43 – How Could You Do That to Her, MAKOTO!?
Out on the deck, Makoto stood with his arms crossed. He looked back and said, “Took you long enough, Karl... As you can see, things went south. The sea dragon went straight for the highest mana source ahead of time, and, well... ate her... Yeah... I don't even know what to say... You know I was going for the secret item...” He turned back around, watching the dragon recede into the distance. “Yeah... things really went south... Apparently, other ships have arrived. They don't have flags or anything, so it's hard to tell, but they're probably from that Snow Kingdom place, and...”
Ate her? What do you mean, ate her?
Makoto continued, “Are you listening to me? You haven't said a word... Well, having your pretty girlfriend get eaten... well... I get it... You know that's not what I wanted... well... accidents... happen...”
Crow stood there, still holding the bard girl in his arms, staring blankly into the distance.
Makoto turned around and walked over, continuing to chatter. “Yeah, Karl... no hard feelings, alright? As proof that it was an accident...” He opened a sort of dimensional inventory. “Here, take this sword... Go on, take it... Looks like you're still processing things. Well... I'll just stick it right here in the wood... just grab it, okay? It’s one of the top twenty swords... haha.” He stepped back again. “Oh, and don't worry, I've got a crew to fix the ship. It's way too sturdy to sink after just a few hits... Relax, we'll use magic to drain the water, and it'll look like nothing ever happened... Hahaha...”
Haha... ahahaha... this is a dream... this isn’t real...
“Psst...” Melodie whispered. “Walking wardrobe... oii...” She waved her hand in front of Crow’s face a few times, but he seemed completely paralyzed. “I think she is alive... let’s just try to go after the... the big fish I forgot the name... dragon... yeah... haha.”
Right... she’s tough, she has to be alive. I didn’t see any blood in the room, so I assume the dragon went straight for her and swallowed her whole. Those ships are nearby, are they going to attack? One of them just engaged the dragon... Yeah, I just need to head straight. There’s still time—
“Karl... so, I know things aren’t looking great... and all that... but regarding the bard... well... you remember, right?” Makoto was still facing away, watching the dragon off in the distance attack another ship. “The rest of the crew is downstairs repairing... and I told them they can’t be up here because we’re going to fight the dragon and all, so... it’s a good opportunity... Hmmm, seems like you don’t want to comply, Karl... Whatever. Julian... do the honors.”
Crow set the girl down on the deck. “Get behind me.” He grabbed the sword stuck in front of him.
“Karl... that's not what the sword was for... well, I'll let it slide since your girlfriend became dragon food...”
Where is he? I can’t see Julian anywhere... this is bad.
“Melodie... step back slowly. Let’s stay close to that raised wooden platform so no one can come from behind—”
A lightning-fast blade struck toward the girl, barely blocked just in time. “How are you keeping up with my speed? That’s really weird...” Julian had appeared to the left. “Were you in the military before coming here? But they don’t use swords... strange...”
If I do something harsh, Makoto will probably join in... if this takes too long, he will join in too... what can I do? Seems like the ship will raid us... maybe I need to last one minu—
Julian lunged quickly to Crow’s right and struck, but as his blow was blocked, he slid his blade downward and spun, slicing the side of Crow’s arm before leaping back. “Karl... that was your name, right? Well, I don't really wanna hurt you and all... After all, having a player out for revenge is kinda... bad... So let’s make things easier for both of us, what do you say? Better than—”
The ship lurched violently as another vessel rammed into it.
Crow raised his left arm, shielding the bard girl, while holding his sword pointed at Julian with his right. “Melodie, I don’t have time to explain. If they catch you, tell them you’re an ally of the kingdom, and that the queen can verify it through your memories—”
W-what?
He was thrown backward with full force against the wooden platform behind him. Makoto grabbed Melodie by the neck and stepped toward the edge of the deck. “Sorry, Melodie... if things were different... but I don't have a choice... well, no point explaining to an NPC.” He dropped her into the sea.
“NO! ARE YOU CRAZY!? MAKOTO!” Crow scrambled to his feet and charged at Makoto, swinging his sword, but Makoto dodged. Without a second thought, Crow dove off the deck after her. The colliding ship had turned sideways upon impact, leaving only a dangerously narrow gap between the two hulls.
