NOVEL NEXT Chapter 43
“Captain! That ship looks fine! Let’s switch to that one!”
I took the telescope I got from Wilson IV and surveyed the ghost ship that Millia was fascinated by. It looked like the best condition ghost ship I had seen in days. Though it was a bit concerning to see skeletons wandering around on the deck.
“I think we can use it for about a week… Wilson VII is a go. Karina! Renny!”
Fantastic. It’s been a while since I hit the jackpot. It needs to be at least that good to make it worth capturing. After a month of understanding the pirate’s heart, I turned the steering wheel while measuring the distance between the ghost ship and us.
“A new family is in sight!”
“I’m all set to move the cargo!”
“Oh, mighty Kalon…”
After doing this seven times, our hands and feet worked like clockwork. With this level of skill, I could call myself a pirate. Although “pirating” a ghost ship feels a bit odd, since it’s basically just switching to an abandoned vessel. I mean, there are ghosts and skeletons on board, but they probably wouldn’t mind us using their ghost ship. If anything, they’d love it. Since we’re sending them to heaven instead of paying boarding fees. I bet even Lord Kalon would chuckle and acknowledge our merciful act. At least that’s what I think.
In this foggy sea area, wouldn’t it be more profitable to take a hit from the saint’s purification beam to get to the afterlife than to drift around aimlessly? What good would it do to wander around here any longer? We’re not the Flying Dutchman; we’d end up drifting endlessly in this sea area anyway. So we’re basically just volunteering to receive a ghost ship.
Hmm.
It’s a flawless logic even the saint would approve, so I won’t entertain any counterarguments.
Not that there’s anyone to argue with.
“Captain, when do you think we’ll get out of this sea area?”
“Well…”
When I opened the status window a little while ago, it looked like we had about 800 km left. The real problem is that we’ve been stuck in this stretch for almost fifteen days now. I’ve been managing to supplement our food with fishing, but we can’t survive long with just one or two fish a day. There are four of us now, counting Millia as a person… right?
I looked at Millia, who was absorbed in looking at the ghost ship through the telescope. She was the oldest among us but looked the youngest. She kept running around the deck, fascinated by the sea throughout the voyage. I didn’t mind the feeling of having a younger sibling.
“Renny! Fold the sails!”
“Okay!”
As I folded the sails of the ship that was riding the wind, the speed gradually decreased. But with the remaining momentum, Wilson VI managed to stick right next to Wilson VII.
“…Go!”
Before the undead on the ghost ship could react, the light of purification poured down. If this were a game, it would have been the ultimate experience point burning event. The thrill of checking out the status window was definitely special. While I couldn’t view other people’s status windows.
“Neat.”
“I’m first!”
“Be careful! Don’t drop your head in the water like last time!”
If heads had been floating around, it would have been a total disaster. It took close to an hour just to retrieve that. Fortunately, Millia was bouncing around happily like a puppy seeing snow for the first time after jumping onto the ghost ship. She had so much energy. I wonder how she held back those impulses when she was just a head.
…Oh wait, she did roll around back then too.
“Ugh, there’s so many! Johann! Hurry up and help me!”
“Got it!”
Alright then, let’s start working.
I began taking out the cargo with Renny, who was busy unloading.
—————
“Oh, this ghost ship has a lot of facilities.”
“It must’ve been a cruise ship originally.”
It certainly looked like it. Wilson VII, which had been thoroughly cleaned and refurbished, did seem to have some luxurious decorations, indicating it was once a fine vessel. I wonder how heartbroken the original owner must have been to lose such a ship. Of course, one of the ghosts aboard might have been the original owner.
Anyway, I explored the ship while checking the condition of the structures connected to the steering wheel.
Condition good. Sails need replacement. The holes in the ship would be patched up by dismantling Wilson VI, then I’d check what operational facilities there were, and finally, I’d rummage through the rooms or storage for usable items, and that would wrap up today’s itinerary.
“Johann! Look at this!”
“…A book?”
“I think it’s a log! It was in what looks like the captain’s cabin!”
“A log?”
I received the notebook from Millia. It was wrinkled from the repeated wet and dry cycles after drifting at sea for so long. I sat on a box and carefully opened the log. Fortunately, the writing inside was somewhat smudged but still readable.
[Month x, Day xx.
The mood isn’t good.
It’s so foggy I can’t see a foot in front of me, and somehow the ship has strayed from its original course; I can see the passengers’ complaints piling up.
