Chapter 88

My firm refusal.

Napoleona began to show signs of embarrassment.

“Uh… why? Just a moment ago, you were leading the people so easily! With your abilities…”

“Are you really asking because you don’t know the reason?”

“!…”

Napoleona froze, unable to respond to those words.

Yet, she still did not give up…

She was showing a gaze that conveyed her reluctance to surrender, but still, I had absolutely no intention of accepting this.

“Just as you said, I helped earlier because you were completely lost. However, that’s where my role ends. A foreigner—the Pirate King, no less—cannot involve themselves in the affairs of the Kingdom of Frantz.”

“Ugh…”

Even though they had blindly followed my words just moments ago, once they realized who I was, I was sure there would be plenty of dissenters.

Wasn’t the Kingdom of Frantz already in an uproar just because the former king took a woman from the Holy Empire as his wife?

Regardless of the chaotic reality, this would pose a significant risk for them, who held great national pride, and could create major controversies later on.

“All I’m permitted to do is play a supporting role. I have no right to take the lead.”

“…”

Of course, putting that aside, the primary reason was that I was a pirate seeking freedom.

I already possessed the power to traverse the vast seas as I pleased.

Even if the Kingdom of Frantz was a continental powerhouse, it felt small compared to the endlessly expansive sea.

I had absolutely no desire to sit around in this dreary town and engage in the trivial games of politics.

“… I understand… what you mean…”

Thus, Napoleona ultimately withdrew her opinion.

After that, she suppressed her disappointment and cautiously asked me,

“Then, Pirate King… if you cannot rule directly, may I request your advice? Honestly, now that the General has collapsed, we are at a complete loss for what to do. Please don’t refuse our plea.”

“Well, I see no reason to deny that…”

“Ah!”

“But remember, my words are not necessarily the truth. As I mentioned before, I am neither a citizen of the Kingdom of Frantz nor a politician who sets policies. I will offer advice, but following it and making necessary adjustments is entirely up to you.”

“Y… yes! O… of course. Thank you! Really, thank you, Pirate King!”

With a deep smile, Napoleona bowed repeatedly.

Though I felt a hint of curiosity at the blush on her face as she rejoiced, nevertheless, I decided to accept her request for advice.

Even though I wasn’t keen on it, it was clear that if I left things as they were, the revolution, which was on the verge of success, would falter, causing a lot of trouble in saving Ambasha.

‘For now… all I can do is wait for Rafael to wake up as soon as possible…’

At that moment when I thought things were getting annoyingly complicated, Napoleona looked at me with sparkling eyes and asked,

“Then, Pirate King, what should we do now?”

“…First, let’s proceed as planned. We will use the seized flour and seasonings to make porridge for the people and arm them. We must conceal the fact that General Rafael has collapsed for now.”

“Yes! Understood!”

With those words, Napoleona turned around, her steps light.

It seemed as if her mood had significantly improved simply because she now had someone to rely on, and I couldn’t help but smile wryly.

‘What a surprise, I never thought she would have such a side to her… In the original work, she always seemed like someone who acted solely based on her own thoughts.’

Having the foresight of her future self, I was a bit taken aback, realizing that at this point, she had an unexpectedly soft personality.

Just then.

“Mmm…”

“?”

In the next moment, I suddenly felt a warm sensation touching my arm.

There she was, clinging to my arm—Franklin.

“W-what’s wrong?”

“Nothing… just nothing.”

Her demeanor was distinctly different from usual, as if she had suddenly become sharp-edged.

Feeling a mild sense of doubt, I gave Franklin an order.

“Stop dawdling and get to work. People are waiting.”

“…”

“Seriously, what’s up? Aren’t you going to work?”

“…Yes… I understand. Captain.”

Franklin, exhibiting a slightly pouty reaction, distanced herself from me in a downcast manner.

Feeling puzzled at her unusual conduct compared to the norm, I moved to help with the cooking tasks just like the day before.

*

“Here you go.”

“Thank you!”

