Chapter 76
Al was hauled back aboard the Lazybones, where he dropped to his knees on the deck and breathed heavily.
He had fallen into the sea, and his entire body was soaked through. But he felt no cold whatsoever. He trembled with an anger hot enough to scorch him.
Not only had Mary suddenly attacked and defeated him, sending him into the sea, but Romelia, whom he regarded as his master, had also been carried away.
He was more angry at his own incompetence than at the enemy.
"Damn it!"
In his anger, Al punched the deck. His hand hurt, but no matter how much pain he inflicted on himself, his anger would not subside. There was only one way to calm it: he had to rescue the abducted Romelia.
Al raised his wet face. Around him stood about ten sailors—the crew of the Lazybones who had hauled him aboard.
"Hey, get the ship underway! Chase that ship!"
Al grabbed the shoulder of the sailor in front of him and pointed out to sea. Silverwing was visible in the distance. Romelia, his master, was being held captive there. Romelia had told him to return to the Lionel Kingdom, but he could not simply go back. He had to rescue her, no matter what it took.
"We can't. With only ten of us, we're barely able to keep the ship moving. There's no way we can catch Silverwing."
"Even so, do it!"
The sailor shook his head, and Al glared at him.
He was prepared to force his way through anything to rescue Romelia.
Just as he was about to punch the sailor into submission, the voice of his best friend Ray rang out.
"Al! Over here! Come here!"
When he looked toward the voice, he saw Ray at the bow. Ray had opened a hatch in the deck and was pulling up a cloth-like object from below.
Al ran over to Ray and shouted.
"What are you doing, Ray? Hurry and get the ship moving! We have to go after Romelia-sama!"
"I know! That's why we're going to use this!"
Ray spread out the object he had pulled free. It was cloth stretched over a wooden frame.
"...You're serious?"
Realizing what Ray was trying to do, Al was left speechless. His best friend's idea was nothing short of suicide.
"But we can catch up to them with this! Let's go!"
Ray's eyes were filled with determination.
"...All right! Let's go!"
Al gave a firm nod.