Volume 4 Chapter 33-2 The Ghost Ship and the Guiding Shadow on the Waves
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Lifia sensed it.
This one’s different from the skeletons we’ve faced before… much stronger.
”Let’s go.”
We took a deep breath and readied ourselves.
Then I kicked down the captain’s quarters door.
The heavy door screeched and flew off its hinges, revealing the room inside.
It was a captain’s cabin, as grand as the door, adorned with lavish decorations.
But there was no time to admire it.
The owner of the room was right there.
He wore a large, triangular hat and a tattered black cloak.
His shoulders were adorned with epaulets, golden embroidery shining.
A cutlass hung from his waist.
In one hand, a pistol.
And in the hollow of his skull, eerie, bluish magical light flickered.
He was a skeleton, but not just any skeleton ── the captain of a ghost ship.
The skeletal captain moved, the clattering of his bones echoing.
He rose from his chair, drawing his cutlass.
’My… treasure… no one can…’
A chilling voice echoed through the room.
The battle on the ghost ship’s deck, against the skeleton captain, had begun.
”Altair Ray!”
Yomi unleashed a beam of magic.
The flash of light tore through the air, heading straight for the captain.
But the skeleton captain reacted swiftly, twisting his body to dodge the beam.
As he fell into a roll, he immediately raised his pistol and fired.
Bullets were coming at us fast.
”Wind Wall!”
Lifia cast a spell in an instant.
A barrier of air blocked the incoming bullets.
”Ha!”
Kéa lunged, striking fast.
The cutlass clashed with Kéa’s blade.
The sound of metal on metal rang out.
Kéa followed up with another strike.
This time, the captain blocked with the barrel of his gun.
But now, both of his arms were occupied.
”Now!”
I didn’t hesitate.
I lunged forward.
I focused, aiming for the perfect strike.
My sword was on course to cut through his chest.
’Kahaha!’
The eerie laugh echoed again.
In that instant, the captain kicked my torso with terrifying strength.
”Ugh!”
The impact knocked the breath out of me for a moment.
The captain took a step back, using the recoil to create distance.
”Wind Bind Circle!”
Lifia’s magic took effect.
Vines of wind wrapped around the captain’s legs, trapping him in place.
’Kah!?’
Panicked, the captain aimed his pistol at Lifia.
”Mana Weave!”
But before he could fire, Yomi cast her magic.
A net of light shot out, binding the captain from head to toe.
The captain swings his cutlass, aiming to slice through the net of light.
But we’re not the kind to miss an opening like that.
”Now!”
”Aye, sir!”
Kéa and I dive in at the same time.
Two blades, one sword, crossing paths.
A single flash, and the captain’s neck and torso are severed.
His bony body is sliced clean through, and his head soars into the air.
The decapitated body crashes to the floor with a thud, the skull rolling away.
The cutlass and gun fall with a clatter onto the deck.
And then, the captain’s bones begin to crumble into dust.
The remnants of his bones vanish, as if scattered by the wind.
With the captain’s remains gone, the area is left in complete silence.
”Phew… it’s over.”
We exhale and lower our swords.
”That was a tough fight.”
”Yeah, he was impressive.”
Was that guy the guardian of this 5th floor?
There’s no sign of stairs leading to the next floor…
If not, maybe he was just a mid-boss.
”Hm? That’s still not gone.”
Yomi’s words make me look, and sure enough, the cutlass and gun the captain had are still there.
I pick them up to inspect.
The cutlass has a blackened steel blade, adorned with ancient decorations, and the hilt is marked with an anchor emblem.
The gun is a silver revolver, intricately decorated, its barrel faintly glowing with magic.
It pulses with a subtle magical aura.
”I can feel the magic. It’s probably a magic weapon.”
Lifia says, eyes fixed on the gun.
A pirate captain’s weapons.
These aren’t ordinary items.
Whatever effect they have, they’re definitely valuable spoils.
Let’s take them.
We can examine them later.
I toss the cutlass and gun into my magic bag.
For now, we need to search the captain’s quarters.
We step into the captain’s quarters.
The room is as lavishly decorated as expected.
Chairs and tables trimmed with gold.
The walls are adorned with faded maps, routes traced over the years.
Thick logbooks and worn books fill the shelves.
”Whoa, so many books!”
Yomi reaches out eagerly toward a book.
But──
”Huh, wait, this is bad!”
The book in her hands crumbles into dust, falling apart.
Seems like it’s been weathered by time and salt air.
Nothing legible remains.
”Don’t worry about it.”
I comfort a deflated Yomi and continue the search.
And there, in the back, is a particularly eye-catching box.
The wood was adorned with golden decorations, and the keyhole was framed with intricate carvings.
It couldn’t look more like a ‘treasure chest’ if it tried.
”Here goes…”
Carefully, I opened the chest.
Inside, there was a small, golden compass.
Just the right size to fit in the palm of my hand.
”…Just a compass?”
The moment I muttered those words, the compass needle started spinning wildly.
As if searching for something.
”Could it be showing the way to something?”
I held it tight, eyes locked on the needle’s movement.
After spinning for a while, the compass needle suddenly stopped, pointing firmly in one direction.
As if to say, ‘Go this way.’
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply