NOVEL NEXT Chapter 43
Chapter 43: The Hollow Empty Shell with a Shiny Face…
“Why now of all times?”
That was the sole thought that flickered through Asher’s mind.
He glanced sideways, noticing that Bershia’s expression was quite displeased.
She was practically saying it with her eyes. “You said there wouldn’t be an ambush.”
*Hicc!* A small hiccup escaped him.
In the meantime, the situation was taking a drastic turn.
Three small ships were approaching in formation.
On them were rugged-looking pirates casting their shadows across the night sea as they stared intently in this direction.
“Uh….”
“Do you want to stay inside?”
“Ah, no…! I’ll help!”
“Really, will you?”
“They don’t look that strong….”
That was an understatement; those pirates were truly ordinary.
There was no sign of any sinister magic or sorcery, and there might be only a couple of crew members who could use a bit of mana.
With these odds, he could win in a one-on-one fight.
As he explained, Bershia responded.
“Last time we thought like that, we ended up in trouble. I’ll admit it was my mistake, but I painfully learned that enemies can hide their heretic powers.”
It was at that moment.
“None.”
Judith walked over and said.
“Those guys are not backed by heretic powers. Well, we can’t be sure yet, though.”
She puffed out smoke as she held her pipe in her mouth.
Her eyes gleamed like gold amidst the smoke.
It seemed she had verified something through some means.
“What do you want to do? Capture them? Or would you rather crush them right away?”
The question was directed at Asher.
When he tilted his head in confusion, Judith added,
“You’re not planning to blow them all away like last time, right? You said you’d do it yourself.”
“Ah.”
Cold sweat trickled down Asher’s back.
What kind of image did Bershia have of him that made ‘going in’ synonymous with ‘massacre’?
Asher awkwardly chuckled and shook his head.
And replied, “I-it’s just that I said I need real combat practice for my swordsmanship…!”
He could feel Bershia’s displeasure intensifying.
It felt as if he could get a hole punched in the back of his head.
But for Asher, it was a choice he had no options on.
Wasn’t it true that if he kept backing off, one day he’d just become the burden they had to carry?
That was not just a matter of pride; it was also harmful to Bershia.
She was someone who had been hurt in the past, stressing over the thought that she had to cover his back in every combat situation.
If she felt compelled to do that, she’d eventually break.
So, it made more sense to act in the opposite manner.
He had to show that he wouldn’t be powerless and could protect himself.
He had to build those moments up so that Bershia would perceive him as a ‘capable ally to fight alongside’.
Asher stubbornly averted Bershia’s gaze.
Judith looked at him and exclaimed, “Even at a time like this, you’re cockblocking.” With that, she turned sharply and walked away.
“Do what you want. I’m going to my cabin.”
“Aren’t you going to help?”
“Hey, knight. When it’s dangerous for him, shouldn’t it be you helping him instead of me? Unless you don’t have the confidence to protect him? Or are you just a shiny hollow shell….”
Her derision made Bershia’s eyes turn cold.
Melburn was the one to diffuse the tense atmosphere.
“Oh dear, Saintess! You shouldn’t say such things! Asher here is quite the monstrous fellow!”
He grabbed hold of the situation with a cheerful laugh, stepping in between them.
Then, he gestured apologetically to Bershia while leading Judith to the cabin.
Just like that, Judith vanished.
Only the two of them remained as the pirates drew dangerously close, slowing their approach.
*Crack!*
A harpoon slammed into their ship, followed by a plank being thrown over.
“Capture her! It’s a girl!”
“Oooh!!!”
With a bang! Pirates wielding cutlasses charged toward Asher and Bershia.
Bershia exhaled a sigh heavy with annoyance and muttered to Asher, “Let’s talk later. I won’t let it slide easily.”
“Y-yes….”
Asher nervously laughed while slowly distancing himself from her.
Just then, one pirate leapt in and lunged at Bershia.
It was the moment.
*Smack!*
“Gah!”
Bershia slammed the pirate’s face into the deck.
He went out cold.
Surely, it was a deadly response, full of emotion.
Asher gulped nervously.
He began to worry that he might really get into trouble this time, and the more he thought about it, the more desperate he felt.
‘W-weapons…!’
He had to show some results and come up with an excuse!
Asher grabbed the cutlass from the unconscious pirate’s hand.
Taking a deep breath, he sharpened his gaze.
“I-I’ll go too!”
*Thud!*
He quickly buried his feet into the deck and shot forward.
The waves rocked the ship.
The center axis swayed, making it hard to run like on land.
But, that was not a problem.
What he held was a cutlass, widening towards the end.
And what needed to be performed was a dance-like movement.
-This is the swordsmanship of a man of the sea! Asher!
-Oooh!!!
Asher had indeed learned the swordsmanship of the ship.
