The sun blazed mercilessly overhead, casting long shadows across the deck of the ship as tensions mounted.
Winston glanced over both shoulders, his eyes darting nervously to ensure no one was sneaking a peek at his hand.
Across the table, Captain Veggieplank had flipped up his eyepatch, determined to focus both eyes on the game.
Vulcan, the smith with arms like iron, sat sweating profusely, clearly troubled.
Meanwhile, Niles wore a grin that only grew wider by the second.
“What’s it gonna be, old man?” Niles taunted, leaning forward with a devilish smirk. “You can’t say zero, and if you’re going to start, it has to be at least four.”
The game was Plump, a raucous card game from Earth and Niles had snagged the card deck from Roy and Gustavus during their time at the castle. By the look of things, the stakes couldn’t have been higher.
Vulcan wiped the sweat from his forehead, clearly trying to shift the conversation. “So, uh... who’s steering the ship?” he asked nervously.
Almost on cue, Tesla’s booming voice rang out from the helm. “I can’t believe I’m sailing the ship! It’s my first time! Am I doing it right, Captain?”
Captain Veggieplank, barely glancing up from his hand, waved a dismissive hand. “Aye aye,” he muttered, his focus firmly on the game.
Vulcan groaned, muttering under his breath, “I haven’t felt this much pressure since I was risking the gallows.”
Winston, ever the dry diplomat, quipped, “So... since yesterday?”
Vulcan glared, his massive hands clutching his cards. Niles leaned in closer, whispering with mock sincerity, “Nobody remembers a coward.”
The words stung, and Vulcan, summoning every ounce of pride he had, slammed his hand on the table. “Five!” he declared, committing to the round with a fiery resolve.
Lina emerged from the captain’s cabin. A roar of laughter erupted from the group on the deck. She caught the tail end of the commotion, her expression curious. Vulcan, his rugged face turning pale, looked as though the world had collapsed beneath him.
Niles wiped a tear from his eye, barely able to contain his amusement. “Maybe we should call you Plumpcan instead of Vulcan!”
Winston, attempting to console but failing miserably, added, “At least you gave it a shot, even though the odds weren’t great.”
Captain Veggieplank, grinning like a man who’d just seen his favorite comedy for the hundredth time, chimed in, “I’ve been on the seas for decades, but I’ve never seen such a salty player.”
The laughter doubled, and Vulcan, his face a mix of fury and embarrassment, could only glare. Not wanting to disrupt the camaraderie, Lina quietly slipped past them to take a walk around the small ship.
At the rear, her younger brother Finn sat with a fishing rod, his eyes flicking between the horizon and the gentle ripples below. The sea stretched endlessly around them, a serene blanket of blue, though no fish seemed interested in his bait.
“How are you feeling?” Lina asked, her voice soft.
Finn paused, his gaze thoughtful. “Good,” he said simply.
“And you?” he asked in return.
Lina smiled, her expression warm and relaxed. “Much better,” she said. “Would you mind going to Felix in the captain’s cabin?”
Finn nodded, carefully securing the fishing rod before heading below deck.
As Lina made her way to the helm, she caught sight of Tesla, his grin brighter than the midday sun. He looked like a spoiled child given a task far beyond his capabilities—and loving every minute of it.
The laughter from the card players finally began to die down as Lina approached Niles. She leaned in close and whispered, “Sir Niles, Felix is awake.”
Niles nodded, standing up and brushing himself off. “Alright, time for a check-in,” he said, stretching. Turning to Captain Veggieplank, he added, “Mind lending back our engineer for a bit?”
Captain Veggieplank, still grinning like a man half his age, saluted dramatically. “Aye, sir!” he barked, heading to the helm. Moments later, Tesla reluctantly descended from his post, his boyish glee replaced with a mock pout.
“All right, gang,” Niles said, clapping his hands together. “Time for a strategy meeting.” He pointed toward the captain’s cabin. “Let’s go!”
With that, the group shuffled inside, the ship rocking gently beneath them as the horizon waited for their next move.
Inside the cramped captain’s chamber, Felix sat on the edge of the bed, his chest rising and falling as though every breath required effort. Sweat clung to his skin, glistening under the dim lantern light. He reached for a goblet of water and drank deeply, his body clearly parched. Shirtless due to the oppressive heat, his muscular frame—defined pecs and broad shoulders tapering to a slender form—showed the years of training that hadn’t abandoned him, even in his current state of recovery.
