Surviving a Cruel Fairy Tale

34 – Act 2. Eternal Neverland – Captain Hook (2)

Captain Hook led us to the cabin with a big smile.

He pointed to a chair next to the table, sat across from it, and gulped down what appeared to be a bottle of alcohol.

“Puhua!! So, what was it? Did I ask you to tell me what I wished for?”

“I would appreciate it if you could explain the circumstances of Neverland as well.”

“That’s not difficult. It’s a bit of a challenge for new travelers. Then, where should I start explaining?”

After that, Captain Hook’s explanation follows.

Neverland.

He said he did not know the origin of this place.

It’s just that they’ve been on this island for quite some time, and everyone who stays there can live forever as children.

But not everyone could be a child.

Actually, Little Red Riding Hood and I entered Neverland together, but just as she became a child, there are those who do not become children and those who grow from children to adults.

“This Neverland is a children’s paradise, but on the contrary, it is a hell for adults.”

“What if hell?”

“Have you ever wondered? Neverland, on the surface above, is a beautifully decorated city. Is that possible with only children?”

That’s something I’ve been thinking about ever since I saw only children on the ground.

A very well-organized street for only children to live in.

I thought that it could be maintained through constant management and maintenance of the appearance and style that were too faithful to the functionality to be called a paradise.

“It must be impossible.”

“Then the next question. Neverland above the ground is an eternal child’s paradise, but one day the child will grow up. Even on top of that, those who become adults come out. What happened to those people?”

The number is too small to say that they gathered here.

The man who led us to this maggot den also moved as if he were running away, so it’s hard to see it as a universal route, and if you think about what Captain Hook said earlier…….

“Underground. It seems there are other places for adults to gather. Those who exist only for the maintenance, repair, and labor of Neverland.”

“You understand quickly.”

“And you must have a certain relationship with those workers.”

“Why do you think so?”

Looking at the menu here, it’s obvious.

Foods that cannot be supplied by itself in underground waterways.

It’s understandable considering that it was being mass-produced underground for the children of Neverland, and if so, it leads to the fact that Captain Hook is stealing some of it.

“Rations that do not fit the lifestyle. Somehow, I thought it would only come out with sweet things, but if you think that it was originally intended for children to eat, it makes no sense.”

“Is that so? hahahaha! It could be!!”

After hearing Captain Hook’s words, it became clearer.

An island where adults do not exist.

A children’s paradise.

If this place is being made at the expense of adults, it is certainly not a natural phenomenon. There must be some huge power close to dictatorship and dogma.

“Then are the fairies ruling the earth?”

“Right. That unlucky fairy hates adults. Thanks to that, we are stuck underground and can’t see the light properly.”

It’s really dog-like,” Said Hook, drinking in succession.

“If you do this, you will know what I want. Break the damn sprite, break the lid between children and adults. Isn’t it simple?”

I took a short breath at that question.

I don’t see a logical contradiction.

Of course, adults who have been forced to suffer unilateral damage through coercive rule will have no choice but to rebel.

If Captain Hook is plotting a rebellion against the system as its representative, the context makes sense.

But…….

“…… Is that all?”

“Huh?”

“The reason you fight.”

For some reason, I feel a little lacking.

Apart from the fact that there is no logical problem, I felt that one puzzle was missing somewhere.

I’m not sure, so I’m cautious, but I felt like I’d regret it someday if I didn’t ask here.

In response to that question, Captain Hook wiped the smile off her face and before long shook her head.

“The rest is done. It’s my personal matter to the end, and I don’t want to talk about it to anyone. Can’t this be the answer?”

“It doesn’t work.”

“That’s all right. Let’s not worry about the details. Are there any more important issues left?”

Captain Hook finished with that and tapped her table with her hook hand.

“Okay, that’s all I said. What are you thinking about now?”

You don’t have to ask what it is.

It must mean that you want to join the pirates.

Actually, we couldn’t see that we had many options as long as we rejected adults on the ground.

