Tracks Down the Dandies

Excuse me. I'm coming in, Master.

Hey, what's going on? My beloved!

Lord Hektor contacted us. It seems he caught Euryale.

I see! I see, I see, I see! All right!

We were told, if we offer up Euryale, we can obtain even more power.

Me! I'll be more powerful than anyone. I'll be invincible! Wouldn't that be amazing?

Yes, very. I think that would be extremely amazing, Master.

I like your smile. Your smile is like the sun. It never fails to enrich my heart.

Oh, but you seem a little tired. Are you all right?

You've been the ship's power source for so long. I want you to tell me when it gets too hard.

See. Just a bit. If it is just a bit, I can think about letting you rest.

T-Thank you very much! But it's fine. Your words alone are enough for me to go on.

Perfectyes. That's how you should be. The woman who will become my lovely wife.

As soon as Hektor returns, let's go search for "you-know-what."

I mean, where the hell is it? You still haven't received any oracle?

Correct. I assume that as soon as Lord Hektor returns, I will receive an oracle showing where we must go.

What's with all these problems... They always keep dragging me down...

Ah, I'm really sorry. I don't mean to blame them.

But, I have the right to receive these oracles too. Why is it only you?

...? What is it, Master?

...Nothing. Haste makes waste I guess.

That's right, that must be it. For now, I'll believe in your oracles, and do my best as the captain.

Yes, that is what we hope. Let's go welcome Lord Hektor.

We members of Argonautai are undefeatable heroes. There is no way a random group like theirs can win.

Yes, you're right! We are the strongest! There is no mistake. Our strength is unparalleled!

We have the world's greatest, strongest hero, and witch on our side! Oh, and there's one useless woman, too.

Hmph, to think someone would vow chastity to someone like Artemis and reject my invitation like that.

Should be a shark's meal by now. Serves her right.

Now, everybody! Prepare to depart!

We shall obtain the "Ark." Even the golden ram pales in comparison to this treasure.

With the Holy Grail and the "Ark," I will reign as the king of Okeanos!

Full speed ahead! Hey, lookout! Pay close attention to what's ahead!

Once you see that ship, call out!

Aye, aye, Boss!

...That tiny ship is faster than it looks.

With their head start, unless they stop, we might not catch up...

Uh, uuh...

Don't worry, she won't die.

Eu...ryale... I...will...save you.

...I understand how you feel. But for now, concentrate on healing your wounds.

No!

？！

... ...

Do... You... Promise?

Of course. Drake is sailing the ship at top speed with that very same thought.

...Uh.

Boss! A pirate ship's headed our way!

Damn, at a time like this!?

Master, let's take them out quickly.

...Crush!

Master... I'm sure Blackbeard said "Hektor."

If that's the case, then that spear is the sword "Durendal," later inherited by Roland, one of the Twelve Paladins of Charlemagne.

Or rather, the base for that sword.

It's a miracle that Asterios didn't die. That's how powerful that spear was.

But I wonder what Hektor plans to do, with Euryale.

Human trafficking... No, it can't be.

...But he sounded like he had a clear goal in his mind from the beginning.

Yes. From the start, Servant Hektor had his eye on Mistah Blackbeard's Holy Grail.

？！

I can understand the Holy Grail, but why Euryale?

It's not about bolstering forces. Euryale herself isn't that powerful of a Servant.

I think what makes her special is the fact that she IS a Servant.

What? What do you mean?

Actually, in the past, we met "another" her... No, maybe her... Big sister, perhaps?

Anyway, we met a girl summoned as a Servant despite being a goddess.

Euryale is not a hero, nor is she someone whose name is engraved into history.

She was treated as a goddess in Greek mythology. "The one who flies far"that is Euryale.

Or she was a monster. The middle sister ofthe three Gorgons.

The youngest is the famous Medusa, I can see her being summoned into a Holy Grail War.

But, not Euryale. She is just a goddess, an idol of ideals, and undoubtedly weak.

For her to be summoned as a Servant is a strange phenomenon.

...Though some other Servants are just as peculiar.

Usually it's hard for Divine Spirits to become Servants. Unless there is a really special case.

In addition, a pure god becoming a Servant is something that isn't supposed to happen in the world of Magecraft.

Really? Who's like that?

Us, take the hint.

Basically what you're saying is, Euryale isn't good enough to be kidnapped for her fighting prowess?

...

Well, that's not a reason for us not to save her. Plus, she's a great singer.

I like great singers. It is a very important role for sailors, right men?

Aye! It heals our rotten heart!

There ya go.. Don't worry, big guy. Nobody on this ship wants to abandon that girl.

...

...

？！

...No. Captain Drake's personality is just very complicated.

...It's hard to explain, but she reminds me of you. Facing difficulties. Helping those around her.

It is an advantage, a merit, that humans possess. But why

Is Francis Drake a villain? As she is now, and back in history.

She is such a good person, but her actions are that of an outlaw.

I can't understand this contradiction well

Ah, dammit. It had to happen in a time like this!

