Author's note: Because the side characters are pirates and outlaws, their manner of speaking is...uncouth. Hence, there will be more cursing.

If you want to see how the next new side character, Kiyae, looks like, please head over to my Ko-fi profile, or the SLS discord server!

Cecil was currently rummaging through her brain for any ingenious plan to help them escape from this crisis. She and Hana needed to join back with Xue and K’xug, and she might just get the chance to complete her mission that way. 

The other three ships were still surrounding them and coming closer, shooting out cannonballs as it landed in the water next to the cruise ship. The cruise ship rocked unsteadily, causing Hana to feel worse as the dizziness reached its peak. 

“They sure are slow.” Haru sighed, looking at his comrades on the ship. 

“Uhm…” Hana spoke up, looking more sick than ever. “Can you let me go now?” 

Haru looked down at Hana, smirking. “Even if you are cute and pretty, I won’t let a hostage go.” 

“No, not that--I want to puke.” 

“Huh?” 

At that moment, Hana’s face twisted and she started to retch. 

“Woah, hey!” Haru exclaimed, releasing her in alarm. He definitely did not want to get any nasty vomit on his clothes and arms. 

Cecil gasped silently. 

Chance! 

Without hesitation, Cecil did a spinning kick just like how K’xug had advised her. 

It successfully struck Haru who was still caught off guard by Hana’s actions. He stumbled back and landed harshly on the deck of the cruise ship, groaning as his hat flew away.

“Hana, run!” Cecil hollered out, grabbing Hana’s hand and running away. “Hurry!”

Hana was still gagging. “I...I feel really sick. Urgh--” 

Veau observed as the ladies ran away, before turning to look back at Haru on the ground. 

“Th-that rich lady, sure can kick hard!” Haru blinked in amazement, his hand pressing against his red cheek. “Hey, partner! Don’t just stand there, help me catch them!” 

“Ah, so you want to catch them after all.” 

Haru gave Veau a look. “Isn’t it obvious?” 

Veau raised his hand as he aimed it in the direction of Hana and Cecil. 

The two ladies were still running away like their lives depended on it when suddenly, streaks of black lines burst out in front of them. Cecil barely managed to dodge one of the lines as it cut off an inch of her hair, and her eyes widened in shock. 

She spun around to look at the smiling Veau and Haru standing up, an expression of disbelief written on his face as he looked at Veau. 

She clicked her tongue, turning back as she swiped out her daggers. She twirled it around her hands and struck it against the wavy black lines in front of them, blocking their way. 

It was as if they were made of the strongest metal, and equipped with a barrier. 

There was a clanging sound, and the dagger almost flew out from her hands as she was forced back with an unknown force around the black lines. 

“Damnit, why did I even bother trying,” Cecil cursed to herself. “We are trapped here now.” 

Hana managed to hold back the bile rising in her throat, her teary eyes observing the situation. She tried to use her elemental powers, only to realise she couldn’t, remembering the attendant warning them about the lanterns planted on the cruise ship. 

“Ce-Cecil…” 

“We gotta find a way out of here, Hana.” 

“Okay…” Hana nodded weakly, summoning out her bow. 

Though there were no arrows, she could at least use her bow as a makeshift weapon. 

“You...you can use black magic?” Haru questioned Veau, horrified. "Even with the lanterns?"

“We created it,” Veau answered with a smile. "The lanterns doesn't affect me either."

“We?”

Demons were the creators of black magic, it was unknown how black magic had spread to the mortal realm, and how mortals had learnt it. However, it does not change the fact that demons, especially the demon lord, were the actual creators of black magic. 

“Wait, who...who the hell--are you?” Haru struggled those words out, grimacing in pain due to his swollen cheek. 

“The devil.” 

“A-ah? What?” 

“You don’t expect me to keep up the magic for long, do you?” Veau gestured towards the two ladies, sighing. “Hurry up and catch your prey.” 

"O-oh."

Haru cleared his throat, a bewildered look on his face as he approached the two women. 

