True Identity

I watched Jini, Borel, Gatt, and Paula-san run off, then returned to where Captain Maurice and Rebecca-san were.

Rebecca-san's intimidating eyes were unchanged, but Captain Maurice was staring intently at Zeze, Al, and the others as they served food.

"What do you think?"

I spoke to Captain Maurice, who stood beside me, while watching Zeze and the others.

"I understand why everyone on Merka Island cannot trust us. But we would never use you and throw you away. Will you walk alongside us?"

Captain Maurice scratched his cheek at my words.

"Um, why are you telling me? You ought to be saying that to Radick-san."

"Exactly. That is why I'm telling you, Captain Maurice Radick."

When I pointed this out, Captain Maurice's face stiffened.

Captain Maurice, standing before me, was Merka Island's lord and de facto ruler. He had concealed his identity and remained at my side the entire time.

"When did you realize? Was it when Mary called my behavior an act? Or was Babo's acting simply too poor? He's my adopted son, but he's too timid for his own good."

Captain Maurice wore a wry smile. Mary-san had indeed mocked Captain Maurice's actions as a performance. And during our meeting, Babo-san had kept glancing at Captain Maurice. But even if those mistakes had not been made, they would not have mattered much.

"I knew from the beginning. Just as you investigated me, I sent spies to investigate you."

When I revealed the truth, Captain Maurice grimaced.

Captain Maurice had likely concealed his identity to discover our true intentions. Everyone is in a good mood when things are going well. But when matters reach an impasse, people become irritable and let their true feelings slip.

He had watched us fail to recruit migrant workers to determine whether we could be trusted.

He had tested us, but I had no intention of criticizing him for it. I was willing to do anything to draw out another person's true intentions, and I had also sent spies to investigate his features, family circumstances, background, and personality.

"Good grief. You've got me beat."

Beside the grumbling Captain Maurice, Rebecca-san let out an exaggerated sigh and untied her hair.

When she shook her head, her unruly black hair streamed in the wind. With her hair down, Rebecca-san glared at Captain Maurice, her eyes just as intimidating as before.

"Honestly. This is what happens when you try to wrack that empty head of yours."

"You must be Rebecca Radick-san, Captain Maurice's wife."

"Wife makes me sound too refined. I'm just this good-for-nothing's other half."

Rebecca-san slapped Captain Maurice hard on the back.

"Honestly, making me wear an outfit like this..."

"Sorry. But it suited you."

"Idiot."

Rebecca-san slapped him on the back again. They seemed to be a surprisingly close couple.

"So, what do you say? Will you cooperate with us?"

I asked Captain Maurice once more.

Although our negotiations with the people of Merka Island had not gone well, I believed we could still turn things around.

Compared to its heyday, Merka Island was clearly in decline. Even so, the island remained united. Captain Maurice's leadership and the respect he commanded held the islanders together. If he came to trust us, the people of Merka Island would surely listen to what we had to say.

Captain Maurice did not answer immediately. He placed a hand on his bearded chin, cold sweat running down his face. It was no wonder he was hesitating.

If Captain Maurice made the wrong decision, it could mean life or death for the islanders.

If they joined forces with us, they could escape their current predicament. However, the coastal nations around the Mebyum Inland Sea were unlikely to welcome the Kingdom of Lionel's maritime expansion. They would surely attempt some form of obstruction sooner or later. By joining forces with us, Merka Island would make enemies of the other nations. Moreover, there was always the possibility that we might abandon Merka Island, so they could not leap at our offer without hesitation.

The benefits and dangers of joining forces with us must have sent all sorts of figures racing through Captain Maurice's mind as the scales wavered back and forth.

Unable to reach a decision, Captain Maurice turned to Rebecca-san as if seeking her help.

"If you're looking for my approval, you're looking in the wrong place."

Rebecca-san indicated the children with her slender chin. They were eating the food Zeze and the others had prepared.

The children must have been desperately hungry. Their eyes were wide as they moved their hands and mouths, wolfing down the food. There was nothing heartwarming about their frantic eating. But I could feel their strength—their will to live.

Watching the children eat desperately, Captain Maurice softened his gaze.

"...That's right. We have to feed the children."

Captain Maurice groaned. The scales that had been wavering finally received one last decisive push and tipped to one side.

"I'm sorry, young lady. I shouldn't have tried to put you to the test."

Captain Maurice bowed his head. He had been desperate as well.

"Then let me ask again. Will you walk alongside us?"

"Yes. We would be honored to work with you as well."

I held out my hand, and Captain Maurice extended his hairy one. Just as we were about to clasp hands, a loud voice rang out across the square.

"Don't be ridiculous! You think something like this—something like this—is enough?!"

Looking toward the source of the voice, I saw the girl dressed as a boy throwing away the food Zeze had served. Her face bore the marks of burns. She was the girl Mary-san had been with earlier.

A deep bowl rolled across the ground, its contents spilling everywhere, while the children who had crowded around the food stood frozen in shock.

"Ann, that girl..."

Captain Maurice moved to scold her, but I stopped him with a raised hand.

If we, as representatives of the island and our kingdom, intervened, we would have to punish her to preserve both sides' honor. Our opponent was a child. It would be better if we did not get involved.

"What was done to us can't be forgiven with something like this! If it weren't for you people, my father, mother, and little sister... Everyone on the island... Would you really let them off that easily? Don't accept their charity!"

The girl called Ann glared around at everyone, hatred burning in her eyes.

Even the battle-hardened Al and Ray were unable to move in the face of Ann's fury.

"You..."

Zeze started to approach Ann. At that moment, one of the children nearby began to cry, frightened by Ann's fury. The first cry triggered another, until every child around them was crying.

Ann bit her lip and glared at Zeze.

"I will never accept you!"

With those words, Ann turned on her heel and ran away.

"Wait!"

Zeze reached out to stop her, but Ann ran off without looking back. Left behind, Zeze stared in the direction she had disappeared, forgetting even to lower his outstretched hand.

"I'm sorry, young lady. Please forgive her. Ann's father died fighting the Demon King's army. To help her sickly mother and little sister, Ann went into service on another island, but... She was horribly bullied there and returned to the island with burns like those on her face. However, shortly before that, her mother and sister had died of illness, so she could not even be there for their final moments..."

Captain Maurice trailed off.

It was an unbearably painful experience. I could not think of anything to say.

Several children on Merka Island had endured similar experiences. What could I do for them? That was the question.