Mad Dog Edward: The Sea Is Vast
The sea is vast.
Didn't our ancestors believe there was a massive cliff beyond the endless horizon? This place was no different.
The ocean was the most terrifying place—and the greatest. It was an era when even the gods were thought not to hold sway over its domain.
That's why no civilizations dared dream of conquering this vast expanse.
Only the Valtor Empire had opened the age of sail.
In other words, anywhere the empire's reach didn't extend was the sea in its raw, natural state. The Valtor Empire dubbed this region the Gray Line—or, in plainer terms, the lawless zone.
"—Brace for impact!"
The shout hadn't even finished when the bow slammed home.
—BOOM!!!
It was a thunderous crash. The thud of timber on timber reverberated right through the hull.
The shock sent every sailor on deck lurching forward. Some grabbed ropes; others tumbled head over heels.
Only I kept my footing, sprinting along the grappling hook lodged in the enemy deck.
Below the rope, I could see the enemy crew.
"That black captain's hat... no way..."
"M-Mad Dog!!"
"The Mad Dog's here! Block him!!"
What's the most important thing in battle?
Seizing the momentum.
Capture the momentum, and your crew's morale skyrockets. Dominate the momentum, and you've got a ninety percent shot at victory.
Momentum makes or breaks the fight.
And if there's a way to grab it in one fell swoop?
—Thud!
Simple: take out the enemy's boss.
I landed smack in the middle of their ranks and scanned with my eyes.
There he was—the one in the captain's hat. He'd practically advertised himself, saving me the trouble.
I tightened my grip on my cutlass.
"Kill everyone who doesn't drop their weapons!!"
I cleaved through the foes blocking my path and bellowed.
The once-still sea began to churn. The rocking hulls whipped up waves.
Enemy and ally tangled in the melee.
Blades clashed; gunpowder stench mingled with the metallic tang of blood wafting over the deck.
Then the captain holding the rear turned beet red.
"You fucking bastard! You think the grand captain'll let this slide?! You can't tell me you don't know One-Armed Hand Locke while pirating in the Gray Line!!!"
I'd love to see that prick.
Wonder how many more of his men I gotta drop before he crawls out.
I've half-sunk three of his ships already, and the bastard still won't show.
Anyway, about thirty paces separated me from that captain. More than thirty goons blocked the way—no time to waste.
I shot a glance at Jack.
He raised his sword and yelled.
"Rear guard, advance!"
"Clear a path to the captain!"
The front-line assault wave pulled back, and the second line surged forward from cover.
No contest between their wild brawlers and our disciplined, rotating crew.
Soon enough, a lane opened on both flanks.
Perfect.
—Crackle!
I kicked off. Electricity surged through my body.
In a blink, I was on him.
His eyes bulged.
"...What? When the hell did you—"
—Slash!
His jaw didn't finish the sentence before his head parted from his torso.
Too easy.
I snorted and grabbed his hair amid the battlefield chaos.
Calmly, I asked,
"We done here?"
An eerie silence fell—astonishingly swift.
The raging waves stilled; the headless grunts dropped their weapons one by one.
Before I knew it, they were on their knees, staring up at me in awe.
We trussed up the surrendered lot and set sail for Rusha Village again.
"Hah! Can't believe my eyes no matter how many times I see it, shu! Witnessing magic like those high-and-mighty nobles use!"
One of the crew sidled up, flailing dramatically as he yapped.
"Bet you're the only one in the Gray Line who can wield magic, Cap'n!"
"It's not magic—it's an ability."
Least, that's what I wanted to believe.
The ability's name? Lightning Ability...
"Oh come on, Cap'n. Time to quit with those nicknames. Makes it awkward for us."
Elise sighed, butting in.
That little shit.
"Ow! Why'd you hit me?!"
Hand slipped.
Elise clutched her head and whispered,
"...Mad Dog."
"What'd you say?"
But seriously—calling a guy Mad Dog?
The One-Armed Hand remnants started dubbing me that after I kept wiping their stragglers.
Pirates, go figure—stuck with some dumbass nickname.
I turned and glared at the prisoners trailing behind.
"...Gulp."
They flinched.
Elise doubled over laughing.
"Pfft—ahaha! See? Total Mad Dog. They're terrified~"
"Don't sweat the glare, Cap'n. Suits ya fine, shu."
"Fuck, Jack, even you?"
