Chapter 13
Rear Admiral Gardin of the Franz Kingdom’s Navy.
Tasked with eliminating the “traitor” bounty hunter Magellan, he was brimming with excitement.
“Kuhuhuk… How fortunate. At first, I thought this mission might be impossible… but it seems God has not abandoned me… no, us!”
Despite suffering through an unlucky ordeal with a storm at the start, they managed to spot Magellan’s ship sooner than expected.
Magellan’s ship, appearing heavily damaged by the storm, was slowly drifting along with the currents.
Upon seeing this, Gardin smiled brightly and gave his order.
“Prepare to fire. Reduce that filthy traitor’s ship to ashes.”
“Yes, Admiral!”
“Remember, even if his ship is damaged, that man is a high-ranking warrior. Do not recklessly approach and risk being ambushed. Finish him from a distance.”
“Understood, Admiral.”
In truth, whether or not Magellan had committed treason was unknown.
However, the Magellan that Rear Admiral Gardin of Marenseu knew was far from someone who would engage in such acts.
Given the Franz Kingdom Navy’s inherently weak position, hiring mercenaries or bounty hunters to maintain order in the coastal waters was unavoidable.
Magellan, a representative figure among them and the most skilled pirate hunter,
Was a man whose interests seemed limited to drinking, women, and fighting. It was hard to imagine him committing grandiose acts of treason.
Moreover, the loss of such a competent individual could negatively impact the security of Marenseu, the coastal waters of the Franz Kingdom, and perhaps even the entire Mediterranean Sea.
Regardless of the truth or future implications for maritime security,
At this moment, Gardin was determined to claim Magellan’s head.
The one who issued the command was none other than Duke Oaklean himself.
As one of the three most influential figures in the kingdom, his direct orders could not be refused.
More than that, Gardin was driven by the reward promised for success.
“Four thousand Talants! With that kind of money, I can quit this hopeless naval job and live a luxurious life for the rest of my days!”
For someone already contemplating resignation, this mission was the perfect opportunity to retire early and enjoy a life of luxury.
Ignoring how his absence would burden those left behind, Gardin dreamed of his rosy future while giving the soldiers the final order to fire.
“Fire!”
-Kwakwakwang!!!
At Gardin’s command, the cannons roared in unison.
Although their ship was a medium-sized vessel just barely larger than a small ship, it was armed with only four cannons.
Still, this was more than enough to sink Magellan’s crippled ship.
Magellan’s ship, struck by the barrage, was engulfed in flames almost instantly.
Watching the blazing inferno, Gardin let out a triumphant laugh.
“Hahaha! Burn it all! This is the grave of those filthy traitors!”
The flames illuminated his vision of a glorious future as he continued to command the attack with a voice full of joy.
But then…
-Booooooom!!!
“Hmm? What’s that sound?!”
A sudden, deafening noise rang out, catching Gardin and the Franz Navy’s attention.
Their heads turned toward the source,
And their once-gleeful faces began to pale.
“What… what is that?”
“What kind of ship is that big…?”
“That’s not the problem! Look at the flag!”
A colossal warship suddenly appeared.
Its size was at least three or four times larger than their own,
With dozens of visible cannons far surpassing the meager armament of their ship.
But what terrified them more than its size or firepower was the flag it flew.
A golden skull against a black background.
The symbol’s meaning was unmistakable…
“The… Pirate… King?”
“This is insane! Damn it! Why is that monster here?!”
It was clearly not a coincidence or a passing ship.
The Pirate King’s warship was heading straight for them.
The very sight of it shattered their will to fight, leaving them paralyzed with fear.
“Admiral! We must retreat immediately! Please give the order!”
“But… we don’t yet know Magellan’s fate…”
“With that much firepower, he’s probably dead! And that’s not what matters right now! Admiral, do you want to end up as shark food?!”
“Y-You’re right… Retreat! Turn the ship around and get us out of here now!”
Quickly abandoning any lingering doubts, Gardin ordered the retreat.
Fear grows with knowledge, they say.
Both Gardin and his men knew well that confronting the Pirate King with their current forces would be nothing short of suicide.
Failing to collect Magellan’s body might cause issues with the reward, but being sunk by the Pirate King’s crew was a far worse fate.
As Gardin’s ship began to hurriedly turn away,
“What?”
“What is that… coming from Magellan’s ship?”
From the half-destroyed ship, a golden wave of energy erupted into the air.
Even at a considerable distance, it was clearly visible,
A swirling, immense flow of magic energy that changed the entire atmosphere in an instant.