"Did I just partner up with a crazy bastard?" Haru muttered to himself, before shrugging. "Well, I've partnered up with worse anyway."

***

K’xug and Xue were still eating in the dining hall when they felt an impact that rocked the cruise ship. The two of them instantly halted, glancing up at one another. 

After that, the second and third impact came. 

That’s when the both of them knew something was wrong. 

Even the guests started to make a commotion, stopping their activities as they glanced around in confusion. 

K’xug and Xue stood up, their eyes meeting and their thoughts aligned another. Within seconds, they were out of the dining hall and out on the deck of the cruise ship. In that instant, they saw multiple cannonballs headed for the ship, landing in the water with a big splash that rocked the entire cruise ship.

Xue just gestured to K’xug for them to split up, when K’xug nudged him towards left and right. All around the area, they were surrounded by other ships. Hanging at the top of the mast of all the ships, there was a jolly roger flying proudly in the wind. 

"Look, over there!"

"Those ships…"

"Pirates, they are pirates!"

"Run!"

The guests grew more unsettled, screaming and scrambling around, some of them shoving Xue and K’xug aside without a care. 

K’xug wore a puzzled look on his face. 

“In the mortal realm, they call those people on those ships, pirates,” Xue explained. “In simple words, they are notorious thieves that steal but on the sea.” 

K'xug understood in an instant, that these people were up to no good. 

"Hana and Cecil will not be able to use their elemental powers now."

K'xug nodded. 

In other words, find them quickly. 

The both of them split up, rushing off to find the two women. The cruise ship wasn't small after all.

It doesn’t matter which of them found them first, as long as they did.

Whereas, the pirates ships were inching closer and closer with each passing second. They started to extend wooden platforms out from their ships, preparing to connect a temporary pathway to the cruise ship.

***

Cecil and Hana found themselves back in the same perilous situation. Hana was held as hostage again, with Cecil glaring at Haru.

“You...you better not vomit right now,” Haru threatened. “Or I’ll toss you into the water.” 

Hana retched in response, and Haru paled, wanting to let go of her. However, he quickly stopped, knowing this would allow another opportunity for Cecil to attack him and run off again. 

He noticed the sharp glint in Cecil’s eyes, knowing that he did not guess wrong. 

However, Cecil knew that even if she found the chance to escape, Veau would not simply allow her to escape. 

She did not stand a chance against him. 

“Cecil Lan,” Veau drawled out. “Widerlich.” 

Cecil gave Veau a deadpan.

“That word truly doesn’t work on you anymore,” Veau sighed lightly. “Pity. I wanted to see some ugliness from all of you.” 

Cecil groaned, squeezing her eyes close in frustration.

This man...I don’t know if he is being serious at times. 

Meanwhile, Hana heard the name of the dreaded drink, recalling its awful bitter taste that remained in her taste buds for seventy-two hours straight. It expedited the process, thus, unable to hold on, she retched and vomited all over. 

“No, don’t--GAHHH!” Haru exclaimed out in horror. 

The vomit stained his arm and boots, his face blanching and his soul had seemingly flown out from his body. His hand trembled, and the knife slipped from his hands, clattering onto the wooden floor. 

Whereas, Hana looked as if she had drifted off to dreamland, completely drained. 

“Ah, now that’s an ugly expression,” Veau nodded approvingly, satisfied. “From both of you.” 

His trip down here to spy on them wasn’t a waste of time after all. 

Cecil observed the situation, her face a myriad of emotions, ranging from conflict, to sympathy and to bewilderment. Fortunately, she recovered quickly and pulled Hana towards her, shoving Haru aside, who seemed like he was on the verge of fainting. 

He stared down at his arms and boots with wide eyes, trembling. 

At the same time, the pirate ships had already reached the cruise ship, their movements quick as they connected the cruise ship to theirs with the wooden pathways extending out from their ships. The whole ship rocked once more, and Cecil gasped, noticing that the pirates were already traversing across the wooden platform swiftly. 

Horrified shrieks were heard throughout the ships, and the sounds of weapons clashing. 

