"Can't even reply to messages? Living that country girl life too hard, huh?"
"Sorry, Suzuka-san… I just wanted to thank everyone in the club…"
"Eh, no biggie. If you're free, I'll teach you a thing or two."
"Thank you! I'm so glad I was summoned—!"
Set Sail!
"Here's the contract. Read it carefully."
In the captain's cabin, a freshly drafted contract is handed to Drake.
"Pretty thorough, huh? I don't hate that. Clear terms are my style."
"Drawn up by a skilled scribe. I never break a pact, even a verbal one. But know this: betrayal is repaid with death."
"No way, no way. Petty, sneaky crimes aren't my thing. I've got it, Boss."
"Hmph, 'Boss' sounds a bit bland. A title for me should thunder across the heavens!"
Isn't 'King of Heroes' enough? The king of heroes. I think it's insanely cool…
"Hmm. How about Governor? The flashiest title there is."
"Governor, huh?"
Yeah, I think it suits a king.
"Alright! Call me the Governor-King! The sea's sovereign, seeing all seven seas and conquering every wave! Fwaha! Sounds good! I'm getting excited!"
The vessel laughs, clearly delighted. The King of Heroes is quite the merry one, I've learned recently.
"Glad you like it, Governor-King? But one question…"
"Hm? About my outfit?"
The vessel's not in his usual armor. I dressed him for mobility and intimidation.
Spiked hair down, a pirate captain's hat, a golden long coat over bare skin, and armored legs—a pirate… no, Governor-King style. He picked it out with gusto. I think it's super cool.
…Though, I can't deny it's a bit inspired by Drake…
"Fwaha, it suits me, doesn't it? I make anything look good—a sinfully stylish man!"
"Yeah, but that's not it—"
Bang! Drake slams her hand on the desk.
"My ship! It's way too fancy now! Individual cabins? Bathrooms? My quarters are obscenely lavish! You expect me to play noble!?"
Right. When we signed the contract, I spruced up Drake's pirate ship a bit.
I'd heard pirates bathed in rainwater and ate rats when food ran out. That's the era, sure, but unhygienic for young Master and Mash.
So, the vessel went all out. Private cabins, hammocks, bathrooms—everything to boost morale.
"It's not a pirate ship anymore; it's a luxury liner! Planning to hire a queen or something?"
"Fool! A ship I grace must be gorgeous! Pirate ships dazzle with grandeur and menace, no? And the name's perfect—Gorgeous☆Gilgame, was it?"
"Golden! Golden Hind! Don't just hijack it!"
"Fwahaha! Whatever! Consider it my investment. I expect great things from your crew!"
Right. Please do your best, Captain Drake.
"Seriously generous boss… But why's my bathroom so extravagant?"
Obviously.
"You're a woman, aren't you? Bold as any man, but still a woman. Separating genders is only natural."
"—Wha, hold on. Me, a woman?"
"No insult meant. You're impressive for a woman. I'm used to gallant ladies in men's garb. Just setting the stage."
Pirate or not, Captain Drake is a striking, beautiful woman.
She has a unique radiance men lack. I just want her to remember that, even a little. My meddling, I guess.
If she doesn't care, fine. Just indulging a bit of selfishness.
"…Huh. I see. Hmm."
Drake nods, her face a bit red…?
"You're a good guy, aren't you!"
"Guh—!?"
She slaps his back hard, the impact jolting through him.
"And you've saved the world once already. This is just due reward."
Yes. She claimed a Holy Grail before us, saving the world.
The raging seven seas. Atlantis rising from the whirlpool. Poseidon, the sea god, set to flood the world.
"All that? I just did it 'cause it pissed me off."
Exactly. Her pirate pride—'Calling yourself a sea god? Unacceptable to a sailor!'—drove her to crush him.
She seized the Grail from Poseidon, sinking him and Atlantis into the vortex. A true heroine chosen by the Grail.
So why is this era still warped? Roman, Olga Marie, and Da Vinci-chan think it's because Leph's Grail clashed with hers, plunging the era into chaos.
Either way, we need Leph's Grail. That's why they left the Grail with Captain Drake.
"This is yours, right? Wanna take it?"
"No need. Claiming ownership's a hassle. I'll leave it with you."
"Whew, big spender. But you'll keep dishing out, yeah?"
"Don't make me repeat myself. That's up to you. —Raise the war cry, Captain! It's time to set sail! To the deck!"
"Aye, Governor!"
On the deck, Drake plants a foot on a barrel, rallying her crew.
"Alright, you louts! Drank and sang your fill!?"
"""""Hell yeah, Big Sis!"""""
"We're heading for the wildest voyage yet! We're picking a fight with bastards who shrug off cannonballs! No chickening out—grab your guts, crush theirs, and make 'em feel it!!"
""""That's brutal, Big Sis!!"""""
"This crazy sea's all unknown, but if it's a sea, there's nothing we can't do! We've got trusty allies and a filthy-rich Governor! Any cowards on my ship!?"
""WOOOOHHH—!!""
"Gil! What're you doing up there?"
"Scouting. My eyes are sharp."
"Got it… But our outfits…!"
Mash and Rikka are dressed up too. Mash in a white dress, Rikka in lackey garb.
"You look great, Mash! So cute!"
"T-Thank you…! King of Heroes, this is…?"
"Fools! You're young ladies! Learn to dress up! By the way, Medea and Vlad provided those."
So talented…
"Alright!! Time to set sail!!"
The anchor rises, sails unfurl—the signal to depart.
"Captain! Pirate ships incoming!"
"Huh?"
Ten or so pirate ships loom, blocking their path.
"Those are this era's glitches—think of them as tangible ghosts!"
"G-Ghosts…? No, if they're solid, we can handle 'em!"
"What, scared of ghosts?"
"Shut up!!"
Fine. I'll clear the way.
"Then we'll handle the cleanup. Mere wooden ships? I'll sweep them aside in one breath!"
Selecting treasures—halberds, harpoons, spears over ten meters long.
Targeting the fleet ahead—no dodging, it seems. No need to hold back—
"Captain! Give the order!!"
Let's pierce them!
"Aye! Golden Hind!"
"A warm-up! Gate of—!!"
Their roars overlap.
"Babylon's Treasure—!!"
"Set sail—!!!"
A barrage of massive strikes pierces the enemy ships, shattering and sinking the rabble in an instant.
The anchor's up, sails catch the wind, and the ship surges into the open sea!
"Woo! Look, Mash! Those ships are trash now!"
"Senpai! That's dangerous!"
"Hahaha! What, you carrying a cannon!?"
"I carry only treasure! Want to face me? Bring a battleship!!"
"Alright!! One hell of a salute! This'll be a fun voyage! Tighten your belts, boys!!"
"""""WOOOOHHH!!!"""""
"FWAHAHAHA!! My conquest begins now—!!"
The Golden Hind races across the sea.
The challenge to this sea has begun!
"Hmm, I wanna tweak a dungeon myself."
"King David, please don't do anything unnecessary…"
"Right! I'll set up a 'treasure room' with the Ark of the Covenant! How many'll fall for it~♪"
"That's vile! This king's the worst! Utterly despicable!"
"How 'bout it, Abishag? Join me—"
"I, um…"
"Stop hitting on her, King David."
"Ah… sorry. Tall girls aren't my thing."
"—(Tch.)"
"Oh, my body's heavy! It's those eyes, that glare! So harsh! I'm just being honest!"
"Roman. Can I toss him into the labyrinth?"
"By all means!"
"Alright, I'll repent, so go easy on me—!"
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