Chapter 427
Chapter 427
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 427
Chapter Title: Reincarnated as the Plum Blossom Sword Master in a Count's Family
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Dairan looked at me with a bewildered expression. It seemed she hadn't expected me to take the arrow meant for her.
"Don't stop!"
I shouted while pulling the arrow from my shoulder. Blood spurted from the wound, sending a sharp pain through me, but I had no time to whine.
Dairan gritted her teeth and started running again. I could see her senses sharpening even further.
"Kill them!"
"Throw the nets!!"
Being an Aura Expert didn't make one an invincible monster. Stamina had its limits, and no one could fend off dozens attacking at once. Especially not without proper armor, like us right now.
Luckily, it wasn't an open plain but a village full of obstacles. Our chances of shaking them off and escaping beyond the forest were high.
"Damn it! Where the hell did they hide?!"
"Search! Flip every house if you have to—find them!"
We successfully lost the pursuers. But we couldn't make it to the forest. It had taken too much stamina just to shake them.
"……."
We hid under the floorboards of an old shack, staring at each other in silence.
We couldn't relax with the pirates' footsteps echoing as they searched frantically outside.
Dairan stared intently at my shoulder. The arrow wound was still oozing blood. I hadn't bothered to staunch it.
"……."
Dairan quietly tore a strip from her white shirt. She came over and bandaged my shoulder.
I spoke to her in a low voice.
"It's not a serious wound, so you don't have to."
"I've seen plenty of guys die from 'not serious' wounds like that. This is just first aid—for now. We'll get it properly treated when we get back."
Footsteps nearby made us clamp our mouths shut.
"Damn it all! Where the hell did they go?! The captain's gonna flip out again!"
"We've torn this place apart and nothing. They must've bolted for the forest already... Should we check there?"
"Heard the forest is rigged with traps. Captain said to comb the village instead—no going into the woods."
Creak, creak.
The pirates started ransacking the shack.
Dairan's face grew grave. This was a crisis. If they found the panel leading underground, we'd be done for.
I scanned around and pointed to an old crate in the corner. Dairan got the hint and headed straight for it.
No time to hesitate. We had to act.
She climbed in first, and I followed, squeezing into the cramped space. It was big enough for one, barely for two. Our bodies pressed unavoidably close.
Dairan leaned against the wall, sitting, while I hovered over her like I was pinning her down. We were close enough to feel each other's breath.
Her skin and sweat mingled in a scent that teased me.
"……Don't stand it up there. You know what the situation is, right?"
"Can't help it. How could I not, with a beautiful woman right in front of me?"
Her breasts pressed against me. Corset-bound, they were firm and bouncy. Her thighs brushed my legs.
My erection poked her abdomen.
"Can't you hold back in a situation like this?"
"Guess my vigorous constitution makes it tough."
Footsteps approached again. We fell silent. They must've found the basement and were checking it out.
"Nobody here!"
The pirates' presence faded.
"Phew... Can we get some space now?"
"Yeah. Ugh, my arm..."
Pretending my arm hurt, I dropped my head onto her breast. Its shape, scent, feel—perfection.
"Don't get handsy."
Dairan warned, shoving me off.
We climbed out of the crate. I wanted to stay pressed against her, but there was no excuse. Pushing it would only sour things.
I pulled snacks from my inventory—chocolate pies and sports drinks. Dairan quietly took what I offered and started eating with me.
The chocolate pies were meh, but the cool sports drink hit like ice water in the desert.
"……Why'd you do it?"
Dairan asked.
"Do what?"
"Why save me? Honestly, I don't get it. From your perspective, my death wouldn't matter, right? No need to sacrifice your arm."
"Without you, the plan falls apart."
"Your goal is fame, not some life-or-death grudge against the pirate alliance, is it?"
"I saved you because I wanted to. You're too valuable to die here."
"……."
Dairan gulped down the sports drink.
"Dairan. What're your plans after this?"
"...Remember what I said before? Quit piracy, live on land. Betraying the alliance makes staying a pirate too risky."
Taking out the alliance brass wouldn't end piracy. In months or years, it'd regroup.
"Mercenary work? Word gets out you're ex-pirate, that'd be tough."
Who'd trust an ex-pirate merc?
"Thinking trade. If that's no good, open a general store in some backwater village."
A pirate with sea renown retiring to shopkeeping. Hard to picture.
