Unmoor — Chapter 2 (Part 2)

“Anyway, Disheptator is admired by other pirates, but it’s not completely different from anywhere else. Just like other places, there are trashy, irredeemable people and opportunistic, sly ones who only look out for themselves.”

The first group likely referred to Ivan’s followers, while the second was clearly aimed at Resh.

“When you decide to become a pirate, you should dream of restoring honor and seeking revenge, not money. Maybe this is why people say pirates aren’t as ruthless as they used to be. Ah, I’m borrowing that from Lewin, by the way.”

Astric looked at Sheniba smiling brightly and nodded.

“It sounds like pirates in the past were really ruthless. To be honest, I never imagined I’d become a pirate, so I don’t really know much about this kind of thing. It’s a bit embarrassing.”

When Astric spoke with an awkward smile, Sheniba lightly patted his shoulder.

“No need to be embarrassed. Ente looks like he’d make a far better pirate than trashy or opportunistic ones. And the pirates of the past really were vicious.”

Sheniba continued, his voice filled with excitement.

“According to Old Man Lewin, back then, if they so much as spotted a navy ship or the vessel of a captain infamous for cruelty while passing by, they’d either sink it outright or fight fiercely until they took it over!”

At Sheniba’s explanation, Astric’s eyes widened. Seeing that reaction, Sheniba beamed and asked as if seeking agreement,

“Isn’t that incredible?”

“…Yes. It really is incredible.”

“And our captain is on a completely different level from pirates these days. Even Old Man Lewin admits that. He says the captain is far more ruthless and cold than the pirates who were active back then, and he finds that incredibly reassuring. So you can be proud to be a member of this great Disheptator pirate crew!”

Just as Astric had felt, Valerius truly was no ordinary man. After all, he inspired even fellow pirates to such fervor. There might be some exaggeration mixed in, but it was certain that he was on a different level altogether. Astric himself remembered being crushed by the pressure Valerius gave off and fleeing in panic.

Willian really was something else. Of all things, why had he let Disheptator grow this large? There must have been other, more manageable pirate crews he could have used to keep the emperor and the central nobles in check. Disheptator’s head had grown far too big.

To be honest, at this point, it was impossible for Willian alone, or even House Millard, to aim for Valerius’s head. Unless they carried out a joint operation with navies from other regions, it didn’t seem like they even had a chance of cutting off Valerius’s lifeline.

“Ah, I got carried away and rambled on again. It’s all because your reactions get me so excited, Ente. You listen with that sulky face, but then you nod at all the important parts! The other pirates don’t do that. Whenever I start talking for a bit too long, they all say they’re busy and disappear. Isn’t that just awful?”

As he spoke, Sheniba puffed out his cheeks. The youthful gesture, fitting for a twenty year old, made Astric smile faintly and nod.

“That’s why it’s fun talking to you, Ente. Anyway, once the storm passes, I’ll teach you what you’ll need to do on the ship and how to manage a vessel. You probably bought books and read them back in Crimson Harbor, but there’s a big difference between reading about something and experiencing it yourself.”

“That’s probably true.”

“And look over there for a moment.”

Sheniba pointed at a small window. When Astric followed his finger with his gaze, he saw the dim sky and a sea so dark it was almost pitch black.

“Do you see it?”

“…Are you talking about the sea?”

“Way out there. Something’s moving.”

Astric narrowed his eyes and focused on the spot Sheniba indicated. Then he saw it. Far in the distance, something like a huge serpent was moving, with long, sharp spines rising along its back.

“Th, that… what is that?”

Astric asked in a trembling voice, but Sheniba replied calmly,

“One of the sea monsters. We call it Swine.”

“…Swine.”

“Yes. Swine is a glutton that devours everything it sees. On stormy days, it rises to the surface and eats every living thing it passes. They say the number of humans and ships it’s swallowed is beyond counting.”

At Sheniba’s explanation, Astric swallowed dryly.

Noticing Astric’s grave expression, Sheniba chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.

“Hey, don’t be scared. You probably heard this from Uncle Desmond too, but humans and nature are far more terrifying than sea monsters. Far more people die at the hands of other humans or get swept away by tidal waves than get eaten by sea monsters.”

Sheniba glanced around, then leaned in close and whispered,

“So compared to things like that, you should be more careful of people. Otherwise, why would Old Man Lewin leave behind a saying that the only person on this ship you can fully trust is the captain?”

“…Does that mean I shouldn’t even trust you, Sheniba?”

