And the next morning, Aila found herself enjoying an unexpected sense of freedom, thanks to the fact that everyone but Cloud and herself was suffering from motion sickness.
Laura is prone to motion sickness, so it was understandable, but she didn't know that Byron and Capella would also lose their minds from motion sickness.
Thanks to that, there was no one to bother or annoy Aila, so she was having a rare moment of leisure.
Cloud allowed her to briefly climb onto the deck and enjoy the sea view whenever she wanted. Of course, she wasn't left alone; she had to stand guard, keeping a threatening glare from curious sailors who approached her.
Of course, there was also the reason why Aila looked depressed, having overheard Cloud and Byron's conversation and been shocked, but Aila was unaware that she was in that state.
Except for that brief moment, she had been confined to her cabin all day, feeling suffocated, but Aila found great comfort in looking out at the endless horizon.
Today, as always, Aila went up to the deck, leaning against the railing, and gazing out at the vast ocean. Gazing at the sea somehow brought peace to her mind.
But then, from afar, an unfamiliar ship was seen approaching Aila's ship at high speed.
“...Cloud, that ship is coming this way, slowly coming this way?”
She was the first to sense something strange, and when she pointed at the ship with her finger and spoke, Cloud frowned and looked in that direction, then made a bewildered expression.
And the sailors also began to panic and shout as if they had spotted the approaching ship.
“It’s a pirate! A pirate ship is coming...!”
Pirate. At that word, she looked at the ship, now much closer, and indeed, a menacing crimson flag was waving in the sea breeze.
“Guests, it would be best to go down to your cabin for safety...”
The captain, who had entered combat mode, spoke to her and Cloud. He seemed concerned that a fight might break out and that his distinguished guests might be injured.
But it was a needless worry. There was no one on this ship as strong as Cloud and Aila.
“...If necessary, I will fight with you.”
Cloud drew the sword slung at his waist and spoke in a low voice. The captain looked him over, assessing him.
“I would appreciate it if you could do that.”
The captain nodded, thinking that it would help fight pirates, not a hindrance, since it looked strong at first glance.
“Then please send the young lady down quickly. It could be really dangerous.”
The captain glanced at Aila and spoke with concern. It was a reaction born of not knowing she was just another child, but it was actually perfectly reasonable in this situation.
But Aila pulled a dagger from her bosom and looked at Cloud. It was a silent question, asking if it was okay for her to stay with him.
Cloud looked at her and nodded. Aila, too, would be a valuable asset if a battle were to break out.
“Don’t worry about me. I can at least protect myself.”
“...If that’s what you say, then do as you wish.”
That little girl? The captain didn't believe Aila, but with the pirate ship approaching, there was no time for argument, so he nodded roughly.
Even if something unfortunate happens, he consoles himself with the fact that he clearly warned them to go down to the cabin.
And a moment later, a rope with a hook at the end swished onto the deck. It had been thrown from a pirate ship that had come within a stone's throw.
“Cut the rope! Quickly!”
The sailors rushed to the railing without a word and tried to cut the rope with their knives, but even that was unsuccessful.
It was because the pirates kept throwing shurikens at them, so they couldn't cut the rope while trying to avoid them.
Even at that moment, the pirates were pulling the rope and getting closer to the ship.
Finally, the pirates began to come up onto the deck one by one.
“Your ship feels good~ I guess it hasn’t been that long since you pulled it out?”
“That’s what I mean.”
The sailors took a step back with nervous faces as they laughed and joked among themselves.
"Woah, woah, don't be scared. We prefer to talk things out, too. We're pacifists, pacifists. Just give us what we want and we'll go back quietly."
The pirates seemed to find the sight of them frozen so funny, so they raised both palms in a peaceful gesture.
“Right, for example... that pretty little lady over there with the white hat? I think something so pretty could fetch a really high price.”
One of the pirates chuckled, nodding to a corner of the deck. And there, standing, stood Aila, wearing a white brimmed hat with a lace ribbon.
