Chapter 275: CH 278

Chapter 278 – I Am the Ship, and the Ship Is Me!

“W-Wait a minute. You’re the Oz Freedom? What do you mean by that?” (Bouchi)

“It’s exactly what it means, what do you mean?” (Pumpkin Girl)

Oz, the pumpkin girl, tilted her head at me.

“…Then what about this ship? Isn’t the ship we’re on the Oz Freedom?” (Bouchi)

“That’s me! I am the ship, and the ship is me!” (Oz)

…Yup, no clue what she’s saying.

“Milord, in our world, it’s said that every ship has a soul.” (Shiki)

“A soul?” (Bouchi)

“Yes. If the ship has been treated with care for an especially long time… A god called the Guardian Spirit of Ships may sometimes appear.” (Shiki)

Guardian Spirit of Ships…? Oh, he probably means Funadama-sama.

That was a myth that existed in this world as well.

Funadama was a guardian deity that dwelled in ships, and many fishermen and sailors prayed to her for safe voyages and big catches. In Japan, she was said to be a female deity. There was an interesting story that if there was a female on the ship, she would get jealous and cause the seas to become rough.

So is she that deity…?

“…Hm? …I’m going to be embarrassed if you keep staring at me with such a passionate gaze…” (Oz)

The pumpkinhead clasped her hands together and squirmed uncomfortably. Her head was moving back and forth as she squirmed, causing red liquid to go flying everywhere.

Come on, please just chill out and wipe that head already.

“Ah, um, Oz, was it?” (Bouchi)

“Huh? Are you going to confess to me now?” (Oz)

“Stop speaking nonsense, you pumpkin-headed ghost.” (Bouchi)

“That’s horrible! I’m not even a ghost!” (Oz)

“Even if you’re not, your suspiciousness is through the roof. Why are you hiding your face with a pumpkin?” (Bouchi)

“T-That…” (Oz)

Maybe there was some important reason behind it…

“…I’m too shy to let anyone see my real face…” (Oz)

…Or not.

I was about to give her a knuckle sandwich out of exasperation, but I held myself back.

“Oz, so you’re something like… the incarnation of this ship?” (Bouchi)

“Yeah! That’s exactly right! I am the ship, and the ship is me!” (Oz)

I didn’t know why, but she seemed to be the soul residing in the ship, but in a human form. Well, this was a fantasy world we were talking about. So I guess I should just take it as it is.

And since this proved that this ship was undoubtedly the Oz Freedom, it was a good thing.

“Are you the only one on this ship?” (Bouchi)

“…! Uh…….” (Oz)

She suddenly went quiet. Did I ask something wrong?

“This ship was once captained by a man named Duarte Taylor, wasn’t it? But I heard that was a thousand years ago. How does this ship still exist?” (Bouchi)

Her answer would confirm whether she really was a wandering ghost or not.

But Oz just remained silent and still.

I looked over at Ior with a furrowed brow. Ior also tilted his head, looking troubled.

Finally, Oz spoke.

“…Why are you guys so curious about this ship?” (Oz)

“That’s… because we’re looking for treasure.” (Bouchi)

“Treasure? …I see, you are seeking Duarte’s legacy then.” (Oz)

Her voice sounded a bit disappointed. There was probably no shortage of people seeking Duarte’s treasure. She was probably tired of such people and their materialistic desires.

“Do you know where his legacy is?” (Bouchi)

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“…I do know. I’m the one keeping hold of it. But… I can’t tell you.” (Oz)

“I see. Then it’s fine.” (Bouchi)

“After all, those were the things that Duarte was trying so hard to protect—Hey, aren’t you giving up too quickly?! Are you sure?! Honestly, you’re way too pure, it’s almost surprising!” (Oz)

“No, I mean… You’re keeping hold of it, which means you’re the acting owner, right? It’s against my principles to steal other peoples’ possessions, you see.” (Bouchi)

“…….” (Oz)

“What?” (Bouchi)

“You’re a weird one. So far, all of the people who found out that Duarte’s legacy was here tried to get it at all costs. After all, the treasure that Duarte had accumulated would be worth a huge fortune in the human world.” (Oz)

Well, that was normal. Everyone would want to get their hands on vast riches if it was easily obtainable and right in front of their eyes—especially if obtaining a pirate’s treasure, which was always an adventure full of a romantic spirit. Even I thought so.

But if the owner of those riches was still alive, it was a different story. If you take something without asking, you’re just a thief.

Unless it was a situation where I would die or wouldn’t be able to save someone if I didn’t take the treasure, I wanted to avoid robbing people as much as possible.

“Milord, are you sure about this? You wanted this legendary pirate’s treasure, didn’t you?” (Shiki)

“Then Shiki, you’re telling me that I should threaten to hurt her and force her to tell me where Duarte’s legacy is? I don’t want to do anything that’ll make me seem like a petty guy.” (Bouchi)

Plus, she looked like a child, and if I did something like that, my father would probably rise up from his grave and kill me himself.

“That… is true. This one would also prefer if milord wasn’t a bandit who could calmly do something like that.” (Shiki)

Well, maybe only if I was in a desperate situation… But I wasn’t in any mortal danger, so there was no helping it.

But… that didn’t mean I had completely given up on the treasure. So—

“Hey, Oz. Has there been something troubling you?” (Bouchi)

“Bueh? T-Troubling me?” (Oz)

“That’s right. I won’t try to weasel the information regarding the treasure’s whereabouts from you. So instead… let’s have a negotiation.” (Bouchi)

“A n-negotiation? W-What d-do you mean by that?” (Oz)

Oz didn’t seem to understand, but Shiki and the others, who were familiar with my methods, nodded in agreement.

“The legacy that you are watching over is very important. It’s not something you can just hand out to others for some half-hearted price.” (Bouchi)

“That’s… true.” (Oz)

“So you should make a request of me that is worth the price. And when I’ve completed that request, give me a piece of Duarte’s legacy.” (Bouchi)

“…….!” (Oz)

Oz froze with shock. Her face underneath the pumpkin was probably shocked as well.

“…A request… Something troubling me…? Y-You… who in the world are you?” (Oz)

“Ah, I guess I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Hiro. Bouchi Hiro… A merchant. Well, to put it more broadly, I’m more of an ‘everything’ merchant.”

Then, Oz spoke, as if she had finally gathered up her resolve.

“Y-You’ll really accept my request?!” (Oz)

“Of course, but you’ll have to offer compensation to me for completing it.” (Bouchi)

“Y-Yeah! If… If you save him, I’ll do anything. So please, help me!” (Oz)

“Alright, we have a deal then.” (Bouchi)

If I could complete the request, I would be able to get my hands on the pirate’s treasure in an upstanding way.

Yes. This was the way I did things. This was the right way for me, no questions asked.

But it bothered me that Oz, who had a strong will not to give the treasure to anyone, had a wish that she wanted fulfilled badly enough that she was willing to give up the treasure. That must mean that it was something just as troubling.

In other words, I could tell it would be a difficult request.

“Oz, what is your request?” (Bouchi)

Well, come on, let me hear it… No matter what it is.

“―Please, I want you to save Duarte!” (Oz)

I inadvertently uttered a ‘hah? upon hearing her request.

Naturally, I had to ask for more details to know what was going on.

Oz began to narrate solemnly. The long, long story between her… and Duarte.

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