Notes:
() - Heroine's thoughts, Blue Text - Flashbacks
Douglas - Prince of Ancura - Moon End
Chapter 7 - Treasure Map
-Flashback-
Douglas: I know, MC, how about we go treasure hunting together?
-Flashback-
When I accepted Douglas-san's invitation, I was going on a treasure hunt...
After we left the restaurant and walked in the harbor city for a while, we arrived at the ship. Once we stepped onto the fortlike ship, Douglas-san raised his voice in front of all the sailors.
Douglas: Everyone, stop for a bit and listen. I've received a treasure map. If we follow it, we'll find an ocean trench that gathers discarded objects from tidal currents called the West Ocean Hall. The possibility of us finding the treasure that we've been looking for there is high. Let's quickly prepare and depart!
The sailors became excited from those words.
(It's possible that we might find Douglas-san's father's keepsake...)
When I thought of that, I started to get excited.
......
Sailor: Time to depart!
Once the anchor was slowly pulled up, the ship moved towards the vast ocean.
MC: Wow...
As I felt the sea breeze against my cheek, the adventure that was starting from here made my heart pound...
(Ah...)
From the deck of the ship, I saw Douglas-san looking out at the ocean in a daze.
Douglas: MC.
When he signaled me to come over, I stood close next to him.
(Maybe I should ask about his father's keepsake...)
I asked Douglas-san about what's been on my mind this whole time.
MC: Um... What kind of item is your father's keepsake?
Douglas: ...I don't even know what his keepsake is. So, it could either be something worthless or a surprising treasure. That's why I'm looking forward to finding it.
Douglas-san said that as he smiled.
MC: No matter what it is, it must be an irreplaceable treasure to your mother.
Douglas: I guess so...
As I faced the cobalt blue ocean, I prayed that we would find what he's looking for...
Chapter 8 - Stormy Ocean
Douglas-san's father's keepsake... Whatever it is, he said that he doesn't know what it is himself.
(I want to find it... For Douglas-san and for his mother.)
While proceeding towards the ocean trench, I was in the ship filled with expectations.
Although...
When it became night, the calm ocean from the daytime changed completely and countless of white waves appeared on top of the ocean and made the ship sway.
MC: ...!
Douglas: MC, are you okay?
Douglas-san's robust arms held me up as my body was staggering from the rough swaying.
MC: Yes... I'm fine.
Despite what I said, I was feeling pain in my chest as I covered my mouth with my hand.
Douglas: You don't look so good... Let's go to my cabin.
MC: ...
Douglas-san lightly picked me up and walked towards his cabin.
MC: I'm sorry, I...
Douglas: It must be hard since you're not used to it. Just entrust yourself to me.
MC: Okay...
When I did as he said and entrusted myself to him, I felt his body warmth...
Once we've entered the cabin, Douglas-san made me sit down in a chair and looked outside the window.
Douglas: It's getting rough out there... If this keeps up, it'll become difficult to get to the ocean trench. I don't believe that a treasure could be in an ocean trench... Searching for my old man's keepsake has been a personal goal of mine, but I don't want to put everyone in danger.
As I looked at the side of Douglas-san's face, I noticed that his expression was starting to cloud up a little.
MC: Douglas-san...
The feeling of wishing for the sailors' safety and the feeling of searching for his father's keepsake. While understanding both of those things, it felt hard to bear.
Douglas: ...We should head back.
After murmuring that, Douglas-san got up and headed to the steering room.
MC: Douglas-san...
Douglas: MC, you stay here. You might feel unwell again.
MC: But... Your father's keepsake...
Douglas: It's fine. Everyone's lives are more important, right?
......
Douglas: Everyone, take a break for a sec and listen up. The ocean is going to get pretty rough. Heading to the ocean trench now is too dangerous. We're going to have to give up and retreat this time.
After telling them that, it became noisy that instant. Although, after a while, one of the sailors calmly spoke.
Sailor 1: Let's keep on going.
Douglas: ...
Sailor 1: The day after tomorrow, isn't government affairs going on a long voyage to look over the ocean's safety for a while again? We have to do this now. Let's go!
Sailor 2: I don't think we should retreat either!
After one more person spoke up, they all said the same thing one after another.
Sailor 3: We're still alive because of your father watching out for us. Among the other sailors, we would all head out into the ocean together as friends. We're not going to the ocean trench for treasure. We want to find your father's keepsake as well.
The entire crew looked at Douglas-san with heated gazes.
Douglas: Everyone...
Sailor 1: Let's head to the ocean trench! Let's all look for your father's keepsake!
MC: Douglas-san...!