It was easy to guess what her expression would have been like when she heard those words.
The sailors mistakenly thought she was frightened by her expression, which had rotted away in an instant.
'That's why I told you to go to a safe place.'
The captain grumbled inwardly, thinking this, but in fact, the crew's fighting spirit actually increased. They were energized, convinced that they had to exert themselves to protect that delicate and beautiful girl.
“How could you say such a heinous thing...! I will never give you what you want!”
“That’s right! Let’s protect it with our lives!”
"Woooooooo!"
Laura is prone to motion sickness, so it was understandable, but she didn't know that Byron and Capella would also lose their minds from motion sickness.
Thanks to that, there was no one to bother or annoy Aila, so she was having a rare moment of leisure.
Cloud allowed her to briefly climb onto the deck and enjoy the sea view whenever she wanted. Of course, she wasn't left alone; she had to stand guard, keeping a threatening glare from curious sailors who approached her.
Of course, there was also the reason why Aila looked depressed, having overheard Cloud and Byron's conversation and been shocked, but Aila was unaware that she was in that state.
Except for that brief moment, she had been confined to her cabin all day, feeling suffocated, but Aila found great comfort in looking out at the endless horizon.
Today, as always, Aila went up to the deck, leaning against the railing, and gazing out at the vast ocean. Gazing at the sea somehow brought peace to her mind.
But then, from afar, an unfamiliar ship was seen approaching Aila's ship at high speed.
“...Cloud, that ship is coming this way, slowly coming this way?”
She was the first to sense something strange, and when she pointed at the ship with her finger and spoke, Cloud frowned and looked in that direction, then made a bewildered expression.
And the sailors also began to panic and shout as if they had spotted the approaching ship.
“It’s a pirate! A pirate ship is coming...!”
Pirate. At that word, she looked at the ship, now much closer, and indeed, a menacing crimson flag was waving in the sea breeze.
“Guests, it would be best to go down to your cabin for safety...”
The captain, who had entered combat mode, spoke to her and Cloud. He seemed concerned that a fight might break out and that his distinguished guests might be injured.
But it was a needless worry. There was no one on this ship as strong as Cloud and Aila.
“...If necessary, I will fight with you.”
Cloud drew the sword slung at his waist and spoke in a low voice. The captain looked him over, assessing him.
“I would appreciate it if you could do that.”
The captain nodded, thinking that it would help fight pirates, not a hindrance, since it looked strong at first glance.
“Then please send the young lady down quickly. It could be really dangerous.”
The captain glanced at Aila and spoke with concern. It was a reaction born of not knowing she was just another child, but it was actually perfectly reasonable in this situation.
But Aila pulled a dagger from her bosom and looked at Cloud. It was a silent question, asking if it was okay for her to stay with him.
Cloud looked at her and nodded. Aila, too, would be a valuable asset if a battle were to break out.
“Don’t worry about me. I can at least protect myself.”
“...If that’s what you say, then do as you wish.”
That little girl? The captain didn't believe Aila, but with the pirate ship approaching, there was no time for argument, so he nodded roughly.
Even if something unfortunate happens, he consoles himself with the fact that he clearly warned them to go down to the cabin.
And a moment later, a rope with a hook at the end swished onto the deck. It had been thrown from a pirate ship that had come within a stone's throw.
“Cut the rope! Quickly!”
The sailors rushed to the railing without a word and tried to cut the rope with their knives, but even that was unsuccessful.
It was because the pirates kept throwing shurikens at them, so they couldn't cut the rope while trying to avoid them.
Even at that moment, the pirates were pulling the rope and getting closer to the ship.
Finally, the pirates began to come up onto the deck one by one.
“Your ship feels good~ I guess it hasn’t been that long since you pulled it out?”
“That’s what I mean.”
The sailors took a step back with nervous faces as they laughed and joked among themselves.
