Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 352

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 122.
Ninety-Eight Souls (35)
Joshua studied the Captain’s expression and recognized that he was performing, albeit clumsily. Still, it was the right call—without such an act, the crew would indulge in unnecessary speculation. In any case, thanks to this performance, the Captain seemed to have lost interest in probing deeper into the matter.
“Very well then. I’ll take you to our home port at Calaisso. There, we’ll recruit a new captain and crew, prepare the ship for sailing, and head to Hyacan. As for funds, you can write to your three masters for a letter of credit, present it to the Calaisso Ship Guild, and borrow what you need. The Guild holds the credit of the Nobility in high regard, after all. Your masters won’t simply abandon a ship.”
The three nodded and offered awkward smiles. With that, the matter was settled for now.
Now they had only to wait for the ship to reach the harbor. Their vessel, which was meant to sail the skies, was tethered to the Highsaebaramho—a ship far larger—and followed along as docilely as a duckling. With less than half an hour remaining before reaching port, even Joshua, who had grown weary of the swaying deck, found his spirits lifting enough to accept an offer of soup. The soup brought out was, of course, the same fare the crew ate.
Maximian, receiving his bowl first, stirred it once with his spoon before speaking.
“Limestone soup.”
Appleton, who had handed over the bowl, replied.
“Sailor’s food.”
He had grumbled that even dogs wouldn’t eat such fare, yet when serving others, his tune changed. Riche cast a sympathetic glance from beside him.
“To think you have to eat something like this—how dreadful.”
“What’s dreadful about it? Only out at sea! Once we enter the harbor, delicacies, fine spirits, dancing girls, and theaters await—you can endure a little hardship like this!”
At the mention of theaters, Joshua’s interest kindled.
“Does Calaisso have theaters too?”
“Did you think theaters existed only in Hyacan?”
Appleton’s eyes widened, and suddenly he felt the urge to boast of his homeland to these noble attendants.
“Calaisso has three grand theaters alone, and dozens upon dozens of smaller ones! These theaters fill entire streets. There you’ll find beauties like angels in abundance, and spirits so fine they’ll melt your very tongue! When a popular performance opens, the streets overflow with crowds, and even on ordinary days, the streets are ablaze with shows and dancing—a city that never sleeps, I tell you. Once you’ve seen that street, you’ll never want to leave Calaisso for the rest of your life! Not to know of Calaisso’s fame—that’s what’s truly dreadful, for you three. Why else would it earn the epithet ‘Dancing Calaisso’?”
Joshua, filtering only what interested him, wore an expression of genuine admiration.
“Remarkable indeed. So many theaters, and performances so popular.”
As he spoke, he thoughtlessly dipped his spoon into the soup and took a bite, then began coughing as though he might perish. Maximian, patting his back perfunctorily, spoke.
“A thriving port indeed. But do sailors alone generate enough business for such prosperity?”
“Well, people from neighboring cities and rural nobility seem to visit quite often. Especially at our Captain’s theater—many of those nobles keep company with the performers there.”
“The Captain’s theater?”
Joshua, already queasy from seasickness, suddenly bolted toward the rail, and Maximian, sighing with annoyance, rose to follow him. Then Riche asked the question. Appleton answered promptly.
“The finest theater in Calaisso, ‘Diamond Rush,’ belongs to our Captain! Well, half of it anyway, but in any case, once our Captain sets foot in the harbor, he becomes a proper Theater Master.”
6. The Actor Returns
He was a natural actor, you see. I thought he loved only me, but the widow next door lent him money by the jarful, the carpenter’s boy knows he’ll be married by seventeen, the village chief’s daughter counts the days until next spring, the priest’s old maid is prepared to wait ten years, and his elderly mother laments that her son knows nothing of women—even Heaven must find it absurd. And he was planning to sail across the Continent on a ship! Where else in this world could you find such a thief—or rather, such an actor?
When Joshua’s party arrived at Calaisso Harbor, they had heard Appleton’s boasts until his lips were worn thin, so they opened their eyes wide and gazed about the harbor in all directions. Of course, the advantages visible only to a native could hardly be apparent to them, so shortly after, all three wore identically unimpressed expressions.
Under the direction of a navigator, Joshua’s ship entered the dock. The Captain, without being asked, assisted with the entry procedures and even directed them to the Guild. When it came time to part, he suggested they join him for drinks—a matter of fate, he said. The Captain, with perfect timing, extended the invitation to Maximian, and thus the three found themselves entering the Dockside Tavern with the crew.
It was still early for drinking, so the tavern had become the exclusive domain of the Highsaebaramho for half the day. The three, wishing to discuss their future plans among themselves, managed to claim the smallest table in the farthest corner, though they couldn’t prevent two sailors from squeezing in beside them. Given the circumstances, they decided to save their serious discussion for later and focus on eating and drinking here.
