“Gants, we’re here!”
“Finally…”
We arrived at a rocky shore with ashen sands and crestfallen trees. Dark clouds loom over the whole place and the atmosphere is frigid. Beside those prominent features of the island, the salty breeze and the unending clamor of the wave are still there. Dozens of boats have clustered in what I can assume is a pier with each has their own lookouts.
Merissa’s boat docks directly at the shore near Gants ship. Compared to Merissa’s ship, Gants ship has a lot of festive designs to it and vibrant colors that are pleasant to the eyes. It is less morbid looking that the other ships that I have surveyed.
Moving on, standing in front of us is an old man with an eye patch and a blue pirate hat. His beard and mustache are well trimmed and his hair seems swept backward and a short dangling curly hair in his back is swept by the wind. He is tall but not taller than Ichirou and has a built of not so lanky and not so bulky. Wrinkles trace his forehead and cheeks.
As soon as his eye crosses with ours, he took a long side glance to me after returning the said gaze to Merissa again. He wears a perplexed and troubled countenance. Based on what we can see from his facial expression, our conclusion is a mistake and a miss.
“Gants, speak up. Judging from your ashen and sullied expression, something bad is happening, right?”
“It is good that you caught up easily.”
“I guess this is not because you wanted to end the Pirate Game.”
“Initially, that what was I intend to do but, a huge problem occurs. I guess this trouble concerns those uninvited guests in the game.”
My body stiffens from such remarks as Gants eyes swims directly towards me. A slight hostility is thrown but it was not enough to unnerve me. Currently, Ichirou is standing behind me as he voiced out his desire to protect me at all cost. I promised him that I will refrain from using Divine Possession if it is not against a devil.
Casablanca and Hibiscus are left with Emby. The two are still sleeping and we cannot afford to wake them up. Also, this assembly, as it what is sounded right now, has a sensitive subject matter. If were anything happened to them, Emby will quickly notify us.
As what the island name implies, Shore of the Abyss and with that name in mind, the whole place looks gloomy, however, with the volume of people, considering that this is an assembly, it is a bit odd since there are only a few people are scattered.
A foreboding feeling attacks me and I felt my stomach crumbling in tension. I could tell that my facial expression has turned for the worse.
“Come follow me. Instead of explaining such things by lips, I’d rather have you guys see what that large and devastating explosion has occurred.”
At his gesture of beckoning with a serious countenance, we are forced to comply with his order. I reckon not that is something related to Casablanca and Hibiscus’ powers. Is what I wanted to fill my mind with, however, I just can get my composure right.
We followed Gants through a forest that left the sandy beach behind and encroached with soil. The forest itself is devastated of any other living being other than us who invaded it. The plants and trees, even though it is not winter or snowing, looks like had their time stopped or rather, petrified.
After traversing the forest for good two minutes, arrive at a large cavern with decorate mouth. Gemstones and such are attached to the mouth and runic symbol spread upon from left to right. It gives an eerie and hideous feeling.
We entered the cavern which was shrouded in darkness. Merissa’s stride seems natural so I can just claim that she has been in this place before. I turn to look at Ichirou worriedly and his gaze answered back.
“Want to hold hands?”
“What makes you think I want to?”
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Is a brief exchange that we did.
He is a serious and dedicated man but he does not need to be a clown in this situation. I would be glad if he’d just answer with a simple nod reassuring my worries or that he just give me that gentle smile that he always wear whenever I look at him.
As I said before, I cannot see him as a love interest but, he smile is charming to the point that I can calm me. Feelings aside, I honestly think he is a great man and has a quality of someone you would like to be with forever.
Digressing from that subject, I feel like he has been subconsciously mocking me and it kind of irritating in its own way. I am well aware of my appearance and I am well aware that I am previously a man but I guess there are times I need to remind myself of that fact. If my mind started thinking like a real girl, will I yearn for a romantic relationship with a man?
Damn…so this body and my soul are slowly merging together after all. I am gradually adapting a girl’s natural instinct, a young one no less. I don’t know if my mind is regressing or maturing. But I guess I am not really matured right from the start and with all of this adventuring and fighting stuff, my measurement of maturation becomes awfully vague.
“We’re here! Merissa, young lady, look upon the intensity of after effect of your ridiculous powers and stunts.”
Gants voice called me back to reality and found ourselves in front of a large gold painted door. There were no knobs but it can be opened by parting both of the enclosed doors. He opens the door and light spills from it, illuminating the dreary cavern path we are standing on.
