Ch. 7: Saint Gabriel
Douglas: “I know, OO, how about you come treasure hunting with me?”
———————
Having come to join Douglas in his treasure hunting, I made my way to his ship…-.
After walking through the city for a short time, suddenly, an enormous ship rose up before my eyes.
OO: “Wow…”
I looked up at the ship, like a floating fortress, and was overwhelmed at the sheer size of it…
Douglas: “Allow me to introduce you. This is the Saint Gabriel.”
Douglas went through introducing his ship.
OO: “It’s amazing… I can’t believe this is a ship.”
Douglas: “It’s pretty impressive right?”
His smile was full of pride as my eyes roamed around, taking everything in and watching the people going about as they enthusiastically called to each other.
Sailor: “Welcome Miss. Looks like you brought another cute girl with ya Captain!”
Douglas: “Hey hey, don’t go giving me a bad reputation!”
(They’re so friendly…and the atmosphere is so lively. It’s wonderful.)
I couldn’t help a giggle as I watched them interact.
Ch. 8: West Ocean Hall
As I walked through the castle-like ship, I was greeted everywhere with friendly smiles.
Douglas came to stand in front of a door, then turned to look at me.
Douglas: “This is my room.”
He opened the door as he spoke, pride suffusing his voice, and gestured me inside.
OO: “P-pardon the intrusion.”
Douglas: “Go ahead.”
I gave a slight nod and entered one step at a time, however…
My heart was anything but calm, pounding loudly in my ears and growing increasingly louder with each step I took.
(This is… Douglas’ room.)
I looked around, and the room was so extravagant and spacious that I had trouble imagining it was inside a ship.
OO: “It’s beautiful… it’s like a room you’d find in a hotel.”
Douglas: “It’s a lot of space for just me. So, you can move in anytime you want OO.”
OO: “Eh!?”
Douglas: “Haha, kidding.”
That mischievous smile spread across his face.
(Th-that startled me…)
In an attempt to hide my reddened face, I pretended to look around the room and turned away from Douglas.
Then…-.
OO: “What’s this…?”
My eyes caught on something that looked like a large map spread across a desk.
Douglas: “Ah, this is the nautical chart I got today. From here, we’ll head northeast to the trench called the West Ocean Hall…”
All these words I didn’t know went in one ear and out the other, and I looked on in confusion.
Then, as if realizing, Douglas placed his hand on my head.
Douglas: “It’s alright if you don’t understand. I got information that said there’s an area near the trench where the tide brings things to the shore.”
OO: “Things that wash up on the shore…”
Douglas: “Meaning ships that sank a while ago with their cargo could have that cargo wash up.”
As I listened, my doubt and confusion was snuffed out as I realized the objective.
OO: “Then… you’re going to search for something of your father there?”
Douglas: “You got it! I think we’ll set sail tomorrow morning while it’s still dark. It won’t be too dangerous, so you should be able to enjoy the trip, like a sightseeing cruise.”
OO: “Alright…!”
Full of anticipation, I nodded emphatically.
(I’m getting excited…!)
Afterwards…
I left Douglas’ room and made my way to the deck where the people were crowded.
Douglas: “Get ready men, we’re setting sail tomorrow morning! Navigations officer, I need to meet with you.”
Douglas bellowed his orders which were answered with an enthusiastic reply from the sailors.
(I want to do something to help too, to help Douglas in his search for his father…!)
I clenched my fist, overcome with strong determination.
Ch. 9: Black Ship
Douglas: “Get ready men, we’re setting sail tomorrow morning! Navigations officer, I need to meet with you.”
———————
The voyage was going well so far.
At first, I wasn’t used to life onboard a ship, but as the days passed, I became more accustomed to it.
Douglas: “Right now we should be about halfway there.”
The day after Douglas had said that…-.
The night grew lighter, and sunlight peeked through a crack in the curtain.
I slowly opened my eyes, listening to the excitement of the sailors above.
(I wonder how long I’ve been asleep…)
In a panic, I got dressed and left the cabin when…
Sailor 1: “Princess! Good morning. Make sure to take it easy today.”
