How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 237

Living as the Third Son of a Wasted Masterpiece – Episode 238

Chapter 57. Southern Archipelago

Waves parted to the left and right, white foam rising. A sailing ship set sail from the port of Malaga, where a refreshing sea breeze blew.

Having boarded the ship, I confirmed that the port was receding into the distance and immediately summoned the captain.

A moment later, a man of great stature approached me as I waited in the forecastle [the raised deck at the front of the ship].

“Welcome aboard the Golden Honor, Guild Master. My name is Jack, the captain.”

The captain’s face was filled with joy. The reason was obvious: the reward offered for this job was considerable.

Moreover, this merchant ship was clearly owned by the Blue Wind Guild. The captain was merely an employee. He had every reason to make a good impression on me.

Clearing my mind of unnecessary thoughts, I nodded lightly.

“Pleased to meet you, Captain.”

“Oh! You don’t have to be so formal.”

“It’s alright. Isn’t there a saying that the captain is above everyone else on the sea?”

“If you insist… I heard you called me because you had something to tell me.”

“To cut to the chase, I’ll tell you something I didn’t share until we set sail, for security reasons.”

“…Yes?”

The captain, who had been wearing a dubious expression, widened his eyes as he heard the new route from my mouth.

“No, you’re not going along the coast where security is assured, but out to the open sea?”

“That’s right.”

“That’s too dangerous! Of course, that way you can get to the east faster than following the coastline, but… as you know, the south is full of pirates!”

“You don’t understand properly. The destination was the open sea from the start. Specifically, the Southern Archipelago.”

The captain’s eyes, which had been wide open, lost their focus.

Has he lost his words?

“Th, th, th…”

“Th?”

“Th-there, is there a reason why you *have* to do that?”

“I’m not talking to the captain to discuss the right or wrong of the purpose.”

Realizing that I wasn’t joking, the captain’s face began to turn blue.

“I know it’s rude to ask for the reason, but I can’t just silently follow you to a place that’s obviously a death trap…”

“As long as you follow the plan well, there will be no problem with your safety. I promise.”

The captain looked flustered at my bold statement.

“O-of course, I’m not doubting the Guild Master’s words…”

“If you’re still worried, I’ll tell you one more thing: those people, including me, are knights.”

At my words, the captain turned his head. At the end of his gaze were my companions, leaning against the railing and leisurely watching the sea.

“Those people?”

“Oh, and one is a wizard.”

“A wizard!”

The captain, startled, widened his eyes.

He’s probably racking his brain right now.

The Guild Master leads a force of knights and a wizard and demands that you follow the plan.

Whatever imagination comes to mind, the conclusion is the same: it’s not something he can refuse.

As I expected, the captain slowly asked with a fearful face.

“There will definitely be no problem for me and my crew, right?”

“On my honor.”

How much weight does the word ‘honor’ from a knight carry?

“Then I will follow.”

Even if I don’t know, it’s enough to give a human being trust.

* * *

I was taking a nap during a rare moment of leisure when I woke up to the sound of knocking on the door.

I grabbed my sword, got up, and put on a thick cloak. When I opened the door, Peter was there with a rather excited face.

“They’ve come, Count.”

‘They’ve come’ meant that things were proceeding as expected, so I headed to the deck and asked.

“How many?”

“Two brigs [a type of two-masted sailing vessel].”

Brig. Fast sailing ship. Pirates mainly use ships that are sleek and fast.

“I see.”

“It seems like your prediction was right, Count.”

“What does the captain say?”

“He said it’s absurd. He said he’s never seen pirates approach so openly at night.”

“I guess so.”

Thud!

I finished my conversation with Peter and opened the door to the deck.

The open night sky unfolded before my eyes. Only a silent tension was swirling on the deck, where even the lights had been turned off to eliminate light.

Immediately using Dark Sight, I looked for the captain first. The captain, who was managing the crew with a nervous face, quickly approached me when he saw me.

“G-Guild Master.”

“Where are they?”

The captain, understanding the short question, pointed to one side of the sea.

“That way. You can’t see it now because the clouds are covering the moonlight.”

As the captain said, the moonlight was covered and the sea was dark, but Dark Sight pierced through the darkness without any difficulty.

What I saw were two ships coming through the darkness. The hulls, which were narrower and sleeker than others, resembled sharks.

‘The emblem…’

Looking up along the mast, I finally saw the gruesome emblem drawn on the sail.

After confirming it, I called Peter, who was staring intently at the sea next to me.

“A raven perched on a skull.”

“Yes? What do you see?”

“Yes, I see it. So tell me.”

“Uh, um, a raven on a skull…”

Peter, rummaging through the memories he had researched and put in his head, snapped his fingers.

“I think it’s the Carrion Raven Pirates.”

“Carrion Raven Pirates? How corny. So who are they?”

“I don’t know the details.”

Peter shook his head lightly.

It seemed irresponsible at first glance, but I understood the meaning.

Small fries that don’t even need to be investigated.

After confirming that I had gathered all the necessary information, I called the captain again.

“How far away are they from us?”

The captain checked the wind at my question.

“The wind in this area is close to a headwind. Since they are moving in a zigzag pattern, they are naturally more advantageous than us. They will probably catch up in twenty or thirty minutes.”

Twenty or thirty minutes…

After confirming that there was enough time, I ordered Peter to gather the group.

A moment later, Jeskal and Taylor stood in front of me with unwavering appearances. On the other hand, Lortar was busy yawning as if advertising that he had just woken up.

Where is the other one?

“Fleta?”

“…Here I am.”

