Chapter 8

008

I thought I'd let Metty rest for a while, but I noticed she was quite dirty.

"You should take a shower while you're at it."

"Yay, a shower! ...What?"

Of course.

If Nana could explain, it would be helpful, but there doesn't seem to be a monitor in the shower room. Well, that makes sense.

Since there's no other choice, I'll guide her to the shower room.

Holding the showerhead, I explain how to use it.

"Water and hot water come out from here. Red is for hot water, and blue is for cold. Wait a bit until the hot water comes out."

"Got it. Everything here is really convenient, isn't it?"

Metty is staring intently at the showerhead.

"I'll wash your clothes, so just leave them in the hallway later. For a change of clothes... here, wear this."

I hand her an extra-large tank top from the ship's supplies.

It should be big enough to wear like a dress.

"Take your time."

As I'm about to leave the shower room, Metty looks at me and speaks.

"Um..."

"What's wrong?"

Metty hesitates and looks down.

"Really, thank you so much. I... I thought I was going to die."

It's no wonder. She was stranded on a drifting ship with no water or food.

I wouldn't have lasted five days in my right mind.

So I smile at her.

"You did well, Metty. You're safe now."

No more words are needed.

I leave the corridor.

As I throw Metty's clothes into the ship's washing machine, I think to myself.

Today, I saved a girl.

By coming to this world, I managed to save at least one life.

Even if I can't return to my original world, there's a reason I ended up here.

It's a bit of a strange thought, but it gives me a strange sense of relief.

Of course, I did take four pirate ships' worth of lives, but that was entirely their own fault, so they'll have to accept it.

And I plan to save three more people. If things go well, that is.

Yeah, not bad at all.

Of course, I'd rather go back as soon as possible, but I didn't want to attend the general meeting today, so I'm actually a bit happy.

It's more fun to be on a warship saving beautiful women than taking notes on a boring speech by a nouveau riche CEO.

I think about this while leaning against the washing machine next to the shower room.

From the shower room, I can hear the sound of water and Metty's singing.

"Melty Oure, Tsor Tiraanya~"

I don't know what language it is, but it's interesting how she puts a bit of a spin on it.

"Escapaduraa~, Yenfa, Shiniiya~"

The pitch seems a bit off, but she sounds like she's having fun.

I'm glad.

Just as I smile, Metty's tone suddenly changes.

"Kyaa!? Hiaa!? Hiaa, Hiaa, Hiaa, Hiaa!"

What's going on?

"Hey, Metty, what's wrong!? What happened!?"

She doesn't seem to hear me, just screaming.

I call out to Nana.

"Nana, it's an emergency! Unlock the shower room!"

"Understood!"

The door opens immediately.

I rush through the changing room and into the shower room, where thick white smoke is billowing.

"Are you okay!?"

For a moment, I thought it was an accident, but it seems to be just steam. My eye patch confirms it.

There's Metty, and she seems to be okay, though I can't see clearly.

I immediately throw a bath towel at Metty and look up at the shower.

The cause of the steam is clear.

The hot water from the shower. The temperature setting is at the maximum.

Metty, unfamiliar with the equipment, must have touched it without realizing it.

"Wait, I'll turn it off right away."

I turn off the shower and adjust the temperature to a comfortable setting.

The steam clears up quickly.

At the same time, I can see her skin through the steam, so I immediately turn around.

Facing away, I apologize.

"Sorry, I didn't know what was happening because it was in Paranya language. I'll leave right away."

"S...sorry... Yeah, it can't be helped..."

I hear Metty's voice, and then she continues.

"Thank you."

I'm really sorry.

Even though she was suddenly intruded upon by a stranger in the shower room, she's handling it rationally.

For a child, she's quite impressive.

"I'll explain how to use it in more detail next time."

I say this and quickly leave the shower room.

As I take the laundry out of the dryer, I sigh.

I need to make it up to her somehow...

* * *

I hope Metty is enjoying the rest of her shower, and I call Nana in another room.

"Nana, I want to talk to you now."

Nana immediately appears on the room's monitor.

"What is it, Captain?"

I lower my voice and explain the situation to Nana.

"I recognize the place names in this world."

I used to play an online game a lot.

Its official name is "Freedom Fleet," commonly known as "FuriFuri."

It's an RPG where you become the captain or crew member of an airship and adventure around the world.

It had a lot of content, like fleet battles between players and raids to defeat giant monsters.

"...But the crucial airship wasn't implemented."

I sigh.

The airship-related systems weren't ready for the March launch. It's a common story.

But I heard it would be implemented by the end of April, so I chose the "Captain" class, which specializes in airships.

In the end, the airship wasn't implemented until the service ended at the end of the following year.

Actually, because the main feature, the airship, wasn't implemented, the company went bankrupt and the service ended. Most of the paid content was related to the airship, so there was no revenue.

Also, players aren't that patient.

"The game development competition is intense, isn't it?"

Nana nods as if she understands.

I nod and continue.

"Anyway, the 'Kingdom of Paranya' and 'Environ Island' appeared in the game world."

However, they seem different from this world.

In "FuriFuri," the Kingdom of Paranya was just a page for selling in-game items on the official website.

And Environ Island was a map where past event monsters occasionally revived. The name comes from "End of Villain."

"So this world isn't the game world, but it doesn't seem entirely unrelated. There's something going on."

"I see... It seems we'll need your knowledge even more."

Nana nods, and I ask her, a bit curious.

"Was 'Freedom Fleet' in your world?"

"I don't know. The word doesn't exist in the areas I can access. Since I'm disconnected from the internet, I can't search for it either."

The history of my world is quite different, so it's uncertain whether it existed.

"Maybe it could be a clue to getting us back to our original world. After we deal with the slave market, let's go out and investigate."

"Understood. As you wish, Captain."

Nana smiles and salutes.