Ch. 1: The Prince of the Ghost Ship
Kingdom of Ancula in the Land of Pirates, Month of White…-
The ocean of Ancula gently ebbed and flowed under the dazzling sunlight…
On the glittering sandy beach, I saw another light that outshone the brilliance of the sand and stopped.
(A ring…!)
Reflecting the sunlight in such a way that it seemed to sparkle with its own inner light, I clasped the ring in front of my chest.
And then…
OO: “…!”
There was a momentary flash before the blinding light winked out.
??: “Hn…”
A man with an imposing physique appeared and slowly sat up.
OO: “Um, are you alright?”
He still seemed a little dazed, and I peered into his face.
OO: “Ah…”
His purple eyes had a strange appeal to them and I found myself leaning in closer.
(Such strong…sad eyes.)
I stood there for a moment staring…
??: “N…ha…where am I…? My ship…”
His voice was husky as if it hadn’t been used in a while.
OO: “Um…are you alright?”
As I asked again, he stared at me in surprise.
Then, he grabbed onto my arm.
(! So strong…)
He grabbed me with such force that I almost couldn’t believe he had just been asleep.
??: “Woman…are you the one…who saved me?”
OO: “…y-yes.”
I suddenly felt a chill go up my spine.
A fog had settled around us and rain clouds had begun to gather in the sky.
(What? The weather suddenly…)
??: “Come. To my ship.”
OO: “…!”
He forcible pulled me forward by the arm.
(Eh…? When did this ship …?)
I watched as a great ship appeared before me.
Though it was quite battered, I couldn’t hide my surprise when I saw traces that the ship had once been a truly splendid vessel.
(A …ghost ship…?)
It was an appropriate term for the ship that had mysteriously appeared in the dense fog.
And I was going to be made to ride that boat by the man I had just awoken.
Ch. 2: The Battered Ship
The sudden appearance of a man and a rundown ship beneath the clouds that blocked the sun…
Too surprised to do anything, I had been forced to get on the ship.
??: “Sorry ‘bout surprising you like that. I just needed to get back to my ship as soon as possible.”
He shook out his red hair and gave a wicked smile.
I stared at him, his eyes deep and sparkling.
??: “Name’s Rosso. Captain of this ship…though I guess she looks like a ghost ship now.”
OO: “G-ghosts…!?”
I paled at his words.
Rosso: “You’re…ah, right, you woke me up…does that make you the Princess of Träumere?”
His face was suddenly very close and I unconsciously took a step back.
OO: “Y-yes…my name is OO. Um…
OO: “You’re alive, right…?”
I asked fearfully and Rosso’s pale eyes looked down at me in amusement.
Rosso: “Haha! That’s right…Everyone calls me the Prince of the Ghost Ship.”
(H-he’s a ghost after all …?)
OO: “Did you say ghosts?”
(But that couldn’t be what he said…)
I asked with reservation as I thought that, and Rosso gave a short laugh.
Rosso: “And what would you do if I was a ghost? Run away in terror?”
(T-this is scary…what should I…?)
At Rosso’s words, I felt myself going rigid.
Rosso: “Kuku…you believed me. You’re a pretty cute girl.”
OO: “…!”
Rosso: “It’s a joke. You make a pretty good frightened face. The best.”
Rosso tried to suppress a snicker, but before long it turned into a great hearty laugh.
(For a second I really believed him…)
In the blink of an eye, the bottom hem of Rosso’s clothes popped out and fluttered in the wind.
Rosso: “Now, let’s set sail! As thanks for saving me, I’ll take you on a sea voyage.”
OO: “Eh?”
Rosso: “All hands on deck!”
OO: “U-um…”
Before I could say anything, Rosso had already strutted away.
Going out, I saw that the weather had cleared up and the setting sun softly illuminated the deck.
Rosso: “Weigh anchor!”
Rosso called from on high, his hand gripping the helm.
Sailors: “Aye sir!”
As the sailors raised their voices in response, the ship started to move…the sails swelled as they filled with wind.
OO: “U-um…!”
Rosso: “There’s nothin’ to worry about. We’ll only be gone for a month, then come back. Right then! Full to starboard!”
OO: “…!”
The ship rapidly began to turn.
The ragged sail with a hole in it flapped and fluttered as if it would be torn apart at any moment.
