Gasi

Part 9Even after Sanpaniradeon was defeated by Urraca and put themselves under her command, the pirate group still continued their act of piracy toward the dukedom's ships.

Their ships had decreased until half of their number at their heyday. Kailas was also gone to follow Urraca. Right now their might wasn't as great like in the past, but they were still a power on the sea that couldn't be underestimated.

The maritime guild and Urraca's fleet were restraining themselves from making any movement in preparation for the decisive battle against the dukedom. As the result it could be said that they were currently the sea force that could move with the most freedom in Marmara Sea right now.

「──The business is bad. God dammit!」

Recently they couldn't find any dukedom ships anywhere, perhaps because the damage to them was rapidly increasing.

Those ships were the source of nourishment for Sanpaniradeon's living. The head Murdeka was at his wits' end when they couldn't find any prey like this. They would be doomed.

Of course their income right now didn't only come from attacking other ships. Sanpaniradeon had also started their own marine transport.

Majorca Kingdom also provided them with the minimum amount of money to maintain their fighting strength. They wouldn't be troubled of what to eat even at the peace time, but a wild man of the sea like Murdeka couldn't help but feel really dissatisfied with this lack of action.

(This pirate business will most likely get closed down when this war is over huh.)

Murdeka was convinced of that.

If Baldr was crowned as the king of Trystovy, Marmara Sea would be filled with only the fleet of the allied countries.

If there was no enemy that should be attacked, it was clear that the pirate business wouldn't be able to continue.

Sanpaniradeon that had continued for many years would end in his generation.

One day his comrades too would start up their own company or get hired by a company somewhere to live in the sea and die in the sea.

He didn't think of that as a bad thing, but he certainly also still wishing to fight.

「──Ten o'clock! It's not merchant ship! It's battleship!」

「Watchman! Confirm their flag! Are they guest or dukedom?」

After a while, the watchman raised his voice.

「Dukedom...and not just them. Those are, Answerer Kingdom's battleships!」

「Hou, so those guys aren't just helping the dukedom on land but also on sea huh.」

「The enemy fleet numbered around thirty ships, they're coming here!」

Murdeka received the report of a real sea battle that suddenly fell on their lap with joy.

Murdeka's darkish skin shivered in excitement. He wondered when was the last time he tasted the feeling of tension from standing between life and death.

「Hard port!」

The fleet that Murdeka was commanding right now was 18 ships. As expected it would be unfavorable for them to face the opponent head on.

They would need to lure the enemies to their own turf even just for a bit.

It would be even better if they could receive reinforcement.

「Match the trim! Keep watch at the distance between us!」

He appreciated the enemies' effort that they finally set out in earnest to subjugate them, but unfortunately he didn't have the duty to obediently let himself be defeated.

Even though he wasn't at the level of Kailas the Clairvoyant, Murdeka also had the confidence that he wouldn't fall behind the dukedom.

.

「So those are Sanpaniradeon, the pirate.」

「...Pirate huh. If we are going to fight anyway I prefer to face Sanjuan Kingdom's navy instead.」

The man laughed in disappointment.

The name of this man past middle-aged who was in command of the fleet was Bale Kippard(ベイル・キッパード).

His thinning hair on his head was like the representation of the months and years he had been accumulating.

Although recently he was feeling his stamina was declining, he still didn't have any intention to retire. As a commander, this was the age where he was hitting his stride.

──This fleet was a sub fleet that Trystovy Dukedom and Answerer Kingdom formed.

The dukedom that received abundant supply of reinforcement from Answerer Kingdom decided to sever the marine transportation routes of not only the maritime guild but also Majorca Kingdom and Sanjuan Kingdom.

From time immemorial, a unit going around the front line to appear behind the enemy wasn't that rare of a happening.

There was a general rule that battle strength had to be focused in its usage. However they decided to ignore this rule and divided their force was because there was a circumstance where they wanted to sever Baldr's supply line even if only temporarily.

That circumstance was that the dukedom was planning to invade Mulberry once more.

To make it a success, it would be troubling if Baldr brought a large amount of the mysterious weapons that were produced in Antrim territory to Mulberry.

With the combat force in their possession right now, the dukedom judged that they could win against the kingdom army even with the King's Gate's owners at the opposing side.