"Woah, woah, don't be scared. We prefer to talk things out, too. We're pacifists, pacifists. Just give us what we want and we'll go back quietly."
The pirates seemed to find the sight of them frozen so funny, so they raised both palms in a peaceful gesture.
“Right, for example... that pretty little lady over there with the white hat? I think something so pretty could fetch a really high price.”
One of the pirates chuckled, nodding to a corner of the deck. And there, standing, stood Aila, wearing a white brimmed hat with a lace ribbon.
It was easy to guess what her expression would have been like when she heard those words.
The sailors mistakenly thought she was frightened by her expression, which had rotted away in an instant.
'That's why I told you to go to a safe place.'
The captain grumbled inwardly, thinking this, but in fact, the crew's fighting spirit actually increased. They were energized, convinced that they had to exert themselves to protect that delicate and beautiful girl.
“How could you say such a heinous thing...! I will never give you what you want!”
“That’s right! Let’s protect it with our lives!”
"Woooooooo!"
The sailors shouted in unison, raising their weapons high. They seemed poised to charge at the pirates at any moment.
“...If that’s the case, then there’s nothing we can do. We didn’t want to hurt anyone either.”
The pirates scoffed and each pulled out their weapons. It was a tense situation.
“Guys, let’s go!!”
“Come at me, you shameless bastards!”
The man who appeared to be the pirate leader drew his weapon and shouted, signaling the start of battle.
And Aila and Cloud were actively moving around the deck.
Cloud, his expression as fierce as hers, rushed at the pirate who had been hesitant to sell her out, and slew him in one swift blow. It was the price he paid for his bluntness.
This time, Aila too was able to cut down her enemies without hesitation. At least they weren't "innocents." This was a fight to protect herself from those who plundered and preyed on the weak.
The pirates facing her and Cloud were taken aback by their actions, but the crew was equally astonished. Aila, who was supposed to be protected, ended up protecting them instead.
However, the pirates' resistance was formidable. No matter how many enemies Cloud and Ayla defeated, enemies continued to emerge.
Just how many people were on that single pirate ship? They were getting tired as they kept coming in endlessly.
It was then that another ship appeared in the distance and approached the ship.
'Damn it, another pirate?'
'It's hard enough dealing with these guys.'
As the sailors were muttering and thinking like this, a voice came from the deck of a new ship that had suddenly approached.
“Hey! Excuse me, I think you need some help. Can I help you?”
It was a cheerful woman's voice.
It wasn't another pirate, but a helping hand. They weren't sure who they were or if they were just trying to help me out of good intentions, but they weren't in a position to refuse their help.
“Well, I would appreciate it if you could do that.”
As the captain, who had been struggling to fend off the attacks of two pirates, nodded with a desperate expression, the lively woman jumped over to the ship without even a single step.
"Ah, Captain! There you go again! What if you fall into the sea like that? It's dangerous!"
Then, the sailors of that ship scolded the woman who had crossed over first, and they hastily built a bridge out of wooden planks and began to carefully cross over one by one.
“Yes, then let’s stretch a bit.”
The tall, slender woman with neatly cropped, light gray hair stretched and waved her arms back and forth, as if she had no idea what her subordinates were saying behind her.
After placing her hands on her knees and stretching her legs thoroughly, she cheerfully bounced on the spot, drew a thin sword that flexed flexibly from her waist, and charged at the pirates.
The pirates, suddenly outnumbered, began to retreat one by one. The situation had already turned.
“Heh, it’s nothing.”
The woman, who had been fighting off pirates while swinging her sword in a flashy manner, proudly placed her hands on her hips and shouted heartily.
And just then, there was a pirate running after her.
She felt someone rushing from behind and turned around quickly, but it was already too late to respond.
'Oh, I let my guard down.'
Is this the end? She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the sharp blade to fly towards her.
However.
“...If that’s the case, then there’s nothing we can do. We didn’t want to hurt anyone either.”
The pirates scoffed and each pulled out their weapons. It was a tense situation.