* * *
Tei, a member of the Black Hawk Pirate Crew, was aghast by the scene unfolding before him.
“What the heck is that monster…!”
Late at night, he had spotted a small, ornate ship through his telescope and called the captain to set sail.
At first, he thought it was just a noble out for a joyride now that the pirates of the archipelago had calmed down.
If that were the case, it would be a real catch.
They could kidnap the noble, use them as a hostage, and extract money.
Besides, there was a woman aboard.
Noblewomen in the inland regions were considered precious items, classified as special within the archipelago. So that ship was practically a gift box.
However, that thought flew away as soon as they got close to the ship.
There was a monster aboard.
Was he some inland knight, riding along to protect the noble on this ship?
*Crack!*
Even if a group of crew members rushed at him, he dodged with uncanny agility, taking them down one after another.
Despite his delicate appearance, he emanated a killer aura.
It was truly a presence as powerful as a tsunami. Before the crew could even step onto the deck, they were brutally dismantled by the man’s hands.
It wasn’t just that man who was the problem.
“What, who on earth is that girl?!”
With a *swish*, the sky-blue-haired woman was unreal.
Her beauty was nothing short of ethereal.
It wasn’t just her stunning looks; it was something much more.
‘W-what on earth…!’
She danced as she wielded her sword, having a completely innocent expression on her face.
The blue shimmering blade reflected the moonlight as it drew unpredictable trajectories, taking down the crew members one by one.
There seemed to be no way to approach.
Her movements were extremely refined, reminiscent of a circus performance.
At this rate, they’d face annihilation.
The Black Hawk crew, who had been holding their ground outside the archipelago, looked like they would soon become fodder for fish.
It was at that moment when he heard a loud shout.
“Are we done yet!!!”
Tei gasped, twisting his head in surprise.
Footsteps were coming from the cabin.
Finally, with a *bang*, the cabin door flew open, revealing a middle-aged man.
He was over two meters tall, with a threatening visage, unruly beard, and rich garments.
The cutlass at his waist was twice the size of those carried by others.
His mere presence exuded intimidation.
Tei trembled and bowed his head.
“C-captain…!”
Captain Rikers of the Black Hawk Pirate Crew.
A powerful figure reigning since the age of the great pirate, and the right-hand man of the infamous Pirate King from long ago.
He stepped out, grumbling ominously.
And then, in an instant,
“You rotten scoundrels! Can’t even catch a single touring noble and are puffing like this… huh?”
Rikers’ eyes widened in surprise.
His gaze was fixated on the woman with sky-blue hair.
‘Ah, he intends to take her himself!’
Tei felt an odd sense of relief.
As the captain had diverted his interest, he hoped no trouble would come from this incident.
Tei’s back bent low as he spoke in a servile tone to Rikers.
“C-captain! There’s a knight on that ship…!”
But his words never finished.
Rikers, looking astonished yet delighted, leaped over with a *boom* towards the opposite ship.
His movements were almost akin to lightning.
Rikers landed precisely in the direction of the woman.
She had noticed Rikers’ presence.
Then,
*Zzzzzzzz—!*
The two swords clashed, creating a thunderous sound.
The ship lurched.
Tei gasped, shocked at Rikers’ overwhelming strength, and the force with which the woman clashed against him.
The delicate knight charged at Rikers with a grim expression.
However, Rikers twisted his body unnaturally to evade and then hurled his next attack toward the woman.
Thus the second exchange occurred, and immediately afterward, Rikers shouted,
“What’s this! Woman!!!”
That marked the turning point.
“How do you wield the Pirate King’s swordsmanship!!!”
The girl stood frozen, looking utterly bewildered, as if she didn’t understand what he was saying.
The fierce knight also halted, narrowing his eyes at her.
In the midst of this confusion, Rikers was in a state of extreme excitement.
To Tei’s knowledge, he had never seen such a look on Rikers, even on nights spent feasting in the company of liquor and women.
Rikers threw his sword down and stomped toward the girl.
Then, he grabbed her by the shoulders and exclaimed,
“Are you alive! Kadan Riguel! The Pirate King!!!”
The girl’s eyes fluttered in confusion.
Her mouth was agape.
In that moment, everyone was left dazed, trying to comprehend the whirlwind of events.
*Creek—*
The cabin door creaked open.
A decadent woman with black hair appeared, smoking a pipe.
Exhaling smoke, she let out a sly smile.
And then, her next words were shocking.
“She’s the daughter of that man.”
“?!”
“That girl is the daughter of the Pirate King.”
“!!!”
Rikers’ eyes widened.
Asher’s eyes widened too.
The two men glanced simultaneously at Judith, and in that instant, Judith said to Asher with a mischievous grin,
“Make sure you synchronize your words. It’ll go smoothly if you do.”
It was a brazen lie.