Sea Monster Stew Chapter 21

Kisa had no particular reason for visiting the Vice-Captain’s laboratory late at night.

He had spent the entire morning supervising wall repairs all over the main island, skipped lunch to join other Admirals in a naval battle, and after the fight, headed straight to the northern port on the Captain’s orders. 

 

After dealing with a troublemaking merchant group and returning, he attended yet another high-level executive meeting.

It was only after leaving the meeting hall that he could eat a late lunch that doubled as dinner.

As he hastily finished his meal, he suddenly remembered he hadn’t returned to Ire Island, which was under his jurisdiction, for over a month.

Every time he tried to go back to the island, some new incident would break out, making it impossible for him to leave even if he wanted to.

 

‘Lately, the Captain is working me far too hard.’

 

Kisa grumbled as he poured lime liquor into his glass.

 

‘Yeah… It’s as if… he’s testing me…’

 

He took a bite of the roasted gosling the head chef had proudly presented. 

 

He chewed it slowly, swallowed, then gagged and stuck his tongue out.

 

“Bleh— The taste is really not great.”

Even the head chef of the main stronghold couldn’t satisfy his gourmet palate.

“This guy isn’t even fit to lick the boots of the cooks on Ire Island, all he has is a big mouth…”

 

He missed the cooks from Ire Island who perfectly catered to his taste.

As he sat trying to whet his appetite by remembering their cooking, Biche’s scrawny body came to mind, and he frowned.

 

“…I wonder if she’s eating properly.”

 

The diet of an assistant treated as a governor was predictable. Kisa wanted to take her to his island.

He wanted to take her away from the Vice-Captain, who was indifferent to whether his assistant starved to death or not, and lay out all sorts of rare delicacies before her.

 

“Dammit.”

 

The thought of her starving somewhere made his appetite vanish completely. He cleared away his half-eaten meal and summoned the Giant’s Skin once more.

It was close to midnight when he headed to Hildert’s laboratory in a disgruntled mood.

 

To reiterate, Kisa had no special reason for visiting the laboratory late at night. He had just been thinking of the small woman, and his body had moved on its own.

He was blankly leading his exhausted body when he saw the slightly open laboratory door, and without realizing it, he stepped inside and approached the sleeping Biche.

 

He had no special reason for stopping by the laboratory in the middle of the night. At least, that’s what he believed.

 

He had been in a good mood, right up until he stared at the sleeping Biche. 

 

He felt sorry for her, worn out and exhausted from cleaning, but her appearance, sleeping soundly and unaware of the world, was also cute.

No matter how she looked, it was fine, but it was certainly better than seeing her lying half-naked on Hildert’s bed.

 

Satisfied with the scene before his eyes, the vitality began to return to his tired body.

But when she stirred in her sleep, hiking her skirt up and revealing her pale calves, that vitality instantly sank to his lower abdomen and gathered into a warm, heavy lump.

 

‘…I shouldn’t be doing this.’

 

He felt pathetic for having such idle thoughts about a sleeping person. He let out a deep sigh and had thought about picking Biche up. But it was a fleeting thought.

If Hildert’s presence hadn’t been absent, he truly would have carried her out of the laboratory.

 

The series of events that followed all displeased him.

Biche, waking from her nightmare, not only started as if having a fit upon seeing him but also hid behind Hildert—the very man she feared so much—right in front of his eyes.

On top of that, he received a cold warning from the Vice-Captain not to appear before her.

 

“What the hell! Damn it! What did I do wrong for her to have a fit every time she sees me?”

 

Kisa’s shoulders slumped powerlessly as he grumbled and walked down the corridor. 

 

As the real Kisa became sullen, the Giant’s Skin he was hiding within also slowed its pace.

 

The forgotten fatigue washed over him again. The image of Biche hiding behind Hildert and relying on him wouldn’t leave his mind.

 

“She was so scared of the Vice-Captain before… Damn it! All that talk about running away with me and such, when did all that chatter go… Tch, have a good night with the Vice-Captain, then.”

 

“What are you mumbling about all by yourself, Admiral Kisa?”

 

At the voice coming from below his waist, Kisa snapped his head down. Admiral Moose was looking straight up at him, her arm linked with his.

 

“I’ve been following you and even linked arms, and you didn’t even notice… What on earth were you so lost in thought about for our esteemed 2nd Ship Admiral to show such a weak spot?”

 

“Moose. Why are you wandering outside your room alone at this hour, leaving your governors behind?”

 

“I’m on my way back from the corpse incinerator; one of my governors died. By the way… who were you just saying you’d run away with—?”

 

Moose asked insinuatingly, lowering her voice. She pulled down on Kisa’s arm, which was playing dumb, forcing him to meet her gaze.

