Sea Monster Stew Chapter 25

‘……Yes. This is right.’

The giant sailor’s footprints sank deep into the mint-colored sandy beach.

Kisa quietly watched the retreating back of the sailor, following the path of footprints freshly imprinted on the sand.

‘If I find the thought of you dying utterly unbearable, and if my body is incapable of leaving this place… Then it’s right for me to stay and for you to go. Sending you away from this hell… That’s the last thing I can do for you.’

A large sailing ship was anchored at the beach. 

 

Though disguised with black sails, Kisa knew exactly where it had come from and where it was headed.

A trade ship bound for the Helios Empire, Biche’s homeland.

Being a civilian trade vessel without military escort made it easier to stow away, and the captain leading the ship was renowned for saving women sold into brothels.

 

If Biche pleaded earnestly, she wouldn’t be cast off the ship. 

 

Moreover, there were less than five minutes until departure.

If she had to leave, if he had to send her away, there would be no better opportunity than tonight.

The giant sailor halted abruptly before the trade ship. 

 

As Kisa snapped his fingers, a seam on the giant’s hide split wide open.

In that moment, Biche tumbled out onto the sand along with a suitcase.

She looked around with a bewildered expression. 

 

She stared blankly at the back of the giant sailor walking away without a backward glance, then soon picked up her suitcase and carefully stood.

Her expression quickly turned troubled, as if the bag was heavier than expected. 

 

The weight of the gold, silver, and jewels he had packed for her seemed too much for her to manage alone.

But he couldn’t allow her to leave for her homeland with light pockets.

“Get on board, quickly…”

Hiding behind a wall, Kisa bit his nails and watched her.

Her face, which had been glancing around, gradually began to look distressed. 

 

She didn’t seem very happy even when she glanced at the trade ship.

Was she worried because “Muir” hadn’t appeared? Or was she afraid to board the ship alone without him?

“…Muir!”

Biche began calling for him with a tearful voice. 

 

Kisa flinched and ducked his head behind the wall, checking his pocket watch. 

 

Less than two minutes remained until departure.

‘Don’t look for me, just get on the ship, you foolish woman. You wanted to leave this place so badly. The first mate Muir, with whom you tried to run away, never actually existed.

You just needed human warmth. So you mistakenly thought you’d given your heart to “Muir.”

So leave, quickly… If you don’t leave now, only death awaits…’

“Muir!”

“…You there, miss! What’s the matter?”

A middle-aged woman appeared on the deck of the trade ship, looking down at Biche. She was clearly the ship’s captain. A sailor who approached her side studied Biche intently.

“…Look at her, Captain. She has all the marks of someone who fled in the night.”

“It does seem that way, doesn’t it?”

“As I’ve said before… Helping runaway women is one thing, but if Hawk finds out you’re conducting rescue operations in his territory, you’ll lose your head, Captain.”

“So, you’re saying I should ignore someone in trouble and just pass by? Stop talking nonsense!”

“Oof! Use your words, why resort to kicking!”

“Besides, Captain Hawk isn’t so vile as to fault someone for saving lives. So go make yourself useful and help weigh anchor!”

The captain kicked the sailor away, then removed her wide-brimmed hat and waved it, catching Biche’s attention.

“Hey! Miss! Look over here!”

Biche, who had been pale and incessantly looking around, slowly lifted her gaze to the trade ship.

The captain pointed a finger towards the lawless outer districts they had passed through.

“Did you perhaps run away from the brothel in the outer village? Sometimes young women who escape from there wander this beach and come across our ship.”

She smiled warmly and gave Biche a thumbs-up.

“You’re very lucky today, miss. You caught us with just one minute to spare before departure.”

“Um, excuse me…”

“Yes? Don’t be nervous, speak up.”

“H-Has… a tall man with gray hair… come here by any chance…?”

Biche asked in a tearful voice, hesitantly stepping back from the ship. 

 

The captain looked at her curiously, then shook her head.

“No. You’re the first person we’ve seen on this beach today.”

“…What do I do… It seems Muir really was captured…”

“Huh? Miss! Hey, miss!”

Kisa watched in horror as she turned away, ignoring the captain’s calls. 

 

Biche began running frantically towards the village.

She left the bag filled with treasure behind. 

 

She hurriedly caught up to the giant sailor, who had walked up to the wall.

“Hey! Wait, please wait a moment!”

The gaze of the giant sailor, who had been walking silently looking straight ahead, slowly lowered.

“M-Muir must have been captured by the pirates… Let’s go back, okay?”

Biche grabbed the giant’s cloak and burst into sobs.

“I… I want to go back to the castle… Hildert will surely kill Muir. If I go and beg, perhaps he might spare Muir’s life…”

3 a.m. The captain hesitated for a moment, then signaled the crew to depart. 

