Chapter 48: – A Man And A Woman Alone In A Small Bed. Sometimes… Nothing Happens.
Even when I was alone, I was cramped in the bottom of the triple bunk bed. It was the only free private place on this pirate ship except for the lavatory, Tia was snuggled up to me.
“Um, Tia-san? Isn’t this a little too close?”
“It can’t be helped, this place is too small! There’s nowhere else to talk.”
“Well, yeah. Alright, but…”
There was no way that a rookie who had just arrived today would be assigned a private room. This room was a six-person room since there was another triple bunk bed installed on the opposite wall.
Although I knew which places the people on this ship rarely visited, it was not impossible to block out the sound using Tia’s spirit magic. However, since we couldn’t afford to be kicked out of the ship, we wanted to avoid behavior that may raise suspicions as much as possible.
“It’s just that, your voice…”
“Ah, that’s okay. I’ve got a better way.”
Tia smiled at my words and held my hand for some reason. What in the world――?
(How about this? Can you hear me?)
“Whoa?!”
“Hey, Ed! You’re talking too loud!”
“O-oh. My bad…”
I was taken aback by the voice that suddenly appeared in my head. I mean, wouldn’t you be freaked out if you suddenly heard someone’s voice inside your head? I mean, is it…?
(Is it a banishment skill, by any chance?) I asked.
(You call it a banishment skill? This is an ability I was given before I came to this world.) Tia replied.
(Ah, that’s just what I call it… But, yeah. That’s very convenient.)
(Boo~. You don’t seem too surprised.)
The silent Tia pouted and looked dissatisfied, but I was holding in my astonishment. There was a technique of communicating through finger movements, which of course could be seen by the enemy. The ability to communicate perfectly in complete silence was of far higher value than one could ever imagine.
(What are the conditions to use it? Does it consume anything?)
(Err… The only condition for the voice to be heard is that a part of the body should be in contact with me. But it can’t be through clothes, it has to be skin-to-skin contact. I don’t feel any consumption, and there doesn’t seem to be any sort of time limit. Oh, by the way, this banishment skill you call it? It’s name is [Missing Talk.])
(I see. This is a very specific skill again.)
(I know, right? So, you must tell me the story now!)
While I was grimacing at the invisible hand of God, Tia pleaded to me with her eyes wide open. The room was almost pitch-black without a single light, perhaps to save money, but that was why Tia’s eyes seemed to sparkle with curiosity with a bit of light in them.
(I’m not going to hide it, I’ll explain it to you. But where should I start?)
(Pirates, pirates! That’s because we’re on a pirate ship now, of course!)
(Really? But there’s nothing more I can say to explain it, you know? I don’t know why these guys are pirates, either. The only thing I can tell you is that Rebecca, the captain, is probably a Hero.)
(A Hero!? Ehh, but didn’t you say earlier that the Hero only exists in fairy tales?)
(Yeah. I don’t really understand that either.)
Perhaps Rebecca herself was not aware that she was a Hero. Her behavior was not particularly like a Hero. Then why did I think she was a Hero? Because the moment I was kicked out of this ship, the condition for returning to the <<White World>> was fulfilled.
(During the first round in the Dream World, I didn’t think Rebecca was a Hero. So I did menial work on the ship and gathered information about Heroe at every port where we stopped. But no matter where I went, the existence of the Hero was only a fairy tale, and I couldn’t get any concrete information. I wasn’t able to make any progress, so I got off the ship after about eight months, and then I was able to return to the <<White World>> after fulfilling the condition. If I was able to return, then that meant I was expelled from the Hero’s party, and I had fulfilled that condition the moment you got off the ship. So…)
(… I agree. Given the circumstances, I’d say the captain is the Hero.)
(There’s still the possibility that any of the sailors on this ship could be a Hero, but that’s a bit of a long shot.)
After spending eight months on a small ship, one could at least understand each of the other’s personalities. However, for better or worse, the sailors aboard this ship were all ordinary scoundrels, and none of them looked like a Hero.
