Legend

Appearing from the other side of the dune was clearly what we should have called a ship.

The ship's mast is stretched with sails, running on the sand with desert winds.

That ship, nearly ten metres long, only looks like a normal ship from the side.

There is no such thing as a fish, and it really looks like a ship without any kind of philosophy.

"I hear a lot about describing the desert as a sea of sand... so isn't this a little strange? What a ship on the sand..."

Zaroust opens his mouth as he sets up his weapon to Ray, who groans looking at the approaching ship while he looks at it.

"Do you have sand on board? Damn, you're a bigger sand thief than I thought. I thought it was normal."

"Sand aboard?

"... oh well. Ray's never seen the Ferris Desert before."

While I'm just a little surprised by Ray's words, Zaroust continues to explain, still giving detailed instructions to the adventurers.

"Sand aboard. It's a ship that runs on the sand, as its name suggests. It's a magic item, so naturally it's not that easy to get..."

"Heh. Magic Items..."

The surprise a few seconds ago has already disappeared, and what you see in Ray's eyes is a magic item called a sandship.

... Yes, it's a magic item. And Ray is not the kind of ornament, he actually - especially during battle - hobbies about collecting magic items that can be used, and for Ray like that, a magic item called a sandship was something he definitely wanted to get.

"For once, I'd like to ask, in the kingdom of Mireana, if we defeat the bandits, the treasure that the bandits had will basically belong to the guy who defeated them... is it the same in this country?

"Yeah? Oh, right.... maybe you're going to take down the sand thief by yourself?

"Oh. I could have helped you guys defeat the Sandburglars, but it wouldn't be that easy to have a magic item like that sandboat, would it?

To Ray's words, Zaroust nods.

Unfortunately, there are no wizards among the Augusto escorts.

Some have bows, but as a small number of people, the means of attack is limited.

Compared to that, there are definitely many means of ranged attack, because the other side assumes to attack on a sandy ship from the beginning.

With that in mind, it was an unmistakable fact that the Zarousts were at a disadvantage.

Zaroust, who understands it, turns his gaze toward Augusto.

Usually Zaroust is in charge of the escort, but this time I guess I thought the employer Augusto should judge only the special opponent: the sandship.

"... right. Honestly, a sandship is a very expensive magic item, so it's not so easy for a sandburglar to get it."

Augusto tells as he watches the sandy boarding approaching.

In that tone is the melancholy color.

"Augusto?"

"... Mr. Ray. Perhaps, but I think that sandy ship is a substitute prepared by someone who wants me to die. It's not unlikely that the sandburglar accidentally acquired a sandboat..."

"The Eléma Chamber of Commerce, was it?

"Yep.... I guess I'm in the way"

"That's why you're not going to die in silence, is it? Besides, if that sand boarding was an expensive magic item, what would you think if the person who planned this one lost the sand boarding...

There was absolutely no mistake in giving the sand thief an expensive magic item called a sandship, with the idea of tailoring the interrupter here.

But given the character of the succession to the Erema Chamber of Commerce that Ray heard about, I don't think he really gave the sand thief a sand boarding.

(Probably just got lucky and lent it to me, so I can take the sand aboard when this thing is over. Worst case scenario is mouth sealing etc.)

Of course, the sand thief must have read about that extent, but Ray expects that if he kills Augusto and flees straight on the sandship, he can make excuses for fulfilling his in-laws...

"As I said earlier, sandy ships are very expensive. If it stops, it will be no small damage to the Eléma Chamber of Commerce."

Augusto's words were what Ray wanted.

Smiling, Ray opens his mouth when he sees the approaching sand boarding.

"As I heard earlier, the treasure the bandits had naturally belongs to those who defeated them. And I was that sand thief? Defeat the guy on the sand boat and naturally the ownership of the sand boat will be mine too. So you're pretty sure about that, huh?

"That's... yes. There's no mistake...... from what I'm saying right now, are you going to deal with a sand thief by yourself?

"Oh. You don't have to deal with a sandship for that one, and even more so, you can do damage to the Eléma Chamber of Commerce. I take down a sandburglar and get an expensive magic item called a sandboat. People around here become safer with sand thieves disappearing.... It's not bad for anyone, is it?

"No, I think it sucks for the Sandbandits and the Eléma Chamber of Commerce"

Zaroust, who was listening to Ray and Augusto, inadvertently pinches words like that.

That was true, but Ray returns the words without looking like he cared at all for Zaroust's words like that.

"Do we need to worry about our enemies?

"No, you don't."

"Right? Whatever, we're acting together as corner guards. I'll take care of that sand thief myself. Sometimes it's in my interest. Do you mind?

To Ray's words to say so, Zaroust and Augusto, and the others, had no choice but to snort silently.

I'm not saying it's impossible to beat the opponent who originally brought out the sand aboard this number... but I'm sure he will suffer a lot because he will continue to be unilaterally attacked by the enemy.

That is more than half of the merchant corps is likely to die and the escorts will suffer similar damage......

Then that would have been the best thing to do if someone with the means to fly the sky named Ray worked hard to figure it out.

... Some of the feelings of relying on Ray were, naturally, that Ray was less involved with himself, so if he died, it would be better for his people to die... but that was also Ray's behavior with knowledge.

Convinced that no one would complain, Ray turned his gaze toward Seto and spoke when he nodded small.

