第１６４５堀： 海を進むには船に乗るだけではない (Part2)
"Ah, that’s just how we say it back in Japan. An 'inland sea' is one surrounded by land, while an 'open sea' is where there’s no land to shield the harbor from the ocean. Since there’s no land to break the waves, the open sea tends to be quite rough. Or rather, that’s what the sea is really like, I suppose."
"Is that what it’s 'really' like?"
"I think I understand what you’re saying, in a way..."
"Well, that’s all part of the learning process. Now then."
As Yuki-sama said this, he brought forth a large vessel.
Oh, don't get me wrong—it wasn't quite a warship, but it was easily four times the size of the wooden boats moored at the harbor.
"It’s this large?"
"In rivers, you have to be careful about narrow passages and shallow depths. But the sea doesn't really have those issues. Of course, there are 'ship-killer' spots, but you won't find those in the fishing grounds. And when you consider the haul per trip, bigger is definitely better."
"I see. You’re right; you barely have to worry about running aground in the ocean, and being able to bring back a massive catch in a single voyage is a great advantage."
"But wouldn't that be quite expensive to maintain?"
"The cost is unavoidable. Besides, the ships themselves are being provided by Weed. The Adventurer Guild is the same. You know the size of the monsters the Guild plans to hunt, right? If you tried to do that with a privately owned boat..."
"It wouldn't fit. And more than that, a wooden boat would be pulverized."
"So, it’s a matter of either owning one personally or renting it out, then."
That makes sense. Rather than buying a ship you’d rarely use, renting is the smarter choice.
"Well, that’s the gist of it. First, get on board and check the interior. Yayui, you go ahead and check the cockpit."
"Yes, sir."
I took the keys from Yuki-sama and headed straight for the cockpit—the wheelhouse.
Based on my knowledge, this vessel is a hybrid between a fishing boat and a cruiser.
It’s not an ocean-going type, but a coastal one, likely in the 15-ton class.
Even so, the hull is reinforced with iron, and it features a composite system that deploys magical shields and armor; it would take a truly formidable monster to leave a scratch on this ship.
The engine isn't Earth-made, either; it’s a type fueled by mana, researched and developed by Zargis-sama, Naarjia-sama, and Aegir-sama.
...It should be a completely one-off product, meaning the price tag ought to be astronomical.
Oh, I see. If they’re adopting it for general use, that means mass production. That’s how they’ll settle on a price.
While pondering this, I checked the manual left on the desk in the wheelhouse.
"It’s a type I’ve operated before."
It seems I can also control the equipment for catching fish and the power settings for the cold storage from right here.
Well, I suppose it’s meant to be versatile.
Since the monsters are so large, the ship also serves as a place to stay.
It feels a bit luxurious, but considering that anything less would be easily destroyed, it’s a necessary precaution.
After finishing the manual, I gave it some thought.
It’s true that I can pilot it, but it will take significant training to handle it properly, especially when things go wrong.
How will they handle that?
Just as I was thinking this, Yuki-sama and the others entered the wheelhouse, having finished their inspection of the ship.
"How is it, Yayui? Any issues with the controls?"
"No, sir. I’m about to start the engine."
A low-frequency vibration hummed through the ship.
"There don't seem to be any problems, Yuki-sama. But I suspect it will take quite a bit of time for people to become proficient in operating this, won't it?"
"Yeah, they’ll just have to learn. Since we’re selling these to the Adventurer Guild, they’ll either have to provide their own pilots or we’ll have to dispatch them. So, you two in charge of harbor management, consult with Sisua and Sona to train some operators."
"Understood!"
"With that settled, let’s see what this ship can really do. Yayui, if you would."
"Yes. I’m setting sail now. We haven't submitted a flight plan or anything of the sort—will that be alright?"
"It’s not a warship or a large cargo vessel, so it shouldn't be an issue. That said, for the sake of safety, we’ll probably need those kinds of procedures in the future. I’ll give it some thought."
"Understood. Then, we’re off."
And so, we set out onto the waters of Rogari for the very first time.
It goes without saying, but a ship doesn't just move forward or backward simply because you’re on it.
Especially for an amateur, heading out to sea without knowing what you’re doing would likely mean never finding your way back—I imagine that’s the same on Earth, too.
Rip currents are terrifying, after all.