At Astric’s question, Sheniba’s eyes went wide. He stood there with his mouth slightly open in surprise, then burst out laughing a moment later.

“That’s up to you, Ente. Still, I’d like it if you trusted me. I’m pretty proud of being a reliable pirate, you know. Don’t I seem trustworthy?”

After showing nothing but fidgety behavior and playful banter until now, he was asking if he seemed reliable. Astric suppressed a dry laugh and gave a vague nod.

“Yes, well… I guess so.”

“Hm. That answer’s not very convincing. But it can’t be helped! That just means I need to work harder. I like you, Ente, so I’ll do my best to earn your trust.”

“No, you really don’t have to go that far…”

“No! I may only be a little, but I’ve earned the captain’s trust, so I want to be someone Ente can trust too. I mean that.”

Faced with Sheniba’s confident declaration, Astric could only smile. As they walked down the corridor, Sheniba told him that today and tomorrow would be hectic because of the storm, so it was fine to rest well in his cabin. After seeing Astric to the front of his cabin, Sheniba waved enthusiastically and headed back the way he came.

Although he had only known Sheniba for a short time, among the few people Astric had met so far, Sheniba stood out the most. Astric had never met someone so full of energy and positivity.

After returning to his cabin, Astric took a quick bath with the water allotted to him and read a book. From time to time, he gazed out the window, looking to see if the sea monster Swine he had spotted earlier would appear again, or he let his imagination wander, picturing himself fighting it as he passed the time.

He went to the kitchen occasionally to lend a hand, ate lunch and dinner, then returned to his cabin to kill time before lying down. Even though he had not done anything particularly strenuous, whether from physical exhaustion or mental fatigue, he soon fell into a deep sleep.

However, even before dawn fully broke, he was forced to open his eyes, unable to endure the violently rocking motion of the ship. He staggered to his feet and checked the small window. Outside, black waves close to the color of ink surged menacingly.

If they rose even a little higher, it felt as though the entire Scepter might be swallowed whole. Astric shuddered involuntarily. Once again, he was reminded of it. This was the sea, the force of nature his father had devoted his entire life to, and the path Astric himself had once intended to follow.

The ship rocked without pause amid the raging waves. Feeling seasick even when lying still, Astric eventually left his cabin with a pallid face.

As he stepped into the corridor and headed toward the kitchen, he saw pirates gathered around a round table in the common area, cards in hand, drinking heavily and laughing boisterously.

“Hahaha! You idiot, how could you play that card there?”

“Uh… what? Damn it! This round doesn’t count. I misread it!”

“Hey now. You haven’t been playing cards for a day or two. Once you play it, that’s it. No such thing as voiding it. You should’ve been careful from the start.”

“T, this is infuriating…!”

Seeing that they looked no different from usual, Astric clicked his tongue. How could they drink and fool around so casually inside a ship that was rocking like this? Were they really the same kind of people as him? Astric felt unsettled.

Just then, Sheniba, who was passing through the corridor, lightly tapped Astric on the shoulder.

“Ente, you’re up early. You don’t look so good… what, are you seasick?”

“I think so… I was fine before, but today it’s pretty bad.”

“That happens a lot on stormy days. Even pirates aren’t immune. There’s something really good for seasickness. If we go see Uncle Desmond, you can get it. Come on, let’s go.”

Astric followed Sheniba, who spoke energetically despite the swaying ship, his own steps unsteady. They had made it about halfway down the long corridor when Valerius came up the stairs. With his usual impassive face, he passed by, casting a strange glance at the pale Astric.

It was only a moment, but in that passing look, Astric felt as though he could read Valerius’s thoughts.

So this weakling who can’t even handle seasickness wants to be a pirate?

No, Valerius had definitely looked at him that way. With a gaze of disdain, as if looking at something trivial and pathetic.

The more Astric dwelled on it, the more resentment welled up inside him. Meanwhile, the tactless Sheniba was busy calling out a greeting to Valerius’s retreating back.

“Good morning, Captain!”

Even though Valerius did not respond or even nod.

Used to Valerius’s lack of reaction, Sheniba led Astric into the kitchen. Desmond, who was cutting chicken on a chopping board, spotted them and greeted them.

“Oh, you’re here. But Ente, you don’t look so good. Are you seasick?”

“Bingo, Uncle Desmond. Ente’s got it pretty bad. That stuff should clear it right up. Please give him some.”

