MFLWTS 26

Chapter 26

Seriously, someone who lived on a ship can’t swim?

I wasn’t trying to nitpick about being good or bad at it. This was a matter of life and death. What would he have done if he accidentally fell into the sea?

So that’s why he said that…

I remembered Ian asking me to save him if he ever fell into the ocean. I thought he was just joking at the time.

“Spotted Kanoe Bluebell! She seems to be with Ian Frederick!”

The floor beneath us tilted dangerously. Thanks to the open ceiling, our position was being exposed in real-time. The navy soldiers were swarming closer and closer to the floor we were on.

“Kanoe Bluebell! You’re not getting away this time!”

The voice that rang out through gritted teeth sounded like it carried a personal grudge.

We were out of time.

I grabbed Ian’s hand.

“It’s fine. It’ll be over in just a second. Just close your eyes for a bit. Oh, and you’ll need to hold your breath, okay?”

“Wait a second, Kanoe…”

Even if he wanted time to prepare himself mentally, we didn’t have any. The ship was either going to collapse or the navy would storm in—those were our only two options!

“Just jump!”

Ian took a quick breath and nodded. Holding his hand tightly, I stepped to the edge of the shattered deck.

“Noona, take me too!”

“You’re on your own!”

Just as I was about to lean halfway into the sea, Lucas clung to me, whining.

Splash!

With both hands gripping the lifelines of two people, we plunged into the ocean.

“Damn it, she slipped away again…!”

Joel’s clenched fists trembled with fury. Responding to a report of an explosion out on the waters of Muiya Island, the navy had rushed over, and now he was grinding his teeth in frustration.

“Senior, there was nothing we could do. We almost got swept away by those waves just like that wrecked ship!”

Dominic, wearing an expression of utter distaste, tried to console Joel, who was trying to swallow his anger.

“You don’t wanna end up fish food either, do you?”

“If you’re gonna comfort me, at least put some soul into it.”

“Ah, you caught me.”

Scratching his head, Dominic didn’t deny it. Joel let out a sigh and glared bitterly at the horizon beyond the waves.

The scene they found after arriving on the report was devastating. Countless pirates lay sprawled out, and the pirate ship was so mangled it was unrecognizable.

And at the center of it all was Kanoe Bluebell, who had lured away their superior officer, Ian Frederick.

That woman… I should’ve caught her this time…!

But Kanoe had boldly leapt back into the sea, just like that day she sprayed water at his face and fled.

Just as they were about to give chase, the calm surface suddenly writhed and surged.

In an instant, a massive wave rose up and swallowed the shattered ship whole. The navy had no choice but to retreat, helpless against the raging waters.

“If only that royal knight hadn’t been chatting up the Captain…”

Joel recalled the man with green hair and a floral-patterned shirt—the royal knight.

Right when they docked at Muiya Island after getting the report, that man named Lloyd came running toward them in a hurry.

“Captain Markello, isn’t it? What a coincidence—I was vacationing here on this island. Let me report what happened.”

Lloyd, acting as if he knew something, had completely distracted them with pointless chatter.

Starting with why Muiya Island was so popular for honeymoons, all the way to the tropical fruit juice made from the island’s specialties…

“Oh, so young people drink this these days!”

And the captain actually humored all of it! Captain Markello was just too good-natured for his own good.

They only learned that the Roaring Wave Pirates’ ship was anchored behind the island at the very end. By the time they rushed there, Kanoe Bluebell had already slipped through their fingers.

“No matter what it takes, next time I’m catching her myself…”

“Haha, you’re way too impatient, you know.”

After finishing off the remaining pirates, Captain Markello stroked his mustache and chuckled, patting Joel’s shoulder.

“If you cast your net in the sea in too much of a hurry, you’ll end up tearing the net before you catch any fish.”

Then his gaze suddenly shifted behind them. Joel turned his head in confusion.

“Wouldn’t you agree, Lord Valentir?”

Silently standing there without a sound was Rev Valentir. The head of a powerful noble family dispatched by the royal court, and a man who had earned some reputation among the navy for his composed demeanor.

“…I agree with you, Captain.”

Rev nodded calmly. As always, his expression was as serene and unreadable as ever.

“You look pale. The island sightseeing didn’t suit your tastes, perhaps?”

“…”

Markello cracked a joke, but Rev didn’t smile. He simply lowered his gaze for a brief moment. Joel blinked in bewilderment, glancing between the two men.

What’s going on here?

Rev had joined the joint operation with the navy but had been moving independently for the past few days under the pretext of conducting his own investigation.

He gave no explanation for why he didn’t move with the navy. But neither Markello nor Joel questioned it. Movements ordered by the royal family were always like that.

But sightseeing? Seriously?

We’re the ones who did the sightseeing, Captain…

Joel bit his tongue instead of saying that out loud, just awkwardly nodding. His earlier outburst about catching Kanoe was completely forgotten.

“The southern heat must be getting to you.”

Rev smiled faintly. Joel felt a subtle sense of wrongness in that smile. Just for the briefest instant.

“Well then, I shall return to report to His Majesty.”

A fleeting, cold gleam flickered in Rev’s eyes before vanishing.

When I opened my eyes, all I could see was the vivid blue sky and the endless horizon.

The rolling waves kept tickling at my senses. The blue swells that kissed the sky stretched out infinitely. The breeze, heavy with moisture, swept over my head.

It was a familiar, comforting sight.

Like the day I leapt from the ship and woke up in the sea. Back when I thought nothing else mattered as long as I had the warm sun and a breath of wind.

“Master! I’ve brought some logs!”

“…Then let’s get started on a raft.”

Just like back then, with nothing but the open ocean around me—but something about it felt different this time.

“Wow, I swear I just breathed underwater! Was that your doing too, Noona? That’s insane!”

Lucas gawked at the thin film of water beneath our feet. Like a sheet of glass, the surface stretched under us, and he moved around excitedly.

“Hey, Lucas. How long are you planning to freeload?”

“Hey, your boyfriend wrecked my entire pirate crew, so I’ve got nowhere else to go!”

“Shall we hand him over to the navy if you want, Kanoe?”

Ian tilted his head casually, and Lucas clung to him, whining.

“Bro! Have you forgotten the fiery bond of brotherhood between us?”

“I don’t remember that.”

“…Cold as ice, just like Noona!”

I decided to leave him alone for now. Dumping him here would make me sleep uneasy, and I wasn’t interested in pushing a story toward a predictable ending.

“Lucas, you’re in as a temporary crewmate. Let’s say… three days?”

“…Is that good or bad?”

“Of course it’s good. Or would you rather get off here? You won’t get another chance like this.”

“T-Then I’ll accept!”

“Good. Start helping Ian with the raft.”

He looked bewildered about how things had come to this, but he still started tying ropes just like Ian told him to.

Jelly supplied the materials, Lucas provided the labor, and Ian supervised.

Perfect. At last, I had time to laze around like a seal on the deck.

“…I feel like you’re gonna exploit me worse than Captain Grimwald ever did.”

He grumbled, but his expression was bright. I didn’t bother asking him about the pirates.

Everyone has their own baggage. Ian and I included.

That’s probably why we’re sitting here laughing on a makeshift raft in the middle of an endless ocean.