“It looks tasty.”

Citizens were taking the porridge made from flour and seasonings.

Honestly, considering the ingredients, I doubted it would taste very good, but for those starving people who could barely eat a proper meal, this would be a feast beyond their wildest dreams.

Thus, amidst a mood that was somewhat similar yet more euphoric than the day before, people continued to enjoy their meal.

Watching that scene, Napoleona was engulfed in a tangle of complex emotions.

‘This is all thanks to him… the help of the Pirate King.’

Seeing the joy on the faces of the starving as they ate was a sight to behold.

However, thinking of what lay ahead, Napoleona couldn’t view this scene with pure joy.

‘If he had taken the role of leader… the revolution’s success would have been guaranteed…’

Just a moment ago, Napoleona had genuinely tried to push him as the leader of the Revolutionary Army.

Although the Pirate King himself had rejected it due to being a foreigner and a pirate, Napoleona still viewed him as the most suitable candidate over anyone else.

After all, it was undeniable that the one who played the greatest role in this revolution was the Pirate King, while General Rafael, who had fainted, had barely done anything.

If she were to press that situation, there would surely be whispers later on, but for now, they could push through and successfully conclude the revolution.

Yet still, the Pirate King had declined.

Not simply out of principle, but it seemed he had no interest in such matters.

In this case, it was highly likely that the Revolutionary Army… and further, the Kingdom of Frantz would be moved by Robes Fiora.

However, knowing that she was a close senior and friend, Napoleona felt quite uneasy about that prospect.

‘Robes Fiora isn’t cut out to be a leader… She’s capable, but her overly self-centered nature makes her unsuitable…’

Robes Fiora possessed a mindset similar to a steel sword that neither bends nor breaks.

While this was a huge advantage when encountering a competent leader like General Rafael, whom one could trust and obey absolutely during moments of crisis, conversely, it could serve as a significant disadvantage in leading others.

As a weapon, it can certainly be wielded when swung, but it cannot swing itself—that’s the principle.

Thinking ahead, Napoleona believed that many accidents would occur in various ways and thus spoke to the soldiers who were still in the midst of their meal.

“Once you finish eating, be ready to move quickly. We need to check on the Assembly Hall.”

“Understood, Admiral.”

“I got it.”

The soldiers were discussing as they sipped their flour porridge.

Watching them, Napoleona began to feel slightly perplexed.

After all, they were members of the kingdom’s Regular Army, so they would be faring reasonably well in terms of food.

Unlike others, they weren’t the type to eat anything simply because it was edible, yet despite that, they were downing the flour porridge quite enjoyably.

‘Is it really that tasty?… It shouldn’t be…’

Examining the ingredients, it was hardly anything beyond survival food.

Sensing this oddity, Napoleona cautiously took a spoonful of the porridge that she had simply held without eating.

And then…

‘What… what is this… why is it delicious?!’

The flour porridge, a mere combination of cheap ingredients, tasted like something that could easily be served in a high-end restaurant.

In that moment, Napoleona unwittingly began to stir the porridge mindlessly with her spoon.

The soft umami on her tongue and the smooth glide as it went down her throat…

The aftertaste was refreshingly clean, compelling her to want more without a hint of boredom.

Rather good culinary prowess, easily rated as excellent regardless of whether she was hungry due to battle or not.

While remarkably shocked, Napoleona suddenly realized one thing.

‘Now that I think about it… this was made by that woman, right? The one named Franklin…’

Even now, she was vigorously stirring the pot in her cooking attire over there.

Her face, radiating magical energy with a creepy smile, made her look like an evil witch concocting a terrible potion.

Of course, the product that came out of it was delicious flour porridge, as white as the one in Napoleona’s hand.

‘…What can I say… this feels like a great example of not judging a book by its cover…’

While thinking that, at that moment…

“…”

“?”

Franklin turned her gaze towards this side with a somewhat chilling stare.

Napoleona felt a random wave of fear and averted her gaze immediately.