Chapter 82 - The Rough Sea
The ship's deck rocked violently under the fury of the waves, and the cold rain and wind cut like sharp blades. Rygar stood beside Eris, holding her hair back to prevent it from getting dirty as she vomited for the umpteenth time over the side of the ship. Her body trembled slightly, exhausted from the constant nausea, while Rygar murmured incantations and applied healing magic to ease her suffering.
Rygar laughed. In the end, the girl really wasn't doing well when they had asked.
Even with the ship docked, the gentle ripples had already caused some discomfort for Eris, but it was still manageable. However, the moment they boarded, she collapsed in less than five minutes, overwhelmed by severe nausea and dizziness.
Rygar had to take care of her, constantly using healing magic. It was impressive for him to see that the normally determined and fierce girl was now completely vulnerable, defeated by a mere boat.
As he took care of her, Rygar recalled how she used to be when they first met. Back then, Eris acted however she pleased and irritated him like a spoiled child—always explosive and aggressive. At first, he only tolerated her because of Ghislaine.
But over time, as she grew to trust him, he noticed her attitude changing drastically. Maybe it was the cruel circumstances that no longer allowed her to act as she once did. Maybe it was because she had stopped being treated as the Young Lady of the Boreas mansion and was treated like any other person in the Iron Legion. Or perhaps it was something else entirely. But what mattered was that, somehow, she had adapted remarkably well to the life of an adventurer and traveler.
She was also incredibly determined and dedicated to her training, tirelessly pushing herself to catch up to them. He couldn't recall seeing anyone else with such determination and talent in all his time in this world.
Now, after so much time together and after all the changes she had gone through, he understood her personality more or less. Though she was still aggressive, she only displayed that side of herself in combat or when someone insulted someone she considered important. A perfect example was when she exploded with rage upon learning that people in the Great Forest didn't like Ghislaine.
She was still fierce, still stubborn, but it was clear that she deeply cared for the people in their group. A true tsundere, as they would say in his previous world. The thought amused him.
Eris, however, did not share his amusement. She lifted her pale face, her eyes watery and irritated from the debilitating condition.
"R-Rygaaar, is it still far?" Her voice was sluggish, laden with exhaustion and despair.