kscans

Chapter 101 - The Second Day's Anchorage and Planning for the Pirates

The anchorage on the second day of our river journey was similar to the first. A tall watchtower, a village built on the mountainside. As usual, we were eating the meal from the campsite's soup kitchen. The menu was the same as yesterday: dried bread and stew. The stew contained chicken, carrots, onions, and a vegetable with the texture of cabbage. No potatoes. And today, a fruit resembling an orange was added. There was some kind of cheap booze available, but none of the members of Levante would touch it. Cecily and I were drinking water we'd made with magic. Incidentally, the wine I had provided yesterday still had some left when we returned to the inn, but it was gone by the next morning. Famu was watching me with a curious expression as I ate my bread with a scowl.

"Master, you can also eat at the inn. If you don't find the food from the soup kitchen to your liking, perhaps you should eat there?"

It seemed she wasn't fond of the food either. She wasn't eating much.

"Famu, I think Mash's goal is to be in the same place as everyone else, eating the same food,"

Mizuki answered for me.

"Is that so?"

"We're exempt from ship duties, and on the ship, we have to entrust our lives to them."

I knew our presence was making us stick out. Fortunately, thanks to the wine I served last night, the crew had started greeting us cheerfully when we ate like this.

"It's a matter of principle, so you don't have to join me. I think it's not great either, so feel free to eat at the inn."

Famu shifted slightly, moving closer to me on the log.

"I will eat the same meal as you, Master."

As Famu sipped her stew, Joe and Becky approached with their food. They sat down on a log near us. Joe downed the cheap alcohol in one go.

"Remind you of home?"

I asked jokingly, and he shook his head.

"This booze is terrible. But it'll help me sleep soundly."

Joe grinned. It must be a high-proof alcohol.

"By the way, I heard your trading company proposed that we continue down the river without changing our schedule."

"Yeah, well, we have that female warrior with us."

I glanced over at Avea, who was eating with the members of Avante a short distance away. I was the one who agreed to it, but I decided to keep quiet. The truth was, the Mateo Trading Company's top priority seemed to be getting me and Claire to Miglutt, more so than their cargo. That's why they wanted to take the safe route. But they knew I had the Goddess Summon special skill. If I said we should proceed, they'd assume the voyage's safety was secured. Avea also seemed to think she could handle any battle that occurred within her line of sight. Thinking about it that way, she must have immense confidence in her own abilities. That confidence... where did it come from?

"I see... Oof!"

As Joe was looking at Avea, Becky elbowed him.

"The company we're escorting and one other company have agreed not to change their plans. We'll be moving on tomorrow,"

Becky said. She didn't seem concerned either. As expected of someone who calls themselves the 'Caribbean Pirates.'

"If we encounter the pirate ships, when do you think it will be?"

Myra asked.

"I hear the pirates have a fleet of five galley ships. If we continue down this path, the day after tomorrow we'll pass a large sandbar, about five hundred meters long. The sandbar is like a small hill, perfect for observing passing ships. It's also an ideal place to hide a ship.

A galley ship... that brings to mind the triremes of my original world. If so, each ship would have a crew of about two hundred. That's quite a number.

"Have you been to that place before?"

Myra asked, a little surprised.

"We've taken on escort missions for fleets between Furufto and Heilon many times. We have a pretty good idea of where pirates are likely to appear."

"Even though you've been to Heilon... you didn't know where Nieren was... ah, no, it's nothing."

Myra let that slip. But I wonder if it was intentional. To support her, I put the meat from my stew into hers. The server, who had been in a good mood since yesterday's wine, had given me an extra portion of meat. Then, "Hmph,"

Aira grunted, and stole the meat from my stew. Following her lead, Cecily, Mizuki, and Famu also took turns stealing my meat. The meat vanished from my stew. Perhaps taking pity on me, Myra gave me a carrot.

"It's his fault, you know!"

Amidst the fierce plunder, Becky elbowed Joe again.

"The pirate crew is probably around two hundred per ship, right? That means we're facing close to a thousand enemies. In contrast, we only have about fifty people per ship, for a total of two hundred and fifty. How can you be so calm?"

And on top of that, demons are said to have higher physical abilities than humans. Speaking of not being worried, Avea was the same.

"You scared?"

Joe asked, rubbing his side. Just as I was about to answer "Yes,"

I noticed Famu staring intently at me.

"Nah, we'll be fine. We have Avea. And I hear there's an amazing swordsman named the 'Full-frontal' Wake on the ship ahead of us..."

I decided to bet everything on Avea and the swordsman I'd yet to meet.

"What kind of ridiculous nickname is that for a swordsman?"

Joe was completely taken aback, perhaps because Becky was there.

"Mash, it's 'Unsinkable.' He's a former member of my party. Please don't say strange things like Famu does."

Myra pouted.

