Unmoor — Chapter 1 (Part 2)
by BrieLetting out a shallow sigh, Astric sank deeper into the tub. The warm water rose nearly to his nose, but he continued thinking, his face blank, as if he felt nothing at all.
Meanwhile, the staff member who had guided Astric to the bath was still lingering nearby. After quietly listening for any sounds from within, he moved stealthily and stopped in front of Astric’s room.
“If he’s navy or nobility, the harbor’ll get noisy.”
Muttering under his breath, the staff member pulled out a key and opened the door. Inside the room, Astric’s belongings amounted to little more than a single bag and a few sets of clothes.
Still, even such trivial items couldn’t be ignored. The staff member began unfolding and inspecting each piece of clothing Astric had arranged, checking for anything unusual.
“…Nothing.”
There was nothing remarkable to be found. It was no different from the baggage carried by people merely passing through the harbor or dreaming of becoming pirates. After standing there for a moment in thought, the staff member headed for the bed.
“Don’t tell me it’s hidden here.”
He checked under the pillow, beneath the sheet, and even under the bed, but found nothing suspicious. Scratching his head with a puzzled expression, he put Astric’s belongings back in order and left the room.
Thinking that Astric was probably neither navy nor nobility after all.
About ten minutes later, Astric returned to his room feeling refreshed after his bath. He casually reached for the doorknob, then froze.
‘I definitely locked the door when I left.’
Someone had been in the room while he was bathing. It was careless, but then again, this was a harbor occupied by pirates. Astric was glad he had taken the papers with him to the bath.
He stepped inside, closing the door slowly, his gaze sharp. Standing near the entrance, he scanned the room, checking for traces of an intruder. His clothes were arranged differently than before, his bag had been moved, and even the bedding was slightly disturbed.
If he had gone with his original plan and left the paper under the sheet…
‘I’d have been caught for sure.’
He wouldn’t have even gotten the chance to see Valerius. He would’ve been quietly disposed of by the man’s subordinates, without a sound or a trace. Astric pressed his palm firmly against his pounding chest and sat on the edge of the bed, pulling the paper out from where he’d hidden it on his person.
If he wanted to avoid suspicion, he would need to be several times more careful than he already was.
Taking a short, steadying breath, Astric pulled the paper from its envelope and unfolded it. First things first, he needed to eliminate one obvious liability. He planned to memorize everything written on it before heading to the tavern, so he fixed the text firmly in his mind.
He had already read the information about Crimson Harbor and Perig, the man in charge of recruitment. Next came learning who the key figures within the pirate crew were.
Astric’s eyes began to move quickly across the page.
There were quite a few names listed. He scanned the brief descriptions, one by one.
Resh was listed first.
He was described as the captain Valerius’s right-hand man, practically his aide. He had brown hair, green eyes, and bronze-toned skin. Known for his kind and approachable nature, he had many followers within the pirate crew.
So, Valerius’s aide. That meant Resh was someone quite close to Valerius. If Astric managed to get on friendly terms with him, he would be useful in many ways. Not only would he know the inner workings of the crew, he would also be familiar with confidential matters. That alone made him someone worth suspecting as a possible intermediary with Willian. Astric turned the page, running calculations through his head.
The next page listed names: Sheniba, Desmond, and Lewin. Like Resh, they also seemed to be fairly close to Valerius. That put them on the list of possible collaborators as well. After skimming the brief descriptions, Astric turned the page again.
Croc was next.
A vicious pirate within Disheptator. He usually moved around with Kinta and Ivan. He enjoyed harassment, contempt, and violence, and frequently bullied new recruits. His right eye was missing, so he always wore a black eyepatch.
Kinta followed.
Another vicious pirate within Disheptator. He traveled with Croc and Ivan and bore a long scar across his cheek. Though he belonged to the same group, his standing was lower than the other two.
Ivan came last.
A vicious pirate within Disheptator, the leader of Croc and Kinta. He was large-framed, thick-boned, and an intimidating opponent in any fight. Taciturn and expressionless, he thought differently from ordinary people. He rarely acted directly, but still wielded considerable influence within Disheptator.
A group that harassed and brutalized their own crewmates despite belonging to the same crew. They couldn’t be ruled out as potential collaborators, but something about them felt off.
It would be best to keep as much distance from them as possible. Astric already knew too well how troublesome it was when strange people latched onto him after learning he was a discarded heir with no backing. He would need to be especially cautious.
