A boy raised by a demon king and a dragon king seems to be peerless in his school life. - Volume 10 Chapter 22 & 23

A boy raised by a demon king and a dragon king seems to be peerless in his school life.

Volume 10 Chapter 22   Negotiation

Cindy is also aiming for the Pirate King’s treasure.

Ruisha, upon learning this, had two options.

One was to fight.

To fight with them here, win, and then come up with a new plan.

While Cindy is certainly a formidable opponent, Ruisha didn’t think he couldn’t win. The possibility of her holding back is high, but Ruisha is also concealing his trump card, the ‘Demon Dragon Mode.’

However… there are few people here who can fight. While Ruisha and his four companions can fight, on the other side, everyone can fight to some extent. It’s not in their favor to fight while protecting Ford and his subordinates.

In that case, the other option is to resolve it through ‘discussion.’

Find a compromise, join forces, or let them escape. In any case, it seemed like it would be a difficult negotiation.

“…I don’t want to fight you all. Can’t we resolve this without a fight and let me leave peacefully?”

“Yeah, it’s fine.”

“That’s right, it’s difficult… Wait, is it really okay!?”

Ruisha exaggeratedly reacted to Cindy’s unexpected response.

Seeing this, Cindy laughed amusedly.

“Hey, hold on. Don’t lump us in with barbarians like Drake. It’s true that fighting Ruisha seems like fun, but we can do that anytime. But teaming up with you all, this is a chance.”

“It was unexpected for the idea of teaming to come up. Does that mean you, Cindy-san, haven’t reached the treasure yet?”

“Well, yeah. We’re almost there, just a little more. I honestly think we can manage on our own, but… having insurance is never a bad thing. Besides, my sailor’s instincts are telling me this. You all are the necessary ‘key.'”

Saying this, Sinbad grinned.

Seeing through all of that, Ruisha felt a bit uneasy.

“It’s not a bad deal for you either, is it? After all, I’ve been chasing after this treasure for over ten years. I can confidently say I know more than anyone. You can team up with someone like me. Is there a better deal than this?”

“…Certainly, it’s a good deal. But can you trust us so easily?”

“Of course, there are conditions. I want to know your goals. It’s not normal for kids to chase after the Pirate King’s treasure. It’s too grand for a summer vacation assignment.”

Indeed, Cindy’s question was valid.

If they were to team up, knowing the other party’s goals was of utmost importance.

“I’ll tell you, my instincts are sharp. A random lie won’t work.”

A master can read the movements of the heart from the opponent’s breathing and actions. Ruisha understood that his words wouldn’t be taken lightly.

Ruisha signaled to Sharo. Sharo, understanding his intent, nodded. Seeing this, Ruisha made up his mind.

“We’ve come this far chasing after the ‘Hero’s Legacy’ that is said to have been possessed by the Pirate King. We have no interest in any other treasure.”

“The Hero’s Legacy…? Why would you want such a thing?”

Ruisha felt nervous. He couldn’t reveal everything, of course. But if he lied, he’d be caught.

He chose his words carefully, desperately searching for the path that would yield the best outcome with the least damage.

“The girl over there is a descendant of the Hero Orger. Isn’t it logical for her to collect the Hero’s Legacy?”

“I see, it does make sense, and there’s no sign of a lie. Well, you’re probably not telling me everything, but…”

“…Isn’t that the same for you?”

“Well… this is surprising.”

Cindy laughed delightedly at Ruisha’s words.

Ruisha’s instincts were as sharp as hers, if not sharper. So he had noticed that Cindy was hiding something. He had let her, knowing this, for a counterattack at this very moment.

“Understood, I won’t probe too deeply! And let’s cooperate on top of that. When we obtain the treasure, I’ll hand over the hero’s legacy to you. In return, we’ll take any other treasure. How does that sound?”

Cindy extended her hand, and Ruisha stared at it intently.

“Alright, let’s cooperate. Thank you.”

