108: Let's Start Our Sea Journey and Playing Tag on a Ship

January 22, 2021 - 12 minutes read - 2490 words

“Ok, y’all! Let’s sail!” Captain Douglas

“Hey!” Sailors

As Douglas’s voice echoed over the ship, the sailors rush up the rigging to set the sails on the ship. It’s cool so see so many sailors moving in concert.

“Even though they’re climbing on ropes, they’ve moving so quickly.” Al

“That’s their lot, I ain’t fit for that no more.” Douglas

Douglas replied to my question, since he was nearby. Although he acts like it’s nothing special, I can feel a bit of pride emanating from him.

I have Spatial Magic and Shield magic, so I could catch myself if I fell, but the sailors don’t. The higher you climb, the further away from the ground you find yourself, and the scarier it is. They’re running around on unstable rope scaffolding, while it’s being shaken by the wind and the other sailors. When I walk through the air using Shield magic, I always have Transfer magic as a backup plan. Without that, I wouldn’t climb more than a few meters into the sky.

As I watched the sailors moving about the rigging, I saw that the sails were setup for sailing in no time. At the top of the main mast, it’s probably around 30 meters above the sea. I bet the view of the sea from there is quite beautiful. But to get up there would require climbing on a lot of ropes, it would be scary to enter the crow’s nest at the top. I’d have a solid seat once I got up there though.

“Are ya ready?!” Douglas yells.

“Hey!” Sailors reply from their positions in the air.

Speaking of sailors, I thought they would be rough like adventurers, but they’re surprisingly orderly. Since a ship requires many men working together to sail effectively, it may not be possible to stay a sailor at a well-run ship if they’re sloppy.

Douglas took a deep breath as he looked around.

“Sail!” Douglas boomed out, and the sailors started to work the ropes.

To the sound of rubbing cloth from the sails and ropes along with the clink of metal fittings, the white sails spread to catch the wind…

“I imagined that they would spread out quicker…” Al

“That be only for small sailboats lad, be realistic, eh?” Douglas replied causally beside me.

Perhaps I was influenced by a certain pirate manga to think that sails would billow out almost instantly. As I watch the sails spread with a delicate finesse, I heard another boat near us doing the same thing.

I was wondering if the sailors were going to untie the ropes and then the sails would spread and we’d start to sail, but that’s not what happened. Even when the ropes were untied, the sails didn’t just spread. It seems the sailors needed to haul some of the ropes to spread the sails.

Douglas drafted the adventurer guys, Rumba, Mark, and Irving to help haul the sails, at which point they spread. I’m watching those three being used as an auxiliary labor force.

“Hu, huh… I can’t do it anymore… I don’t have any strength in my arms.” Mark

“I thought it was just a piece of cloth and yanked it. That sail is very heavy.” Irving

“Are you two really that tired? It was just like a tug-of-war battle, I had a bunch of fun?” Rumba

Irving and Mark were flagging, but Rumba has no such issues. The sail Rumba was assigned to spread much quicker than the other, even the sailors were surprised.

“After all, a ship is only a ship when the sails spread out.” Alisha

“The appearance of the white sails spread out reminds me of a swan.” Ilya

Alisha and Ilya were dismissed as weakling wizards, so they sat to the side and watched. Irving moans hatefully at the relaxing women.

“I’ll give you a look…” Irving

“It’s fine since we’re mostly just adjusting things after we get to the sea? It doesn’t matter much how we’ve got a mix of men and delicate women.” Alisha

The wind blows past while Alisha shakes her dark blue hair calmly.

“Hey, Irving. Is your strength only modest?” Alisha

“Well, I didn’t say that. I would say your chest is modest, so OOF” Irving

Irving tried to make a joke out of Alisha’s word choice, but found Alisha’s kick in his belly as her response.

“Ok, we’re sailing!” Douglas booms around the ship.

The anchor that had been lowered to keep the ship berthed was raised, the mooring ropes were untied, and the ship slowly started to move out of the port. The large white sail spreads firmly to catch the wind and move the ship forward.

Douglas senses the direction and strength of the wind so he can give instructions to the sailors. It seems the sails must be adjusted according to the wind to propel us properly. The sailors are constantly pulling the ropes to and fro while screaming out the actions they are taking. Thanks to the breathtaking movements of the sailors, the ship accelerates forward.

