Chapter 6

006

I was surprised that the girl from another world, who called herself Metty, could speak Japanese (it sounded a bit like Kansai dialect).

Why? Why can she understand me?

But if we can communicate, this is a lifeline for me and Nanami.

"Can you understand the language?"

"Y-Yeah... But, why are you speaking Nihongo? I thought no one used it anymore."

"Nihongo?"

Isn't it Japanese?

"Yeah. It's only found in old songs and ancient documents. Pirates shouldn't know it."

"I'm not a pirate."

Sorry for the eye patch and axe, they make me look like one.

It seems Japanese is an ancient or minor language here.

"This isn't Nihongo, it's Japanese, my native language. I come from a country called Japan."

"Japanese?"

"Yeah. Do you know Japan?"

"Nope."

"Then why can you... I mean, Metty, speak Nihongo?"

Metty laughed and said, "Hehe."

"I may look like this, but I'm a budding scholar. I was about to take the entrance exam for a university on the mainland. ...As you can see."

I looked around and saw the bloodstains that had turned reddish-brown.

"Did pirates attack you?"

"Yeah. I managed to hide, so they didn't find me, but the others weren't so lucky. The sailors were all slit-throated and thrown into the sea, and the passengers were taken away."

"That's terrible. But I'm glad you're safe... Actually, it's amazing you survived."

Looking at Metty's frail build, it seemed unlikely that the pirates would have kidnapped her.

Hiding was a wise decision, but this ship isn't that big.

I can't imagine there being many places to hide.

Metty looked a bit proud.

"At first, I hid in an empty barrel under the stairs. Since they were targeting this shabby ship, I figured they were after the cargo, probably people. So I didn't hide in the passenger cabins."

"Wow..."

This kid is smarter than I thought.

"But barrels are used for important water and food, so they would definitely check them later. So, after the pirates searched all the cabins, I took the opportunity to hide in one. I figured they wouldn't search the same place again."

"I see."

I finally understood how this kid survived. She's quite clever for her age.

According to Metty, this ship was a regular ferry that circled the inland sea, and there were three other young girls on board besides her.

"They were dancers. They came to dance at the festival on Environ Island."

"Environ Island?"

Hey, I've heard of that.

Metty nodded slightly.

"It's my hometown. It's a small island, but it's a pretty good place. The octopus is delicious. The fast currents make the meat firm."

"Really?"

That sounds great... I love octopus.

We suddenly felt more at ease, but we were still on a drifting ship.

"Anyway, Metty, why don't you come to my ship? I can provide drinking water, biscuits, and a bath."

"Really!? That's amazing!"

Metty's eyes sparkled, but then she tilted her head.

"But where's your ship? I don't see it..."

I pointed up with my thumb.

Metty looked up.

"W-What...?"

She sat down with a thud.

"W-Why is it floating!? What kind of principle is this!? What is that!?"

What is that thing?

I decided to search the ship.

I didn't find any food or water, but I recovered a few sea charts from the cabin walls. These are valuable.

"I see, this is Environ Island... and this is the mainland."

"Right. Even with this slow ship, it's only a half-day trip."

We must have drifted quite a bit, but I'll have Nanami calculate our position later.

There was nothing else of note, so I decided to protect Metty.

"Hold onto this rope. It will automatically pull you up, so just hold on."

I held Metty and grabbed the rope, deciding to be lifted up with her.

My coat has a sturdy belt, so I can secure myself with a large carabiner.

I also secured Metty's gun belt with a carabiner, so we would be attached together.

"Hold on tight."

"W-W-Wait!? No, no, no!"

"Stop complaining and hold on. If you fall, it will all be for nothing."

"B-But!?"

We swayed as the rope pulled us up, returning to the ship.

The view from above is amazing, but I never want to do this again.

"No way!? Put me down, put me down!"

"Stop struggling, I'm scared too."