 

The sailing ship unfurled its black sails, caught a fair wind, and quietly left the shore.

The receding ship, and the woman clutching the giant’s hide and wailing. 

 

Kisa’s eyes grew cold as he watched the two.

He vividly pictured Hildert’s familiars scouring every corner of the island.

“Damn it…”

Kisa buried his face in his hands. He felt despair because Biche had given up her escape, yet he was insanely happy that she refused to abandon “Muir” even in the face of death.

That woman, who had been so attached to life, who had so desperately wanted to leave this pirate den… She was willing to return to the castle for him.

Even though she knew full well that returning meant certain death, she wept, saying she would beg for him.

Even though the one who had turned her back was not “Kisa” but the non-existent phantom “Muir,” Kisa couldn’t help but feel joy.

She had staked her life on this relationship built on lies. He had staked nothing.

…Now, he truly had no choice but to yield to her.

 

 

* * *

 

 

The giant sailor didn’t even flinch at Biche’s pleas. 

 

Its face, without even a blink, was like a corpse from which life had fled.

Tired of begging the soldier, Biche left him behind and alone, moved away from the beach.

“Muir! Where are you? Muir!”

Biche hurriedly scrambled over a stone wall and ran into the outer village. 

 

Only one thought occupied her mind.

‘If I go back and beg… Hildert might show mercy to Muir.’

Clutching this faint hope, she ran and ran.

The moment she ventured deep into the village shrouded in darkness, a bright light began to flicker from the opposite direction.

She could also hear men’s booming shouts and the thunderous, chaotic sound of many feet rushing about.

“She’s not over here either!”

“Search the brothel area thoroughly! If we don’t catch the wench, the Vice-Captain will have our heads!”

“Yes!”

The group pursuing Biche had already chased her all the way to the outer village. 

 

She hastily covered the mouth that had been calling for Muir. 

 

The increasing number of torches made her dizzy.

Seeing that they were searching for her and not Muir, it seemed certain that he had indeed been captured by the pirates.

“What do I do…”

Tears fell drop by drop. Just then, the pirates’ voices reached her ears.

“Search the Mint Beach area thoroughly. There’s no place as poorly guarded as that.”

“Yes, Admiral Moose!”

“Damn it, for something like this to happen on the very night I’m in charge of the capital’s patrol… I can’t face Vice-Captain Hildert!”

“…But why are you grinning, my lady?”

“What—? Me, when did I ever grin? Stop talking nonsense!”

Admiral Moose’s figure was vaguely visible between the buildings. The sound of her giving orders to the familiar corps continued to be heard.

If even Admiral Moose had joined the chase for Biche, it was unlikely Hildert was just sitting idly in the castle.

Imagining Hildert searching the village with a piercing glare made goosebumps break out all over her body.

“Muir…”

The moment she called Muir’s name in a tearful voice, a large hand appeared and covered her mouth. 

 

Another hand carefully supported her below the waist, lifting her effortlessly into the air.

She tried to scream, but her voice was stifled by the giant hand, swallowed by the void.

“Mmph, mmph—”

“Shh— Shut up if you want to live.”

A familiar voice. Biche looked up at the person holding her with disbelieving eyes. It was ‘Live Skinner Kisa.’

“Are you out of your mind?”

He clicked his tongue, his unkempt, bearded jaw twitching.

“For a little rat that fled the castle, you were about to walk right up to the pursuers swarming to catch you. You must think you have nine lives.”

Biche couldn’t say anything. 

 

Kisa quickly scanned the surroundings and whispered.

“If you behave, I’ll hide you well so they don’t find you. For now, just trust me and… Huh?”

Kisa’s gaze slowly lowered. 

 

Biche’s small hand had grabbed a firm handful of his beard.

Kisa looked down at her, tears streaming as she pulled his beard, with an absurd expression.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“…….”

“Do you really have nine lives?”

Biche was already beside herself. 

 

The anxiety of Muir being captured, the terror of the pursuers being right upon her. 

 

The two emotions tangled chaotically, preventing her from holding onto reason.

So she couldn’t properly comprehend Kisa’s words about hiding her. 

 

She was just maddeningly resentful that she had been caught by the most terrifying Live Skinner Kisa.

‘If I’m going back to the castle to die anyway, if I’m caught and taken back like this, how can I close my eyes with all this resentment!’

With one hand pulling his long beard, she used her other hand to scratch Kisa’s face hard.

Even for an outlaw hardened by countless fights, it might have brought a tear to his eye. But Kisa didn’t flinch, merely looking down at her quietly.

The moment she reached out her hand in a final act of resistance, a heavy impact struck the nape of her neck.

Her body went limp. Her eyelids grew heavy and drooped, and the last of her tears streamed down her cheeks.

Biche quietly sank into unconsciousness.