We leave the harbor to the sound of waves smashing onto the hull. I can see people waving to us from the harbor, they must have watched us set sail. Even strangers will follow traditions to keep our trip safe. This is the kindness of the citizens of the port city Esprit. This is just part of living in the city, what a welcoming city!

I can’t help but wave back at the people on the docks. We should do our best to thank those who send us off. The people shrink until they become a point in the distance.

It’s been a while since we left Esprit and we’re now being shaken by the waves. The white cityscape of Esprit is long gone and all we can see in all directions is the blue of the ocean and the clear sky.

When I tried to get a panoramic view of the beautiful sea view from the crow’s nest, I was caught by the bored Irving, Mark, and Rumba.

“Hey, Alfred! Let’s play tag on the ship!” Irving

“Oh, that’s good! It seems like it would be fun to scale the ropes during the game!” Rumba

“So, we can’t go inside the ship?” Al

Well, playing tag in a place like this with ropes all over…

It sounds athletic and interesting. I can always use Transfer or Shield magic to guarantee my safety, so I’m fine. If that’s what we’re doing, I’ll get ready to run. I put my foot on a shroud and plan a route to the top.

“Oh! This guy thinks he won’t be it!” Irving screams and points at me.

Hmm, it’s fun. The game is starting. While Irving was yelling at me, Mark and Irving had started to move too.

“Irving is It for the first round!” Mark

“Wait where you are and count out ten seconds!” Rumba

“You guy planned this!” Irving

This kind of play is a common thing. Children’s games are terribly cruel and arbitrary. Rules and common sense aren’t common, and rules are easily created and discarded by the groups will. We pushed the role of the tagger to Irving and climb the ropes.

I’m climbing the main mast, while Mark is climbing the mizzenmast behind me. Rumba is climbing the foremast in the front. We must look like a gorilla and monkeys if you’re looking at us.

How is Rumba climbing as lightly as the sailors. The sailors are watching us awkwardly climb with humorous looks. They’ll have pointers for us later.

“Eight, nine ten! Ok, I’m moving!” Irving

As I was climbing, Irving completed his counting and started the chase.

“I’ll start with the rearmost of you all and move forward!” Irving

Sounds like Irving wants to start with Mark who is on the mizzenmast.

Since Mark is having to lean to climb well, Mark wasn’t even able to reach the halyard yet. Irving climbs with a hyena-like expression on his face.

“Hey! Come on! Climbing makes me uncomfortable!” Mark

Is Irving used to it? He climbs well, though not as well as the sailors.

“Fuhaha! Don’t say anything, it seems like I’ll get you soon?” Irving

“Eeh!” Mark

It would be be scary for a person with Irving’s face to approach from below with a hungry look. I’m glad it wasn’t me. Behind me, Mark has nearly been tagged. When I looked forward, Rumba was dexterously climbing the mast itself. Is he actually part gorilla?

While I was thinking, I heard a voice from behind me.

“Yes got you! Mark, you’re it!” Irving

“Ah?! When did you touch me? Don’t make anything up!” Mark

“I touched you, my finger hit the laces on your shoes.” Irving

“Liar! So you lie as much as possible. That’s got to be a lie!” Mark

Why do they sound like two kids on a playground. I feel like I’ve heard similar exchanges hundreds of times.

“Fine, I understand. Hey, tag.” Irving

“But I stopped to dispute your fake touch?!” Mark

“There’s no rule about that, don’t stop moving if you don’t want to get tagged.” Irving

Hmm, I wonder what happens next… I’d guess they’ll fight over whether you can immediately tag back.

“What?! Oh, Irving, tag. You’re it again.” Mark

“Wait just a second! We aren’t playing with tag backs, right?” Irving

“I didn’t anything, dummy!” Mark

Mark rejects Irving’s argument as he hops down from the ropes. He’s out of reach and can’t be tagged back. So that’s his plan, Mark thought that out.

“Oh! Damn! That bastard! Next time, I’ll tag him and push him into the sea!” Irving

Irving is an actual demon. I’m worried about him now, I didn’t think he was so easily riled up.

“Ok, I’ll go after Alfred this time!” Irving cries after a moment of reflection.