As expected it was the existence of Count Valerie Ost who had strong influence in the making of that decision.

Europa religion was supporting the dukedom from the shadow. Although it wasn't an open support, but it still brought a great influence to the moral of the dukedom.

「──How foolish. The like of pirates should just sink into the sea quickly.」

「How about we experiment with that thing?」

Bale tilted his head and pondered the captain's advice.

「It's annoying to use that thing against mere pirates but...」

He said that while watching Murdeka's fleet that was changing direction to the port side to escape.

「...Hmph.」

And then he snorted with a bit of amusement.

The pirate's ship handling was truly skilful.

They pretended to run away while trying to lure Bale's fleet to the east.

Certainly with such speed, this fleet wouldn't be able to catch the pirates unless they full rushed to the east.

He felt that the pirates were impertinent for plotting such thing.

「They're underestimating us.」

He thought that he was being belittled that the pirates were thinking that they could lead him around that easily.

He would make them understood who was the prey and who was the hunter here.

Even if sheeps grouped up to hunt a wolf, they would only become delicious dinner. He would teach that fact to those pirates.

Bale silently lifted up his right hand.

「──Open all the sails! Don't let those pirates escape!」

.

What the armed merchant fleet of Gilbey Company under the command of Adnams was witnessing was the fleet of Bale when they were just about to catch Murdeka's fleet within their attack range.

「Tsk, they are better than I thought.」

Murdeka clicked his tongue seeing the enemy catching up faster than he expected.

「Their teamwork with their helper also isn't bad.」

It was also unexpected that the coordination between Answerer Kingdom and the dukedom was going smoothly.

He could see that their chain of command was clearly united.

(I don't know which country is taking command but, they are quite skilled.)

「But they are still not a match against boss Kailas and Tormenta Negra!」

Murdeka's fighting spirit still hadn't broken even now because he knew of the existences with ultimate ability as sailor.

At that day, in Akaba where lightning danced boisterously, he experienced a dream like battle that he would never forget even in his death.

Kailas and Urraca read the wind as though the god of wind had possessed them. It was a legendary battle where both sides displayed the full extent of their ability fiercely. Compared to that time a disadvantage of this level was nothing to fear.

「Old man, there are ships at eight o'clock...it's a merchant fleet.」

「Which country they are from?」

「Sanjuan Kingdom...Gilbey Company. They are accompanied by two fast ships as escort!」

He was expecting a reinforcement but it was questionable whether a merchant fleet's combat strength would be helpful in this situation.

If possible he wanted to join hand with Sanjuan Kingdom's fleet.

「We haven't caught sight of Sanjuan's navy recently. Don't tell me they are playing hooky with their job?」

Murdeka spontaneously grumbled.

Was it because Sanpaniradeon had stopped being their enemy? Recently the movement of Sanjuan Kingdom's navy was terribly dull. From Murdeka's perspective, it was an unforgivable negligence.

「Dammit, ain't no way we're going to make amateurs into sacrifice.」

For the dukedom's fleet, attacking Sanjuan Kingdom's merchant ships like Gilbey Company and destroying the commerce here was their main mission instead.

It would be easy to abandon them and run away, but his pride as Sanpaniradeon didn't allow that.

Although they often hunted merchant ships, they wouldn't become a pirate from the start if they did something like sacrificing merchant ships to survive.

「Starboard!」

「Starboard, sir!」

「...Although I can't see as far as a thousand kilometers like the clairvoyant, even someone like me can see for at least two or three hundred kilometers.」

.

Bale didn't misunderstood the reason why Murdeka's fleet changed direction.

「They aren't that bad for pirates.」

It was difficult even for the average navy officer to choose to fight a disadvantageous battle for the sake of civilian ship.

Bale recognized that old pirate, Murdeka as an opponent that was more than the average navy.

Even so it still didn't change the fact that they were his prey.

「I'll thankfully eat this meal. Though I look like this I'm actually experienced with cooking.」

What should he do to obtain superiority in ship handling, what should he do to whittle down the enemy's morale, what should he do to divide the enemy, what should he do to sever the enemy's escape path.

Bale's brain was already simulating dozens of paths to annihilate Murdeka and his men.

