Chapter 219
Chapter 219
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 219
Chapter Title: Young Hero's Dignity
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"Baron, you must become a young hero."
Just before launching the operation to rescue the Sirens, Dwayne suddenly said those words out of nowhere.
"What are you talking about?"
"Exactly what I said. In this operation, everyone else moving with you will handle all the dirty work. You just focus solely on rescuing the Sirens."
Wasn't this operation all about rescuing the Sirens in the first place? At first glance, his words didn't quite hit home, but I decided to hear him out a bit more.
Dwayne wasn't the type to spout nonsense without reason.
"Be more specific."
"I told you before, didn't I? As your fame builds, you'll become a juicy target that lets you spread the word about the viciousness of the Archipelago pirates far and wide."
On the day I returned to Banten after quelling the rebellion in the Philador Kingdom, Dwayne had spoken to me. Build your fame, he said. Then the path to the Archipelago would open.
"Baron, you've racked up quite a few achievements so far. And this Siren rescue operation? It's the perfect grand stage for your debut."
Dwayne's eyes gleamed as he gazed at the red-hooded skull flag fluttering on the island.
"The great pirate of Ikenia's southwestern frontlines, the Neptune Pirates. You've smashed this band that's been a thorn in the kingdom's side for ages and saved the suffering Sirens. That's the fame awaiting you from here on out."
I could understand that much. It wasn't something I hadn't considered myself. But why did that mean I shouldn't get directly involved?
Sensing my doubt, Dwayne let out a sigh.
"Haa... Baron, you have this habit of always charging ahead yourself. Not that I'm saying that's inherently bad, mind you. But at least in cases like this where you don't need to step up personally, you should know how to delegate to your subordinates and maintain your dignity."
"Dignity, huh..."
I quietly murmured the word Dwayne had used. Dignity. It didn't seem like something a twenty-year-old should be toting around.
"Baron, you're destined to be the hero who absorbs the Archipelago. It doesn't suit your stature to sweat it out personally just to smash a single pirate band on one frontline when you're not even a commander. So for this one, please focus only on the dramatic rescue of the Sirens. This is truly important."
And now, rewinding to the present, I was experiencing firsthand what Dwayne meant.
"Fay!"
"Elder! Kid! Everyone's safe!"
"Yeah! This big brother saved us!"
The Siren child boldly pointed at me as she replied to Fay's sigh of relief.
The other Sirens rescued alongside the child from the beach were sending warm gazes my way too.
In truth, Beskin had been the one to swiftly deal with the watching pirates, but I was the one who freed them from their restraints and imprinted my face in their minds. So they were busy praising me.
'Is this the dignity Dwayne was talking about?'
It was something I hadn't even considered, but it seemed like something I'd have to factor into my future moves.
As I reunited with the Sirens like that, far out at sea, I spotted sails following in the wake of the Cimarria—ships lined up in tow.
Some were intact, but quite a few were half-sunk or little more than rags.
'Must be the Neptune Pirates' ships.'
Though our group's monstrous strength had crushed them easily, the Neptune Pirates' power was no small thing.
Building that many brigs from scratch in Olivia would have cost a fortune and ages.
In a way, this was a hefty haul of spoils too.
The bounties on the Neptune Pirates were nothing to sneeze at either, so while I felt all warm and fuzzy thinking of the juicy rewards, the Sirens' expressions were ice-cold by contrast.
It was only natural. They'd been driven from their beloved homeland because of those pirates, chased by the Kraken across the western sea, and endured who-knows-what horrors on land.
That sharp reaction from the Sirens peaked when Saladin appeared, leading the other Sirens, Samuel, and the elite pirates.
"Mom!"
"Daughter! Oh, thank goodness you're safe!"
The Neptune Pirates had treated only a few Sirens like "prototype products," shoving them onto the beach, so they embraced each other like long-lost family, grateful to be alive.
As for the rest who weren't reuniting? Their gazes naturally turned to Samuel and the elite pirates kneeling on the ground. It was only human.
Clatter!
One Siren picked up a stone from the beach as if entranced.
"...We have to kill them."
The stone in the Siren's hand, spat out like an obsession, arced toward Samuel.
"Those beasts-worse-than-animals, we need to kill them right here and now!"
"Yeah! Yeah! Kill those bastards!"
Soon, swept up in mob mentality, the Sirens went wild, hurling stones at Samuel and the pirates.
None of us in the group, myself included, tried to stop the Sirens' actions.
Though we'd safely rescued the Sirens from the Neptune Pirates' clutches per Dwayne's plan, that was limited to this incident.
The Sirens toyed with and killed on this beach before we arrived, or those pitifully devoured as Kraken fodder in the western sea.
Their lost lives were, sadly, beyond saving no matter what.
They needed time to vent their misplaced rage anyway, and Samuel or the elite pirates weren't about to die from mere pebbles.
But Fay didn't seem satisfied with just throwing stones.
"We'll toss them into the sea and feed them to the sea monsters!"
Only then did I rein in Fay's actions.
"Sorry, but I can't allow that, Fay."
Fay's reddened eyes turned to me. Was it anger, or tears pooling at the corners?
"We had a deal, remember? Any captured pirates go to us."
