The ship's deck rocked violently under the fury of the waves, and the cold rain and wind cut like sharp blades. Rygar stood beside Eris, holding her hair back to prevent it from getting dirty as she vomited for the umpteenth time over the side of the ship. Her body trembled slightly, exhausted from the constant nausea, while Rygar murmured incantations and applied healing magic to ease her suffering.
Rygar laughed. In the end, the girl really wasn't doing well when they had asked.
Even with the ship docked, the gentle ripples had already caused some discomfort for Eris, but it was still manageable. However, the moment they boarded, she collapsed in less than five minutes, overwhelmed by severe nausea and dizziness.
Rygar had to take care of her, constantly using healing magic. It was impressive for him to see that the normally determined and fierce girl was now completely vulnerable, defeated by a mere boat.
As he took care of her, Rygar recalled how she used to be when they first met. Back then, Eris acted however she pleased and irritated him like a spoiled child—always explosive and aggressive. At first, he only tolerated her because of Ghislaine.
But over time, as she grew to trust him, he noticed her attitude changing drastically. Maybe it was the cruel circumstances that no longer allowed her to act as she once did. Maybe it was because she had stopped being treated as the Young Lady of the Boreas mansion and was treated like any other person in the Iron Legion. Or perhaps it was something else entirely. But what mattered was that, somehow, she had adapted remarkably well to the life of an adventurer and traveler.
She was also incredibly determined and dedicated to her training, tirelessly pushing herself to catch up to them. He couldn't recall seeing anyone else with such determination and talent in all his time in this world.
Now, after so much time together and after all the changes she had gone through, he understood her personality more or less. Though she was still aggressive, she only displayed that side of herself in combat or when someone insulted someone she considered important. A perfect example was when she exploded with rage upon learning that people in the Great Forest didn't like Ghislaine.
She was still fierce, still stubborn, but it was clear that she deeply cared for the people in their group. A true tsundere, as they would say in his previous world. The thought amused him.
Eris, however, did not share his amusement. She lifted her pale face, her eyes watery and irritated from the debilitating condition.
"R-Rygaaar, is it still far?" Her voice was sluggish, laden with exhaustion and despair.
He sighed, letting his laughter fade. The amusement of seeing Eris out of her usual self was replaced by a pang of sympathy. She was truly suffering. The ship's rocking was completely destroying her.
He recalled an anime from his past life where Dragon Slayers were incredibly powerful on land but became utterly useless upon stepping onto a ship or vehicle. The resemblance made him smile slightly.
He shifted his gaze to the ocean below, vast and turbulent. Activating his magic eye, he scanned the churning depths for any sign of sea monsters. Nothing. Apparently, they were safe for now.
Turning back, he saw Ghislaine sitting on a bench, arms crossed, her expression attentive. The woman was clearly concerned about Eris, staying close to protect her, though there was nothing she could do to ease her suffering.
Rygar approached and said firmly, "Ghislaine, I'm going down for a bit to get Eris off the ship."
Ghislaine raised an eyebrow but said nothing. She knew Rygar well enough to trust that he wouldn't throw himself to his death—and this wasn't the most ridiculous thing she had seen him do.
Without waiting for a response, he crouched, wrapped his arms around Eris, and lifted her in one fluid motion. The girl was still dizzy, only half-conscious. In a bold leap, Rygar hurled himself into the stormy sea, cutting through the air and plunging into the raging waters below.
---
POV: Eris Boreas Greyrat
I had been in a bad mood for the past few days. I wasn't sure exactly when it started, but it was something that had been growing inside me.
Rygar, who always trained with me and told me all sorts of stories, now seemed to be distancing himself more and more.
Every time he and Ghislaine talked about my progress, I felt excited, especially after reaching the Advanced level. It was as if, suddenly, the words they always said about my talent had become real. I really was talented. I could stand on the same level as them.
