Chapter 9:
Pirate Buster: The Tale of the Summoned Inventor from Another World
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The following hours vanished without leaving a trace in Rei’s mind, as if he were floating outside himself, dragged by an unstoppable current. He couldn’t clearly remember how they had returned through the city—only the feeling of defeat sinking into every step of the horse. Rei, Ettor, Nessus, and Leonoris had returned in silence, powerless, as if they had lost a war.
Once back at the castle, he became a little more aware, though still dizzy. They guided him to a modest infirmary: a wide room with an immaculate linen bed and shelves full of ointments. Leonoris, with gentle but determined gestures, applied her balms as that pure light poured from her hands, soothing the fire in his wounds. Nessus remained in a tense silence, while Ettor paced with a furrowed brow, trapped between anger and sorrow.
It was there that Rei noticed two things. First, that Leonoris was once again slowly closing her eyes while healing him, as if growing tired from doing so. And second, that both companions kept glancing into every corner of the room, as if expecting something to happen.
"Watch it," Nessus said—not startled, nor raising his voice—when a glass jar full of herbs threatened to fly directly toward his sister’s head. The young man caught it effortlessly, leaving Rei dumbfounded by what he had just witnessed.
Finally, once his wounds were sufficiently treated, he was ordered to wash himself in the baths. That is to say, a stone room with a few buckets of warm water prepared in advance. He washed as best he could, bucket after bucket, feeling that neither the heat nor the soap were enough to erase the dirt or the dark memories. The grime of the city, the dried blood on his face, the fear still thrumming in his chest… he’d have needed a vacuum-powered steam scrubber to get it all off. But, of course, such a thing didn’t exist in this world.
Nor did peace.
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Shortly after, he was called to dine with the royal family. Still dazed, Rei sat at a long dining hall illuminated by floating chandeliers. The walls were adorned with tapestries depicting tales of battles and epics, and the table was laden with strange yet exquisite dishes. But Rei could hardly touch his food. His stomach still churned—not only from the bruises but from the weight of everything that had happened.
The table wasn’t the kind one might expect from royalty. Instead of a long, rectangular setup, as if to send a message of modesty, it was round and small, reserved only for those present in the well-lit room. Leonoris sat to his right, Nessus to his left, Ettor beside Nessus with a scowl on his face, and Queen Valeta opposite the still-hooded girl.
But it was King Conferius, sitting directly across from Rei, who looked at him with a mix of solemnity and kindness when he noticed the boy wasn’t eating.
"Welcome to your first dinner, Hero. We hope you find it pleasant. Please, eat as much as you like."
Rei could only nod slightly.
"Thank you..." he murmured, not lifting his eyes from the plate.
The King and Queen exchanged a look. There was no need for words. Despite its elegance, the atmosphere was weighed down by a bitter tension—like a banquet held under the shadow of defeat.
It was the King who broke the silence again.
"My children told me what happened." Conferius noted how Rei’s eyes narrowed slightly, a mix of shame and pain. "Do not burden yourself with guilt. The fault lies with us—I should have warned you further of the shadows that plague Kounaria."
He set his knife down and clasped his hands together.
"Listen carefully—in these waters, titles and numbers mean nothing. To challenge a pirate within sight of our walls is to invite slaughter upon innocents. Should a citizen stand defiant, they'll meet their end without ceremony. Should my guards strike without my explicit command, we'll face their entire fleet at our gates. Even I, much as it burns within me to drive these scavengers from our shores, must stay my hand. It is a vile compact we endure—one that sickens me to my core—yet it is the grim reality we face."
Nessus nodded gravely.
"A few days ago, a woman screamed when her husband pushed a corsair who was stealing a barrel from him. The corsair drew his sword. Had Ettor not intervened, blinding him with light, she’d be dead. We can’t attack them, so all we can do is strengthen the walls to keep them from entering the city."
Rei thought of what he had seen: Ettor’s impotent fury, Leonoris’ desperate apologies, Nessus helping the child with muddy and aching hands… and himself, thrown to the ground, powerless, defenseless.
"How long... have you suffered this?" Rei barely managed to raise his eyes.