Overwhelmed with the feelings that were conveyed, I said his name.
Douglas: MC... Are you okay?
MC: Of course...! I won't be a burden to you, so...
Douglas: ...
After Douglas-san became silent for a while, he looked at everyone's faces around and nodded deeply. Then, it suddenly became filled with excited cheers.
(Thank goodness...)
Douglas: Thank you.
Douglas-san strongly placed his hand on my shoulder. The moment I felt that warm hand... It felt like I was accepted as a member of this ship...
Chapter 9 - Investigating the Ocean Trench
The storm and the ocean started to get rough for a few hours...
By the time night has brightened up and the rain was lifted, light began to shine through the gaps of the heavy clouds. When the ship's swaying has settled down, I sighed in relief.
(What a relief... Even though I was seasick for about an hour... It seems like the waves have calmed down.)
When I looked up at the sky from the deck, I narrowed my eyes from the bright sunlight.
Douglas: Looks like the storm has settled down.
Navigator: We'll be arriving at the Ocean West Hall at any moment now!
Douglas: I checked the map just now, but it looks like we'll have to go straight to reach the ocean trench. What luck.
Just as Douglas-san made a relieved expression, the crew cheered in joy.
(Douglas-san... He looks so happy.)
When our eyes met, Douglas-san smiled.
Sailor 1: Let's stop at a spot to search. Huh...?
When a sailor looked out into the distance, he grimaced. What we saw up ahead was an unrecognizable black ship with an SOS signal up.
Sailor 1: I wonder if something happened...
Sailor 2: Let's take a small boat and get a closer look.
After saying that, a few of the sailors approached the black ship.
(If it says SOS, does that mean they're in some sort of trouble...?)
I watched as my heart became noisy. Before long, they sailors have returned.
Sailor 1: ...They're a group of thieves. Apparently, they've been following our ship to steal our treasure.
Sailor 2: Their ship is unable to move because of the storm, but there's really no need to help them.
Douglas: Still, their lives are in danger if they continue to drift like this... Also, there's a possibility that they'll end up colliding with another ship and get into an accident.
When Douglas-san became silent for a while, he made a determined look.
Douglas: Go rescue the group of thieves.
Sailor 1: Captain!
Sailor 2: That's... I don't think we should...
The sailors all opposed to it, but Douglas-san wouldn't change his mind.
Douglas: We can't abandon them. However, make sure they're restrained tightly in the ship's hold.
As the sailors made confused expressions, they followed Douglas-san's orders and went to rescue them.
(Douglas-san... Despite that those thieves were going after the treasure.)
......
After that... Once the thieves were saved, a sailor pulled them up to the ship.
Douglas: You guys okay?
Thief: Why... did you save us?
The thieves that were tied up glared at Douglas-san. After it was silent for a moment...
Douglas: It's because it's my duty. Also... Don't you guys have families too?
When Douglas-san said that sorrowfully, my heart felt pain.
-Flashback-
Douglas: When I was still young, his ship became shipwrecked due to bad weather and everyone got thrown off into the raging ocean. At that time, my old man protected me and my mother with his life... But, his whereabouts are still unknown. I'm sure that... My old man is somewhere out there in this vast ocean. Remembering my old man makes me sad sometimes and finding that bag will bring pain to my heart.
-Flashback-
(...I want to find it no matter what. Douglas-san's father's keepsake.)
With the thought of wanting to help him, I gripped my hand...
......
Then, finally, the preparations for the search of the ocean trench were done. Once preparations were complete on deck, the divers did a final check.
Douglas: Don't push yourselves too hard. The tidal current is fast in the ocean trench, so be careful.
Diver: Roger! Well then, we'll be going!
The divers jumped into the ocean. After that, I've been having wishful feelings for a few hours...
MC: Douglas-san...
I saw that Douglas-san's face has stiffened up and he looked uneasy.
MC: Douglas-san, it'll be okay. I'm sure they'll find it.
As Douglas-san had an uneasy expression, I continued to do my best to cheer him up and...
MC: ...!?
Suddenly, he held me in his arms.
Douglas: ...
His large hands around my waist were trembling a little.
(Please... Find it!)
After a while, we saw a diver rise up and gave something to a sailor.
(...!)
Sailor 1: Captain! Do you recognize this!?
Douglas: This is...!
After seeing what the sailor has presented, Douglas-san had a crazed look in his eyes...
Last Chapter - Goddess of Fortune
Sailor 1: Captain! Do you recognize this!?
Douglas: This is...!
What the diver found in the ocean was a small old chest.
Douglas: That's... My family's crest!