The memory of Kenny’s damned friend, who used sword training as an excuse to rake him with unpleasant looks, still made his stomach churn. That man had once been his swordsmanship instructor. Since Astric had been learning in secret behind Willian’s back, he’d had no choice but to endure it quietly, and the resentment still burned.
And this wasn’t land, but a pirate ship out at sea. The level of harassment and violence wouldn’t be mild. Did they even have rules among themselves? Or was it simply that fists mattered more than rules on a pirate ship. Astric’s expression darkened as he turned the page.
Valerius.
At last, it was the page containing information on Valerius, the captain of Disheptator.
Just as Astric was about to read it with tense focus, he noticed the sky outside had begun to darken. He sprang to his feet. It was nearly time for Perig to appear at the Courtney Tavern.
Astric folded the papers and hid them inside his clothes, then hurried out of the room. When he reached the first floor, he spotted an inn employee bustling about and approached him.
“Excuse me, do you know where the Courtney Tavern is?”
“The Courtney Tavern? It’s right across from the docks. The cook there is excellent. If you’re looking for a place to eat, it’s a good choice.”
“I see. Thank you.”
Astric gave a brief nod and left the inn. He didn’t fully trust the information. After all, this was the same person who had suspected him of being navy or nobility and searched his belongings. There was a good chance he’d been given false directions. Still, there was nothing to lose by checking.
Following the directions, Astric headed toward the docks at a brisk pace. The closer he got, the louder and rowdier the area became.
“Did you hear about Gant? Lost his money again today, apparently.”
“Hahaha! Again? At this rate he’ll be begging in the streets soon. After strutting around bragging about joining Disheptator, this is what he gets.”
“I heard he borrowed money from Hansman yesterday.”
“There’s a reason Disheptator kicked him out. Gambling’s rotted his brain, so he’s been borrowing from everyone in sight. Valerius wouldn’t keep someone around who drags Disheptator’s name through the mud.”
Several groups were gathered near a building, talking loudly. Astric checked the sign hanging above them.
“…Courtney Tavern.”
The same place he’d heard about at the bar earlier. It seemed the inn employee had given him accurate information after all. Astric swallowed dryly and stepped inside.
The moment he opened the door, dozens of eyes turned toward him. After a brief, probing silence as they sized him up from head to toe, the chatter resumed.
Feeling the blunt weight of the pirates’ gazes, Astric clenched his fists, his body going stiff. After a short, steadying breath, he forced himself to act casual and scanned the tavern for Perig.
‘Short black hair down to the shoulders, black beard around the philtrum.’
As he looked around based on the description, he spotted a man matching it perfectly entering the tavern.
“Hey, Perig. Here for another drink today?”
“Perig, you old drunk. Planning to empty the place again? Drink in moderation, you sot.”
“Haha. I’ve been drinking in moderation lately. You lot should try it.”
Now that he’d confirmed the man was indeed Perig, Astric didn’t hesitate and walked straight over.
“Hello, Perig.”
“What’s this. Don’t recognize your face… who are you?”
“I came because I want to join the Disheptator pirate crew.”
Perig raised an eyebrow at that. He scratched at the large mole on his right cheek and replied flatly.
“I don’t know how you figured out to come find me, but it’s not recruitment season right now. Even if you came all this way, there’s nothing I can do for you.”
“Don’t be so difficult and just take him in, Perig.”
“When did I ever say you could talk to me like that? I’m telling you, it’s not recruitment seaso… Resh? What are you doing here?”
Perig, who had been waving him off, widened his eyes at the voice behind him. Resh suddenly appeared at his back, draping an arm over his shoulder as he looked down at Astric.
“Name?”
“…Ente.”
“Alright, Ente. Welcome to Disheptator. I’m Resh. I work directly under the captain. You can think of me as his aide.”
Meeting Resh right away. He was lucky.
Astric swallowed and managed an awkward smile. Watching the scene in disbelief, Perig exploded.
“Hey! You can’t just decide that on your own! How can you take someone in without knowing what kind of guy he is? And the captain entrusted recruitment decisions to me!”
As Perig shouted, his face contorting, Resh leaned in closer and lowered his voice.
“Perig, because of Croc, three new recruits we picked up last month ran away. We’ve got to fill those spots, don’t we? And look at him. He’s young, easy on the eyes, and he showed up at just the right time. It’d be a waste to let him go. Besides, since when did we ever get picky about who we take in?”