The pirates had the skill to be troublesome if they focused on running away. He was thankful instead that they were coming at him. He would sink them all without leaving a single one.

「First, second!」

「Sir!」

Bale pointed at an object placed at the port side of the ship. It looked like a black box.

Several crews ran toward the black box as though they had been waiting for that instruction and began their preparation.

The face of the ship captain who was watching that also looked vaguely exhilarated.

「...Captain, your cheek is twitching.」

「Nuoh! T-this is really shameful. My heart is throbbing like this despite my age.」

「The church was also hiding something terrifying huh.」

Why did the church possess this kind of weapon and offered it to Answerer Kingdom and Trystovy Dukedom? Bale who was nothing more than a humble admiral had no way of knowing the answer.

However he was able to easily imagine just how much might such weapon would display in the battlefield.

It might even change history.

It seemed the church wouldn't allow the mass production of the weapon, but it was only a problem of time until that restriction was broken.

In the near future, all the seas would surely fall under the control of Answerer Kingdom and Trystovy Dukedom.

No, the dukedom that was exhausted from their civil war wouldn't have the strength to continuously maintain and strengthen this weapon.

In that case Answerer Kingdom would be the one that became the ruler of the sea....

What a miserable story. Even though it was Trystovy that was said as the future ruler of the south seas when Bale was still young.

It was a vexing story, but he should just be happy to have the chance to raise achievements like this at the end of his career.

「Preparation is finished!」

Murdeka's fleet accelerated to cross toward the right side of Bale's fleet from the front.

It seemed that they were planning to concentrate their attack to the vanguard of Bale's fleet that was crowding together in order to compensate for their lack of number.

The enemy's tactic and action weren't wrong by any means. However, that was only if his side didn't have the secret weapon.

「Don't you dare miss...First, second, fire!」

「Sir!」

.

A suspicious light could be seen. Then right after that, Murdeka felt a terrible chill and swiftly gave the order.

「Hard port!」

「Hard port, sir!」

That instantaneous instinct saved Murdeka.

It was the next moment that two unknown objects that were spewing out fire flew out from the enemy ship.

「Hurry, hard port!」

「No good! We won't make it!」

The mysterious objects hit the second ship that was sailing diagonally right behind the flag ship that Murdeka was boarding.

*Gou* an explosive sound that caused buzzing in the ears resounded and the side of the second ship got big black hole opened in it. Fire was spreading from there.

It was almost a miracle that Murdeka's flagship dodged that.

Murdeka's boast that although he couldn't match Kailas's clairvoyant that could see until 1000 km, he could at least see 200 or 300 km wasn't just a big talk. All first class sailors without exception had instinct that worked in unexpected situation.

──He didn't know what just happened.

But whether he wanted it or not, Murdeka guessed that attack was something that would change the existing sea battle until now from its root. He also understood that the era of sailors like him had passed.

Even without asking anybody else, he was the one who knew best that they already had no chance of winning.

But──.

「...Tell everyone, come with me only if you want to die.」

Strangely the option of running away didn't cross his mind.

He only had the conviction that it was only at this moment he would be able to burn his life as a sailor brightly until it ran out.

Most likely if he ran away right now, he would grow scared at that flaming monster and wouldn't be able to go near it.

It would be over for a pirate if he became scared to approach a ship.

「There isn't a single guy here who is going to abandon you old man.」

「Really you all are such whimsical idiots!」

Even a gathering of pirates who had strayed off the right path had their own pride. Rather it was exactly because they were pirates that their bonds with their comrades were firm. That tendency was especially strong among the combat force.

The probability of death in sea battle was far higher than a battle on land. If the ship sunk than in most cases the crew would share its fate.

If they joined the navy then it was also possible to be promoted and got on land. However pirates lived on the sea and died on the sea.

There wasn't even a single person here who considered living long and retired in peace and tranquil on land.

They could risk their life for alcohol and money, but they could also risk their life for battle and their commander.

Naturally they chose to bet their life on Murdeka's pride.

Bale was a competent commander, but he miscalculated the pride of such pirates.

「To miss at this range...their training is still insufficient.」

「What now? Should we prepare to fire the next shot?」

「We can't use such precious weapon on the likes of pirate for even more than this! What's more we are in advantage both in number and quality. Don't make us lose face.」

「──Roger.」

Bale frowned in displeasure seeing there was still some reluctance remaining in the captain's expression.

