The Villain Changed the Ending

043 pirate

****[Oscar, the main character] ****

Captain Max grinned as I boarded the ship.

I am quite tall, but Captain Max is no less.

Looking at the similar eye level, I wonder if it is almost the same as mine now.

The last time we met, I had to look up.

‘If you think about it that way, I must have grown up a lot too.’

Besides, it doesn’t seem like it’s finished growing yet. They grow rapidly like water-drained bean sprouts, so they have to adjust their clothes every year.

‘But to someone else, Captain Max must look much taller.’

I’m training, but unlike me, who is slim, Captain Max’s body is as thick as his height.

His arms and thighs were twice as long as any other man’s, so he looked much taller and gigantic than he was.

As a man, I feel a bit envious, but not envious.

“Captain Max.”

“welcome.”

The eyebrows of Captain Max, who came closer and stood directly in front of him, rose slightly. You look surprised.

“Did you grow up again? The duke is really growing up. You were so delicate until last time, but now I can’t mistake you for a girl. The appearance is the same.”

Wahahahaha, Captain Max laughs out loud.

When I first met, Captain Max stood in my way, saying no woman, no matter how noble or young, could board the ship.

I guess he thought I was a girl in boys’ clothes.

At that time, Benno, the captain of the escort, and even the soldiers who were with him were very angry, and everyone drew their swords and rushed to fight.

If I hadn’t threatened everyone with my magical powers, there might have been several casualties.

Perhaps thinking of that time, the sailors in the back also started laughing while showing their dirty teeth.

“Euhehehe. At that time, I thought I was really dying.”

“There were people who fainted.”

“There was one guy who was peeing…”

The moment the sailor behind him spoke, one of them hit him with a fist.

It seems that it was my own story.

A fuss erupted in the rear of the sailors, who were fighting back and forth.

At the messy sailors’ tone and promiscuous appearance, the escort captain’s eyebrows rose to the line between his forehead and his head.

It’s not the way he speaks and behaves in front of the duke.

If I hadn’t told him in advance that I would forgive him for his rudeness while on board, he might have been stabbed again.

‘No, it must have been so.’

But the rudeness of the sailors is unavoidable.

This ship is a merchant ship, but it is also a pirate ship, and Captain Max and his crew are actually tough pirates.

Most merchant ships are equipped with armed forces, as they are often plundered while roaming the seas.

In the case of Captain Max, I think it went a little further than that.

Originally, I heard that he jumped into trade in the new continent after doing piracy.

To be honest, even now I am close to pirates.

It’s not like he turns every ship he encounters, but it seems to be to the extent that he attacks on the contrary when attacked, or plunders cargo that is unlikely to harm him.

As a result, part of the ship’s revenue was plundered goods.

“…”

Although this is impossible on the modern Earth, I protect and support them with the power of the Duke.

So did other people investing in this ship.

Everyone is supporting in their own position to protect their own interests.

In different times and social atmospheres, what is condemned as a crime in one world becomes normal and natural in the other world.

‘It’s a strange thing.’

There is no absolute morality, no order, not even the distinction between good and evil.

It varies according to the times and people’s standards.

For the head of a noble family, protecting one’s family is more important than anything else, and it was common in this world to use even one’s children as tools for that purpose.

Thinking about that kind of thing made me feel weird sometimes.

“…”

Anyway, since they were originally pirates, it was difficult for them to act like commoners, let alone the manners of dealing with nobles.

Violent, rough, ignorant.

It’s not that they aren’t polite towards nobles, it’s that they can’t.

It goes without saying that he cannot read or write letters, and few people can even count numbers properly, let alone add.

Because they spent much longer on the sea than on land, they feared the captain far more than nobles.

Some sailors don’t even understand the difference between titles like duke and baron, so what should I say?

To them, nobility is just nobility.

Even knowing that situation, the captain of the escort growled and got on his nerves with the captain.

The captain, like the captain, is a person who does not just ignore someone’s quarrel.

Suddenly, the atmosphere became stern, as if the two were about to draw a knife.

It happens every time we meet, so now I wonder if that’s the case.

The problem is that the atmosphere of the two captains spreads to the people below.

I smiled bitterly when I saw some of the sailors with chains wrapped around their hands.

When I suddenly looked away from the commotion, the escort and several sailors in the back were already drawing their weapons and were on the verge of attacking.

‘ha.’

I’ve met several times and it’s always been like this, so I don’t know if people are smarter or chickens are smarter.

“Stop it.”

When I said that, the escort captain and the guards quickly lost their temper.