Irving jumps down from the mizzenmast and moves to be under me.

“Hahaha! Wait up!” Irving shouts as he runs up the shroud with a vicious smile.

Wow! He’s fast! But it feels unsettling… like a a spider.

“Irving body is strange! Don’t come near!” Al

I get a strange apprehension as if a spider is crawling up from below. Irving’s face is horrifying, he looks like an old person.

“He’s climbing like a spider…” Mark

“Somehow he’s a guy who can climb fast even though it looks so awkward.” Rumba

“Don’t make me out to be so weird! Are you trying to insult me?” Irving

Even if you know they’re just trying to crack jokes, it can be somewhat awkward.

“Don’t use the word ‘weird’ so lightly!” Irving

Irving gathers up his composure, and begins to climb up again.

“It’s been oddly noisy since a while ago. What are they doing? Why is Irving climbing…” Alisha

Alisha is speaking with a terrible and arresting voice peculiar to women. It’s a way of saying that people with certain habits are strange.

“Are you saying I make you sick again?” Irving

“What’s wrong? Why can’t I say something about creepy things?” Alisha

“Then, I should be free to comment on your small breasts right?” Irving

“Where did that come from? That’s a physical fact, not a habit!” Alisha

I guess that it is somewhat different? Women are complex, so they must be different.

“Hmm, let’s leave the flat-chest alone. I’m tired.” Irving

“I can hear that! I’ll remember that!” Alisha

Alisha returns to the cabin as Irving sighs. Do you know what’s coming later?

“Now, can I just tag Alfred already? I’m tired of chasing people around.” Irving muttering

Irving is starting to climb again, his hands and feet move independently. If I was to describe the look of his figure, it’d have to be…

“Disgusting!” Al

“I can’t forgive you anymore! I’m coming for you!” Irving

Irving has been insulted now by everyone who was watching, has finally had it. He’s climbing quickly with an angry look, this doesn’t look good.

“Augh!” Al

“It’s pointless!” Irving

I was worried about Irving’s mood, so I grabbed a shroud and shook it, but it failed to do anything. Obviously, it’s a taut rope, it would be difficult to climb it I could shake badly.

When I watch Irving’s movements, it feels like a spider climbing along its web where the shrouds are the threads. This is his area, if I climb the shroud I’ll be caught and killed.

With that thought, I stop climbing up the shroud and moved to a yard.

“Huh? You ran away to the yard? Do you really think you could jump down from this height? If you aren’t really good, you’ll sprain something, or even break a bone?” Irving

Irving is really taunting now. Certainly even the lowest yard is pretty tall, it would be dangerous for me to jump off of it. He targeted me in anticipation of this event.

“If you don’t want to get hurt, don’t get so scared. I’m not going to hurt you. Maybe I’ll just push you into the sea in order to forgive you.” Irving

That sounds pretty dangerous…

I’m not sure what I should do when he gets close. Should I use Shield magic to escape into the air?

When I was trying to come up with a plan, I noticed a rope hanging in front of me. When I looked up to what the rope was attached to, I found that it was looped through a pulled attached to the main mast. Perhaps I can make a Tarzan-like swing off of this rope to escape.

“Hehehe, just wait. I’ll be over there soon.” Irving

Irving has moved from the shroud to the yard, I’ll have to do it now.

I move to the hanging rope, grab it firmly and jump off.

“What?!” Irving

My body catches on the rope, then I start falling down as my weight comes down onto the rope.

“Ah! Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!” Al

I yell out like Tarzan and swing through the air with my body. The feeling of the wind blowing past my body, the thrill of swinging through the air, and yelling out are very fun.

My field of vision shift downwards as I sink, once I’m close enough to the ground, I let go of the rope and land.

“Oh! What was that? That looked fun!” Mark & Rumba roar out.

I can get it, they want a turn.

“Ok, let’s try that now!” Rumba

“Oh, Rumba! There’s isn’t a rope like that on the foremast!” Al

“What?! So it’s only on the middle? It can’t be helped, when Irving swings down, I’ll go over to the middle.” Rumba

“Irving will catch you since you’ll have to wind the rope up.” Al

“Then, let’s drop this game of tag. Jumping off holding onto the rope looks more fun.” Rumba

“What?!” Irving

Childish games change all the time.