Charlotte Linlin looked at the 'big girl' crying her eyes out in front of her, sighed softly in her heart, and felt a surge of tenderness. She stepped forward, reached out, and gently patted Gölz's cold fingers.
"Who says no one wants you?" Charlotte Linlin's voice rang clear and firm, carrying an unmistakable force that cut straight through Gölz's sobs.
Gölz lifted her tear-soaked face, gazing at her blankly yet with a faint flicker of hope.
Charlotte Linlin tilted her head to look up at her, a warm, all-embracing smile blooming on her face as she declared, word by word:
"I do."
Two simple words, yet like lightning ripping through the night sky, they instantly lit up the darkness shrouding Gölz's heart.
"Elbaf may be out of reach for now, but here—"
Charlotte Linlin pointed at the ground beneath them, her sweeping gaze passing Gloriosa, Lilith, and the surrounding members of the Heavenly Punishment Pirates before settling back on Gölz's face.
"—the Heavenly Punishment Pirates will always be your home. Gölz, I now formally invite you to join my crew, to become my family, my comrade. Will you?"
Gölz froze. Her huge eyes went wide, tears still clinging to her long lashes, forgotten.
An indescribable mix of shock, wild joy, disbelief, and pent-up grievance erupted inside her like a volcano.
"L-Lord Thunder God… are… are you serious? You truly… want me?"
Her voice trembled, a cautious plea, afraid this fragile dream might shatter.
"Of course I'm serious." Charlotte Linlin's smile didn't waver, but her eyes were utterly earnest.
"So from now on, don't ever say such nonsense about being unwanted. I, Charlotte Linlin, have claimed you."
In the next instant, Gölz's face burst into a radiant smile even as hot tears rolled down.
It was the joy of a burden lifted, of finally finding safe harbor and belonging.
She nodded vigorously, her huge hands scrubbing at her tears, but no matter how she wiped, they wouldn't stop.
"Yes! I will! Lord Thunder God, I'll join!"
Her voice, thick with sobs, was no longer sorrowful but brimming with life and strength; she had waited so long for this day.
"Thank you! Thank you for wanting me! Thank you for giving me a home! I'll work hard! I swear I'll become the most useful partner to you!"
She wept and laughed at once, like a child reunited with long-lost kin. Two years of crushing grief, grievance, and self-doubt finally found release, pouring out as happy tears of acceptance and worth.
Charlotte Linlin smiled at her, reached out, and gently patted her arm again. "Welcome home, Gölz. From now on we're family. Call me Linlin or Captain from now on."
"Yes, Captain Linlin!" Gölz excitedly threw herself into Charlotte Linlin's embrace.
"Hey… oh well, you did make this dress anyway."
Charlotte Linlin glanced at the large wet patch on her chest, gave a helpless chuckle, and stroked Gölz's soft blond hair.
"All right, enough crying, silly girl. Time to meet your new comrades."
"Yes, Captain!" Gölz straightened up at once, wiped her eyes with her sleeve, forced a bright smile, and formally introduced herself to the others.
"I… I'm Gölz, not Galmo… from Elbaf, a… a warrior who knows a bit of medicine."
She tried to sound grown-up and dependable, though her appearance made that difficult; even if she looked every bit an adult.
"Tch—knew this day would come, but it still stings~"
Gloriosa folded her arms, pretending annoyance, though a smile glimmered in her eyes.
"Still, if Linlin says so… welcome aboard, Gölz! From now on, we're crewmates!"
In the end she let it go; Linlin's smile and the giant girl's redeemed eyes mattered more than anything.
"I'm Vina, the crew's Navigator. Nice to meet you!" the girl called with a wave.
"Mia. I'm in charge of logistics for now…" the cool Demoiselle added with a slight nod.
The rest of the pirates gave their names and duties one by one; the atmosphere was warm and sincere.
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 40 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!