A passing sailor called out to me.
OO: “Good morning. I can’t just take it easy while everyone else is so busy… Isn’t there anything I can do to help out?”
The sailor waved his hands emphatically, frowning.
Sailor 1: “Don’t be crazy…! We’ll be arriving soon anyway, so please don’t push yourself.”
OO: “But…”
Sailor 2: “That’s right Princess! If the captain found out we’d put his honored guest to work, that’d be the end for us!”
OO: “I see… well, I’ll go ahead and do as you say then.”
Giving up on helping, I started walking around the deck aimlessly.
I bent over the railing of the deck, looking at the morning sun reflected in the brilliant blue of the sea as it jumped and swayed below me.
OO: “Wow, it’s beautiful…”
I could see the sea for miles and miles, then suddenly Douglas crossed my mind.
(I pray Douglas can find something of his father…)
Hope swelled in my heart as I looked at the beautifully clear water when…-.
(What’s that ship…?)
I realized there was another ship keeping pace with ours, sporting black sails.
(Is it the ship of one of Douglas’ comrades?)
But I felt a sense of unease as I watched the ship…
OO: “…!?”
Someone grabbed me from behind, covering my mouth.
(Who’s there…!?)
They held tight, stopping me from running or moving.
Still, I mustered my strength and struggled to get away.
Sailor 2: “There’s signs that someone’s messed with the ship’s hold.”
Douglas: “When did you notice?”
Sailor 2: “Well, it was…”
At precisely that moment, Douglas and one of the sailors came up from below deck.
(Douglas…!)
As if sensing something in the middle of the conversation, Douglas looked towards us.
Douglas: “…!”
As soon as he saw that I’d been captured, I watched as Douglas’ expression instantly shifted to anger.
Douglas: “OO!”
He glared at the person behind me.
Douglas: “Bastard, who are you!?”
Man 2: “Me? I’m same as you.”
Douglas: “Wha…”
Douglas clenched his fist, then started to come closer.
Then…-.
Man 2: “Whoa there, you might not want to just come walking over here. Wouldn’t want to ruin her pretty face.”
Saying as much, the man pressed a knife to my face.
OO: “…”
Douglas: “Stop!”
Man 2: “Don’t get so mad. What we want is that new nautical chart of yours. If we can just get that, you’ll get the girl back.”
The man laughed, but it was a creepy sound, and he slowly dragged me away.
Douglas: “Hey! What are you planning to do with her!?”
Man 2: “If you want the girl, you’ll have to come give us the chart.”
The man spoke, then lifted me up. I hadn’t realized the black ship had come alongside, and I was swiftly transferred over.
Douglas: “OO!”
OO: “Douglas!”
Only our voices echoed across the wide sea.
I could do nothing but watch as Douglas’ silhouette grew smaller and smaller.
Ch. 10: I Won't Let You Go
…
OO had been captured by an unknown group.
Immediately, Douglas began shouting orders to his crew.
Douglas: “Listen up! Some guy infiltrated our ship and kidnapped OO. They’ve fled in the opposite direction of where we’re going. We’re going to follow right behind and rescue OO!”
The crew immediately rushed into action.
Douglas: “Damn! What’s wrong with me!?”
Douglas clenched his fist tightly.
Douglas: “Everything’s been so great since OO came, and I let my guard down…”
Sailor: “Captain…”
Douglas: “…I’m alright. If we can’t protect one woman, how can we protect the peace of the sea? Get as close as you can! We’re boarding!”
The ship came up alongside the other, and Douglas took the lead as they boarded.
…
I’d been forcefully taken away, and now the unknown men were watching me. All the while, I tried to think of a way to run.
(I have to find a chance to get away. But we’re in the middle of the sea… what can I do…)
As I found myself at a complete loss…
Douglas came to mind.
(Douglas…)
Man 1: “Hey princess, what’s with the face?”
Man 2: “You scared and panicked yeah?”
Man 1: “Don’t worry, once we get that nautical chart, you’ll be free to go. But before that… let’s have a little fun.”