“If I become a member of the pirates, do I have to call myself Captain?”

“Sounds natural. From the moment you decide to board this ship, I am your captain and leader. Absolute obedience on board. If you can be prepared for that, follow me, or cheer me on from below.”

If you want to lead the case, you have to step up to the plate.

Whether we can fully trust Captain Hook is another issue, but humans are creatures that cannot fully understand each other in the first place.

When a certain degree of compromise is necessary.

There she gave Little Red Riding Hood a quick glance, and after seeing her nod in response, she faced Captain Hook.

“Then take good care of me, Captain.”

“Oh, wait a minute then.”

I think I gave a cool answer, but Captain Hook got up from his seat with a slightly wrinkled expression and gestured to me.

“Huh?”

“Come here for a moment.”

At those words, I got up and followed him, and Little Red Riding Hood followed me.

“…… That-that kid will wait over there.”

“Why?”

“I have something to talk about with the men.”

Of course, she must have heard these words as well, so she began to stare at Captain Hook again.

“Writer.”

“Can you wait a minute?”

As if he didn’t like it, he nodded his head with a sullen expression.

It wasn’t like this before.

Obviously, she entrusted me with many things, but at least she had never shown such a dislike of falling.

Worried that this might be the effect of being a child, she followed Captain Hook’s gesture to what appeared to be her captain’s cabin.

Only after the door closed did Captain Hook let her breath out and open her mouth.

“So, do you plan to take that kid with you?”

“Can’t I?”

“…… Honestly, isn’t it a bit like having a child on a boat like this? No, it’s not that it can’t be done. That… ….”

She is the complete opposite of the bold look we saw earlier.

He frowned as if he was uncomfortable with something, and then let out a deep sigh.

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“…… I am weak to little girls.”

“You?”

“What. Do you pick it?”

No, it’s not like that.

It’s just that I’m curious that Captain Hook is having a hard time with children.

“There are circumstances, circumstances.”

“If you say no, I’ll get off too.”

“…… Tsk. If that kid can fight on a boat, that’s it. I can’t kick people out just because I’m awkward.”

However, young children, especially girls, tremble as if they have goosebumps.

There’s a big difference from the Captain Hook I know, but it doesn’t seem like he’s acting.

As it is a twisted fairy tale world, there is no guarantee that the characters will follow the original story, but it is strange that they are having such a hard time.

I wonder if there is a reason, but I shake my head and wake up as if I don’t want to talk more about this topic.

“Then welcome to the Hook Pirates. The details are Sumi, what is that? Go find our navigator. It’s probably not far away.”

“You?”

“The captain’s role is always to stretch out at the highest level. I’ll try drinking rum from above again.”

Wait.

To pass the issue of acceptance as a sailor so lightly? Without any action?

“No, Captain. Are you planning to leave like this?”

“What. Should I introduce myself like a babysitter next to you? Arthur. I am not good at caring for and raising anyone.”

After that, Captain Hook waved his hand at the hook and left.

I wonder if he meant to take care of himself.

I wondered if it would be okay if the organization handled the reception of new people in such a crude way, but Captain Hook, the head of the organization, was like that, so I had nothing to say.

Anyway, with this, I got to know Captain Hook, who was in charge of Neverland’s underground, and now I have some room to move forward.

I opened the door thinking about what happened after that, but Little Red Riding Hood, squatting right in front of me, sprinted as soon as I came out.

“Are you finished?”

“Yes.”

“So, are we going to become pirates now?”

A pirate.

Actually, this isn’t the sea or anything, it’s just a wide underground waterway.

“I guess so.”

A pirate who roams the smelly, dark waterways, not the sea.

It’s neither romantic nor realistic, but maybe this is the right start for me.

“Let’s go.”

In this contradictory situation, I reached out to Little Red Riding Hood.

When she was young, she always grabbed my sleeves, but now she wants to hold her hand.

I just felt that way.