Early dawn, Franklin and Ambasha set off to shop on a small sailboat.
Watching them, I prepared to follow in my small boat, keeping a slight distance.
“Isn’t it a bit overboard to get involved in such things? I’ve always said it’s an overreaction.”
Vice-Captain Lemain, still rubbing her sleepy eyes, remarked.
I, however, resolutely untied the rope and replied firmly.
“It’s our daughter’s first outing. Naturally, I should keep an eye on her.”
“Franklin is more than enough. It’s just the Island of Cyprus, after all…”
“I’ll be back.”
“Ugh, just listen when people talk…!”
–Splash!
With that last word, I disregarded her remarks and set off in the boat.
Of course, if you think about it normally, as Lemain said, this could be seen as overreacting… or overstepping… especially for such a short trip to Cyprus Island, which was practically our backyard.
After all, it wasn’t like Ambasha was going alone; she had Franklin, a considerable force from our pirate crew, accompanying her.
However, at this moment, I had firmly resolved that this was the right course of action for now.
The penalties for abandoning quests had not yet made themselves clear.
Considering Taekchang’s nature of throwing unexpected curveballs, it made sense to respond thoroughly to even minor matters until something large upset the balance.
That was why I had given Ambasha emergency signal flares yesterday.
In any case, I quietly settled down, maintaining a suitable distance as I followed the two of them to the Island of Cyprus.
There, I sat quietly, waiting near the port.
Unlike just a moment ago when everything was shrouded in darkness, the sun was rising, brightening the surroundings.
From here on out, checking visually would be more disruptive, so I began to monitor their movements in another way.
Incredible magical power flowed through me.
Silently, I released it in all directions.
The magical energy formed a massive sphere that spread throughout the area.
Simultaneously, I began to sense the presence of every being within that range.
Among them were Ambasha and Franklin, who were browsing through the market.
Circle of Magical Power.
A type of detection magic utilized by advanced warriors or magicians.
As I observed the state of the kids, an unbidden smile crept across my face.
“Hmm… this brings back memories.”
It was reminiscent of the first time I joined the pirate crew, watching over Franklin.
Back then, Franklin didn’t possess great combat strength, and more importantly, he was quite mentally unstable compared to the other kids, so I couldn’t just leave him be.
In fact, there was a time when I had to personally rescue him from a bunch of scoundrels who were terrifying him, so my intervention was, in some respects, justified.
Seeing Franklin now as a full-fledged officer, out shopping with little Ambasha filled my heart with pride.
This is what it means to raise a daughter, a thought that arose in my mind.
As I enjoyed this sentiment, sensing the two of them moving, a sudden shock sent me reeling.
“…What are these guys…?”
Franklin was suddenly attacked.
Simultaneously, I noticed a group of previously nonchalant fellows gathering in one spot, realizing something was amiss.
Nevertheless, I chose to observe the situation before intervening immediately.
I trusted Franklin’s abilities; it was better to act as needed rather than jump in immediately.
There was no need for a parent to forcefully complete a task a child could manage on their own.
However…
“! What the…”
Contrary to my expectations, Franklin was being cornered by a surprisingly strong enemy.
As I watched the golden signal flare rise into the sky, I immediately drew power into my legs.
And then.
–Crack!
The ground below me shattered as I swiftly leaped up.
I landed precisely where I had pinpointed through my Circle of Magical Power…
Right where the overconfident attackers were assaulting Franklin and Ambasha.
“Were you looking for me?”
“!!!”
With a cold voice and a chilling presence felt from behind, Magellan and his subordinates froze in place.
There stood a man, blonde hair and a golden beard, exuding an aura of authority.
In that moment, Magellan recognized him instantly.
This was none other than the Pirate King.
The Ruler of the Sea, Ezra Drake.
“How dare you touch my beloved children, did you come ready for the consequence?”
With that, the Pirate King began to approach slowly, his hands radiating golden magical power.
Magellan instinctively understood.
While it seemed similar to the condensed power he wielded, the force within those fists was of an entirely different magnitude.
The flow of magic spun at ultra-high speeds, maintaining an unmatched density, creating vibrations in the atmosphere that felt as if a massive storm were approaching.
If he wielded the Black Blade Calaborg to block that attack, the sword would be shattered instantly.
There was no winning.
No, I couldn’t even escape.