It was only human to want to win easily. He also understood the captain's feeling of wanting to test a new weapon, but the supplier of this weapon was the church, so there was a limit in how many times they could use it.

Furthermore they hadn't even fought the navy of Sanjuan Kingdom that was being commanded by Admiral Jose who was famous for his ingenuity. He wanted to avoid using up even more of the weapon than this.

However putting it another way, Bale's thinking was the proof that he was underestimating Sanpaniradeon. The ship captain who was more knowledgeable of the scene on the field understood just how tough Murdeka was.

「Enemy ships accelerating! They are charging!」

「What did you say-?」

He never expected the enemy would still have the willpower to charge forward once more after witnessing the might of the new weapon.

Bale was a capable officer and he had an understanding about the new weapon, that was why he knew that the pirates didn't have any chance of winning even if they fought. He completely ignored the possibility of the enemy still maintaining their fighting spirit at this stage.

「──Don't look down on me!」

The enemy's force was just half of his fleet at best. Furthermore their new weapon had just destroyed one of the enemy ships. And yet the enemy was still heading their way. He could only think of it as them looking down on him.

「Third, fourth, prepare to fire!」

I told you so, the ship captain didn't say that. He glared at Murdeka's fleet without letting his guard down and gave an order with a calm voice.

「Prepare the third and fourth.」

「Preparing the third and fourth, sir!」

「The enemy fleet is splitting into two and accelerate further!」

「They are suicidal. Don't take them head on! Make use of our number!」

Bale too finally understood that the morale of Murdeka and his men wasn't normal.

There was nothing greater that could upset a calculation than unexpected human emotion that couldn't be measured with logic.

Those pirates were prey that should be hunted, but there was also wounded ferocious beast that might kill and eat the hunter.

They would be in danger if they didn't finish of the pirates quickly.

「The enemy is planning to board us for close-quarter combat! Tell the marine to prepare quickly!」

Originally it would be a suicidal act for Sanpaniradeon to attempt boarding action when they had inferior number.

However they had no leeway to take their time with arrow battle and ship handling contest. They wouldn't do something like this if they were the type of people who tried buying time like that to escape.

「──Wait until they are closer. Absolutely don't miss this time.」

The target was only the flagship.

Even this insane fighting spirit that was outside his calculation wouldn't be able to continue if the commander was gone.

The next attack had to make that flagship sunk no matter what. After that they would only have to take their time annihilating the pirates.

It was infuriating that he was forced to use a lot of the new weapons that were their trump card, but it would be far more problematic if he allowed his fleet to be damaged in this kind of place.

It was possible to receive more of the new weapons, but replenishing trained ship crews who were lost was difficult.

Ship crews needed far longer training compared to land soldier.

In that sense, Murdeka's decision to pick this moment as the place to fight wasn't mistaken.

The possibility was high that they would lose if they had to fight the enemy fleet after their new weapon had been replenished again.

.

「──Prepare fire arrow. You bastards, don't you dare croak until you have killed at least three people!」

「You are really kind old man that you aren't asking us to kill ten people.」

「Heh! I'll make you into ship captain if you can kill ten people.」

Murdeka and his subordinate pirates were laughing while feeling fear and exhilaration simultaneously.

They felt happiness from fighting. It was a kind of distortion, but that was exactly why they were conversely pure and sincere men.

(Look closely, sharpen your mind! I'm not gonna get done in here without wreaking havoc first!)

Murdeka's concentration reached a height that he had never experienced before.

He felt like that he had even reached the territory of that Kailas if it was now.

The wind that was caressing his face, it felt like it was talking to him where did it come from and where it was going to.

.

「Third, fourth, fire!」

「Mizzen spanker, whole in! Starboard!」

.

Bale and Murdeka's order was given almost at the same time.

Murdeka saw through the instant of the shooting with superhuman focus. He also realized that he couldn't avoid it anymore.

The distance between both ships had been reduced to almost a hundred meters.

If his ship could just stay afloat even after this attack, if it could just hold out for a bit more.

「All hands, duck!」

Murdeka yelled that and curled up in preparation of the impact.

