Chapter 157
Chapter 157
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 157
Chapter Title: Instincts of the Created
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All created beings have an instinct to surpass their creator.
You disagree?
Impossible.
It simply means they lack the power to do so yet.
If my creator is weaker than me, it's only natural to devour them according to the law of predation.
“I sense my progenitor.”
“What do you mean, Captain?”
The Pirate Queen, who commanded that massive ship floating on the sea as if it were a horse galloping across land.
Elise swept back her curly purple hair and chugged rum straight from the bottle.
“Heh. Lanka.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Short cream-colored hair and brown skin. The woman with a jeweled eyepatch over one eye pouted her unusually plump lips as she replied.
“Don't pout. I didn't ignore you.”
“Then explain. What do you mean the progenitor is here?”
Elise wiped the rum dribbling from her mouth with a flourish of her sleeve and grinned sharply with her keen eyes.
“Didn't I tell you once?”
That my true master is someone else.
At that faint whisper, the woman called Lanka raised her hand to toy with her plump lips.
“Ah... ha?”
The others might not know, but Elise did. Or rather, the doppelganger who had once been called Kish in the labyrinth and was now Elise on these seas believed so.
On a pirate ship where crew members died and were replaced by the handful every day, the rule for handling corpses was to toss them into the sea as chum.
‘So, doesn't that mean I can eat them?’
The progenitor of all doppelgangers, their root and origin—now bearing the name Zero—was in a pure state, untainted by any memory corruption. But the other doppelgangers were different.
Once called Kish in the labyrinth, now Elise on these seas, she was certain. Doppelgangers were creatures that grew stronger by devouring others.
‘I had an inkling before, but now I know for sure. We're monsters that grow by preying.’
So she devoured. Dozens of humans and Ain. Monsters too.
She couldn't share the deep bond Zero had, but she could sense it faintly.
That she was the first to complete her mission.
Thanks to the unique nature of pirates, she faced little scrutiny or suspicion while absorbing an abundance of sustenance. In a way, it was inevitable.
From slaves to dead members of her own crew and prisoners. Even pirates from rival crews—dozens, hundreds devoured. Now, blooming as a pirate on these seas, how strong had Elise become?
‘If I devour the progenitor... could I become the progenitor?’
How much had Zero sensed of this treasonous heart through their bond?
“What do you think?”
“Worth a shot, isn't it?”
Once, midway through, Lanka had caught her devouring someone.
She had attacked to devour Lanka too, but Lanka proved stronger than expected, nearly killing her in turn.
Instead, since Lanka harbored a grudge against the real Pirate Queen Elise before she could be devoured, they joined forces, allowing her to truly become Elise.
Elise clasped hands firmly with her one confidante, the only one who knew she was a doppelganger and not the real Elise, and flashed a toothy grin.
“If we succeed.”
“Let's rule these seas together.”
They clinked their rum bottles like glasses and guzzled them down.
“Then, Lanka. Send out the men. The progenitor—Zero—has come to the South Sea Archipelago.”
“I'll focus on areas with gates.”
“Appearance is utterly ordinary. Probably brown hair, brown eyes... soft and gentle... not ruthless at all.”
The progenitor who had always been kind and affectionate. Better for her to take that burden, letting the progenitor be reborn and enjoy only the good things.
Elise slammed her rum bottle down on the table scarred with countless blade sheaths, her face set with resolve.
“Likely accompanied by a blond man. But if you say Kish wants to meet, he'll come out alone, even if secretly. So.”
Bring him politely.
Lanka nodded at Elise's words, her jeweled eyepatch glinting in the flickering candlelight.
“As you command, Captain.”
* * *
“What do you think is the most important thing in the South Sea Archipelago?”
I sat in the lodging where Luna and Leaf had come looking for me, tapping the table as I unrolled the expensive map of the archipelago I'd bought for a fortune.
“A ship?”
Someone's answer was spot on, so I acknowledged it before continuing.
“It's an archipelago, so there are tons of islands, each packed with big and small villages or pirate dens doubling as settlements.”
The farther from the continent, the more sea monsters appear, pirate ships raid, and weather debuffs hit. Some areas are kraken zones, others mermaid territories, and some are pirate strongholds.
Even in the game, the South Sea Archipelago stage was notorious for its bullshit difficulty.
Stick close to the coast, and the risk is low. Venture into the open ocean on a whim?
‘That's why games rely on luck with drops, gear, and control.’
Weather debuffs or sudden whirlpools don't care about skill.
At best, you prep with units...
“Figuring out all those islands and faction territories, plus finding skilled sailors, isn't easy.”
You might think money solves everything, but named units have strong personalities and are tough to recruit.
Take Armand—even if I bullied and pressured him into submission, that personality wouldn't bow flat.
Unless he planned to stab me in the back later.