“All right, we’re all here,” Niles announced, casting a glance around the room. His party was assembled: Felix, the stoic former castle guard; Winston, the ever-polite former assistant; Tesla, the overly eager engineer; Vulcan, the grizzled smith; and the unexpected stowaways, Lina and her younger brother Finn.
Niles turned to Felix, his tone lighter. “Good to see you’re recovering.”
Felix nodded formally, his voice steady despite his condition. “Thank you, Sir Niles, and thank you for looking after me.”
Niles exhaled, shifting the tone in the room. “Alright, first things first.” He gestured toward Vulcan. “I hired the Adventurer’s Guild to save you. It cost me a fortune, and I made them a promise on your behalf. I told them that if you joined my party and pledged your allegiance to me, I’d tell you everything I know about your missing child.”
The room’s air grew heavy, the playful energy evaporating in an instant. Vulcan’s brow furrowed, his massive hands balling into fists. “What do you know?” he demanded, his voice low and tense.
Niles leaned back, rubbing his temple. “This is going to hurt,” he muttered, his eyes scanning the room. “But not for you—this one’s going to hurt me.”
The group looked at him, confused, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Finally, Niles took a deep breath and said bluntly, “I don’t know anything about your missing child.”
The color drained from Vulcan’s face as the words hit him like a hammer. His eyes widened in disbelief. “What? But you said—”
“Yes,” Niles interrupted, raising a hand, “and I just told you everything I know. Which is nothing.”
“You LIAR!” Vulcan roared, his voice shaking the walls of the small cabin. Before anyone could react, his fist flew, landing squarely on Niles’s jaw and sending him stumbling backward.
“VULCAN, STOP!” Lina cried, rushing forward. Winston and Tesla scrambled to pull the enraged smith back as Vulcan seethed, his entire body trembling with fury.
“You’re a disgrace and a liar!” Vulcan bellowed, his voice trembling with raw anger. “I want off this ship!”
Niles groaned, propping himself up against the wall as he rubbed his bruised chin. “That’s why I said it would hurt me more than it would hurt you.” He locked eyes with the smith, his tone steady despite the chaos. “But I do have a plan. It’s a longshot, but it’s all I’ve got.”
Vulcan glared at him, unmoved.
Niles pressed on. “I have an agreement with Prince Xander. After the first full moon, we’ll make contact through Squeaky. I’ll ask him if he knows anything about your missing child—or if he can help us find out.”
Vulcan’s jaw tightened, his anger still burning hot. “If I’d known you knew nothing, I wouldn’t have wasted my time coming here!”
Niles pointed at him sharply. “And die for nothing by the rope? I saved your life! Lina and Finn risked their lives to warn you the night before as well!”
Vulcan shot back without hesitation. “I NEVER ASKED FOR THAT!”
Niles’s voice rose, his frustration bubbling to the surface. “I MADE A PREORDER FOR A WEAPON! YOU SAID IT WOULD TAKE TWO WEEKS. IT’S HARD TO GET IT IF YOU’RE DEAD!”
Vulcan’s voice boomed back. “TWO GOLD IT WOULD COST—NO GOLD, NO SERVICE!”
“I SAVED YOUR LIFE!” Niles shouted, stepping closer.
“GRATITUDE IS NOT ACCEPTED AS CURRENCY!” Vulcan thundered, his voice practically shaking the ship.
The two men stood glaring at each other, the room thick with tension, while the rest of the group hovered nervously in the background, unsure whether to intervene or stay out of the way.
“All right, let’s move on to the next item on the agenda!” Niles declared with an enthusiasm that made it seem as though the earlier tension had never happened. “I’m about to tell you all about my skill,” he added, a grin spreading across his face.
The group exchanged glances, and Niles’s energy drew them in. “As you all know, my skill was once thought to be useless. Remember that, Winston?” Niles shot a teasing glance at his first recruit.
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Winston sighed, clearly reluctant to revisit the memory. “I’d rather not, but… yes, I remember.”
Niles’s grin widened. “That’s because I didn’t understand how to use it properly! Back then, I thought it was just a basic barrier skill. But…” He paused for dramatic effect, leaning forward like a storyteller on the brink of a revelation. “Yesterday, while I was hanging out with Xander, I got to touch the holy crystal again.”
