Chapter 43
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 042
Chapter Title: Setting Sail
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Thud.
A dull vibration rumbled through as the crate hit the deck.
"Hey, secure it tight so it doesn't shake!"
"Bring more rope! The waves are rough today!"
Rough voices of men bustled outside.
And amid them, a familiar old man's voice rang out.
"Handle it with care. There's expensive stuff inside."
"Don't worry. It's Sir Kain's goods—would we dare mishandle it?"
"Mm, thanks."
Looked like we'd successfully been loaded onto the ship.
I'd been fucking terrified earlier when they talked about rummaging through the cargo,
but since it passed without issue, that was a relief.
Still,
"Urp..."
As time dragged on,
my condition started going straight to shit.
Rock, sway.
The ship had begun moving, and the crate rocked wildly fore, aft, left, right.
The already cramped dark space felt even tighter.
With two adults and a kid crammed inside,
it was like human Tetris.
"Back off a bit. Stop sticking to me."
"Where am I supposed to go? Through the wall?"
Every time the ship rode a wave,
our bodies lurched and tangled on their own.
Squish.
Something soft and springy pressed against my left elbow.
Marshmallowy and elastic.
Couldn't see in the dark, but it was probably tits.
I knew the feel well from groping them earlier.
Before I could savor it,
the ship tilted sharply the other way. Bodies lurched again.
"Hng!"
My body pitched forward,
pressing tight against Baekrin's back as she crouched ahead.
And naturally,
my crotch buried right into the cleft of her ass.
Totally not on purpose.
Blame inertia.
That's when it happened.
Grab.
Whatever had touched her ass must've bugged her,
because her hand shot back and seized my dick.
"What the hell is this."
She fiddled with it in her grip,
"Why's it so hard."
"Hm, who knows."
I played it cool, lowering my voice.
"Maybe the hilt of a dagger?"
"Dagger hilt?"
Baekrin squeezed harder.
"......Urgh,"
You fucking bitch, you gonna take responsibility if it bursts?
"Weird. All you've got is a little dagger prick,
no way the hilt's this thick and long."
This time she even stroked it up and down.
Was this bitch for real oblivious,
or pretending while slyly sexually assaulting me?
If the latter, she knew one thing for sure.
That I packed a massively huge cock.
And it wasn't even fully hard yet.
"Let go of it."
"Why?"
I warned her.
"If it gets any bigger in here, this tight space'll get even tighter."
Baekrin paused at my words, then dropped her hand like it bored her.
"......Perverted bastard."
"Who's the pervert here."
She gropes it then bitches.
Lewd bitch.
.....
How much time passed?
The crate was a steam bath now.
Three bodies' heat and breath turned the air thick and stale,
reeking of damp wood and sweat.
And the endless up-and-down motion.
Lurch, roll.
"Urp..."
My stomach was flipping.
No clue if seasickness was always like this,
or if being trapped in this hellhole made it worse.
First time riding a ship in either life.
Didn't expect my precious first time to suck this bad.
"Fuck... seasick..."
I clamped my mouth shut, groaning. Puking would end us.
The moment this tiny space filled with vomit, it'd be hell on earth.
Then, I felt Baekrin twitching beside me.
"Ugh..."
"What, you seasick too?"
Even a flyer on land can't beat seasickness, huh?
I asked, feeling her pain.
But her reply,
"......Not that."
came in a strained voice,
"......Bathroom. Urgent."
Shattering my expectations.
"Hold it."
"......Been holding it."
"No. Hold it more. Clench front and back tight."
I desperately talked her down.
World's big, full of weird tastes,
some freak might love this scenario.
Not me.
Golden shower or shit shower, either way I'd hurl.
"Urp... ugh..."
Fuck. Stomach already churning,
now imagining this space filling up made me even queasier.
Me from the top,
her from the bottom.
If that's shared suffering, sure.
"Please, man. Already reeks like ass, you burst and we're all dead."
"Funny... bastard, last time you... wore the shit bucket yourself..."
"You bitch, think I poured it on my head for fun?"
"Ah... don't... talk more..."
Gurgle.
Then it sounded.
