Published: September 10, 2025
※2018/2/12 Typo corrections made.
※2018/2/9 Some additions made.
This is Satou. Delivering results that satisfy clients 100% is quite difficult. That's because what clients say isn't always the full extent of their demands; often, what they cannot put into words is the true requirement.
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"Admiral Pendragon, that one!"
The navigator urged me with a desperate look.
Just as the situation near Rumork City fully turned in our favor, a massive ghost ship from the phantom fleet suddenly broke formation and charged alone at the head of our fleet.
"The flag of the Skeletal Duke is raised!"
It seemed to be a final desperate move from the Skeletal Duke.
"I, a celestial being, shall never accept defeat!"
The bow of the gigantic ghost ship split open like a shark’s jaws, and several ships burst out.
I recognized the silhouettes.
"—Pirate ships?"
"Admiral, those are the pirate ships we were fighting!"
"There are also escort ships that seem to belong to the Alliance!"
As the navigator and officers said, what emerged from the mouth of the ghost ship were pirate and escort fleet ships.
At the front pirate ship stood a young man who appeared to be a fake Skeletal Duke.
"What a sight..."
And all those ships had become ghost ships.
The fake Skeletal Duke stared vacantly into the void and seemed to utter voices of resentment.
"Is this the power of the Skeletal Duke...?"
Fearful whispers leaked from the flagship crew.
If this continued, things would go badly.
"Karinaaaaaaakiiiiii!"
Miss Karina, who had finished her vanguard role, delivered a powerful diving kick from above, striking one of the pirate ghost ships.
And it wasn’t just one ship—she pierced through two, then three in rapid succession.
It was like a scene from a classic masterpiece anime.
A huge splash rose as Miss Karina sank into the sea.
Apparently, she hadn’t planned how to finish it and just went for the kick.
Very typical of Miss Karina.
"Boshu~t"
"It's terrible! Karina is drowning!"
Two who had returned from propaganda work poked their faces out from my shadow, watching the water column Miss Karina had made.
"Sorry, but could you retrieve Lady Karina?"
"Nin-nin~?"
"Pochi will go too!"
Since my Magic Hand couldn't reach that far, I asked Tama and Pochi to pick her up.
"Whoa!"
"The kicking princess did it!"
Miss Karina’s reckless bravery instantly boosted the morale of the flagship and fleet.
'Reduce them?'
'Yeah, please.'
I agreed to Mia’s proposal.
At the height of morale, Garuda would use his finishing move to severely cut down the pirate ghost fleet.
Though it wasn’t exactly in line with the orders of God Galleon, our faith and prayers to God Galleon had likely increased enough by now. Besides, if this continued, we'd be fighting water-based undead.
'Tempest'
Garuda’s golden feathers scattered as he slashed through the pirate ghost fleet relentlessly.
It was truly a clean sweep.
"—Hard right!"
Suddenly, the navigator shouted.
The giant ghost ship, forcing its way through Tempest, launched a horn charge.
'Not on my watch!'
Princess Sistina’s golem ship intercepted, taking the shield position in front of the giant ghost ship, but the mass difference was overwhelming. The ghost ship’s horn rammed into the golem’s side, sinking it with a roar.
However, thanks to that, our ships narrowly avoided the horn charge, scraping alongside but avoiding destruction despite flying sparks.
"Men, charge!"
The ghost ship crew drew their scimitars and surged onto the parallel flagship.
"You filthy undead! It is said that the one who bears the name of God Galleon’s temple—"
The commander of the temple knights announced himself and gladly advanced to repel them.
Since this seemed to be the final battle, I drew my Fairy Sword and stood beside the commander to repel the undead.
"You are the master of the 'Golden Helm Wheel'?"
The Skeletal Duke wielding a dark bluish adamantite rapier thrust at the commander.
Apparently, the commander was mistaken for me.
"You’re the mastermind!"
The commander’s mithril sword, imbued with demon blade, was blocked by a black shield-like object.