“Haha, to think the day would come so soon when Ente gets to taste one of the Scepter’s specialties. All right. Just wait a moment, Ente.”

Laughing heartily, Desmond took a large bottle from an upper cabinet and poured it into a cup. He filled the remaining space with liquor and thrust it toward Astric. Before Astric could even fully grasp the cup, the strong stench of alcohol rose up, making him recoil.

“Wh, what is this? You want me to drink alcohol?”

“It’s such a bitter, potent medicine that mixing it with liquor is the only way. Still, if you shut your eyes and drink it down, you’ll feel much better.”

“…Then why is this called a specialty of the Scepter?”

“Because the Scepter’s seasickness cure is the most bitter and the strongest. There’s no other reason.”

Desmond chuckled as he replied, then gestured for him to hurry up and drink.

“Even so, drinking alcohol on an empty stomach…”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. No problem at all even on an empty stomach. So hurry up and down it, Ente.”

“That’s right, Ente. Other seasick pirates have already come and drunk it too. I drank it myself when I was much younger. No problems!”

At Desmond’s and Sheniba’s urging, Astric finally squeezed his eyes shut and gulped down the liquid, unsure whether it was alcohol or medicine. The moment he finished the large cup, a bitter, burning taste slammed into his mouth, enough to make his stomach churn.

Astric couldn’t help letting out a small groan.

“Ugh…”

“How is it? Tastes like the seasickness is running away already, right? The real effect will kick in later, so go rest for now. Get some good sleep.”

“It only works properly if you sleep. Hurry back to your cabin, Ente.”

“Ah, what am I thinking. Wait a moment.”

Desmond clapped his hands exaggeratedly and bustled around the kitchen. He put various items into a basket and handed it to Sheniba.

“Don’t just send him off like that. Take this with you too. Sheniba, Ente doesn’t look so good, so you carry it.”

“Y, yes.”

Sheniba took the water, the cup of alcohol mixed with seasickness medicine, and the basket filled with fruit, bread, and soup from Desmond, then supported Astric, who was still dazed from the strong liquor, as they left the kitchen. As they walked down the long corridor, Sheniba spoke.

“It’s nice to see you getting along so well with Uncle Desmond, Ente.”

“…Is it?”

“Yes. Uncle Desmond is very warmhearted, but his personality is so prickly that most pirates on the Scepter find him hard to deal with. Honestly, when I was younger, I was scared of him too.”

Even though Desmond could be sharp and rough around the edges, it was easy to see how affectionate he was, which made him someone Astric felt a very human fondness for. He was also the kind of person who made Astric think about how different things might have been if his uncle had been like this.

That Sheniba had once been afraid of Desmond was a little unexpected. Sheniba seemed like the type who would have been just as fearless and hyperactive as a child as he was now. Maybe his personality had changed over time. Even while feeling drowsy from the alcohol, Astric found himself thinking about that as he staggered along.

“But even though you haven’t known Uncle Desmond for long, you don’t seem very intimidated by him and treat him comfortably. Um, that’s what I mean by it being nice. It looks like Uncle Desmond has taken a liking to you too. That’s not an easy thing, you know. Like you’ve probably noticed, he’s such an eccentric person that it’s hard to figure him out.”

“…Mm.”

“He’s not even scared of the captain. He’ll say sharp things to the captain too, you know. He doesn’t give him any special treatment just because he’s the captain. Well, the captain isn’t the type who wants that kind of treatment anyway. Still… I really hope you’ll keep getting along like this from now on.”

As Sheniba said that, he looked up at Astric. Astric gave an awkward smile to Sheniba, who was gazing at him with innocent, shining eyes. It wasn’t that he felt completely blameless. The thought that he was deceiving people who thought well of him, and that he would eventually have to bring about their collapse, made his heart feel heavy. It was as if he were doing something truly wrong.

That evening, Astric woke up after sleeping like a dead man on his bed. Whether it was because the strong alcohol mixed with medicine had truly worked, the nausea in his stomach had settled, and his head felt clear as well. Once his stomach felt better, hunger set in.

After checking the window, where heavy rain was pouring down outside, Astric opened the basket Desmond had packed for him and took out the soup and water to eat. The mushroom soup had gone cold, but its flavor was still smooth and savory, and Astric finished the meal in no time at all.

He rinsed his mouth with water, then quietly stepped out of his room. He had been planning to go to the kitchen to return the empty dishes and thank Desmond. As he walked down the corridor, he heard what sounded like faint sobbing coming from somewhere.