But the sailors are rather more energetic.

Charuk Charuk, several sailors tightened the chains around their hands, and a rustling sound spread through the dark air.

“I told you to stop.”

When I let go of my mana, the sailors were startled and quickly hid their weapons.

“Oh, I didn’t do anything.”

“Sorry, noble!”

“Hey.”

I think I was scared when I remembered the previous time.

‘Really… chickens might be smarter than these people.’

I let out a small sigh.

Seeing me like that, Captain Max smirks.

“You’ve become really manly, Duke. You’ve become more courageous.”

Are you still saying that?

Seeing the veins on the escort captain’s face and the back of his hand, the captain laughed again wahahahaha.

This person seems to enjoy getting angry at the captain of the escort.

“Show me something.”

When I spoke while blocking the escort captain’s actions with my eyes, the captain moved his body obediently.

“I don’t want to upset the duke. I’ve already been through it and know how scary it is.”

Then you shouldn’t quarrel with my escort.

*

Only the captain of the escort, myself, and Captain Max entered the captain’s office.

The other escorts wait outside the captain’s quarters and above the ship.

Captain Max offered me a drink, but I quickly declined.

I don’t even like alcohol very much, but the alcohol these people drink is quite strong and suspicious.

Sometimes, it seems that I also drink unknown drinks, so I was warned by Benno and the captain of the escort not to eat anything on this ship.

Even if it wasn’t for that kind of attention, I couldn’t even think of eating when I saw dirty drinking cups and bowls.

The captain didn’t forcefully recommend it and headed straight to the corner of the captain’s room.

Looted items are also in other places, but I heard that all the really important and valuable things are put in the captain’s office.

Maybe that’s why the captain’s room itself is spacious, but things piled up here and there and got in the way whenever they moved.

But Captain Max cleverly grabbed the box from the pile and dragged it to the center.

One, two, heavy wooden crates quickly filled the narrow space.

Captain Max smirked, tapping the crate with his palm.

“This is what the Duke wants.”

Old wooden chests all have clumsy-looking locks.

Captain Max unhooked the ring from his waistband and took it in his hand.

There were dozens of keys attached to the metal ring, and it felt heavy just by looking at it.

There were several such key rings hanging from Captain Max’s waist.

If it were me, just wearing it would overload my movements.

‘Pirates are really great.’

With a bit of a different impression for some reason, I watched as the captain opened the locks one after another.

The box opened with a rattle and was filled with animal bones.

Same with other boxes.

“Fire.”

At my words, the captain of the escort brought a lamp and held it out.

Light shimmers in the box, creating a shadow.

Upon examining the bones in the box closely, I noticed a subtle sheen on the surface.

These are the bones of an old demon.

I don’t know why, but after a demon’s death, its bones develop a subtle luster.

It became the material for the magical bomb made by Sven.

The older the bone, the better, but it was hard to find in this country.

There are many monsters in Weber Kingdom, but it is not easy to find old bones.

Even if there was only one, it was difficult to find one or two in one place, and it was difficult to obtain in large quantities.

However, it seems that the monsters living on the continent across the sea have different habits, and there are cases where they gather somewhere when it is time to die.

Sites full of old bones have been found in several places.

I heard the story the other day and asked the captain to get the bones.

The reason I came today was to confirm this.

I rummaged through the box, picked up some of the bones underneath, and held them in the fire.

The luster was the same both above and below.

“How is it?”

The captain asked with a nervous face.

“It’s fine.”

I picked up a small bone from the box and poured some magic into it.

In an instant, the mana spread.

“Ugh!”

Captain Max, who was looking closely to see if he was curious, stepped back in surprise.

“It’s amazing.”

The captain rubs his arm with the palm of his hand.

I only injected a very small amount of mana, but the air in the whole room was heavy because of the mana.

As if you were in water, pressure was applied to your skin and nose, making it a little difficult to breathe.

The captain of the escort standing next to him did not express himself, but he seemed to be suffering from magic.

‘This level of power is enough.’

There are several in the box, so the quantity is sufficient.

It seems that the manufacture of magic bombs made by Mr. Sven is finally on track.

Seeing my satisfied smile, the captain subtly nodded.

“How about it. With this, the distribution of gold coins a little.”

The captain grinned, showing his yellow teeth.

Are you asking for more gold coins?

I tossed the bone I was holding into the box and glanced at the captain.

“Didn’t we decide to pay for the bones with something else? Anyway, no one would buy these monster bones other than me, but being too greedy could harm them.”

I am the only one who can threaten others with magic.

