Chapter 5

005

"I... thought I was going to die..."

I dropped to my knees on the deck and looked up at the thick rope swinging wildly. The foothold was a single triangular ring, a merciless contraption.

Being lowered just by holding onto it was easy, but... do I have to do this on the way back?

From the speaker built into the eye patch, I heard Mihai's voice.

"No way, this can even lower a main battle tank. It won't break with just a lightly armed infantry soldier."

Don't call me infantry.

I was a civilian riding the train until this morning.

"Well, let's try the rescue operation."

I myself am a victim, so what am I doing?

Fortunately, the left eye's eye-patch-type goggle displays various information. It's a retinal projection device.

The information is a bit cluttered and overwhelming, but it feels like a game screen, so I'm somewhat familiar with it.

I carried a fire axe for reassurance and started walking cautiously on the deck.

Dried, discolored blood-like substances were visible here and there on the deck. But due to the sea breeze, I couldn't smell the blood, and there were no bodies in sight.

"Hey, Mihai, wasn't this ship attacked by someone?"

Mihai's voice rang out mercilessly.

"It seems so. Judging from the pattern of the blood spatter, it appears to have been caused by a large bladed weapon. Considering the amount of blood, it was probably fatal."

"Pirates, maybe?"

"That's a high possibility."

What a dangerous world.

"If the pirates who attacked this ship were the ones from that pirate fleet, that would be good..."

"If it was another pirate, they might still be around here. Report anything immediately."

"Got it."

Without Mihai's support, I would die.

I want to go home, but for now, the rescue operation is the priority.

There were no survivors or bodies on the deck.

I found a staircase leading down and decided to peek down it.

At that moment.

< Danger >

My left field of vision turned completely red.

"Whoa!?"

I instinctively leaned back, and something grazed my chin.

It was the tip of a deck brush.

I swung the axe to deflect it and split the handle of the deck brush with the heavy, red blade.

"Kyaa!?"

A girl's scream echoed, and the brush part rolled onto the deck.

The person lying in front of me was a boy wearing a cap like a newsboy hat... no, that voice was a girl. She was wearing a thin blouse and culottes, making it hard to tell her gender at first glance.

She looked to be in her early teens, extremely frail and petite.

I was surprised by the sudden attack with the deck brush, but I was even more surprised when I saw her waist.

She has a pistol hanging from her belt!?

It's an old-fashioned, flintlock-like weapon, but it's definitely a gun.

"Mihai, what would happen if I got shot by that?"

"Well... it's very difficult to estimate the power, so I can't say for sure."

You're not very helpful, are you?

"I specialize in navigation and communication of the ship, not in old-style muzzle-loading guns! The power can vary greatly depending on the amount of gunpowder and its condition!"

You didn't say anything.

While I was hesitating, the girl hurriedly got up and reached for the gun on her belt.

"Stop, don't do it."

I spoke as calmly as I could, but the girl was trembling violently.

Mihai immediately spoke in a calm voice.

"It's dangerous. Neutralize the target."

Neutralize?

Before I could ask, a long green arrow appeared in my field of vision.

The long arrow curved gently and pointed at the girl's body—her left neck and right wrist.

It seems I'm supposed to attack along this trajectory.

Indeed, if I hit a vital spot with this axe, I could easily kill such a frail child.

No way.

I absolutely won't do it.

"Wait, I don't want to fight. Don't attack me."

I don't think she understands the words, but in situations like this, attitude is more important than content.

I sheathed the axe in my belt and spoke to the girl in a gentle tone.

"I came here to rescue you. If you don't need rescue, I'll leave, and if you need supplies, I can provide some. I can also take you to a place you want to go."

I deliberately looked up slowly at the large streamlined shape floating above me to show that I had no intention of fighting.

From this angle, it looks like a whale or a submarine.

It's probably about a hundred meters long, but without a point of reference, I have no sense of scale.

The girl was still crouched and on guard, but she didn't seem to be about to draw her gun.

Her frail fingers hovered near the gun's grip, clearly hesitating.

I don't want to die, but I also don't want to kill a child to survive.

Please, don't shoot.

"Will the situation improve if you shoot me while you're adrift here? If you can't trust me, I'll leave without shooting."

A rational and moderate persuasion. Good job, me.

But the problem is that these rational and moderate words aren't getting through.

I need to persuade her with my tone and expression, but I'm not confident.

The girl in the cap stared at me for a while, then relaxed her guard. Her fingers moved away from the gun's grip.

Phew, I'm saved.

However, she still seemed on guard and spoke hesitantly.

"My name is Metty. Metty Hulda. Who are you?"

To my surprise, it was Japanese.

And for some reason, it was in Kansai dialect.