Saint, You’re So Vulgar!

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Chapter 044: …Hehe

From Asher’s perspective, it sounded absolutely absurd.

Yet, he couldn’t deny that this lie could shape the relationship between him and the pirate in a friendlier manner.

Above all, it wasn’t a complete fabrication.

Kyle Riguel, that was undoubtedly the name of one of the mercenaries who raised him, a self-proclaimed “Sea Man.”

That left Asher even more shocked.

However, understanding came quickly.

‘W-well, come to think of it…’

Only now did everything click into place.

A man from the sea, a runaway pirate, and extraordinary strength.

“Hwalan,” an Eastern martial artist and assassin, had mocked him as just an ordinary person swept away by the tides of the era, but in reality, Kyle had been a powerful figure within the mercenary band, leading the vanguard alongside the captain.

The Pirate King.

The Pirate King, indeed.

Facing an unexpected truth in such a pressing situation was no small shock.

Yet he couldn’t afford to remain dazed.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Asher decided to ride this wave.

Of course, being called ‘son’ or ‘disciple (important!)’ instead of ‘daughter’ was the correct choice, though.

What happened next was smooth sailing.

“Hey! Everyone, cease the attack! From now on, treat these guests like royalty!!!”

“WAAAAAH!!!”

The man who introduced himself as Rikers from the Black Hawk shouted with great exuberance.

Pirates then looked up at him with eyes filled with admiration, cheering him on.

Asher shrank back at their whispers.

“The daughter of the Pirate King…! Does that mean the archipelago will unite again?”

“But she’s a girl. Can she fight well?”

“Didn’t you see? That swordplay, it’s the Pirate King’s ‘Wave-Catcher’! No wonder she was rampaging on the ship…!”

“Pirate Empress! The Pirate Empress has arrived!!!”

Is this right?

Thoughts rushed in late, but it was far too late.

The prodigal son, the bloodline of the king who would rule the chaotic archipelago.

With all kinds of dazzling embellishments, Asher stood on the deck of the pirate ship.

He sat elegantly on a lavishly adorned chair, hearing the thunderous cheers of “Ooooo!!!”

He cast a glance for help, but no one responded.

Judith sent him a message saying, “Yes, just do that.”

Melburn, oblivious, clapped and laughed heartily, while the priest steering the ship embraced each other, crying with relief.

Bershia? At this moment, she was the farthest away from Asher.

‘Ugh…’

Asher lowered his eyes.

Bershia’s icy gaze, crossing her arms in a corner, felt far too chilling.

If they were left alone, it seemed he would be scolded far worse than ever before.

Is this what sitting on pins and needles feels like?

While he fidgeted amid the chaotic cheers, they had finally arrived at the outskirts of the archipelago.

They reached the island of the Black Hawk.

“Hey! Bring out all the leftover booze! Today is a festival!!!”

Rikers looked more exuberant than anyone else.

From what he heard, he claimed to be Kyle’s subordinate and friend.

When asked, “Don’t you feel any guilt for possibly lying?”, he replied with confidence.

– “You can tell from his sword! That guy even mimics his habits perfectly!”

Was it too frivolous if that moved him?

The fact that he held onto Kyle’s swordsmanship to the extent that even his close friends noticed was a small comfort for Asher.

In any case, the place that Asher and his party were guided to was the most splendid structure in the archipelago.

It was so grand that it could rival a banquet hall, with one side of the wall demolished to connect with the outdoors, allowing all the island pirates to gather.

There, Asher sat facing Rikers.

He raised a single barrel and gulped it down before letting out a hearty belch.

Then, he abruptly asked.

“So, did that rascal Kyle leave well?”

Startled, Asher’s fingers trembled.

Looking up, he found a bearded man with the eyes of a child yet the smile of an adult.

It was difficult to spit out any words.

It wasn’t a pleasant situation conveying the news was a eulogy, especially since his counterpart already seemed to know.

As he hesitated, Rikers added,

“It’s fine. I grew up with that snot-nosed brat, so I know he wasn’t the kind of noble guy to die old.”

“Ah…”

“I’ll be off to have some fun now. That was what I heard the day we last met. I’ve had the thought that he must have died since he still hasn’t returned…”

*Thud—*

He popped open another barrel and continued.

“…If it’s his daughter who came instead of him, the answer must be decided. I was too caught up in the excitement on the ship to think about that.”

He chuckled.

With a bittersweet expression, he hesitated for a moment, then regained his cheerfulness and asked his initial question once more.

“So, I ask you. Did he live it up like he said he would? Did he meet a legendary end?”

Asher thought he shouldn’t lie about this question.

So he gingerly recounted the end of the moments that had become his memories, ten years later.

“…I don’t know if it was a legendary end. He threw himself to protect me.”

His last words were still vivid.

“Live without regrets. Even if the world turns against you, follow the path you believe in. A man doesn’t step back even when a tidal wave comes.”

“…”

“That’s what he said.”

Rikers fell silent at that moment.

He seemed to be chewing something over in his mouth.

Then, he suddenly burst into a bright smile.

“…That’s awesome.”

He chuckled, letting out a hearty laugh.

“Such an epic ending.”

