Chapter 102
Chapter 102
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Pirates of the Rodrik Archipelago
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Under the captain's orders, the Elion slowly entered the Rodrik Archipelago.
The archipelago, centered around Rodrik Island with numerous small islands clustered in a narrow sea channel, had originally not been a pirate haven.
As the name suggested, it was a proper fiefdom ruled by the Rodrik family and served as a kind of prison for those who had committed grave crimes on the mainland.
But about ten years ago, a massive escape by imprisoned criminals led to them seizing the island.
After that, they banded together with pirates who had long eyed the place, transforming it into the infamous pirate stronghold it was today.
"So, does the Rodrik family still have any surviving lineage?"
"I wouldn't know. No one's paid attention since then."
At Eugene's question, Lanslo shrugged.
Crema Galpredic stepped forward, stroking his chin.
"What about during that Prayer Book War or whatever it was? I heard thousands of troops crossed to Brantia by ship—they must've passed through here, right? They just left these guys alone?"
"Yes. Isn't that obvious?"
"Why?"
"Because the Continental Church's goal was the Brantia mainland, not this pirate archipelago. And no sane pirate would dare touch a fleet of over a hundred warships sailing together."
"Makes sense. But we're just one ship, so they'll come charging at us with fire in their eyes?"
"If dozens of wagons guarded by mercenaries pass by, even the boldest bandits think twice about robbing them. But a single fancy carriage rolling along alone? Would any bandit let that go?"
"...None."
"Same goes for pirates."
"So we have to take that place?"
Eugene, who had been listening silently, asked a question, and Lanslo grinned and nodded.
"Yes. From an expedition's perspective, we absolutely need a foothold."
"Hmm. That's basic tactics, for sure."
Galpredic chimed in agreement with Lanslo's words. As knights who had received proper training, they were remarkably sharp on matters like this.
"Why do you think the expedition force, centered on elite holy knights at the peak of their prowess, failed during the Prayer Book War?"
After a moment's thought at Lanslo's question, Eugene answered.
"It was because of this place. With that many troops, large-scale resupply was essential, but leaving it alone meant their supply lines got raided by pirates every time."
"Exactly. Being a church-led army, they were too fixated on their righteous cause. They probably thought pirates weren't worth bothering with."
"Hmm. I get the gist."
Having made his decision, Eugene turned to the captain and crew, who were glancing nervously his way.
"How do pirates usually attack?"
"They surround us with gunfire. Their ships are small, but each carries thirty or forty men, and they come aboard from three or four sides."
"Got it."
"...Pardon?"
"I said got it."
'No, got it? Got what!? We need a plan or something! Sea battles aren't like fighting on land!'
The captain couldn't voice such thoughts aloud and simply bowed his head.
Having sailed far and wide, he was out of touch with mainland news and knew little about Eugene beyond the basics—that he'd slain many monsters in the demon realm and earned great merit in a knight's tournament.
"Pirate ships sighted! Four—no, six of them!"
The lookout atop the mast screamed.
"Captain, you and the crew handle the ship."
"Understood, milord!"
The crew feared pirates, but sailors were tough men who made mercenaries look tame.
With the famed knight Eugene standing tall, flanked by the unmistakably inhuman-looking Galpredic and Lanslo, the captain and crew regained some courage.
"Partek, Luke. Focus on defending the ship with the mage."
"Yes, Master!"
"Leave it to us, sir!"
"W-What about me, Master Galpredic?"
Selena, who had never been to sea before and now faced real combat, couldn't hide her frightened expression.
"Tch! Fight with them or hide somewhere."
"Hide? I'll fight too!"
"Do whatever."
As Galpredic turned away curtly, Selena bit her lip.
Luke called out to her.
"You, over here."
"You?"
"Got a problem?"
"Ugh... Fine."
Selena shot a sullen glare at Luke—who had been a slave not long ago but was now Eugene's official squire—and replied grudgingly.
Ignoring her, Luke loaded bolts into crossbows with Partek's group and huddled tight against the shields lined up along the side.
Meanwhile, pirate ships emerged from hiding spots around the islands and closed in rapidly. The deliberately slowed Elion was soon tailed by them.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The pirates yelled and loosed arrows. A few thudded into the hull, but the fierce sea wind and their poor aim meant no one was hit.
'These are the infamous pirates?'
Eugene tilted his head.
Still about a hundred meters away, he could observe them closely.
Half-naked in case they fell overboard, they looked fierce but nothing special.
Mercenaries turned bandits at least had decent gear, but these seemed no better than beggars.
'Strange. Still, they might have some hidden trap.'
Resolving not to underestimate them, Eugene nocked an arrow to his longbow and drew it back fully.
Thwip!
With a sharp whine, the arrow flew straight—not arcing—and pierced a pirate's throat.
As the man plummeted into the sea, the incoming crossbow fire halted for a moment.
Eugene ignored it and kept nocking and firing relentlessly.
"Wow! You shoot amazingly. Guess I should join in."