Everybody tie yourself to the ship! There's a storm coming!

What should we do, Boss?

Shut up, I'm thinking! Um... The distance between us and that ship is about this much...

This storm has a small range... Perhaps... Depending on distance, it'll be a tailwind for them...

...The ship's armor is... Oh, that's right. Since we used THAT for repairs...

All right!

You guys! Good news and bad news, which do you want first?

Let's see. Bad news first...

All right.

This Hektor guy who kidnapped Euryale probably won't be affected by this storm!

If we sit tight, he'll probably pull so far away that we'll never catch up!

...Um. So what's the good news?

Rejoice, guys! We're gonna raise all sails to and cruise at top speed in this storm!

Let's have another exciting ride through the seas!

How is that good news!?

Shut up or you'll get the boot! Anyways, get moving!

Mash, Asterios, and Lady Artemis, please help us too!

...Of course Fujimaru, too. Okay, let's go!

Master... L-Let's do our best!

Come on, keep going!

Boss! Our ship won't last much more!

Really? But it is pretty stable, isn't it?

What? ...Now that you mention it, indeed...

Did you forget? We used a bunch of dragon scales when we repaired this ship.

It'll take more than this to sink us! This is no sailboat!

Got that? Now, charge forth!

Boss, there's a ship up ahead!

Did we catch up!?

It's not them. That ship is bigger than ours!

It's similar to Blackbeard's ship!?

Yes, but

But?

It looks pretty beat up. That's all I can tell in this storm!

Give me the telescope!

Mm-hmm. ...What is that, a ghost ship?

A ghost ship?

Wow, it's even more like an ocean adventure novel now! So much excitement, I want to turn this into a book!

Hah, ghost ships are usually just vessels that were abandoned for things like mutiny and starvation.

...Hmm? Some light... is headed this way... Eek!?

Drake made a really strange sound just now!

Her voice was like a maiden's!

Master!?

？！

Nothing, I just was shocked by Drake's voice. What happened, Drake?

F-Forget about my scream, look to the bow! Enemy attack! Ghosts are attacking us!

Ugh... Thank goodness we beat them...

Drake, are you afraid of ghosts?

Can't a pirate be superstitious!?

S-Sure. There's no problem. Sorry.

All right, the storm is winding down. Hang on just a little more.

Let's go!

Now, according to my calculations, it's almost time.

...Why me? Does your Master have the same tastes as Blackbeard?

Oh no, my boss may be a worthless womanizer, but he's not brave enough to hit on a goddess like you.

Let's just say your very existence is important.

Even if you've fallen to the level of a Servant, Divine Spirits normally don't appear in this world.

...So, now that you've appeared, it'd be a waste not to use you, right?

As a Divine Spirit, I'm low-tier, you know?

They're probably not expecting any combat skills from a goddess like you.

"Offer a god as a sacrifice." This is the only thing we expect from you.

Oh? Offer to whom?

To the world. We can't tolerate being part of an endless spiral.

Even if we take a little risk, we have to blow this world to pieces.

...Who do you serve, exactly?

Mm... That's a good question. Who do you think this old man is serving!?

...In any case, asserting principles of anarchy is sure to meet interference in the end.

Honestly, whether or not they'll come is like fifty-fifty.

...Hmph, it must have been because Asterios was there.

What? That is "the Golden Hind!"

Okay, we caught up. Can't waste anymore time, let's ram into them!

Are you ready, guys!?

Yup!

Yes!

Good! Let's land a hard one on that guy!

Master, we are ready to fight too.

Hey, Asterios! Calm down, calm down! Relax, please!

Euryale!

Nope, no good. Can I let him go?

Letting him go now is like painting a target for that spear. Come, there there. Now, there there.

Uhhh!

Fine! I got it! Wait 10 more seconds. 10, 1, 0!

You cut corners, Darling!

Thinking rationally, there was no way a plush toy could stop a Berserker...

You should've realized that sooner!

Asterios!? I-I will go with him!

？！

Yes!

Geez, what a pain in the ass. Oh, brotherBut this old man...

Is really good at defense to the point even I hate it!

These pirates are way more tenacious than before!

Give... Baaaaaaaaaaack!

Geez, that damned Minotaur! Fine, I'll give her back!

Aughh!

Eu...

Nothing like the predictability of a Berserker!

I won't let you!

Demi-Servant!

Hero Hektorwho do you serve, and what are you after... I'll have you tell me!

Huh. Pretty interesting, little girl. This old man would rather not take a young life...

But the world is cruel like that. Let me show you what that truly means!

Tch, she's surprisingly tough! That's why I can't stand heroes with shields!

Haaa!

Well, this old man won through persistence. Dear me, I'm tired, so tired.

Boss! A ship up ahead! I-It's a ship that I've never seen before!

Did you say a ship that you've never seen before?!

!!!

Yes, thanks for that! My current "superior" is on that ship.

Oh... Uh!

Now, time for the counterattack. This old man's gonna be serious about it now, yeah?