He stood up from his seat.

“Just like Kyle Riguel! He really lived life to the fullest!!!”

Then he raised the barrel high.

“Everyone, raise your glasses! To our king who has departed!!!”

“WOOOOO!!!”

With that, he emptied the second barrel in one go.

Yet, his expression showed not the slightest change.

Drinks were not only plentiful but also bottomless.

He didn’t inquire further about how Kyle had died.

Instead, he just nudged.

“Hey! Nephew! You should drink too! You’re old enough to drink now, right?!”

Asher did not enjoy drinking.

He believed losing restraint and staggering about was unbecoming.

However, today, perhaps just one drink wouldn’t be too bad.

There were moments that only left a bitter aftertaste behind.

There were names left behind that he hadn’t been able to bury.

Finally being able to pay tribute to one of those names, he met someone who remembered the same face.

“Yes, just a little.”

Asher took a sip of his drink.

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“…Hehe.”

And so, he got drunk.

Bershia de Astarion.

Her body had the horrifying capability of becoming completely incapacitated with just a sip of alcohol!

* * *

At this point, none of Bershia’s opinions had been reflected in all of this.

It wasn’t even that she was irritated by that fact itself.

What frustrated Bershia was primarily Asher’s handling of the situation.

‘No need to do such a thing.’

All his actions could be explained that way.

In the end, everything turned out well, but wasn’t it reckless?

While he could win against the enemy with his body, what about his safety?

If the enemy had been a third pirate instead of Rikers, the situation would have turned chaotic the moment that pirate rushed in to target Asher.

While trying to block a knight using mana with his frail body, he could have been injured.

Though it was questionable what form the prayer that contributed to changing bodies would take at that moment, Bershia saw all of Asher’s choices as wrong.

And thus, her feelings of displeasure boiled over to an indescribable level.

In the midst of that tension.

“Asher! You should join me for a drink too!”

Melburn offered some alcohol.

Bershia smiled sweetly but gently declined.

She didn’t understand why people like that needed to drink in the first place, and right now she had other matters to worry about.

Her gaze landed on Asher.

Seeing him with a flushed face and laughing foolishly made her chest tighten.

He could at least make an effort to engage her in conversation, yet Judith next to him was only sipping her drink and listening to idle chatter.

‘This won’t do.’

Thinking so, Bershia tried to approach him.

But Asher was quicker.

“Ah!”

He sprang up and looked at Bershia, grinning widely.

Then he staggered over.

He was definitely drunk.

That did not sit well with her.

Desperate to leave at once, she figured that a few harsh words would ease her feelings, and Bershia rushed toward him, grabbing his hand.

“You seem intoxicated. Let’s go.”

“Grrrr…”

“I’ll head out first.”

Bershia bowed to Judith and Rikers, then pulled Asher in the direction of their lodgings.

In a small village created at the edge of one of the islands of the archipelago.

The pirate residents were gathered right there, and as they walked, the noise faded, giving way to tranquility.

Stars sprinkled the dimly lit path, and the sounds of laughter morphed into distant echoes, making space for the sound of waves.

It was stillness and peace, yet Bershia’s heart was engulfed in turmoil.

In such a place, at the corner of an alley, Bershia stopped and gritted her teeth.

Then turning sharply, she intended to hurl some words at Asher.

“Sir Knight, I need to talk for a moment…”

At that moment.

Poof—

Asher stumbled into her.

It was unclear if he had lost his balance or if he had leaned on her purposefully.

What was certain was that Asher had buried his head into Bershia’s chest.

The surprise lasted only for a moment.

Asher peeked up.

At that moment, another feeling began swelling within her, overtaking her bewilderment.

Everything felt strange.

“Hehe…”

Asher smiled dopily, his bleary eyes twinkling.

Amidst the scent of saltwater and alcohol, his body fragrance permeated the air.

The sounds of waves and breaths along with laughter tickled her ears.

All of it felt faintly dreamy and surreal.

She was undeniably angry, and yet, without realizing it, she wore a captured expression of wonder.

“Your expression…”

As he pressed his fingertip against his forehead, she felt herself melting.

“Wrinkles… It can’t be…”

All her emotions unraveled.

Bershia gazed deeply into his eyes.

In the gaze she met, was only confusion reflected on her own face.

Bershia understood the reason why.

The anger that had been boiling in her head moments before faded away, and the words she had wanted to spill became fragmented, leaving no trace.

Only the two of them remained, everything else cleared away.

‘Why?’

She knew the answer herself.

Her lips were tightly sealed.

In an ephemeral moment, Asher slid down.

Bershia held him up.

She looked up and found Asher had fallen asleep.

Bershia stared at his softly sleeping face for a while.

After contemplating several times, her conclusion remained unchanged.

It was such a story.

Asher was painfully reckless, and Bershia, despite that, was hopelessly fond of him.

If she could dissolve her heart over such trivial matters, what would happen in the future?

This sentiment was frightening enough to imagine.

Bershia grimaced, raising her lips.

The feelings brewing within were so soft they could hardly be called resentment.

“Really….”

Just as Judith had said.

“So clever. You are.”

Asher was both highly clever and utterly annoying.