Chapter 62
‘……Why shouldn’t I have attacked the pirates?’
I thought a preemptive strike against the pirates was obviously the right choice. How many people would think it was wrong to preemptively attack threatening pirates who suddenly appeared?
There's even a saying that offense is the best defense.
Then, a chilling thought suddenly struck .
‘Don't tell …… the pirates turned out to be the righteous bandits?’
To solve this mystery, I decided to continue reading the .
***
At the sa ti, in the pirates’ tavern on Ingrid Island.
A sharp and chilly atmosphere hung in the tavern.
“Then don’t tell …… you’re suggesting we plunder other commoners?”
At Ronak’s cautious and heavy question, Rollo looked at him nonchalantly. Perhaps not liking that, Ronak scowled like a demon and growled.
“Rollo, we’re pirates. We’re definitely trash who commit robbery at sea.”
“……”
“But we swore an oath. That even if we were hungry enough to have to tear out and eat our own hearts, we would not attack weak commoners and poor folk like ourselves. Rollo…… have you forgotten that oath just because you’ve gotten a little stronger? The oath you made when you fled the mainland and I rescued you from the sea?”
—…….
—…….
—…….
The pirates tensed up at the suddenly grim atmosphere, awkwardly looking back and forth between Ronak and Rollo.
The atmosphere was truly on the verge of exploding. Since Ronak was usually gentle but unstoppable when angry, everyone tensed their legs, ready to act at any mont.
Making light of such an atmosphere, Rollo shrugged with a hollow laugh.
“Hey Admiral, calm down. I have no intention of plundering poor folk like us either.”
“You just said we should plunder those who aren’t nobles.”
“Are commoners the only ones who aren't nobles?”
“Then who else is there besides commoners? ……Are you suggesting we attack the Crown Prince, the royal family?”
“That’s not it either. If the Crown Prince truly purged the nobles for the sake of the people, I would respect and admire him. As long as he doesn't attack us, I won't attack him either.”
“Then who are you planning to plunder? If they’re not nobles, not commoners of the kingdom, and not the Crown Prince’s forces?”
Ronak kept asking back as if frustrated. Then, Rollo, befitting a pirate, answered with a sly smile.
“Mountain bandits.”
—Mountain bandits.
The impact of those two words was considerable. The pirates had never imagined Rollo would suggest robbing mountain bandits, so they all stared at him blankly.
Receiving their gazes, Rollo continued to speak.
“The rchants on the mainland say so. That among the mountain bandits, there are trashy bastards who make a living by attacking rchant guilds or periodically plundering villages. So villages and rchant guilds just offer up huge amounts of food and money to the mountain bandits or thieves under the na of ‘protection money.’ They even say they kidnap daughters and enslave the n under the pretext of that protection money.”
“So…… what you’re saying is that we, the pirates, should rob the mountain bandits?”
“That’s right. Not just mountain bandits, but other trashy thieves too.”
“……”
“Admiral, let’s show those cowardly mountain bandits who only pick on the weak the power of pirates. And while we’re at it, if we et people or villages that need help, we help them. Just like you did for all of us, and just like we did at sea.”
After finishing his words, Rollo brought his beer mug to Ronak and asked.
“How about it, Admiral? Shall we try robbing the mountain bandits?”
Making a living by robbing mountain bandits.
Ronak, of course, had no reason to refuse.
In fact, it was rather interesting. Ronak had been curious in his own way. Whether his skills would work on the mainland as well.
Grin—.
The scar on Ronak’s mouth, a long gash from a kraken’s tentacle, appeared wickedly on his face.
“That sounds fun.”
It must be a misconception that he looked scarier when he smiled than when he was angry.
***
To find out why I shouldn't have attacked the pirates, I imdiately read the .
…….
I should not have attacked the pirates. I learned the reason through an additional report sent by Walter, the lord of Misty Port.
The contents of that additional report were as follows.
「……Your Highness, the pirates did not attack villages or rchant guilds. They attacked mountain bandits and thieves, and plundered the treasures they had gathered. I misunderstood and was mistaken.
