Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 469

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 239.
Playing Oneself (15)
The wind had died.
We’d lowered all sails to wait for the escort fleet, though it wouldn’t have mattered either way. Everything aboard the ship lay in perfect stillness. The ropes didn’t tremble, the sails didn’t hum. When the current drifted in and rocked the vessel, the wooden planks that formed the hull creaked against one another—a sound like insects hidden in the midsummer sea brushing their wings.
Creak, squeak, creak.
A few Sailors were preparing smoke signals from the stern. Joshua stood leaning against the mast, while Maximian hung over the rail, peering about. Riche sat on the warm deck, humming a southern symphony she’d already grown addicted to.
Only the heat walked through the silence, soundless and relentless.
“Aah….”
Someone cried out from the crow’s nest. Maximian turned. When the second shout came, he immediately echoed it.
“Ships to the east!”
Riche tried to turn, pushing herself halfway up. In that moment, the ship lurched violently and she lost her balance. By the time she’d regained her footing using a rope post, the eastern ships had become distinct silhouettes. Three of them.
East meant toward Keltika Harbor. Certain these were the escort ships, Riche moved toward the bow extending eastward. Feeling the ship’s shadow grow impossibly fast, wondering how they could approach so quickly without wind, she leaned further forward.
Her gaze first caught on the prow rising more impressively than the tall mast. Dozens of oars moved in perfect unison—it was a galley, propelled by rowing.
Standing at the bow of that ship, just as she stood at hers, was a figure. Too distant to make out the face. Standing rigid with arms crossed behind his back, he seemed to be looking directly at her. Something about being observed unsettled her. Beneath a black hat, short blonde hair lay neatly pressed. In that moment, she thought she’d seen him somewhere before.
The bow swung sharply.
The figure’s face turned to the right and vanished in an instant. The trailing ship thrust its prow forward. Simultaneously, a Sailor’s cry erupted from behind.
“All hands, battle stations! That’s not the fleet we were waiting for!”
Not the fleet?
Before Riche could gather her thoughts, someone grabbed her arm. It was Maximian.
“Why are you standing at the bow like you want to be shot?”
“Shot?”
“Can’t you see? They’re pirates!”
Riche let herself be pulled toward the cabin as she asked, “But don’t pirates fly flags? You know, black ones with….”
“Who says they have to? It’s up to the pirates.”
“How do you even know that?”
“Then why do you think those ships are approaching?”
When Maximian released her hand and left, Riche fixed a skeptical gaze on the galleys and muttered.
“Coming north and even the pirates lack manners….”
Joshua remained standing before the mast. Not from inability to assess the situation, nor from panic or fear. He simply had no choice. A small ship less than half their size, no cannons, only ten men. No escape route, no means of escape. The three galleys surrounded the Beauty’s Pinnacle, then halted at a distance of roughly one ship’s length.
A brief silence fell.
CRASH!
Not cannons. I didn’t even understand what was happening. The small Beauty’s Pinnacle couldn’t withstand the impacts striking from all sides and lurched violently. The ship that had been silent as sleep filled with the noise of death.
“….”
Knocked down by the impact, Joshua tried to rise. When he grabbed a rope, the trembling transferred to his body. He shook like a deer pierced by arrows. This small ship that had protected them, this unarmed vessel that had earned the ridiculous nickname Wandering Theater Troupe Ship.
Everyone aboard was falling and scrambling to their feet. Joshua saw thick iron chains shoot from the three galleys, piercing through the belly of the Beauty’s Pinnacle and connecting them. A young beast surrounded by predators had received a mortal wound, and there was nothing to be done.
As he watched, his eyebrows slowly drew into a sharp line, just as his family’s founder had done. Joshua released the rope he’d been gripping and walked toward the bow. Though no one would come to meet him from the enemy ship, he moved forward anyway. He felt the ship’s ragged breathing beneath his feet. Though it was a borrowed vessel, he was the one who’d borrowed it. Juspian had given him the ship and its manual, told him to resolve the problems that befell him and return. A ship he treasured as much as all the praise he’d heaped upon himself.
He had to take responsibility.
Dozens of figures—pirates or soldiers—lined the rail of the now-closer galley, weapons drawn. Archers were there too, arrows nocked and aimed at where Joshua stood. Yet Joshua advanced as if he couldn’t see them and took his place at the bow.
A commander-like figure emerged on the opposite ship. He looked less like a captain and more like a general of land warfare. He wore a longsword, iron armor, and even a helmet on his head. He was tall and imposing in bearing.
On the opposite Ship, I could see a man who appeared to be a commander standing. He looked more like a general of land warfare than a captain. He wore a long sword, iron armor, and even a helmet on his head. He had a tall and dignified bearing.
Joshua extended his hand, pointing at the figure before him.
“Who are you?”
