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[Genshin Impact] Chapter 357: A Journey at Sea
🕑 Added 2024-12-04 14:30:01 +0000 UTCRitou Shipyard
A few days later, Nolan, Lumine, and Paimon returned to the shipyard, ready to pick up their new boat.
The shipyard covered a vast area, and it took them some time to locate the workshop where their small vessel had been built.
Upon entering, Nolan once again met the senior shipwright he had spoken with about the boat’s construction a few days prior.
This older master shipwright greeted them warmly and led them to an open space outside the workshop.
Here, several completed small boats were on display—open-top dinghies and fully enclosed wave boats designed to keep water out.
It was easy to identify which one was Nolan’s order: the enclosed wave boat stood out with its sleek, practical design. In person, it looked almost exactly as he had imagined from the original story.
The boat's main body was a natural wood color, with edges painted in gold. The simple yet elegant design made it visually appealing.
The "door" to enter the boat was located on the top. It functioned like a lid that covered the entire vessel and could be opened upward to allow entry.
The master shipwright, along with several of his apprentices, climbed onto the boat stand and positioned themselves at the four corners of the boat to lift the lid. Once opened, he began explaining the features to them:
“This lid might seem large, but it weighs only around 130 pounds. For adventurers like you, that shouldn’t be too heavy.”
Nolan and Lumine nodded in agreement. It wasn’t heavy at all—if anything, it felt a bit light. This left them wondering about its durability.
Noticing their concern, the master shipwright chuckled and reassured them:
“Don’t worry. The entire boat is crafted from high-quality maple wood. It’s sturdy enough to handle typical strong winds and waves.”
Maple wood, known for its moderate hardness and slight flexibility, was a versatile material commonly used in shipbuilding. While it wasn’t the best of the best, the value was excellent for a boat priced at 900,000 Mora.
“The cabin can hold up to five people, though it’ll feel a bit cramped when fully loaded. For a more comfortable experience, three passengers would be ideal,” the master continued.
Standing on the boat stand, Nolan and his companions peered inside the cabin layout.
At the front were two wooden seats with simple cotton cushions, resembling the front seats of a small car on Earth. They looked comfortable enough for long rides.
Behind the seats was a spacious open area that could hold a few standing passengers or store adventure supplies.
“…This type of small boat is a favorite among adventurers for exploring nearby islands. With enough supplies, it can support an exploration party of three to five people for up to two weeks,” the master concluded.
“I see. What do you think of this boat?” Nolan turned to Lumine and Paimon for their input.
He was quite satisfied with the freshly built vessel. If Lumine and Paimon approved, they could proceed with a test sail, and once confirmed to be in working order, they could finalize the purchase.
Since the shipyard had likely already tested the boat, this final test was more for Nolan’s peace of mind, ensuring there were no obvious defects.
“It’s a bit small, but it’ll do. Let’s go with this one,” Lumine said, resting her chin in thought before nodding in approval.
“Yep, yep!” Paimon added, grinning with her hands on her hips.
With everyone satisfied, the shipwrights began pushing the boat, mounted on a wheeled stand, toward the nearby dock.
The Ritou Shipyard, built along the coastline, naturally had its own docking facilities.
Soon, Nolan personally tested the small adventurer’s boat in the water. True to its design, its performance was excellent, leaving no room for complaints.
It’s worth noting that this boat, lacking sails, is powered by a propeller located at the stern, operating on a similar principle to the Alcor. Like the Alcor, it requires manual effort to drive it.
As a result, its travel speed isn’t very fast, making it best suited for exploring nearby waters, just as the master shipwright had mentioned.
Long-distance voyages? Forget it. At such a slow pace, the onboard supplies wouldn’t last.
For regular adventurers, trying to sail from Ritou to Yashiori Island would be impossible. Before covering even one-third of the journey, they’d run out of fresh water and food!
Of course, for Nolan and his companions, this wasn’t a problem.
“This boat comes with a 50% discount on repairs at the Ritou Shipyard within the first year,” the shipwright added.
“Since most customers for these boats are adventurers, who often venture into dangerous areas, the shipyard can’t afford to offer extensive after-sales services for this type of vessel. I hope you understand.”
The underlying message was clear: the master shipwright was advising Nolan and his group to avoid taking the boat to excessively perilous places. Otherwise, they might not even get the discounted repairs.
“Thank you for the advice,” Nolan replied with a light smile.
After settling the remaining payment, he took the small adventure boat out from the dock. Still, parting with 900,000 Mora did sting a little.
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Inazuma, Inland Sea
A small adventure boat glided slowly through the waters a few kilometers from Ritou’s harbor.
Aboard were Nolan, Lumine, and Paimon.
“Wow, the ocean looks so clear and close from here—it feels like you could reach out and touch it!” Paimon exclaimed, her face pressed against the circular glass window on the right side of the cabin.
“Hmm, compared to the Alcor, the view of the sea from here is at a much lower angle,” Nolan replied with a smile.
“Nolan, I’m tired! It’s your turn to row the propeller!”
At the stern, Lumine was working hard to rotate the manual propeller. Frustrated by seeing Nolan sitting comfortably at the helm, casually steering the boat, she voiced her complaint.
“Ahem, we’re far enough from the dock now, so it’s safe to use elemental power for propulsion without disturbing nearby vessels. Lumine, you can stop for now—I’ll use Hydro energy to push the boat forward,” Nolan said, clearing his throat.
It wasn’t that he was inconsiderate, letting Lumine handle the hard work while he relaxed at the helm.
As a guy, he was simply eager to play with their new boat and experience steering it firsthand. Lumine understood his excitement.
“You should’ve said so earlier,” Lumine sighed as she let go of the propeller’s manual lever and sat down to rest. As the propeller at the stern stopped spinning, the small adventure boat gradually came to a halt.
“Alright, before we head to Yashiori Island, let’s call Mona out. With her astrology, we won’t have to worry about getting lost,” Nolan suggested.
As he spoke, he mentally reached out to Mona and opened the door to the “Wonderland” within the boat’s cabin.
The plan had already been agreed upon: after finishing her study of a newly discovered constellation, Mona would take a few days to join Nolan and the others on their journey to Yashiori Island.
Since she had completed her research the previous night, Mona had no objections.
She promptly stepped out from the “Wonderland,” took a seat nearby, and summoned her hydromantic tools. With ease, she divined the direction to Yashiori Island and instructed Nolan to sail straight ahead.
Judging by her relaxed demeanor, it seemed she had gained a lot from her study of the celestial patterns.
Nolan, curious, activated his Golden Eye of Judgment to assess Mona’s current level:
[Level: 72]
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(End of Chapter)