“Seriously, it’s always that bastard Croc causing trouble. …Fine. I get it. But if anything goes wrong, you’re taking responsibility, Resh. I want no part of it. You explain it to the captain too.”
“Do whatever you want. The captain’s already approved it anyway.”
Resh smiled with his usual easygoing face, dropped his arm from Perig’s shoulder, and straightened up. When Astric looked up at him with tense eyes, Resh burst out laughing.
“Hahaha! You look like you’re scared stiff. Ente, if you’re going to become a pirate, you’d better do something about those rabbit-like eyes first. Our captain hates men who tremble like cowards the most.”
For a pirate, his tone was oddly friendly. But it was usually people like this who hid a cruel side. There was a noticeable gap between the Resh Astric had read about and the Resh standing in front of him now. He seemed kind, yet something about him felt off. Being cautious wouldn’t hurt.
Astric studied Resh quietly before answering a beat later.
“Ah, I was just surprised. I was feeling pretty discouraged when I heard it wasn’t recruitment season, so… I didn’t expect to be accepted.”
“Yeah, consider yourself lucky. Normally we put people through a strict selection process, but this Resh bastard just barges in and ruins everything. …Tch, whatever. No point complaining now that the water’s already spilled. Forget it.”
“Come on, Perig. Sometimes you need a lucky day like this. Stop getting so worked up. Or what, want to have another drink with me?”
“Drink while looking at that greasy face of yours? Ha! I’d rather drink myself to death.”
“What, Perig, are you backing down because you think you can’t beat me at drinking? Wow. Guess the nickname ‘Perig the Boozehound’ is a thing of the past now.”
“What? Me lose to you in a drinking contest? Hey, Courtney! Bring a whole crate over here!”
Provoked by Resh’s shrugging remark, Perig hurriedly ordered more alcohol. Watching the commotion, Astric shook his head and turned away. Resh leaned in and offered advice in a low voice.
“On board, clothes and hygiene supplies are always in short supply. Bring matches too. Oh, and get yourself a dagger. You’ll need to protect yourself, at least. Depending on the situation, having a book or two isn’t bad either. We’ll see you in two days, in the morning, Ente.”
Resh felt like someone with two faces, but at least on the surface he seemed willing to look out for him. Astric nodded at his words and left the Courtney Tavern. There should be a small marketplace inside the harbor, so he could buy what he needed there.
Once outside, Astric wandered around in search of the shops. After roaming the harbor, which turned out to be larger than it looked, for several dozen minutes, he finally found a street lined with stores selling weapons, books, clothing, and general goods.
He quickly straightened his disheveled clothes and stepped into the narrow street.
“….”
After buying supplies from a general store, Astric was about to head straight to the weapons shop when his legs stopped abruptly. He had nearly collided with a large man standing at the entrance of the weapon shop. The man had hair like a deep, dark sea and golden eyes that gleamed like a beast’s, his appearance so striking it felt like he’d stepped out of a painting.
It was a face that didn’t belong in a pirate den, and the contrast startled Astric.
The man, who had been exiting the weapon shop, paused when he noticed Astric standing there and briefly cast him a glance. Astric flinched when the man, who had been looking at him with disinterest, tossed out a question.
“Do you need something from me?”
“N-no. Sorry.”
After muttering that, Astric bowed his head and fled the marketplace as if running away. He’d been the one staring first, only to bolt like that. The embarrassment made him want to forget dinner altogether and run straight back to the inn.
The man watched Astric disappear with a bland expression, then resumed walking. Resh had been making a fuss all day about recruiting a new member for the ship, so he’d been on his way to the tavern to see for himself.
When the man, Valerius, stepped into the tavern, the place fell silent in an instant. Even the drunken patrons who had been shouting and drinking without a care snapped their mouths shut and watched him closely. Wearing his usual cold expression, Valerius stopped in front of Resh and Perig, who were in the middle of a drinking contest.
“Oh, Captain! What brings you to the tavern at this hour? You hate the smell of alcohol. Or what, did you come because you missed me?”
Resh, already drunk, greeted him with a grin.
“Didn’t you say you were recruiting?”
“Recruiting? Ah, that. We already got one.”
“What? Resh, don’t tell me you weren’t lying to me. You really got the captain’s permission?”