I need to reach her right now. If she surfaces here, she’s going to get crushed between the two ships. Can’t she swim? She’s sinking way too fast... I don’t think she even had time to catch her breath... I have to move faster. This cold is brutal... feels like I’m going to freeze to death any second... This is bad. Got her...
He grabbed hold of her and looked up. There was no space at the surface; the two hulls were repeatedly grinding against each other and pulling apart. He kicked hard, swimming underneath toward the far side of the other ship.
She had already lost consciousness. If she didn't get any air before going under, her body is going to force a breath underwater any second... She could drown right here. To think I'd have to do this again...
Having already secured his new sword in the back harness where his claymore used to sit before he lost it in the city, Crow pulled her close. He used his free hand to cup the back of her neck, pressed his lips to hers, and forced a breath of air into her lungs.
Right, she’s still unconscious. This is bad... she might have already swallowed water, but honestly, I don’t know. I’m almost at the surface. Just a little further...
They surfaced, and Crow looked back at both ships as soldiers were already invading Makoto’s ship.
I don’t know how his ship hasn’t sunk yet... and what is that in his hand? Huh? It looks like I don’t have much of a choice now, since I couldn’t go back over there anyway, so my only option is to board the other ship...
He climbed a rope ladder on the side of the ship, which had served as a bridge between the two ships, though it was now cut.
Alright, I'm almost there. They might attack me the second they spot me, which is going to be a problem... well, they're busy invading Makoto's ship, so... wait, where'd he go? Are you kidding me... was that thing in his hand a teleportation artifact? Well, at least I got rid of that guy, I guess... I need to figure out a way to save Melodie, because she's going to die of hypothermia if I can't get her some dry clothes, and I need to rescue Sharon... she's definitely still alive.
He climbed onto the deck with the girl propped against his right side, holding her tight so she wouldn't fall.
Finally made it. Now I just need to—
“Hold it right there! Don't move, or I'll turn you into mincemeat for the sharks!” a soldier said, drawing his sword right beside him.
Crow put Melodie on the deck floor. “I like your wool coat... real nice...” he said as he stepped away from Melodie, heading toward the soldier.
The man swung his sword at him. “I warned you—”
Crow dodged the strike and counterattacked, driving an elbow straight into the man's neck, sending him crashing to the deck in agony. “Thanks for the coat, pal. This’ll help a lot, I'll give it back later.” He stripped the coat off the man, and seeing another layer underneath, pulled that one off too.
I’d better help him before he chokes to death and things turn ugly for me.
Dropping to one knee, he placed his hand on the downed soldier's neck as others closed in, pulling slightly to reopen his airway. “You’re gonna need medical treatment after this... well, we could’ve just talked, but you came at me swinging...”
“Let him go... or... or... you’ll turn into shark bait!” yelled a pint-sized girl.
I don't have time for this. If they keep coming at me one after another, Melodie is going to die. She probably needs CPR or she won't make it... Think, what do I do... That's it.
He backed over with the coats tucked under one arm, using his other to hold the soldier, who was still limp from what just happened, as a hostage. “Here's the deal. I'm going to revive my friend. Anyone comes close, I break this guy's neck on the spot. If you cooperate... well, I let him go and everybody stays happy—”
One of the soldiers standing next to the pint-sized girl spoke up. “HA... Like we're just gonna accept that, I'm gonna—”
“Stop...” the pint-sized girl said quietly to the man, keeping her head down. “W-we... accept... your conditions... okay!?” She looked like she was about to burst into tears at any second.
The soldier pushed on. “But Major, he might be your brother, but—”
He took a punch straight to the face from the pint-sized girl, knocking him out on the deck instantly.
Now back beside Melodie, Crow addressed the soldiers. “Here's the deal... take a few more steps back. Anyone who gets in my way already knows what happens...”
The pint-sized girl motioned to the guards, and they backed away, retreating all the way to the far end of the deck, opposite him.
He looked out at the dragon in the distance, tearing another ship apart.
Is it heading this way? Why? Could it be... yeah, that has to be it. Makoto's teleportation probably burned through so much mana taking the ship with him that the dragon picked up on it, thinking there's more prey over here. It's the only explanation... I'd better take care of Melodie and prepare for whatever comes next...