But now… now he didn't train with me anymore. After the battle against the assassins in Milis—where, once again, I was left out for being considered weak—Aisha became his disciple. I thought it wouldn't be a big deal, but on top of that, ever since then, he only had eyes for Ghislaine. And when he did decide to teach someone something, it was always Aisha.
Before she arrived, he trained me every day, always reinforcing how talented I was. But after… after, everything changed.
When he trained himself, he chose Ghislaine as his partner. It made sense. She was stronger. More experienced. But that didn't mean I liked seeing them together all the time.
It's not that I didn't like Aisha—in fact, I adored the girl. She was energetic, cute, and always complimented my hair or told me how strong I was. And I didn't have anything against Ghislaine either. She was my master, the woman I respected as the best swordswoman in the world. But even so… I couldn't ignore this strange feeling growing inside me.
I was jealous.
I wanted Rygar to go back to how he used to be.
Recently, I saw Eidar asking Lilia to teach him how to cook. That gave me an idea. If I learned as well, maybe I could be more useful to the group. Maybe Rygar would start training me again if I showed that I was making an effort! So, without telling anyone, I secretly asked Lilia to teach me. That would definitely make a difference.
When we arrived in Westport, Rygar and Ghislaine were always together. He looked at her in a different way—an intense, lustful gaze. A look I had seen before in the mansion.
I knew what it was. My mother had explained these things to me from a young age. Rygar wanted to do that with Ghislaine.
Without me even asking, Lilia came to talk to me about the mating season of beastmen and how it affected them. So that was why they were acting like that...
I looked at myself. I didn't have the same physical features as Ghislaine. Rygar always seemed to glance at her chest, even if discreetly. But me? I didn't have much to show.
Lilia said they would grow over time. Hmph! But why was I even thinking about this?
Why did I want him to notice me that way?!
Every time these thoughts invaded my mind, I felt strange. My face burned, my heart pounded, and I couldn't explain why. It was irritating! I shouldn't care about this!
But for some reason… I did.
At least we had a lot of fun at the beach while waiting, and I learned how to swim! Aisha had learned too, and that was a small victory before our great journey.
However, as soon as we finally boarded the ship that would take us to the Central Continent, I discovered something I utterly hated: boats.
The constant rocking was unbearable, and I barely lasted five minutes before being overwhelmed by a crushing wave of nausea.
All she remembered were blurry flashes of Rygar holding her hair while she vomited on the deck, his rough voice letting out laughter as he teased her, and the momentary relief that came every time he used healing magic.
Suddenly, Eris opened her eyes.
The wind hit her face, cool and damp, carrying the strong scent of the sea. Her red hair was wildly tousled by the breeze, and salty droplets sprayed against her skin. Confused, she blinked a few times and looked around. What she saw left her stunned: the vast, endless ocean stretched out in every direction like an infinite blue abyss. The ship was continuing its course in the distance, gradually moving away, and then she realized—she was no longer on the ship.
She was in Rygar's arms.
He held her firmly, carrying her like a princess, leaping periodically over the surface of the sea. With each jump, he created ice platforms beneath his feet, which shattered the moment he propelled himself forward again. Her heart pounded when she noticed something even more embarrassing: Rygar was now shirtless. The warmth of his body contrasted with the cool sea breeze, and Eris became acutely aware of how close they were, his heated skin pressing intimately against hers.
Rygar smiled as he noticed she had awakened.
"Feeling better now?" he asked, his tone slightly amused.
Eris blinked in surprise. It was only then that she realized—yes, the discomfort had faded. The unbearable nausea that had tormented her aboard the ship felt like a distant memory. The rocking of the ocean no longer affected her while she was in Rygar's arms.
But before she could respond, she became fully aware of their position and turned bright red. Her face burned, heat rising from her neck to her ears. Unable to look at him directly, she murmured softly:
"Y-Yes… it's a little better now…"
Rygar's smile widened.