"Still, what's a battle on a ship like? Do we get close, shoot arrows at each other, ram the ships, and then board for a sword fight? With magic, I guess we can expect to be trading fire spells too..."

"The enemy won't be using fire magic on us."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, the pirates' goal is to steal the cargo. They won't do anything that would sink the ships."

It seemed unlikely they'd ram us broadside with their bows to sink us. That means as long as we don't let the pirates board, we'll be fine. There's also the strategy of taking minimal evasive action and just running for the next port. But the enemy would surely anticipate that. And besides, I have to check on Famu's friends.

"What happens if we lose?"

"Well, I don't know if they'll tow the whole ship away or just take the cargo, but we'd be sold off in some town. Anyone captured will become a slave."

"..."

"Don't be so scared. We're with you. Just relax, like you're on a big ship."

Joe laughed heartily, so I forced a polite laugh in return.


After the two of them left, Famu looked like she wanted to say something to me. She must have realized that taking the fleet further down the river was more dangerous than she had imagined. But I had to confirm the safety of her friends. Depending on the situation, I might have to rescue them. For that, I needed the fleet to move forward, but that would put everyone in danger. I didn't want to hear what she had to say right now, while my thoughts were still jumbled.

"By the way, are there a lot of people with nicknames?"

I asked Myra.

"All sorts. Some people just give themselves one. But most A-rank adventurers have one."

"You have the nickname 'Saintess,' Myra. Does Aidan have one too?"

"'Saintess' is embarrassing, so please don't call me that. And Aidan's nickname is 'Siege.'"

So his special skill's name is his nickname.

"I want a cool nickname too."

"Mash the Pervert,"

said Cecily.

"Mash the Lustful,"

said Aira.

"My Lewd Master,"

said Famu.

"Rapist,"

said Mizuki.

"...I said a cool one. I feel like crying."

Maybe because I ignored what Famu was about to say, even she chimed in. And Mizuki... even if it was something I did, is 'Rapist' really a nickname? When she says it like that, I can only apologize, but I don't regret it.

"Mash, your nickname is 'Hero,'"

Myra said with a smile.

"Myra, you cheater! That's so unfair!"

Mizuki got angry, and then everyone started criticizing Myra. What is this solidarity?

"Mash the Pervert, what's so funny?!"

Cecily complained when she saw me laughing at their argument.

"Quiet, Cecily the Careless."

"Hmph! If we end up fighting pirates, I'll burn their whole fleet to a crisp and show them what's what!"

"I can only see a future where you're stopped by a magical barrier and screaming that your magic won't work."

"...You have a point. I'll follow your lead, Mash. You have a plan, right?"

I nodded. Normally, I would have expected her to argue back stubbornly, but she gave a meek reply. She must be anxious too. Myra, who had been fidgeting next to Cecily, looked at me.

"It's not fair to give only Cecily a nickname. Please give me one too."

She leaned in toward me, smiling. It's true that her nickname 'Saintess' was specific to Richel, giving it a strong local feel. I could see why she was embarrassed. I wondered if a terrible nickname like Cecily's would be okay, as I observed her.

"Myra, First in the Pecking Order."

"...Pardon? Do you think of me as your number one lover, Mash?"

She looked puzzled. Her large chest was currently inactive.

"Myra, what Mash is trying to say is truly awful,"

Mizuki, Third in the Pecking Order, sighed. Famu, Last in the Pecking Order, puffed out her cheeks.

"So, what's the plan?"

"Early the day after tomorrow, we'll pretend to be making a break for it and leave the port with just one ship. We'll act like we're going to pass the sandbar at high speed. That'll bait the enemy. We'll gather as many of their ships as possible and wipe them out with Laciel's arrow. I don't know if it will work."
I don't need to annihilate them. If I can inflict a certain amount of damage, they should give up their piracy and retreat to the Demon Kingdom. The problem is if the enemy has someone with a special skill and it becomes a shootout. But Myra said that demons don't have special skills. If I can eliminate that uncertainty, we shouldn't lose.

"A lot of people might die then. Are you okay with that, Mash? I... I don't like it,"

Mizuki asked, looking worried. I wanted to avoid it too, but I couldn't say that in front of Famu. I was at a loss for an answer.

"Mizuki... I'll make sure you don't have to play the unpleasant role this time."

"If you're prepared, Mash, I'll go along with it."

Mizuki nodded.

"Master. Please listen to me."

Famu, seemingly unable to bear my not addressing her, raised her voice.

"...Go ahead."

"The fleet should wait for the Furufto fleet after all. I will go down the river alone on a raft."

I imagined her arriving at the pirate fleet alone on a raft to challenge them to a duel. Was she channeling Miyamoto Musashi on his way to the duel at Ganryu Island? Our eyes met. She was making an indescribable face.

"...You won't be able to do anything by yourself. When we go, all six of us go together. That's absolute."