“…What is that?”

Astric stopped in his tracks and looked around with startled eyes. After hesitating for a moment, he was just about to move toward the sound when someone placed a hand on his shoulder.

“…Ah.”

Startled, Astric flinched and turned around.

“Ente, did you get some good rest? Mm, that’s a relief. Looks like the medicine worked well. Your face looks much better.”

Thankfully, it was Sheniba who had grabbed him. Just as Astric relaxed and was about to smile and speak, Sheniba shook his head and led him to a secluded corner.

“What is it?”

“You stopped because of that sound, right?”

“Ah, yes. How did you know?”

“It’s a good thing I ran into you just now.”

At Sheniba’s words, Astric looked puzzled. A good thing? What exactly was good about this?

“It’s probably Ivan and Kinta.”

“Ivan… and Kinta? Aren’t they part of the same group? Don’t tell me Ivan even beats Kinta? I guess he doesn’t go easy on his own people. Is it some kind of pecking order thing?”

“Oh… you heard that and still came to that conclusion. You’re older than me, Ente, but you’re really innocent.”

“…It’s not?”

The more Astric talked with Sheniba, the more his head tilted to the side in confusion.

“A pecking order… well, it’s not wrong to put it that way. And saying he beats him isn’t exactly wrong either.”

Astric blinked at Sheniba’s vague answer. So it was a pecking order, and it was beating, but then what was so innocent about it? He didn’t understand. As if reading Astric’s thoughts, Sheniba soon added an explanation.

“…Well. Since bonded ones keep getting carried off half dead, on ships without bonded ones… Kinta takes their place. That’s what Ivan decided.”

Kinta, whom he had thought was just part of the same group, was a replacement for a bonded one? What kind of turn was this? Faced with the more complicated reality of life aboard the Scepter than he had expected, Astric furrowed his brow.

“For everyone…?”

“No. Hardly any pirates actually want to use a man with a solid build like Kinta as a bonded one.”

“Then… I guess that’s a relief.”

“Is it? Really? For Kinta, it just means that whenever Ivan wants, at any time and in any place, he has to follow along obediently, purely for Ivan’s amusement.”

Sheniba scratched the back of his head hard as he continued.

“There are days when he listens well and still gets beaten until he’s covered in bruises. You might not know this well, Ente, but… Ivan is several times more violent than Krok. Um, in a different way.”

“……”

At Sheniba’s explanation, Astric was left speechless, his expression going blank.

“That’s why I keep telling you not to catch Ivan’s eye. That’s also why people call him the worst of the worst. Be careful, Ente.”

Sheniba’s voice suddenly dropped, clear and firm. He looked straight at Astric with a serious gaze and continued.

“On this ship, unless you have solid backing like the captain or Resh, there’s no escaping Ivan’s grip. If you catch Ivan’s eye, you could end up replacing Kinta as a bonded one as soon as tonight. So you really have to be careful.”

“Then Sheniba, you…”

“As for me, the captain does look out for me, at least for now. Well, ‘looks out for me’ isn’t exactly the right phrase. The captain keeps me around because he needs me for his work.”

“Ah, then could it be that you’re the captain’s…”

As Astric cautiously started to ask, Sheniba jumped in place in shock.

“G, good heavens! What kind of nonsense is that? That’s incredibly rude to both the captain and me! Listen carefully, Ente. The captain is extremely particular about cleanliness. There’s no way someone like that would keep a bonded one by his side.”

Sheniba denied it vehemently.

“No, I’m not saying I’m some worthless nobody either. Anyway, I get what you were thinking, but it’s absolutely not like that. Honestly… And I respect the captain as a fellow pirate. I don’t look at him with some improper, disrespectful feelings like affection or longing, okay?”

With his eyes narrowed into sharp slits, Sheniba rattled off his words so forcefully that Astric nodded along and apologized.

“I’m sorry, Sheniba. I was just asking, just in case. It seemed like bonded ones were the norm here.”

“Well, it’s fine. You haven’t known the captain for long, and you haven’t been on the ship very long either, so it’s understandable that you wouldn’t know. And… the captain can be intimidating, right? Even I still find him a bit hard to approach, but he’s not as brutal or merciless as the rumors make him out to be.”

As Sheniba patted his shoulder reassuringly, Astric gave a faint smile.

“He doesn’t let people get close easily, and he doesn’t trust others much either. Still, one day, he’ll probably accept your greeting at least. So you don’t need to envy me too much.”