"Heh heh heh. Time to show your skills, elf lord."
Lanslo, born of elf blood hailed as natural archers, and Galpredic, whose bow now packed several times the power it once did, began firing arrows side by side.
"Whoa..."
The tense, crouched crew gaped.
Every arrow from the three knights felled a pirate or sent one splashing into the sea. But the pirates weren't fools—they quickly ducked behind their decks.
In the meantime, other pirate ships raced to both sides of the Elion. Intimidated by the knights' monstrous archery, they just hid and shot arrows.
Clang! Clink!
As the distance closed, their arrows grew more threatening.
"Time to reel them in."
At Eugene's signal, Galpredic and Lanslo lowered their longbows and ducked low.
As if waiting, the pirate ships surged forward to cling to both sides and the stern.
Enraged by the knights' arrows, the pirates were desperate to board the Elion and exact revenge.
"Two more ahead blocking the bow! Th-they're readying grapples! They'll swing aboard any second!"
At the captain's shout, Eugene exchanged glances with the two knights.
Clank! Clunk!
The moment the pirates' grapples hit the deck, Eugene dashed to the bow, Galpredic to the port side, and Lanslo to starboard.
"Huh?"
Everyone except those who'd known Eugene longest blinked in shock.
Whoosh!
Almost simultaneously, the three knights leaped in their respective directions.
Two were vampires beyond human limits, and one was a knight of elven blood, among the most agile races.
Unburdened by heavy plate mail and clad in light leather armor, they soared like birds, landing on their targeted pirate ships.
"C-Crazy!?"
The pirates gawked at Eugene, who had cleared over ten meters in a single bound.
But they outnumbered him.
"Kill him!"
"The landlubber's lost his mind!"
Baring yellowed teeth, they charged. In that instant, Eugene's red eyes gleamed murderously, his fangs elongating.
And the seaside slaughter began.
* * *
"Pirates boarding the stern!"
"Raban! Glad!"
Partek's team raced across the deck.
"Let's fight together!"
With Luke and Selena joining, the five gripped round shields and shortswords to face the pirates.
"Ohhh..."
Romari appeared out of nowhere, shuffling up behind them with a dying voice.
"Sir Romari! It's dangerous! Get to the cabin!"
"Ohh~ Ohh~ I want to, guurp! But I can't just not pull my weight this time tooo, urp!"
Romari's nonstop dry-heaving made her look like a total wreck at a glance.
"No, this isn't the time to worry about th—"
As Partek started to protest, Romari raised her staff and mumbled an incantation.
A red glow rippled from the staff's tip, then surged toward one spot.
"Crack 'em up, lads!"
"Kill all the men and the women..."
The pirates who'd just boarded the stern froze.
The red aura from Romari's staff had coiled around their heads like crowns.
"Heh heh heh heh!"
"Huh! Heh huh!"
The four pirates' eyes glazed over as they began giggling weirdly. Then they spun around and savagely swung their scimitars at their late-arriving comrades climbing grapples.
"Argh!"
"You mad bastards! What the hell!?"
"It's us! We're us!"
"Heh heh heh huh! Die! Die, you monster scum!"
"Zombies! Kill the undead!"
The barely clothed pirates bled and splashed into the sea under attacks from their mind-controlled allies.
"Ohh~ What're you all waiting for, urp! I'm out of strength now... Bleeegh!"
Having cast magic on top of her seasick state, Romari spewed yellowish bile.
A pathetic yet impressive sight.
But pirates took priority over Romari, so the five left her behind and charged the remaining foes, sparing the enthralled ones.
* * *
"......"
The Elion's captain and crew stood slack-jawed, speechless.
The decks of the pirate ships at bow and sides, and the surrounding sea, were dyed red.
Sharks circled the floating corpses, but no one noticed.
Their eyes darted between the three knights, each having single-handedly wrecked a pirate ship.
They'd all heard the saying: real knights are killing machines—never challenge them.
But living at sea more than land, few had witnessed a true knight in action.
Today, they finally saw it.
What a "true knight," forged from childhood in grueling training, truly was.
'Th-They're not human.'
'Those are monsters!'
'Gods above. From today, I swear never to even speak to a knight.'
The crew didn't voice it, but sharing similar thoughts, they swallowed dryly.
Then, the lookout atop the mast—watching for other threats—shrieked.
"St-starboard side! Massive shape approaching! Fast! So fast!"
All heads snapped toward the direction as one.
"Gasp!?"
"W-What's that?"
A massive black shadow the size of the Elion hurtled toward them just below the surface at unbelievable speed.
Roooaaar!
It burst from the water with a roar, hurling its enormous body at a pirate ship.
Grrrrraaawr!
With a grotesque cry, its gaping maw swallowed the ship whole in one gulp before plunging back into the depths with a boom.
Splash...!
Drenched in the cascading seawater like a waterfall, the captain's jaw dropped.
"Lord Eugene's been eaten by a sea monster!"
(To be continued)