‘Some won't budge no matter how much money you offer.’
Decent sailor NPCs always have some weird quest attached.
“Ships are important, but money can roughly handle that.”
Too big and slow? Slap on acceleration artifacts.
Big and prone to reefs? Cast reinforcement spells and stock magic repair kits.
Expensive enough to make eyes pop, sure.
‘I'm Adelian Guardian Kruger.’
Money is my power, so what's the issue.
“But crew is different. Hard to find proper ones.”
Ones who know the routes, guide us right, and won't collude with pirates.
“So, I'm planning to stick around here a bit, scouting good sailors.”
If they seem decent, I need to inspect with User's Eye... Might tank my reputation here a fair bit.
‘Can't be helped.’
Necessary expense.
As I pondered the map, Zero suddenly spoke up.
“Sailors, you say?”
“Yeah, sailors.”
Zero scratched his ash-gray hair, thought for a moment, then grinned like a gentle large dog.
“Gathering rumors or info has always been my job, so I'll help out diligently. Even if I go far, I'll be back in under a week.”
“Well, visiting other islands would take time.”
Several days away? At Luna's words, I glanced at Zero.
For some reason, the glint in those green jeweled eyes felt chillier than usual.
‘Must be the seaside lighting.’
I stared intently, but Zero just smiled innocently.
Makes sense—Zero wouldn't cause trouble.
“Do that. Take the siren just in case.”
Not like certain someone who vanishes without a word or contact for ages.
I glared holes into Kane, who met my eyes boldly while sipping tea.
“Anyway, once we find sailors, we can deploy them right away. Shouldn't we get a ship soon too?”
―Indeed. We might assemble a crew faster than you think, Administrator.
At Rachel and Leaf's words, I replied indifferently.
“This is the South Sea Archipelago. Mediocre sailors and ships are a dime a dozen. And actually, ships are easier than sailors.”
Anything short of a legendary Black Pearl-type vessel—you can always buy a decent-sized, fast ship.
No need for legend-grade. Durability first.
‘Obvious we'll get attacked entering mermaid territory.’
Better to get one with ship-wide defense magic or a reinforced figurehead.
“Time to splash some gold around.”
“If gold were mana, you'd outdo dragons.”
I chuckled at Rachel's giggling remark.
“Obviously. I'd be stronger than you.”
“What? Wanna test it?”
As Rachel clenched her fist, I declared confidently.
“I'll appoint Kane as my champion.”
“Wow, that's cheating.”
No, then convert my gold to mana first!
‘Beyond User's Eye and reputation, couldn't you have given me something better?’
Watching Rachel unclench her fist slowly, I picked up a cookie from the table.
“Anyway, we'll be living at sea for a while once we ship out, so any must-haves for the vessel?”
I popped a cookie in my mouth, chewed, and grabbed a pen. Luna spoke first.
“Not individual bedrooms—somewhere we can all live together like here.”
“That'll be easy. Worst case, renovate.”
“I want a liquor storeroom.”
“Liquor storeroom... fine. Next.”
As I scribbled with the quill, Zero chimed in.
“A kitchen near the bedrooms, not just the main galley. Make the lodging like one big house on the ship.”
Ships usually have separate dining and sleeping decks, but our party's always-together lodging or camping habits made separation unappealing.
‘True, if you count only time out of the labyrinth, they're barely more than kids.’
He looked like a big, honest young man, but that's doppelganger traits.
Our party was mostly grown-up bodies with kids' minds.
Kane had the most real-world rolling...
‘Better to know nothing.’
Kane had tumbled so harshly it bred human hatred.
So, better a house-like setup—private rooms but communal chatter—over divided lodgings.
“Kane, Leaf—any requests?”
―I'd like bookshelves in my bedroom.
Since digging airship docs and history in the capital, Leaf had taken to reading.
‘That's why your writing was D-grade.’
Shuddering at the memory, I spoke.
“That shouldn't be hard. Leaf.”
―Yes, Administrator.
“If... you ever need to convey something, try drawings over writing. Much more intuitive.”
―...I'm gradually discovering writing's charm, but I'll consider drawings.
Leaf looked puzzled at my words.
No big change now, of course.
I smirked, then Kane spoke belatedly.
“A brig.”
“A brig?”
Not just me—everyone eyed Kane curiously.
Why suddenly?
“Precisely, a safe zone. For those who can't return if flung off the rocking ship.”
Lock up anyone who'd go missing for good.
He looked at me as he said it.
Huh?
This guy?
“Rejected.”
As if you'd lock me up to fight carefree. I shut it down sternly, and Kane smiled faintly.
That bastard—acting like a joke, but dead serious.
“So, young master—what do you need?”
I crossed out “brig...?” with two thick lines, then grinned at Luna.
“Me?”
Everything beyond what you said—my call.