Sheniba spoke with his chin lifted proudly, as if he were quite pleased that Valerius accepted his greetings.

“Ah… okay.”

“By the way, where were you headed?”

“Oh, the kitchen. I was going to return the empty dishes and thank Desmond.”

“Ah!”

Only then did Sheniba notice the empty bowl and cup in Astric’s hands and clap as if something had clicked.

“Then let’s go quickly. Desmond’s probably waiting for you.”

“For me?”

“Yes. You haven’t had dinner yet.”

“I ate the soup you gave me earlier…”

“That cold soup? Ha, Ente… that doesn’t count as dinner. Tonight’s dinner is grilled fish with lemon. You have to eat it. The sauce Desmond makes is incredible.”

Before Astric could object, Sheniba tugged him along toward the kitchen. Unlike earlier, when the sound of sobbing had filled the corridor, it was quiet now.

Was Kinta all right now?

With the sound gone, Astric felt much more at ease as they walked down the corridor.

Just as Astric and Sheniba were about to step onto the stairs, the cabin door where the disturbing sounds had come from suddenly flew open. Astric turned his head instinctively at the noise and found Ivan standing there with a crooked, dissatisfied posture. More precisely, what he saw was Ivan’s lower half, completely unclothed.

Astric froze, flustered and at a loss for what to do. Suddenly, Sheniba yanked him hard and hurried him down the stairs. Caught off guard, Astric had no choice but to rush down with him.

As they disappeared to the lower deck, Ivan’s gaze darkened. He ran a hand through his disheveled, light brown wavy hair and stared at the spot on the floor where Astric had just been standing.

“Hmm.”

Letting out a low hum from his throat, Ivan slowly licked his lips with his red tongue. Beyond the wide open door of Kinta’s cabin, Kinta could be seen collapsed face down, wearing nothing but his trousers, just like Ivan. Dark red blood stained the floor in several places around him.

Stepping into the cabin, Ivan nudged Kinta’s hip with the toe of his leather shoe.

“Kinta, still asleep?”

“……”

“Your comrade’s waking you up like this, and you’re still not going to get up?”

Even as the kicks grew stronger, Kinta didn’t open his eyes. Propped on his knees, his body swayed back and forth with Ivan’s movements before finally going limp and stretching out flat. Only the faint rise and fall of his back showed that he was still breathing.

“Haa, Kinta. This really is troublesome.”

Murmuring to himself, Ivan grabbed Kinta by the hair as if hauling up seaweed floating on the ocean’s surface. After leisurely taking in Kinta’s swollen eyes, bloodied nose, and split lips, Ivan flung him onto the bed.

As the bed bounced under Kinta’s solid weight, Ivan picked up a bottle of liquor from the bedside table and poured it over Kinta’s face.

“Ghk, ugh… hngh…!”

As the harsh alcohol seeped into his wounds, Kinta screamed and snapped his eyes open. His body trembled pitifully.

“I, I, Ivan…”

“You shouldn’t make your comrade wait, Kinta.”

“S, sorry. Ngh, hhk… I was wrong.”

“If you know you were wrong, then you should help me again. That’s what comrades do.”

“Hhk… ngh… ugh… mm…”

Kinta barely managed to swallow his sobs as he looked up at Ivan. His face was twisted and crumpled.

“Stop staring stupidly at it and open your mouth.”

“O, okay… ngh… I will.”

Kinta hesitantly reached his hand toward Ivan’s swollen member. Ivan stared at it, then recalled the face of the new recruit Resh had boasted about as a bonded one prepared just for him. That pale, soft-looking skin.

Meanwhile, Astric, who had been dragged down to the lower deck in an instant by Sheniba, looked utterly bewildered. Sensing his confusion, Sheniba lowered his voice and explained his actions.

“You were really startled when I suddenly pulled you, right? I’m sorry. But I didn’t have a choice. You almost made eye contact with Ivan just now. If your eyes had met, he would’ve dragged you inside on the spot. Ivan can’t be stopped, not even by me. Even Resh has trouble with him…”

Sheniba wore an uncharacteristically anxious expression.

“Other than the captain, there’s no one who can stop him. And you’re a new recruit, Ente, and you don’t have the captain’s trust yet. You don’t have standing on this ship either. You haven’t proven any ability yet, right?”

Sheniba rattled off nothing but painful truths, each word making Astric feel more suffocated. Astric listened with tired eyes as Sheniba continued.