When Perig asked with wide eyes, Resh shrugged.
“What, you think I’m a liar? Of course it’s true. I told you earlier it was already discussed with the captain. Perig, you know the captain trusts me more than you, right?”
“So that’s why you were acting so carefree without knowing how I felt? Aaargh! You made me look like the idiot!”
Perig shrieked and glared at Resh, but Resh ignored him and took a casual sip of his drink.
“Enough of the pointless noise. How’s the recruit?”
“Hm. The recruit? Not bad. Pretty-looking, not very manly, but seems to have some backbone. You know it too, Captain. Those types tend to last longer.”
Valerius stared quietly at Resh as he answered with a smile, then turned away. His business was done, and there was no reason to stay in the tavern any longer.
He didn’t want to spend even a second more in a place where the stench of alcohol, cheap cigars, and unpleasant men mixed together in a nauseating haze.
Pressing a hand to his throbbing temple, he left the tavern.
Astric dumped the items he’d bought at the market roughly onto the table and lay down on the bed. The man he’d run into at the marketplace refused to leave his mind. Setting aside the thought that he looked like he’d stepped out of a painting, there had been an indescribable pressure about him. And before Astric even realized it, he’d been crushed by that presence and frozen in place.
He had lived desperately swinging a sword to compensate for his smaller build, yet it had meant nothing in front of someone with that kind of innate dominance. Just who was that man. What kind of person radiated such an aura so effortlessly.
Astric washed his face roughly, then pulled the paper hidden against his chest back out. There was only one set of information left now. The one about Captain Valerius. After a short, steadying breath, Astric straightened his posture and began to read.
Valerius. Captain of the Disheptator pirate crew and owner of the Scepter. Despite ruling over the eastern seas, he was young for a pirate captain. Black hair and golden eyes. An uncommon appearance. Beautiful in looks, but not in temperament. He was said to be colder and more brutal than any other pirate. He showed little interest in fights between crew members, but insubordination was absolutely forbidden.
Astric lifted his gaze from the paper and swallowed dryly.
“…Black hair and golden eyes.”
The man he’d encountered at the marketplace had also had black hair and golden eyes. He’d been strikingly beautiful, too. The possibility that the man Astric had seen in the marketplace within Crimson Harbor, a territory crawling with pirates, and Valerius, the captain of Disheptator, were the same person…
Astric swallowed again.
“…There’s no doubt.”
That man could only be Valerius.
With a stiff expression, Astric continued to read the words on the paper over and over. Valerius was the infamous captain of Disheptator, responsible for slaughtering countless naval officers, captains, and sailors. To seize the position of captain at such a young age, just how ruthless and exceptional must he have been.
‘Can I really survive this…?’
Before, when Valerius had just been a name on paper, it might have been different. But now that he had, however briefly, confirmed the man’s identity with his own eyes, all Astric felt was fear.
He let out a breath and ran a hand through his hair. Worse still, Valerius didn’t care if crew members beat each other senseless, so long as it wasn’t insubordination. In other words, aside from that single rule, there were no rules at all.
Anything that happened on the ship was permitted. Could he really endure a place like that. He’d frozen up just from crossing Valerius’s path for a moment. Was it even possible to infiltrate the crew and move around while avoiding that man’s gaze.
“…Ha.”
It seemed the gods truly meant to test him. As if to hammer home the obvious truth that unless he risked his life, he’d never reclaim what was his. It was something Astric already knew all too well.
Swallowing another sigh, Astric stood and picked up the matches on the table. He had memorized every scrap of information written down. There was no reason to keep the paper anymore. If someone searched his belongings, it would be better to leave nothing behind at all.
He struck a match and brought the flame to the crumpled edge of the paper.
Orange fire began to gnaw greedily at it. Once the paper had nearly lost its shape entirely, Astric tossed it out the window. Acrid smoke, the smell of burning, and scattered ash rode the wind and disappeared into the distance.
That took care of destroying the evidence. Now all that remained was to blend naturally into the pirate crew.
It would never be easy. Compared to the days he’d endured at the Millard estate, it would be far more brutal and painful. Even so, he had to do it. If he wanted to reclaim what his father had left behind for him.
Clenching his fist in resolve, Astric lay back down on the bed. Tomorrow, he would wake early and learn more about the sea. Boarding a ship without knowing anything about it would only earn him the pirates’ ridicule.
