Several years have passed since my departure from Lunefall Village.
There are still many islands in my domain that remain unexplored, and who knows how many treasures await beneath the waves.
The world of Tensura is truly vast — even for a pirate like me.
Today, as usual, my group, the Akagami, and I stopped at one of the new islands.
The island is called Isola Mira, and its village — Ferlin Village — has just accepted my protection.
We were sitting in a simple bar by the harbor. It was just me, Ben Beckman, and the bar owner.
Breakfast was over. The day felt calm. But somehow, I had a feeling something had happened.
And it was true.
"So you're here. It was so hard to find you. It took me a few days to find you,"
a soft voice came from the bar door.
"You know, I can't sense your magic at all."
I glanced back.
The girl with long, white hair stood there, walking in with graceful strides.
Her gaze was cold, but her smile was… captivating.
I chuckled.
"Oh, who could this be if not Velzard—the second oldest dragon."
I raised an eyebrow.
"You came all the way here just to see me? Don't tell me it's just for something as trivial as a fight?"
Velzard smiled faintly.
"That is indeed my wish… but I won't do it.
I respect my late brother."
I froze.
"What do you mean?"
Ben Beckman stared, his expression serious.
Velzard walked closer, then spoke softly but firmly:
"Veldanava is no longer here.
He fell in love with a mortal, married, and had a child—Milim.
Because of this, he lost his immortality and his powers.
All of that was inherited by Milim."
He looked down for a moment.
"Shortly afterward… the city where they lived was attacked by terrorists.
And… he was killed by his own creation."
Silence descended like a thick fog.
I just lowered my head, closing my eyes, letting the words echo in my head.
A few minutes passed before I looked up again, smiling faintly.
"I see… It seems he's chosen his own path."
I nodded slowly.
"Thank you, Velzard, for coming all this way just to tell me."
Velzard returned a gentle look.
"No problem. But I wonder… what are you going to do after this?"
I stood up and patted Ben on the shoulder.
"Nothing. I'll just live my life as usual."
We walked out of the bar. Outside, the crew was already ready.
The villagers gathered, waving enthusiastically.
Velzard followed behind, her gaze sharp but full of curiosity.
What is this man really thinking? she thought.
One of the crew members ran over.
"Okashira! Everything is ready. A month's worth of supplies, too."
"I see," I said lightly. "Then, we set sail today."
A cheer rang out.
But the villagers quickly surrounded us.
"Boss, are you leaving already? Stay another day or two!"
"Right, Boss! At least have dinner with us!"
I chuckled.
"Haha, next time. Pirates can't stay in one place for too long."
A merchant ran over carrying a basket of monster meat.
"Boss! Please accept this, as a token of our gratitude!"
"No need. I don't accept anything for free. I'll pay for it."
"No, no! Just take it!"
"Hey, didn't you hear me—"
Before I could finish my sentence, a mature woman approached and put her arm around my shoulder with a mischievous smile.
"Boss~ Stay the night. I can make you…comfortable."
"Hey! Let go of me. I don't have time for that."
"Come on, don't be so stiff, boss~"
Before the situation could escalate, an old woman stepped forward, shouting loudly with a happy expression.
"You damn brat! You come suddenly, you leave suddenly! You crazy pirate!"
"Hey hey, grandma. Pirates can't stay in one place for too long."
I smiled.
"And there's no need to send me off like this. You should take care of your health, grandma. I don't want you to die in front of me."
"Hmph! I can still live another thousand years, you damn brat!"
"Haha! Take care of your health, grandma!"
Suddenly, the intelligence officer ran out, out of breath.
Suddenly, the intelligence officer ran out, out of breath.
"Okashira! There's another pirate ship approaching! But… they're floating in the air, using magic.
It looks like they've been following us for quite some time—they want to challenge you!"
I took a deep breath.
"Hey, those aren't pirates anymore.
Warn them—two options:
Leave their treasure and leave quietly, or I'll destroy them."
"Okay, Boss!"
A few minutes passed.
The sky was starting to get cloudy.
"Boss!" the intelligence officer shouted again.
"They refused and attacked! They seem pretty strong!"
I stood, staring out to sea.
"I see… then, I have no choice."
"Hey! You all get ready to sail!"
I shouted loudly.
The crew immediately ran to their posts.
In the distance, A large ship floated in the sky—a black skull emblem on its sails.
Magical lightning flashed from the deck, a sign that a major attack was being prepared.
A large figure stood at the prow, laughing loudly.
"Akagami no Shanks! It seems you've stopped running. Today I will destroy you!
And the title of Yonkou will be mine! Hahahaha!"
"Boss! The attack is ready to launch!"
"What are you waiting for? Attack!!!"
Ben Beckman stared at the enemy ship through his binoculars.
"Leave it to me—"
Before he could move, I looked up at the sky, my pupils quivering.
