Chapter 3: A Prisoner's Life for Me

Bend with your legs... not with your back... use your whole body when rowing... inhale while pulling... exhale while pushing... stay in sync with the group...

Propelling the ship in unison with more seasoned folk is the only balm I can apply to my gaping wound of despondency.

It's somewhat therapeutic that I can feel the muscles tearing in my arms as I brush my oar across unsteady waters. Not to mention I've earned a much needed sweat that the plain shirt once sticking to my body has been quickly discarded.

Also it turns out that the constant reminder of this gloomy dim lighting, the sticky stale air below decks, and being in the gracious company of complete strangers scratches away at that scab. Dizziness, tense throbbing, my caffeine hamster of a heart, nothing sounds more persuasive for me to just keel over and recover.

Not to mention I have to battle the uncomfortable boiling in my stomach before the rancid magma races up my throat and erupts from my mouth.

And here I thought I'm immune to seasickness.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate that the mysterious scary lady gave me a way to pass the time with basic sailor work, but even a noob like me could use a break. Like right about now!

Well at least I get to hear some catching sailor tunes from AudiFI straight from the voices of these obnoxious jerkoffs who happen to be on friggin’ repeat! CAN’T THESE GUYS PICK SOMETHING ELSE TO SING, PLEASE!!

"The wind's starting to pick up." The sonar of a familiar voice carrying a low and smooth tune to it is intercepted by my ears, which are currently receiving an overflow of constant audible reports of grunting, singing and occasional chattering. "We'll go ahead and let them rest in a few minutes, and we'll let mother nature do the work for us."

Well now, speak of Cao Cao...

I can't help but evict a shallow breath of relief as knowing that my wishes have been answered. However, I am too familiar of the mysterious concept of time can being a cruel mistress in moments like this. Whether it’s finishing one more in your workout regimen or waiting for the long-awaited hyped-up game or expansion, the shorter the distance the more agonizing and eternal it feels.

There's an old saying that time moves by quickly when one is having the time of their lives. I guess that's the same when you're focusing on nothing but rowing the boat down the stormy stream. But now that I know that a break is just around the corner, my R&R feels so far away!

Why do I get the feeling she did that on purpose? Is this girl, like, some twisted psychological tormentor that secretly has it out for me and wants me to suffer as much as I can?! What did I ever do to her?!

No! A better question is: What did the former occupant of this body did to her and her pals? Well... given that I've been getting death stares from almost every person here It’s safe to say that former me did something to tick them all off! But what if its not me? Again, what if this vessel is just some trophy kid and these guys are hoping to make quick change off of me? Geeze if that's true, then the Isekai Gods must really hate me for some reason! Either way, I DID NOT CONSENT TO ANY OF THIS!!!!!! I gotta find a way of this sweat fest of a ship! Seriously I'd swim all the way to Nagasaki if that's what it takes!

Once I find land, I'll need to hunt for food, boil some water and avoid getting eaten along the way! I'll just stay on the road as much as I can and if I come across marauders of goblins or whatever Isekais usually throw out, I'll offroad it! Heck! It'll be a good way to increase my stats and level- oh dammit that's right! I don't have a stats board! Ahh well... I guess It'll me just leveling up without the HUD.

Yeah... that's a thing...

And given that I was likely summoned here by magic or alchemy, I just find some royal academy and enroll there if I have to! No wait, I'd likely have to get special permission from this land's king if I want to do that. But... that shouldn't be much of a problem given that fancy getup I had earlier, right?! Maybe if I tell them a romantic epic tale of my grand escape they'll likely sign my butt up at the most distinguished magical academy out there!

From there on I'll study the concept of... space and time? Time paradoxes? What's the right subject for my situation?!

Whatever, I'll just learn whatever I have to learn, trial and error it if I have to, maybe join an adventurer's guild to make some cash and scoop up ingredients, and just find my way back to my own world and back in my own body!

