My Territory
After a brief stopover at Irdo Island, five of the eleven prisoners were able to return home safely.
With that done, we set course for a small island that didn't even have an official name.
It was the island where Rusha Village sat—a tiny little village.
What can I say? It felt good. Probably just the thrill of knowing I'd soon be scarfing down some shaved ice.
But the moment we reached the village—me and the crew included—we had to stop dead in our tracks.
A shredded pirate flag lay scattered at the entrance.
Fuck, I knew it.
A sigh escaped me involuntarily.
My grip tightened on my sword without thinking.
Back when we first set sail, we had no clue how terrifying the sea could be.
We were just chasing romance, paddling forward with zero prep—no stocked food, no plans, nothing.
Who could've guessed the water would rot on us?
We barely made it to the nearest visible island, but by then we were so parched from dehydration we were all knocking on death's door.
That's the day we met the bingsu uncle.
"H-Hey, people here...! Water, quick!!"
He didn't give a damn about who we were or where we came from—he just handed over water without hesitation.
If we hadn't run into him that day, we'd all be bleached skeletons by now, no doubt.
So yeah, the bingsu uncle was special to us. Family, basically.
"Robert, ya old fart!"
"Oh, Edward!"
Robert, mid-setup for the day's business, spotted me and waved happily.
Running into a crewmate is always a blast. Crew's family, right?
No blood ties, but he saved our asses, so I decided Robert was family.
A pirate who doesn't know grudges ain't a real pirate.
Damn straight.
I plopped down at a table. "Gimme some bingsu."
"Well, damn, crew's grown since last time, huh? You pick up more strays?"
He eyed the prisoners trailing behind us and gave a wry smile.
I just shrugged.
"Strays? Nah, just babysitting. Put all theirs on my tab."
"Sheesh, can ya even call this piratin'? You're one weird bastard. Might as well quit the pirate life altogether."
"You know you're crew now too, right?"
"Haha! That I do."
He boomed with laughter, then turned elsewhere.
"Elise, you've gotten even prettier!"
"Psh, I know~ Didja hear that, Captain? I'm your precious crewmate."
"Jack's... uh, lookin' sturdy."
"Hahaha! High praise, that!"
Ahem— Robert cleared his throat awkwardly.
I get it. Staring straight at Jack's mug can be scary sometimes, even for me.
"...Ah, right. Everyone, sit. Food comin' right up."
See? He bailed.
While Robert prepped the grub, we filled the seats.
That's when Elise, next to me, went stone-faced dark.
Nothing like the playful vibe she'd had chatting with Robert moments ago—pure fury now.
"...The flag was torn up."
"Knew it'd be somethin' like that."
"Sigh, yeah, but seein' it still pisses me off."
Jack scanned the shop interior.
"Ain't just one or two spots busted up here."
Sure enough, up close, violence everywhere.
Hastily patched wood floors, a few cracked lanterns.
Pirates trashin' the place again, no doubt.
"Happens all the time in the Gray Line."
Gray Line.
The so-called gray zone, lawless waters.
Pirates ruled it outright.
No navy reach meant constant skirmishes on the routes—perfect for battle-hardened pirates to dominate.
Lately, territory grabs had gotten brutal, flags stabbed everywhere willy-nilly. Rusha Village was just one casualty.
"Check the flag on the village?"
I asked, arms crossed. Elise answered.
"Yeah. One-Armed Hand Pirate Fleet."
Ah, those assholes. Knew 'em well.
Their captain had a hook jammed where his left arm should've been—looks ridiculous, but they boasted the biggest fleet in the Gray Line.
Oh, and they were the ones whose subgroup snatched the heroine. Busy bastards.
"Their bullshit’s gettin' out of hand."
Jack clicked his tongue.
Spot on. At this rate, every nameless island'd be theirs.
Honestly, their rampage wasn't my problem. Sure, I had a weird hobby of beating bad pirates, but...
The real reason? Pure revenge. Not justice or goodwill.
Who lets some fucker touch their family?
I could beat 'em myself, but someone else? Hell no.
"Stick around here, and those remnants'll show eventually."
"Even if they do, just stragglers. Never seen their flagship once."
True. One-Armed Hand was supposedly over thirteen feet of giant, but rumors said he was a massive pussy.
So we hatched a plan.
Keep killing his goons, and even he'd snap eventually.
His power was that huge fleet—shrink it, and he'd lose territory fights.
A month of regular sweeps around Rusha Village now.
Running into the novel's heroine? Side effect.
"Leave that One-Armed Hand fucker's flag dumped loud and proud at the harbor."
Jack pulled out a spare pirate flag.
"Where we hangin' ours?"
"Higher this time. Highest spot possible."
Mid-chat, Robert emerged from the kitchen with food.
Bingsu included, of course.
"Whatcha yappin' about? Room for one more?"
His words cut off.
He'd spotted our pirate flag.
"...Edward."
His voice dropped low.
"Told ya not to do stupid shit."
I smirked with one corner of my mouth.
"Forgot? I'm a pirate, old man. Someone shits in my territory, why're you mad?"
His face twisted more.
"The One-Armed Hand Pirate Fleet ain't somethin' you can handle! Know how many ships they got?!"
"Don't give a fuck."
He took a breath.
"...Edward, I know you're a softie. Saving you lot's my proudest moment—think I don't get that?"
Calmer now.
"But drop this. They ain't slaughterin' us brutal or anything. No real violence. Just pay the tribute, it's done. No need to risk your neck."
"Tribute? Pay us. This bingsu covers it."
I pointed at his tray.
"You little—"
"—Old man."
Cut him off before the yelling ramped up.
Guy's voice was gettin' too loud with age. Ears'd bleed.
I stood slowly from the table.
Snatched a cup of bingsu from his hand.
"One more time: this is our territory."
I said it clear.
"What pirate sits idle while their turf's invaded?"
Yeah, ours.
First territory our crew claimed.
So quit that mopey face.
Old folks gettin' teary just looks pathetic.
"Jack, hang the flag."
Robert shut up. Released his grip. Bingsu slid into my hand.
"There ya go."
Satisfied grin, back to my seat.
Always hits the spot. No clue how he makes it taste like this. Oh, and Arhen—why's that girl keep glancing over? Unpredictable chick.
That evening.
Arhen suddenly blocked my path.
"...What?"
She still trembled seeing me, but held eye contact.
"...Th-That... um..."
After ages of hemming and hawing.
Was about to ignore and walk past when she finally spoke.
"Are you... really a pirate?"
"Huh?"
What kinda dumbass question is that?
"Can't see this hat? If it ain't a pirate hat, what is?"
I gave her a pitiful look. She gulped.
"D-Don't look at me like that!"
Come to think, her stiff tone from before was gone—sounded kinda familiar now.
"Done with the formalities?"
"J-Just answer! You guys are pirates, right?"
"Look left, right, anywhere—pirates. Already answered."
"Th-Then..."
Ignoring me.
"Why not join our kingdom's navy instead?"
I tilted my head.
"What?"
"Pirates are bad guys. So, navy. You don't seem bad at all."
Head full of flowers. Nickname fits perfect.
I grinned. "Fuck off."
Brushed past her.
Felt her stare on my back. Whatever.
Told me to be a seal or some shit.
Isthan Kingdom even have a real navy? Doubt it. Bringing a pirate along? Instant war.
Gotta ship her back to the male lead somehow. Clearly plottin' my assassination.