I Got a Fake Job at the Academy

Chapter 804 - Side Story 77: Hyperborea (3)

The Kingdom of Seville was nothing more than a small country, even among the nations of the continent.

Its population was small, resources were scarce, and being located in the northern continent, the environment was considerably harsh.

Nevertheless, the reason this country could endure among the great powers was due to the strong character of its people and their excellent passion for education.

Especially since the magical investigation agency's capabilities were so outstanding, even other countries would request Seville Kingdom's help when related incidents occurred.

Aside from that, there was no reason for people to visit the Kingdom of Seville. It was far too lacking for tourism or diplomacy.

However, recently, the number of foreigners visiting the Kingdom of Seville has increased considerably.

In a port that would normally be filled only with fishermen, people who had brought all kinds of equipment were crowding.

From mages to explorers, archaeologists, merchants, and even mercenaries they employed. People engaged in different fields had gathered for only one purpose: Hyperborea.

The northern new continent where ancient civilization and relics existed. The legendary place that the great mage Lexer had chosen as his final destination.

They were all people trying to go there.

"A hell of a lot of people are flocking here. Because of that, my sister is currently dealing with all kinds of headaches." 

"She must be very busy." 

"Incidents and accidents keep happening without end. Even ordinary people get into fistfights when they gather like this. What do you think happens when stronger people gather?"

Casey gazed at the crowded masses with a look of utter disgust. Just from that expression alone, one could fully imagine how much she had suffered.

'She probably went around being called everywhere while helping her sister's work.'

And in that situation, she received his summons and even brought the family's ship herself. Rudger had made the summons thinking she would have plenty of free time, but he never expected there would be such circumstances.

'I feel strangely sorry.'

Whatever the case, Casey had accepted this side's request and brought the ship. While the size was small compared to other passenger ships, looking at its neat appearance, there was no room for complaint.

There was no way a ship used by a famous magical family would be ordinary. Even if it looked like that on the outside, its pure performance itself would be comparable to a warship.

The ship was relatively small compared to giant passenger ships, but it was more than enough to carry a small number of people.

Just looking at its graceful and sleek form, it was built to cross the sea faster than any other ship.

"More than that, I'm surprised. I never expected you to move to find Hyperborea. Wasn't teaching work suited to your temperament?" 

"Teaching is my main job. Let's say this is a side job." 

"You're someone who once traveled all over the world, so I can understand, but you weren't the type to chase after things like this, were you?" 

"I'm not without curiosity about the new continent. But I didn't come this far out of simple curiosity either. I'm trying to preemptively eliminate any dangerous things that might be there." 

"Hmm. Really? From the looks of it, His Majesty the Emperor must have given you a direct imperial command."

Indeed, Casey noticed who had given Rudger orders with her excellent observation and deductive skills.

However, from the fact that she didn't point out anything more than that, she seemed to be vaguely thinking along similar lines.

"People are moving around with their eyes rolled back. They say rumors tend to be exaggerated, but that doesn't mean such rumors spread without any basis at all, right?" 

"Right. We're estimating there's at least a relic there. And there are dangerous bastards aiming for it too." 

"Ah, as I thought. Actually, we've been keeping an eye on similar types recently too."

Casey shook her head as if troubled.

"Too many foreigners have flocked to the Kingdom of Seville recently. Naturally, among them are people with overseas criminal records. My sister is running around very hard trying to catch those bastards, but we inevitably lack manpower."

It couldn't be helped. More people had flocked in the past three days than would visit the Kingdom of Seville in a year.

Moreover, they weren't ordinary tourists, but people engaged in dangerous professions. To keep an eye on all of them would require deploying all of Seville Kingdom's guards and still not be enough.

"On top of that, these bastards are doing everything they can to bribe fishermen for ships, trying somehow to cross the sea. They're quite a headache."

Most tried to hire fishermen by paying large sums to board ships, but such people didn't even make up half.

'The rest is obvious. Threatening with force to forcibly seize ships.'

The evidence was the commotion happening everywhere and the coastal guards running around with their eyes wide open. But even so, due to lack of manpower, problems seemed to keep occurring.

"U-um, brother."

Hans carefully called Rudger from behind. When he turned around, he could feel the gazes of some people directed this way.

Most of the gazes were sizing up who they were, and some among them revealed their greed.

It couldn't be helped. A much more proper ship had appeared than the mediocre fishing boats that just went out to nearby waters to catch fish.

Moreover, compared to the size of the ship, there were only two people trying to board—Rudger and Hans. For them, they must be scheming to either board together, or conversely negotiate to push this side out and seize the ship.

Indeed, there were people who immediately took action, not wanting to miss the opportunity.

"Hey, you there."

It was a large man with a fierce-looking face. He displayed his tattooed muscles as if showing them off.

It was quite a threatening appearance, but to Rudger or Hans it was hardly even as cute as a mouse, so there was no particular reaction.

Regardless, he approached close as if to intimidate and thrust his face forward.

"Hey. Looks like you got quite a good ship, but there seems to be a lot of room left for just two people to ride, doesn't it?"

A rancid smell wafted over. He seemed to be the type who didn't brush his teeth after eating. Rudger briefly pondered how to handle this.

If the opponent was sturdy, he could subdue them to an appropriate degree, but if he carelessly touched a weak guy like this, they'd die.

Then another person naturally inserted themselves in between.

"Mm. Sir, I'm sorry, but it's not two people but three, if you would." 

"Huh? What are you supposed to be?"

The fierce giant glared at the person who had interfered and inserted themselves. It was quite an energetic and intense voice, but high and thin. It was a woman with androgynous charm. Rather than beautiful, she should be described as handsome.