Its not going to be easy, but unfortunately, nothing worth doing ever-

"Alright, reel those oars in, both port and starboard! Let’s go!"

The barking of what I can assume is an 'oar officer' telling us to pack it in hits me without warning. I guess contemplating my grand escape is another strategy I can use to pass time!

Glimpsing the light at the end of this grueling tunnel, I look ahead, twelve o'clock, watching how the crimson red-haired girl in front of me fluidly retracting her oar from the ocean. After scanning her pushing and sliding it back in, I feel confident enough to mimic her actions.

If only it’s easier said than done considering the damn water seems hellbent on rather breaking the damn overgrown splinter than letting it go!

Turns out, being conscripted into a new body of fairly weak stature and dealing with the minor dizziness and nausea make a simple task much more difficult.

At this point, I can feel everyone's eyes are on me and I try my best to ignore the morbid sense of shame.

"Well anytime now, you snot nosed, brat!" My loving supervisor can at least lend me a hand.

I know I'm a big boy, but even adults need help once and awhile!

“Oh shit!”

A rogue wave must have battered against my oar and my grip loosens. Just when I thought things could not get more embarrassing, my epic tug of war match with this pesky element concludes with my defeat.

And to make matters worse, my opponent decides to be a spoil sport by socking my side of the damn stick straight into my nose!

My hands shield my face from harm, and I can hear the oar sliding from the side hole, destined to be lost at sea. Alarmed cries and harsh jeers ring out from my new colleagues as they witness the new kid aboard has screwed up on his first day of the job.

I couldn’t even bear to watch as it plops into the ocean.

Roaring cheers follow shortly here after, and I can’t help but feel that I’ve unlock some form of magical energy and saved a piece of valuable equipment! But as I gaze up, I quickly discover that my oar is saved not by my nonexistent sorcery, but the quick reflexes of the chick from before.

Well… that was a close one.

Just as before, she wastes no time looking like a pro and the oar is safely extracted inside the ship. Disaster was averted, thank the gods.

Though I have to say she’s gotta work on her body mechanics. She keeps bending her back like that, it’ll hate her before it’s too late.

I’m not given time to reminisce as she wastes no time turning to me and offering her hand.

For a split second, I’m stunned given that someone is actually trying to help me up! I accept, doing my best to not make her witness any potential waterflows that might spring down my cheeks.

I had a feeling nice people exist in this world. I guess I’m just shocked it was this early.

“Hey, Brat! The bleeding void was that about?!” Of course my supervisor would throw a fit. The tall curly haired man with a stubble looks more like an edgy yankee than a someone born to sail the seas.

Still, I have to say he knows how to make a march look like the personification of rampaging titan. Not to mention how sharp those arms move, I wouldn't rule him out as a drill instructor.

"We nearly lost a precious part of this ship, because YOU couldn't even process the basic action of pulling something back in!” A violent shove into hull leaves me with a smarting back and a bruised ego. “Tch, just when I was just starting to tolerate you!"

Waking up underwater, freezing to death, saved by my now captors, feeling like I'm gonna hurl, potentially breaking my nose, and now some guy just blowing his lid off at me, all those factors are the perfect combination to brew a certain newcomer snapping like a twig!

All I can see is a blood haze tint fueling me with a rush of adrenaline solely present to deliver retribution straight to his face. The thought of hearing bones from the jaw and the nose breaking and cracking just feels like the most soothing sound I can ask for right now!

I never have the chance to fulfill every employee's darkest fantasy, because thankfully, it looks like a familiar face has beaten me to it with solid pinch and jerk of his ear. It also helps that the girl is holding me back from going totally feral.

As reason and a small spark of serenity start to linger within me, I huff heavily seeing the humiliating and amusing display of karma by the scary yet beautiful bob cut lady. She's capturing the image and feeling of a stern instructor destroying the illusion of a wannabe school kid.

At least she's hiding the goods underneath a simple jacket that somehow makes her more alluringly full figure than I remember.