The pirates are said to have shown a friendly attitude towards the residents of nearby villages.
Furthermore, the pirates even conquered a nearby monster dungeon that had been threatening the village for a long ti, and they are said to have returned a significant amount of livestock and treasures that the mountain bandits and thieves had plundered from the village.
The village was so grateful that they even held a festival for the pirates.
……I am sorry, Your Highness. It seems I have repaid the pirates’ goodwill with enmity due to my misunderstanding and ignorance. I will one day surely pay the price for dishonoring the royal knights and soldiers Your Highness sent.
[Walter, Lord of Misty Port] 」
The content of the additional report was shocking. How could I not be surprised to hear that the vicious pirates, who I thought would attack the city at any mont, turned out to be ‘good people’ who defeated bandits and monsters and helped the villagers.
If I had known such facts, Walter would not have attacked the pirates indiscriminately. I, too, would obviously not have sent reinforcents to attack them. I would have told him to try to talk to them.
But who would have thought that a large number of unidentified pirate ships would suddenly appear on the coast, and that those pirates, holding blood-dripping axes and various treasures, were righteous bandits?
Walter had made the right judgnt. My decision to send reinforcents after hearing his report was also the best choice.
Yes, everyone made the best judgnt and choice at the ti. But…… the result was not good.
What's the use of thinking like this now.
The water was already spilled. I had attacked the pirates. As Walter said, I had repaid the goodwill of the pirates who had shown kindness to my people with enmity.
This was the end of the newly written content.
It seed that my future self greatly regretted attacking the pirates. For attacking the pirates who had shown kindness to the kingdom's people and dealt with the bandits.
It was certainly an unfortunate event for my future self.
‘But…… it’s a fortunate thing for .’
Because my future self made that mistake, I would be able to avoid it.
‘The pirates who appeared in Misty Port did not attack the common people. Instead, they dealt with bandits and conquered a dungeon to help the people. That ans…… maybe those pirates are really the ‘righteous bandits’ I was hoping for.’
If that were the case, it would be a very welco developnt for —
Throb—.
“Ugh……!”
It was getting better, but my head started hurting again. A headache that felt like my head was being squeezed by sothing hard and stabbed with needles washed over .
‘……Is there really sothing wrong with my head?’
Just as I was frowning from the headache and rubbing my temples with my hands.
Ssk ssk ssk—.
As if telling to focus on the future instead of pretending to be in pain, new content began to be written in the .
…….
A letter arrived from the ‘Admiral’ of the pirates whose grace I had repaid with enmity. The letter was delivered through the Abraham rchant Guild, with whom the pirates usually traded.
The content of the letter sent by the pirates was as follows.
「Crown Prince Leonardo.
We, the Ingrid Island Pirates, are those who could not endure the tyranny of the nobles and left the mainland to beco pirates.
Life at sea is hard, but we were managing to live our own way. The reason we returned to the mainland was because we heard many good things about you—‘Crown Prince Leonardo.’
Good stories about how you eliminated nobles, thugs, and wicked rchants for the sake of the people.
We returned to the mainland to confirm those rumors.
Upon returning to the mainland, we interacted with the villagers. According to them, you seed to truly be for the people. So Ronak, the first Admiral of our Ingrid Island Pirates, wanted to serve you, and to be recognized by you, Ronak tirelessly subdued bandits to build rit. Saying that one day he would proudly prove his worth to you.
Among the pirates, there were so who did not agree with Ronak's thoughts. But because he was our Admiral, everyone followed him.
But you sent knights and soldiers to cowardly and rcilessly ambush us. Ronak was foolishly killed by the one he wished to serve.
You repaid Ronak's expectations and loyalty with enmity.
We are pirates who wash blood with blood.
We will never forget the deaths of Ronak and our other brothers. Forever.
We will avenge the deaths of Ronak and our other brothers. We must.
One day, when our flag is seen on the sea or land, you will co to regret it. Absolutely.
We will surely tie you up alive and feed you to the fish.