The next moment, the mysterious flaming objects hit the starboard and the bow of Murdeka's flagship.

.

Murdeka's flagship looked like it was swallowed within a crimson flower of flame.

「──Did we get them?」

If two shots of the new weapon hit simultaneously, any battleship would definitely sink. The only ship that could possibly stay afloat even after such hit would only be the pride of Answerer Kingdom, Gigante.

However, it didn't mean that the ship would definitely become unable to function anymore right after the moment of the hit.

「──Midship, match the trim!」

Murdeka's flagship that was enveloped in hell fire appeared from inside the explosion like an undead.

Even though the hull was torn apart and its appearance now looked like a ghost ship, its sails splendidly caught the wind and accelerated as though it was gliding on water.

The rash decision to wait until the target came within the near distance where the new weapon would definitely hit had become a disaster.

Even though Bale should resolved himself to bear some loss when he understood that he was facing a formidable opponent, he was acting prideful unwittingly. However it was already too late to feel regret.

「Hard starboard!」

「D-dodge it no matter what! That ship won't hold out anymore! If we can just dodge them...!」

Bale continued to stare at the fast approaching enemy ship as though he was charmed by a demon.

*Gigi*, the ship changed course to the right with creaking sound.

「No good...」

「You won't get away.」

The two leaders coincidentally muttered at the same time. Then right after that Murdeka's damaged flagship succeeded in ramming its bow into the port of Bale's flagship.

.

There was an impact sound of snapping ship bow followed by a vibration as though there was a huge storm outside.

In the end it was Murdeka who won the bet.

The ship that was advancing following the law of inertia magnificently crashed onto the side of Bale's flagship just before the ship stopped functioning.

「You bastards! It's time to show that you're a man! Go all out!」

「OOOOOOOOOOOOOH!」

All the crews, even the helmsman and the cook yelled with weapon in hand.

They also understood. They wouldn't return to this ship anymore. There was only a little bit of time that the ship could stay afloat like this.

The fire was spreading through the ship. Water was also continuing to flood in.

On the other hand, Bale's flagship also had sea water flooding in after its port side got rammed, but it wasn't fatal.

In other words the only way for Murdeka and his men to survive was to take over Bale's flagship.

.

「Shit-! Those damn pirates!」

Bale gritted his teeth because of his blunder that allowed his ship to be rammed.

The damage to the flagship was serious. When considering that it wouldn't be easy to repair the damage while the operation was still ongoing, this ship was already as good as lost.

「Don't let those guys return alive! Helmsman, slowly turn the ship! Mizzen spanker boom out!」

The pirates ran along their ship's bow that crashed into Bale's ship and boarded this ship one after another. Bale gave the instruction to counter attack while turning the direction of the ship to downwind in order to get away from Murdeka's burning flagship.

If the ship could be separated by using the wind's thrust, that ragged ship would only sink.

Then they would just slaughter the pirates that boarded this ship with overwhelming number.

「Enemy ships incoming! They are charging toward the second and third ship!」

「You lowly pirates, have you all gone crazy! Get cursed by the old crone witch!」

Bale's complexion was dyed dark red when he heard the report of the watchman.

If the ships other than the flagship also got damaged, there was a risk that it would become impossible for this fleet to continue with its mission.

Lanchester's army annihilation equation didn't exist in this world, but Bale was aware of the rough damage ratio as a rule of thumb.

The number of the pirate ships was eighteen, so the permissible damage to his side was only until six ships.

If by any chance the damage ratio was 1:1──in other words him losing eighteen ships and only had twelve ships remaining, it would be completely impossible for them to face Sanjuan Kingdom's fleet after this.

That would be no different from a defeat to the combined fleet of Trystovy Dukedom and Answerer Kingdom.

「Tell each ship to focus on avoiding collision! Don't allow the pirate's expectation to come true!」

Bale's order was correct from the perspective of reducing the damage to his fleet to the maximum.

The problem was that each ship made a large movement when they tried to avoid the ramming. As the result their movement to assist the flagship became obstructed.

Ships that got rammed and came to a halt right at this moment like the third ship were ships that were carrying the marines. They couldn't be expected to assist the flagship now and the flagship would have to repel the pirates with their own force.

.

──A fierce melee was already starting on the deck.