“Yeah, we’re counting on you.”

They shook hands firmly.

The pirates blew their whistles, welcoming their new comrades.

“So, they’re coming with us, Mr. Ford.”

“Yeah, if that’s what they’ve decided, I won’t stop them. However, they’re my benefactors, so please refrain from any rough behavior.”

“I understand. You can trust us.”

Saying this, Cindy invited Ruisha and his group onto her ship.

As Ruisha was about to jump onto the ship, he noticed something.

“Wait? Come to think of it, where’s Viness?”

He, the vampire and Iris’s cousin, was not visible on the deck.

“Come to think of it, he wasn’t around even during the fight. Despite all the noise, where could he be?”

“It’s concerning. I’ll go look for him.”

Saying this to Iris, Ruisha began to search for him.

He entered the ship and opened rooms, searching for his figure, but he was not easy to find.

“Where could he have gone…?”

After circling several rooms, Ruisha also searched inside the communal toilet. He thought he wouldn’t be here for sure… but to his surprise, he was sprawled on the place to wash hands in the toilet.

“Viness! What happened!?”

Ruisha rushed over. Viness’s complexion was clearly not good. He considered seasickness, but judging by the amount of sweat on his forehead, it seemed to be something more severe.

“E… ugh…”

“What? What’s wrong!?”

“I hear a voice… calling…”

“What!? What do you mean!?”

It might have seemed like a dramatic statement from an adolescent at this point, but his face was evidently serious.

Ruisha didn’t tease him and waited for him to speak.

“I hear a voice, calling for me! Who are you…!?”

◇　◇　◇

At the same time, on the open sea.

Pirate Drake, clinging to the wreckage of the ship, was also in distress.

“――――Damn it! My head hurts!”

The surviving crew members were concerned about the captain, but their voices didn’t reach Drake.

The voices he could hear came from the depths of the abyss, unpleasant and echoing.

“I understand! I just need to go! To where you are!”

The chosen ones gathered.

Towards the cursed promised land.

◇

Volume 10 Chapter 23   Banquet

“Then, let’s celebrate the new crew member’s joining! Cheers!”

“Kanpai!”

The crew members responded to the captain’s command and all raised their glasses in unison. They drank down the alcohol and began chatting while having their meals. The dining hall where Ruisha and his group were became lively all of a sudden, and they were overwhelmed by the atmosphere.

This was the dining hall aboard the ship “Glowblue,” belonging to the Seven Seas King Sindbad.

Having teamed up with Cindy, they were invited aboard the ship and warmly welcomed.

They had parted ways with the merchant Ford and sent him back to the port town of Lasisco. The journey ahead would be arduous for ordinary people.

“How’s it going? Are you enjoying yourselves?”

As they enjoyed their meals, Captain Cindy came over to the table where Ruisha and his friends were and took a seat.

She was dressed in revealing attire, exposing her midriff and cleavage, making Ruisha unsure of where to direct his gaze. He didn’t know what the two women beside him, who were keeping a close watch, would say if he looked at the wrong place.

“We’re enjoying it, Cindy-san. Everything is delicious.”

“Hey, Ruisha, I told you it’s fine to call me by my name, right? We may have only teamed up for a short time, but we’re comrades who entrust our lives to each other. If there’s distance, we can’t rely on each other in critical moments. That’s why we frequently hold feasts like this to deepen our bonds. Well, it’s also because we simply like alcohol.”

Her words were convincing.

In the sea, one mistake could lead to losing one’s life. Therefore, above all else, they valued the bond of trust.

“I understand, Cindy. Is this okay?”

“Yeah, that’s perfect.”

Saying this, Cindy smiled and looked over Ruisha and his group.

“The one who collapsed… his name was Viness, right? Is he still sleeping?”

“Yeah. He’s calmed down quite a bit, so I think he’s okay now. But he’s still being asked to rest.”

