The Pirate Captain's Submission
"You... what the hell are you? You wanna die?"
The man at the front shouted toward Adel, who stood atop the corpse of a pirate pierced through the throat by an arrow.
"Hm? Didn't you come here to kill me?"
"Ah, y-yeah, that's right."
The man nodded awkwardly at Adel's retort.
"What the fuck are you doing right now?! You idiots!! Kill them all!!!"
The man who struck the back of the leading pirate's head screamed. He clearly stood out from the others—dangling from him were what looked like necklaces made from the fingers of those they'd plundered.
"You must be the captain, huh?"
"You landlubbers stuck on the continent should stick to floating your boats on rivers if you wanna play. You think we Yepel pirates fear the sea? Ha!"
His bronze skin and the taut muscles visible through his unbuttoned shirt marked him as someone well-trained.
"Smoke bombs!!"
At his shout, the pirates hurled pouches from their belts.
Pung...!
Pubung...!!
Pale smoke billowed from the thrown pouches. In an instant, the deck was shrouded in fog, visibility reduced to zero.
"Smoke screens in naval combat... You guys are full of surprises."
Chaang--!!!
The sound of a curved sword being drawn rang out.
"Looks like you've got confidence in close quarters. Let's see what you've got."
Adel slowly closed his eyes.
Tadadak...!!
Footsteps approached.
Boooong---!!
A horizontal slash cut through the smoke with a shrill scream.
Kaang!
Kang! Kakakakang--!!
Sparks flashed in the haze. Adel blocked the curved sword aiming precisely for his throat from a blind spot with his bow.
Chak-!
Shiiik--!!
He deflected the sword upward with his bow, dropped to one knee, and drew an arrow from the quiver at his waist.
Shuk--!!!
Like loading a magazine, Adel's hands never stopped—drawing and nocking arrows in a blur.
One shot, two, three, four... He spun a full circle, unleashing a barrage. The arrows rotated, piercing the smoke like bursting air bubbles around them.
"Krak--!!"
"Aaaak---!!!"
Screams erupted from all directions with each arrow's flight.
The bow in Adel's grip trembled faintly.
"Guhk... Keheuk..."
As the smoke cleared from the arrows' wind, pirates lay fallen at his feet—one with an arrow lodged in his waist, still breathing.
"Not dead yet? True to windless sea dwellers. Unlike those who just rely on God's Blessings and charge blindly, you've got real physical prowess."
Adel looked down at the pirate captain, arrow in his waist but clinging to life.
"...You son of a... Uwaaak!!"
The man glared at Adel but screamed before finishing. Adel had grabbed the arrow in his waist and twisted.
"Your name?"
"R-Rito Yepel!!"
"I asked if you were the captain earlier. Why didn't you answer?"
"...Huh?"
Suuk-
"K-Kaaaak!!!"
Without hesitation, Adel yanked the arrow free. Red blood spurted, soaking his clothes.
"Answer quick from now on. Got it?"
"You damn...!!"
Snarling in rage, Rito snatched a fallen curved sword.
"Uwaak!!"
He kicked off the deck like a spring and swung at Adel.
"Oh? More spirit than your average knight."
But an attack that missed even in the smoke had no chance now. Adel sidestepped effortlessly, retreating one step at a time.
Shuk-!
Pakak...!!!
Suddenly, an arrow flew from behind Adel, embedding in Rito's shoulder.
"Guk!!!"
With a dying scream, he dropped his sword.
"Adel!!"
It was Haron's arrow from the ship. Adel nodded and addressed the fallen Rito.
"Listen up. Depending on your attitude, you all die—or all live. Even a dumb pirate knows what to do now, right?"
"Wh-what do you... want?"
"Heard there's a Great White base near your turf. I'm here to meet Rania sis."
"S-Sis?"
Rito realized his mistake.
'Damn... Hien's kid? No wonder the insane combat skills. But why's he on a Dagger Harbor ship? Did the Ulan tribe take Ruinxen?'
His mind raced with possibilities, none clear. Only that Adel could take his head anytime.
"Word is Redfin's done in by sis, and the pirates at Great White's base are you and Dein. That right?"
"Y-Yes!! That's correct. A few small crews, but they're under us—no issue."
"Good. Don't wanna show up to sis empty-handed, so thinking of a gift."
"Anything specific?"
Rito looked up awkwardly, pain shooting through his side and shoulder.
"Why ask? I've already found it."
"...Huh?"
"Was thinking of taking your head."
"H-Ha..."
Rito laughed palely.
"Originally planned to chop both your heads—you and the other pest bothering sis. But changed my mind. I'll take just one."