Cecil turned as she supported Hana, preparing to dash off. 

Alas, Veau was unfazed by all the chaos. He trapped them again with his black magic, and Cecil clicked her tongue.

A person stepped down from the platform, moving aside as they started directing the pirates in a low, commanding voice. “Gather all of them up! Don’t miss out on a single person, and don't go killing them either!"

“Roger!” 

The person turned, and it turned out to be a lithe woman with short, grayish brown hair. Her straight and fierce eyebrows were furrowed, one of her slender hands on her hip. She was dressed in an rogue-like outfit that was almost entirely black. 

“Haru, don’t just stand there like an idiot,” she spoke in a husky voice, her phoenix-like amber eyes showing a hint of irritation. “The navy from the main port will pick up speed the moment they hear about us.” 

Haru still stood there like an idiot. 

“Oi, Haru. Captain! Are you listening--” the woman started to say when she scrunched her nose. “What the hell is that sour smell?"

"Hmm, this smell is amateur play." Veau suddenly hummed out. 

The woman snapped her head up, looking at Veau, then to Cecil and Hana. 

Cecil was watching her with cautious eyes, carefully cleaning the vomit stains around Hana's mouth at the same time with a handkerchief. 

"Hana? Hana. Are you okay? Do you feel slightly better now?"

"Mmmm…"

"And who the hell are you guys?" The woman frowned deeper. "Now that I look at it, isn't that...vomit on you, Haru?"

At that moment, Haru snapped out of his "stoned" state and gagged. He removed his shirt, cleaning the vomit on his arms and boots furiously, tossing his stained tailcoat and shirt into the water. 

He only wore his black singlet now, matching his black piercings. 

"...fu..ck..!"

Everyone could see how lean his body was, with well-defined muscles. 

"You...you really vomited on me!" Haru pointed accusingly at the fatigued Hana, making her jolt, before he looked at Veau. "And you, temporary partner! Stop looking so pleased at my misery!"

Veau raised his eyebrows, smiling lazily.

"Temporary partner?" The short, grayish brown-haired woman frowned at her captain. 

"Tch," Haru narrowed his orange-coloured eyes at Hana. "I should really--"

"I'm sorry," Hana apologised sincerely, her eyes still welled up with tears, her voice soft and weak. "I am really sorry."

Haru faltered at the sight of that. "Urgh…"

With a gorgeous person apologising so sincerely to him, Haru found it hard to gather the courage to smack them. 

"Oi, captain," his female comrade asked with a nudge. "Mind giving me a brief introduction of them?"

"Ah? Oh, these two ladies are our hostages," Haru explained, grimacing as he rubbed at his arm where he swore he could still feel the vomit sticking to it. "And that weird fella with the blue hair is our temporary partner."

"What's with this temporary partner?"

"Who knows?" Haru shrugged. "He said he wanted to help me, free of charge. We don't need to share the treasure with him."

"...why is it the weird ones you always partner up with?"

"Right?" Haru laughed cockily, hitting his comrade on the back, purposely wiping his arm on their clothes too. "And you like them anyway, Kiyae."

The short-haired woman, Kiyae, gave a side glance to his arm wiping on her clothes. She smiled, immediately twisting his arm. 

"Ow, ow owowowow!"

"And why are you using two beautiful women as your hostages?"

"My arm! My arm is gonna break, Kiyae! Lemme go, lemme go and I'll tell you!"

"So you can clean your filthy arm on my clothes again?"

Haru chuckled nervously. 

"Spit it out, captain."

"Well, you see, they are…"

While Haru was talking to his comrade, Hana and Cecil chatted amongst themselves. 

It wasn't like they could go anywhere or do anything now, other than jumping off the cruise ship. However, drifting across the sea and waiting for rescue was just ridiculous. 

"Why are you apologising to them, Hana?" Cecil asked in a disapproving manner. "They are the bad guys."

"Bu-but...I vomited all over him, I feel bad…"

Cecil didn't know whether to laugh or cry. 