Captain Kalaimon always bought drinks for his crew upon safe arrival. The more arduous the voyage, the more generously he spent, so the sailors all wore expressions of eager anticipation. True to form, when the Captain’s order of spirits and food began arriving, everyone’s jaws dropped in astonishment.
“Long live the Captain!”
One sailor started a cheer, and the rest, delighted, clapped their hands and cheered boisterously. Such enthusiastic response naturally inspired the one buying to be even more generous. Of course, when one had been subsisting on limestone tomato soup, any food could draw tears of gratitude.
The three in the corner clinked glasses with the two other sailors and threw themselves upon proper food for the first time in ages. They had grown thoroughly sick of the monotonous travel rations served from inadequate galley facilities. Moreover, even the fastidious Joshua found no fault with the food here. The absence of a swaying floor certainly helped matters.
Once the plates had been cleared, Captain Kalaimon rose from his seat. The sailors, as though they had been waiting, began shouting “A song! A song!” Not a sailor aboard was ignorant of the Captain’s love of singing. The Captain cleared his throat, propped one leg upon a chair, and launched into a verse. It was a cheerful melody.
Fish-scented harbor air
Salt-spray and sea-wind
Back to our foul-smelling homeland
Welcome, my friends, welcome home
While we were gone, the young lady became an old crone
While we were gone, the girl’s nose started running
The smell of wine, the smell of taverns
The smell of powder, the smell of women
Laugh! Pour! Drink!
Friends who’ve returned alive!
While we were gone, the wife grew fat
While we were gone, the boy took to the sea
The smell of fish, the smell of the harbor
The smell of salt water, the smell of the sea
A purse of gold coins jingling
Laugh! Pour! Drink!
The song had a simple melody with only the lyrics changing as it repeated endlessly, but Captain Kalaimon sang so well, and as the sailors joined in one after another, the atmosphere grew increasingly festive. Everyone drummed their fingers on the tables and sang with unbridled enthusiasm. Joshua, sitting in the corner, was startled at first, but soon broke into a smile and kept time with the tips of his feet, listening with genuine pleasure.
The Deck Master took the next song. He sang a humorous ballad about an old sailor with such a wry expression that laughter erupted from all corners. On the Highsaebaramho, the Cook always went next. The Cook scratched his forearm impassively and stepped forward, then pounded a pillar with his fist while singing a marching song. He too possessed a considerable voice.
Out of the way, you sharks! The harpooner is coming through!
Out of the way, you pirates! The Deck Master is coming through!
Out of the way, you reefs! The Navigator is coming through!
The predetermined order ended there, and after that, anyone could sing. A young man who appeared to be the Tavern Owner’s Son had been laughing among the sailors, and the moment the Cook’s song finished, he quickly claimed his turn. But the song he sang startled Joshua.
The water-guide, that man
Who has seen his heart?
An arrow shot toward the horizon
Pierced straight through his heart.
While Joshua wore a bewildered expression, the song continued.
He will go on.
Among the dark starlit sky
To the smallest island
Empty hands without a single apple
Barefoot, even his shoes cast aside
Needless to say, it was a song Joshua himself had composed for the Aquarian performance. The performance had only been recently held—how did these people know that song, and why were the lyrics like that?
Yet Joshua soon smiled broadly. His body tingled with excitement. Everyone was singing with such joy, and all wanted to hear the song. Though no one was calling for him, it felt as though they were. He could not restrain himself and rose from his seat, walking toward the center of the Grand Hall.
Since many were already standing, Joshua’s appearance did not particularly draw attention. He slipped in beside the singer, then suddenly sang a single phrase.
In that instant, all eyes fixed upon him. The phrase Joshua sang was precisely where the other man’s voice had begun to crack. It was a high note that could not be managed by anything less than considerable skill.
A star that burns even in the dead of night
To all the people of the world
A star that rains down nectar
The Tavern Owner’s Son stopped in shock. But Joshua laughed playfully and sang with altered lyrics of his own.
The water-guide, that man
Did you hear what he said?
A ship bound for the island is ready
He is calling us.
Water’s Guide, Man of the Sea
Navigator for Me
Water’s Guide, Man of the Sea
Navigator for Me
When the song ended, the crew paused for a moment, forgetting to begin the next verse as they stared at Joshua. Captain Kalaimon nudged a nearby sailor, who quickly rose and began singing. The Captain then approached Joshua and spoke.
“Your singing voice is quite exceptional.”
Children of Rune – Winterer
Author: Jeon Min-hee
Publisher: 14 Months Publishing
The copyright of this book belongs to the author and 14 Months Publishing.
To reuse all or part of the contents of this book, written consent from both parties is required.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————