Damn. This was supposed to be the last voyage; why is this happening now?
James claims he saw a strange figure in the fog—could it be… that monster?]
“Monster?”
“You mean a monster.”
There are very few monsters that come to mind when talking about monsters in this sea. It’s been an eternity since any such thing has been seen; I have no idea if that monster still exists.
“Let’s read the next part.”
“Fine, just don’t keep nagging me.”
And don’t cling to me annoyingly either. Don’t rest your head on top of mine.
[Month x, Day xx.
Damn it. Why did it come to this?
A ghost ship, a ghost ship!
How could I possibly encounter those I should never meet out at sea?! What sin did I ever commit!
Wait, no, I need to pull myself together. I have 35 years of experience on the sea. I can’t panic in a place like this.
I need to escape from that ghost ship as soon as possible…]
“A ghost ship? Was it that dangerous?”
“…We have Karina with us.”
Having the great ghost ship battle weapon, Karina, means we aren’t feeling any threats. In the end, a ghost ship is just a vessel operated by ghosts. Because of their nature, once hit by a saint’s purification beam, they’ll disappear without a trace. Unfortunately, it seems like there were no clergy among this ship’s passengers.
“Rest in peace…”
“Indeed…”
[Month x, Day xx.
Haha! Yes! Even if I’m old and past my prime, my skills don’t just vanish!
I successfully escaped that damn ghost ship. With the fog starting to clear, I should be able to reach home soon.
I miss Ellie and Ted.
When I get back, I’ll sit my cute grandchildren on my lap and tell them stories of my adventures. I can’t wait for that day…]
“Since it says they almost escaped the sea area, it must mean they ran into that ghost ship at the end…”
“Looks like they may have encountered that monster too.”
“Wait, doesn’t that mean the monster could be coming for us?”
“That’s a possibility.”
“Then… will we become ghosts too?”
“Can you even become a ghost?”
You are already dead, right? No, is that even right to say you’re alive?
I resurrected you with an item, but your past is more of a setting, and since you were born as a dullahan, you revived without your head attached. Well, you don’t seem affected by Karina’s sacred power either, so I guess you’re not undead…
I picked up Millia’s head, which was on top of mine, and set it back on her neck before I got up.
“Alright then, let’s get to work. I need to steer the ship.”
“Got it! Captain! See you later!”
I took a moment to watch Millia dash across the deck before placing my hands on the steering wheel. I had finished dismantling Wilson VI to repair Wilson VII, and it was time to see if the ship was operating normally.
“The steering wheel feels a bit stiff.”
It’s only natural considering this ghost ship hadn’t received proper maintenance. I turned the steering wheel around with some force and watched Renny, who was changing the sails in the distance. Ordinarily, there was no way she could change such a giant sail alone, but with her healthy complexion, there was no way she’d struggle with the weight.
As I expected, Renny changed the sail easily and began pulling on the ropes to unfurl it. The sail, passed down from Wilson I, was made from bear hide—it looked a bit odd, but performance-wise, it was solid.
“Status window.”
[Johann Quartz]
Age: 19
Gender: Male
Race: Human
– Traits –
Insight: B
Digging: A+
Woodworking: A
Processing: A
Pharmacy: C+
Handiness: B
Anatomy: B
Survival: S
– Skills –
Crafting: A
Repair: B
Dismantle: B
Auto-Translation: A
– Missions –
Return to the Mainland. [Reward: ???]
Distance: 811 km
“If luck’s not on our side, it could take us another two months.”
I hope we find an island to restock somewhere along the way.
I leaned back on the steering wheel of the seventh Wilson, now my new “family,” as I gazed across the fog-laden sea. Ah, whoops, that’s not the right direction.
I turned the wheel to find the right heading. If they’re going to let me know, they could at least tell me the direction; this unfriendly status window finally decreased by 0.1 km, as if it were feeling generous.
If I just keep going in this direction, we should be able to escape the sea area…
Then it happened.
“Captain! Look over there!”
At Millia’s shout, I turned my head to gaze in the direction she was pointing.
Something was wriggling in the fog.
It looked like it was getting bigger, approaching us gradually.
…I sure hope I’m not looking to find Wilson VIII right now.
“…Damn it. Can’t I just have one peaceful day?”
I cursed under my breath as I pulled out the shovel strapped to my back.