And so Astric surrendered himself to the creeping tide of sleep.
“Lord Head, a letter has arrived from the harbor.”
Lost in thought as he recalled the conversation from yesterday’s gathering, Willian heard the old butler’s voice at his ear. Willian twitched his brow, and the butler stepped forward, handing him the letter.
“…A letter from the harbor. Was there any reason for that. I clearly told him not to send messages until I contacted him first, because of the risk of being discovered. That lowlife bastard, daring to forget his place.”
Muttering angrily, Willian tore the envelope open and read the letter. Contrary to his expectations, it contained nothing but a simple message.
One new recruit joined. Departure soon.
Willian let out a hollow laugh and crumpled the letter in irritation. He hadn’t planted an informant just to be told something this trivial. This was not the kind of information Willian wanted.
Still clenching his fist, he considered how best to ‘educate’ this useless collaborator. Then he noticed the old butler hesitating, as though he had more to say, and snapped irritably,
“Why are you standing there like that. If you’ve got something to say, say it. I can’t stand people fidgeting like dogs that need to shit. My nephew alone is more than enough to irritate me.”
“…Lord Head. A servant claims to have seen Young Master Astric heading toward Crimson Harbor.”
“…What?”
The words were so unbelievable that Willian could only repeat them stupidly. Astric had gone where. Crimson Harbor. A place swarming with pirates. Why would that brat go there…
After a moment of serious contemplation, Willian suddenly burst into laughter.
“Ah. It seems our darling nephew has caught wind of some back-alley rumors.”
Willian was well aware of the whispers circulating in the underbelly of the city. But silencing every mouth would only make things smell worse and cause the rumors to spread further, so he’d simply waited in silence for the right time.
And while he’d been weighing that timing, it seemed Astric had picked up on the stench Willian was giving off. The surprising part was that instead of running straight to him to demand answers, the boy had headed for Crimson Harbor.
That, truly, was unexpected.
Willian smiled with interest, then suddenly froze.
“Wait. Just a moment.”
A letter from the harbor. And Astric’s sudden, reckless move. Willian unfolded the letter he had crumpled earlier.
“One new recruit joined. Departure soon….”
Could that recruit possibly be Astric. If so, things would take a very interesting turn. The corners of Willian’s lips curled upward as he pulled out a sheet of paper from his desk drawer and began to write.
The quill moved across the page only a few times before stopping. The letter Willian wrote was brief.
Just a single line. Only one line was written on the page. Yet Willian sealed it carefully, as though it were of great importance, and handed it to the old butler with a warning.
“This letter is to be delivered to that man. As quickly and as discreetly as possible. No one else must know. You understand?”
Watching the butler leave the study with the letter in hand, Willian let an insidious smile spread across his face. If things went well, he might catch two birds with one stone. The thought alone made a laugh slip out.
The veil that had draped the world through the night slowly lifted as the sun rose. Warm sunlight poured in through the window, making Astric’s brows twitch. He scrunched his face tightly before slowly opening his eyes.
“…So bright.”
The seaside sunlight was intense and hot enough to make him regret not drawing the curtains. With a small yawn, Astric got up at once and changed his clothes. As he finished dressing and adjusted himself, he heard a staff member knocking on doors outside, announcing something.
Soon, it was Astric’s turn. Just like with the other rooms, the staff member knocked twice and spoke.
“Wash water has been prepared outside your door.”
Astric waited until the staff member left, then opened the door and brought the basin inside. Steam rose gently from the container. After watching it for a moment, he poured the water into a washbowl.
Back at the Millard estate, servants had always watched Willian’s mood, so Astric had prepared his own water to wash his face. He never would have imagined being served wash water in a place like this. He let out a small laugh and began to wash up. Only after carefully cleaning every inch of his face with warm water did it truly sink in that a new day had begun, in a new place.
Drying his face with a cloth, Astric left the room. As he descended the creaking wooden stairs, he saw staff members bustling about, busy preparing food.
“Good morning. We’ll have your meal ready shortly. Could you wait just a moment?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Not long after Astric sat down, a staff member approached with a tray of food.
“Please enjoy your meal.”
“Ah, yes. And here, this is for last night’s stay.”
Astric took out fifty silver from his pocket and handed it over. After watching the staff member accept the payment and leave with a bow, he began eating. Potato stew, white bread, and eggs fried in oil were neatly arranged on the tray.