Oh yeah, she's definitely this world's dominatrix.

"Ori... The void are you-"

"You know the rules against getting rough with your buddies while aboard!" She yanks him toward her with ease and whatever she whispered to him clearly causes a crack in his macho visage.

I can feel the chills from here!

With a flicking motion, the true boss of the ship throws him to the deck and emphasizes her power pose with the sharp click of her knee-high boots and a hand on her hip.

"Take him below decks!" She commands two random subordinates, and they comply without hesitation. "A good stuffing will settle him down like a good boy."

I'm glad those two understand what she means, because I am a little confused by her words as well as a little frightened.

Does she mean storing something or... is a safe word involved? Never mind, I don't wanna know.

She spins in my general direction and gazes at every soul with that sharp and intense stare, as if daring any who are foolish enough to challenge her.

Obviously, this rowdy bunch is rendered docile.

"I swear, boys and girls, I leave you alone for a few minutes and you already want to cause trouble. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Gee and just after escaping the jaws of death, on top of it! ."

The girl beside me darkens her expression that little quiver within me cannot help itself.

I watch, almost amazed, that this femme fatale's persona takes a solemn turn. "Though I understand you'd rather have someone else marinating you off back home... and you're not the only one who thinks that way." A scowl forms. "And I can assure you, none of you are being held here against your will."

Reeeeaaaalllly? Oh well THAT’S a relief!

"So if any of you are getting cold feet with me, just let me know and I'll show you the door. Just be ready for a nice refreshing swim."

I look around to see if anyone else has their spines chilled from her pep talk, and from the looks I was seeing from a lot of them, to say that no one had any objections is putting it very mildly.

"Well then, I'm glad there's still some spine left in the lot of you! Well, it’s almost snack time, so make sure to relax and be ready when she needs you to push her along once again. " She turns to leave towards the stairs leading below the ship until she turns back towards me with a curl of her finger. "But I'll be taking our dear guest with me."

My eye lids could not help but fold halfway in irritation.

I can only imagine what she does to prisoners...

Still, it's not like I can say no to the nice lady that will absolutely obliterate me if I don't comply immediately. Besides, its better than being around a bunch of grim looking coworkers that makes my heart beat like a war drum.

And so, after skimming through my nonexistent options, I choose to gamble everything on the boss lady.

"One moment!" A firm feminine voice pins me in place. "I need to see how bad it is!"

I can't help but feel my luck is somewhat beginning to turn around, because the same girl that saved me from my screw up minutes earlier, is now having the heart to check to see if my nose will live to sniff foul odors another day.

Boss Lady didn't looks like she doesn't mind and just quietly observes the girl checking my wound. But I can see in her turquois eyes that she has another agenda.

"There's a lot of swelling, but nothing's broken." She speaks loud enough to let nearby bystanders pick up her words but I can tell she's keeping a limit on the volume. My hand feels as if it’s being jammed with a familiar rough fabric that’s just as itchy as the pants I’m wearing. “Just be sure to use water when it starts to act up.”

My lips silently offer the most basic gratitude before I twirl away and trudge towards Boss Lady. All while making sure the occasional rocking of the ship doesn’t make me crash into something, or someone, unpleasant.

So far so good.

Boss Lady takes the lead as I tread close behind her further below decks where the temperature and humidity can be described as a tropical sweat fest. How she has the will to keep a coat like that on through this heat leaves me impressed, but my admiration is quickly overshadowed by the potential birth of my very own claustrophobia.

Who would have thought that the further you go below decks the more iron, compact, and noisy it would be? At least the faint cyan lighting from the ceilings adds emotional closure to this uncharted territory.

I’m pretty sure the lower you go the more spacious it is, but then again, we do have sails and oars so… okay who designed this ship!

My knit-picking quickly swirls to fear the sight of small silhouette nimbly swing from above startles me before it lands on thin railing and scurrying off.

“Coming through!” A preoccupied voice with a squeal of a tune goes off too close to me and my cry of shock rings out of pure instinct.

