Chapter 56: City of Canals (part three)
There were two large rivers on Ichthyes.
From Harvan’s lake as the source, pouring through the boundary between Lucanrant and Aurelia towards the west via Leandez to Knot Reed, the Varnalis River.
From the lake at the boundary between Harvan and Aurelia, Alleska River flowed into the territorial waters of Ignitia while meandering towards the southwest via Leandez.
Both of them had little rise and fall differences and people could enter the inland areas with large vessels.
In addition, each branch divided into more than twenty small rivers that covered the majority of the continent, forming a circulation of important traffic routes in the Union Kingdom.
After the skirmish in the northwest after Aurelia’s arrival by ship, the dam was built by the migrants from Aurelia at the mouth of the river of the largest branch of the Varnalis River.
This was the beginning of Knot Reed.
Everything flowed in Varnalis River, which was the cornerstone of water transports.
Therefore, everything gathered at the port of Knot Reed which was built at the mouth of the river.
And the shipbuilding industry to transport them was also explosively growing by harmonizing with Aurelia.
Not only merchant ships and fishing vessels but military vessels were also built in shipyard areas located in the city.
Battle ships for Aurelia built with numerous ethanol cannons.
Cruisers equipped with magical armor which could also be called huge spell cards exclusively for Harvan’s mages.
For the country of dragon knights Ignitia, an air carrier to operate 10-meter class dragons on the sea.
“What is built this time is a new type of aircraft carrier incorporating a state-of-the-art mechanism in the power section.
The dragon knights of the former aircraft carrier who had been stationed at Knot Reed originally will switch to the new model during the launching ceremony.”
“Which one is the aircraft carrier?”
“The old aircraft carrier seems to be on the ocean in order to train for the demonstration that will be carried out in the launching ceremony.
Don’t worry, when the launching ceremony begins you can see both old and new aircraft carriers.”
Saying so, Otou-sama sroked my head.
There was a huge shipyard appearance in the direction pointed by him.
I was interested in how big the ship that was being built was, but it seemed it would be a sight to see during the launching ceremony.
In the meantime, a merchant ship arrived at the harbor.
However, our voyage didn’t end here.
We would switch to a small rowing boat along with a few servants.
It was a rowing boat that looked just like a gondola.
It seemed that it was faster to go through the canal whenever you went on the canal street of Knot Reed.
We got on the small boat and looked around the city as we moved through the canal.
Many ships were coming and going near the mouth of the river and it was very lively.
A cargo ship with various kinds of luggage, a sightseeing ship that was kind of bigger than our small boat.
The origin and occupation of the people riding on them were also diverse.
Turning back a little, our small boat entered an area where large buildings such as cathedrals lined up along the canal.
The religious building had white walls and gray roof.
It had calm colors, but the elaborate decorations made it looked luxurious.
We came across a group of nuns who were just going to move by boat and we waved and greeted them.
When we were passing by a place corresponding to the intersection on the road, I saw the other side and I felt dizzy.
Like an infinite loop of a mirror, similar scenery was repeated.
“Otou-sama, it seems like the canal is continuing everywhere.”
“The large canal had 20 rings. Including the small canals, there are several times more than that in total.
Knot Reed is made up of one hundred islands separated by canals and two thousand bridges.”
“That’s very amazing.”
“Aah, it’s a land that has been developed for trading since ancient times.”
It said that the canal was stretched concentrically around a river that was flowing in the center.
It was said that the transportation cost was overwhelmingly low, thanks to the terrain called the canal rings.
After passing through the gray roofs area, we entered the red-orange roofs area.
Various specialty shops were joining their eaves, and in the distance there were signboards with designs concentrated like beautiful accessories were glittering under the sunlight.
The voices of sellers who were attracting customers could be heard.
It was a vibrant part of the area with overwhelmingly large numbers of people.
“This is Knot Reed’s famous place, 〈Town of All Kinds of Goods〉.
Just like the name ‘All Kinds of Goods’, the merchants here boast that there is nothing they don’t have in this town.”
“That’s interesting.”
“I’m sorry, but we cannot afford to stop by for a while.
After the launching ceremony, let’s look around even between my works.”
“Yes, I will look forward to that.”
I was really brimming with the intention to sneak away and visit this Town of All Kinds of Goods.
As I was feeling a mild guilt, I replied to Otou-sama with a smile.
The small boat crossed the canal under the big bridge.
Suddenly, a huge building appeared in front of my eyes when the field of vision was cleared out at once.
It looked like a religious building and felt solemn but had been decorated with secular architecture everywhere.
This was where we were going to stay, the 〈Water Palace〉.
Our party of Aurelia got off the boat at a small square in front of the palace, we were guided by the servant of the palace who had been waiting.
The interior of Water Palace was precisely decorated based on white and gold.
It was a technique of advanced craftsmen who gave a luxurious but pure impression, a fusion of Aurelia-style and Harvan-style.
There were hundreds of rooms in this vast palace, which was also called as the Labyrinth Palace.
It seemed that I would get lost if I wasn’t careful.
Because it was a palace with many rooms, I was given a room by myself.
Well, since it would make it easier to sneak out, I was fine with it.
We quickly changed from our traveling outfit to formal attires in our given room, and headed to the hall where other aristocrats had arrived earlier.
☆
The owner of Water Palace was the Tulum family.
Their ancestors were masons and mages from Harvan.
However, they seemed to have been immersed in Knot Reed’s shipbuilding and water transportation, and they emigrated some time ago.
They were the first one to develop a merchant ship with expanded interior by space manipulation magic, sold it and gained funds.
What made him rose as a wealthy merchant was the time he made a killing by maritime insurance to a trading business.
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