The room collectively leaned in, their curiosity piqued.
“And,” Niles continued, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, “I clicked the button for more information.” He let the sentence hang in the air like it was the punchline to a grand mystery.
Winston rolled his eyes, cutting through the theatrics. “Please, Sir Niles, just get to the point.”
Niles glared at him briefly, then straightened up. “Fine. The point is… my barrier skill isn’t just a barrier. It’s barrier-ish, it’s permanent! How cool is that?!” His grin was so wide it practically shone.
The room didn’t erupt into cheers as he’d hoped. Instead, there was an awkward silence. Someone coughed.
Tesla raised his hand tentatively. Niles nodded at him eagerly. “Yes, Tesla! You’re my guy—go ahead!”
You said the barrier is permanent. Does that mean it can’t be moved?” Tesla asked.
Niles nodded. “I think so, yes.”
Tesla continued, “And if… uh, you were to perish, would the barrier remain?”
Niles hesitated, his confident smile faltering just slightly. “Good question. I’d rather not find out, though. Next question!”
“How big is this barrier?” Tesla asked.
“1,000 square meters of pure awesomeness!” Niles announced proudly, then paused and corrected himself so the audience would understand better. “Landmass.”
Tesla furrowed his brow. “What’s a square meter, and how much is 1,000 of them?”
Niles scratched his head, clearly struggling with the explanation. “Uh… I’m not great with measurements, but I think it’s about the size of the city square,” he said, looking pointedly at Vulcan. “You know, your favorite place in the world.”
Vulcan’s eyes narrowed immediately. “Well, you LIED to me!”
Niles threw up his hands. “NO, I DIDN’T! I may have overpromised and underdelivered, but that’s COMMON in sales!”
Vulcan’s face darkened. “That’s the WORST excuse I’ve ever heard! You must’ve made trades with FOOLS if that’s how you operate!”
“OBVIOSLY, BECAUSE IT WORKED ON YOU!” Niles shot back without missing a beat.
The insult made Vulcan rise to his feet, his fists clenched. Niles stood as well, both men bristling with the threat of another brawl.
Before they could swing, Winston cleared his throat loudly. “Excuse me, Sir Niles, Vulcan, but could we please continue the meeting?”
Both men froze, glared at each other for a moment, and then reluctantly sat back down.
Finn leaned toward Lina, whispering, “Is he really a summoned champion?”
“Yes,” Lina replied softly, her tone laced with a mix of amusement and resignation. “At least I think so”. She added.
Meanwhile, Vulcan sat grumbling, clearly unsure how to process the rollercoaster of emotions.
Tesla, unfazed, raised another question. “You described the size of the barrier like the city square. That’s not much, is there any way we can move the barrier if needed?
Niles nodded. “Good question, I’ll come back to you with an answer later on.”
Winston chimed in, his tone thoughtful. “Will the barrier actually keep things out? You know, make it safe inside?”
Niles puffed out his chest with pride. “I hope so!”
Tesla arched an eyebrow. “Does that answer qualify as overpromise and underdeliver?”
Niles smirked. “I’d call it underpromise and overdeliver.”
Vulcan crossed his arms, snorted, and muttered, “More like overpromise and underdeliver SINCE IT’S YOU.”
“LIKE PLACING A PREORDER AT YOUR SMITHY! Niles bite back.
“NO GOLD NO SERVICE!” Vulcan reminded again with a shout.
Before the argument could erupt again, Lina’s soft voice cut through the tension. “Um… I’m sorry to interrupt, but… can Finn and I stay with you? I don’t know how much we can contribute, and I don’t want to be a burden.”
The room turned toward her, her tone warm but nervous. She fiddled with her patched-up dress, clearly worried about rejection.
Felix opened his mouth to respond but faltered. Niles, however, answered casually, “Of course! We’d be honored to have you both. We need honest, hardworking people like you.”
The room fell silent for a moment, the tension easing.
Then, as if on cue, Niles and Vulcan pointed at each other and shouted in unison, “UNLIKE THAT ONE!”
The argument reignited immediately, the two trading barbs until Vulcan landed another slap on Niles, sending him stumbling back.
“Why is it always the face?” Niles muttered, rubbing his cheek as the group erupted into laughter. Winston leaned over, shaking his head, and muttered, “The meeting, sir Niles. Could we at least finish it before you engage in another duel?” Winston’s tone was flat but carried the weight of his exasperation.