“Guys, let’s go!!”
“Come at me, you shameless bastards!”
The man who appeared to be the pirate leader drew his weapon and shouted, signaling the start of battle.
And Aila and Cloud were actively moving around the deck.
Cloud, his expression as fierce as hers, rushed at the pirate who had been hesitant to sell her out, and slew him in one swift blow. It was the price he paid for his bluntness.
This time, Aila too was able to cut down her enemies without hesitation. At least they weren't "innocents." This was a fight to protect herself from those who plundered and preyed on the weak.
The pirates facing her and Cloud were taken aback by their actions, but the crew was equally astonished. Aila, who was supposed to be protected, ended up protecting them instead.
However, the pirates' resistance was formidable. No matter how many enemies Cloud and Ayla defeated, enemies continued to emerge.
Just how many people were on that single pirate ship? They were getting tired as they kept coming in endlessly.
It was then that another ship appeared in the distance and approached the ship.
'Damn it, another pirate?'
'It's hard enough dealing with these guys.'
As the sailors were muttering and thinking like this, a voice came from the deck of a new ship that had suddenly approached.
“Hey! Excuse me, I think you need some help. Can I help you?”
It was a cheerful woman's voice.
It wasn't another pirate, but a helping hand. They weren't sure who they were or if they were just trying to help me out of good intentions, but they weren't in a position to refuse their help.
“Well, I would appreciate it if you could do that.”
As the captain, who had been struggling to fend off the attacks of two pirates, nodded with a desperate expression, the lively woman jumped over to the ship without even a single step.
"Ah, Captain! There you go again! What if you fall into the sea like that? It's dangerous!"
Then, the sailors of that ship scolded the woman who had crossed over first, and they hastily built a bridge out of wooden planks and began to carefully cross over one by one.
“Yes, then let’s stretch a bit.”
The tall, slender woman with neatly cropped, light gray hair stretched and waved her arms back and forth, as if she had no idea what her subordinates were saying behind her.
After placing her hands on her knees and stretching her legs thoroughly, she cheerfully bounced on the spot, drew a thin sword that flexed flexibly from her waist, and charged at the pirates.
The pirates, suddenly outnumbered, began to retreat one by one. The situation had already turned.
“Heh, it’s nothing.”
The woman, who had been fighting off pirates while swinging her sword in a flashy manner, proudly placed her hands on her hips and shouted heartily.
And just then, there was a pirate running after her.
She felt someone rushing from behind and turned around quickly, but it was already too late to respond.
'Oh, I let my guard down.'
Is this the end? She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the sharp blade to fly towards her.
However.
Shr felt no pain and nothing happened.
'Uh?'
The woman opened her eyes in confusion. Before her stood a girl, dressed as if on a beach vacation, holding a dagger. She wore a wide-brimmed white hat, a frilly blouse, and travel pants.
Looking at the floor, she saw the pirate who had rushed at her lying there, bleeding. Apparently, this girl had saved her.
"Are you okay?"
“...Ah, yes. Thank you.”
The woman nodded with a blank expression.
And that moment.
“Retreat! Retreat!!”
As the pirate leader gave the order to retreat, the pirates began to swarm the ship. They carefully gathered their comrades, except for those already dead, and returned to their ships, disappearing from sight as quickly as they had approached.
'Uh?'
The woman opened her eyes in confusion. Before her stood a girl, dressed as if on a beach vacation, holding a dagger. She wore a wide-brimmed white hat, a frilly blouse, and travel pants.
Looking at the floor, she saw the pirate who had rushed at her lying there, bleeding. Apparently, this girl had saved her.
"Are you okay?"
“...Ah, yes. Thank you.”
The woman nodded with a blank expression.
And that moment.
“Retreat! Retreat!!”
As the pirate leader gave the order to retreat, the pirates began to swarm the ship. They carefully gathered their comrades, except for those already dead, and returned to their ships, disappearing from sight as quickly as they had approached.
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