Rugartia royal castle, three days after the decisive battle.
King Bernard announces the rebellion that was staged by his little brother, Duke Conrad, to the inside and outside of the kingdom. He also announces that the rebellion had already been suppressed successfully with only a small number of sacrifices while not forgetting to emphasize Prince Gerard great role in dissipating that disturbance. Lastly, King Bernard also announces the prince and princess engagement in the middle of the confusion that the aforementioned announcement created.
King Bernard was trying to spread propaganda to give a good impression of the neighborhood kingdom prince endeavor in halting the duke evil scheme to usurp the throne so the people would see the prince as the good guy here. But eventually, his worries about the prince fame amongst the people proved to be meaningless when it was time to announce the plan to integrate the two kingdoms into one. The people of the kingdom give a loud cheer toward the prince and toward the new kingdom.
Hearing that announcement, they understand that there will be no more war occurring in the near future because of this event.
Even more so to those who knows how much futile the stalemate wars that keep on occurring in this land. They instantly express their happiness because they know no more live will vanish in vain ever again from the same war ever again. After hearing that Duke Conrad is a supporter of the warring faction and how the young prince desperately tries to stop his rampage, Prince Gerard suddenly worshipped as a hero among the people.
Of course the story about how Prince Gerard acquired the holy weapon Eckesachs during his battle bombastically made public. The story about how the sword having its own thought and giving its sympathy to the young prince that endeavor to creating a new kingdom where there is no war, added by the story from the surviving royal knights that witnessing the battle, stirs an even greater sensation among the citizens and spreads in the entire continent in no time.
Even Renya was surprised by how fast the news spread. In a meaning, it was a miscalculated good result.
If the ideal of uniting the two kingdoms turned into a worse one then it will disappear, but if the new kingdom keep on continuing the ideal that Prince Gerard seek, then it will keep on giving it blessing to the kingdom for eternity. The Oath the prince pledged to the sword becomes a new catchphrase of the continent. The people also adapt the oath as their own and make it their objective in the future.
It was already in Renya's calculation how his scheme will definitely raises such reaction from the people so they would be willing to help Gerard achieving his ideal. But Renya never expect that those feeling will permeated into the peoples heart this fast. Even humans managed to give surprise to a god sometimes.
And so the project of unifying the two kingdoms advances well without any hitch but, as expected of a giant project, the number of work to be done to only getting the preparation ready is already a massive one. In the government side, the two kingdoms need to make amendments to their law so they can integrate it together with each other. The government official can only hold their tears in while working non-stop through the clock to finish their task.
Thankfully the old regime kings of both kingdoms are still active in their position. Because of that Gerard won't have to do everything up by himself, the old regime kings also don't want to just throw down their responsibility as is to Gerard without care. The two kings will continue their reign for a while to lay the ground work of the new kingdom policy. The people also can't be forced to accept sudden change in the monarchy.
For now, it is enough for the people to understand that the two kingdoms will be united into one. It was a normal point of view for any royalties there is.
To achieve that, the royalties held many grand events and ceremonies again and again to help the announcing permeates faster to the kingdom people.
Such events are like a triumphal return ceremony where the royal guard and knights that participated in the battle that day marches grandly around the capital city ended by a rewarding ceremony to reward their prowess in battle. And of course in all that events, the prince and the princess would become the main pivot and the center of attention to promote their debut, be it to the inside or outside of the kingdom, even faster.
And to make things even merrier the people living in the capital also held their own celebratory festival making the hype even stronger. The Rugartis royal family also invites important people from Sirkaberia so both kingdoms representatives could share their mind about the united kingdom that will soon be born and also about their own relationship after that.
Because of the grandness level already reaching the level where it was too much for the royal family to handle, naturally they request Renya and his party to give them a hand.
"After all the things done, if whichever I or King Bernard got assassinated in the height of the ceremony then this festive hype would definitely turn into a tragedy right? So I would like to prolong our escort contract until all off this ceremony over. Of course I will give a handsomely pay and also will give lavish treatment for your daily need while the contract still valid. Well, in truth, the escorting job will be in the time of the ceremony only. I can't really sneak out to play that much under this circumstance after all"
"I kinda predict that things will go this way which is fine by the way… but, you know..."
Renya take a side glance at a big leather bag placed on top of the table in the room where Renya and his party stay. That big leather bag is filled with gold coins to the brim.
Roughly around fifty gold coins filled it. Renya can't even imagine how much its exact value is.
"Ah that reward of valor bestowed by King Bernard right? It was a reasonable number you know? You managed to protect royalties' lives and even put an end to the mastermind after all"
"I can understand it with my logic but seeing this many gold coins just somehow make me feel bad and also I'm lost on how I would use this much money"
"You are a weird one aren't you? Having this much is a normal thing you know?"
"You are the weird one! Don't think everyone has the same standard as the royalties"
That's right, that reward Renya receives from King Bernard is not any normal currency that circulates in the market. It was the Rugartis royal golden coin.