Due to my prejudice idea towards the pirates, I was expecting a haul of treasure or a mountain of gold. I even expected that there would be sword and gems lying about but I was wrong. The reality struck me hard due to the faint smell of rotting flesh wafting the whole room.
Ahh…?!
I reflexively cover my mouth becomes I immediately felt throwing up. Not only upon inhaling the foul stench but also upon seeing the lying pirates, screaming in agony and howling in pain. I got down on my knees as tears start flooding my eyes.
I already thought that it is not something that could bother me anymore but, this scene that beholds to us proven me wrong. Merissa, in shock and disbelief, darted a glance at Gants for answers. Ichirou starts rubbing my back and comforting me.
“Asagao, calm yourself…”
His call alone brought back a little strength for me to summon. Albeit shakily, I start raising my legs slowly but wasn’t able to get up until Ichirou help me. He took my arm and pulls me closer to him and after that, he tightly clasps on my hand.
It brought a sense of relief to me even a little. I look up to see what kind of face he is showing and to my surprise, he was just wearing a default poker face with cold eyes. His hand that clasps mine was also trembling little. I am not a jerk to point out that he is also shaken by this scene.
The scene of where for example, a single man who lay down on a sheet of bedding is roughly coughing with blood spewing, his arms is festered with wounds that are like melting and his whole body is reddish. Some are with open wounds scattered in their body like they are decomposing and some are also on the verge of death.
In estimation, there are more than hundreds of them who are suffering from such symptoms. Those who wear something like a coat with medical apparatus and bandages together with medicines and ointments run around the whole place to treat one person to another.
In their ranks, there are also who are adept in using healing magic but what could have been the problem?
To answer such question inside my mind, Gants speaks.
“As you three can see, these people are dreadfully wounded. Some of them are even part of my crews.”
“Gants, did some kind of enemy attacks you and everyone else?”
“No, we didn’t get attacked.”
“Then…how?!”
“This started to happen around before dawn break.”
“What?!”
“It is like an epidemic disease of something. I don’t have a single fucking idea what it is! We are far from land and something like this manages to infest us. The only guess I could come up with is because of your crazy stunts yesterday.”
“Hey, how could you even say that?! Are you trying to pin the blame to Asagao and the twins?! They are the ones who saved us!”
“Still, I don’t believe they are not entirely related. Even as we speak now, even I am slowly getting festered with it.”
“What basis are you saying this?!”
I asked that question.
His eyes jolted right down to me.
“Young lady, I am quite pleased that you are a good commanding captain but, it is also dreary for me to have to pin the blame on you. We cannot think of any other solution and we are getting desperate! Even the most knowledgeable healer of doctor among the ranks cannot point out the problem!”
“No way, you’re being too unreasonable if you think I we got something to do with it!”
I squeeze out those words.
I want to scream that we are innocent. In the first place, we wouldn’t even dare risk our lives in saving them if we intend to do something inhumane like this!
“Isn’t it because of that sun that you guys brought up?”
“The sun?! Why would something like the sun yield into something wretched like this? If that were the case, shouldn’t be the people of our ship will get affected?!”
“Didn’t your ship got away further than us because the notification was absurdly sudden? Not all of us was able to get further away as you lot did!”
Now that he mentioned it, no one in our ship has the same disease as the people here. Maybe we’ve really have gone far away. I swear that I didn’t lack initiative with my retreat order that time!
And even if I did lack, how do things end up like this?!
Suddenly, Ichirou’s grip on my hand jerks like something hits him. As I notice the slight change in his behavior, I slowly direct my sight to him just to find out that his face broke down from a poker face to a perplexed one.
“I-Ichirou…What’s wrong?”
“Asagao…?”
“……”
“Radiation…Radiation poisoning…”
“What…?”
“Specifically, Acute radiation syndrome, these people are exposed to a high amount of ionizing radiation that causes cellular degradation that damages molecular structure and DNA. I am not really well verse about the subject but I at least know that its effects are to be immediately shown in the span of twenty-four hours…”
I understand now.
My false sense of innocence crumbles and I again fell on my knees.
Despair, regret, and anxiety attack me altogether. It’s because of me that it has come to this situation. My intention of saving these people ended up hurting them and possibly, killing them. I didn’t want this to happen and nor neither any intentions.
I just want to act out my goodwill and save people!
Why does it have to end up like this?!
Tear floods my eyes again and this time, they flow like a river. Removing my hand from Ichirou’s, I grip both of my shoulders as I broke down crying. My body quivers from so much guilt and my breathing started to become ragged.
Again, it’s my fault…