After promising to rescue the Sirens for Fay, we'd attached one condition. Everything from the Neptune Pirates' base was ours—including the crew and Samuel, naturally.
"B-but...!"
Fay's hands trembled. He couldn't bring himself to say he'd honor the agreement.
Who could blame him after all that ordeal?
I fully got the urge to execute the betrayers on the spot. However...
'We need too much intel from them.'
Even if we killed them, not right now. So I stayed silent, waiting for Fay's emotions to settle.
"...Hoo."
Slide! Thud!
Fay took a deep breath, dropped the stone from his hand, and asked,
"...Can you promise a fitting punishment—one that satisfies us?"
"Of course."
"Then... fine. It's frustrating, but we'll hold back. We're not the kind of people who break promises over meals like those scum."
As Fay turned to rejoin his kin, he suddenly changed direction, approached me, and held something out.
Swish!
"Take it, human."
A brilliantly glowing blue gem. Its color was so mystical it felt like it could suck you in.
It might pass as just a gem, but even with my experience handling countless jewels in my past life, I couldn't identify it.
"What is this?"
Obviously no ordinary item at a glance, but with no clue of its use, I had to ask the giver directly.
"It's the token of a Siren's friend."
Fay explained.
"I don't know what you land-dwellers think, but the sea is a dangerous place. You don't seem likely to fall to sea monsters or other humans... but even humans are helpless before the ocean's calamities."
He wasn't wrong. Even that seasoned pirate Samuel and the Neptune Pirates had nearly perished in the storm.
"Infuse it with mana and toss it into the sea, and nearby Sirens will aid you without fail. Even at the cost of their lives."
'...!!'
This was an unexpected reward. I'd hoped to pull the Sirens in as allies, but not like this.
"I'd love to repay the benefactors of our kin forever... but thinking of our future, I can't. That's my only regret."
'...?'
Hm?
This could be persuaded with a little nudge...
"Our future? Fay, have you decided your next move?"
I asked Fay instinctively.
"Now that you've dealt with these trash humans, we should naturally return to our homeland, Ithaca... but..."
Fay gave a bitter smile.
"There's no such thing as an eternal secret. Now that humans know of Ithaca's existence, its location will leak eventually. So we need to find a new, unknown nest."
Fay had gained some insight into humans through this ordeal, but to me, he still seemed naive about humans—and pirates' ways.
'No way it's leaked.'
The Archipelago pirates were a massive group under Pirate King Ballak, but really just a collection of big and small bands.
It was a dog-eat-dog world where they clawed over each other to rise. That ferocity was what made them strong, of course.
Pirates from that world wouldn't share goldmine info like a Siren homeland with rivals.
Just as Dwayne predicted, Samuel had ignored his attackers to chase the Sirens first.
Even their king, Ballak, probably wouldn't learn why the Neptune Pirates were wiped out.
In other words, dunk the captured Neptune crew and the secret was safe forever... but
different words slipped from my mouth.
"It's pointless."
"...What?"
"The southern seas right now—pirates are growing bolder, expanding their turf. Even if you find a new nest somehow, it'll be discovered before long."
Fay bit his lip slightly.
"...We'll just have to look harder..."
"No."
I firmly denied Fay, crushing his hope.
"If that were possible, you wouldn't have even considered fleeing to the inhospitable northern seas. Don't fool yourself. You already know the answer."
"......"
As Fay agonized in silence, I prayed inwardly.
'Come on, bite.'
"...Then what? Should our whole clan just wither away in Ithaca?"
Fay's voice rose, anger flaring. As if.
"That's why you should follow me."
"What?"
"Follow me. I'm Olivia's lord. Granting you one island in my territory is no big deal."
A safe nest for the Sirens, premium manpower for me. What a beautiful deal.
"......"
Fay couldn't readily take the hand Jerome offered. It wasn't that Fay hadn't considered it. But his experiences had led him to repay with the gem instead.
What if Jerome betrayed them again?
What if rash judgment plunged the clan into suffering once more?
Such fears blocked Fay's choice.
"Hee hee, what are you agonizing over?"
Pushing Fay's back was none other than the Sirens' leader, Stera.
"Granny..."
"Hee hee, you want to go with them, don't you?"
"......"
Stera patted the back of Fay, who affirmed with silence, and spoke softly.
"No one blames you for helping the pirates. The bad ones are the humans who betrayed, not you for trusting them."
"But..."
"Do those who helped us look like the pirates to you?"
The tip of Stera's pointing finger. There, the humans who'd come with Jerome were treating the Siren children's wounds and playing with them.
Treating them like equals.
"If they meant to enslave us like the pirates, they could've crushed us with force anytime. But they haven't."
Stera gazed warmly at Fay.
"I know how heavily the young leader's responsibilities weigh on you, but stop tormenting yourself. No one resents you."
"...Yes, Granny."
A single tear dropped from Fay's eye, but clearly, my past-life merchant instincts were alive.
'Off to a great start.'
Before even reaching Olivia, the spoils and rewards in hand had me breathless with joy.
With the Sirens' alliance decided, the next morning.
Led by the Cimarria, towing the captured Neptune brigs, accompanied by Sirens swimming below.
We set off for Olivia.