(For one month…is this battered ship going to make it that long?)
OO: “Rosso…Um, is this ship going to be alright?”
Rosso: “Hah? What’s that?”
Unable to hear me over the wind, Rosso put his hand to his ear.
Following Rosso’s exaggerated gestures, I shouted.
OO: “This boat! It seems like it’s in bad shape, is it alright to keep sailing?”
Rosso: “…”
Suddenly, his cheerful expression changed completely.
(Rosso…?)
His eyebrows furrowed and I felt something stir in my chest.
Rosso: “…my country, my home is the Balenarossa. Only this ship. Don’t worry, I always take care of her.”
With a seemingly sad expression, Rosso gazed out to the horizon.
Seeing his profile, I couldn’t bring myself to say anymore.
Ch. 3: Voyage at Sea
The ocean breeze caressed my cheek.
The unexpected voyage on Rosso’s ship, the Balenorossa, had begun.
With the wind steadily pushing the ship along, all around us was the vast beautiful sea.
Rosso: “The wind’s great today.”
(He looked so sad before…but he seems happier now.)
For the time being, I was relieved as I watched him humming.
Rosso: “Right then! It’s about time to get some food! My stomach’s growling.”
With a light-hearted tone, Rosso left the helm and started to prepare something.
OO: “What are you going to do?”
Rosso: “Like I said. Catch our food. The crew’s pretty small, so even though I’m a prince and the captain, I have to take the initiative and grab us some grub.”
OO: “Ah I see. That sounds rather difficult…”
Rosso: “What? Nah, it’s no big deal. Just wait, soon I’ll land a big one and feed you too!”
Rosso was eager and gave a cheerful smile that was in stark contrast with the ragged ship.
(At first, I had thought it was a real ghost ship, and it scared me but…)
(Looking at it now, the people here are so full of life.)
In high spirits, Rosso pulled out a pole and began to fish.
…
……
After a little while…
Rosso’s line hadn’t even given the slightest twitch.
Rosso: “Hm…”
Holding the pole, Rosso looked up at the sky and moved his neck in a circle.
Rosso: “Well, seems like today’s going to be a long fight. Ugh.”
Standing his pole up, he flopped onto the deck and lay down.
Rosso: “Hey, OO, come here. Lying down like this feels really good.”
Rosso said it with a grin, and I…
OO: “Alright.”
Since he’d gone to the trouble of inviting me, I went to Rosso’s side.
Rosso: “You know, this is prime seating. It’s where the salty breeze from the sea feels the best.”
His eyes were beautiful as they looked at me, seeming as good as the sea breeze probably felt, and my heart skipped a beat.
OO: “But…”
I hesitated to lie down and Rosso gave me a slightly mischievous look.
Rosso: “It’s not that bad, being on the deck of a ghost ship. Relax, you can even fall asleep anywhere, and ghosts aren’t actually going to show up.”
OO: “…!”
He smiled at me cheerfully, and I felt my face flush in embarrassment.
To shake off the shame, I hurriedly went to Rosso.
Rosso: “Hey, right here. Lie down and look. It feels really good.”
OO: “Alright…”
I lay down next to Rosso on the deck.
(The boards are cold…but the view is so different…)
All I could see was the sky high above me, the sea below, and the sail flapping in the wind.
(It feels so good…!)
Rosso: “Being like this…I remember lots of things.”
OO: “Eh…?”
Rosso: “You know, long ago, I would get into some pretty showy fights. On this sea…”
OO: “…did something happen?”
I asked with reservation, and Rosso let out a puff as he smiled bitterly.
Rosso: “When I think about it, the memories are as clear as if it had happened yesterday.”
OO: “…is it something sad?”
I asked, thinking of the expression from before and remembering the feeling in my chest.
As if recalling something, Rosso gave a forced smile.
Ross: “Well, I wonder.”
Rosso spoke quietly as he began.
Rosso: “Long ago, on the Sea of Ancula, I competed with other pirates over territory.”
OO: “You were…a pirate?”
Rosso: “Yeah, the Great Pirate Captain Rosso.”
He grinned as he made a face like he’d just tasted something unpleasant, then smiled at me but…
(Why…?)
It was definitely something painful, even though he tried to talk about it jokingly.
