Lost in Summer! Fated Paradise · Chapter 6
Set Sail for Treasure!
Pirate A
Kgh!
That way!
Run!!
When one of the pirates staggered and went down, we bolted through the opening.
Ayla
Ah, the map...
Luna
Ayla!
Ayla rushed at the pirate to get the map back, and Luna followed after her.
Pirate B
They broke through over there! Everyone, cut them off!
Pirate A
Ghh... You're not taking it from me...!
The fallen pirate clung to the map. Beyond him, a mob of pirates came charging toward us in what felt like slow motion.
Luna! Ayla!
Luna
C-Captain! Where are you going?!
Without hesitating any longer, I turned and ran for Ayla.
*Fwip*
Then I snatched the map from the pirate and handed it back to Ayla.
Ayla
C-Captain...!
Let's go!
Ayla
Y-yes...! Thank you, Captain...!
Pirate A
Ghh... Give that back!!
The fallen pirate threw himself at Ayla, his face twisted with rage.
I stepped in front of Ayla, but I was too late. The pirate's fingers caught the edge of the map...
*Rip*
Ayla
T-the map...!
The map tore clean in half.
Pirate A
You're not getting it!
The pirate went sprawling when I shoved him back. Snarling, he clenched the torn half of the map in his fist.
Pirate B
Get them!!
Smile
An overwhelming number of pirates... Too many for us to handle...!
Luna
Captain, Ayla! We really have to go now!
The pirates were right on our heels. We had to move now or face the whole mob again.
Once the fighting started, it'd be hard to keep Ayla safe in the chaos.
And if they took the cave entrance, we'd be trapped inside.
Kgh...
Come on, Ayla!
After a brief hesitation, I gritted my teeth, grabbed Ayla's hand, and ran after Luna and Smile toward the exit.
We barely made it to the boat ahead of the pirates and scrambled aboard.
Kgh...!
Pirate B
Don't let them get away!!
I'll hold them off!
Raise the anchor!
Luna, Smile, and Ayla grabbed the line and pulled with all their might.
A moment later, the heavy anchor broke the surface, and the boat slowly pulled away.
By the time I fought off the pirates trying to climb aboard, the boat was already well clear of shore.
Pirate B
Y-you little...!
The pirate who'd been watching everything from behind gritted his teeth and lashed out.
Pirate B
What are you doing?! Swim after them if you have to! Get that map!
Pirate C
B-but the current out there is too strong...
Pirate B
Cut the crap! What kind of pirate whines about a little current—
...!
I see. If they go that way...
...Fine. Forget the chase! Bring it back instead!
The pirates watched our boat pull away with ominous looks, then, apparently giving up the chase, disappeared one by one.
Looks like we lost them... for now.
As the shore receded, Smile and Luna let out relieved sighs and sank to the deck.
Luna
Whew! That was close... I thought they were gonna catch us!
Smile
For someone so worried, Luna sure took off first.
As expected. No one outruns her when it's time to flee...
Ayla
...
Even as everyone else relaxed, Ayla stared down at the half-torn map, unable to hide her worry.
Ayla, are you okay?
Ayla
Ah, Captain... Yes, I'm all right, but...
I'm sorry... I put everyone in danger over this map...
...And I still couldn't even protect it...
Ayla's face fell as she fiddled with the torn edge of the map.
Luna
...
Okay, okay! Let's look on the bright side!
Luna sprang to her feet and spoke up cheerfully.
Luna
Sure, things aren't exactly great right now.
We lost half the map, and now we don't even know which way leads to Grave Island.
But! Even so!
We're all safe, right?
That's what matters.
Smile
...Luna.
Luna
First things first, we all need to stay safe. Then we can figure out how to reach Grave Island and find the Pirate King's treasure, right?
That's what the map said, remember? "Even if the end is set, don't give up! Find another way!"
Smile
Slight misquote. "Even if the end is already decided, seek the new path that can only be opened by those who choose to press onward."
Luna
...Anyway!
Luna
Instead of sitting around moping, we might as well have fun!
And best of all, we're on an adventure to find the Pirate King's treasure!
Adventures are supposed to be exciting!
Smile
W-wow...!
Luna
All right, then! Onward to Grave Island, where the treasure's buried! Hard to port!
Smile
...Are you sure?
Luna
...Mmm.
Of course, if your gut says starboard, that's fine too!
Ayla
So you're going on instinct...!
And yet you're so confident... You really are amazing, Luna...!
There's nothing amazing about that!
Luna
Ahaha! But they say all the seas are connected!
So if we keep sailing around, we'll make it to Grave Island eventually!