I barely have enough time to dart down to glimpse two terrifying hairless gremlins rushing past me. My heart skips a beat as the second one grazes me.

“Keep stuffing, Picky!” Boss Lady’s sing song voice serves to calm enough of my nerves to keep moving. I watch as she waves over at the moron from earlier storing what looks like mini crudely made cannons into shelves. “Keep this up and I’ll likely let you out of the doghouse!”

I can’t help but chuckle at her sneaky jab at him, and I could care less if he sees the smug look on my face.

“Lady Ori!” A low nasally voice echoes throughout these creeping walls as a stocky man of tiny stature hops up from below to block our way.

Interesting look with the chestnut hair combed into a clean cut will sporting an outlandish beard that shields the chest. However, this new arrival sends shivers down my spine of how bizarre this whole situation is!

“My boys got the boiler singing a new tune and the electrical systems are no longer on the fritz.” He reports offering Boss Lady what looks like industrious looking clipboard. “But the tubes still need attention.”

She skims over the report while offering a warm assuring smile. “She doesn’t need to fight, Skipper, she just needs to swim without limits.” She calmly replies before returning it back. “Just be ready embark once he catches up to us.”

“Don’t you mean, if he catches up to us?”

She frowns. “That is the correct answer, but he wouldn’t be knighted Maelstrom Khazzar if he wouldn’t pursue us.”

Man talk about a badass title!

A heavy silence follows, and I can see Skipper looking rather unsettled by this.

“Aye, Milady.” He finally answers with resolve. “I’ll get’er back safe and sound, you just make sure you have a plan if Khazzy decides to let that ego of his run loose on the off chance he catches up to us!”

She feigns a gasp at the tiny man as he marches off, sneaking a glare at me while doing so. “Skipper, dear! You know I always have something up my sleeve!”

And with that, Boss Lady continues to guide me down the dark and ominous hall with her presence and more soothing lights on the ceiling to keep me from succumbing to that familiar acquaintance known as anxiety.

“Watch your head.” She alerts me as she dives just below the narrow entrance into a tiny room.

I feel a little better now that we’re in what can only be a tiny office, but I can only imagine what’s next in store for me.

“You’re welcome to have a seat.” She offers. “You’ve earned it after a job well done.”

Her generous offer does sound a little suspicious, but I guess that's just the paranoia kicking in. Disregarding those irrational thoughts, I cautiously take my seat, ensuring that there is no slouch in my posture.

Still though, being alone with someone of the opposite sex in a closed off room where its a little warmer than usual is a little intimidating.

Not to mention I'm without a shirt makes it a little awkward.

"I appreciate the break." Is the response I have chosen. It sounds a little original, maybe too bland, but I know far too well is if one tries hard to act cool it tragically backfires in one’s favor.

Something younger me learned the hard way...

Still though, this could be my chance to get some lore about the world I'm in. Maybe a glimpse of its history, epic S class or god tier monsters, or whatever they're called, that I'll need to stay a thousand mile radius from, and hopefully clues on nearby settlements! Maybe even that cliché magical academy!

I'll have to play it cool, though! If there's one thing social skills have taught me, is that trying to hijack the conversation is an immediate turn off for people. I'll just need to keep calm, play along, and wait for my chance to tip the talks in my- holy crap I'm parched outta my gourd...

"I'm sorry to ask, but... prisoners are allowed water right?" I sheepishly ask.

Her reaction remains thankfully neutral. "Luckily for you that's all we have." She walks past me towards the exit. "Try not to go anywhere."

I risk a little bit of snark with a casual shrug.

Aww but I want to get myself lost in a dark scary place like this!

I know the rag is meant for my nose, which isn't really all that useful unless its dipped in cold water, but I might as well wipe off the excess sweat while I'm at it.

I can't help but feel a little ashamed that a small act of gesture is being soiled by discarding annoying excess off me, but I try to look on the bright side that this rag has a practical use.