A glimpse of the future flashed before my eyes—the village destroyed, people dead.
"This is bad… the damage is too great."
I shouted.
"EVERYONE, GET AWAY!"
I sprinted, jumping onto the ship. The wind howled behind me.
Ben just shook his head.
"Heh… looks like he's seeing a pretty bad future."
I jumped high, causing the ship to rock.
The Gryphon's hilt felt cold in my hand.
"I never underestimated human growth...
but it seems I was too relaxed."
The enemy ship began to launch powerful magic.
I gripped the hilt of my sword and closed my eyes for a moment.
Then I slashed horizontally, a high-level bushoshoku slash coated in a large-scale haoshoku.
"DIVINE DEPARTURE (KAMUSARI)!"
A blast of black lightning shook the air.
The enemy ship shattered into pieces, its debris flying with flashes of haoshoku.
The calm sea churned, creating a large vortex in the middle of the ocean.
I landed and stood on the floating debris, letting the wind blow against my face.
There was no sign of the enemy.
My ship was approaching. I jumped back onto the deck, walking past Ben, who was sitting smoking.
"Let's go."
Beberapa tahun telah berlalu sejak kepergianku dari Desa Lunefall.
Masih banyak pulau di wilayah kekuasaanku yang belum dijelajahi, dan entah berapa banyak harta karun yang menanti di bawah ombak.
Dunia Tensura ini benar-benar luas — bahkan untuk seorang bajak laut sepertiku.
Hari ini, seperti biasa, aku dan kelompokku, Akagami, singgah di salah satu pulau baru.
Pulau itu bernama Isola Mira, dan desanya — Desa Ferlin — baru saja menerima perlindunganku.
Kami sedang duduk di bar sederhana di tepi pelabuhan. Hanya ada aku, Ben Beckman, dan nona pemilik bar.
Sarapan sudah selesai. Hari terasa tenang. Tapi entah kenapa, firasatku berkata sesuatu telah terjadi.
Dan benar saja.
"Jadi kau di sini. Sangat sulit mencarimu. Bahkan bagiku butuh beberapa hari untuk menemukanmu,"
suara lembut itu terdengar dari pintu bar.
"Kau tahu, aku tidak bisa merasakan sihirmu sama sekali."
Aku melirik ke belakang.
Gadis berambut putih panjang berdiri di sana, berjalan masuk dengan langkah anggun.
Tatapannya dingin tapi senyumnya… menawan.
Aku tertawa kecil.
"Oh, siapa ini kalau bukan Velzard — naga tertua kedua."
Aku mengangkat alis.
"Jauh-jauh datang ke sini hanya untuk menemuiku? Jangan bilang hanya untuk hal sepele seperti bertarung.?"
Velzard tersenyum samar.
"Itu memang keinginanku… tapi aku tak akan melakukannya.
Aku menghormati mendiang kakakku."
Aku membeku.
"Apa maksudmu?"
Ben Beckman menatap, ekspresinya serius.
Velzard berjalan mendekat, lalu berbicara lembut namun tegas:
"Veldanava sudah tiada.
Dia jatuh cinta pada manusia fana, menikah, dan memiliki seorang anak — Milim.
Karena itu, dia kehilangan keabadian dan kekuatannya.
Semua itu diwariskan pada Milim."
Ia menunduk sejenak.
"Tak lama kemudian… kota tempat mereka tinggal diserang oleh teroris.
Dan… dia terbunuh oleh ciptaannya sendiri."
Keheningan turun seperti kabut tebal.
Aku hanya menunduk, menutup mata, membiarkan kata-kata itu bergema di dalam kepala.
Beberapa menit berlalu sebelum aku mengangkat wajah lagi, tersenyum tipis.
"Begitu ya… Sepertinya dia sudah memilih jalannya sendiri."
Aku mengangguk pelan.
"Terima kasih, Velzard, sudah datang jauh-jauh hanya untuk memberitahuku."
Velzard membalas dengan pandangan lembut.
"Tidak masalah. Tapi aku penasaran… apa yang akan kau lakukan setelah ini?"
Aku berdiri, menepuk bahu Ben.
"Tidak ada. Aku akan menjalani hidupku seperti biasa."
Kami berjalan keluar bar. Di luar, para awak kapal sudah bersiap.
Warga desa berkumpul, melambai dengan senyum antusias.
Velzard mengikuti dari belakang, tatapannya tajam tapi penuh rasa ingin tahu.
Apa sebenarnya difikirkan oleh pria ini? pikirnya.
Salah satu awak kapal berlari mendekat.
"Okashira! Semua sudah siap. Persediaan untuk sebulan juga lengkap."
"Begitu ya," kataku ringan. "Kalau begitu, kita berlayar hari ini."
Sorak sorai terdengar.
Namun warga desa segera mengerubungi kami.
"Bos, kau sudah mau pergi? Tinggallah satu atau dua hari lagi!"