Rosso: “But now…this ship and a little island I use instead of Douglas are the only parts of my domain. I still fight with them. But you know, it’s not really serious…and it’s not as if I hate it. It’s just fighting, that’s how it is.”
Rosso murmured as his voice became distant.
As the salty wind blew, he slowly closed his eyes.
Rosso: “Well, that’s how it is. There’s always more time to think than you know what to do with when you’re always at sea…no, more than you can give away. So I always end up thinking of lots of different things.”
OO: “Rosso…”
Rosso: “OO, you’re the first guest the Balenarossa’s had in a long time. We could kill some time by welcoming you!”
OO: “Kill some time…!”
Rosso: “Kuku, ah hey, let me sleep on your lap. Once in a while I yearn for the warmth of another person.”
(…is he teasing me?)
With a carefree smile, Rosso stared at me…
Rosso: “…come on, please?”
OO: “…”
With him using such a painfully pleading tone, I couldn’t refuse.
As I raised myself up, Rosso wasted no time in resting his head on my lap.
OO: “…”
Rosso’s hair fell across my lap.
Rosso: “Yeah, that feels good.”
Being so close as he smiled in satisfaction, I felt my heart speed up.
Just like that, Rosso blissfully closed his eyes.
Rosso: “～♪”
His cheerful humming echoed discordantly in the sky dyed red by the setting sun.
Ch. 4: The Reason It's Called the Ghost Ship
I continue my voyage on Rosso’s ship, the Balenarossa…
(He said for one month but…just how far are we going?)
As I thought about it, the ship slipped into in a cape and put down anchor with the other ships.
(I wonder…where are we?)
The banks were deathly silent, and only the roaring of the waves could be heard.
(Huh? Where’s Rosso?)
I looked about but Rosso had gone off somewhere.
OO: “Um, where’s Rosso…?”
Sailor 1: “The captain? Come to think of it, I haven’t seen him.”
None of the other crewman I asked knew, so I went down to the shore to look for him.
OO: “Ah…”
I found Rosso on a cliff near the tip of the island, his hand outstretched.
(What is he doing? Those are… Flowers…?)
Rosso was holding on to a beautiful bunch of white flowers.
OO: “Rosso?”
Rosso: “…!”
I called out without thinking, and Rosso looked at me guiltily.
He gave a short click of his tongue.
Rosso: “So you found me out…”
He threw the flowers from the cliff in tribute and once again turned to look at me.
I…
OO: “I’m sorry.”
Rosso: “There’s nothing to apologize for.”
Rosso sighed in resignation.
OO: “Flowers?”
I accidentally asked the question out loud.
Rosso: “…yeah.”
He spoke quietly and then turned his gaze back out over the cliff.
The ship swayed as it was rocked by the waves, and Rosso’s hair was blown about by the salty breeze.
Wearing a sorrowful expression, he forced a smile.
(That same face…again.)
I wanted to know what it was he hid behind his cheerful smile.
OO: “Um…would you tell me? About those flowers…?”
I had asked without thinking.
Rosso: “…”
Rosso took in a deep breath and began his story, his voice low.
Rosso: “Some time ago…on a stormy night…the ship suffered heavy damage, and I lost a lot of friends here.”
OO: “Eh…”
Rosso: “It was a terrible storm. The rudder broke and the ship collided with the cliff…some of the men survived, but I let the others die.”
OO: “You didn’t let them die…!”
Rosso: “No, it happened even though I’m the one who’s supposed to protect everyone. It’s my fault.”
His expression was full of self-condemnation, and Rosso clenched his fist.
Rosso: “That’s why I’ll spend my life with the Balenarossa. On my word.”
(Something like that…)
As Rosso fixed his gaze on the horizon beyond the cliff, my chest tightened painfully.
OO: “Then is that…the reason you won’t get a new ship…?”
Rosso: “Yeah, this ship is full of their memories…it doesn’t carry their bodies, but it houses their souls. If this ship is destroyed…This time, I won’t fail them.”
(But…)
His face was clouded with grief and bitterness.
Rosso: “The Ghost Prince, prowling the ocean for all eternity …huh.”
He whispered to himself, then turned to face me…
Rosso: “It’s not that uncommon, you know?”
Rosso grinned at me cheerfully, and my chest ached more.