The pirates that were led by Murdeka had resolved themselves to die. Their morale was terrific and the majority of the port side had already been suppressed by the pirates quickly.

The soldiers under the command of Bale were also the cream of the crop of the regular army with high coordination and skill. They weren't losing against the pirates.

However in a ship battle where there were a lot of obstacles and shaking ground due to the wave and wind, individual valor was more effective than teamwork.

「Don't lose against the dukedom's rookies!」

「Don't screw around! You lowly pirates!」

Sailors cursed at each other at the center deck that was the main stage of the melee. It was turning into a battle of who would take control of the steering wheel.

It was right at that time, the helmsman who was holding the steering wheel was attempting to catch the wind with the ship's sail in order to move the ship away from Murdeka's burning ship.

The flame was spreading even faster as the clock was ticking. This ship would inevitably catch fire too if they didn't get away as quickly as possible.

They absolutely couldn't allow the pirates to take control of the steering wheel.

「Shoot the fire arrows! Don't let them concentrate on the battle!」

「You madmen! Can't you differentiate what should be done and shouldn't be done here!」

Murdeka already lost the ship to return back to, so his only choice should be to take over this ship, and yet he casually gave an order that might cause this ship to be lost too.

Bale clenched his fist so hard it was bleeding after seeing how outrageous the pirates who were resolved to die were acting.

Although all of this was caused by his hubris, it couldn't reduce his rage toward the atrocity of Murdeka and his men.

「Don't let them approach the wheel no matter what! Anyone who is free is to extinguish the fire! Archers, calmly use the crossbow to aim at those guys!」

Bale's men were from regular army and they had superior number, but they had to split some men to steer the ship and extinguish the flame, so they were at disadvantage in the melee.

But when they hardened their defense with their better equipment and secured advantage in number in the key points, the pirates were also unable to make a move carelessly against them.

As expected training and number were everything for a protracted battle.

「──Guwah!」

「Noiz! Are you alright?」

「I can't go on anymore. Sorry old man, I can't kill three people. Next time we drink the tab will be on me.」

Noiz grinned fearlessly while fresh blood was spilling out from his mouth. It was clear even in Murdeka's eyes that an arrow had pierced Noiz's lung fatally.

「Go ahead of us and buy up all the wines in that world.」

「──See ya.」

Noiz smiled from the bottom of his heart and turned limp like a puppet that had its strings severed.

Surely this last battle of his life was worth it for him to stake his life on. His satisfied face was saying that.

「Be careful against the crossbow! They're aiming at us! Archers, give us cover!」

「Sir!」

As expected crossbow had better accuracy compared to bow.

The archers were firing arrows quickly to disturb the aim of the other side's shooters, but marines with shield were forming a formation to protect the crossbow shooters, so it wasn't really effective.

「──GYAAAA!」

One more pirate was showered with arrows and fell.

Bale was relieved here that the battle situation was finally turning into a favorable direction for him.

If they could hold out just for a bit more, the crews that were currently extinguishing the flame would also return and they would be able to launch a pincer attack to the pirates.

Also the wind was also blowing to a favorable direction. This ship was separating from Murdeka's flagship little by little. There was no more worry that this ship would catch fire.

What was left was only to take their time annihilating the pirates.

He underestimated them as mere pirates and received this much damage, so there was a concern that he would be asked to take responsibility later.

However, the number of pirate ships that succeeded in ramming his ships stopped at six ships. The damage to his fleet wouldn't reach ten ships even at most.

This was a serious damage to a fleet that was planning to raise havoc in the sea near Majorca Kingdom and Sanjuan Kingdom after this, but it wasn't so serious that they had to cancel the mission.

「We'll force them back after the sails has been adjusted.」

「Sir!」

If the crews that were extinguishing the fire and operating the sails also joined the battle, the number of their side would be fifty percent more than the pirates.

Bale chuckled to himself. The time had finally come for him to show the pirates who was the better one here.

──We have the advantage no matter how anyone look at it.

This thought too was also a haughtiness just like before, but Bale forgot himself when the pleasure of revenge was right before his eyes.

There was no more place for the pirates to run. They had made much trouble for him, but it was their fate to be slaughtered to the last here.

