Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Ghost of the Sea (5)
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A bucket of seawater was splashed forcefully onto the face of the Scarred Pirate.
"Gah!"
The pirate, forcibly roused and instinctively twisting his features into a savage scowl, soon realized the predicament he was in.
His body bound tight as a drum, the sailors glaring at him with murderous intent.
And above all, Galen and Lilia standing calmly behind them, watching the scene unfold.
Memories of what happened before he blacked out flooded back, and the pirate's legs began to tremble uncontrollably. Forcing down his fear, he raised his voice.
"Y-You bastards!"
"Who gave you permission to raise your voice, you scum?"
A sailor's club came down mercilessly on the pirate.
He was one of the most vicious among vicious pirates, ruthless enough to captain a crew.
But the sailors weren't much tamer—they just didn't go as far. No reason to fear a pirate who'd been thoroughly subdued. Especially not lately, with their resentment toward pirates burning hotter than ever.
The sailors weren't trained interrogators, but then again, the pirate hadn't been trained to withstand torture either.
"You gonna answer or not, you bastard?"
"Argh! I-I'll talk...!"
"Not enough pain yet! Step on him!"
"Fuck, I said I'd talk—gah!"
Whether it was venting frustration or not, their unrelenting brutality eventually pried his mouth open.
The captain held the highest rank on his ship, so if there were a hundred pirate vessels, he'd rank within the top hundred overall.
A mid-level officer at least, so he knew plenty.
The ship's captain handled questions about existing pirates, while Galen directed those about the new leader suspected to have recently joined.
"N-No more... I don't know anything else... Just kill me..."
The pirate, reduced to a ragged mess, mumbled in a dying rasp. The captain turned cautiously to Galen.
"Uh... as you can see, we can't go any further. He's about to croak."
"Looks that way."
Galen nodded.
Of course, Lilia could revive him if needed, but why waste precious holy power on trash like this?
"Clean him up."
"Aye!"
More tattered than the scars on his original face, the pirate vanished into the sea.
Galen asked the captain,
"How long from here to the Dawn Archipelago?"
"Banan, the largest city in the southwest of the archipelago, is what most consider the main hub. Normally two days from Belpas. If we don't hit any snags in battle, we should arrive by morning the day after tomorrow at the latest."
"Got it. We'll keep heading east then."
"Understood."
"No guarantee everything he spilled is true, so we need cross-verification. Scope out the Dawn Archipelago's situation if we can too. Assume we're heading straight to Banan unless something comes up."
"Aye!"
It was a dangerous voyage through pirate-patrolled waters, but no one flinched.
Galen had dispelled all doubts about his skills by flipping that ship single-handedly.
The captain and crew returned to their posts, and the journey resumed. Truth be told, the ship had been chugging east on its own anyway.
Once alone again, Lilia glanced around and spoke up.
"Where did those people even come from? From what they said, at least one Silver-rank, and seven of that caliber throwing in with pirates?"
"Who knows. If the leader's Gold-rank and offers a solid future, it's not impossible to have six Silver subordinates..."
"Piracy's not exactly a promising career path."
"Something special's at play. No idea what, though."
According to the Scarred Pirate, a group of seven had approached the pirates a few months back.
Six men and one woman.
Pirates out raiding as usual had crossed paths with their ship and gotten plundered instead. The seven then strong-armed the survivors back to base.
Clashes ensued, and the seven mowed down dozens in a flash, proposing a grand pirate alliance. Cowed, the pirates accepted—for now.
Pirates being pirates, loyalty meant nothing; betrayal was always on the table.
But as time passed, the alliance proved surprisingly effective.
Not due to any brilliant tactics, but because the seven took turns aiding raids.
With their prowess slicing through dozens, merchant ships fell easily, profits soared.
The only worry was overplaying their hand and provoking nearby cities too much.
But after wiping out Belpas's fleet recently, pirate confidence had skyrocketed.
"Hmm, the Ghost of the Sea."
Lilia trailed off.
The Scarred Pirate had spoken of the group's sole woman with awe and dread.
In base clashes or raids, only the men fought; she just lounged.
Except once, against Belpas's fleet.
He hadn't seen details, but something unidentified burst from the sea, sinking ships one after another. Eerie wails accompanied each strike.
Every pirate from that battle swore she commanded the sea's ghost.