Fleta appeared, answering my call with a pale face.

What’s wrong with him? Ah, seasickness?

“Can’t you solve seasickness with magic?”

“I can’t use magic every time when I’m not going to spend a day or two at sea. I have to adapt.”

“If so.”

I nodded and looked at Peter, who smiled and crossed his arms.

“I have some good news to celebrate: pirates are following us!”

Taylor frowned at Peter’s exaggerated tone.

“Is it something to celebrate that a nuisance is following us?”

“It’s something to celebrate. It means we’re on the right course.”

“On the right course? What does that mean?”

Peter grinned at Taylor’s question.

“Because it’s night now.”

Taylor still had a questioning look on his face when he heard those words. On the other hand, Fleta muttered softly as if he understood it right away.

“A ship is a kind of moving fortress.”

Following Fleta’s words, Jeskal added.

“If you look at it that way, it’s certainly strange to attack like this at night.”

Taylor looked at Lortar after Jeskal agreed, as if hoping that he wasn’t the only one who didn’t know.

But Lortar gave Taylor a sneer as if telling him to wake up.

“Usually, you don’t choose the night to attack a fortress. Darkness hinders systematic movement. Unless there is a special strategy, the defending side is overwhelmingly advantageous.”

“Khmm…”

Taylor coughed awkwardly as if he was embarrassed.

I smiled and nodded at the pitiful sight.

“Then it’s one of two things: either they have a plan to win even with a handicap, or they have no choice but to attack at night.”

Jeskal tilted his head at my words.

“Would those pirates have a wizard?”

Wizard. A strategic weapon that can illuminate the darkness and inflict great damage on a concentrated enemy.

Fleta scoffed at the question of whether such a being existed in the pirate group.

“You’re joking too much.”

“I don’t think so either. Then it must be the latter. But there is a reason to raid in the dark night, and it is something we should celebrate? What could it be?”

Fleta waved his hand at Jeskal’s question.

“It’s not difficult. According to Investigator Peter’s information, there have been pirate groups that have recently disappeared, and we judged that the Nebiros Order had taken over their territory.”

“So, are they secretly entering the territory occupied by the Nebiros Order and looking for prey?”

“It would be even more so for a small pirate group. Rodkius and the Nebiros Order are in a cooperative relationship, aren’t they?”

“Ah, I understand now. So that’s why it was good news to celebrate.”

Taylor started groaning at the conversation between Jeskal and Fleta. Is that old man’s brain full of muscles?

To save the poor Taylor, I nodded.

“As Fleta said, Rodkius and Nebiros are in a cooperative relationship, and large pirate groups openly pay tribute to the nobles and gain backing. And most of the nobles in the south are Rodkius’ henchmen [loyal followers].”

In other words, the point was that nobles could give the pirate groups they had ties with an assurance that they would not invade Nebiros’ territory.

On the other hand, small pirate groups would not have such ties, so they could rummage through Nebiros’ territory like hyenas.

Of course, it’s a matter of putting your life on the line, so it’s only natural to operate as secretly as possible at night.

Taylor, who heard my summary, opened his mouth with a relieved face.

“Then we must capture them!”

“That’s right.”

I nodded and called the captain.

The captain, with a frightened face, approached hesitantly at my call.

“Did you call me?”

“Are there any boats loaded?”

“I have them loaded for transferring cargo to the port or for emergency escape…”

“Lower two of them. Right now.”

After quickly finishing my words, I looked straight at Jeskal.

“Sir Jeskal, you and I will split up and board the two lowered boats and wait. After that, send the Golden Honor first and ambush and capture the pirate ship that follows. We can each take one ship.”

Fleta questioned my sudden plan.

“Is it really necessary to do that? We can wait on the Golden Honor and deal with them when they approach.”

“No. If they feel something is wrong and run away, the situation will become difficult. It’s better for Sir Jeskal and I to handle it for sure.”

Jeskal raised his hand at my assertion.

“Are there any points to keep in mind?”

“Be sure to capture the captain. Kill the other pirates. Then prepare immediately.”

“Understood.”

Jeskal nodded and headed to help the crew move the small boat.

Lortar, who was watching the scene quietly, grumbled at me.

“I’m feeling stiff, can’t I go?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“You can’t control your strength.”

“…”

Lortar turned around, clicking his tongue as if he had nothing to say.

“Then I’m going to get some more sleep.”

“Go ahead.”

As Lortar disappeared, Taylor coughed.

“Ahem, is it really necessary for Count Cain to step in himself? I don’t mind doing it instead.”

Fleta, who had been silent at the tone that he had no mission, sighed and opened his mouth.

“Sir Taylor, the Golden Honor is currently our flagship. It is only natural that the most trusted person is in charge of protecting the flagship.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Taylor’s expression softened at Fleta’s words. Of course, I and Peter turned our heads to hide our laughter.

After that, under the crew’s swift movements, two boats were launched on the sea.

After confirming that the preparations were complete, I called Peter.

“It won’t take long. When we take over the ship, we’ll turn on the lights as a signal, so come back.”

“Understood.”

After finishing speaking, I jumped over the railing and landed lightly on the boat.

It’s definitely more shaky because the boat is smaller. After adjusting my posture a few times, I checked the Golden Honor, which was moving away.

Then I looked to the side and saw Jeskal looking at me not far away.

‘I’m curious.’

Jeskal was called the hope of the royal family in the original novel. I was curious to see what his work would be like.

Well, I’ll find out soon enough.

Turning my head again, I crossed my arms and waited for the pirate ship that was getting closer and closer.