Ch. 10: I Won't Let You Go (SUN)
…
OO had been captured by an unknown group.
Immediately, Douglas began shouting orders to his crew.
Douglas: “Listen up! Some guy infiltrated our ship and kidnapped OO. They’ve fled in the opposite direction of where we’re going. We’re going to follow right behind and rescue OO!”
The crew immediately rushed into action.
Douglas: “Damn! What’s wrong with me!?”
Douglas clenched his fist tightly.
Douglas: “Everything’s been so great since OO came, and I let my guard down…”
Sailor: “Captain…”
Douglas: “…I’m alright. If we can’t protect one woman, how can we protect the peace of the sea? Get as close as you can! We’re boarding!”
The ship came up alongside the other, and Douglas took the lead as they boarded.
…
I’d been forcefully taken away, and now the unknown men were watching me. All the while, I tried to think of a way to run.
I have to find a chance to get away. But we’re in the middle of the sea… what can I do…
As I found myself at a complete loss…
Douglas came to mind.
Douglas…
Man 1: “Hey princess, what’s with the face?”
Man 2: “You scared and panicked yeah?”
Man 1: “Don’t worry, once we get that nautical chart, you’ll be free to go. But before that… let’s have a little fun.”
An unsettling grin spread across their faces, and the two steadily drew closer to me.
Then I could feel their eyes on me, looking me up and down like a prize.
Man 1: “… you got a pretty good body there.”
OO: “!”
A chill ran up my spine and I started trembling.
OO: “No…!”
As one of the men reached out to my chest…-.
There was a loud noise, and the door to the cabin burst open.
Douglas: “OO!”
OO: “Douglas!”
A warmth filled me as soon as I saw him standing there.
Man: “Ooh Douglas, you came. You bring the nautical chart then?”
Douglas: “I wouldn’t hand over that nautical chart to the likes of you… I’ll be taking OO back.”
As if picking up the trace of fear, Douglas filled with rage and his voice echoed low in the cabin.
Man 1: “What…!?”
Using that single word as a cue, the men rushed at Douglas.
Trading blows with the men, Douglas rushed to me and lifted me up.
Douglas: “Sorry for the wait.”
OO: “I believed… that you would come.”
Douglas: “…those are some heated words.”
Wrapped in Douglas’ large arms, my hands encircled his back.
As he protected me from one man after another, he slowly made his way towards the cabin’s exit and retreated.
Douglas: “OO’s safety is top priority. We’re retreating before anyone gets hurt.”
Douglas seemed to be aiming for the deck of the ship as our escape route.
Sailor: “Roger! Retreat!!”
Douglas: “Good. At this rate we’ll shake them off. …For now, I think we’d better retreat back to the port city.”
Retreat… we’re running away?
-------------
Douglas: “Right now we should be about halfway there.”
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Even though we’ve already come so far… so close to finding something about Douglas’ father.
OO: “Douglas, wait!”
Realizing that, I grabbed his arm.
OO: “Don’t worry about me. Let’s go look for your father…!”
Douglas: “OO…?”
Holding onto him, Douglas’ eyes momentarily went wide in surprise.
Douglas: “You’re a good woman…”
A grin immediately appeared on his face.
Douglas: “In that case, we’ll have to beat them all down!”
For a moment, Douglas placed his hand on my cheek, then he once again turned towards the men.
Though I’d put myself into a battle, I didn’t feel worried or afraid.
Douglas is beside me…
Just thinking that caused my unease to disappear.
--- Before I knew it, Douglas had defeated all of the men from the black ships.
Douglas: “That was…surprisingly easy.”
OO: “Thank you…ah!”
I once again found myself pulled into Douglas’ arms.
Douglas: “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
OO: “…Douglas.”
Douglas: “…I won’t let you go.”
He whispered those words into my ear and held on to me even tighter…-.
…
……
Sailor: “Princes! You’re alright…!”
We’d returned to the ship, and all of the worried-looking sailors raised their voices.
OO: “I’m sorry for worrying you all…”
And as I gave a little bow of my head, Douglas pulled on my hand and brought me to his room.
OO: “Douglas…!?”
As I looked up at him in surprise, my body was pulled in close and I felt myself crushed against Douglas’ chest, my face buried there.
OO: “…”
My heart was pounding so much that I worried whether or not Douglas could feel it.
Douglas: “I told you, I’m not letting you go.”
OO: “Douglas…”
Douglas: “If I’m beside you, I can protect you. No… let me protect you.”
Saying as much, he pulled me into a tighter embrace.
He kept talking, and I felt my chest ache a little.
Douglas: “Like my father protected me and my mother, I’ll protect this sea and my comrades… and the woman important to me.”
OO: “Douglas…”
As I said his name, Douglas seemed to start and loosened his hold on me.
Then…-.
Douglas: “Were you just thinking that I’m greedy?”
He looked at me then, a slightly abashed smile on his face.
OO: “Yes… but you’re a pirate.”
Wanting to convey the feelings that were welling up inside me, I smiled at him.
Douglas: “I see. Seems I’m no match for you.”
OO: “I’m sure we’ll find something of your father.”
Douglas: “…yeah, we will.”
As my heart continued to pound, and I could feel the warmth coming from Douglas, we nodded to each other.