The people of the steppe use magic, but it’s not a way to intimidate someone like me, and Mr. Sven and other wizards tried to do the same, but they couldn’t.

Perhaps it is because of the difference in knowledge.

I can’t say which part is exactly like that, but I think it’s important whether or not you know the cells, molecules, and components that make up the air.

Therefore, this bone could not be used in this way unless it was me, and it could not be made into a magic bomb unless it was Mr. Sven.

It is just a piece of bone that is of no use to others.

“But, Duke, I put several boxes like this in a limited space.

The captain came closer to me with a big smile.

The captain of the escort pushed his body between the two to block the captain’s approach.

“Back off, Captain. You’re not the kind of person I’d want to get close to. You’d better knock the fact that he’s the only duke in this country to his empty head.”

The escort captain’s hand was on his waist as he glared at the captain with a cold face.

I think I’m thinking of pulling out the knife if I have to.

Captain Max immediately raised his hands and stepped back.

“hahahahaha. Just kidding, kidding. You really don’t understand the joke.”

“…”

The captain of the escort glared at the captain without saying anything.

Pirates are often portrayed nicely in movies, but in real life they have little face or pride.

These people betray so easily that if they show their backs, they may feel inclined to stab them inadvertently.

He chooses money over loyalty, gives in to power, and returns with a smile as if nothing had happened after betrayal.

Even so, it’s strangely not hateful.

I put a little bit of magical energy in my finger and stabbed the captain’s chest.

“Ugh!”

It was only a little tingling, but it shouldn’t have hurt, but the captain was exaggeratedly surprised and quickly stepped back.

“Captain, I don’t like broken promises.”

“hahahaha. Of course.”

The captain laughed awkwardly.

“I don’t want to hear that again. I paid you generously, and the deal is over.”

“Yes, of course.”

The captain nodded deeply in agreement, but well, next time we meet again the same thing will happen.

Because it’s repeating what happened before.

I sighed and left the captain’s room.

The return on the invested money is received in kind.

From the time this ship came in, the official of the duchy was already watching, so there was no concern about stealing things.

Of course, other investors are watching, and the captain is well aware of that fact, so he doesn’t think about stealing things.

When I left the captain’s office, the duke’s official was waiting on deck.

“Welcome, Duke. Sorry for the late greeting. I just had a meeting with another investor. I’m currently making a list of what the ship has been carrying.”

The official bowed his head and handed out the papers.

Items such as pepper, silk, and ivory are listed in the document with detailed explanations.

Next to the list were several signatures of people who had checked the item.

It is said that the list is not even half completed.

“Okay, go ahead with that, and send the boxes in the captain’s office straight to the duchy.”

“All right.”

The beast’s bones are not of much value to other investors, but the duke cannot take them out at will.

First of all, we need a procedure to be confirmed by other investors.

“As soon as possible.”

To my request, the official bowed his head and answered.

“Okay, Duke. If we hurry up, we’ll be ready for departure tomorrow evening.”

“okay.”

By the time I got off the ship with the escorts, the sky had already turned black.

The guards each light a torch.

In this city, there was a mansion owned by a duke.

Today we will spend the night there and depart.

As I rode there, I saw scallop shells piled up in front of a house.

I’m not sure if they make something out of the shell or if they sell it somewhere.

An elderly woman rummages through the scallops, examining them one by one, putting some in a basket and discarding others.

But what caught my attention was the white conch shells randomly placed nearby.

Not a single blemish was mixed, and it looked white even in the dark.

Seeing that my gaze touched the conch shell, the escort captain put his horse aside.

“Duke, why are you like this?”

“…buy me that white conch shell.”

The escort captain put on a strange expression, but he lowered his head without saying anything.

For a few silver coins, the captain of the escort receives a conch shell.

The woman tried to give me scallops or other shells besides the conch shell, but I shook my head.

When I received a white conch shell and put it to my ear, I heard the sound of waves.

‘Would he be surprised if I gave this to Catherine?’

Women from aristocratic families, especially unmarried daughters, rarely go out of their mansions even though they live in cities.

In the case of high-ranking nobles, it is even worse.

So did Catherine.

If I don’t take her, her world is confined to the inside of the marquis’ mansion.

You’ve probably never seen the sea or heard the sound of waves.

To some people it’s an insignificant conch shell, but to others it can be a very novelty item.

I put the conch shell in the inside pocket of my coat.

When I remembered Catherine’s face, who would be happy with this in my hand, I wanted to run to the mansion in the royal capital as soon as possible.