Chapter 165: Pirates
The golden sunrise shimmered on the ocean’s surface, casting warm light through the captain’s quarters.
A large table sat in the middle of the room, and across from it, Ariel sat in an oversized chair.
Her feet dangled above the floor, swinging slightly in the air.
“……”
Resting her chin on one hand, Ariel studied the massive sea chart spread across the table.
The tricorn hat she had bought at the eastern port was too big, slipping down over her eyes, but she didn’t seem to mind.
“…If we follow this route, we should reach the island.”
Her voice was filled with solemn determination, as if she were uncovering a great secret.
“There might even be a legendary treasure hidden there.”
“……”
Lu, hovering beside her, quietly lifted the brim of Ariel’s oversized hat so it wouldn’t swallow her whole.
What exactly is she doing…?
Lu sighed internally.
Ever since the voyage began, Ariel had been completely immersed in this role.
She had even asked them to call her Captain instead of Lady.
“Hmmm…”
Ariel traced her finger along the sea chart, following the route across the open waters.
“If we sail this way, then surely…”
BANG!
The captain’s quarters door suddenly burst open, and Lakia rushed in.
“Captain! We have a problem!”
Lakia, much like Ariel, was fully absorbed in the spirit of adventure.
She wore an oversized striped shirt in white and blue, its sleeves so long she had to roll them up multiple times.
A thick rope belt was tied around her waist, holding a compass.
Her baggy shorts barely stayed up, and atop her head sat an enormous sailor’s hat, her golden hair spilling out from underneath.
“…What’s the situation?”
Ariel adjusted her tricorn hat and rose from her chair.
Lakia spoke urgently.
“A suspicious ship is approaching!”
“A suspicious ship?”
Ariel furrowed her brows, stepping toward the door—only to trip on the hem of her oversized coat.
She barely caught her balance, her cheeks flushing red, before quickly exiting the cabin.
Stepping onto the deck, Ariel took in the tranquil scene before her.
The sea stretched endlessly beneath a bright blue sky, soft white clouds drifting lazily overhead.
A warm breeze ruffled her silver hair, carrying the salty scent of the ocean.
In the distance, seagulls cried out, gliding above the waves.
It was peaceful—beautiful, even.
And yet, Ariel’s face was tense.
“Lakia, where’s the suspicious ship?”
Lakia pointed excitedly.
“South! About thirty degrees off course! A ship with black sails!”
Ariel narrowed her eyes, following Lakia’s gaze.
After a moment, she spotted the vessel.
Her crimson eyes gleamed.
“…Could it be a pirate ship?”
Her voice carried not fear, but anticipation.
Lu sighed and flew off Ariel’s shoulder.
“Captain… we were explicitly told there were no pirates in these waters.”
Lu’s words went ignored.
Ariel suddenly drew a small dagger from her waist, raising it high.
“All hands, battle stations!”
“Battle stations!!”
Lakia mimicked her energy, fully committed.
“Captain! I’ll ready the cannons!”
“Prepare the cannons!”
“……”
Lu stared at them in disbelief.
“…We don’t have cannons.”
Their ship wasn’t built for combat—it was just a simple vessel for travel.
“Captain, that ship is most likely just a regular fishing boat—”
BOOM!
A deafening explosion rocked the air.
Everyone froze.
Water erupted into towering splashes around them.
“…What…?”
Lu’s expression twisted in confusion.
Ariel’s eyes widened.
Even Lakia looked momentarily stunned.
Turning their heads, they saw a trail of smoke rising from the distant ship’s cannons.
“…They fired at us,” Ariel whispered.
“They’re real pirates!” Lakia shouted.
“Captain, what are your orders?!”
“……”
Ariel hesitated for a split second before adopting a determined expression.
“We… We must retaliate…!”
“Then I’ll ready the cannons!”
“Prepare the cannons!”
“Yes, Captain!”
Lakia saluted, then lifted her hands—summoning a massive fireball.
Not a cannon—magic.
“Captain, fire is ready!”
At Lakia’s call, Ariel nodded firmly.
“Fire.”
“Haaaah!!”
Lakia launched the fireball.
It shot through the sky and struck the black-sailed ship dead-on.
BOOM!
A plume of smoke rose from the enemy ship.
Lakia jumped excitedly.
“Kyaah! Direct hit, Captain!”
“Excellent.”
Ariel gave her an approving pat on the back, making Lakia flush with pride.
Despite the damage, the black-sailed ship continued to advance.
Its structure was solid, built for battle, and figures could be seen moving across its deck.
Their movements were disciplined, their stances seasoned.
They weren’t ordinary sailors.
As the ship drew closer, Ariel and Lakia held their breath.
The sea breeze strengthened, making Ariel’s silver hair and Lakia’s golden locks whip in the wind.
Finally, they saw it—the unmistakable skull emblem on the black sails.
“…They’re really pirates,” Lu muttered in disbelief.
He had sworn there were no pirates left in the eastern seas.
The recent discovery of the rare mineral Aquamarine had led to a massive pirate purge.
By all accounts, pirates in this region should have been wiped out.
And yet—
Here they were.
The pirate ship drew alongside their own.
The rough wind tossed both vessels as the waves roared beneath them.
Up close, the pirates’ menacing faces came into view.
A burly man threw a thick rope onto Ariel’s ship and hauled it tight, pulling the two vessels together.
With the ships nearly touching, the pirates’ faces became clear.
The tension was palpable.
“What the hell? Just two kids?”
A bald pirate squinted at them.
“Oi, are you the only crew aboard this ship?”
Lakia scowled.
“Who are you calling kids? It’s Captain Ariel and her crew!”
“Captain…?”
The pirates turned to Ariel.
Then—
They burst out laughing.
“Pfft—hahaha!!”
“That little thing is the captain?!”
“We’ve got a pint-sized admiral over here!”
“……”
Ariel stood firm, unfazed by the laughter.
She didn’t like being mocked—but she refused to falter.
“I am the captain,” she stated firmly.
“This ship is ours. Leave, now.”
Unfortunately, just then, her oversized tricorn hat slipped over her eyes again.
The pirates howled with laughter.
“Pffft—hey, kid! That hat looks more like the captain than you do!”
“And that coat—did you steal it from your grandpa?”
“Hahahaha!!”
“……”
Ariel’s face turned red.
Lakia, however, was furious.
“How dare you mock our captain?! I’ll burn you all to ashes!”
She conjured another fireball, but the pirates didn’t seem too worried.
“Ooooh, scary! The little mage is gonna toast us alive!”
“So that was her magic just now.”
“Careful, boys, we might get a little suntan!”
“Bwahahaha!”
Just then, a massive figure stepped forward.
The laughter stopped instantly.
A towering man with a deep scar across his face and an eyepatch stood at the center of the deck.
His presence alone was enough to silence the crew.
“The games end here.”
His voice was deep and commanding.
He was clearly the pirate captain.
His gaze locked onto Ariel’s ship, and a cruel smile spread across his lips.
“Take the ship.”
“Yes, Captain!”
The pirates leapt onto Ariel’s vessel.
The pirate captain chuckled darkly.
“As for these little brats… tie them to the mast upside down.”
The Black Shark pirates, once feared across the eastern seas, had begun their raid.