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chapter 29
“…Rinka?”
A voice called out to her. She couldn’t quite tell whether it was Ken or Digory.
Behind them, hands still gripping their weapons, eyes remained fixed on Rinka.
A hush, like the holding of breath, settled across the deck.
“Did… Rinka just do that?”
“Uh, wait a moment.”
“That power… you’ve been hiding it until now?”
“Well…”
She had suspected this would happen if she used her strength.
She hadn’t been sure how to explain it, so she’d kept it hidden.
Now she could trust her comrades, but trusting Rinka and them understanding her were two completely different matters.
There wasn’t any special reason she hadn’t awakened the Pearl until now.
“The spirits of the sea only listen to the words of mermaids. They are born from the pearls we possess.”
“Pearls… I have one too?”
“Yes. Probably in the same place as mine.”
“If it’s the same place…”
Only spirits of the same kind, mermaids, or a few sea-dwelling monsters could see the Pearl.
So now, it must have looked as if Rinka had controlled the sea with her own power.
“Rinka… is that really your power?”
It wasn’t a tone of accusation, just a quiet question.
She parted her lips, then closed them again, folding her hands carefully over her chest. Her heart was still racing.
“…Yes. But I didn’t mean to hide it—”
She had intended to explain, but her words didn’t make it to the end.
Click.
“Looks like Rinka solved something big.”
The door opened behind her, and now all too familiar silver hair fell over her shoulders.
“Don’t ask pointless questions.”
He spoke sharply and decisively. The weight in his tone caused the crew to naturally close their mouths.
Ananta leaned his head against Rinka’s forehead and pulled her into a warm, firm embrace around the waist.
“Thanks to you, things got handled quickly… Navigator, take care of the aftermath.”
“Yes.”
Without further explanation, as soon as Ananta finished speaking, Digory naturally began casting spells over the ship again to clean up the aftermath.
Rinka quietly lowered her head, a mixture of relief and unease washing over her.
She hadn’t yet figured out how to explain it—to the crew, or… to him.
She lifted her head, meeting his blue eyes, very close.
…This man, specifically.
“Check if anyone’s hurt. Keep the protective barrier up. We’ll assess the damage again when the sun rises; that’s enough for today.”
Ananta’s voice carried clearly through the wind.
His face was still pale, his gaze fixed on her, but his voice was as usual.
The crew finally moved to their positions.
Breaking the silence, they inspected the intact barrier, removed the few Shuerin corpses floating on the water, and tidied the ship.
Meanwhile, Ananta lifted his body off Rinka, which had been leaning against him.
“Rinka.”
As she slowly lifted her head, Ananta silently extended his hand.
“Come in with me. I can’t sleep without you.”
He had asked her to hold his hand.
Rinka cautiously took his hand, and Ananta led her into the captain’s cabin, closing the door behind them.
With a thud, the captain’s cabin door shut.
At last, a quiet breath spread across the deck. No one spoke, but everyone thought the same thing:
“Rinka didn’t become a crew member of the ghost ship for nothing…”
Of course, it was a misunderstanding.
She had joined the ship only thanks to her sewing and cooking skills.
But since no one corrected the misunderstanding, it had only deepened.
The door closed, and silence fell.
A brief pause.
The captain’s cabin felt different now, filled with a new warmth. The noises of the deck and the battle with the monsters seemed forgotten. Rinka stood carefully within the space.
“Shouldn’t we still be moving?”
“No. The ship was too unstable; we had no choice.”
“Does it hurt?”
By now, the Pearl had returned to its jewel form, and the surroundings were very quiet.
Ananta held her hand and walked with her to the bed, sitting down. Rinka naturally sat beside him.
His fingertips gently touched her forehead.
“Hmm… I’m not sure. A little dizzy, the ship hurts, my eyes feel blurry…”
“That sounds like a huge exaggeration.”
“It’s real.”
Ananta chuckled shortly.
“Just stay by my side.”
Rinka swallowed hard. That wasn’t a simple request.
He already expected her to agree.
“You know if you ask me like this, I can’t say no, right?”
“Yeah.”
His answer was light like a laugh, but his eyes were serious.
Seeing her hesitate, Ananta slowly tugged the corners of his mouth upward.
“Sleep with me.”
“…My bed is outside.”
“Just for tonight. You want this too.”
Indeed.
Ananta entered the bed first, lifting the blanket and giving her a little space.
Rinka glared at him briefly, then, as if drawn by some force, lay down carefully beside him.
The bed was wide, but the space between them was narrower than expected.
“I’ve never wanted this before.”
“Already lying down?”
“I’ll leave when you fall asleep, Captain.”
“Then should we not sleep?”
He smiled slightly again.
Feeling her heart flutter, Rinka cleared her throat and turned to lie down.
“Fine. I guess I have to sleep here because it’ll be noisy outside, so it’s unavoidable. Besides, you’re the patient.”
Ananta chuckled shortly at her excuse but soon closed his eyes.
“You should get sick more often.”
This man…
Before she could respond, he spoke in a very low voice:
“Don’t call me Captain, just Ananta.”
At that moment, a strange warmth spread in Rinka’s chest.
Silence returned to the bed.
Rinka didn’t answer, closing her eyes.
She imagined his face.
A man who seemed like he might drift away like someone carried by the waves.
“…If you promise you won’t be hurt anymore.”
The words came out like a whisper. At the same time, Ananta shifted slightly, his head resting against Rinka’s back.
“I will.”
A whispered breath.
“If you stay by my side.”
Again, Rinka didn’t respond.
But after a moment of hesitation, she turned back to him and spread her arms. Leaning in slightly more, she gently embraced his head in her arms, finally nodding.
And asked again:
“You’re not going to ask me anything?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Well… I don’t want to know yet.”
“You’re strange…”
“I’m not ready to explain.”
With closed eyes, Ananta replied slowly, as if reading her heart.
Hearing this, Rinka strangely felt reassured.
It seemed okay to be honest. No matter what she said, she felt a strange certainty that he would trust her.
“…I’m ready now.”
She felt like speaking then.
“It’s not a long story.”
“Can I see your face while you tell it?”
“That’s a bit embarrassing, so no.”
“You’re so selfish…”
Whose story is it anyway.
Rinka laughed lightly at the absurdity and rested her cheek against his forehead.
“Be quiet and listen carefully.”
“Alright, alright.”
Fatigue pressed down on her, but she didn’t sleep.
A long, continuous conversation unfolded.
That night, for the first time, Rinka embraced someone because she truly wanted to.