"Hana Katae," Veau stated, sounding bored. "Truly, you still have the same annoying trait."

Hana heard Veau clearly, and she turned to look at Veau with an unhappy face. "What does that even mean?"

"Just like I said, you are still as annoying as ever."

Hana pouted.

Cecil had been observing the situation carefully for a while now. She did not understand how Haru and Kiyae could let their guard down so easily, but it was an advantage to her anyway. 

She concealed her dagger behind her back, and the moment she sensed that Veau had let his guard down, she swiped the dagger at him. Veau dodged the dagger calmly as it sliced past his neck. 

The black lines that acted as a barrier dispersed instantly. 

Cecil grabbed Hana, spinning around to run away. To her surprise, Veau was already there, his eyes transformed into his demonic form. 

"That's fast, Cecil Lan," Veau smirked. "Unfortunately, I am not a mortal."

His eyes reverted back to his normal black ones when he noticed Haru and Kiyae heading their way. 

"They should be done gathering everyone now," Kiyae said, throwing her arms around Hana and Cecil, startling them. "Let's go."

Hana looked at Kiyae, who winked at her. Hana blinked rapidly in confusion. 

Kiyae only smirked, her hand shifting to Hana's head and patting her. "I like you, you are cute."

Cecil tried to extricate herself from Kiyae, only to be stopped by Haru who stepped in beside her. He hovered a knife at her face, a warning look in his eyes. 

"Can't let you escape so easily, hostage."

At the second, Veau sensed something and he smiled lazily, stepping aside. Just then, a spear pierced through the place where he was just standing. 

The spear landed at Haru's feet with a loud thud, wind rushing by. 

Haru yelped in alarm, retreating.

If...if the spear had been any closer, it would have impaled my toes!

Haru summoned out his own soul weapon, a sword.

Kiyae summoned out her own soul weapon as well, nunchucks, withdrawing from Hana and Cecil.

"Geh!" Haru made a weird noise as he lifted this head, locating the owner of the spear. "Sh-shit. It's him."

"Xue!" Hana called out happily, despite her exhaustion. 

Xue was standing behind Veau, a dark look in his eyes as he called back his spear. 

"That's him you were talking about earlier?" Kiyae asked.

"Yeah, if we were to fight against him," Haru shook his head. "We don't even stand a chance to win. That's why I used these two as hostages, specifically."

Veau sighed, spinning around to look at Xue. "And I thought you would never greet me with your spear again." 

Xue disregarded Veau, his gaze fixated on Cecil as he gestured to her with a slight movement of his head. 

Go. 

I'll handle Veau. 

Cecil understood his expression immediately, and she nodded, relieved. 

The main reason why she and Hana could not escape was due to Veau.

"Hana, can you fight?" Cecil whispered softly. 

Hana nodded, her face still somewhat pale though she appeared determined. 

"Let's go."

"Mhm."

The two ladies braced themselves for a tough fight.

"Eh? You guys are fighting now too?" Haru grimaced. "Ah, shit. Now we won't stand a chance--"

"Captain! Captain!" 

Haru and Kiyae noticed a comrade of theirs running up behind them. He was beaten to a pitiful state. 

"What now--"

"One of our ships has been destroyed! The mast was completely wrecked!"

"De-destroyed? One of our big ass ship?"

"Captain, I don't know who the fuck that bastard is, but he's crazy strong!"

Haru felt a drop of nervous sweat roll down his face. 

Cecil and Hana looked at one another, smiling knowingly. 

Cecil thought that she might have a chance to complete her mission after all. 

That's right, it's not only just me. 

Now, I have people to fight along my side as well. 

I can...rely on others now.

She smiled to herself. 

***

《 start 》

Urgh. 

I feel sick…!

I want to vomit again!

I don't want to fight.

Ugh--

I...I want to lie down on a bed! 

I don't want to fight at all!

I feel like...I would fight by using my vomit instead of my bow…

But I will to apologise to many people if I did that--

Urghhh.

Wh-when will this ship stop shaking?!

《 stop 》