"Seto"

"Grrrrrrrrrr"

To Ray's words, Seto crouches just a little to make it easier for Ray to ride when he comes closer.

Ray, jumping on Seto's back as usual, gently slaps Seto's back.

Taking that as a signal, Seto wings with a few steps of help and runs up to the desert sky.

Naturally, even the sandy ship could confirm Seto's appearance, but he didn't show any particular change of course or alarm.

"You got a magic item called sand boarding, and that's all you're getting so strong about? No, as far as I'm concerned, that's fine."

In the kingdom of Mireana, the bandits flee quickly if Seto shows up.

Given that, you can even say it was fresh that the sand thieves aboard the sandship had no way of escaping at all.

"Well, just because it's fresh doesn't mean this one's out of hand.... Seto, I want to make a preemptive attack first. I want to secure that sandy ship over here, so if I can, I don't harm you over there...... can you ask for the King's intimidation?

"Gru!"

Even for Seto, this is the first time he has used the King's intimidation against his enemies since the level was raised.

That's why I let my wings flap while I just seem a little happy with Ray's words.

Sand boarding rapidly approaching. The sand thieves on the deck naturally notice Ray and Seto approaching.

"Hey, look at that! There's a guy approaching from the sky!

"Am I empty?

One of the sand thieves notices Seto approaching with his bow in his hand and tells his neighbor companion.

And when the sand thief turns his gaze over... the movement stops.

"Bullshit...... that's... griffon!?

I guess I heard the screaming sand thief man. The others around us also turn their gaze to the presence that is approaching us...

"Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!"

Seto squeals as if he was waiting for such a sand thief to move.

Nor is that just a squeal. Skills that have risen in level over the World Tree, the King's Intimidation.

As soon as I heard the roar, all the bodies of the sand thieves who were on the sandship trembled, unable to move.

"Oh... ah..."

There were a few who were raising their voices like that, but that was only a few, and almost everything was no longer even able to raise their voices.

Ray smiles as he is convinced of the unfolding as expected as he watches the sandy ship fly through the sky.

"I need to stop the sand boarding after... what do you think I should do?

"Gru?"

What am I gonna do? and Seto rings his throat at at Ray's words.

If we continue straight aboard the sand, we will naturally rush into Augusto's merchant squad.

They were after the Augustos, so that was an unchangeable fact.

"Then should we do something about the guy who's moving the sand aboard?

When Ray squeaks yes, the sandship moves slowly as if the words were signals.

The sandy ship, whose speed slows down as if it had hung a sudden brake, stops moving in front of the Zarousts who were trying to evacuate.

"... apparently managed to end it safely,"

Ray squeaks as he watches the stopped sand boarding the ship, feeling relieved.

It would have been dangerous if the sandship hadn't stopped moving, but as for Ray, I had the thought that it would probably be okay.

I was half-optimistic, but even if not, this is a desert, and it's not like there are buildings around it.

In addition, Zaroust and the others are not attacked by bows from approaching sandy ships, so it is not difficult to avoid them.

The sandy ship was a magic item that I would have liked if I could, but in the worst case, there was also the means to destroy it.

"You're safe, aren't you?

Still, once Ray gets down to the ground while riding Seto, he speaks to the Zaroosts.

To Ray's call, Zaroust and the others nod back as they stretch their faces slightly.

Is the strength of its face that the sand boarding has loomed in front of it... or is it because of the roar emanating from Seto using the king's intimidation?

(For once, my companions have no effect on the King's intimidation. So, you're on a sand boat after all?

While I doubt it, it's true that I can't do this forever.

The sand thieves in the sandship are now unable to move due to the King's intimidating effect, but the effect is not eternal either.

"In the kingdom of Mireana, bandits can sell to slave traders, but what about this one?"

"Huh? Yeah, that doesn't change this one either."

That's what Augusto tells me when he returns to Ray's inquiry, then Ray speaks of the suggestion.

"Can you help me tie up the sand thieves in the sandship? And I'll even take you to Gosh. Instead, I want to split the money that sold the sand thieves as slaves."

"... okay? That would cost Mr. Ray a lot, wouldn't it?

"Oh. Either I'm the only one who can't catch all the sand thieves alive. You'll be able to move while you're tied up one at a time."

"So that we can move... Then again, the loud noise of Seto earlier..."

"Oh, you can imagine. Anyway, I'm gonna tie the sandburglar up and take him, so do me a favor over there. This is how I'm asking for a lot of chores, so you can split them up. And..."

Once the word is cut, Ray turns his gaze toward the sandship.

"My biggest purpose was to get a sandy ship safely and unharmed.... It's still unclear who the original owner of this sandy ship is, but when all the sand thieves are caught alive without being able to do anything, and on top of that, they take it all the way aboard the sand... Well, what do you think"

"I'm pretty sure it's going to be very irritating and rough."

"Right? Plus, if we catch him alive, we'll be able to get information.... you can always kill. But if you kill him, you won't be able to extract information."

Ray, with a man's bad grin, asks Seto to go straight to the top of the sandship.

Augusto, who watched it, noticed that there was no such thing as any strength or virtue of prestige in the word kill, making his spine cold about how many training grounds Rays, who looked younger, had dived through.

Ray, not at all aware of such an Augusto idea, called the Zarousts by lowering a rope from the deck of a sandy ship.