Understood.”

Abel nodded at Paulina’s report.

Abel seemed to understand, but Ryo, listening beside him, did not.

“Archipelago?”

“It is not organized enough to be called a country, but it is a sea region with dozens of islands. Many appear to be uninhabited, but some islands do have people living on them.”

“There’s a fairly large island to the north, and that one has a country, was it?”

“Yes. We only heard that from people of the archipelago region, so we do not know the distance or the scale of the country. For that reason, we will not stop there this time and will continue west.”

“Yes, I have no objection to that proposal. It is not as if we have to stop at every country. Reaching the Western Countries is our highest priority.”

Abel’s thinking was clear.

By making it clear, the people around him did not have to hesitate.

In organizations of any size, the person at the top had to make priorities clear.

That was so subordinates would not lose their way.

Wasting time hesitating over such matters was a tremendous waste.

They should hesitate and spend time on solving more essential problems.

Abel had learned that when he was still the second prince.

If his late elder brother Caindish had inherited the throne, Abel had been expected to become the commander-in-chief of the Kingdom army.

What a person leading an organization must never do.

He had learned it thoroughly.

Especially because on the battlefield, a single order from a commander could cost many lives.

Thirty minutes after Abel received Paulina’s report.

CLANG CLANG CLANG, CLANG CLANG CLANG...

A bell rang out across the deck.

Ryo and Abel lifted their faces from the book and report they had been reading.

Both of them immediately understood what had happened.

The last time this bell had rung was outside the port of the Banban Kingdom.

When a ship had been approaching.

Most likely, this time too...

“Lookout! How many vessels?”

“Five, Captain!”

At Paulina’s sharp question, the crew member on lookout shouted back from atop the mast.

Looking outside the ship, they could see vessels emerging from behind the shadows of several islands.

Even without a spyglass, their size was roughly clear.

“They’re smaller than Skidbladnir, but...”

“They are not small boats.”

“They look like larger fishing boats that have been modified.”

“But they don’t look as if they’ve come out to fish.”

Ryo and Abel gave their impressions as they watched the approaching vessels.

“Thanks to the monster repellent, monsters won’t come near, but...”

“Sea-monster repellent does not work on pirates.”

Yes. Monsters were not the only threat at sea.

“Your Majesty, with your permission, I would like to intercept them.”

“Intercept? I do not mind, but... wouldn’t it be easier to shake them off?”

Abel tilted his head at Paulina’s words.

Skidbladnir’s speed was considerable.

The five approaching ships were not slow, but Skidbladnir should have been able to leave them behind without issue.

But...

“There is the future to consider, and it will serve as information gathering.”

“Hmm.”

Listening to their exchange, Ryo cut in.

“Um, ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ if I help, I think we can get through this without a scratch...”

Yes. Ryo’s magic was powerful.

However, Captain Paulina...

“Thank you, Duke Rondo. But if possible, I would like to have us handle this ourselves.”

“You mean you would also like the Kingdom’s knight orders not to interfere.”

Abel seemed to understand Paulina’s words and confirmed it.

“This time, Your Majesty and Duke Rondo are aboard. In future trial voyages, however, the two of you will not be present. Even so, there is a high chance we will pass through this archipelago region. I would like you to see that we can resolve the issue safely on our own... with only Skidbladnir’s crew.”

“I see.”

“We’re the safety net...”

Paulina explained, Abel nodded, and Ryo murmured.

This time, because the two of them and the knight orders were present, even an unforeseen situation could be handled.

With that safety net in place, they would confirm the capabilities of Skidbladnir’s crew.

They wanted their employer to see it.

That was what she meant.

“Very well. I will leave everything to the captain. Ryo, the Kingdom’s knight orders, Merlin, and the coffin will watch from the deck.”

Abel gave permission, and Paulina bowed deeply.

Abel informed the Kingdom’s knight orders and Merlin, and preparations continued on the deck all the while.

“Ryo.”

“What is it, Abel?”

“There is something I have always wondered...”

“That’s unusual.”

“Why does this ship not have a propulsion alchemy tool installed?”

“A propulsion alchemy tool?”

“You know, the ships in the Eastern Countries and the archipelago region had those, didn’t they? Some sort of engine?”

“Ah, the Wind-Blowing Engine!”

Ryo remembered as well.

The ships of the Eastern Countries and the archipelago region had been equipped with such alchemy tools.

With one of those, they were excellent enough to move even straight into a headwind.

But Skidbladnir did not have one.

Ryo knew that because he had seen the blueprints in the Republic of Mafalda. It did not have one.

More accurately, there had initially been a plan to install a “wind-attribute magic-type alchemy tool.”

Or rather, it would be more accurate to say it was possible to add it as an option.

The blueprints for Neil Andersen had included a note.

“It may be installed, but when sailing against the wind, it is expected to increase speed by only three to four percent. In addition, certain functions will become unusable during that time.”

Unusable functions... and because of that, it had ultimately not been installed.

“That is because of the magic stone used for the monster repellent.”

“The monster-repellent magic stone?”

“I said before that the sea-monster repellent of the Western Countries, including this ship’s, uses developed magic formulas.”

“Yes, I remember. And Skidbladnir’s uses improved magic formulas too.”

“Simply put, because of those powerful magic formulas, no propulsion alchemy tool has been installed.”

“Hm? Sorry, I do not quite understand.”

At times like this, Abel honestly said when he did not understand.

He did not pretend to know.

“First... when there are two or more magic stones, they interfere with each other and don’t function properly.”

“Yes, I’ve heard that before. I think Kenneth said something about whether multiple magic stones could be loaded into a golem.”

“Yes, yes. Golems are especially like that. That’s what makes the artificial golems created by Frank de Verde of the Federation so incredible. They load five magic stones and keep them from causing strange interference... Honestly, I still don’t understand it.”

“Kenneth said the same thing with a wry smile...”

The artificial golems of Frank de Verde, who had devoted his life to golem creation, were still not fully understood even by Viscount Kenneth Hayward, who was called a genius alchemist.

“Well, that is why one magic stone is the basic rule. And on this Skidbladnir, the magic stone is running ‘constantly’ so that sea monsters do not approach.”

“I see. In that state, even if a propulsion alchemy tool were installed, its magic stone would interfere with the other one and stop things from working properly.”

“Exactly.”

Ryo nodded at Abel’s understanding.

Of course, ships from the Eastern Countries and the archipelago region had also been equipped with monster repellent.

But those were very weak, and in fact, a single magic stone supplied magic power to both the monster repellent and the Wind-Blowing Engine by switching between them.

That was why the monster-repellent ability had not been strong... and in reality, they had been attacked by a Kraken.

“As for the seas between the Western Countries and the Dark Continent, the shipping companies have detailed information. Especially about the wind currents and ocean currents. For the people of the Western Countries, when they ‘travel far by ship,’ their destination is the Dark Continent. Considering everything comprehensively, something like a Wind-Blowing Engine likely isn’t necessary.”

“I see. But if, from now on, ships begin crossing this sea... if a route connecting the Western Countries and the Kingdom is opened...”

“Yes. Ships equipped with something like the Wind-Blowing Engine of the Eastern Countries might appear. Something that can switch back and forth with the monster repellent. Or perhaps a new method will be constructed that allows both to operate at the same time.”

Ryo nodded happily.

Something new would be born.

That was exciting just to watch.

And if it concerned alchemy, a field he himself was involved in... excitement gave way to an irresistible urge to start working.

“The maritime technology of the Central Countries is sure to develop much, much further.”

“Yes. I look forward to it.”

Ryo and Abel let their thoughts turn toward the Age of Exploration that seemed likely to come.