—Ingrid Island Pirates, Admiral Rollo」
……That was the content of the letter.
I didn't know who Ronak was. But from the letter’s content, it seed Ronak was an important figure to the pirates, and the surviving pirates were determined to avenge him no matter what.
It seed…… I had crossed a river of no return in my relationship with the pirates.
This was the end of the newly written .
It was by no ans a light glimpse into the future. But it was a future I could certainly change.
To avoid repeating the mistake my future self made, I reread every sentence written in the without missing a single one and thought about what I had to do from now on.
‘First, it says the Ingrid Island Pirates will land on the southern coast of Misty Port city in six months. So, I should go to Misty Port beforehand and wait, and when the pirates appear, I should et them in person and talk to them.’
According to the diary, the pirates seed to hold a favorable view of , the Crown Prince, because they had heard good things about . So, if I went and showed them goodwill, they would probably be willing to talk first rather than being unconditionally wary of .
‘And then persuade them. To beco my allies.’
If I could win over the Ingrid Island Pirates to my side through dialogue, it would be a huge help.
Just as I was thinking that.
Ssk ssk ssk—.
The began to be written anew again. Today, the diary was revealing a lot about the future.
At first, the diary showed the future four years after recruiting new soldiers. Then it showed the future two years later, and just now, it showed the future six months later.
And this ti, it was showing the future 'about five months' after recruiting new soldiers.
…….
Roughly five months had passed since recruiting the new soldiers.
Today was the day I departed for the city of ‘Misty Port’ in the south of the kingdom.
I was waiting for departure in the carriage. Opposite , Elly, who was riding in the carriage with , sat demurely. For so reason, she was avoiding my gaze and her cheeks were reddish.
—Creeak…… Thud!!
—Snort!
—Neeeigh!
—We’re departing soon! Do a final check to see if you’ve packed everything!
From outside the carriage, the sound of the massive royal castle gate opening could be heard. The snorting of the excited horses could also be heard, along with the sounds of the busily moving knights and soldiers.
‘They said it would take about two weeks to get to Misty Port…… It’s going to be a long journey.’
While I was thinking, Jereuth’s voice was heard from outside the carriage.
—Knock, knock.
—Your Highness, it is Jereuth. We are about to depart, but may I co in for a mont to speak with you?
“Yes, co in.”
The carriage door opened, and a fully ard Jereuth entered the carriage. When it was just Elly and , the inside of the carriage felt quite spacious, but with the large-frad old general in heavy armor coming in, the carriage felt packed.
Jereuth took off his helt and greeted and Elly. Not just a greeting, but one ‘with courtesy.’
“Excuse , Your Highness. And…… Head Maid.”
Jereuth had been treating Elly much more politely since the incident four months ago when I fainted at the recruit completion ceremony.
Four months ago. At that ti, since I had fainted, I didn’t know what had happened between the other two.
But for so reason, after the incident where I fainted, Elly was being treated with quite a bit of respect by Jereuth and the other knights…….
As I continued reading, I noticed sothing strange.
‘Wait. Why is Jereuth calling Elly ‘Head Maid’?’
I had given Elly the position of Head Maid. But that was just between Elly and ; I hadn’t officially announced Elly’s position yet.
But for so reason, Jereuth was calling Elly ‘Head Maid.’
‘And another strange thing is…… that I fainted at the recruit completion ceremony.’
, fainting? Why?
I knew that ‘Leonardo’s’ body was weak. It was obscured by his mysteriously handso face, but in the mirror, this face was so gaunt it was painful to look at.
Not only that, I was suffering from chronic headaches. Today was especially severe. If I didn't have to struggle to survive, I would have been bedridden long ago.
‘But why of all things, did I faint at the recruit completion ceremony.’
The reason that sentence bothered .
The reason was—
—Knock, knock.
—Your Highness, it is Elly. It is ti to attend the recruit completion ceremony. May I co in and help you prepare?
Because today was the day of the ‘recruit completion ceremony.’
So…… it was scheduled for to faint today.
‘……Is that why my head has been hurting so much?’
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