Chapter 16
A sharp, resonating sound filled the air.
At the center of the deck where the sound had originated stood two individuals.
One was a black-haired woman, wielding a training sword with a fierce expression that suggested she could easily cut someone down.
The other, holding a longsword, was a blonde girl of petite stature.
Her fresh and innocent features hinted that she would grow into a stunning beauty.
Though their duel seemed evenly matched at first glance, neither of the participants nor the onlookers believed this to be true.
The one swinging her sword was Franklin, a formidable 9th-ranked advanced warrior.
Despite deliberately holding back her strength, she effortlessly parried the attacks of her adorable “junior,” Ambasha, who swung her sword with all the might her underdeveloped muscles could muster.
“Try to relax your shoulders a bit more. And focus on keeping your magic energy steady,” Franklin instructed.
Ambasha, forcing her meager magic energy into her strikes, was visibly struggling.
Her current rank was a lowly 2nd-grade novice warrior, leagues away from Franklin’s level.
Though she had just started to harness magic, her capacity was still small, and her control was far from refined.
Nevertheless, despite her meager abilities, Ambasha’s display of determination left everyone watching astonished.
“Impressive, isn’t it? Back when I first saw her, she couldn’t even use magic. Now, she’s already at the second rank,” Elkana remarked.
“She’s got serious talent. Elkana, how long did it take you to reach that level?”
“A year. And you, Magellan? Didn’t you take over three months to reach it?”
“Hm… Judging by her talent alone, I can’t confidently say she won’t surpass me one day,” Magellan admitted.
As seasoned warriors who had clawed their way up through arduous training, they fully understood the difficulty of reaching the 2nd rank.
For Ambasha to achieve this within less than a month of wielding a sword was nothing short of extraordinary.
This incredible growth rate was enough to label her a genius.
Watching her relentless effort and passion as she swung her sword, Magellan quietly rose from his seat.
Over the past few days, he had grown accustomed to his new surroundings.
Additionally, their plan to handle business in Bennessa seemed likely to proceed smoothly, as the Pirate King had set their next course to that city.
Feeling more at ease, Magellan’s blood began to stir as he watched the sparring match.
At that moment…
“What’s this? Feeling fired up? Excited? Are you turned on by watching this?” Elkana teased.
“Could you phrase that differently? Other people are around… Anyway, I’ll be back.”
“Don’t overdo it! If you get hurt swinging recklessly, that debt of yours will only grow,” Elkana called after him.
Ignoring her playful remarks, Magellan grabbed a training sword and stepped forward.
Watching him, Elkana couldn’t help but smile warmly.
“Honestly… At first, I wasn’t sure how he’d handle it, but seeing him like this, he seems to be adapting better than I am.”
***
“Huff… huff… huff…”
Ambasha panted heavily, having completely exhausted her magic energy.
Seeing her condition, Franklin handed her a dry towel with an amused smile.
“You did well. Here.”
“Phew… Thank you.”
“That’s it for today. Rest up and meet me in the kitchen later.”
“Okay. Thank you for your guidance!”
After bowing politely, Ambasha scampered off somewhere.
Her destination was the staircase, where a certain someone awaited.
It was none other than the Pirate King, Ezra Drake.
“Father, I’m done for today!”
“Haha, good job, my girl. You’re growing stronger every day. It’s a delight to see.”
“Hehe…”
Ezra gently patted her head with a warm laugh.
Though the scene had become familiar to everyone, Franklin couldn’t help but feel an odd itch in her mind as she watched.
It wasn’t jealousy, per se…
But something about the scene made her feel like she, too, wanted to approach him with hopeful anticipation.
As she mulled over the thought, Franklin glanced around and cautiously took a step forward.
Then…
“Hey, you there.”
“!”
A voice suddenly called out, stopping Franklin in her tracks.
She turned to see a face she didn’t particularly welcome—Magellan.
“What… do you want?”
“I’ve been watching you for a while, and it’s making me itch. Let’s spar, just you and me.”
“I… I don’t see any reason to fight you.”
“Why not? There’s plenty of reason. You lost to me once, didn’t you?”
“!”
“As a high-ranking officer, it must be embarrassing to have a loss against a rookie like me. Don’t you think it’s time for a rematch?”
