The enormous ship was visible through the window.
“It’s really back…”
Lefiya murmured as she looked out at the floating ship that was her alma mater.
The School District was docking in Meren.
Built on the edge of the elliptical, brackish Lolog Lake, Meren’s harbor, stretching from the eastern edge to the center, was split between a trading port and a fishing port. The western side was a shipyard and a massive berth to allow the largest ships to dock—a harbor solely for the School District.
“It’s the same as always, but it really is huge. Haaah, what a pain.”
“It travels the world, taking in students from everywhere, so its size is justified…or rather, could you please not disparage the place you are sending one of your followers?”
Loki looked like she might spit any moment as the carriage rumbled slightly.
Lefiya was taken aback by seeing her patron goddess take such an inimical stance toward the school—or rather, toward its principal, whom she utterly despised.
In all the world, there were not many ports capable of berthing a 700-meder-diameter ship. It would stop at sea whenever it visited other lands, and smaller boats facilitated movement between it and land. There was no way to fully accommodate it other than building a harbor specifically for it, and Meren was the only one in the world.
Orario had been heavily involved in establishing the School District, and it was the shipyards here in Meren that had built it. So the harbor here had the necessary scale to begin with—though with all of the School District’s improvements and additions over the years, even the harbor that had given birth to it was reaching its limit.
As with every year it returned to Meren. The ship that filled more than half of Meren harbor drew complaints from every other ship that docked there. The western harbor, which was usually open, would be completely occupied, drastically limiting the number of vessels that could enter the port.
“It seems to have had quite the adventure this time, too…”
With her Level 4 enhanced vision, Lefiya spotted countless marks of major and minor damage on the side of the massive ship.
As it traveled around the world, it would face adventure, get attacked by marine monsters, become involved in international disputes, and the like. When she was studying there, a much less experienced Lefiya had been both stunned by and roped into those adventures on many occasions—though it was also how she managed to level up even before joining Loki Familia.
The School District returned every three years primarily for its flotation device’s maintenance.
Though it was the product of Orario’s world-leading magic-stone industry, it still required regular inspections and maintenance. That was why the entire ship regularly underwent a complete overhaul, which included swapping out the spare flotation device.
The School District’s previous role was as a seaborne fortress, a foothold for slaying the Leviathan, one of the Three Great Quests.
Setting out to slay the giant dragon that dominated the sea, Zeus and Hera took down the ancient monster with this enormous platform and the help of Poseidon Familia.
Given that background, it was not something that would break easily—though, as most expected, it had been badly damaged in the great battle with Leviathan—so it was not so odd that the school would embark on some adventure. Incidentally, one of its external parts, the sublime winglike dimmers, were made from Leviathan’s azure fins.
A symbol of success in one of the Three Great Quests…I didn’t give it much thought as a student, but it’s only natural it’s called the grandest ship in the world.
That very same school had cut the power to its constantly used flotation device, and was currently resting on the water’s surface.
At last, the carriage reached the harbor where the massive ship was docking.
“By the way…why are we using a carriage like this? It would not have been a difficult walk for me. Isn’t this an unnecessary expenditure?”
“I’m here, too, ya know! Meren’s awkwardly far from Orario, and I’d get tired. And it’s been a long time since I’ve had you alone in private to harass as much as I want, gee-hee-hee! That was half the reason.”
“I see. Though I intercepted all of your attempts.”
Loki seemed oddly excited as she brazenly revealed her ulterior motive, even as she painfully waved her bright red hands.
That was a result of Lefiya mercilessly swatting them down.
“It’s so sad! You’ve gone as cold as Riveria and Aiz!”
Lefiya sighed as Loki whined with a fake sob.
“Also…”
Just when Lefiya reached for the door, tired of dealing with the goddess…
“A celebrity needs to have a fitting entrance.”
Loki smiled warmly.
As she stepped down from the elegant carriage, the faint scent of seawater greeted Lefiya…along with a big cheer.
“They’re here!!!”
“Loki Familia!”
“Is that really Thousand Elf?!”
“Show some respect for your senior, dummy!”
“Lefiyaaaa!”
The outer edge of the top academic layer was filled with countless students. Some were shouting. Some leaned out over the railing. Some blushed and waved at her.
Lefiya was stunned by the unexpected greeting as she set foot on the docks.
“They were just as wild when Alicia and Anakity came. Orario’s the center of the world, and we’re Loki Familia, after all.”
Loki’s words said it all.
Among all the familias that had come to recruit, Loki Familia was without a doubt the most popular. Their name rang out wherever it traveled, and countless students admired them. Whenever the list of their feats grew, students would cheer and wait impatiently for their return to Orario. Becoming an adventurer was a standard career path many of the School District’s students aspired to and one of the most sought-after jobs.
“…I’m not Ms. Aiz or any of the famous first-tier adventurers, though…”
She murmured as she endured the spasm starting in her cheek.
She was completely numb to it at this point, but the title of the strongest faction in Orario was not just for show. Seeing the students’ reactions made her recognize the position they were truly in.
She could not help thinking it was still too far overblown, but remembering how she had once been on the other side of it as a student herself, she laughed a bit to herself.
The old Lefiya had not even been aiming to become an adventurer, so she had not been quite so excited.
“Hah, I love those girly cheers! The schoolgirls here are top quality like always, mmmmmmmm!”
“Loki…”
Don’t look at me like that. You’re enjoyin’ it, too, ain’tcha?!”
“Please don’t tease me.”
Loki was throwing kisses left and right to the students overhead as Lefiya watched wearily.
She was surprised. But that was all.
To the current Lefiya, the students’ cheers were not particularly pleasant. If anything, she found them difficult to accept because she knew that she hadn’t done anything to deserve such ardent cheers.
“That’s not gonna cut it, Lefiya. Can’t have you keep lookin’ that gloomy forever. Kids with heavy eyes who never smile eventually lose the ability to smile from their heart.”
Loki’s tone suddenly changed. Her unserious attitude faded in an instant, and she looked at Lefiya with a goddess’s smile.
“Do you know why you’re here right now?”
“…To find and recruit new talent.”
“When you first met Aki and Alicia, how were they?”
“…Pretty, smiling, relaxed, and natural. They seemed like the epitome of adulthood.”
“Then what are you doing?”
This time, she tapped Lefiya on the shoulder like a mischievous older sister.
Looking into her arched vermilion eyes, Lefiya exhaled slightly and then looked up overhead. With a smile on her face, she waved to the students.
“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”
The cheers exploded.
It felt like Meren itself was trembling as Lefiya and Loki walked toward the enormous ship.
The cheers were unceasing. The students welcomed Loki Familia, who was given pride of place among all the recruiters as the first to be allowed on board.
Lefiya was still just fifteen. There were surely still some students there who were older than her.
She could not help thinking there was no point for them to get so excited over a young elf girl, but she had been given a job as a member of Loki Familia. She decided to face it with an appropriate grace.
That was what Lefiya promised herself as the cheers rained down around her.
That was what she vowed, but…
Umm. I’m not saying I mind. Really, I don’t, but…why does it feel like there are so many more girls cheering?
“You’re so dashing, Lefiya!”
“She’s so much prettier than I imagined! Like that’s what it means to truly be an elf!”
“I want to call her big sister!!!”
“““Yeah!!!”””
…I didn’t hear anything. Not a word.