The Blood Raven's Uninvited Guest
The massive ship sliced through the deep blue sky.
It looked more like a ghostly vessel drifting through the heavens than a flying ship.
Of course, it wasn't a demon piloting the ship from the skies, but the hull was painted black.
The sails were worn and torn in places.
Red smoke billowing from the engine infused with magic seeped into the air.
And the skull flag, which was also the symbol of the pirate ship.
The fierce-looking flag fluttered in the wind.
A black background with a red skull and crossed bones.
It was more than just decoration.
The alpha and omega of the 「Blood Raven」.
The symbol of the infamous pirate ship that plundered from the skies.
“How far is it to the target?”
The captain's booming voice cut across the deck.
“The wind has picked up a bit, but we're approaching as planned. We'll be within range in 15 minutes.”
The helmsman holding the wheel reported calmly.
The pirates were already performing their roles as if it were second nature.
“Good, approach quietly and then pounce! Let's have some fun this time too.”
The captain lifted the corner of his mouth and adjusted his old pirate hat.
It was a typical pirate style one might see by the sea, but here it was above the sky.
The pirates leaned against the bow, gazing at the target.
Far away, a normal cargo ship was leisurely floating in the sky.
“Hah, what kind of treasure will there be this time?”
“If it's filled with magic equipment like last time, it'll be great.”
The pirates looked at the ship with expressions full of anticipation.
“By the way.”
One pirate, watching the situation from one side of the deck, muttered as if he sensed something odd.
“It’s been on my mind since earlier⋯⋯.”
“What is it?”
The pirate pointed quietly to a corner of the deck.
“That.”
The pirates all turned their gazes.
And there,
“⋯⋯.”
The figure of Rumiel, who should have been sleeping soundly, was there.
Sitting quietly with his back against something, sleeping peacefully with a calm face.
It was like he had come to a resort, with a languid atmosphere.
The pirates were momentarily speechless.
“⋯⋯What kind of brat is that?”
“Is there anyone who knows him?”
Of course, there was no such person.
“Could it be a spy sent from the enemy ship?”
“What nonsense, a spy sleeping like that?”
“Then how did he get on this ship?”
“Could someone have kidnapped a kid and brought him?”
“Are you crazy?”
Confusion continued.
The pirates looked at each other in disbelief.
Where on earth had this brat come from?
“Hey, wake him up first.”
“Eh, hey brat. Wake up.”
One pirate cautiously shook Rumiel.
“⋯⋯.”
No reaction.
“Shake him harder.”
Another pirate shook Rumiel's shoulder more strongly.
However,
“⋯⋯.”
Still no reaction.
Calm face.
Steady breathing.
Peaceful sleep.
The pirates gradually showed awkward expressions.
“He's really sleeping soundly.”
“Does he know this is a pirate ship?”
At that moment, the captain approached to check the situation.
“What's going on? Why are you all gathered on one side of the deck?”
“Captain, there's something strange.”
The pirates simultaneously made way.
And the captain,
Saw the sleeping Rumiel.
“Um⋯⋯?”
The captain's face subtly twisted.
“What is this brat?”
“I don't know. He was sleeping here at some point.”
The captain stared at Rumiel for a long time.
Then, slightly furrowing his brows, he muttered.
“Could it be…”
His gaze turned to a small piece of paper lying on one side.
[Central Continent Bound - F04 Seat]
The captain picked up the paper and read it quietly.
And let out a deep sigh.
“⋯⋯This brat got on the wrong ship.”
An awkward silence fell on the deck of the pirate ship.
On one side, preparations for the operation were in full swing, while on the other, they were pondering how to deal with the unexpected uninvited guest.
In the end, the captain scratched his head and said.
“What do we do about this?”
The pirates looked at each other with awkward expressions.
They wanted to wake him somehow, but this brat wouldn't wake no matter how much they shook.
“Leave it. He'll wake up when we arrive anyway.”
“Still, having a kid on our ship is a bit⋯⋯.”
“What do we do in this situation?”
“I don't know, this is the first time.”
In the confusion, Rumiel was still sleeping soundly.
The pirates sighed.
And the captain muttered quietly.
“Let's check him first.”
Thus, the pirate ship 「Blood Raven」 advanced towards the target for plunder.
Far away, the Central Continent-bound aerial flying ship was leisurely crossing the sky.
It had a luxurious appearance.
A clean hull.
Sails embroidered with sparkling magic circles.
It was a refined design on a completely different level from a normal aerial flying ship.
As befits a means of transportation favored by nobles or wealthy merchants, the ship's overall dignity created an atmosphere of nobility.