The man did not move readily. Though close enough to hear an answer, he offered none.
“I am the captain of this ship and Young Duke Arnim, Count Armorique Joshua Ailbretant von Arnim. You who block my path with such rudeness—reveal your name.”
The man hesitated for a moment, as though he had not anticipated Joshua’s boldness. But the pause did not last long. He removed his helmet. Joshua’s eyes narrowed with shock.
The general bowed deeply toward Joshua.
“In Keltika Bay, Sir Baiyer greets Count Armorique.”
It was not entirely unexpected.
Joshua’s party had been captured by Sir Baiyer and managed to escape. At that time, Maximian had immediately concluded that Sir Baiyer had betrayed House of Duke Arnim, but Joshua’s thoughts differed. He had known Sir Baiyer since childhood. He believed he understood what manner of man he was. A dignified and faithful knight who had long enjoyed Father’s trust, so much so that he had been sent as a special envoy to Periwinkle Island—a position not given to just anyone.
It was difficult for Joshua to accept that such a Sir Baiyer would betray Father and attempt to detain him, the Young Duke. Even knowing it, his heart could not accept it. Sir Baiyer was not a man to be bought with money or sold for hollow honor. Even granting him every benefit of the doubt, he might dislike Joshua. But not Father. Father and Sir Baiyer were intimate companions who had walked together for decades.
“Why are you in this place?”
Sir Baiyer did not answer. Joshua asked again.
“Why are you aboard a ship attacking me?”
Still, only silence lay between the two vessels. Even the wind seemed to sleep as a scorching quiet sank beneath the sea.
“Why do you betray my father? Why? Tell me—why!”
A wave crashed with a sharp slap. The silence shattered.
“I have not sought to betray my liege.”
It was an unexpectedly grave response. Joshua’s face paled.
“Do you believe Father would approve of this action?”
Sir Baiyer shook his head.
“That could not be. But I have come to this place today for the sake of House of Duke Arnim.”
Joshua lowered his chin, fixing Sir Baiyer with a piercing gaze.
“You must explain the meaning of those words more clearly to me.”
“Young Duke Count Armorique, you have inherited the blood of great ancestors and received exceptional ability as well. No one in this world could boast of anything before you. You possess everything. You exist above all people in this world.”
“….”
“I had only hoped that you would relinquish one thing—the position of Duke Arnim.”
Sir Baiyer suddenly dropped to one knee where he stood. Though the distance was too great to touch, had he been closer, he would have been vulnerable to a blade across his neck.
“Forgive me. When I agreed to Moro’s plan, I thought to confine you in a hidden place, and that as time passed, naturally Ivnoa’s son would become Count Armorique. Since you have always desired to live freely, I believed the Duke would trust that you had departed to some distant place, as your ancestors once did. Then, when that time came, I intended to release you and allow you to live in freedom. At that point, I thought that even should you return, the successor could not be changed. Because….”
Sir Baiyer bowed his head.
“No one trusts a Demonic. Not a Demonic’s goodwill, not a Demonic’s lifespan, not that a Demonic would protect the family.”
Joshua stared at Sir Baiyer without answering, his beautiful brows furrowed. Gradually, wind began to rise, tossing his hair.
“I never intended to come to this point. I was foolish and did not know. How could I have foreseen that Moro would attempt to kill you, that he would create something to replace you? But having come this far, the responsibility rests with me alone. I understand that not all things proceed as one wishes. Now I cannot stop. I must see this through to the end. Forgive me.”
A moment later, one more phrase was added.
“No—do not forgive me.”
A battle cry erupted. Chains pulled taut as the Beauty’s Pinnacle was drawn into the shadow of the galley. Enemies drew their blades and surged toward the rail. As the railings drew sufficiently close, several prepared to leap across. The height of Joshua’s ship was too low for the two rails to meet.
Joshua stood facing them like a swarm of hornets. He looked up at the galley’s rail. With arrogant eyes that declared he would not flee from the likes of them even as death loomed before him, he stood firm and resolute.
It was then.
“What is that?”
With someone’s cry, several aboard the galley looked upward. A strange pattern had appeared upon their main sail. The mark, printed clearly in black shadow, resembled the shape of a key’s teeth. It fluttered slowly with the sail.
Joshua did not know how such a pattern could suddenly appear in the middle of the sea, nor what it meant. But those aboard the galley clearly understood. Panic spread swiftly among them.
“It’s the mark!”
“It’s Ki’s mark!”
“Where? Which direction?”
“There!”
“West! The direction the wind is coming from!”
“Damn it all, what are you doing?! Turn the ship around, now!”
Children of Rune – Winterer
Author: Jeon Min-hee
Publisher: 14 Months Publishing
The copyright of this book belongs to the author and 14 Months Publishing.
To reuse all or part of the contents of this book, you must obtain written consent from both parties.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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