Clear, heavy rumble from human guts.
Not my stomach.
So...
"Hey."
"......"
Baekrin couldn't answer.
Just trembling like a leaf.
Plus, her belly pressing my side
wriggled like a living thing in real time.
"Gonna... come out."
Her voice quivered faintly.
"Hold it, you damn bitch!!"
I screamed.
"Can't... anymore..."
Ah,
this bitch was truly fucked.
Forget money ghost or cranky shit,
just a pathetic human at sphincter limit.
Kain, you old fuck, where are you.
Open it now.
Open it!!
"Fuck, open it!!!"
That do-or-die moment.
Screech, bang!
The lid ripped off.
Fresh air rushed in whoosh.
Dazzling torchlight.
And the familiar old man's face peered down at us.
"Heard the cursing. You can come out now."
No sooner said,
whoosh-!
Faster than wind,
Baekrin bolted out in a flash.
"H-Hey? You bitch!"
I yelled in panic.
"What if you run into someone bursting out like that...!"
Ah, too late.
Before I finished,
she flung open the door and vanished from sight.
Hadn't even checked if it was safe or if anyone was watching.
What the hell, charging out like a maniac.
"Don't worry."
Kain chuckled calmly at my freakout.
"You lot got lucky."
"......What?"
He nodded at the quiet cabin stacked with junk and crates.
And,
"The passengers on this ship? That's all of us."
Thus,
like declaring slave emancipation,
he grinned and announced our freedom.
"......Ha."
Why the sudden urge to kiss this old geezer.
I must be crazy.
.....
Crisp sea breeze.
Open horizon. Soft moonlight.
Romantic as hell.
......If you stopped there.
I turned to eye this "ship" we were on.
"Damn, perfect shark bait."
This ain't a ship.
Just a floating coffin.
Deck screamed with every step,
black waves sloshed through rotten planks.
Mast? Fuck, that's a mast?
Dried-up dead tree.
Topped with patchwork rags for sails.
One wrong gust and it'd shred.
Prime vintage trash.
"......This won't capsize en route?"
I seriously asked Kain.
"Won't we all drown midway?"
"You griped in the crate too. Escaping yet so whiny."
"Then prepare it right so I don't gripe."
What? Lucky?
Ship looks like this, so no other passengers.
Who'd pay to ride this ghost ship.
I clicked my tongue and turned away.
Skinny, ragged old man at the helm.
The only other soul aboard besides us.
Captain of this wreck, I guess.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it all, fuck..."
I jabbed a finger at him, raging.
"How the fuck's a blind old coot sailing?!"
Yeah.
The ship's biggest issue wasn't the rotten hull.
It was the old man's state at the wheel.
Just rewind a bit,
right after we burst from the crate.
.....
Following Kain out to the deck,
first sight with the black night sea:
"......Don't look."
Baekrin, ass out over the railing.
"......Ahem."
"......You uncivilized bitch."
Even desperate, couldn't find a bathroom?
Though I hadn't imagined this piss-ant ship lacked one.
Anyway, we averted eyes left,
and Kain led me and Noy straight to an old man.
Actually, his back.
He gripped the wheel, never turning.
"Sorry for the late greeting, Old Jack."
"Tch... Greeting what."
Chatted but no glance back.
No idea what Kain was thinking,
but I stood quiet beside as ordered,
clamping Noy's mouth shut.
"Hey, old timer. Sorry 'bout this."
"'Bout what."
"Meant to be just me,
but ended up with four in the party."
Kain scratched his head,
confessing solo.
'What the fuck, not agreed?'
I glared at the crazy old fuck,
"Eh, one or four, same diff."
Old man chuckled indifferently.
"Ship's small, but won't capsize over that."
His calm threw me off.
While I gawked confused,
Kain poked my side.
"What're you doing. Greet him."
"Uh, fine..."
I sighed,
handed Noy to Kain,
and circled to the old man's front.
Greet properly.
Face to face, right?
That's manners,
and I'm all about manners.
I eyed the wrinkled old face,
"Pleased to meet ya. You the captain?"
Polite as pie.