"Th-that means..."
"Yeah. Could take Dein's head instead. After sparring you, feels a waste to kill your skill."
"For real?"
Color returned to Rito's face.
"So, can you hook me up with Dein?"
"Of course! We're like brothers!"
"...And you're cool with that?"
"What matters more than life? If he dies for me, I'm grateful. Haha!"
Pure pirate logic.
"Fine."
Adel nodded pityingly at his shameless attitude.
"Still time to the archipelago—don't wanna get dragged into bullshit. Handle it yourself."
"...Understood!"
As if you'd really let him live. You'll kill him after he guides you.
'Who knows.'
Adel smirked toward Kalderet.
"Gonu!!! We're heading out!! Come back!"
He shouted toward the opposite pirate ship.
Plung--!!
At Adel's call, Gonu leaped from the ship without hesitation, just like before.
"Tell the rest to sail after us."
"Can't move. Gonu. Killed all. That ship. Empty."
Gonu said cheerfully, like seeking praise.
"Y-You killed them all?"
Rito paled.
'Crazy... More than one monster.'
Over forty pirates aboard. In the windless zone, no God's Blessings—pure strength wiped them out.
"Damn, no joke? Gonu, be honest. You stronger than Faye?"
"Strong. Gonu. Faye. Weak."
"Oh yeah?"
Adel chuckled at his blunt reply.
"Then why under him?"
"Gives tasty food."
"That's it?"
"Land food. Tasty. Gonu. Likes. Sea food. Bad. Fish. Stinky."
Gonu set his spear down and waved his hands.
"Archipelago native hating sea food? Unique guy."
Adel stared in disbelief at the unexpected answer.
"S-Sea folk clan? Crazy... They still exist? Monsters..."
Rito eyed Gonu's webbed hands, accepting his ship's fall as inevitable.
"Know anything about sea folk?"
"Who wouldn't? From the archipelago—they ruled not just Garam but the whole sea long ago. Just stories to me, though."
He stared at Gonu curiously.
"Sea folk surviving... Faye from Dagger Harbor's got skills."
Thwack-
Adel lightly smacked Rito's head as he licked his lips greedily.
"Don't get greedy. Think about your position."
"N-No way."
Rito clutched his head and nodded.
"Gonu. Land food tasty?"
"Tasty."
"Wanna eat tastier?"
"Tastier food?"
"World's best is home cooking. I'll feed you."
But Gonu just tilted his head, not getting it.
* * *
Shaaaak---!!
Nearly ten days after the Yepel pirate ambush, Adel's ship faced no more attacks. Speed increased—they'd reach the archipelago a day early.
"Cr-Kraken? Heard Great White's hunting it... Thought bluff... Mmph."
Kneeling on the deck, hands raised politely, Rito clamped his mouth shut.
"Eek!!"
Moving made his numb legs ache from the prolonged posture—he grimaced.
"Bluff? Hien's kid hears no 'can't'?"
"S-Sorry!! Great White can take the Kraken!! Absolutely!!"
Rito yelled, forgetting pain at Adel's word.
"Dunno. I'll snag the Kraken before sis—that why I'm here, no?"
"...Huh?"
"You know Hien's kids compete. Think I'll lose to sis?"
"..."
Rito looked miserable. He wanted to curse but knew it'd be his last words—swallowed dryly instead.
"Forgive me, but... neither Great White nor you can take the Kraken."
"Why?"
"One of the few surviving ancient beasts. Vicious man-eater, sure... But islanders revere it."
"Two gods rule the sea—why worship a monster over them?"
"Sea’s the forsaken windless zone. Gods of open and dark seas vanished ages ago. But ancient beasts' power endures."
"So you let it eat people freely? Pirates die too—why plunder then? Tsk tsk."
Adel clicked his tongue at Rito.
"Why so sure sis can't hunt it?"
"Windless zone blocks God's Blessings... Great White might not be impossible. But..."
"But?"
"That's just the hunt."
"Something beyond hunting."
Adel nodded, catching on.
"Garam Archipelago's master."
"Right. He wields ancient beast power—won't let Great White hunt freely."
"Hmm..."
One side powerless without blessings, the other backed by ancient power.
"Yeah. That's what I think too."
"...Huh?"
'Sis loses a leg this hunt. But not to the Kraken.'
Shockingly, it was that man who severed it.
"Rania sis is a card I need. Can't let her get hurt."
Adel murmured lowly.
"So I'll take it."
His eyes sharpened.
"The Archipelago King."
For the first time in ages, the hunter's gaze fixed on prey.