NABC Chapter 86 You're My Elder Brother Now! (2)
Chapter 86 You're My Elder Brother Now! (2)
After confirming the direction to proceed, Turan tossed a silver coin onto the deck before returning to the pirate ship on Bize.
The knights and sailors blankly watched the departing figure in a half-dazed state, recording this in their minds as one of the incredible things to tell others later.
After repeating this process several times over three days.
Confirming they were approaching their target island, Turan stopped the ship to recover magical power while checking on the people's condition, which he hadn't had time to verify while keeping busy.
"A few people complain of seasickness, but otherwise they're fine."
"If that's all, then that's fortunate."
Given how he'd forcibly increased speed by constantly blowing wind, the ship's ride couldn't help but be quite rough.
It would have been somewhat better if he could properly steer to catch currents, but Turan's learned sailing skills were only crash course level, making that difficult.
After finally checking everyone's condition, Turan sailed straight toward the distant Anik Island.
As they approached, two sailing ships of similar size came out to meet them, presumably to respond.
"Hey, where are you from? Stop the ship!"
"Know that if you keep approaching, you'll sink!"
Unfortunately, since there were no wizards among the pirates who jumped out, Turan reached out to raise an appropriate amount of seawater and poured it over the two sailing ships.
The pirates, instantly soaked like drowned rats, trembled.
"I've come to see your captain on business. Go back and report this."
At Turan's words, the two sailing ships fled back to the island literally as fast as their tails could carry them.
Soon after, presumably having received news of an attacking pirate wizard, the returning ship carried someone with noble-level magical power.
Standing at the bow was a large man with red hair and beard, holding a long harpoon in one hand.
Turan recognized him as Red Whale and immediately projected his magical power.
The other briefly groaned before shouting in a frivolous tone befitting a pirate.
"What kind of character are you to come to where kids play with such power! No, though your face is young, you're not really a kid, right!"
Such an attitude even after confirming Turan's power - it was hard to tell if he was ignorant or just had strong nerve.
"Are you Red Whale?"
"That's right!"
"I've come with a request, but first, as per custom, I demand treatment as a guest. Though you're a pirate, as a noble you should know such protocols, right?"
"Uh..."
Red Whale wore a blank expression at Turan's words.@@@@
Though unexpected, it wasn't enough to disrupt his plans.
With his outstanding magical skill plus fire spirits, Turan was confident he could easily win even against an equal-level wizard.
"Among the pirates of this South Sea, he's one of the strongest. Though I pride myself on my skill..."
His attitude suddenly turning timid, so different from his hot-blooded behavior earlier that it felt like changing masks.
Perhaps he'd been badly beaten by Cobinus before.
"Anyway, my request is simple - return those kidnapped people to their homes. I'll pay the passage fee."
But for some reason.
Not just Tasan but all the Red Whale pirate officers looked at him as if he were a strange person.
Tasan asked as if representing everyone.
"Why?"
"Why am I paying? Well, if I force you through threats, you probably won't do it properly-"
"No, why are you doing such a thing at all? What do you gain from doing this?"
"At least it'll make me feel good."
He didn't mention how pleased he was at the sight of the sheep showing gratitude at being told they'd be returned home, and thus he didn't want to see them disappointed and frustrated.
That would expose too much of his inner self.
Tasan's face hardened as if angry at the answer, and he waved his hand behind him.
Soon after, a subordinate brought sugarcane alcohol like what Solif had given.
"You said your name was Turan. Did you investigate me beforehand?"
"I only checked that you're a relatively moderate pirate who just plunders merchant ships without kidnapping or massacring civilians. With others, they'd sell them again rather than send them home."
Tasan stared at Turan suspiciously for a while after hearing the answer, but since he was speaking the truth, there was nothing to be concerned about.
After a moment, he held out a cup and spoke.
"My parents were fishers. My father drowned when I was eight, and my mother was kidnapped by pirates when I was ten."
In other words, Tasan was a noble-level magic possessor born to commoners.
Though extremely rare, such cases were surprisingly common because while the probability of nobles being born to diluted commoner blood was extremely low, the much larger number of children born meant it happened occasionally.
Probably going back several generations in Tasan's parents' line, there must have been at least one illegitimate child of a knight or noble.
"Though I became a pirate due to my lowly birth, I never kidnapped people though I've robbed merchant ships all my life. But you say you're just doing it because you want to, making me feel ashamed of myself. By those words, you're my elder brother from now on! Accept this drink!"
Faced with this middle-aged man's request, his face covered in stubble, Turan had absolutely no idea what expression to make.