“Anyway, to sum it up, the captain wouldn’t step in just to save a single new recruit like you. So the best thing to do is not get tangled up with Ivan at all. Got it?”

Astric nodded along, but at the last words, he frowned.

“But the captain said not to do anything reckless until the storm passes, and that anyone who did would be fed to sea monsters. Even after saying that, Ivan doesn’t care?”

That question seemed to catch Sheniba off guard. He blinked for a moment, then shrugged.

“Well, that’s true. Normally, he wouldn’t care. From what Uncle Desmond said, it seems like the captain has changed a bit lately, but… honestly, I don’t really know yet. He still feels like the usual captain to me.”

When Sheniba finished speaking, Astric’s thoughts became tangled. No matter where he went, his position and influence were insignificant. He was treated like a burden all the same.

In this savage den of pirates, where the only person who could be trusted to have any sense was Valerius himself, could Astric really find the evidence he wanted and return safely?

The more he thought about it, the less it made sense. As he slowly began to grasp the reality of his situation, his courage started to fade.

“…Even in a crisis like this, I have to see it through. I have to reclaim my place.”

Yet even as he thought that, his mind kept filling with the image of Ivan’s lower body and the sobbing sounds that still lingered in his ears.

“Come on, let’s go eat dinner. If we’re any later, the other pirates will start crowding in!”

Walking blankly after Sheniba, Astric snapped back to his senses at the urging and stepped into the kitchen. Desmond, standing in front of a large pot with a ladle in hand, greeted him.

“Oh, Ente. You’re back to yourself? How’s your body? That Scepter specialty did the trick, right?”

“…Yes. It really deserves to be called a specialty.”

“Told you! Other pirates ask for it all the time too. Doesn’t mean I give it to them every time, though. Anyway, I’m glad you’re feeling better. All right, let’s eat dinner. Sit there.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Astric thanked him in a small voice, set the empty dishes in the sink, and took a seat. After a short wait, just as Sheniba had said, a plate of grilled fish with lemon was placed in front of him. The warm, savory smell made Astric sniff unconsciously.

“Smells incredible, right? With Desmond’s special sauce, it’ll taste completely different from any grilled fish you’ve had elsewhere. You can look forward to it.”

At Desmond’s words, Astric smiled faintly, separated a piece of fish with his fork, dipped it in the sauce, and put it into his mouth. It was warm and tender, with a bright, tangy flavor spreading across his tongue.

“Well? Isn’t it amazing?”

“…Yes. It’s really delicious.”

“I told you! Of all Uncle Desmond’s cooking, grilled fish is my favorite. After that, whole roast pig! Uncle Desmond really knows how to grill.”

“Sheniba, are you planning on never eating my stew and soup again?”

“Oh my goodness, of course not. Those are delicious too. It’s just that grilled fish and whole roast pig are a little better. So where’s mine?”

As Sheniba looked around the kitchen, Desmond sighed and pointed to the seat next to Astric.

“Enough already. Just sit there for now.”

Desmond set a bowl of broccoli soup in front of Astric, then started preparing the fish for Sheniba. Sitting beside Astric and watching Desmond’s back, Sheniba whispered in his ear.

“See? I get pushed aside, and he takes care of you first. He must really like you. Congratulations, Ente.”

Astric glanced between Desmond humming to himself and Sheniba swaying side to side in time with that tune, then smiled faintly.

After finishing dinner in the kitchen, Ente returned and sat on the edge of his bed, looking out the window. Outside, heavy rain poured from the pitch-black sky, and waves twisted and surged wildly. It looked as if the sky and sea themselves were raging at the world.

How many dangerous and exhausting battles had his father fought on seas like this?

Now, even the image of his father’s face, smiling brightly at him, was beginning to fade. Back when he lived at House Millard, there hadn’t even been portraits of his father or mother. If this continued, their faces would disappear even from his own memories.

And if even he forgot what his parents looked like, who in the world would remember them?

Astric smiled faintly at those thoughts. Ever since the storm had arrived, he felt like something inside him had gone wrong. Whether it was because the sky was so overcast or because his situation was unimaginably grim, his mood kept sinking, and nothing but gloomy thoughts filled his head.

Letting out a sigh, Astric moved to the desk, pulled a small notebook and a quill pen from the drawer, and wrote down what had happened that day along with how he felt. Once he poured his thoughts onto the page in plain sentences, his heart felt a little lighter.