Niles pouted like a child denied a second dessert, his lips curling out as he avoided Winston’s gaze. “Fine,” he muttered, dragging the word out with dramatic defeat.
He straightened his posture, clapped his hands together, and announced, “Now, for the funny part!” His grin was back in full force. “I’ll be assigning everyone’s roles!”
The group perked up slightly, their curiosity outweighing their shared exhaustion.
Niles took a deep breath, puffing out his chest. “Since we’re going to be the first to settle on Monster Island, we need to maximize everyone’s strengths for our success.” He paused, allowing the suspense to build before pointing at himself with both thumbs. “Naturally, I’ll be king.”
He waited for applause. None came.
Instead, Vulcan muttered under his breath, “the King of fools.”
Niles twitched at the jab, but Winston intercepted before he could escalate. “And… what other ideas do you have, Sir Niles?” Winston asked, clearly steering the conversation away from certain chaos.
“Oh, right!” Niles said, like he’d forgotten they existed. He pointed at Felix. “Felix, you’re our general of the army.”
Tesla’s eyes widened in excitement. “Wait, we have an army?”
“Of course,” Niles said with a grin that was almost predatory.
Tesla turned to Felix with a shining smile. “That’s amazing! Congratulations, General Felix!”
Felix nodded, his expression caught between amusement and pride.
Before anyone could question the logistics of this mysterious army, Niles plowed ahead, pointing to Tesla. “You, my friend, will be our Minister of Science and Engineering. Congratulations!”
Tesla practically glowed. “Thank you! I won’t let you down!”
Winston, however, sent a skeptical look toward Niles, his suspicion mounting with every passing second.
Niles ignored it. Turning to Lina, he said, “And you’ll be Felix’s assistant. Every general needs an assistant, and you’re perfect for the role.”
Lina flushed, her cheeks reddening. “Thank you, but… I don’t know if I’ll be any good. I can’t read or write.” Her voice faltered, a thread of shame woven into her words.
Niles nodded sagely. “Perfect! Being an assistant is about more than reading and writing. Plus, Winston can teach you—he’s a former castle assistant, after all.”
Lina’s smile blossomed like sunlight breaking through clouds. “Thank you!” She glanced at Felix, her blue eyes sparkling with newfound confidence. “I’ll do my best!”
Felix stammered a reply, his own face reddening. “Y-yes! Of course!”
Niles turned to Finn, eyeing him thoughtfully. “Hmm. I don’t know much about kids. Back in my world, they played video games.”
Finn frowned, confused. “What’s a video game?”
Niles hesitated, scratching his head. “Uh… it’s like… never mind. Just… find something to entertain yourself with.”
“Yeah, thanks,” Finn replied flatly, clearly unimpressed.
Finally, Niles turned to Winston, placing a dramatic hand on his shoulder. “My dear Winston,” he began, his tone dripping with mock reverence. “I have a role for you. Something truly worthy of your incredible skills.”
Winston exhaled, a glimmer of relief flickering in his eyes. “Hopefully it’s not too much to handle.”
Niles nodded solemnly, then unleashed the verdict. “You’re hereby promoted to Minister of Education, Minister of Finance, Minister of Health, Minister of Culture, Minister of Infrastructure—”
“Wait—what?” Winston interjected, his relief dissolving into panic.
“Minister of the Elderly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Agriculture—”
“Wait I know nothing about agriculture!” Winston protested.
“You’ll learn on the job,” Niles said dismissively, already moving on.
“Wait a second,” Winston objected. “That’s way too much! Can’t I at least have an assistant?”
Niles frowned, looking genuinely offended. “You’re your own assistant.” He then continued without missing a beat, “and, lastly, Minister of Smithing and Ironworks.”
Vulcan perked up at this, clearly expecting to be assigned the role.
“Winston, you’ll handle it” he said and continued. "Anyway—" He turned to Vulcan, his expression shifting into something more sinister, as if he were delivering a grim proclamation. “Vulcan, your role is… toilet cleaner.”
A deadly silence fell over the room.
And then chaos erupted.
“YOU INSUFFERABLE FOOL!” Vulcan bellowed, leaping to his feet.
Niles jumped up to meet him, his face gleaming with defiance. “BRING IT ON, TOILET SCRUBBER!”