He finished his meal quickly, stood, and left the inn. Thanks to wandering around the day before, he’d learned one useful thing. The marketplace and the inn were quite close.
Today, without straying off course, Astric reached the marketplace directly and scanned his surroundings with a hint of tension. Fortunately, unlike yesterday, Valerius was nowhere to be seen. The worry that he might run into him again felt silly as the tension drained from his shoulders.
Letting out a breath of relief, Astric stepped into the bookstore. As expected of a shop located in a harbor, it was small and cramped. An elderly shopkeeper dozing behind the counter at the entrance noticed Astric, rubbed his bleary eyes, and spoke.
“Oh my, welcome. Feel free to look around. If it’s books about the sea, we’ve got everything.”
Astric nodded and headed toward the shelves lined with books. Just as the owner said, most of the titles dealt with the sea. Conquer the Sea Monsters, O Sea, I Have Come, The Great Sea, The Great Pirates, A Guide to the Sea.
As Astric carefully scanned the spines, he picked out a book.
“Beginner-Friendly Essential Sea Knowledge is a useful book for novice pirates and sailors. From the looks of it, it seems this is your first time going out to sea. A sensible choice.”
Startled by the shopkeeper, who had approached at some point, Astric froze briefly before replying.
“…I see.”
“Pirate Life Handbook and Conquer the Sea Monsters are also popular with rookie pirates who visit our shop.”
“Thank you for the recommendation.”
As Astric bowed his head, the shopkeeper chuckled softly and pulled another book from the shelf, handing it to him.
“This one’s called Everything About Ships. I think it’ll be very helpful to you as well.”
Astric gathered all the recommended books in his arms and continued browsing the shop, wondering if there might be anything else useful. He was scanning the spines one by one when he heard the shopkeeper greet someone in a friendly tone.
“Welcome. It’s been a while.”
“Has it.”
At the low reply, Astric’s body stiffened mid-read. The voice was far too familiar.
‘…Valerius?’
It was Valerius’s voice, the same one he’d heard yesterday. Why would he come to a bookstore. Someone who knew the sea as well as he did wouldn’t need books about it. Unless reading was his hobby, which seemed unlikely.
A dark shadow fell over Astric’s head as he stood frozen between the shelves.
“So there was already a customer.”
“Yes. It seems they’ll be going out to sea for the first time, so I was recommending a few books.”
“I see.”
Valerius replied indifferently and started to pass by Astric, then stopped abruptly. Slowly turning his head, he fixed his gaze on Astric’s profile as he stood pressed close to the bookshelf.
Soft wheat-colored hair, trembling lashes, and beneath them eyes that looked as if a handful of forest greenery had been scooped up and poured inside.
It was the unassuming man he had seen yesterday. Valerius watched Astric’s Adam’s apple bob repeatedly, tense as if about to snap, before opening his mouth.
“You’re going out to sea as well.”
“…Yes.”
Astric replied in a shaky voice, and Valerius’s expression shifted into something faintly ambiguous. He studied the man quietly. Someone who looked entirely unrelated to the sea. Refined and well-kept, clearly a noble or someone raised under noble care, claiming he would go out onto the water. The corner of Valerius’s mouth lifted sharply.
“Then we may meet out on the sea.”
“Well… the sea is vast, isn’t it? The chances of crossing paths don’t seem very high.”
Valerius spoke without taking his eyes off Astric, who answered vaguely.
“That’s exactly why people say it’s the best place for unexpected encounters.”
As he finished speaking, Valerius slowly reached out. Astric’s eyelids fluttered violently before squeezing shut. Valerius stared down at the man who reacted so sensitively to him.
Seeing people act so weak and powerless in front of him always made him want to be petty for no reason. Eventually, he would feel like frightening them badly enough to chase them off entirely.
Sometimes, he even wanted to grind their pride into the dirt so they would never appear before him, or on the sea, again. It was one of Valerius’s unsavory habits.
Valerius leaned close to Astric’s ear and whispered low, breathing the words against him.
“You may not know this, but the sea is a place where nothing is too strange to happen. People end up as corpses without a trace, becoming fish feed more often than you’d think. If you’ve decided to go anyway, you’d better keep your wits about you.”
After speaking as if it were nothing, Valerius plucked a couple of books from atop Astric’s head and headed to the counter.