"Mind if I borrow that?"

I look up at Boss Lady with that sharp stare. Her hand extends out anticipating me to deliver a sweaty piece of cloth.

Kinda weird if one would ask me, but I'm not to judge. After all, it’s not like I can say 'no' to begin with.

"Uhh... sure you... go ahead..." I drop the rag into her callus marked hand, and she takes time to scan what looks like stains of ink on the abused fabric.

My skin crawls knowing that I have applied it to my body before I even realized it!

"Umm... I might be overstepping my boundaries but..." I summon the will to soldier on as her piercing gazes dives deep into my soul. "I-is it possible to get a new rag? Preferably one with at least cool water for my nose?"

Silence turns out to be my answer as she continues staring at me intensely like every protagonist does to a supporting character to get them to do something!

Why can't she just tell me what she wants?! Her stare power might reduce me to a puddle if she- OH CRAP! IS SHE TRYING TO TURN ME INTO A PUDDLE OF MY OWN SWEAT?! NOO! NONONONONO!!!! I WANTED TO GO OUT BEING SMOTHERED BY BOOBS!

"I'll be right back." She finally responds before departing.

If only her words appeased my worries. If anything, they done the exact opposite...

'I'll be right back'?! Why just that?! She couldn't have just said, 'Sure no problem' or something along the lines like that? Why did she have to be so scary and indirect like that?! Okay... okay... calm down, dude... maybe she's just going to see if they have any spare rags... heck! Maybe there's a chance they don't have cold water and I have to just suck it up! Yeah, maybe that's what she meant! I-I mean... there's no way I offended her... she can't off me for asking for something right? RIGHT?!

"Still comfortable?" Her voice uproots my wavering posture as I wait with baited breath what she's planning to do next.

Its only when she offers me a relatively clean, soaking with cold water and a crudely made iron tin cup that's relatively icy is when my worries truly simmer down.

"Yes... thank you." I'm definitely more grateful and relieved now.

She gives me a quick curious look but walks over to her seat curling her slender legs atop the desk. "You still got a long way to go if you want to keep up with my boys, but you've definitely scored major points over the past few days."

I almost choke on my drink. "Man... has it really been that long? I thought I still just got here!

She lets out a chuckle. "Is that right? Well... I guess no one can blame you. Its hard to tell the time of day if you can't have a view outside."

I nod choosing to say nothing given I don't know how to respond to that.

"You... really have no idea where you are do you?"

Her words, soft and serious as they are, paralyze me. Does she think that I'm...

No! No way in hell does she think that! How the hell can she figure out that I might be someone- Oh crap... unless I've been acting like a totally different person in a totally new body! A body belonging to its original owner with their own personality!

I let out a deep breath to calm my nerve and decide to be candid about my situation. I doubt she'll buy me trying to act all suave and dismissive about it. As if charisma is one of my main unseeable stats to begin with.

"All I know is that I woke up in the middle of the ocean I don't even know and I got picked up by people I never even met."

She raises a brow. "That's a bold claim."

My brows furrow. "Well, madam, it’s not one I have chosen lightly."

I can tell she's studying me at this point, and I strangely feel relieved about what other questions she has in store for me.

"So, by that logic, you have no idea what's going on. Is that right?"

Finally! My chance to know something about this world!

"Let’s pretend I don't." I play it cool. "May I ask who you are and where am I for starters?"

"You may." She asks with a raised brow, probably taken aback of my politeness. "But you know the rules: Ladies first. So be a doll and tell me who you really are first."

That question gets my heart racing. Sharing personal information is not something I'm comfortable with. Even if I'm Isekaid.

"Just call me Ken." I answer under a simple alias.

Her inquisitive hum eases the tension. "Alright then... Ken... I’ll play along." She crosses her legs in different directions. "And you can just call me Ori. Everyone else does."

She raises her tin cup and leans in to let our drinks dully clank. “And allow me to be the first to welcome you to Ilroint.”