“I see. I hope he’s not too entranced by the sea…”

Saying this, Cindy showed a worried expression.

Reacting to her unfamiliar words, Ruisha asked,

“What do you mean by being ‘entranced by the sea’?”

“I heard that among the people who approached this Death Sea Point, occasionally some experience strange symptoms. They hear a mysterious voice calling from the depths of the sea, their heads ache as if splitting, and they feel entranced.”

“Indeed, Viness also mentioned he ‘hears a voice.’ What could be the cause…?”

If it were just hallucinations and headaches caused by seasickness, that would be one thing, but Viness’s

condition was clearly not normal. It was common to think that he was under some sort of supernatural influence.

“In that case, could the ‘barrier’ be the cause?”

“Well, that’s the most plausible explanation. It might be emitting a hypnotic magic in the surroundings to keep people away from the barrier. Anyway, we’ll find out once we set foot inside.”

Saying this, Cindy clapped her fist and palm together, making a sharp sound.

Her demeanor felt dependable. At a young age, she possessed the charisma to lead a pirate crew.

“Well, there’s no use worrying about it now. Let’s just have a drink and do our best starting tomorrow.”

Saying this, Cindy poured the contents of a bottle she held into Ruisha’s glass.

Ruisha was taken aback as the glass was filled with a blood-red liquid.

“What’s this, red wine?”

“You’ll understand once you taste it. Cheers!”

Cindy forcibly made Ruisha drink the wine. Sharo and the others tried to stop it, saying “It’s terrible!”, but it was already too late, and Ruisha gulped down the wine.

“Oh, uh…”

“Hmm? What’s the matter, all of you?”

Cindy tilted her head at Sharo and the others’ unusual reactions.

In a fluster, Wolf said, “The captain is weak to alcohol! You shouldn’t have given him strong liquor, right!?”

“Oh dear, my bad. What I made him drink was ‘Dragon’s Brew,’ a drink even a dragon would breathe fire over.”

“What have you done!”

Amidst the commotion, Ruisha started to move slowly and placed the glass on the table.

Then, he looked at everyone with a steady gaze.

“…Huh? I seem to be clear-headed.”

“When the captain gets drunk, his alter ego comes out! We call it ‘Dark Ruisha.’ Once, when he got completely drunk in the dorm, he blew up a whole mountain!”

That was Wolf’s trauma.

Ruisha’s ferocious side terrified his friends to the core. Since that incident, during drinking sessions, Ruisha’s friends kept a watchful eye on his movements, afraid of his alter ego.

“Damn! It’s been a while since he’s been in this state, so I let my guard down—”

“Shut up, Wolf. Be quiet for a bit.”

“Eep.”

Looking, he saw the person he respected glaring at him with a terrifying expression.

Seeing this, Wolf shrank and sat back down in his seat.

“I’m sorry.”

“Oh, you look so deflated.”

Seeing their reaction, Cindy burst into laughter. Unlike the serious mood of the others, she seemed to feel like she had found an amusing toy.

Meanwhile, Ruisha (in his altered state) turned his gaze towards Sharo and Iris, who were sitting a bit away from him. The intense, piercing look made them a little nervous. They had never been looked at so strongly before.

“Why are you over there? Come here, next to me.”

An indifferent and unkind way of speaking.

But even that became a pleasant surprise for the two, due to the unusual contrast.

“W-Well, I guess it can’t be helped…”

“We’ll come over right away!”

The two sat on either side of Ruisha, leaning close to him.

“That’s good.”

Satisfied, Ruisha put his arms around their shoulders. Crossing his legs, he looked like a crime boss flanked by his henchwomen.

Other crew members started to pay attention to this scene.

“What the heck is going on—”

“Damn, shut up. What I do with my women is my business and mine alone.”

In his wild state, Ruisha retorted irritably, standing up and delivering lines he would never say under normal circumstances to the crew.

“If you have a problem, come at me. I’ll take you all on at once!”