 

“I heard everything, so out with it! Who were you talking about running away with?”

 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You misheard, Moose. Why don’t you go back to your room and roll around with your governors?”

 

“Hmph! Trying to weasel out of it. Well… al~right. I’ll let it slide for now.”

 

She narrowed her eyes, chuckling. Kisa found her knowing smile uncomfortable. Her attitude, acting as if she knew everything, was also extremely irritating.

 

“By the way… remember that time I magically hardened your Giant’s Skin?”

 

“Dammit, why bring up the past?”

 

He pushed her away abruptly with a disgusted expression. Undeterred, Moose clung to him again and giggled.

 

“You ended up taking and wearing the clothes of one of my governors that time, right—?”

 

“…That bastard ratted me out already?”

 

“Hehe, you were the one who bothered my darling first, so why the temper?”

 

She tightened her arm-lock further and whispered in his ear.

 

“And also, you know… I received a report a while ago that the Vice-Captain’s assistant girl was loitering near my greenhouse…?”

 

“…What?”

 

“Something about the assistant girl looking for a large, gray-haired male assistant?”

 

Kisa involuntarily drew a sharp, anxious breath.

 

 She was clearly talking about the day Biche was loitering near the greenhouse, got caught by Kisa, and he gave her the Maple fruit.

 

‘I thought I intercepted her before any other assistants noticed… So someone did see Biche.’

 

He gritted his teeth and glared at Moose.

 

“What are you trying to say?”

 

“What else? That you owe me a big favor, that’s what. I’m definitely going to cash this in later, you know?”

 

Kisa’s mind raced. Owe her a big favor. She must mean that despite noticing the connection between Biche and himself, she kept it quiet from the Vice-Captain.

Then he did indeed owe her a big favor. Or rather, it was more accurate to say she had found a weakness of his.

 

Kisa wriggled his lower lip and muttered in a tone full of dissatisfaction.

 

“…I won’t forget this.”

 

“Hehe, just remember one thing, Kisa.”

 

She suddenly lowered her voice and whispered in his ear.

 

“No matter what choices you make from now on, this Lady Moose will always be on our little Admiral’s side.”

 

“What? Little? I’m sure I told you not to talk to me like I’m a child.”

 

“We’re free pirates, aren’t we? You should choose your life partner yourself! Hehe… Well then, sleep tight.”

 

Moose unlocked her arm and skipped away, fluttering both her hands as she waved towards the opposite corridor. Kisa stood there blankly, dumbly mulling over Moose’s words.

 

‘”…Choose your life partner yourself?”‘

 

He let out a hollow laugh and turned away. They were just fine-sounding words.

Even Moose, who spoke so confidently, must be fully aware of the cruel reality.

That once you became a pillar of the Crocus Pirate crew, it was absolutely impossible…

 

 

* * *

 

 

Biche gasped for breath. Scared that Kisa might follow her, she had run forward blindly without looking back.

But before she could even leave the floor where the laboratory was, a large hand approached and carefully caught her arm.

 

“Biche.”

 

A familiar, kind voice. It was Hildert.

 

She remained stiff, unable to lift her head. Her heart was still pounding, and Kisa’s terrifying face from earlier wouldn’t leave her mind.

 

‘I must have been crazy…’

 

As the memory of her childlike fear surfaced, her face flushed with shame. 

 

She felt pathetic and resentful toward herself for instinctively hiding behind Hildert.

 

“Your face is hot.”

 

Hildert approached and pressed the back of his cold hand to her forehead. 

 

Part of her wanted to turn her head sharply away from Hildert’s touch.

 

But she had to endure it. At least until Muir figured out the nature of the magic circle, she had to keep Hildert in a good mood.

If she upset this monstrous man, the entire escape plan could fall apart.

 

Biche bit her lip regretfully and tightly shut her eyes.

 

‘Just a little longer… Just endure a little longer. Only until Muir discovers the truth about the magic circle…’

 

She cast the mantra upon herself as if whispering. Surprisingly, Muir’s annoyed face appeared in her mind.

Thinking of him made it a little easier to breathe.

 

“…I’m fine. I was just a little startled.”

 

She carefully pushed Hildert’s hand away and turned around.

 

Then, Hildert grabbed her shoulder and uttered a familiar yet unfamiliar name.

 

“Arcobicche Akstain.”

 

Biche’s pupils shook instantly. She couldn’t even guess how long it had been since she last heard that name.

She slowly bowed her head. 

 

It was the moment her true name, hidden deep in her heart, was brutally dragged out into the world through another’s lips.

 

She wanted to ask how he knew. 

 

But fear constricted her throat, preventing her from speaking.

The terror that her parents might also have fallen into Hildert’s grasp devoured her thoughts.