Whatever. Didn't matter what they called me.
Having them see me as a monster? Music to my ears.
To lure out One-Armed Hand, I needed to rule the Gray Line through fear.
Realized wiping remnants wouldn't faze the bastard one bit.
So better to spread my name far and wide.
Even a coward like him couldn't ignore our growing influence forever.
...Still, Mad Dog stung a bit.
Couldn't I get something cooler? Like Emperor of the Gray Line?
Lost in lame thoughts, we reached Rusha Village.
"Whaddaya do with the prisoners, shu?"
"Spare the ones who surrender for real. Rest go overboard."
"We'll tie 'em to that tree for now, shu."
"Yeah."
I nodded and slung a sack from the rear crew over my shoulder.
It was stuffed with loot from their stores.
"Supplies secured, more or less."
Elise beamed, eyes sparkling at the sack.
I shrugged.
"Gotta pay our tabs anyway."
"Eeeeng..."
Sorry, but not all ours.
We owed Robert dozens of tabs already.
"There'll be leftovers, though. Those we keep."
Elise nodded eagerly.
"You're heartless as ever, Cap'n. That's a pirate for ya!"
"Hah, right?"
Pirate—felt good hearing that.
Edward, you sounded like a real pirate just now.
We dumped the sack at Robert's shop. His eyes went wide.
"What's all this?"
"Overdue tabs."
Robert chuckled dryly.
"Always overkill with you kids."
"Don't worry, old man. I ain't digging dirt for pirate funds."
Meaning: we'd be mooching more.
Watch me—gonna bleed this place dry to the bone.
"Whip up some food. Meat if you can."
"Comin' right up."
Robert shook his head like he'd given up arguing and headed to the kitchen.
I chugged the beer on the table while waiting.
That's when someone sat across from me.
"...Thought about what I said last time?"
Arhen Isthan.
Told her to roam free during the fight, but here she was, waiting?
No way she'd camped out here. I don't like clingy girls.
Maybe that's why I crossed my arms and slouched defiantly.
"Told you to fuck off."
"F-Fuck...! D-Don't use such vulgar words...!"
Her reaction made me wanna push harder.
"What's wrong? Never seen a dick before?"
"Eek! D-Di...!"
Arhen's face burned crimson. She fanned herself frantically.
Makes sense—she's from a romance fantasy, girl-targeted genre. No way she's used to crude talk.
Too bad. I'm a pirate.
I leered, and she cleared her throat loudly.
"Ahem! Anyway. Why not?"
"What."
"The navy. Honestly, you don't fit pirate life at all. I've watched you a bit."
I rubbed my temple at her words.
What was she on about? Who fits pirate better than me?
"Just now, too. You showed kindness to the shopkeep, right?"
"Just paid a tab."
"Never heard of a pirate settling tabs so diligently from Father."
Arhen's gaze turned serious.
"...Edward, was it? Like I said before, pirates are bad."
Most are.
I didn't kid myself into thinking I was good.
Pirates do whatever the fuck they want, laws be damned. Nothing new.
"So better to follow the law and operate legit. Right?"
The law.
Yeah, laws matter. Without 'em, civilization crumbles.
But here's the thing.
I'd never once seen the law work properly.
Woke up on a drifting wreck, remember?
First landfall? An unnamed island like this one.
No law there.
No strength, you get robbed. Freedom? Crushed.
People chase freedom, sure. But I'd seen too many lose it just 'cause they were weak.
That mighty imperial navy? Stays in their turf. Gray Line? Ignored.
Other nations any better? Nah—they treat us like another species.
So who protects those the law ignores?
Who guards a guy like Robert, slaving all day for one meal?
Funny, a pirate pondering this shit.
I smirked.
Arhen thought I was mocking her and timidly furrowed her brow.
"Wh-What's so funny?"
"Nothin'."
I said,
"One question."
"What?"
"Has the Isthan Kingdom ever cleared pirates from the Gray Line? Even once?"
"...Well."
Of course not. Too far from their turf.
"What about that mighty Valtor Empire?"
"..."
That's why it's the Gray Line.
Preaching law in a lawless zone. Hilarious.
"This Rusha Village is my turf. Mine alone."
I declared.
"Soon it'll belong to my crew outright. And I won't forgive anyone who touches what's mine."
I stared straight into her trembling eyes.
"Isthan Kingdom or Valtor Empire—doesn't matter."