He propped the limp soldier against the edge of the deck and began performing CPR on the girl, giving her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
This is terrible. She's way too cold. Between this snowy environment and her being completely drenched after falling into the sea... I need to dry her off somehow and get her into new clothes. It's better if I go inside the ship, but it's risky with everyone in there... No, I can do this. I'll use the hostage.
Melodie coughed up some water. Even though she was soaking wet, he draped the coats over her and lifted her with his left arm. With his right, he grabbed the soldier, who was already getting back up, by the back of the neck and said, “Here’s the new deal... I’m going inside the ship, so show me to a room where I can save my friend. If you set a trap... you know what happens, so only the shorty can come with me.”
The shorty mumbled something to the soldiers and replied to him, “R-Right... follow me, there’s nobody inside except servants, so I’ll show you a warm room where you can save her, okay...” before turning to the side and heading into the interior of the ship.
The soldiers are on the other side then, so maybe they won't attack me from behind, but I’ll stay alert anyway... although I can see the sea dragon approaching, and at this speed it should be here in two or three minutes, so I’d better be quick, since after all, I don't want to end up in the sea again.
Crow followed the shorty while keeping a safe distance from her and looking back every few steps.
“Here... this room,” the major continued, after opening the door and stepping inside.
Yeah, this room is warm, so just leaving her here for a bit will definitely help her recover, but well, I'd better be quick.
He looked at the shorty and said, “Now lock the door and sit in the corner of the room on that chair with your hands behind your back so I know you're not going to try anything funny.”
The woman didn't think twice and did as he said.
Looks like she really cares about her brother... how... unusual... anyway, I'd better focus here.
He laid Melodie on the bed and covered her with the blankets, then placed the man in the corner near the bed, opening a nearby closet to grab all the clothes and throw them on top of Melodie, and after finding a few scarves, he used them to tie the man's hands and feet, leaving him lying on the floor.
This should keep anything unexpected from happening... you can never be too careful.
This pile of clothes... they're loose enough to fit her, and even though I didn't want to do this, keeping her in these wet clothes is a problem, so I'll use this blanket so I don't look, out of respect for her, and that's that. At least her upper body needs to be changed so her chest can warm up, while I'll leave the rest as it is, since that's not what determines life or death. Yeah, that's what I'm gonna do.
He removed her upper garments while keeping her covered with the blanket, careful not to look at her body. Using a thinner piece of cloth he had, he dried her off, dressed her in warm clothes, and draped over her the wool coats he had taken from the soldier, who was now trying to break free. “If I were you, I’d stay put right there until I finish here... We don't need any more violence... Right?”
The soldier stopped trying to break free. “Haha...”
Right, where was I? Right, I need to check if her heart is still beating... she's fine, and I managed to get her to cough up water earlier, so I don't get why she isn't waking up... could it be that... Makoto used something on her before tossing her into the sea? But he's not a mage... no, from the little bit I read in his diary, I saw a passage about Magic Rogue being the best class or something like that, and apparently that's his class...
He turned to the shorty in the corner of the room, who kept sneaking quick glances before turning back to stare at the wall, and said to her, “Alright, just a little longer and I'll let this guy go, but I need you to find a mage and a healer, and don't try anything funny, because I need you to cure the girl here of some spell that made her unconscious or something like that... do you understand?”
The girl turned around and said, “I-I am a mage... and a healer...”
He gave her a suspicious look. “Mage and healer... pretty suspicious, are you trying to pull something like taking her hostage when you get close?”
The shorty trembled and raised her hands, waving them in surrender. “N-NO... never, I would never... try something like that, I really am a mage and a healer, and that's the reason I'm a Major, because I have more talents...”
Hmm, she wouldn't try to pull anything crazy right now, probably not... I'd better stay alert.
He lifted the soldier off the floor and, standing behind him, covered the right side of the soldier's face and jaw with one hand while holding the upper left side of his head with the other, continuing, “Alright, heal her, and at the slightest suspicious move I'm going to snap this guy's neck—”
“NO! I-I please... don’t do that.” She began to cry.
Alright, she doesn't seem to be faking it, but I'm not going to slip up, since Melodie's life is on the line here.
The shorty approached Melodie, and just as she raised her hands and channeled some magic, the ship tilted hard to the left.
For real?