Just A Reincarnation Story (Summoning Japan Edition)

Chapter 23: Snow in Altaras

Etherischemaan 6, 379 Imperial Year (Cae. 6, 1614 CC), 14:00

Port of Le Brias, Altaras Kingdom

The Parpaldian merchant clipper Blijde Boodschap had safely docked at the first destination of her voyage after one day of sailing from Esthirant. The ship's large hull, which is a jarring sight among the ships from outside civilization countries that lined the harbor around her, nearly filled the entire docking space between at the wharf, with the ship's bow pointing into the cityscape of Le Brias. As the ramps were set up and the crewmen unloaded the crates of the ship's cargo into the harbor, Meyer was busy giving directions to his subordinates.

"Handle those ones with care."

The sailors obeyed their boss' words and proceeded with their work. Among the crates containing fragile pottery and other traded goods exported by the Parpaldia Empire to the Altaras Kingdom, were five 'special' crates with unique marks on them, carried by the Blijde Boodschap to Altaras as part of the deal that both nations signed in their (unequal) treaty after establishing diplomatic relations. These special crates contain items that demonstrated Parpaldia's lenience (and generosity, or that's what they think) toward Altaras, which is relatively wealthy and has something Parpaldia needed.

"You two, stay on the ship until I return, it shouldn't take long," Meyer said as he turned to the two young teenagers accompanying him on the trip.

"Eh!? What? Why, father?"

His son, Kaios, exclaimed in an incredulous tone. At this, Meyer let out a quiet sigh.

"Son... bringing you to this country is one thing, but stepping foot on it is another. Look, we will stay for one week in this country. Let me finish my work first. After I checked the city, we will go sightseeing together tomorrow, okay?"

And with that, Kaios' excitement deflated at his father's words as they were being denied stepping off the ship. Elto, however, saw reason in Meyer's words and whispered from the side.

"Your father has a point. I heard that cities outside civilization are not as safe as back home. What if your father is too busy to look after us, then you got overexcited and wandered somewhere... then a thug appears and snatched you and then—"

Her tone grew sinister as she continued, and without Kaios knowing, her hands hovered near his shoulders. Meanwhile, Kaios blanched at Elto's whispering and then he felt something suddenly grab his shoulders tightly.

And then he screamed.

'Wow... he actually jumped,' Elto thought with amusement.

As she described it, her friend was so terrified that he jumped to get away from whatever gripping him and ran behind his father for cover, all while screaming his head off, drawing the attention of Meyer's sailors nearby. When he peeked from Meyer's back, he saw Elto with a poker face and her hands lowered, staring back at him. Even though she wore an emotionless expression on her face, by listening to the faint sound of her irregular breathing, Meyer can tell that she is holding back laughter.

He sighed, "Sheesh... good grief... young lady, do not give my son weird ideas. And you, Kaios, calm down. I will never let that happen to you, but first, stay on the ship while I am away. Besides, it's only for one day, understand?"

Kaios nodded meekly as he still clung to his father's longcoat.

"Good boy, if you need something, just talk to the crew," he said, gently patting his head, "Well then... I'm off."

After that, he began descending the ramp and walked through the sailors and merchants crowding the harbor with his crew carrying the crates in tow. Although he kept moving forward without looking back at the two teenagers who were waving at him, Meyer raised his hand and lightly waved back. Not long after his father and the crew following him were out of sight, Kaios turned to Elto with a scowl on his face.