Once Douglas-san received the chest from the diver, he was focused on the crest that was engraved on it. When he looked inside it, there was a golden navigation clock and a thick leather diary.
MC: Ah... The diary is...
Since it was in the chest, the diary became fragile from being soaked in the ocean for so long.
Douglas: ...
When he carefully opened the diary, Douglas-san's expression stiffened up after he found something.
Douglas: ...
MC: ...Douglas-san?
Douglas: ...It's no good. I can't read it because of the sea water. But, this golden watch is something valuable!
After saying that, the sailors cheered happily.
Douglas: Haha, what an achievement!
While being the center of everyone's attention, Douglas-san happily smiled, but...
(Douglas-san...? Did something happen?)
I felt a little uneasy as it seemed like he was trying to keep up with appearances somehow...
......
That night, there was a party on the ship.
(When he opened the diary, I noticed that Douglas-san was acting strange that moment, but...)
Even so, Douglas-san was drinking merrily with the sailors now.
(It was probably my imagination.)
After a while, Douglas-san slowly parted from the group and went off somewhere.
(Huh... Where's Douglas-san going?)
Curious, I followed him from behind...
......
Where Douglas-san was heading to was the head of the ship. As it felt like the storm from noon didn't happen, the stars were calmly twinkling in the sky.
MC: Douglas-san.
Douglas: MC...!
As Douglas-san was looking at the nightly ocean by himself, he made a surprised look when he heard my voice.
Douglas: What's wrong?
MC: ...
As I was unable to ask how Douglas-san was feeling, I became silent.
Douglas: ...
The sound of the waves was heard as they disappeared into the darkness of the night.
Douglas: Come here.
After smiling gently, Douglas-san pulled my hand and headed towards the cabin.
When we went in without saying anything, Douglas-san calmly spoke to me.
Douglas: The truth is...
When Douglas-san turned his back towards me, he picked up the diary. What he showed inside it was an old family photo. There was a gallant looking young man and a beautiful woman with long silver hair. Also, between them was...
MC: This is... Is the baby in the middle you, Douglas-san?
Douglas: That's right, you can tell?
Despite being old, I felt a warmth as I was looking at the family photo and then, Douglas-san spoke in embarrassment.
Douglas: I kind of didn't expect to see this photo. But... I stayed quiet because I was embarrassed with everyone around.
(That's why he was acting a little strange at that time...)
I lightly nodded as I remembered Douglas-san opening the diary during the day. Then, as Douglas-san looked at the photo, he softly spoke.
Douglas: We were the treasure that my old man was holding onto... It's a little too good to be true.
MC: I... I think it's nice. Your family and all of the sailors being connected by a bond...
Douglas: A bond...
Suddenly, Douglas-san looked at me with a heated gaze...
Douglas: Then, I'd like to form a new bond... With you, MC...
MC: ...!?
The next moment, he pushed me down against the bed.
MC: ...Douglas-san!?
There was a faint scent of alcohol coming from his breath.
(Douglas-san? Is he drunk...?)
Douglas: Just to let you know, I'm not drunk.
Smiling like a mischievous child, he whispered that to me.
(If he looks at me with that kind of face...)
Douglas: Are you going to run away?
My heart became louder. When Douglas-san took out a knife from his pocket, he cut my blouse open.
MC: ...
Douglas: Are you scared? MC...
Even though it felt rough, I wasn't scared for some odd reason as I looked at his breath-taking eyes.
Douglas: ...
Dougla-san's eyes narrowed as if there was some kind of strong desire shaking within them.
(A bond...)
With family, friends and also...
MC: No, I'm not scared.
Without looking away, I told him that clearly.
Douglas: That's a good girl... You're not going crazy from my eyes.
MC: Eh...
Douglas: Didn't I tell you? Become my goddess of fortune.
-Flashback-
Douglas: Yes, please do, become my goddess of fortune.
-Flashback-
(At that time...)
Douglas: Won't you go around this vast ocean with me?
(This vast beautiful ocean... With Douglas-san...)
Douglas: Let me rephrase that... Won't you let yourself get abducted by the head of the pirates? I... I want you, MC.
After whispered that to me, Douglas-san's face got a little closer... Within the interval of my blouse, he placed his lips there.
MC: Ah...
Feeling a sweet numbness, I held onto him tightly.
Douglas: Close... your eyes.
When I closed my eyes, he poured kisses all over my body next.
(So hot...)
The sound of the waves was heard. While listening to that sound, I imagined going around the ocean with Douglas-san from here on, but... Right now, I couldn't do anything except give myself to him as he was in front of me...
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