The boat slowed down after a while.
Before we knew it, the headwind was blowing the other way, pushing the boat back to the hideout.
Common boats or yacht sail in the headwind.
By doing that, they can handle the ship in the tacking method.
However, in our boat’s case, tacking alone won’t be enough
After all, it’s a handmade boat built by high school students out of wood and bamboo.
It’s doing well sailing on the ocean with everyone on board.
We never considered that tacking will get us by from the start.
「 It’s about time! Everyone, fold the sails! 」
It was finally time for the bad weather, so we began switching to oar paddling.
If the sails are left in place, we’ll be defeated by the storm that attacks in all directions.
「 Heavy! Rowing’s gonna be rough 」
「 This is much heavier than I expected 」
The girls grumbled.
The oars were much heavier than expected.
It’s natural.
Our oars were as big as the hull.
Everyone else holding their oars was going all out, apart from Muscle and me.
「 Everyone in position? 」
I checked the deck.
Twelve people, apart from Muscle and me, were split into two groups of six.
I’m standing in the front, near the bow, and Muscle’s in charge of the stern.
A thick cloud awaits ahead of us.
「 Let’s align our movements! One two! One two! 」
「 「 「 One two! One two! 」 」 」
Everyone paddles their oars while they shout.
The ship resumed moving with the sails folded.
The difference in force and the wind cause the hull’s direction to shift slightly.
That’s when Muscle adjusts it.
「 Hokage! 」
Karin calls me from behind.
The next moment, everyone started making noises.
It started raining.
The further we proceed, the stronger the rain becomes.
「 It’s just going to get more intense! Prepare yourselves! 」
We won’t stop, rain or shine.
The ship’s steadily moving forward.
「 Kyaa!! 」「 Woaah! 」
Those were Sofia and Arisa.
The hull shook so much that we almost fell off the boat.
Furthermore, the rain and winds were raging.
「 Be careful not to fall off the boat! We can’t save you if you fall! 」
「 We should’ve roped ourselves in! 」
Arisa said I replied “Maybe”
The original plan was to secure our bodies with ropes.
That would prevent them from falling off.
However, we took that out at the last minute.
This was due to the concerns of the possibility of the sail pole we would anchor breaking.
Depending on where it breaks, we could be thrown overboard along with the mast.
I don’t know if this decision was the right one.
But we don’t have time to think about that now.
Just continue rowing.
「 I can’t see ahead 」
The fog began to thicken.
When I look back, I can’t see my companions.
「 This is the critical moment. Let’s get this! 」
「 「 「 「 Uoooooooh!!!! 」 」 」 」
We rowed the oars, yelling louder and louder.
Dodododo!!
Gogogogogo!!
The roar echoes through the fog.
That includes the sound of the storm and heavy rain.
The sounds of raging waves are also tremendous.
「 Uooh!! 」
The boat shook a lot.
The oar on the left slips out of the hand.
Fortunately, it didn’t fall to the sea, it just rolled underfoot.
As soon as I tried to pick up the oar…
「 Guaaaaa! 」
The hull shook more and my body floated.
I made a quick decision and released the oar with my right hand and grabbed the boat with both hands.
That was a board on the wall.
「 Oh shit 」
I know that I’m in a tough spot.
I can’t find any foothold.
My feet are dangling.
In short, my body’s currently outside the ship.
The moment I let go, my body would fall into the sea and I would die.
I luckily managed to cling to the boat.
「 What’s wrong, Hokage?! 」
Mana’s voice.
「 I’m fine, keep going! 」
The truth is I’m in big trouble.
My hands are getting slippery from the rain, and the shaking is so hard that I can’t get back up on deck.
I’m already doing everything to make sure I don’t fall
Even so, I can’t explain the situation.
It’ll only cause mayhem for everyone.
They might try to save me, and there will be two or three more harmed.
I’ll manage this on my own.
(Please, don’t shake too hard!)
I desperately climbed up with that in mind.
I wanted to be a second faster, but I’m holding on desperately, and being careful.
(Meiko, sorry)
I took off my shoes, using my left and right feet.
I need to sharpen my senses in my legs.
Naturally, the shoes Meiko made disappeared into the sea.
After taking off the shoes, I also took off my socks.
Now I’m barefoot, I can hold with my feet.
「 Phew. 」
I somehow managed to roll onto the deck.
「 Hokage! I can’t hear you! Are you there?! 」
Someone’s shouting.
I don’t know who.
I picked up my oar in a hurry.
「 Don’t worry! We’re almost there! Keep at it! one two!! 」
「 「 「 「 One two! One two! 」 」 」 」
We’re rowing as fast as we could, going through the bad weather.
We can’t see because of the mist, but I know that we’re moving in the right direction.
The further we go, the more violent the weather becomes.
「 Ahaha! We’re not going to escape colds here! 」
Sofia laughs.
She’s too desperate that she’s in a strange mood now.
「 Worry not, I’ll work hard for Ojou-sama’s share too! 」
Amane’s just as usual
「 What’s wrong!? Stop us! 」
I shouted from the bottom of my stomach.
Then, it stopped for real.
「 「 「 Huh? 」 」 」
Everyone’s surprised.
Me too.
We’re surprised that it stopped.
But, it wasn’t just us that stopped.
Nature’s onslaught did the same.
「 The weather… 」
The bad weather turned sunny at once.
The clouds covering the sky disappeared.
The wind is gone, and the waves are calm.
The mist is cleared, and the visibility was clear.
And what appears in our view is…