"Good. Running all the way across the sea isn't exactly practical, and we don't know what kind of monsters might be lurking here, but we can walk for a bit so you don't have to suffer the entire time. This way, you can at least enjoy the view. Don't you think it's beautiful?"
Eris lifted her eyes and followed his gaze, taking in the scene around them. The turbulent waves crashed against each other, forming swirling white foam. Lightning streaked through the dark clouds, illuminating the stormy chaos of the ocean for brief moments. The fury of nature unfolded before them, a violent yet grand spectacle. When Eris looked back at Rygar, she saw his golden eyes glowing intensely, reflecting the flashes of lightning above. His silver hair billowed in the wind, his tail swayed eagerly, and his expression was serene, almost mesmerized by the scene.
"It may be a natural disaster," he said, still gazing upward, "but there's a certain beauty in the violence of nature, isn't there?"
Eris didn't respond immediately. In fact, she realized she couldn't take her eyes off him. Her heart pounded in a different way, a new and unfamiliar sensation filling her chest. When she finally noticed that she had been staring at him for too long, she quickly turned her head, trying to hide the deep blush on her face.
"Yes… it's very beautiful…"
If someone were to ask Eris in the future when exactly she had truly fallen in love with Rygar, she would always describe this moment.
---
POV: Rygar Adoldia
After running across the stormy sea for a while, Rygar felt his instincts flare. Something dangerous was nearby. His gaze shifted toward the depths of the ocean, far ahead of the ship's path. He could sense the presence of a creature powerful enough to pose a real threat.
A fierce smile spread across his face. It had been a long time since he had a real fight—aside from Ghislaine, but their battles weren't meant to be lethal. The last true battle had been at the Joylore estate.
He had developed some new techniques he wanted to test but never had the chance. Now, the opportunity had presented itself.
Excitement built up inside him as his mind worked quickly. The monster probably wouldn't cross paths with the ship, so if he wanted to fight it, he would have to go to it. However, when he turned to inform Eris about his plans, he noticed something unexpected—she was fast asleep in his arms, her head resting against his chest. Even with him leaping across the water, she had managed to fall asleep…
'She really was exhausted…' he thought, observing her peaceful expression. The seasickness had drained her over the past few days, and without proper rest, her body had finally given in.
With agile movements, he returned to the ship's deck. As he landed smoothly, he noticed that many passengers and merchants were staring at him in shock, their mouths agape. Some whispered among themselves, as if unable to believe what they had just witnessed. Ignoring their stares, he walked straight toward Ghislaine, who remained fixed on the ocean. Her eyepatch was lifted, meaning she was also paying attention to something.
"You're going to fight that thing?" she asked, without turning around.
Rygar raised an eyebrow, surprised.
"Yes… You were watching?"
"Of course. You were carrying Eris, so I decided to keep an eye on you. Be careful, Rygar. I can't gauge its exact strength—my senses don't reach that deep. But judging by the amount of mana I can detect… it must be dangerous."
Rygar nodded with an eager grin.
"I'll be careful."
That's when little Aisha approached, her eyes shining with excitement.
"Master, take me to the water later!"
Rygar glanced at Lilia, who already had a disapproving look on her face. He chuckled softly and said:
"Maybe when the sea is calmer."
He then carefully handed the sleeping Eris to Lilia and added:
"Let her sleep as much as possible. She's exhausted."
Lilia held the girl securely and nodded.
"Where's Eidar?"
"He said he'd stay in the cabin with Skoll to keep him company," Lilia replied.
"Alright. Let the captain and the crew know that there might be some noise, but the ship won't be affected. The creature is a bit far from here."
Lilia acknowledged his request with a nod, and Aisha grinned.
"Good luck, Master!"
Rygar ruffled her hair playfully, making the girl giggle with delight. Then, without hesitation, he leaped back into the sea, racing toward the location where he had sensed the monster's presence.
The stormy ocean opened before him, welcoming his next challenge.
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