"Great Empire Iskandar was here! Time for a rematch of our old debate! I won't lose to the booze this time! Brace yourself for my kingly way!"
"Knight King… you're the Knight King? What a bizarre getup… No matter! Drink with me!"
"My kingly way? I slay gods when I meet 'em! Mostly piling up Sabers—"
Star Pioneer—The Woman Who Brought Down the Sun
The Babylon-Gilgamesh sailed the seas, reaching a small island.
"No distinguishing features… just a tiny island."
Mash voiced her observation. I expected a pirate flag or something.
"Yup, no mistake. This is the pirates' hideout."
"Hmph, should I have expected more from a rat's nest? I half-thought they'd have a gaudy mansion."
"Sorry, Boss Gilgamesh!"
"No matter. Well done, crew! I'll keep your efforts in mind. Here's your reward—take it!"
Golden ripples spilled heaps of gold bars onto the deck.
"Whoa!! Can we really take this!?"
"Aye. The Babylon-Gilgamesh is yours too. A gift."
"Thank you, Boss Gilgamesh!! Boys, we'll never go hungry with this!!"
""""Raaagh—!!!""""
"Farewell. Indulge to your hearts' content."
"We're in your debt, Boss!! Stay safe, all of ya!!"
The pirates clambered aboard the Babylon-Gilgamesh, singing as they sailed off…
"The Babylon-Gilgamesh… you sure, Gil?"
"No matter. It's but a trinket. I gave it freely. Now, more importantly…"
"Yes. We need to find someone who knows this island's secrets, quickly…"
As we spoke, we were surrounded.
"Heh heh, you're loaded, huh, buddy? Spare some for us?"
A red-bandana pirate with an eyepatch sneered.
"Hmph, flies swarm to wealth. My Golden Rule's a curse."
That golden armor does stand out. Maybe I should consider casual clothes.
"No matter. Mash, warm up by scattering them. Don't tell me you can't."
"I'm on it! Give me three minutes for a Spartan Shield Bash!"
"Go, Mash! You got this!"
"I'm counting on you."
"What!? A girl challenging us!?"
Mash's shield swung, toppling pirates.
"Non-lethal! Non-lethal strikes!"
"Gah! Wait—!"
As Mash subdued them, we chatted idly.
"We crossed the sea, only to find more pirates on land… Poetic, isn't it, Da Vinci?"
"[Eh, too predictable to be moving.]"
Three minutes later, all but the red-bandana pirate were unconscious, the area secured.
"Non-lethal strikes complete!"
"Fine work. Here, a candy!"
Chomp. "Thank you!"
Rikka approached the pirate, interrogating.
"Call your boss! You've got one, right?"
"Boss? Oh, you mean Big Sis? Got business with her?"
"Aye. We need the aid of a true sea-dweller, not mongrels. Someone ostentatious enough to match."
"I'll guide ya! Just don't bash me with that shield!"
"They fear you, Mash. Haha, you're terrifying."
"R-Really…? I tried to be gentle and precise…"
Is a Servant's "gentle" reliable? Mash, such a natural…
"Follow me. I'll take ya to Big Sis… Francis Drake's stronghold!"
Through the dim jungle, the group followed the pirate's lead.
"Heh, just wait… Big Sis Drake'll wipe the floor with ya…"
"[He's gone full lackey…]"
"[Desperate character-building, huh? Typical pirate.]"
"Pitiful effort. Character forms naturally. Cheap speech patterns and bland traits lead to sidekick or mob status."
"[Am I distinct enough…? Everyone's so vibrant…]"
"[You're a solid tragic heroine, don't worry.]"
"[If I'm distinct… whatever.]"
Francis Drake. As usual, I know little about her.
"Who's this Francis pirate?"
I voiced my curiosity, sure the others knew.
"Francis Drake was the first to circumnavigate the globe alive. In 1573, the Age of Exploration, she's a living figure."
First to circle the world… alive!? That's incredible…!
"Hm, truly a pirate worthy of the Star Pioneer title."
"Yes. Her voyage transformed England, then a second-rate nation, into a global empire. Later, as a fleet vice-admiral, she crushed the Spanish Armada, earning the name 'El Draque,' the devil who toppled Spain, the 'land where the sun never sets.' A radiant hero in history."
Incredible. Francis Drake's feats changed history. A true hero.
I can't help but wonder… were heroes ever ordinary humans like us? It's hard to believe.
"A devil, huh… I'm curious what fierce face she has."
"Given these pirates, probably a rotten sort."
"Bet she's three meters tall, chugging from a barrel mug!"
"Haha, with a mouth full of gold teeth?"
She might shoot beams.
"You lot fans of Big Sis? Hyping her up big time."
"Fou… (Another Muscle Carnival entry…)"
"Oh, cute and tasty-looking."
"Fou!? (Stop! Only Servants can eat me!)"
"Eat Fou, and I'll crush your jewels!"
"Eek! She's like Big Sis! …We're here! Big Sis!"
At the jungle's edge, the pirate shouted.
"Guests! They wanna talk to you!"
"Huh? Interrupting my rum time… More pirates?"
"Nah, fancier than us!"
"Fancier?"
"Officials? Or did ya kidnap nobles?"
"Nope, different. One's all sparkly, like treasure in human form!"
Something feels off.
That voice… it's husky, strange…
"Sounds unusual. That last one's intriguing. Let 'em through!"
The group passed the hideout's threshold—and froze.
"You the guests? What do you lowlifes want? Selling exotic goods?"
No three-meter giant, no grimy male pirate.
"…You're Francis Drake?"
"Fou!? (*Seriously!?)"
"Who else would I be? Got a fine catch like me right here."
"She's tipsy on rum, Big Sis!"
"Haha! Later, stuff a bomb in a barrel and fire it!"
Laughing boldly, long hair flowing, pirate coat open at the chest, captain's hat tilted, a scarred beauty stood before us…
"…I see. A pirate who turned history, in every sense."
She is—
"You the treasure guy? …Call it a hunch, but I don't think we'll get along."
The Star Pioneer, Francis Drake herself.
"Getting hyped—!!! (Fou—!!!)"
Aa—(Adding that timeline to the order, got it~)
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/Greyhounds
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