OO: “Um…”
Rosso: “Ah, sorry for draggin’ you into this. It’s the first anniversary, and I wanted to make sure I stopped by. I’d been on my own for a while…I just wanted something to lift my spirits.”
OO: “Rosso…”
The wind began to blow and Rosso went silent.
(I can understand that he’s only thinking of his comrades.)
(But…)
A melancholy tune was carried off by the sea breeze…
I quietly moved to stand closer to him, unable to put my feelings into words.
Ch. 5: The Calm Before the Storm
Rosso: “Yeah, this ship is full of their memories…it doesn’t carry their bodies, but it houses their souls. If this ship is destroyed……This time, I won’t fail them.”
———————
Rosso’s words kept running through my head.
(He’s going to keep going on with the ship like this…?)
A sail that’s been patched countless times, and a deck that’s rotting…
Looking at it, I felt a mixture of complicated feelings.
(At this rate, someday the ship will sink…)
Thinking that, a chill ran up my spine…
Rosso: “What’s this? You’re making such a serious face. That gloomy expression has no place on this voyage.”
OO: “…!”
I jumped in surprise at the sudden cheerful voice in my ear.
OO: “Hey, knock it off. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
While saying that, Rosso put something hard on my head.
I went to feel it…
OO: “…an apple?”
Rosso: “Yeah, cut it for me. I’m far too busy reading this navigation chart!”
Rosso unfurled a sea chart with a flourish and showed it to me.
OO: “…? Fine.”
While thinking it odd, I slid the knife into the apple …
Rosso: “Ooh! You’re pretty good at using that knife. How about it? You wanna be the exclusive chef for this pirate ship? Ah…exclusive to me, how’s that!?”
OO: “…! Geez, are you teasing me again?”
Rosso: “Kuku…OO, you were making such a miserable face. If you eat that apple, it’ll brighten you up.”
With a thump, Rosso tossed aside the sea chart and threw himself down in its place.
(He was trying to cheer me up…)
Though I was happy for his thoughtfulness, for some reason my chest tightened painfully.
(…I’ll try.)
OO: “Rosso.”
Rosso: “Aaah? If it’s an apple, toss it in my mouth.”
OO: “It’s not about that…it’s the ship. I just don’t think your comrades would want you to tie yourself to the ship like this…”
Rosso: “Then you’re saying I should betray them and give up the ship?”
OO: “…!”
His tone had turned suddenly sharp, and I looked at Rosso in surprise.
I could see the depths of grief that wavered in his eyes.
OO: “You’re not betraying them. For you, this is…”
Rosso: “Don’t say any more.”
OO: “…”
Rosso cut me off and stood up.
OO: “…yes. But no one would say it’s a betrayal…”
Rosso: “Shut up.”
OO: “…”
His tone harsh, Rosso stood up.
Rosso: “Don’t say anything to me like that again. I’ll keep protecting this ship. For them…”
OO: “Ah…”
Rosso bit his lip in frustration and left.
…
……
After that, whenever I tried to talk to Rosso…
OO: “Um, Ros-…”
Rosso: “…”
He had come to avoid me.
…
……
(What should I do?)
I could only gaze out at the wide sea, buffeted by the salty breeze.
(I wonder if Rosso would be happy, being with this ship all the time.)
As I thought about it…
Sailor 1: “Ms. OO.”
Turning around, I saw the gathered members of the crew.
Sailor 2: “Um…do you think you could somehow persuade the captain for us?”
OO: “Eh…?”
Sailor 3: “Of course we have no intention of forgetting our lost comrades. But…Please, no matter how much time passes he keeps giving us that same sad smile. Besides, the ship is already at her limit.”
Sailor 1: “At this rate…”
OO: “All of you…”
The crew expressed their feelings, thinking of Rosso, to me.
(As I thought…it’s no good like this.)
Sailor 1: “Please, he’s stubborn but… Ms. OO, if you talk to him he’ll probably listen.”
OO: “I understand…I’ll try.”
So, I went around to Rosso’s room.
OO: “Rosso…please. Please listen to me.”
I pleaded with Rosso, my heart unwavering.
After what felt like a long silence, finally…
Rosso: “I got it. Ha…it’s been a while since someone’s looked at me with such fierce eyes. I don’t dislike people with eyes like that.”
OO: “Rosso…!”
But then…
The light drizzle turned into a violent downpour, and intense thunder echoed in the distance.