“T-that’s only because you used dirty tricks—”
“Hmm, so you think you can win if we fight fair? Then prove it. Unless you’re scared of losing, there’s no reason to back down here.”
“…”
Using the most effective tactic in situations like this, Magellan employed the classic taunt: “Are you scared?”
Franklin’s face immediately turned cold, her expression shifting to a serious demeanor reminiscent of their first encounter.
As the taunt successfully took hold, Magellan adjusted his grip on the training sword with a grin.
Despite Franklin’s naturally intimidating presence, her expressionless face, which now radiated unmistakable annoyance, heightened the sense of innate fear she evoked.
“…Don’t regret this,” she said.
With that, she began channeling magic energy into her training sword.
Watching the refined flow of her magic, which he had witnessed before, Magellan felt his excitement grow.
And then—
-Kiiiiiiiing!!!
The two swords clashed with a piercing sound.
The ripple of magic energy that spread out immediately drew the attention of the nearby pirates.
“What are those two doing all of a sudden?”
“Hm… It seems a bit too intense to be just a sparring match. Knowing Franklin, it wouldn’t be her idea, so it’s likely that Magellan provoked her,” Samir calmly analyzed in response to Vice-Captain Remine’s frown.
While fights among crewmates were forbidden aboard the ship, formal and fair sparring matches were not a problem.
However, the way the two swung their swords at each other carried a level of seriousness that was not typical of ordinary sparring.
-Kiiiiik!!!
The sharp sound of two opposing streams of magic colliding echoed ominously.
Franklin’s technical skill and magic control surpassed Magellan’s, but his advantage in brute strength, being male, balanced the match.
Their clash continued evenly, with neither side gaining the upper hand.
Then—
“Well, now… Isn’t this an interesting sight?”
“Ah…”
“Gasp!”
The voice that abruptly halted their escalating battle made both Franklin and Magellan freeze.
They turned their heads to see the Pirate King, Ezra Drake, standing before them.
“C-Captain… We’re terribly sorry,” Franklin stammered.
“Uh… This is… strictly a sparring match… My apologies, Pirate King,” Magellan added, bowing deeply.
“There’s no need to apologize. Sharpening your skills as pirates is only natural. While this might be a bit intense, I have no reason to reprimand a legitimate sparring match.”
“Th-thank you, Captain!”
“We’re deeply grateful for your understanding.”
Despite their awkwardness in addressing the Pirate King, both quickly expressed their gratitude.
Then, with a serious smile, Ezra spoke again.
“That said… Watching you both swing your swords so earnestly makes me feel restless as well.”
“…Pardon?”
“You… feel restless, sir?”
As an inexplicable sense of unease crept over him, Magellan couldn’t shake the feeling that he had experienced something like this before.
And, true to form, his instincts were not wrong.
“What do you say? The two of you against me—how about that?”
“W-wait a moment, Captain!”
“Th-this… Surely we couldn’t possibly—”
Seeing their evident panic, Ezra smiled warmly and continued.
“There’s no need to be so tense. It’s just a sparring match, after all. I have no intention of going all out. I merely wish to loosen up a little.”
“Still…”
“Hmm…”
Even so, the idea of fighting someone on a completely different level—a 12th-ranked master of combat—was daunting.
Facing an opponent with a 100% chance of defeat would essentially make them little more than punching bags.
While Magellan was racking his brain for a way to escape the situation with minimal damage, Ezra added a tempting proposition.
“In that case, let’s make it more interesting. If either of you manages to put even a scratch on my clothing, I’ll grant each of you a reasonable wish.”
“What?”
“A wish…?”
The Pirate King’s unexpected offer ignited a spark of motivation in the two hesitant combatants.
Franklin, who already had something she wanted, and Magellan, who saw this as a chance to leapfrog into a higher position, were now more eager than ever.
With renewed determination, the two faced Ezra, raising their swords.
“This time… Let’s cooperate. Stay focused,” Franklin said.
“You’re one to talk. Just don’t hold me back,” Magellan retorted.
Despite their bickering, their attitudes had completely shifted from earlier.
Watching the two prepare themselves, Ezra smiled and began channeling magic energy into his training sword.
—
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