“Oh my, you read books from such a wide range of fields every time. Will you be visiting again at the next port of call?”
“Perhaps. If we dock here again, I might.”
“I’ll be waiting. I hope you return safely.”
Until Valerius finished exchanging pleasantries with the shop owner and left, Astric couldn’t bring himself to open his eyes. The arms holding the books trembled slightly.
“Are you all right?”
At the cautious question from the shop owner who had approached at some point, Astric hurriedly opened his eyes and nodded, then rushed to the counter. Smiling with satisfaction, the shop owner skillfully wrapped the books.
“That’ll be one gold in total. You might be the customer who’s bought the most books I’ve seen this month.”
“…That’s thanks to your good recommendations.”
Astric gave a short bow and was about to leave the shop with the wrapped books when…
“Wait a moment, sir.”
The shop owner’s voice stopped him in his tracks. Astric turned back to look at him.
“Sir… this old man is speaking out of worry. People are far scarier than sea monsters. Always be wary of people. Ships are places where unimaginably cruel and unbelievable things happen.”
Astric hesitated at the warmth in those words, then replied quietly.
“…Thank you for the advice.”
Was it said with Valerius in mind, who had just left? Or was it a warning about other dangers, like the vicious pirates he’d read about in the documents. He couldn’t know yet, but it was advice worth taking to heart. Valerius’s warning, too, would likely help him.
After buying a dagger at the weapon shop he hadn’t visited the day before, Astric returned to the inn and sat at the desk, thinking of Valerius from the bookstore. The unreadable eyes that had looked at him, the meaningful words he’d spoken. Surely he hadn’t noticed something. That would be troublesome.
Had freezing up in front of him, just as Resh said, been the problem after all? At this rate, it was only a matter of time before he drew Valerius’s suspicion. When he should have been currying favor, if anything.
Shaking his head as if to chase the thoughts away, Astric opened the books he’d bought. What mattered now was filling his head with knowledge about the sea.
Though he was born into the Millard family, which had produced Eastern admirals for generations, Astric had never been properly taught what the sea was like, or what dangers lurked there. On Willian’s orders, meant to keep him ignorant, he hadn’t even been allowed to read books on the subject.
‘The sea is unpredictable, and the most dangerous place in the world.’
The ominous opening line made Astric’s expression grow serious as well. Fixing his gaze on the page, he began reading quietly.
How much time passed like that. After finishing all the books he’d purchased, Astric stood up. Knowledge that had yet to fully settle rolled chaotically around in his head.
He could roughly picture how to respond if he encountered monsters, but having never set foot on a ship before, information about ship structures, repairs, and storms still felt unfamiliar.
Still, those were things he would learn once he boarded a ship. And tomorrow morning, he would step onto the Desheptator pirates’ vessel, the Scepter. Every time he thought of it, his heart pounded violently. Watching the sun sink toward the horizon, Astric drew the curtains.
The next day, Astric woke before dawn, paid his dues, packed his belongings, and left the inn. Having slept poorly at the thought of living among pirates, he felt a bit fatigued.
Could he really blend in without being discovered. Could he find proof of the dealings between Willian and them. To be honest, he wasn’t confident.
‘…No. I have to do it. I must.’
Steeling himself once more, Astric headed for the Cortney Tavern. Even early in the morning, the front of the tavern was packed with people eating and drinking. So it was true, those who lived on ships drank and made merry day and night.
Pushing past drunken patrons tilting their mugs, Astric went inside and scanned the room.
‘Is Perig not here yet?’
No matter how much he looked around, Perig was nowhere to be seen. Then again, he’d arrived before the sun was fully up, so it wasn’t surprising. Astric ordered an omelet and took a seat in the corner, deciding to wait.
He was absentmindedly eating his omelet and waiting when the door, which had remained tightly shut, suddenly swung open, and the noise inside the tavern died instantly.
“Khaha… ugh, hk, hrrm.”
“Ahem.”
The one who entered was not Perig, but Valerius. At his arrival, the Cortney Tavern fell deathly silent. And though it was only for an instant, Astric’s gaze crossed with Valerius’s cold eyes as he passed nearby, and Astric nearly dropped the knife in his hand.
He tightened his grip on it and let out a small breath.
‘Again…’
Acting unfazed in front of Valerius was no easy task. Perhaps it was partly because he hadn’t adjusted to Valerius’s unique presence, but more than that, fear had already taken root after reading of his brutal history.