He's got my lifeline, no point pissing him off.
"Heh, yep. Name's Jack."
Old man replied leisurely.
But,
"......?"
Something off.
Chat flowing, but eyes not meeting.
Not looking at my face,
but past my shoulder,
into empty air.
'......What? Cross-eyed geezer?'
Or dementia, focus gone?
Creeped out, I sidled closer, peering.
And saw.
Cloudy milky film over where pupils should be.
Dull, unfocused gaze.
"Fuck... no way."
I waved hand slow before his nose.
No reaction. Not a blink.
Truly blind.
"Heh..."
Then old man chuckled dryly.
"Wanna check? See if I can see."
"......Duh? Passengers' lives on the line."
I laughed in disbelief.
"How the fuck you sail blind? Huh!?"
"No worries. Eyes gone, but I see the sea."
What bullshit—
Before snapping,
he yanked a rope sharp.
Screech,
flap!
Rag sail caught wind, swelled taut.
"Good breeze. Perfect for west."
Couldn't see,
yet read wind, adjusted sail.
His hands fluid, no waste.
Like one with the ship,
mastering frayed ropes and wheel.
Seasoned vet vibe, weathered.
"Hey, young'un."
"......Yes."
"Don't fret. Sea routes all in my head."
Old man murmured, staring night sea with empty eyes.
"Lived on waves my life. Could sail blindfolded."
Kain patted my shoulder.
"Hear that? Shut up and behave."
"......"
.....
And back to now.
"How the fuck's a blind old coot sailing?!"
"Tch tch, still doubting?"
Kain tsked, exasperated.
"You saw his skill yourself."
"Skill my ass, one sail flap prove shit."
"Know how many years Jack's captained these seas?"
He held up five fingers.
"Fifty at least. Never capsized or lost once."
"......Bull, fifty accident-free? Believe that how?"
"Bet my left arm."
"Already gone, what good's that?"
I scoffed.
Even with vet vibes,
common sense says no.
Sea ain't neighborhood stream.
Storms or waves, donezo.
"Fuckin' scary! Blind! Blind as a bat!!"
!!!!
I bellowed loud for the blind geezer too,
"Kid, appreciate the situation."
Kain flicked my forehead hard.
Then lowered voice,
"Think. Jack can't see, so doesn't know who you are."
"......So?"
"Your face, if it matches the wanted poster. No way to tell."
......Oh?
Ah,
true that?
"Else what."
Kain pointed to distant horizon.
"You'd cram in some shiny ship,
hiding in that sardine-can crate, dodging eyes?"
"......"
"West continent's a month away at least."
Nailed it.
Hours in that box were hell,
a month? Better bite tongue and die.
Plus no other passengers, no prying eyes.
Blind captain, no ID risk.
Honestly, perfect setup.
'Cept rotten ship,
and massive blind captain risk.
"......Fuck, fine."
I raised hands in surrender.
"But... that fifty-year clean record real? I buy it?"
"Think I'd ride to shark bait with you if crazy?"
"Fair, old geezers love life too."
As we bickered,
chill night sea wind gusted.
"Kyaa!"
Noy giggled as hair flew.
Peeking black waves through rails, unafraid, thrilled.
"Catch cold, kid."
I draped my cloak tight over her tiny frame.
No more sickly bullshit.
"......Guess I'll trust it once. No swapping ships now anyway."
I leaned on rail, gazing at the moon.
Damn thing's huge and bright.
Fine, let's roll.
Life's gamble or bust anyway.
That's when.
"Fwew..."
Baekrin approached, refreshed.
Urgency sunk to sea floor, literally.
"Hey."
"......What."
"Wipe?"
"......Wanna die?"
She glared, fist up.
Yeah, that bitchy temper sticks.
I smirked, eyes closed.
Shitty ship, blind captain.
One-armed old fuck, barbaric eastern chick.
Useless brat.
And me, hot looks, prime dick.
No doubt, I'm the MVP waste in this party.
But no choice.
Might as well go all in.
"Let's go. Westward."
This time, no
nagging bitch.
"Urp..."
Just a bit seasick.
Ship sucked ass.