The two launched into yet another shouting match, their fists raised as though they were ready to settle things the old-fashioned way.
The rest of the group exchanged weary looks before silently filing out of the room, leaving the bickering pair behind.
“Meeting adjourned,” Winston muttered under his breath as they stepped out onto the deck, the sounds of Niles and Vulcan’s fight echoing behind them.
After a heated back-and-forth, Vulcan stormed out of the room, leaving only Niles and Felix behind. Felix eased himself back into the bed, wincing slightly as he adjusted his position. He exhaled deeply before speaking.
“Why didn’t you tell them about Sir Veggieplank?” Felix asked, his voice low but insistent. “My skill judged him as someone with bad intentions.”
Niles sat down beside him, resting his elbows on his knees. “I thought about it,” he admitted, his gaze drifting around the room as though searching for invisible answers. “Maybe I should have. But I don’t want to worry them, and I definitely don’t want the captain getting suspicious. Besides,” he added with a faint smile, “like you said, people can change. Maybe he’s starting to tilt toward the better.”
Felix nodded thoughtfully. “That could be true. I’m sure I’ll get another chance to assess him the next time we cross paths.”
He shifted slightly, propping himself up on one elbow. “So… how big is this army I’m supposedly the general of?”
Niles grinned. “Oh, it’s massive,” he said with mock seriousness. “You, me, Winston, Tesla, and maybe Vulcan—if he’s done with his sanitary mission.”
Felix chuckled, the sound warm despite his exhaustion. “Truly a fearsome army.”
“And don’t forget Squeaky,” Niles added, his tone quieter, as though he were deep in thought.
Felix smiled but then noticed Niles’s expression shift. “How are you feeling?” Niles asked, his voice softer this time.
“Much better,” Felix replied quickly, but Niles didn’t look convinced.
Niles leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “How are you actually feeling?”
For a moment, there was only silence. Felix finally spoke, his voice tinged with honesty and fatigue. “A lot of pain. Nausea. Cold sweats. I feel like I’m on the edge of fainting, and I’m pretty sure this wound might be infected. I won’t be much use in a fight.”
Niles sighed, his head dropping slightly. “You look terrible,” he said, though his tone carried a hint of humor. “Don’t push yourself. Blood replenishes quickly in volume, but it takes time for your red and white cells to rebuild. Trust me, I used to be a blood donor. It’s not instant.”
Felix tilted his head, confused. “Blood donor?”
Niles smiled faintly, waving a hand. “Just someone who gives blood to help others. Long story. The point is—rest. Your time will come.” He paused, his expression softening. “And thank you.”
Felix frowned, confused again. “Sir Niles, why are you thanking me? If anything, I should be the one thanking you.”
Niles leaned back, his gaze lifting to the ceiling as if the answer were written there. “If it weren’t for your skill at the ball—if you hadn’t sensed something was off—everyone here, including the royal family, would be dead.” He turned to Felix, his eyes sincere. “You’re a hero, Felix. And I’m thankful to have you here.”
The words seemed to resonate deeply. Felix took a steadying breath and, despite his obvious discomfort, shifted to a kneeling position, one knee bent beneath him.
“What are you doing?” Niles asked, raising an eyebrow.
Felix met his gaze, his voice steady and resolved. “Taking a decision.” He straightened his back, his expression unwavering. “I hereby pledge my allegiance to you, Sir Niles. I’ll do everything in my power to help our party succeed in conquering Monster Island.”
Niles blinked, momentarily caught off guard, before a slow smile spread across his face. “Yeah, let’s do it,” he said, offering his hand.
Felix then clasped Niles’s hand in a firm shake. “It’s an honor,” Felix said, his voice steady despite his physical state. “Likewise,” Niles answered.
“Rest up,” Niles said, pulling back and rising to his feet. “I’ll see you later.”
As Niles stepped out of the room, he found Lina standing just outside, her posture a little stiff. She seemed hesitant but smiled when their eyes met.
“Thanks for looking after him,” Niles said, his voice warm.
Lina’s smile softened, her tension melting away. “Of course,” she replied gently.
“You may go to him if you want,” Niles said with a faint smile. Lina smiled and hurried inside the room.
And as Niles walked down the deck, the sun streaming on the wooden floorboards felt just a little warmer, and the breeze that followed them seemed just a little gentler.