Volume 4 Chapter 73-2 The Truth About The Pirate： The〇〇Ship
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The pirates’ hideout. And there, among them, were civilians.
”Are there people trapped here?” Korukona’s voice, once so calm, now cracked with tension.
Her face twisted in a pained grimace, a mix of anger and helplessness stirring beneath her steady facade. The thought of others suffering the same fate—could it be? Her voice trembled as she spoke, almost against her own will. It wasn’t just someone else’s problem for her. This was deeply personal.
What should they do?
On the surface, the answer seemed simple: the captives would be rescued, and the pirates would be dealt with. The navy would, of course, restore order. But this assumption came with a dangerous precondition: that the navy was trustworthy. What if they weren’t here to rescue? What if they were here to cover up the truth? In that case, the captives’ fates would be grim indeed.
”What’s the current situation?” I asked.
”The marines are pushing in, but the pirates have barricaded themselves inside. The civilians are hiding behind them,” Rozmiaque answered.
So, the presence of hostages was slowing the assault. It wasn’t ideal, but it meant one thing: they intended to save the civilians. Good. That was all that mattered right now.
”The commanding officer has landed and is taking charge at the frontlines,” Rozmiaque continued.
I thought for a moment. If we didn’t know what was happening, we could always ask the one in charge.
”Lifia, play ‘Siren’s Harp’. Put everyone—marines, pirates, and hostages—into a deep sleep,” I ordered.
”Yes, Master.”
Lifia walked over to the harp in the center of the hall. She strummed the strings, and a soothing melody filled the air. The soft, silver-blue notes carried far beyond the walls of the hideout, sweeping across the battlefield like a quiet breeze, lulling everything to sleep.
The tune stretched out into the open sea, sweeping past the military ships and pirates’ den. Every corner of the island fell under its enchantment.
A few moments later, Rozmiaque reported. “Everyone’s asleep.”
”Good. Let’s move,” I said. “Korukona, stay here and rest.”
She had just swum a long distance; a bit of rest was needed. But she shook her head.
”I’m coming with you. I can’t rest without knowing the truth!”
Her voice was strong, unyielding. Despite her weariness, I could see the fire in her eyes, the need to uncover the truth. Reluctantly, I nodded.
Though she was weak, she wasn’t the only one who had risked everything to reach this point. And anyway, everyone else was asleep. It would be fine.
I left Lifia behind to continue playing the harp, ensuring the spell held. Then we crept silently toward the hideout.
We felt the soft white sand beneath our feet and climbed the jagged rocks that led to the hideout. The terrain was harsh, but it didn’t matter to us—not after everything we’d endured. We’d leveled up in dungeons and strengthened our bodies for moments like this.
Korukona moved swiftly beside me, her beastfolk agility making her as light as a shadow.
Then we saw them—marines lying scattered across the coast. Some were asleep with weapons still in hand, others still clutching their shields. The scene was surreal, as if some magical illness had struck them all at once.
”There,” Rozmiaque pointed.
Ahead, standing tall in ornate military garb, was a man. An officer—senior by the looks of his rank—clearly in charge of the operation. His face was lined with age and wear, and his uniform gleamed with authority.
Rozmiaque moved, and vines stretched out from the ground, creeping toward the man’s face, gently covering his eyes.
I stepped forward, tapping him sharply to stir him awake. He groaned, disoriented.
”Where… am I?” His words slurred.
”Wake up,” I commanded.
”Who… who are you?”
”Answer my questions.”
”Y-yes…”
His confusion was a sign that his mind wasn’t fully alert. He’d answer truthfully, or at least enough to tell us what we needed to know.
”Why are you here on this island?” I asked.
”The communication with the pirate leader was lost. Either he betrayed us or died. I… I needed to cover up the evidence…”
”So you were working with the pirates?”
”Yes… we’re privateers. Attacking demon nations and neutral states…”
Privateers—state-sanctioned, or at least allowed, pirates. This was part of some larger war operation.
”Why attack your own villages?”
The man hesitated, his face contorted in guilt. “If we only attacked enemy nations, it would raise suspicion. To cover our tracks, we had to hit our own people…”
He spoke with an eerie calmness, almost as though justifying the unforgivable.
”The pirates… they were getting out of control. I had plans to get rid of them, soon…”
Korukona’s shoulders trembled as she listened, but she didn’t shout. No, her hands clenched into fists, shaking with quiet rage.
”So this is the truth,” she muttered.
Her eyes burned with anger, but deeper still was a sorrow that I knew all too well. She’d been betrayed by the kingdom she’d sworn to protect. The weight of this truth, so heavy, was unbearable for her.
I continued questioning him.
”What about the hostages? Are you going to save them?”
He took a moment to think, then muttered, “One… I’ll save one. The son of a councilor from Free City… He’s useful for negotiations.”
Free City, the neighboring kingdom. That made sense.
”And the others?”
”They’re expendable. We need to silence them before they testify.”
Korukona stepped forward, her voice trembling with quiet fury. “You can’t be serious…!”
Her words weren’t shouted, but the pain was clear—an anguish that anyone who’d been in her shoes would understand. She could have been one of those victims, too.
I placed a hand on her shoulder, grounding her.
”We’ll save them,” I said, my voice firm.
She nodded, quietly. “We will…”
I inhaled deeply, turning to the others.
”We save everyone. Understood?”
They all nodded without hesitation.
With no more doubts, we advanced deeper into the hideout. The time for hesitation was over.
Notes:
• Korukona – A cat-eared girl with amber eyes. She is brave but vulnerable, showing honesty and gratitude. Taro rescues her from the pirate and plans to send her to her village.
• Rozmiaque – High-ranking elf investigating large-scale Spirit Magic usage. Condescending, believes a High Elf is involved. Uses 6-letter Spirit Magic to trap targets. Displays contempt for half-elves and humans. Aggressive interrogator, possibly capable of sensing hidden information.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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