No matter how capable the enemy commander was, it was impossible to overturn this situation from here no matter how he thought about it.

──It was exactly why he couldn't even imagine that this was exactly like Murdeka planned right from the start.

.

「Look at you all gathering in one place like turtle, is it okay for you guys to be like that?」

「You're making excuse now? Soon it will be you bastards who got bundled together like turtle.」

Although Bale said that from his mouth, he felt a discomfort because there wasn't any trace of fear in Murdeka's brazen attitude.

He got a bad premonition, as though he had overlooked something.

Could it be that he was repeating the same mistake?

In that case, what could it be that he had overlooked?]

「We aren't planning to go back alive from the start.」

It would be easy to decide that Murdeka's words were just the words of sore loser.

However the bad premonition in Bale's chest continued to swell out without stopping.

Why the world they were continuing to fight if they were planning to die?

「...This is why a naïve young master who has a home to return to is just no good.」

Murdeka chuckled lowly.

He wanted to die after beating up the enemy some rather than living as a dejected loser.

He wanted to have a battle that was worthy to be the closing curtain for the Sanpaniradeon Pirate.

That wish was already granted.

The history of Sanpaniradeon was closing its curtain today. Similarly, the day of destruction would also certainly arrive one day whether it was for Trystovy Dukedom or Answerer Kingdom.

It would be nothing more than arrogance and naivety if they never even considered until that far.

──Suddenly Bale noticed that there was black smoke rising from the rear of the port side.

Was there still fire from the pirates' fire arrow that hadn't been extinguished?

But he couldn't imagine how Murdeka could act that composed just from that.

「...Damn it!」

Bale finally noticed Murdeka's true intention.

「Stop such foolish act! If you do that then you also won't get away unscathed!」

「That's why I said that we don't have any intention of returning alive. Besides that kind of boorish weapon doesn't suit a battle between men.」

Murdeka considered Bale's action to concentrate his troops near the steering wheel as a great chance and ordered his men to search for the place where the mysterious new weapon was located.

And then they discovered that thing at the rear of the port side and it still wasn't set up.

「Charge! Do whatever you need to! Extinguish the fire before the rocket arrow caught fire!」

If that exploded this ship would....

Why didn't he notice that the pirates were aiming at the rocket arrow?

The reason for that was simple. In the end Bale's prerequisite was to return alive. There was no way he could comprehend the thinking of people who wished for death.

There wasn't even a single second to waste. All the marines charged in order to remove the pirates.

「You bastards! Don't forget to kill three people each!」

「I'll take one of your prized rum if I kill five, old man!」

「Stupid idiot! That's my treasure! I'll give you just one cup!」

The pirates laughed cheerfully while they got stabbed by sword one by one and died.

The way they died with such innocent look made it as though they were kids playing tag with their friends at the ridge between rice fields at evening.

「Hurry! Hurry! HURRYYYYYYYYYYY!」

「Sorry. I won't be able to face my dead underlings if I let you guys pass here.」

Murdeka fought like a ferocious lion.

His body that should have been passed its prime a long time ago was hanging on tenaciously as though to embody the spirit of Sanpaniradeon Pirate.

He curt down the marines who were surrounding him from left and right as though he was dancing.

In no time at all Murdeka's surrounding became piled up with the corpses of his allies and enemies like bundles of straw.

However Murdeka's comrades were also falling one by one.

When he noticed there was only Murdeka remaining alone. His body was dyed by the blood spurt of his enemies with his left hand only barely hanging by the skin.

The marines were awed by Murdeka's state and they gulped.

「What are you all fearing from an old man who is at the death's door! Finish him off already!」

「...Too, late.」

*Crackle crackle*, there was a sound like wood cracking from scorching heat, but right after that a huge crimson flower bloomed.

The blast swept through the deck and the impact pierced until the ship's bottom.

Murdeka slowly closed his eyes with deep satisfaction within the torrent of destruction that dyed everything crimson.

The explosion of two rocket arrows sunk Bale's flagship into the sea within several minutes.

.

「...Magnificent! Magnificent!!」

It was truly a brilliant way to die. It was the embodiment of man's long-cherished desire.

Sanpaniradeon Pirate versus the combined fleet of Trystovy Dukedom and Answerer Kingdom.

