Chapter 54
A ship appeared in the distance, and the deck of the Lazybones suddenly grew hectic.
"All right, everyone! Half of you, take up positions on deck! The rest of you, prepare for battle inside the ship and stand by!"
When Captain Maurice raised his voice, all thirty sailors sprang into action. Fifteen took up positions around the deck as instructed, while five ran into the cabin at the stern. The remaining ten split into two groups and headed for the center of the deck and the bow. At both spots, there were grated hatches in the deck, with stairs leading down to the holds. The two groups of sailors hid in the holds beneath the bow and the center of the deck.
I could not see them from where I stood, but the hidden sailors were surely armed with swords and bows. If the approaching ship attacked, they would be able to spring out from multiple locations and respond immediately.
"Well, they're pretty nimble."
Al voiced his admiration as the sailors moved swiftly. Captain Maurice's men certainly acted with practiced efficiency.
When I turned my gaze from Captain Maurice's men back to the approaching ship, it had already drawn close. As I stared intently at the enemy, two figures stepped in front of me, blocking my view. One had red hair, and the other blue. They were Al and Ray.
I knitted my brows and glared at Al and Ray, but the two merely looked back over their shoulders and did not budge.
"The enemy might shoot arrows at us."
"Wouldn't it be better if you stayed in the cabin?"
I refused to give in to Al and Ray.
"We can't do that. I want to see the enemy's face."
"I thought you'd say that. That's why we'll protect you, so don't go any farther forward than this."
As Al spoke to me, he looked toward Zeze, Jini, and Borel on either side of me. He was telling them to stop me if I tried to move forward. The three of them lowered their chins to show that they understood.
Honestly, I was the commander, yet they treated me terribly.
As I glared at Al and Ray, a languid voice came from behind me.
"Um, what exactly is going on?"
Gatt and Paula-san had come up the stairs from the stern. They should have been sleeping in the cabin, but they had heard the commotion and come to see what was happening.
"A ship from another island is approaching. Depending on how things go, this could turn into a battle."
"Really?"
Gatt's face had been pale from seasickness, but he straightened his back and touched the sword at his waist. His expression had already transformed into that of a man ready for battle.
"It hasn't been decided that there will be a fight yet. Don't draw your weapon until they attack us."
At my stern command, Gatt nodded. The problem, however, was Paula-san. We needed someone to protect her, since she was not a soldier.
"Gatt. Go back to the cabin and protect Paula-san."
When I gave him the order while looking at Paula-san, Gatt glanced at her, then let his gaze wander. But he soon looked back at me.
"No. I'll stay here."
After saying that to me, Gatt looked at Paula-san.
"I'm sorry, Paula. I want to protect you, but I'm Romelia-sama's soldier. My priority has to be Romelia-sama."
"Don't worry about me. Protect Romelia-sama."
Paula-san nodded, then looked at me.
"Romelia-sama. I'll stay here too."
"This could turn into a battle. It's far too dangerous for a woman."
I instructed her to at least stay in the cabin, but Paula-san stubbornly refused to move.
"Romelia-sama! The ship is approaching!"
I was wondering whether I should take her away by force, but Ray warned me. When I looked out at the sea, the approaching ship had come extremely close. I could even see the faces of the sailors aboard it.
"All right. Don't leave my side."
Moving her carelessly in this situation would be dangerous. I had no choice but to give the order, and Paula-san hurried to my side. The six members of the squad, including Al, closed ranks around us without leaving a gap.
I looked at the approaching ship through the space between Al and Ray. It was only a little larger than the Lazybones. However, it had three masts, with triangular sails attached at the bow and stern. A statue of a fire-breathing beast roared atop the projecting bowsprit, and 'Flame Lion' was written across the hull.
A man stood at the bow of the approaching Flame Lion.
He looked to be around thirty. A tricorn hat sat atop his black hair, and his sturdy body was wrapped in a long blue coat. His eyes were full of confidence, and he had a long, straight nose. The beard along his broad chin was neatly trimmed, and an unlit cigar was clenched between his lips.
He was presumably the captain of the Flame Lion. If Captain Maurice's assessment was correct, this was a man named Bohn from the Vahl Archipelago. He carried no weapon, and I sensed no sign of a fight from him.
As I studied the face of someone who might become our enemy, my eyes met Bohn's. He was looking at us too.
The corners of Bohn's mouth curled into a smile around his cigar. In response, I merely returned his gaze with a cold stare.
The sailors aboard the Lazybones furled the sails and reduced our speed. The Flame Lion lowered its sails as well, slowing down as it sailed alongside the starboard side of the Lazybones. The two ships slowly drew closer to one another and came to a stop.
Captain Maurice, who had been gripping the wheel at the stern, handed the helm to a sailor, descended the stairs, and walked toward the middle of the deck. Bohn, meanwhile, moved from the bow toward the middle of his deck.
Captain Maurice lumbered along like a bear, while Bohn, cigar clenched between his lips, walked lightly—almost affectedly so. As he walked, Bohn raised his right index finger. A flame appeared at its tip despite there being nothing there. It was fire magic. Bohn used the flame he had created to light the cigar in his mouth.
Al, standing in front of me, growled. The fact that the other man used the same fire magic clearly concerned him. Ray and the other members of the Romelia Squad also lowered their stances slightly and grew wary. Bohn carried no weapon, but he might attack us with magic.
I took my eyes off Bohn and gave the Flame Lion a quick once-over.
Around ten sailors stood scattered across the deck. None were armed, and there was no sign of a battle either. However, there were far too few sailors for a ship of this size. It should have required at least thirty men to operate. Like Captain Maurice, Bohn had probably hidden armed sailors inside the ship. If a battle broke out, they would all come rushing out at once.
Both sides were quietly preparing for battle. Whether it would actually break out was up to the captains.
Captain Maurice, walking like a bear, reached the middle of the deck and looked at the Flame Lion to starboard. Bohn, trailing purple smoke, also stood in the middle of his deck and turned to face him. The two captains confronted each other across the water.