How could a human hope to dodge an impending tempest on foot?
The moment I turned to flee, that fist would eliminate my head.
This was the ultimate pinnacle of power.
The extreme of nothingness…
The strength of a Grade 12 Grand Warrior.
Before such overwhelming and almost divine power, nothing was permitted.
Except for one thing.
–Thud!
“…”
With that, Magellan set down his sword and knelt on the ground.
Then, naturally and fluidly, he prostrated himself before the ‘King’ before him.
“I apologize! O great Pirate King!”
“…”
Not a trick or pretense, but a perfectly sincere apology.
For a brief moment, the Pirate King showed a glimmer of mercy as he paused his terrifying advance, and Magellan seized that moment to pour forth his words.
“We have foolishly and carelessly made a terrible mistake! It was due to the Sea Witch donning her robe that we did not recognize her face and ended up causing harm! But we would never! Even think of opposing you, Pirate King! Please, we will offer the utmost recompense! I beg you, just once… just once, forgive the foolish mistake of us! I implore you, O master of the sea!”
Magellan rattled through his speech at a breakneck pace, the essence of which was that everything was a misunderstanding.
A sight so comical that if any rappers had witnessed, they’d have bowed down to learn a thing or two, and yet, he remained firmly with his forehead to the ground.
In that situation, unable to lift his head and confirm anything, a dreadful silence ensued.
All he could say was that he had done his best to pour out his words.
Now, all he could do was wait for how that insurmountable monster would judge him.
And no matter what his decision was, even if it meant death,
Magellan understood that it was his fate, and he would have to accept it.
One Second, Two Seconds, Three Seconds.
Each second felt incredibly heavy, as though it stretched into an entire year.
After what felt like an eternity of this silence…
Finally, the Pirate King opened his mouth quietly.
“I understand. I will show mercy.”
“!”
“Certainly, it is human to make mistakes while living. It’s part of growth.”
“Ah!”
His words felt like brilliant sunlight pouring down from a sky filled with dark clouds.
With that, Magellan, without realizing it, lifted his head with a smile on his face.
Yet…
“In that context, I think I should also play the fool a little.”
“…Huh? What do you… ah!”
With that, a fist shot toward his face.
Even without magical energy, the overwhelming impact sent Magellan sprawling to the ground.
“Are you kidding me? You almost killed someone, and you think it ends with ‘oops’? Why do we need laws in this world then? If you mess up, you should pay the price. What? Magical Barrier? Not dropping it? Want me to use magic to flatten you instead?”
“Gah!!”
Magellan and his crew began to receive a barrage of punches as if it were a dog day in summer.
With the mere shift in tone, they understood the depths of the Pirate King’s rage and could do nothing but endure the beating.
The fear of rebelling and potentially dying crushed their resolve.
“Guhh!…”
“Gah!!”
For about twenty minutes, the cries of people echoed throughout the secluded and perfect alleyway for ambush, as the Pirate King relentlessly pummeled Magellan and his crew.
In the midst of it all, a timid kick from Franklin and the weak yet strangely stinging attacks of a girl were mere side dishes.
Whether to be grateful that he was controlling his strength enough to prevent serious harm or to resent the prolonged agony was a dilemma left unspoken.
However,
In that moment, even as he was being beaten senseless, Magellan failed to realize.
The complex emotions swirling on the face of the Pirate King as he battered them…
“Ugh…”
“Oh my… I’m going to die…”
The bounty hunters lay on the ground, miserable and beaten.
In truth, I intended to have them executed for daring to touch my ‘family’, making no distinction between mistakes or mercy.
However,
I couldn’t do that now.
Looking at the fallen Magellan and the remarkably noticeable sword he bore,
I was genuinely taken aback by this unforeseen situation.
I had definitely heard of the name Magellan.
I had encountered the tales of this fairly famous bounty hunter on multiple occasions.
But at this moment,
Confronting this man named Magellan and observing the way he prostrated himself before me for the first time made it all clear.
‘…Black Blade Calaborg… And that dark sun-like appearance… Could it be… this guy…?’
The name Magellan never appears in the original work.
Yet, without a doubt, the man with the Black Blade Calaborg and dark skin with black hair matched the description of the strikingly handsome man known as Black Sun.
Marsus.
He was one of the player characters, just like Ambasha over there.
