Chapter 67

Ambasha, caught in despair.

While they were aboard different ships, Franklin and Achroiel, who were nearly moving forward side by side, exchanged glances without saying who was first.

“What in the world is that? Was this part of your plan?”

“Well… not exactly, but isn’t it better? Rather than hanging out with pirates like you, heading to the Kingdom of Frantz is… for Ambasha…”

“You think it’s better? Do you really have no clue what that girl has been through? What the Kingdom of Frantz means to her!”

“Th-that’s not—”

Achroiel, momentarily at a loss for words, was taken aback by Franklin’s overly assertive display of anger.

Just then—

“Achroiel!”

“What?!”

Unable to hold it in any longer, the two flung off their robes.

Elkana and Magellan appeared, and in her already confused state, Achroiel found herself gripped by embarrassment.

“W-what’s going on? With Elkana and… Magellan too? No… why are you here…”

“I can’t just stand by any longer. It’s simply unbelievable, you…”

“Elkana.”

At that moment, Magellan’s stern voice cut in.

Then, with a tone full of coldness, he looked at Achroiel and spoke.

“Let’s start by explaining the situation. If we stay like this, misunderstandings will only deepen without resolving anything.”

“…”

“Kuh…”

Confusion stemming from an incomprehensible situation.

And then, suddenly, the appearance of an old friend.

Holding back her animosity towards pirates for the time being, Achroiel had no choice but to first hear them out.

It all began with the past experiences of Magellan and Elkana.

Why they decided to join hands with the Pirate King.

*

“What… how could such a… thing happen…”

“… It’s true. The very fact that we are pirates here is proof of that.”

Magellan’s tale surpassed imagination,

Requesting the abduction of Ambasha, a girl kept as a slave, and when that failed, the Duke Ocleang ruthlessly exterminated Magellan’s entire bounty hunter group out of mere spite.

This was something that even Achroiel, who harbored a consistent hatred for pirates, could not help but understand.

In fact, the majority of those unjustly killed alongside Magellan were people with whom Achroiel had ties.

The fact that not a single one of them was left alive was enough to ignite her fury.

Also, it made her acutely aware of the seriousness of this situation.

“So that means… if this continues, Ambasha will…”

“She was originally a child enslaved in the Kingdom of Frantz. If she returns, she will certainly face the same… or perhaps even worse hardships.”

“Kuh…”

Franklin’s matter-of-fact words sent a chill down Achroiel’s spine.

She sat in silence, frowning as her mind raced with thoughts on the matters surrounding Benessa.

After all, it was true that those individuals had used her to orchestrate their plans.

But…

“You can blame us if you want. In the end, we did deceive you. However, even if you were in the same situation, our choices would not change, for we have no other options.”

“…”

It still left a bad taste in Achroiel’s mouth that her trusted friend had deceived her.

But under the circumstances, Achroiel, who had dug the trap first, was largely in the same boat.

Moreover, when viewed holistically, if their actions were interpreted as repaying the grace owed to the Pirate King… and avenging their fallen comrades, then her understanding of their conduct was unavoidable.

If Achroiel herself were in the same position…

She would have made the same choice as them.

And above all, if things continued like this, the young girl, who had just barely escaped her suffering, might fall back into despair.

Achroiel, who believed that children should be protected under any circumstances, could not allow such a thing to happen.

“Ha…”

Having reached a conclusion on how to act in this situation, Achroiel took a deep breath and made her decision.

*

“Cease fire! Cease fire!”

“Everyone, stop! Fight’s over!”

Quickly returning to their respective fleets, Franklin and Achroiel called for an immediate end to the battle.

For Franklin, there was no need to say more, especially after the Pirate King’s adopted daughter, Ambasha, had been kidnapped.

From Achroiel’s perspective, the initial goal of rescuing Elkana and Ambasha was at least half accomplished, and now they needed to focus their efforts on completing the rest.

‘Besides… this way, they can claim a nice hit on the Pirate King too.’

Having ambushed the opposing sides with gunfire, just when it reached a peak, the conflict was surprisingly called off through mutual agreement.

The initial situation had naturally favored Benessa, who successfully struck the first blow.

Thanks to this, they managed to inflict considerable damage on the pirates, severely damaging about 20% of the enemy fleet… not completely sunk, but enough to render them incapable of battle.

Though they had enjoyed some success at the start, the battle began to turn rapidly because of the pirates’ counterattack and their innate disadvantage in overall strength…

Just when that was about to happen, the timing of Franklin’s and Achroiel’s decision led to an unexpected cessation of combat.

It wasn’t meant to be so, but given their lack of power, they could consider it a pretty optimal result.

It had been a Plan B that started by sacrificing their entire alliance.

Like a game of chess where queens and knights got sacrificed, victory in battle had been nearly given up from the beginning, with considerable losses factored in.

In such dire circumstances, achieving a decision win was quite a stroke of luck.

With the fact that they’d at least saved face from their sizable undertaking causing Achroiel to inwardly grin,

She decided to focus on rescuing Ambasha.

Driven by personal beliefs…

And at this point, she also wanted to lend the Pirate King a hand, concluding the battle with a decision win, if possible, to wipe the slate clean.

*

Montfort, the marine officer of the glorious Kingdom of Frantz, pondered.

Life never flows as one predicts.

Originally an army officer, he had dreams of glorious battle when he first stepped aboard, but just three hours later, he realized what a fool he was.

Experience of severe seasickness, something he’d never encountered on land, turned into hellish nausea.

As he began to understand that something was going wrong through meaningless battles against private pirates instead of the Pirate King, he felt an indomitable conviction and regret over the path he had chosen.

Yet at that moment.

Having narrowly escaped following Commander Pierre, Montfort finally comprehended it clearly.

The depth of human regret…

That in moments when you think circumstances are at their worst, they can sink even further.

“Gluk…”

Unwittingly swallowing his dry spit.

His whole body trembled, but he clutched tightly to his sword.

Then…

– Creak… creak… creak…

Footsteps echoed in his ears.

Normally, he might have thought little of someone passing by, but…

Montfort knew better.

He had seen what happened to his comrades with his own eyes…

“…”

He held his breath as best as he could.

He forced his trembling body to maintain composure.

Sweat poured down his whole body, and his heart raced wildly.

Despite his efforts not to make a sound, Montfort found himself straining.

At that moment…

-“Not here?”

A girl’s voice drifted in from just outside the door.

It was a soft and graceful sound, but one that sent a wave of immense fear through Montfort, like a knife gliding over his nape.

Then, moments later…

– Creak… creak… creak…

The footsteps gradually dwindled away.

Once they vanished completely, Montfort released a deep sigh of relief without even realizing it.

“Ha…”

She’s gone.

Honestly, at the end there, thoughts of dying this way crossed his mind, but in the end, he survived.

Feeling relief in that fact,

He sensed his legs giving way and collapsed.

Then…

– Thud thud thud thud thud!

“!!!”

The sudden burst of swift footsteps.

The sense of relief he felt a moment ago transformed into terror.

Montfort reflexively covered his mouth with both hands.

But.

– Crash!!! Crash!! Crash!!!

With loud noises, the door splintered.

As a condensed knife slipped through the gap, Montfort’s face turned pale as he stared at it.

Next,

From behind it, something began to appear…

-“Shaaar…”

“Hiiiii!!!”

It was a creature covered in pure white fur with red eyes,

Its mouth stained with crimson blood, the tiny beast poked its face through the hole, staring right at him.

And then, right behind it, a small girl with red eyes began to appear.

That girl smiled cheerfully and said to him,

“Here’s Jeppy~”