Night.
Unfamiliar starry sky spreads out.
A big city with dazzling lights, Doruas, is situated at the mouth of the river near the sea.
The bank has been made into a wharf, many river ships are anchored on it.
A trip that should have taken three days was finished in one day.
It was thanks to Ieturia.
Greedriver's meat and materials are being carried out of the moored ship.
While taking a sidelong glance at that, I talk to Ieturia who's resting with her hands on the edge of the ship.
"We didn't have to dry out the fish thanks to you. You've been a big help."
"That's fine and all.... But I'm tired."
"Is that right. I'll heal you."
I made my hand shined blue with magic power.
And then Ieturia bends forward with water dripping from her long silver hair. She catches my hand and push it against her smallish chest.
Softness that's just the right size in my hand. The white skin is cold like water.
Her red eyes narrowed as she's letting out 'Aah....' voice like melting.
"This feels nice."
I pat her shoulder and waist with my free hand.
It's cold but her skin is smooth. A delicate body you just want to hug.
"Your upper body is truly that of a beautiful woman."
"That's the first time someone said that to me. --Fufu, very well. Do you want to try my upper body?"
Ieturia smiled bewitchingly and licked her mouth with her red tongue. Her tail popped out of the water with a splash.
"I'm not into that. More importantly, are you alone?"
"What do you mean?"
"Don't you have friends or family."
"Is it about the marriage date? You and I should decide it ourselves."
"What are you talking about. It'll be easier to create a place you belong to if you have more friends."
"Fumu. Then I will call my brethren in the vicinity. There should be three of them here."
"Really, that's convenient."
When I separated my hand, Ieturia leaked out a wistful voice, "Ah...more."
"What. Haven't you got enough yet?"
I tightly grip her bowl-shaped breast. Firm elasticity is transmitted on my hand shining blue.
She frowned with her shapely eyebrows.
"Kuh, what are you doing. --W-were you repulsed by me after all!?"
"Hmm, I guess I'm not really fond of a woman who exposes her nude body in public."
She frowned, "guh".
"Is that so.... I'm not detailed in human custom. But it's hard to swim with clothes...."
"I gues you're right. I'll do something about it later."
"Please."
Ieturia dived into the water.
I talk to a fat merchant who's watching over the cargo, Driad.
"Hey, Driad. When this ship goes back, it's going upstream right?"
"That is correct. It would take a week to go against the current."
"I've got some profitable idea in mind, wanna hear it?"
Driad's eyes shined when he heard that.
"What would that be?"
"Won't you hire Ieturia?"
"Eh, that monster!?"
"Ieturia is not a monster. She might look like that but she's actually a messenger of god."
"I-is that the case..."
"Besides, you've experienced it yourself right. It's possible to go back and forth between the royal capital and the port town in just one day."
"I-I see. That means--"
"You could bring in fresh fish to the royal capital where it's usually dried ones. You can monopolize the high speed transportation."
"That would net a considerable profit indeed.... However, the other merchants and shipowners might go after me then."
That possibility is high indeed.
'He has a dealing with monsters, he must be a demon king's underling!', if such a rumor spread, it might harm my image too.
"Then you should just take the handling charge and deal in luggage. If you tell people that Driad Firm will take the sole responsibility of the contract with Naga, the merchants who are afraid of dealing with monsters directly would have no choice but to abide."
"However, since she's alone the amount of the transported goods would not be high."
"No, she'll bring in her friends with her. If there's at least 3-4 of them, it should be doable with rotations."
Driad strokes his chin while groaning.
"Then how much would Hero-sama's share be?"
"I don't mind getting nothing until the high speed transportation business gets on track. In exchange, let it be known that Naga are not monsters but messengers of god. Advertise that the monster has turned a new leaf by the great power of Hero Keika and become divine beast."
"In other words, I should expend everything announcing that. I will allot your shares on the string-pulling expenses."
"That's right. Other merchants who don't think well of this might try to sabotage you after all. Will you do it?"
Driad furrowed his brows, looking troubled.
I know that changing your usual custom is hard. Furthermore, it's got to do with money.
It's no wonder that he's afraid of risky business since he's worked his way up to be a big merchant who owns several ships.
That's why, to be doubly sure, I tell him this.
"I don't mind if you decline. That means I'll just talk about this with other merchant."
"P-please wait, I'm still thinking about it."
I press on him.
"You're a capable merchant who grew Driad Firm alone aren't you. That's the reason I proposed this idea to you. I thought you were better than some generations old establishment that's risk averse. But it seems that I was mistaken."
When I took a step away, he caught my arm like he was going to jump.
"I understand, I'll do it! --It's a one-in-a-lifetime big job! This Driad will do his all to handle it!"
--Alright. With this Ieturia will get her place and I can sell my name.
"Really, you'll do it huh. I'm counting on you--And also, Ieturia. You heard that right?"
When I peek at the water surface, she showed up her beautiful face. Her silver hair is spreading on the wave.
Looks like she's following what I said, not exposing herself in public.
However, the red eyes that are looking up at me look reproachful.
"....I couldn't help to. Because someone went ahead on his own."
"Your forte, swimming, will be put to good use. It's like your calling. You'd get your place if you work hard. Besides, there's no rival, so you'd earn plenty of money."
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