Ch. 9: Investigating the Sea Trench (MOON)
A storm accompanied the rough sea and lasted some hours…-.
As night broke, the rain stopped and light began to filter through the heavy clouds.
The rocking of the ship eased as well, and I let out a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness… I didn’t what would happen with the seasickness earlier… but the waves seem to have calmed down.
I looked up to the sky from the deck and squinted at the bright sunlight.
Douglas: “Seems the storm has passed.”
Navigation's Officer: “We should be arriving soon at the West Sea Hall!”
Douglas: “I checked the nautical chart, but it seems like we’re still heading straight for it. Luck is on our side.”
Douglas’ face relaxed in relief, and a cry of joy went up from the sailors.
Douglas… he looks happy.
Our eyes met, and he grinned at me.
Sailor 1: “We’ll arrive at the search site and, that’s…?”
The sailor looked out into the distance and screwed up his face.
He was looking at a black ship that I’d never seen before, an SOS signal rising from it.
Sailor: “I wonder if something happened…”
Sailor 2: “We’ll take one of the smaller boats and check it out.”
Saying as much, a handful of the sailors went to approach the black ship.
If they’re sending an SOS, what kind of trouble are they in…?
I watched over the sailors as I felt a weight of unease.
Before long, the sailors returned.
Sailor 1: “…they’re a group of thieves. Seems they were trailing our ship so they could steal the treasure from us.”
Sailor 2: “Looks like they got caught in the storm and their ship is dead in the water, but I doubt we need to help them.”
Douglas: “But if we just let them drift like this, their lives will be at risk… Plus there’s a risk that they’ll crash with another ship.”
Douglas sank into silence for a moment, then seemed to come to a decision.
Douglas: “We’re going to help them.”
Sailor 1: “Captain!”
Sailor 2: “That’s… I think it’d be better to just leave them…”
The sailors expressed their opposition to the idea, but nothing would change Douglas’ mind.
Douglas: “We can’t just abandon them. But we’ll lock them up tight in the ship’s hold.”
At Douglas’ orders, the sailors seemed confused but made preparations for the rescue.
Douglas… even though they were thieves bent on stealing the treasure.
…
……
Afterwards…
We made to aid the thieves, the sailors pulling up alongside the ship.
Douglas: “Any of you injured?”
Thief: “Why…did you help us?”
The group of refined thieves glared at Douglas.
For a moment, a hush fell over everyone…
Douglas: “It’s our duty. Besides… I’m sure you all have families.”
There was pain in Douglas’ words, and it made broke my heart.
----
Douglas: “When I was little, there was a terrible storm and the ship wrecked. Everyone lost their lives in the tossing sea. It was then that my old man risked everything to protect my mother and me… but to this day I don’t know what happened to him. I’m sure… that somewhere in this wide sea, my old man is alive. When I would see my mother thinking about my dad and how sad she would look, it would break my heart.”
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…I want to find it no matter what. This thing left by Douglas’ father.
Filled with the conviction to aid him, I clenched my fist…-.
…
……
At last, the preparations were made to investigate the trench.
On the deck of the ship, everything was ready to go and the divers were making their final checks.
Douglas: “Don’t push yourselves. The currents are fast in the trench, so be careful.”
Diver: “Aye! Alright, let’s go!”
The divers leapt into the sea.
And then time passed as all we could do was wait and pray…-.
OO: “Douglas…”
Looking at him, I saw his expression was tight, as if he couldn’t relax.
OO: “Douglas, it’ll be alright. I’m sure they’ll find it.”
I did my best to offer encouragement as Douglas continued to look uneasy when…-.
OO: “…!?”
Suddenly, I found myself caught up in his arms.
Douglas: “…”
His large hands were wrapped around my waist, and I could feel them trembling slightly.
Please…find it!
Some time passed, then I caught sight of the sailors hauling something up from the divers who had surfaced.
…!
Sailor 1: “Captain! Is this it!?”
Douglas: “That’s…!”
Seeing what the sailors presented to him, Douglas’ eyes changed.