It was a special currency that worth roughly about 100.000 en each coin. And there is exactly fifty royal golden coin filled inside the leather bag.
He suddenly gets 5.000.000 en richer suddenly. That much amount of money seems to be coming from the late duke property. And that amount is still the king being tact with the number. On top of it, when his escorting contract with Gerard finishes, then he will get another payment which seems like won't be that inferior in term of number. Renya who was born as a commoner of course will have difficulty reacting to it but for all of the royalties without exception, this much is only counted as a 'modest' amount.
That amount of money can make him live without working for years if he used it frugally. But that kind of NEET life is not something that Renya wish for so he is at lost on what should he do with that money. And then there is also a problem when using this royal golden coin. He needs to go to the government office to exchange it into the normal currency before he is able to use the money.
He thinks that he should just buy things in a big batch at once with that money, but then again he doesn't know what exactly he should buy.
After they spent some time chatting, Gerard returns to the castle in disguise. His free time is up. Pained expression floats in Gerard's face and Renya can only feel pity for him.
Not long after Prince Gerard went home, the other party member that was going out finally returns. Renya wanted to have a talk to them to discuss the matter about what they will be going to do after this.
"But you know… preparation for our next journey might takes some time. The fastest we can finish it is roughly about a month I think"
"I thought so too, and there is a large possibility that the prince will happily try to hire us again in that period of time whether there are any slight dangerous movements that he manages to detect..."
Renya responded skeptically towards Floria word but in truth, he at least doesn't have any more worries for future troubles related with Ordough sect in this continent.
Because there is Eckesachs now as the pivotal point to generate divine power that will later cover the entire Eribeiris continent. In truth, what the sword said about giving it blessing to the kingdom as long as it presents in this continent is not a lie. At least, what Ordough sect claim as their 'god' power will get negated inside the divine power barrier that covers the entire continent of Eribeiris. Well, again as long as Eckesachs still maintain it shape that is.
And then there are no leaders that won't have any countermeasures ready against any trouble that might come that is caused by fellow man… and in this world by monster also. So Renya don't really worry too much in that matter too.
So Renya just change their discussion course into what they will do in the close future.
Therese receives permission to visit the royal libraries so she wants to visit there as much as she can while the party still staying in Rugartia. Renya immediately gives his consent for it. At present, they don't have any problem regarding fund so there is no need for them all to force themselves to work like what they do in the other capital. In fact, the other party members support Therese's dream to become a magic technology researcher so they anonymously agree to let Therese do things she wants to do when she has free time.
Similarly like Therese, Brenda also wishes to visit the library if she has time. She realizes that there will be more danger that Renya party will face in the future so she wants to increases the range of magic that she can use. It is a wise thinking so the other party members give their consent immediately.
And so the party members that will continue to work as usual will be Renya, Floria, and Elvira. Even if their expenses are covered by Prince Gerard for the time being, they don't want to pass their time by just eating and sleeping all the time.
Next, their discussion turns into what they should do with their reward.
"Umm, We already somewhat become a large party so I think we should have our own home base soon…"
"Do you want to buy a house or something? But we eventually will leave Eribeiris right?"
"That's right Brenda. That is the problem."
Their belongings would just keep on increasing over time naturally. Each time it increases Renya doesn't really mind using his world as party's shared inventory box to keep it but he also wish for a home base for them so each member can keep their own thing privately, and also, to have a place they can come home too.
From the first time he got into this world, he's been busy solving troubles and working so he don't really think much about it when his party slowly but steadily keeps on increasing. But now as he possess quite a fortune and his situation is a bit more relaxed than before, he have time to think of his own condition so he can't help to think about things like this too. In a point, he had grown quite accustomed to this world.
But of course if they buy a house, then it would be impossible 'normally' to bring it on around with them. If they plan to keep living on this continent then all is good but they have plan to go around the world so having a home base here just out of the question.
"Then Renya-sama, how about buying a ship specialized for exploration for our home base?"
"A ship eh?... That is indeed a good idea. It might be a bit troublesome when we visit a big continent but exploring an uncharted island is also has its own romance"
"I agree desu. The shipbuilding technique has experienced an extreme advancement since a few years back desu. By combining magic technology when building a ship, that ship can run even without any wind desu"
Thinking that Elvira's and Therese's opinion to be logical, so he tries to get more information about this world naval exploration. Because of the naval exploration also adept magic technology within it in the early days, it seems that naval exploration technology and technique experienced a big advancement. There are compass and even a self propelled ship available instead a sail type ship.
Rugartis in the recent years spent their effort in expanding their port cities. Because of that and the advancement in naval exploration, Rugartis trade experienced a major influx too.
But then again after thinking it back rationally, that kind of cutting edge technology ships should be an expensive one that even the money that they have now might not be enough to buy one. Even if they manage to buy one, then there's no way they can cover its maintenance cost.