Her hair, pulled back and tied in a ponytail, was jet black, but conversely, the uniform she wore was snow white like looking at snow.

In that intense contrast, she, Veronica de Ville, spoke with a benevolent smile.

"It's been a while." 

"Ah, Lord Rudger. It's been a while. I'm a bit late, aren't I?" 

"You've arrived right on time."

It wasn't just Rudger and Hans moving this time. Naturally, the Empire had also decided to send someone. Since sending a mediocre person would only be a hindrance, they sent someone with sufficient ability.

Veronica de Ville was precisely that helper. The vice-captain of the Coldsteel Knights who traversed the cold northern mountain ranges, and a master who had reached a considerable level as a knight.

Veronica said to the large man.

"I'm sorry, but we're on important business, so I don't think we can take other passengers. Would you please step back now." 

"What? Has this bitch gone crazy!"

He seemed enraged by Veronica's action of suddenly butting in and shouted loudly. He must have judged that if he intimidated her like this, the other party would be frightened and back down.

'He picked the wrong person.'

Rudger shook his head because he could clearly see the scene that was about to unfold.

"Hmm. So you're the type who can't understand words?"

Veronica maintained her smiling face and placed her hand on the giant's shoulder.

"What are you doing now... Gwaaaaah!"

The giant screamed with veins bulging in his neck. As Veronica pressed down on his shoulder, he hunched over and his eye level naturally dropped below Veronica's.

To the giant who had been made to kneel before everyone, Veronica said in a cold voice.

"Shall we end it here. Or are you truly thinking of seeing this through to the end." 

"Grrrk! S-stop! Please stop! I was wrong!"

At the terrifying grip strength different from her appearance, the giant finally realized Veronica was a knight and begged desperately.

When Veronica released her hand, the giant clutched his aching shoulder and hurriedly left. Those presumed to be his companions were watching this side, but when Veronica looked at them, they were startled and averted their gazes.

"Whew. Oh my. I showed you an unseemly sight right after arriving." 

"No. If Vice-Captain Veronica hadn't stepped forward, I would have done so instead." 

"Hahaha. Is that so? Ah, my introduction is late. I'm Veronica de Ville, belonging to the Exilion Empire's Coldsteel Knights."

Veronica greeted Casey.

"I'm glad to meet the vice-captain of such a renowned knightly order. I'm Casey Selmore." 

"To meet the world's most famous detective and the most famous recent novelist. This is exciting from the start."

The group, having finished their introductions appropriately, immediately got to the main point.

"Are we departing for Hyperborea right now?" 

"Yes. There's nothing bad about being late. Rather, in this complicated situation, it would be best to leave the port as soon as possible."

Though no one approached carelessly since Veronica had shown her skills once, there were still those eyeing this side.

The bait called Hyperborea must be too attractive for them to give up and retreat.

Still, they wouldn't cross the line yet, so they were thinking they should move quickly even now.

Among the crowd gathered to obtain ships, a great murmuring arose.

Some kind of shock, as if a bomb had exploded, swept through the assembly once.

"What is it?"

Casey sharply noticed the change in people's reactions and frowned. The atmosphere had changed somehow.

These were people who were already impatient, but she couldn't shake the feeling that they had become more urgent than before.

Then a crow flew over and landed on Hans's shoulder.

-Caw. Caw.

As the crow cried something, Hans's expression hardened.

"Everyone. It seems something has happened." 

"Hans, did you find out something?" 

"Right now, it seems traces of ancient civilization ruins have been discovered on the Hyperborea continent."

Until then it had been merely exploration based on possibility, but if those traces had been discovered, the story was different.

Not possibility but certainty. That alone was more than enough to ignite the hearts of those gathered here.

Organizations that had sent advance parties to Hyperborea in advance received that news from across the sea.

And people who shared information from them found out, and the news spread quickly like that.

'This has become a bit troublesome.'

In the hearts of the people gathered here, now there existed only similar thoughts.

If they didn't get to Hyperborea quickly, they would lose the initiative. If that happened, they wouldn't obtain the relics they so desired. Without obtaining anything, they would just spend money and return empty-handed.

"A ship! Get a ship right now!" 

"It doesn't matter how much it costs, we have to move now! Faster than others!"

That was the reason they became more desperate and busier. And naturally, among the ships that could be obtained immediately at the port, the sturdiest and most luxurious ship was...

"Oh, really."

Casey frowned. At the gazes targeting this side more blatantly than before, she finally realized the trouble she had been worried about had occurred.

She could see the bastards who had only been watching exchange glances with each other. They were probably scheming to join hands just for this moment and seize this side's ship.

"These bastards, do they think the Selmore family is a joke?"

Casey muttered as if quite displeased. Daring to plot to hijack a ship with the Selmore family crest right before their eyes?

She was just contemplating whether to draw in the nearby seawater and sweep away all those bastards.

Rudger placed his hand on Casey's shoulder and restrained her.

"We can't expect rational judgment from those blinded by desire. But there's no need to use great force against such bastards." 

"You..." 

"Since I'm in a position of borrowing the ship, let me handle this. It's rather fortunate that I can pay for the boat fare instead."

Rudger naturally drew out his staff and walked toward the crowd that was slowly approaching this way.

Just as Veronica's eyes widened at that sight and she tried to stop Rudger, Casey stepped forward instead.

"Just watch." 

"Huh? But..." 

"Ah, you don't know. Then it would be good to confirm it with this opportunity. Rather than me stepping forward, it will be much more effective for that man to step forward."

Casey gazed at Rudger with anticipation.