Smile
No plan detected...!
It was the same childish, utterly unplanned Luna as always, but somehow, that was enough to brighten the mood a little.
Ayla
Ahaha...! You really are reckless, Luna...!
Ayla, who'd been downcast ever since losing half the map, finally brightened too.
Luna
Once we reach Grave Island, all we have to do is find the Pirate King's treasure that'll lift the curse! That'll solve everything!
Ayla
...Yes! I-I'll try even harder...!
...Still, I was glad to see that Luna's carefree attitude seemed to lift Ayla's spirits.
With some of our tension gone, we watched from the deck as the shore receded.
...Huh? Wait...
The pirates, little more than specks in the distance, were still scrambling around.
I squinted for a better look. The pirates who had disappeared were coming back with a massive cannon.
Smile
Yes. Likely a large culverin.
Caliber estimated at 130 to 150 millimeters. Projectile weight around eight kilograms. Barrel length roughly four meters...
...This ship is unlikely to withstand a direct hit.
...
Luna
B-but they're so far away! They'll never hit us!
Smile
Based on the data, our ship is just within range.
Ayla
They just lit the fuse...!
...The sail!
Hoist it!
I spotted the sail lines strewn across the deck.
Pull!!
At my signal, everyone grabbed the lines and pulled together.
One, two...
Everyone
Heave-ho!
Pirate B
Fire!!
*BOOM*
The blast shook the sea as a cannonball screamed toward our hull...
KABOOM!!
The impact rocked the whole ship, sending splinters flying across the deck.
Luna
Aaaagh! W-we took a direct hit!
Smile
Ugh... That impact suggests a direct hit below the waterline...
Ayla
B-but look...! I can see an island in the distance...!
I looked where Ayla was pointing and saw a small island hanging on the horizon.
We pulled with everything we had, but water was already gushing through the hole in the hull.
Luna
It's no use. At this rate...
Smile
Negative. Too early to give up, Luna.
There's still a way.
What's the plan, Smile?
Smile
The principle is simple. Use the recoil of Happy End: Summer Edition, modified for underwater use, to generate thrust.
The design is based on a sailing ship fitted with a magitech engine.
...?
Smile
No more questions. Seeing is believing...!
First, to maximize thrust from Happy End: Summer Edition, ordering Meowbot No. 1 and No. 2 to begin bailing.
Before Smile even finished speaking, two Meowbots I hadn't noticed sprang into action, bailing water with baskets.
Then Smile hoisted Happy End: Summer Edition, nearly as big as she was, and climbed onto the rail as the ship rocked.
Smile, that's dangerous!
Smile
No problem.
Smile flashed a thumbs-up, then aimed Happy End: Summer Edition straight into the water.
And then...
*BOOM*
*BOOM* *BOOOOM!!*
Luna
Whoa!!
Every time Smile fired Happy End: Summer Edition, the massive recoil shook the entire ship.
The force blasting into the water converted directly into thrust, sending the ship racing across the sea as if it were being forcibly shoved forward.
Smile
Distance from current position to presumed location of Grave Island approximately ten kilometers.
Calculation complete. At this rate, arrival at destination possible in approximately fifteen minutes.
Of course, sinking rate will continue to increase over time...
Still firing repeatedly from the rail, Smile glanced at the bailing Meowbots scurrying around the deck as they bailed water.
Ayla! Luna!
We had to pitch in and keep the ship afloat as long as possible.
The moment I called out, we searched the deck and cabin for baskets, then joined the Meowbots in bailing water.
Smile
With everyone bailing, no need to worry.
Happy End: Summer Edition, maximum output engaged...!
The moment Smile finished, the engine roared and the ship shot forward.
At full power, we were closing in on the island fast.
Just a little farther...!
*Crash!*
Smile
Huh.
Just as the island finally seemed within reach, an ominous crash sent a chill down my spine.
...What's going on, Smile...?
Smile
...Error detected. Entering a zone of unexpectedly strong currents...
Luna
What?! Wh-what does that mean?
Smile
Brace for impact.
Luna & Ayla
...
...
We froze with our baskets in hand and stared at Smile.
KABOOM!
Luna
Whoa!
Then the ship was caught in the violent current and began rocking out of control.
*Splash*
Seawater swept over the deck before we could react. The current was so strong we could barely stay on our feet.
*Crack!*
Splintered pieces of the hull were swept across the flooded deck by the rushing water...
*Splash!*
*Crunch*
Luna
Aaaagh!!
A massive wave capsized the badly damaged ship, throwing us all...
*Glub, glub...*
...And just like that, we sank beneath the waves.
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