An unsettling grin spread across their faces, and the two steadily drew closer to me.
Then I could feel their eyes on me, looking me up and down like a prize.
Man 1: “… you got a pretty good body there.”
OO: “!”
A chill ran up my spine and I started trembling.
OO: “No…!”
As one of the men reached out to my chest…-.
There was a loud noise, and the door to the cabin burst open.
Douglas: “OO!”
OO: “Douglas!”
A warmth filled me as soon as I saw him standing there.
Man: “Ooh Douglas, you came. You bring the nautical chart then?”
Douglas: “I wouldn’t hand over that nautical chart to the likes of you… I’ll be taking OO back.”
As if picking up the trace of fear, Douglas filled with rage and his voice echoed low in the cabin.
Man 1: “What…!?”
Using that single word as a cue, the men rushed at Douglas.
Trading blows with the men, Douglas rushed to me and lifted me up.
Douglas: “Sorry for the wait.”
OO: “I believed… that you would come.”
Douglas: “…those are some heated words.”
Wrapped in Douglas’ large arms, my hands encircled his back.
As he protected me from one man after another, he slowly made his way towards the cabin’s exit and retreated.
Douglas: “OO’s safety is top priority. We’re retreating before anyone gets hurt.”
Douglas seemed to be aiming for the deck of the ship as our escape route.
Sailor: “Roger! Retreat!!”
Douglas: “Good. At this rate we’ll shake them off. …For now, I think we’d better retreat back to the port city.”
(Retreat… we’re running away?)
———————
Douglas: “Right now we should be about halfway there.”
———————
(Even though we’ve already come so far… so close to finding something about Douglas’ father.)
OO: “Douglas, wait!”
Realizing that, I grabbed his arm.
OO: “Don’t worry about me. Let’s go look for your father…!”
Douglas: “OO…?”
Holding onto him, Douglas’ eyes momentarily went wide in surprise.
Douglas: “You’re a good woman…”
A grin immediately appeared on his face.
Douglas: “In that case, we’ll have to beat them all down!”
For a moment, Douglas placed his hand on my cheek, then he once again turned towards the men.
Though I’d put myself into a battle, I didn’t feel worried or afraid.
(Douglas is beside me…)
Just thinking that caused my unease to disappear.
— Before I knew it, Douglas had defeated all of the men from the black ships.
Douglas: “That was…surprisingly easy.”
OO: “Thank you…ah!”
I once again found myself pulled into Douglas’ arms.
Douglas: “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
OO: “…Douglas.”
Douglas: “…I won’t let you go.”
He whispered those words into my ear and held on to me even tighter…-.
…
……
Sailor: “Princes! You’re alright…!”
We’d returned to the ship, and all of the worried-looking sailors raised their voices.
OO: “I’m sorry for worrying you all…”
And as I gave a little bow of my head, Douglas pulled on my hand and brought me to his room.
OO: “Douglas…!?”
As I looked up at him in surprise, my body was pulled in close and I felt myself crushed against Douglas’ chest, my face buried there.
OO: “…”
My heart was pounding so much that I worried whether or not Douglas could feel it.
Douglas: “I told you, I’m not letting you go.”
OO: “Douglas…”
Douglas: “If I’m beside you, I can protect you. No… let me protect you.”
Saying as much, he pulled me into a tighter embrace.
He kept talking, and I felt my chest ache a little.
Douglas: “Like my father protected me and my mother, I’ll protect this sea and my comrades… and the woman important to me.”
OO: “Douglas…”
As I said his name, Douglas seemed to start and loosened his hold on me.
Then…-.
Douglas: “Were you just thinking that I’m greedy?”
He looked at me then, a slightly abashed smile on his face.
OO: “Yes… but you’re a pirate.”
Wanting to convey the feelings that were welling up inside me, I smiled at him.
Douglas: “I see. Seems I’m no match for you.”
OO: “I’m sure we’ll find something of your father.”
Douglas: “…yeah, we will.”
As my heart continued to pound, and I could feel the warmth coming from Douglas, we nodded to each other.
END