"These sea wolves have ruled the waves unchallenged for centuries," the King explained. "Yet these brazen raids upon our shores—like the scourge spreading across other realms—began merely a year past. Just enough time for despair to take root in hearts that once knew courage."
"Did you see their faces as we passed by?" Ettor added, his voice calm but filled with the same fury that burned in his eyes. "Or that fisherman who stood up to us, despite how hopeless he looked? That never happened in Kounaria before. The royal family was once respected—not out of fear, but because we protected the people. Today, the pirates stole that from us. People look at us like that because they know we can’t stop them from toying with their lives."
Rei felt a knot form in his stomach. The enemy he had to face… was playing with an entire kingdom.
"Rei... that weapon you used. Where did you get it?"
Rei was slightly surprised to hear Leonoris speak at last. The quiet, still-hooded princess was by far the most reserved of the three, though her question had piqued the curiosity of everyone at the table. All eyes turned to Rei.
The boy lifted his gaze, still in shock. Without hesitation he pulled the weapon from its holster and put it on the table—without even thinking if it pointed at the King. And as if hunger had suddenly returned, he kept eating.
"Some guys tried to mug me the night before. I took it before they could kill me. After..."
Once again, the words stopped when he tried to talk about Gorō. He began to tremble again, awakening compassion in everyone present.
"Easy, son," Conferius said to him, with a confidence he wouldn’t offer just anyone. "Don’t force yourself."
"I... I’m sorry..."
The whole table fell silent. Compassion was visible in every gaze.
"So you don’t know how to use it?"
All except one, whose voice now captured the attention.
"It’s just like the ones the pirates carry," Ettor continued. "A terrifying device we can’t face… And you say you don’t even know how to use it? I see your fork trembling from fear in battle."
Rei tried to steady his hand, but it was too late.
"You don’t have the pulse or discipline to hold it. You should let—"
As Ettor reached out to take the pistol, Rei snapped out of his daze and swiftly covered it with his hand, slamming it onto the table. The entire room tensed.
"What do you think you’re doing?" Ettor’s voice took on a dangerous tone.
I can’t give up the weapon. How else will I defend myself?
"I’m sorry, but don’t think I’ll hand my weapon over to just anyone."
Ettor tensed even further, as if that last word had struck a deep nerve.
"Anyone? Do you not understand anything?! Don’t you see that—"
Ettor was ready to argue but stopped when he saw the King's subtle head shake—a silent order to stay quiet. He held back, took a deep breath and calmed down.
"Fair enough. But I will train you, alongside General Maedros, so that your hand doesn’t shake again. Don’t expect kindness from me. You’re more dangerous than a stray arrow if you can’t aim properly."
"A drunk’s stray arrow in a tavern," Nessus murmured with a half-smile, trying to ease the tension.
Ettor ignored him. His eyes remained fixed on Rei, who now felt a rising fear toward the violet-haired Luminary. He had seen what Ettor had done in the forest—and how, despite knowing everything happening with the pirates, he had still stepped up to help him. Everything—from his bearing to his tone—was intimidating.
"And not only that," Ettor went on. "You must also begin training in magic. The Hero must wield it to defend himself and fulfill the Goddess’s will. Leonoris will instruct you for now. And I’ll be watching you closely. Understood?"
Rei nodded without arguing. He barely noticed how Leonoris pulled her hood lower over her face, as if trying to hide from the conflict.
With every passing second, Rei felt more certain that he wasn’t ready. He’d been thrown into a world he didn’t understand, with rules no one had explained, and the title of "Hero" weighed too heavily on him. Everyone expected something from him—and all he wanted was for this to be a dream.
Dinner continued in silence, broken only by the sounds of cutlery and restrained breaths. No one spoke much—only eating.
Not only had his relationship with them started off badly, but everyone’s mood was terrible. The darkness that consumed the Kingdom of Light was reflected in the dying flames of joy in its people—the royal family included.
Rei, seeing this, focused only on his food: a sort of meat pie with root vegetables bathed in a spiced cream sauce. The meal was delicious, exquisite—better than anything he had ever tasted.
But he would have given anything to eat what Gorō used to prepare for him and his brothers again.
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