Wolves of Hader

Chapter 146

They were strange ships.

The hulls were broad and equipped with countless oars. Despite the driving rain and wind, the ships hardly rocked at all.

Everyone watched tensely as the ships approached. Faintly, the sound of drumming—dum dum dum—could be heard. The oars moved in perfect unison to the beat.

"Are those ships from the south of Beltern?"

Tuji shook his head.

"No. This is my first time seeing them."

Oars meant the ships were intended for coastal waters. They were built for quick maneuvering, which suggested they were warships. One at the rear had an unusual design, its bow and stern jutting noticeably upward.

Everyone waited, unarmed and empty-handed. Showing weapons would prompt immediate assault. In fact, the tattoos inked on our palms were a weapon in themselves.

On the way here from Ta-iki,

I developed various effects and abilities through emitting magic power from my palms. The others had been just as amazed as I was.

We diligently practiced controlling our magic power, and did quite a bit of jump training. I even passed on my magic power to Eilin, since she had been training hard in sword technique as well.

Soon, the two ships positioned themselves at our bow and stern, surrounding us. Their maneuvering was exceptional. As soon as they came alongside, the oars were pulled into the ship.

Shields were stacked all along their rails, but I could see people moving between them. I could also hear them shouting something.

Then, grappling hooks flew from the ships on both sides and latched onto our rail. As the pirates pulled, the ships snuggled tight against ours.

The shields split apart, revealing helmeted warriors. Twenty on each ship. All forty of them aimed bows at us.

"They're the Yan tribe!"

"Are you telling me we've made it all the way to the Yan continent?"

No one could respond after Allen spoke. The distance between the southernmost part of Verttern and the Yan continent was considerable. Even if we'd lost our way, we couldn't have arrived here in just three days.

"I wonder what those people eat."

"We'd like to know too."

The crew chuckled as they resigned themselves to being taken.

We had planned to go to Yan anyway,

and also to get bow materials.

A little later, a man appeared on the bow of the odd-looking "flagship."

He had long, trailing hair and a black eyepatch. He also carried a bow.

The man shouted something.

Tuji answered at once.

The man crossed his arms and looked at us.

He seemed intrigued when we spoke in Yan. But judging by the men's outfits, they didn't seem to be Yan navy. Their gear was messy too.

Tuji asked something, and the man suddenly burst out laughing. Those aiming their bows looked ready to turn us into pincushions at any moment.

"They're pirates."

"Pirates?"

"Yes."

"Ask if they're the Black Mane Pirates."

Tuji asked.

The man laughed heartily again.

Then he shouted out in a booming voice.

"We are the Black Mane Pirate Crew. If you surrender peacefully, you will be spared."

"Fine by me."

Allen yelled.

"What are you saying! I'm not surrendering!"

"Don't you want a proper meal?"

"I want one so badly."

With a grin, I continued.

"What about a piece of pork, simmered with herbs until it's tender and juicy? Doesn't that sound good?"

"I want that!"

"Then get down on your stomach."

"Will I get to eat if I do?"

"Yes."

Allen lay flat on his stomach,

even drooling with hunger.

Our last real meal had been fifteen days ago, and since then, we survived on jerky and hardtack, drinking only foul water. After about twelve days of that, we were nauseated even without seasickness.

Soon, the Black Mane pirates began to board our ship. They looked completely different from Red Beard's pirates, but it was clear they were pirates nonetheless. They carried swords and scimitars.

The long-haired man came over to inspect us. Since everyone was huge, he seemed quite taken aback. He even peered closely at Allen's face, probably having never seen Dran before.

"What are you looking at, you pirate bastard!"

"Hahaha!"

The man laughed and asked Tuji something.

Tuji sat up and began conversing with him. The conversation dragged on for some time.

Meanwhile, the pirates began hauling out goods from our ship. My crew's belongings had been transferred to a magic sack earlier, except for Allen's bundle of money.

"Not that! You bastards!"

The man staggered when he tried to lift Allen's money sack. When he saw it full of gold coins, his mouth fell open. He carried it straight back to his original ship.

