Chapter 28

Suddenly, Auriel lowered her head in a show of obedience.

Feeling genuinely bewildered, I cautiously asked in a soft voice, “…You say that knowing I’m a pirate, right?”

“Of course, Pirate King Ezra Drake… I ask you once more. Please allow me to follow you.”

“…Why? Even if you’re my life-saver, you know better than anyone that this path isn’t suited for a cleric.”

Of course, there weren’t no clerics aboard our ship.

But that one looked like a loan shark disguised as a cleric from the first time I saw her, with no hint of sincerity to be found.

Her divine powers were immense, however, but there was a vast difference when compared to the ‘real cleric’ Auriel standing before me, like comparing holy water in a cathedral to the spring water in the underground.

As I pondered all these questions about the situation…

Auriel spoke in a serious tone.

“…I definitely know this isn’t an easy path. Depending on the situation, it might lead my hands to be stained with the mud of sin. But…”

Along with those words, Auriel gazed at the mansion engulfed in flames.

With a sorrowful expression, she quietly said, “At this moment… I can no longer be sure of anything. What is good… What is evil… And… is there really such a thing as a god?”

“So… does that mean you’ve somewhat lost your faith?”

At my words, Auriel nodded slightly with a dark expression.

She had been betrayed by someone she trusted, and unjustly cast aside by the religion she had served.

In a way, it could be interpreted that the god had abandoned her.

For someone like me, who lacked any faith, it was hard to fully comprehend, but I could grasp the fact that her personal belief had been broken to some extent.

“So… I decided to find out for myself. About the life of pirates that others call evil… And also about that Buddhism you believe in.”

“Hmm… Buddhism…”

Caught off guard by the unexpected twist of my sermon that turned back on me, I felt quite awkward, but I understood her reasoning for wanting to become a pirate.

The standards of life I held so far because of today’s events…

Auriel, whose signposts of good, evil, and god had been completely shattered.

To rebuild them, she decided to confront everything and discern for herself, choosing a path she had never taken before.

And considering her determination, there was no reason for me to refuse, as it meant a capable individual would be joining us.

“…Alright. If that’s what you desire.”

“Ah!”

At those words, Auriel’s face lit up with joy for a moment.

With a deep smile, I said to her, “Then, from now on, I will issue orders as your captain. The first one is regarding tomorrow’s performance.”

*

In the Central Hall of Benessa.

This place could accommodate a total of 5,000 people and was currently packed with many from all over the continent.

The vast majority of them were there to participate in the Great Auction, but there was one more purpose shared by everyone present.

And that included the woman quietly taking her place among the crowd at that moment.

A woman seated wearing a White Crow Mask.

Among those here for work, she was one of the few who had traveled from a great distance, and she was feeling quite ecstatic at the fortunate opportunity she had stumbled upon.

‘What luck… I can’t believe I get to hear Auriel’s song in a place like this.’

This was a being renowned throughout the continent for possessing a celestial voice.

The fact that she could finally hear the voice of the best singer after missing out on it due to her busy life brought her a sense of intense anticipation that eclipsed the auction itself.

At that moment.

“Everyone, thank you for your patience. Before we begin the main auction, there will be a performance to celebrate this event.”

The announcer’s magically amplified voice declared the commencement.

As this was announced, her eyes began to shimmer with excitement.

‘Oh… This is it!’

Then, one person began to take the stage.

Dressed elegantly.

With beautiful silver hair and blue eyes, she exuded a mysterious yet holy aura.

Auriel Stardust.

She inhaled deeply, appearing slightly nervous.

Simultaneously, the Central Hall, which had been filled with a bit of commotion, gradually fell into silence.

*

Everyone in the room kept their mouths shut, waiting for just one person to speak.

Within that atmosphere,

Auriel carefully held the staff imbued with amplification magic and opened her mouth softly.

“Forte in adulescentia mea

Incredibile verbum audivi

Attrahenti fabula de dando totum mundum

Somnium dedisti mihi”

The Latin lyrics flowed out in a cascading tone.

Though it was a song I had never heard before, her voice, calm yet imbued with what felt like a hint of sadness, began to sweetly touch the hearts of the people, much like a gentle rain falling on parched earth.

“Ridiculum est, etsi caput excutio

Me intra me spectat me et susurrus

Mundus ad somniantium pertinet

Anime, potes”

Her song flowed softly, spreading like the faint mist of dawn.

Not merely due to simple amplification magic.

But the unique tone flowing from the vocal folds of a celestial being.

The sound that clearly penetrated the hearts of the listeners beautifully wrapped around their ears.

And…

“Tempus transit sine intermissione

Non possum sic abire”

As the song continued softly, vibrant notes began to emerge.

Like a ray of dawn piercing through darkness, it gradually widened its domain, slowly awakening the senses of those entranced by silence.

“Sumamus in provocationem simul

Tu et ego tenens manus

Congregans omnia nostra somnia!”

With a voice that started to burn like a rising sun.

It illuminated everything, bringing forth a brilliant light that chased away the darkness of dawn, making the hearts of the audience race with excitement.

“Ventos et! altos fluctus!

Nunquam timeo ne si quid obstat!”

Stronger.

Faster.

More beautifully…

And… at the moment when that splendid symphony peaked!

Multis… iudiciis…

sine fine explicans…

In the heat of passion, serenity suddenly enveloped everyone present.

The hot emotions until then compressed into a single moment.

Est in clara cras….

Her trembling voice vanished like a flickering candle.

With the light that brightened the world feeling like it was drawn into a single point, the hearts of the audience were captured by a deep tremor.

With that, Auriel bowed deeply.

Along with that gesture signaling the end of her performance came a profound silence.

In the midst of the tremors felt in their hearts, everyone struggled for a moment to gather themselves.

And… just as that emotion finally began to settle…

– Clap… clap… clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!!!

With the sound of applause starting from someone, a thunderous cheer erupted.

In a wave of ecstasy, Auriel looked around at those in front of her and offered another greeting.

The lingering aftertaste still strong, those who were praising her did not hold back.

However.

At that moment, among those who had just heard her song…

To be more precise, those who understood Latin tilted their heads slightly.

“Wow, it truly was a magnificent song, but… it seems a little different from usual.”

“Indeed, usually Auriel’s songs are hymns, right?”

Auriel, who had always sung praises to the Lord.

Yet during today’s performance, she did not mention the divine at all.

Nevertheless, the content of the lyrics was very impressive.

“Well… since it’s a Grand Auction, perhaps she specially used a different piece.”

“I don’t know who composed it, but it was quite marvelous. I should find out when I get the chance.”

People didn’t think much of it, merely believing they had heard a good song.

However, at that moment,

Among the audience members was a figure who had ordered today’s song from Auriel, the very person who had enabled her to sing here.

And…

Now, the only person in this world who could command her to sing.

Behind the Black Crow Mask, he wore a deep smile, feeling a joy that was different from the others.

‘Surely a genius is a genius… I never expected such an artistic arrangement to come about in such a short time…’

It was his absolute favorite song, a song symbolic of pirates.

To hear it performed in the style of Latin opera…

With a voice deserving of celestial praise brought him profound emotional satisfaction.

Thus, to greet Auriel, who had presented such a splendid performance…

And to officially begin his work at this auction house,

He quietly departed.

And shortly after the figure donned in the Black Crow Mask left,

A person standing just behind him…

A woman wearing a White Crow Mask.

Slightly tilted her head in confusion.

‘…What on earth?’