It coiled like a dragon ascending into the heavens, signaling that something extraordinary was about to happen.
“C-Could it be… the Pirate King?”
“Damn it! Stop standing around and move the ship! We need to escape now—”
At Gardin’s desperate order, the navy soldiers hastily turned the helm.
And then…
-Paht!!!
A golden flash suddenly obscured their vision.
It felt as if the sun itself had exploded right before their eyes,
A searing heat and an intensely blinding light so sharp it was almost terrifying.
In that fleeting instant, the overwhelming brilliance seemed to stretch time itself.
When the violent light finally subsided,
“Ugh…”
“We… we’re alive?”
Realizing they were still breathing,
And simultaneously feeling the agony of burns as if seared by the sun, Gardin and his sailors slowly opened their eyes.
And then…
“Gasp!”
“Gulp…”
What they saw next froze them in place.
Before them stood their ship, now missing about one-third of its bow.
Fortunately, the keel and lower parts remained intact, but the upper structures, including the cabins, had literally evaporated.
Though they couldn’t fathom what had caused it, everyone present understood—this was the power of the Pirate King.
If they had been just a little closer…
No, if they had delayed the retreat even slightly, turning the ship’s bow just a moment too late…
It wouldn’t have been just the bow blown away—the entire ship would have been erased from existence.
“What… what are you standing around for?! Raise the sails immediately! If another strike like that hits, we’re finished!”
“Y-Yes, Admiral!”
Terrified by Gardin’s urgent command, the sailors poured all their efforts into maneuvering the ship.
Fortunately, only one of the three sails had been destroyed, and the rudder was still intact.
Though the ship’s balance was precarious due to the damage to the bow, it was still barely navigable.
The fact that the ship could even move after such devastation was nothing short of a miracle.
With heartfelt gratitude to the heavens, Gardin, having abandoned any lingering thoughts of the mission, focused entirely on retreating.
Luck was on their side, as the wind blew in their favor.
Perhaps it was divine intervention, or maybe the aftermath of the Pirate King’s overwhelming attack, but even the currents shifted to aid their escape.
‘The Pirate King… I’ve heard the rumors, but he’s truly a terrifying being… How can such a monster exist…?’
Without the fierce winds that now graced their backs, they wouldn’t have survived.
Resolved to submit his resignation upon returning, Gardin pushed his ship with all speed toward Marenseu Port.
***
‘Tch… They got away.’
Feeling a twinge of regret, I furrowed my brows.
The Franz Kingdom Navy was retreating swiftly before my eyes.
Though I wanted to pursue and capture them, the distance between us was too great from the start, and the wind and currents were on their side.
Furthermore, pressing deeper would risk provoking not only the Franz Kingdom but also the Britannian Empire’s navy, which occasionally patrolled nearby.
There was no need to take unnecessary risks in this situation.
Besides, my concern wasn’t with small fry like them.
“Elkana, wake up! Please… please open your eyes!”
Magellan, shaking the pale and unconscious woman in his arms, called out desperately.
Seeing their battered state, I couldn’t help but frown slightly.
‘So this… was the reason I was drawn here…’
With that thought, I opened the status window I had left untouched.
Despite meeting Magellan, the usually talkative status window had remained unusually quiet.
However,
Several days ago, it had suddenly started chattering upon my waking,
And up until this moment, it had been giving me an ominous feeling.
________________
<Hidden Mission Triggered – The Choice of Fate>
[A pivotal event will occur that will shape your future decisions.
Arrive in the waters near Sardinia Island by sunset on the night of the full moon.
Witness the events that unfold there and make your decision.
Your choice will set the wheels of destiny in motion.
You may enjoy quiet peace and be forgotten by the tides of history,
Or you may risk it all and leave an everlasting mark on this world.
The choice is yours alone.
Objective: Make your choice and decision.
Reward: The beginning or abandonment of the Hidden Mission.
- Warning: This choice will lead to irreversible consequences. Consider carefully.*]]
________________
“…”
The first quest under the title of Hidden Mission.
Its title and content were extraordinary, to say the least.
As I reread it,
“Pirate King!”
Magellan knelt before me, tears streaming down his face.
For the first time, I saw tears from him that were never described in the original story.
Clutching the cold, lifeless body of a woman in his arms, he desperately called out to me.
I didn’t need words to know what he was pleading for.
“P-Please… I beg of you, show mercy!”
Watching this,
I quietly contemplated in my heart.
‘…Should I kill him?’
—
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