Allen looked ready to lunge after it, but restrained himself surprisingly well. He clearly wanted a real meal as much as any of us. He knew he could retrieve the money later anyway.

"They say they're taking us to their village," said Tuji.

"Good. Let's see if we can get something to eat,"

I replied.

Eilin looked at me with concern.

"Isn't it dangerous?"

"They won't harm us, not with you around. Besides, they're probably curious about us too."

"Will I get my gold back?"

"Of course."

All of us had our hands bound behind our backs as we were transferred to the pirate ship. There were separate rowers beneath deck, but they weren't slaves.

The pirate ships moved forward by rowing. Our ship was towed behind on a rope. Even so, it was strange to think pirates would be out on such treacherous seas.

We traveled for about two more hours.

Oddly, the pirates seemed pretty innocent. They all clustered around in front of us, laughing and joking among themselves.

They even offered us water and asked questions. They paid close attention to Allen and Eilin, coming over to look, but never laying a hand on them.

"They keep asking where we're from,"

Tuji translated.

"Just tell them the truth. Say we want to trade with Yan, and ask how far Yan is from here."

The translation continued.

"They say it's about six days from here."

"So we didn't come completely the wrong way after all."

"From the sound of it, I think we're about halfway between the southern tip of Beltern and the Yan continent. Maybe a bit farther south."

"They're asking if we know Hairopro."

The pirate shook his head.

Tuji also shook his head.

The conversation continued.

"It seems they're acting as the Yan navy here. They pillage intruding ships, but apparently they've never killed anyone. They'll drop us off on the eastern island."

From our perspective, they were pirates, but it seemed the Yan tribe didn't do wholesale plundering. Still, so many had been harmed by them that outsiders thought of them as pirates.

Their leader, black Mane.

She was a pirate captain from the Yan tribe who possessed the Pirate King's relic. We didn't know what that relic was.

Red Beard's boots.

Krapos's gauntlets.

And one hidden item.

I've only seen one, but honestly, the relic's power was unimpressive to me. Still, they say things change dramatically when the three are brought together. I didn't know how, though.

What could Black Mane's artifact be?

Not that I found it especially desirable.

/ / /

It was morning when we arrived at one of the islands.

It was an unfamiliar but peaceful fishing village. The buildings had a strange design, and the air was filled with an unusual scent of spices.

Children followed us, taunting and playing, and there were many women out for a look. Smoke rose from cooking fires, and laundry fluttered everywhere.

Everyone wore white clothes, which was unusual. Chickens wandered about, and even pigs could be seen. Their staple food seemed to be rice. Although it was clearly different, the scene felt oddly familiar to me.

Bound, we were led straight to the fortress.

There was a tall wooden palisade within the village, and inside was a log building where Black Mane lived.

We all gathered in the open space inside the palisade.

In front of the log house, men wearing swords sat drinking tea, and warriors stood around the area.

Soon, a woman wearing a large hat appeared.

I recognized her at a glance.

Beneath her wide-brimmed hat hung a mane-like cascade of jet-black hair. She was remarkably tall and astonishingly slender, with much of her chest exposed.

Unlike the other Yan people, she wore tight-fitting clothing and tall leather boots. The style and workmanship were from our region. And a slim sword hung at her waist.

Black Mane came and sat in front of us.

The moment she took off her hat,

everyone was stunned.

She was a mixed-blood, not a pure Yan.

And an incredibly beautiful woman at that, the long scar on her left cheek doing nothing to diminish her appeal.

Even her hair color was strange—

Far darker than average black, almost pitch-black. She couldn't have been older than twenty.

Black Mane looked at me, then sat down in front of Eilin. Gloved hand lifting Eilin's chin, her lips curled upward in a smirk.

"Another noble, is there?"

I quickly raised my hand.

Allen raised his too.

"What interesting friends."

She spoke our language fluently. From her subordinates' laughter, it was clear they understood us too. Black Mane had no interest in Allen or me; her eyes stayed fixed on Eilin.

Her voice was captivating,

with a distinct husky tone.

"Hey, why didn't you raise your hand?"

"Are you talking to me?"