He knew it was difficult, but he hoped he could adapt as quickly as possible. He couldn’t keep freezing up like prey caught in a trap every time they crossed paths.
Astric stared at the omelet, more than half of it still untouched, his gaze tangled with complicated thoughts. After a moment, he set the knife down. In his current state, he didn’t want to eat any more. The food wouldn’t go down his throat anyway.
Keeping an eye on Valerius, who sat nearby with his arms crossed, Astric pressed his lips together. He wished Perig would hurry up and arrive, to rescue him from this awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere.
The wait felt long, but dawn broke sooner than expected. The sun peeked out hesitantly, then quickly revealed itself in full. As the morning light spread, Perig pushed open the tavern door and stumbled in, his face still heavy with sleep.
“Ugh, waking up early for once is rough.”
Mid-yawn, Perig spotted Astric and widened his eyes.
“You’re here early. Don’t tell me you were so excited, like a kid going on a picnic, that you couldn’t sleep and came running out?”
Astric stiffened slightly at the joke and shook his head. Seeing his lukewarm reaction, Perig burst into laughter, then abruptly shut his mouth and cleared his throat.
“Ahem. Captain, how long have you been there?”
It seemed he had finally noticed Valerius, who had arrived earlier. Astric glanced at Perig, now rigid with discipline, and rested his chin on his hand. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one who felt intimidated by Valerius. Even Perig, who must have spent a fair amount of time with him, looked this tense.
“Perig.”
“Y-yes, sir!”
“I told you to move earlier.”
“Cough. I stayed up a bit late last night on a drinking bet. Haha… ha…”
“You sound proud.”
Astric watched in silence as Valerius delivered the rebuke in a cold voice, then rose from his seat and headed for the exit. Just as he seemed about to leave, Valerius stopped abruptly and turned to look at Astric. His golden eyes gleamed with something like surprise.
Astric reflexively clenched his trembling hands and met his gaze. Those unfathomable eyes studied him for a moment, then turned away. Soon, Valerius’s figure vanished completely from the tavern.
“Whew… thought I was going to die there. You saw him, right? That terrifying guy is the captain of Desheptator. He’s a lot younger than me, but for some reason, I always freeze up the moment I stand in front of him. You feel it too, don’t you?”
Astric answered Perig’s question with a nod. He’d experienced the same thing. And just moments ago, when their eyes met, he’d felt it again. An overwhelming pressure. Astric looked down at his still-shaking hands and bit his lower lip.
“Well, still, there’s no need to be that scared. As long as you don’t betray anyone or do anything suspicious behind his back, he won’t bother you much. But the moment you step out of line…”
Perig’s expression hardened as he continued.
“He’ll find out somehow, come for you, and cut off your air.”
“…I see.”
“Yeah. So if you value your life, don’t even entertain stupid ideas. Just be careful not to act suspicious at all.”
Shrugging as he delivered the warning, Perig pointed outside the tavern.
“Now then. It’s time to board the Scepter, rookie.”
At last, the moment had come to step onto the Desheptator pirates’ ship, the Scepter. Astric followed Perig with a tense expression. What would happen out at sea. How harsh life aboard a pirate ship would be. Or whether he’d even make it back alive. He couldn’t begin to predict it, but one way or another, he had to endure.
He had to endure stubbornly, like steel sinew, and blend in among them. Astric took a deep breath as he looked at the massive ship docked in the harbor, bathed in bright sunlight.
“Rookie, is the booze still not ready? I asked ages ago. What are you doing?”
“Hey, rookie. Perfect timing. I’m busy right now, so you take care of cleaning the storage room.”
“Oi, while you’re at it, do the lower hold too. Honestly. When I was a rookie, I cleaned the captain’s bathhouse and toilet as well. Times sure have gotten better, huh?”
“Hey, rookie. Can you take tonight’s watch? I overdid it with a drinking bet and I’m wiped. If I stand watch like this, I’ll just get chewed out by the captain. Do me a favor.”
It had been about two days since Astric boarded the Scepter, disguising himself as a brand-new pirate. For those two days, he’d been handling all kinds of menial chores. The pirates seemed to like that he took over their work without complaint, but none of them really tried to get close to him.
“That said, this new guy… no matter how you look at him, he seems like someone who’s never suffered a day in his life.”