But now, if I looked at their growth using [Rainbow Glasses], the one with the most potential could develop into a Hero…
(Ah, Damn it. I should have looked earlier.)
(Hmm? Look what?)
(Oh!? No, there’s a banishment skill that can determine a subject’s talents, or rather, how they can grow in the future… Hey Tia, does this ability convey thoughts to the other person you’re not consciously trying to convey to?)
(Eh? I’m sorry, I don’t know those details yet.)
(Ah, it’s alright. My bad.)
There was no way even for me to fully grasp the effects of the banishment skill that I had just acquired and used for the first time. I lowered my head reflexively, and Tia’s forehead, which was also moved down, thumped against my forehead.
(Guh?! Oww!) I exclaimed.
(Oww?! What… Fufu?)
(What’s so funny?) I asked Tia while rubbing my forehead.
She had tears in her eyes and a small smile on her face.
(Because it’s so funny that we tried to lower our heads at the same time… Oh, yes. I totally forgot to ask, what was it that the captain didn’t tell me back then? I’ve been wondering about it ever since!)
(Ugh… you really want to hear this? It’s not a good story, you know?)
I frowned, and Tia flinched. But after a few moments of hesitation, she came close enough to breathe on my face and reiterated her request.
(Yes. I want to hear it. I don’t want to hear it, but I feel like I won’t be able to sleep if I don’t.)
(Then I’ll tell you… Part of Tia’s charm is her thin breasts and hips and girlish―Ouch! It hurts!)
(Mou~~~~~~~~~!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
I almost gagged when she slapped my chest relatively hard. However, since I promised to explain, I had to make sure I finished the story.
(The rest is the Hobby of causing pain and destroying what is beautiful and innocent. It’s one thing to have a good appearance, but I can’t say that there aren’t people with a warped nature who want to see Tia, with her bright personality, screaming and crying) I said.
I could think of a few such heartless fiends, though they were not the ones I would encounter in this world. That world was still yet to come, but I would have to be prepared for that when we reached there.
(Ugh… Sure, there are a very few people like that… And for some reason, they are all rich or powerful…) Tia said.
(Well, I guess only the rich ones can afford to keep people for their own pleasure.)
(… Hey, Ed. If――)
(I’ll kill them.)
I assured Tia, who sounded anxious…with my voice, or rather a thought… without letting her finish.
(Whatever the circumstances, sacrificing Tia is not an option for me.)
If I was going to choose that, then I wouldn’t be here in the first place. I would never believe those who spout shit like life was of equal value.
(But what if you need to do it to get back to your world?)
(I don’t give a shit! I’m here to bust those things on my second round… of Dream World after surviving through it for the first time. But, well, yeah. If I can’t get home, then when that time comes…)
(What then?)
(I’ll live in that world for the rest of my life happily. You’ll be with me, won’t you?)
(… Naturally. I’m your Onee-chan.)
Tia smiled as she tapped my forehead with her index finger. She continued to squirm closer and buried her face in my chest. I couldn’t hear Tia’s voice anymore and…
(No, no, no, don’t fall asleep! Go back to your own bed!)
(Eh? It’s kind of a hassle, and it’s okay to sleep together sometimes. You know, we used to sleep in the same tent when we were traveling with Alexis and the others.)
(That’s true, but that’s not what I’m talking about! Come on, get out!)
(Mou~!)
As Tia walked away from the bed with her cheeks puffed out in frustration, I finally stretched out my arms and legs with a feeling of freedom. It was still small, but I would be able to sleep normally.
“Good grief, you really are a lively young lady.”
I quietly closed my eyes on the bed, where Tia’s warmth remained. I was a little uncomfortable to hear the strange sniffling coming from the bed above me, but my consciousness quickly faded into darkness… and my first night in this world ended with a peaceful sleep.
(T/N: Anyone willing to be an editor for this novel? Need extra pair of eyes to look over it and edit the errors. If willing Look for me in foxaholic discord, Name:- Amane. Hope you enjoy this chapter too : D)