It was a stunning naval battle that would be talked until the later generations. Adnams was unable to hold back his emotional tears from flooding out after witnessing such scene.

It was a magnificent way of death that any man of the sea had surely imagined at least once.

At the same time it Adnams realized that he had just witnessed a historical moment when Sanpaniradeon Pirate that had made their presence known in Marmara Sea for many years finally left the stage.

Any people with wit was aware that Sanpaniradeon would disappear sooner or later.

From the moment Kailas was defeated by Urraca, the pirates who remained in Sanpaniradeon had acknowledged that their end was near.

However who could possibly imagine that they would go in such heroic and beautiful last stand.

They boldly faced such formidable enemy and after exerting all their strength, they splendidly brought down their enemy together with them. It was doubtful that even Sanjuan Kingdom's navy would be able to achieve the same feat.

Adnams opened his eyes wide without daring to blink to sear the battle into his eyes, so that he would never forget the end of Sanpaniradeon that was once an enemy for his whole life.

The combined fleet was clearly shaken when their flagship sank.

The remaining pirates took advantage of that unrest and rampaged as though to follow after Murdeka.

「Should we also join?」

The chief navigator sent a heated look at Adnams as though Murdeka's passion had infected him.

It was their instinct as sailor that made them wished to throw themselves into this glorious battle. Adnams too was sharing such heated emotion in him.

「──No. A merchant must not participate in a battle for death.」

The difference in number couldn't be overturned even if Adnams's fleet joined the battle.

The combined fleet would surely receive serious damage, but in the end Adnams's fleet would also get annihilated.

In the end Adnams only possessed two escort ships. Although his ships' crews all had experience in fighting, ten of his ships were only transport ships.

Their total combat potential might only be worth two ships of Sanpaniradeon Pirate or even lower.

What was more important now was──.

「Go rescue the Sanpaniradeon crews who fell into the sea as long as the time allow. We'll retreat if it looks like the fight will be over. Telling the story of this battle is the duty that is given to us.」

「Aye sir!」

His trembling voice expressed the heartrending grief that he was feeling.

He couldn't make a decision that brought death to his subordinates just for honor. Even if it was something charming and the yearning of any man.

「Drop the boat!」

The battlefield was moving slightly to the west due to the flow of the wind.

There were still the figures of sailors holding on ship wrecks around the second ship of Sanpaniradeon that was sunk down at the beginning.

They had the qualification to survive after facing such mighty enemy and got beaten due to their poor fortunes of war. No, he wanted them to at least survive somehow.

This was Adnams's honest feeling.

It was finally time to retreat. Adnams stared once more at the twilight of the vanishing pirates together with the pirate crews that he rescued.

The metallic sound of swords clashing and the rough war cry of the men sounded like the funeral bell of the church.

「...Farewell pirates.」

That day, the combined fleet that was dispatched in order to raise havoc in Marmara Sea lost ten ships and also its commander.

The fleet retreated back to their country without bringing back any result.

The surviving pirates would continue to talk about the heroic saga of their comrades and the end of Sanpaniradeon's long history until they died as the man of the sea.

.

Strategically it was the correct move for the dukedom to attempt to circle around Mulberry and destroy the commerce at the sea near Sanjuan Kingdom.

If that strategy succeeded, the fleet of Urraca and the maritime guild that was currently preparing for a decisive battle with the combined fleet of Trystovy Dukedom and Answerer Kingdom would definitely be forced to alter their strategy.

Especially Urraca who was the active navy minister of Majorca Kingdom, the possibility was high that she wouldn't be able to avoid leaving the frontline.

Even if it was for the sake of her beloved Baldr, Urraca had responsibility and position that she had to carry out no matter what.

Later on she would build a stone monument at Majorca Kingdom in commendation of Sanpaniradeon. She didn't do that for no reason.

At the same time, it wasn't just the dukedom that was carrying out a strategy. Sanjuan Kingdom was also planning something.

Human's thinking didn't differ by that much from each other.

It was impossible that the enemy would just sit still doing nothing while they were trying to outmaneuver them.

Originally Sanjuan Kingdom's fleet should be protecting the sea traffic route of Marmara Sea. Where could they be right now?

Some more time would be needed until the dukedom obtained the answer to that.