"You're 28 now, right?"
"So?"
Her eyebrow twitched. She didn't like age talk. Classic old maid trait.
"Come work for me."
"……You want me as your maid?"
She looked displeased.
I'd vaguely pegged her as noble-born. She carried an air of dignity.
"That'd work, but with your skills, navy suits you better. My city's got no navy—that's why I'm handling pirates myself."
"Use pirates as navy? No sane person says that. Hit your head back there?"
It'd tank my rep. Nobles and commoners alike would gossip.
But Dairan was worth it.
"Never seen a pirate as capable as you on these seas. I mean it—I want you as navy."
"……I'll think about it."
Uncharacteristically vague for her. Not because of the arrow, surely.
'She's got attachment to the sea. Spent most her life on it—can't just walk away.'
Time passed.
At dawn, the searching pirates flagged. Peeking out, they were half-assing it. Captains were mustering forces for the forest.
"Dairan. Wanna thin out their numbers a bit?"
I said, twirling my sword.
Pirates exhausted from searching, captains busy prepping. Perfect assassination window.
"No. No need to risk it. Sneak into the forest, back to the ship. Once we're aboard, it's over—they've got no chase boats."
Pirates without ships aren't pirates. They'd loot the village, scrounge vessels. Bandits for months, or turn full-time.
We slipped into the forest and reached the ship undetected. Aura Expert stealth against lax guards? Easy.
"Weigh anchor! Out to sea!"
"Aye, Captain!"
Pirates moved like clockwork. I leaned against the deck wall. Melissa approached.
"Was worried sick about you, Master. Was ready to storm in alone if needed, but glad you're back safe. ...Looks like trouble with the arm—why no potion?"
"Circumstances. Overuse weakens natural recovery."
"Hmph. Who buys that old wives' tale?"
I handed her a potion from inventory.
"...Hm. Master's recovery is impressive. No potion needed—you'll heal scar-free in under a week."
Thanks to my top stat [Vitality].
Melissa poured potion on the wound. Stinging, then itching. In under three minutes, good as new.
"Red Flying Fish Pirates! Don't think this is over! We'll repay this debt—catch you bitches, chop limbs, make sex slaves!"
I glanced aside. Ship passing village; pirates on beach bellowed curses.
Dairan stood proudly at the bow, coat flapping, smirking at them.
"Losers' yapping is music anytime. Gula! Send 'em a parting gift!"
The gift? A blazing fireball.
One shot, and the beach pirates scattered in panic.
I told Melissa beside me,
"Melissa. You send a gift too."
"Gladly."
She grinned, joined Gula, and fired rapid small fireballs.
???
The Red Flying Fish ship didn't return to Uric Island. Instead, it headed for the Silent Sea.
The Silent Sea.
No wind, lake-calm waters.
I was bored, but the lady pirates on deck couldn't relax like usual—tension thick.
"Dairan. Why here?"
"Something to gain. Know this place? Called the Ship Graveyard once. Till 30 years ago, a sea serpent lived here."
"Sea serpent?"
"Giant sea snake. Big enough to coil around ships, they say."
"One like that here?"
I eyed the sea. Still, clear enough to see inside.
A fist-sized fish met my gaze, ignored me, swam off.
"Not anymore. Even long-lived monsters die eventually. Still, forbidden to sea folk. More monsters than elsewhere, curse rumors."
Explained the tension.
In this magic-monster world, wild rumors often held truth. Sea folk especially superstitious.
"So why come?"
"Seabed exploration."
"Huh?"
"Told you, ship graveyard. Sunken wrecks and treasure below. We're salvaging."
"I've given you plenty of gold."
"One alliance exec's nuts for antiques."
Makes sense. Favor-currying job.
"No gear, though. How?"
"……."
Dairan hesitated, then pointed at herself and me.
"...Me?"
"No choice. Seabed's dangerous. Aura Experts—you and me—have to go. Take her too? Nah, better on ship for backup."
Fair enough.
Sea monsters abound; mana-blind normals can't go deep. We Aura Experts could use mana to hold 20 minutes underwater. Air pockets? Longer.
"Always good at working your employer."
"……Hate it? Stay here. I'll go alone."
"Kidding. Let's go."
I've got [Water's Blessing]. Breathe and move free underwater. Perfect for this.
Dairan and I prepped to dive.