"Anyone can see you're a noble. I won't hurt you, just tell me who you are and where you're from."

Eilin looked at me.

I knew why she was asking. Pirate income depended largely on ransoming hostages, especially noble women.

"Speak. Which house do you represent?"

Eilin stayed silent.

Her stomach rumbled instead.

Eilin's face flushed bright red.

I stepped in.

"Let's eat first. Can we get some food, please?"

"What?"

"Me too, give me food! I'm starving here!"

"Hahahaha!"

Black Mane burst out laughing.

Not long after that,

a large table was set up in the open, and dishes we'd missed so much started appearing. The food was not unlike what we normally ate, except for the spices.

There was chicken stew and boiled pork,

white liquor, and broad flat bread.

All sorts of stir-fried vegetables, too.

We wolfed down the food. Ripping at drumsticks, drinking, piling vegetables and pork in bread that looked like Arabic naan.

It'd been so long since we'd seen food like this that we devoured it. The pirates stared, looking as if they were wondering whether we were people or ravenous beasts.

"So, why did you come here?"

I replied, chewing chicken.

"We tried to get to Verttern but got blown off course."

"You came from the empire, right?"

"Yeah."

"You had an awful lot of gold coins. Are you a merchant?"

"That's right. We want to trade with Yan. If trading directly is impossible, maybe you can act as intermediaries."

"Is that so?"

Black Mane conversed with her subordinates.

They seemed interested.

"What do you have to sell?"

"Anything. What we want is bow material."

"Bow material?"

She conferred with her people again.

As I finished eating, I examined Black Mane's equipment. Only a thin, slender sword stood out.

"You're interested in my sword, aren't you?"

"It's unusual, that's all. Anyway, what do you think about trade? If you're willing, we can send ships."

"You covet our bows, then?"

"Yes."

"And what if those bows are aimed at us?"

"Why would I do that? There's still plenty of untamed land on our continent."

"Are you talking about the land ruled by the Tak tribe?"

"My friend rules about half of it."

"Friend?"

Black Mane's brow furrowed.

Her subordinates were just as astonished.

"You have a friend in the Tak tribe?"

"Yep. Descendant of the Tak hero. He rules half of the southern continent now."

"How could you possibly be friends with the Tak?"

"Why? Shouldn't I be?"

Black Mane was left speechless.

Perhaps for Yan, the Tak tribe had been the main obstacle to expanding on the continent. They must have fought considerable wars.

"Have the Yan fought the Tak tribe?"

"A long time ago, yes."

"So, here's my offer: I'll give you all the gold coins, just this once. I'd like to trade for about a hundred Yan bows."

"Hey! That's my money!"

"I'll pay you back. Don't worry."

Black Mane let out a dry laugh.

"That gold belongs to us now. Aren't you aware of your situation?"

"We only came for food."

"What?"

I wiped my mouth, still greasy with oil.

"Ah, it's been so long since I ate well. Just let us pay for the meal, and if possible, let's strike a deal while we're at it."

Black Mane's presence began to radiate intimidation. Her subordinates tried to act collected, but quietly reached for their weapons. My composure must have made them realize something was off.

"Aren't you afraid of us?"

"I have no reason to fight you."

"I haven't gone to sea in years, and people have come to underestimate me."

I grinned.

"Let me explain. First, this dwarf here—"

"I'm not a dwarf!"

"This is Dran, the Great Elder's cherished grandson. This lady is a princess of the kingdom of Robe."

"She's a princess?"

Black Mane was shocked.

Her underlings much more so.

"This is Tuji, who survived hell itself and is a divine archer. These seven men here are fearless monster hunters. And I—am the empire's most handsome man, as well as the world's foremost swordsman."

"Ku-ku-ku."

Who laughed?

"So if you attack us, the armies of Dran and Robe, and the imperial army, will come here. Maybe even my friend, the Tak chieftain. And—"

With a smile, I added one more thing.

"I could defeat you all by myself. But that wouldn't do, would it? We have business to conduct."

No one spoke.

Everyone was assessing the truth of my words.

Only Black Mane kept her eyes locked on me.