Seiun wo Kakeru Chapter 69

Chapter 69 – The village of salt

Well then, just what should I do about this?

Taking her along while remaining silent might just turn into a diplomatic issue.

There was no way for Eiji to lose his trust from Dylan and suspend their business.

– Fran, please wake up.

– Good morning. I might be rushing you, but I need to ask. Just why is Fran on this board?

– I see.

Her words were clearly understandable. Indeed, it wouldn’t be strange for horses to become scared of boats when they had never boarded one before.

He wondered how Fran fell asleep after that; nevertheless, it was Eiji and Fernando’s fault for not checking everything before departing.

– Please wait here for a moment.

– I’ve got some water. Please drink this and wait here for a while.
– Understood, Fran will wait.

Fran’s throat was probably thirsty from waking up as she drank the water deliciously while making sounds of gulping.
It also seemed that she didn’t intend to go against Eiji’s words by wandering around aimlessly.

Having no problem with being obedient was the most important thing.
Returning back to the bow, Eiji and Fernando faced each other.

– What should we do, Fernando-san? Fran says that the boat departed while she was asleep.

– If possible, I want us to advance as much as possible, still…

– When I thought that this trip would end soon, I somehow felt the urge of returning home. *sigh* I wonder if Tanya-san is doing fine.
– Again you’re starting with that, even though I was thinking that you had calmed down.

Say what you want. A man’s heart which loves his wife won’t be affected in the slightest by such words.
Not paying attention to Fernando’s blatant sigh, Eiji was thinking about the way to solve this problem without having to sail reversely back.

– Rather than that, how about we drop her off in the nearby village and have her return back on land?

– It’s probably so.

– What?
– We don’t know about anything about the village we are heading towards. Til now, we have been able to recognize the villages which we have visited mainly thanks to us approaching near the riverbank from where they were noticeable. Perhaps, the last village won't be visible.

Damn, even though I thought it was a good idea after going through all the troubles.

Rather than worrying about the location of the village they have never seen before, it would be much quicker for them to ask Fran.

For her, the horses were probably more important than Eiji and Fernando themselves.

Even though her face should be that of a girl, she looked gently like a caring mother.

– What’s the matter, Eiji?

– Near the riverside?….Fran often used to ride on horses far away, so there ought to be one, but mostly it would be near the village of Marina?

– Won’t you go there?

– That’s right. Fran and Gyusu would often run til Marina.

Providing she rides on a giant horse like him, there probably wouldn’t be any problem of them being attacked by wolves.
Imagining the appearance of the small Fran riding on Gyusu to a far place made Eiji smile unintentionally.

– Speaking of which, Fran, do you often go away from your village?

– For such a thing to…

Was it perhaps related to the environment where Fran was raised by the horses at her young age?

Nevertheless, with this, Eiji came across one more response.

If one was to ask whether or not it was a good decision, they would possibly disagree.
As one would expect, it’s probably best to send her back without wasting any time.

– Fran, what do you intend to do from now on? If you wish, you can take Yan or Yun and ride back home? If it’s the distance to Auman, it should only take 10 minutes by sailing upstream with the boat.

– Still, you haven’t informed your parents about your going out, right? Won’t Dylan-san get angry for that?

– Really?

– Is that so? But you see, it’s better to tell them properly from the next time. Even if Gyusu is by your side, your parents are surely worried about you.
– Understood.

Seeing how Fran lightly grumbled, Eiji felt like this girl was brought up straightforwardly.

The remaining thing left would be to advance with the boat.

– Fernando-san, we sail full speed.
– Got it!

Receiving the wind mixed with the smell of tides, the boat continued to run downstream.

————

Eiji breathed in the air with his whole chest.

Ah, it has been long since I could feel this atmosphere.

– What do you mean, by it has been long?

– Heh? Certainly, Eiji-kun, didn’t you say that you used to live near the foot of a mountain

– What was that? Indeed, a changeable place. Still, is this the smell of the sea?

– Yes. To think that I’d would be able to gaze at the sea…. You can’t tell what is going to happen in your life.

As the river slowly zigzagged, it gradually spread and continued to lose its power.
They were most likely going to reach the sea soon. Eiji naturally understood that from the steadily increasing salt air.

– Is this where Fran usually arrives at?

– Could it be, they would treat you?

– Was that so? In that case, fine.

Because Fran possessed childish traits, Eiji didn’t know whether or not she would cause trouble by being from now on in care of Marina.

Leaving aside Eiji, who was worried like that, it seemed that Fran was actually content as she stared at the boat enjoyably for the first time, headed to the bow to check the front direction, and moved toward the stern to take care of Yun and Yan.

– H-Huge! What is this?!

– Ahaha, Fer looks so shocked!

– I don’t, but Eiji looks a bit suspicious.

As one would expect, seeing the reaction of Fernando, who made a big fuss over witnessing the sea, probably made Eiji deeply moved.

The sea was big and spacious.

Such a natural thing made his heart feel at ease.
There were actually things that remained unchanged.

– Ooh! Eiji-kun, look, the riverside is paved.

– Yun, Yan, we will be soon able to land! isn’t it nice?

Eiji looked around the surrounding.

With this boat, it looks like we can only sail til the coastal waters. I wonder how would a voyage outside the sea turn out.
While thinking so, Eiji dropped down the anchors and moored using the ropes.

– Well then, shall we, go and see the last village?

The erected buildings, too, seemed to be filled with exotic mood.
While disembarking the cargo, Eiji waited for the arrival of villagers.

Chapter end