Well, strictly saying, they could manage somehow covering those two costs if they work hard enough but they know it was not that problem is not a simple one to solve.
The other four can't help but being negative in this problem but somehow Renya keeps a positive attitude toward it.
"Okay then so whatever it is, all of you agreed that we should have something that can be our home base and or our transportation method right?"
To Renya question, the four nods while still holding question inside their head. Something that can fulfill both of those requirements is definitely nonexistent, but they agreed that the party should have either one of that in the close future.
"Actually I also done some research in the library before and I stumbled into something interesting. Therese, isn't there a ship that can fly in the sky among the ancient technology you've learned?"
"Yes. A few was actually had been discovered for some time but even after many research, there are no country that was able to active it desuyo"
"E? is that true? Eventhough multiple ships discovered not even one country managed to operates it?"
To Therese unexpected answer, Renya become confused and immediately ask more question.
"The reason why the research unable to advance in every countries are the same desu. It was the high cost that is impossible even for a country to keep funding desu. The cost easily surpasses a few years worth of national expenses of a large country desu. They can't go straight research only the important parts and they also can't find any part that can be adapted into magic technology resulting in each and every country can only wait until they saved up enough funds to start the research desu. Some way they do to raise the fund is by making the ship an attraction and taking fee from people that wants to see it desu"
"Uwaa... Such interesting romance pulverized by the cruelty of reality just like that..."
In myriads of world, cruel reality will always overpower and crush dreams. Renya even get discouraged from the severity but quickly regain himself after a cough. It might be impossible for a mere mortal but who Renya is? He is a god! He can do the thing that a mere mortal found impossible.
"Well, for normal human that might be their limit but, I probably able to handle this without any problem. Eventhough I am a war god, I also have many experience is making things"
"So our next stop is some country that already finished in excavating their flying ship so we can plunder it right?"
"Okay Floria sit in the corner and reflect on what you said just now. Why should we do such troublesome thing that will risk us in becoming that country number one enemy? We should just find an undiscovered one so we can legally make it ours without anyone complaining right?"
Floria then run around saying that she won't sit in the corner because she is not in the wrong while put her lips out provoking Renya. Renya then responds by chasing her around while trying to admonish her. But rather than getting angry, it seems like the two of them is only joking and having fun by themselves. Does this two silly gods ever have any intention to keep serious in this discussion?
"Okay okay you two let's be serious here. Hey Renya, what you said just now is considerably hard even for a god you know? So we will just continue walking forward searching blindly is that what you mean?"
Brenda can only helplessly sigh looking this two frolicking by themselves but her opinion is a harsh one denying Renya's optimistic easy going answer before. She even had this daring smile floats in her face.
"Like I said, I am a god. Didn't you hear that? When I stumble on this information I immediately scan this entire continent in order to search whether such kind of thing exist here. And then... the result of my scan on this entire continent land and underground is…"
A gulping sound can be heard. Just who is that who made such sound?
"Positive it seems. I found something that is similar to a ship being buried far underground. It was located in the southern tip of Rugartis Kingdom. It seems like the entrance got sealed prematurely so this ruins don't even recorded in the local history. It was in that deepest part of that ruins where that something slept"
"I-I-i-i-i-i-i-is that for real desuka!?"
"Yup I'm positive about it Therese. And that ruin being something that is not recorded to this kingdom history is also a good thing. That means even if we take it, no problem will occur in the aftermath. After excavate it with my god power, we will conceal it, again, with my god power. So in the end that flying ship will be exclusively ours"
The concept is somewhat bordering illegal mining but Renya thought that all will be fine if no one knows about it. In this concept, Renya is much less affected by the moral value that appears in such kind of fantasy RPG game.
In short... any treasure found by the player will be the player possession for good. That was such kind of tacit rule. Renya who got aroused greatly by this kind of other world fantasy adventure romance is already unstoppable.
"The ancient... the ancient ship that sail in the sky..."
"Of course you can research it as much as you like Therese. But spreading that technology to the outside world is… well… something that can be done later right?"
"Fuwaaaaaa... It's like seeing a dream desu..."
Therese is already succumbed to the thought of that flying ship that the party still haven't see yet.
For Therese, being able to touch something that is untouchable even by the most cutting edge technology available now is her long desired dream so she can't help become like this. With Renya being all aroused and Therese all hyped up, there is no one in the party that can talk good sense into them.
"Gerard already said that we will only need to escort him when the time for ceremony comes so we will take his word literally. After the preparations are ready we will depart immediately. Let's go and get that ship which will become our home base and our transportation means!"
""""Yes!""""
The girls nod in full spirit to Renya's declaration. He is satisfied with his companion reaction and returns a smile. But deep inside, he still has some worries regarding this matter.
(It is good that I managed to find it but... What should I do if that ship is actually broken beyond what my divine power can fix?)