Sailors loved superstitions, so exaggeration was likely, but Belpas's fleet annihilation was fact—worth watching for.
"No guarantee it's a Magic Warrior then. Could be a water-affinity mage like you, Brother Galen."
"That'd be ideal."
"Huh?"
"No known Gem-rank female water mages."
The saying went: grind effort to Silver, bloom talent to Gold, shine luck for Gem.
Even noble houses rarely produced Gold; Gems were rarities worldwide.
You couldn't sneak up on it without a status window like Galen's.
Unknown meant nonexistent.
"No Gem, no fear. We've got two Golds here."
"True! So just worry if it's a Magic Warrior?"
"Pretty much. If no exaggeration, the power's terrifying... but costly in sacrifices, so not spammable."
"No need to worry too much?"
"Exactly. Even if disadvantaged, we can escape."
Galen chuckled.
"Best if we take them ourselves."
On the way to Banan, they encountered pirate ships nonstop.
Some out for plunder like the first, more patrols as Dawn Archipelago neared.
Every encounter ended the same: plundered. Lilia's once-useless Vanity Inferno proved clutch. Sixteen ships sank to the depths.
The captain, initially thrilled, grew worried.
"Not sure this is sustainable. Who knew pirates could be whipped into this shape."
"The patrols?"
"Yes. Even regular armies aren't this thorough in peacetime. Fixed routes and times mean missing ships reveal breaches. They'll soon know we're heading to Banan. Maybe already do..."
"Isn't that good?"
"...Pardon?"
Galen patiently explained to the baffled captain.
"If they controlled Dawn Archipelago this tight, someone breaking through to Banan would've caused a stir."
"R-Right?"
"They'll react—scouts, pirate swarm, whatever. No seven showing? We mop up leisurely. They do? Recon success. Win-win."
"B-But if they come... the Ghost of the Sea..."
"You'll be on land by then. What's to worry?"
"Eh?"
"Even if they spot the breach fast, we'll reach Banan first. I'll handle from there. Small ship's fine offshore."
"Ah..."
"Didn't bring you for combat. Relax, and tell the crew."
"Got it!"
The captain brightened. Crew, subtly anxious too, perked up at the word.
Around noon, the warship reached Banan.
Harbor smaller and cruder than Belpas, barely qualifying as a city.
No large vessels save small fishing boats. The desolate port was eerie.
"Wh-Where you folks from?"
A few timid locals approached, the warship clearly no pirate craft.
Perfect cure: Galen brought Lilia to the rail.
"From Belpas. Mercenaries investigating the incident. This is our church priest."
"Ooh, Belpas!"
"Welcome, Priestess!"
Her pristine white robes instantly disarmed suspicions—no pirate ties there.
"Does the mainland know our plight?"
"Pirates are going berserk!"
"We'll starve at this rate!"
"E-Easy now. First, the church—anyone show us?"
Locals swarmed from hiding, clamoring. Galen and Lilia soothed them en route.
"You've had a hard journey."
The elderly priest of Banan greeted them.
"From Belpas? Their watch can't be lax..."
"Smashed through."
Galen summarized. Priest seemed skeptical but held back with Lilia present.
"Recon first—need Dawn Archipelago status for Eastern Diocese. What do you know?"
"You saw the harbor. Banan's lost all sea power."
The priest replied grimly.
"Pirates sealed the seas. Our intercepting fleet? Annihilated. Then they stormed the port, smashing or stealing everything."
"Pirates still on the island?"
"No, they withdrew. Not us driving them— they left. With plunder."
"Hmm..."
"Some families wiped out too. Show of force or grudge, butchered horrifically. Banan's top house."
"How could they!"
Lilia clenched her fists in outrage. The priest sighed heavily.
"Archipelago-wide? Sorry, no clue. Cut off from other islands. But none faring better than Banan. Prolonged blockade... many won't survive winter."
"Need to resolve fast."
Galen nodded gravely.
Comforting the teary-eyed priest, they left.
"Lady Lilia."
"Yes."
Galen patted the unusually downcast Lilia.
"Focus on holy power recovery today. No training."
"Okay."
"I'll rest fully too."
Galen murmured low.
"Tomorrow might drag on."
Next morning.
As Galen and Lilia ate breakfast in the church dining hall,
"M-Mage! Priestess!"
The captain burst in, panting.
"Offshore! Pirates swarming like dogs!"