"Benar, Bos! Setidaknya makan malam bersama kami!"
Aku tertawa kecil.
"Haha, lain kali. Bajak laut tidak bisa tinggal terlalu lama di satu tempat."
Seorang pedagang berlari membawa sekeranjang daging monster.
"Bos! Terimalah ini, sebagai rasa terima kasih kami!"
"Tidak perlu. Aku tidak menerima apa pun secara gratis. Aku akan membayarnya."
"Tidak, tidak! Ambil saja!"
"Hei, tidakkah kalian mendengarku—"
Belum sempat aku menyelesaikan kalimat, seorang wanita dewasa mendekat dan merangkul lenganku dengan senyum nakal.
"Bos~ menginaplah malam ini. Aku bisa membuatmu… nyaman."
"Hei! Lepaskan aku. Aku tidak punya waktu untuk itu."
"Ayo, jangan terlalu kaku, boss~"
Sebelum suasana makin kacau, seorang nenek tua maju ke depan, berteriak keras dengan wajah gembira.
"Kau bocah sialan! Datang tiba-tiba, pergi tiba-tiba! Dasar bajak laut gila!"
"Hei hei, nenek. Bajak laut tidak bisa diam di satu tempat terlalu lama."
Aku tersenyum.
"Dan tidak perlu untuk mengantarku seperti ini. Kau harus menjaga kesehatanmu nenek aku tidak ingin kau mati di depanku."
"Hmph! Aku masih bisa hidup seribu tahun lagi, bocah sialan!"
"Haha! Jaga kesehatanmu, nenek!"
Tiba-tiba, anggota intel berlari dengan napas tersengal.
Tiba-tiba, anggota intel berlari dengan napas tersengal.
"Okashira! Ada kapal bajak laut lain mendekat! Tapi… mereka melayang di udara, pakai sihir.
Sepertinya mereka mengikuti kita dalam waktu yang cukup lama mereka ingin menantangmu!"
Aku menghela napas panjang.
"Hei, itu bukan bajak laut lagi namanya.
Peringatkan mereka — dua pilihan:
tinggalkan harta mereka dan pergi dengan tenang, atau akan kuhancurkan."
"Baik, Boss!"
Beberapa menit berlalu.
Langit mulai mendung.
"Boss!" teriak intel itu lagi.
"Mereka menolak dan malah menyerang! Sepertinya Mereka cukup kuat!"
Aku berdiri, menatap ke arah laut.
"Begitu ya… kalau begitu, aku tidak punya pilihan lain."
"Oi! Kalian semua bersiap untuk berlayar!"
Aku berteriak lantang.
Para kru langsung berlari ke pos masing-masing.
Di kejauhan, sebuah kapal besar melayang di langit — lambang tengkorak hitam di layar mereka.
Petir sihir berkilat dari dek, tanda serangan besar sedang disiapkan.
Sosok besar berdiri di haluan, tertawa keras.
"Akagami no Shanks! Sepertinya kau telah berhenti melarikan diri Hari ini aku akan menghancurkanmu!
Dan gelar Yonkou akan menjadi milikku! Hahahaha!"
"Boss! Serangan siap diluncurkan!"
"Tunggu apa lagi? Serang!!!"
Ben Beckman menatap ke arah kapal musuh dari teropong.
"Serahkan padaku saja—"
Belum sempat ia bergerak, aku menatap langit, pupilku bergetar.
Sekilas masa depan melintas di depan mataku — desa ini hancur, orang-orang tewas.
"gawat… kerusakannya terlalu besar."
Aku berteriak.
"SEMUA ORANG, MENJAUH!"
Aku berlari kencang, melompat ke kapal. Angin menyalak di belakangku.
Ben hanya menggeleng.
"Heh… sepertinya dia melihat masa depan yang cukup buruk."
Aku melompat tinggi, sampai kapal bergoyang.
Gagang Gryphon terasa dingin di tangan.
"Aku tidak pernah meremehkan pertumbuhan manusia…
tapi sepertinya, aku memang terlalu santai."
Kapal musuh mulai meluncurkan sihir besar.
Aku memegang gagang pedang, menutup mata sejenak.
Lalu menebas secara horizontal serangan tebasan bushoshoku tingkat tinggi dilapisi haoshoku berskala besar.
"DIVINE DEPARTURE (KAMUSARI)!"
Ledakan petir hitam mengguncang udara.
Kapal musuh hancur berkeping-keping, serpihannya beterbangan disertai kilatan haoshoku.
Laut yang tenang bergolak, menciptakan pusaran besar di tengah samudra.
Aku mendarat dan berdiri di atas puing yang terapung, membiarkan angin menerpa wajahku.
Tak ada lagi tanda-tanda musuh.
Kapalku mendekat. Aku melompat kembali ke dek, berjalan melewati Ben yang sedang duduk merokok.
"Ayo pergi."