The pirates felt admiration and anticipation at the same time.
“That ship is really well made.”
“Look at the gold decorations? Those are valuable stuff.”
“In my opinion, the sails are made of not ordinary materials. If you tear off just one, it would be quite valuable?”
“The engine doesn't seem cheap either. I've never seen a flying ship this quiet.”
The pirates left their impressions one by one, all excited for the plunder.
But then.
“Yeah, it seems they are using expensive engines.”
A strange voice.
The pirates nodded without thinking.
“Right? Big ships have the most important engines⋯⋯.”
“Then if we install such an engine on our ship⋯⋯.”
⋯⋯Yeah?
A moment.
The pirates simultaneously stopped.
And very slowly,
very carefully,
looked in the direction the voice came from.
“⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯.”
Rumiel, who should have been sleeping soundly,
had now opened his eyes, arms crossed, sitting on the deck.
The pirates stared at Rumiel without saying a word.
Rumiel also quietly looked at the pirates.
“⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯.”
For a moment, silence.
A short while later, the pirates' pupils shook simultaneously.
“Who are you?!”
The pirates who had been naturally conversing until just now recoiled as if they had seen a ghost.
“When did this happen?!”
“No, no, more importantly, how did you naturally join the conversation?!”
Rumiel quietly unfolded his arms and stood up from his seat.
The pirates retreated one step at a time, all tense.
At that moment, the captain approached.
“Hey, brat.”
Rumiel turned his head and looked at the captain.
“When did you wake up?”
Rumiel answered nonchalantly.
“Just now.”
The pirates were shaken again.
Rumiel quietly nodded.
Then the pirates' expressions became even more shocked.
“Wow, really tough guy.”
“You didn't know this is a pirate ship?”
Rumiel tilted his head slightly upon hearing that.
“Thinking about it⋯⋯.”
And unfolded the paper he had been holding in his hand.
[Central Continent Bound - F04 Seat]
He bought a ticket.
Rumiel slowly raised his head and looked at the pirates.
“⋯⋯Is this the ship going to the Central Continent?”
“There's no way!!!”
“You said it earlier! Listen a bit!”
Rumiel quietly looked at the paper, let out a small sigh.
“Got on the wrong ship.”
“Now what?!”
The pirates simultaneously nodded.
Then Rumiel quietly fell into thought.
A short while later, he quietly opened his mouth.
“Lower me.”
The pirates were surprised and asked back.
“Now?!”
“In the air?!”
Rumiel quietly thought.
And opened his inventory to check the teleportation stone.
It was still plenty left.
After a moment of hesitation, Rumiel slowly looked at the pirates.
And quietly said to them.
“Then take me there.”
The pirates couldn't speak for a while.
What did this brat say just now?
“⋯⋯Take me?”
Rumiel quietly nodded.
The pirates looked at each other with dazed expressions.
“⋯⋯I must have misheard?”
“We're pirates! Robbers! And this ship is not your personal carriage!”
The deck was in turmoil.
The pirates looked at Rumiel with faces full of absurdity one by one.
However, Rumiel still had a calm face.
“Yeah. Take me.”
The captain burst into laughter.
“Hah, this brat is quite bold.”
He bowed his waist and glared at Rumiel and said.
“Brat. Do you know what a pirate is?”
He tapped the cutlass at his waist.
“Whether sea or sky, plundering, stealing, and taking what you want is the life of a pirate.”
The captain pointed at Rumiel.
“Getting on such a pirate ship and saying 'take me.' You're too shameless to even speak.”
The pirates nodded and agreed.
“Right, would it be okay to ask us for help?”
“We're the ones who catch people and extort ransom.”
“Would such people allow free riding?”
The pirates all thought that Rumiel didn't understand the situation properly.
However, Rumiel quietly listened to the captain's words and opened his mouth again.
“I'll pay money.”
The pirates' mouths were instantly shut.
“What?”
“Can't you hear the words?”
The captain sighed and scratched his head.
He crossed his arms and looked down at Rumiel and said.
“⋯⋯What if we say 'no'?”
Upon hearing that, Rumiel quietly seemed to be pondering.
Closing his eyes slightly to think, then nodding and saying.
“Um⋯⋯.”
After slowly looking up at the captain, he continued with a firm voice.
“I'll punish you.”
Silence.
The pirates' faces became momentarily bewildered.
“⋯⋯What?”
“What did you say just now?”
“You're going to punish us?”
Rumiel quietly nodded.
“⋯⋯Fuhup.”
A short while later, a burst of laughter erupted.