____Somewhere____
The weather was stormy. In that raging ocean, there was that ship swaying between the violent waves. Whoever saw it would think it would sink for sure—not because it was an old ship, but on the contrary! It was the latest model of Tiakra's ships. Yet with how terrible the weather was, the nature of the ship no longer mattered; anything could happen… and this ship could sink!
Aboard that ship, Narohime and Lara were trying to fix the ship's compass, which had broken down in the middle of the journey. Without it, they could not continue the voyage. On top of that, they could not see anything because of the thick fog. Even the old, gray-haired, frail captain—who had more than forty years of experience—was unable to solve the problem.
___The Captain___
(Tense) This is truly strange! My compass has never broken down on a voyage before!… (sigh) Damn it! It seems today is cursed!
___Narohime___
(A calm face as she tries to fix the compass) Don't worry, sir. I've dealt with situations like this before! I'll fix it.
The captain stood beside Narohime, who was sitting and trying to repair the compass. Next to her stood Lara, trying to understand exactly what Narohime was doing.
More than an hour passed with Narohime attempting to fix the compass… but… to no avail. Narohime could not figure out the cause. The old man was already angry—angry at the compass, angry at Narohime for not fixing it, and especially angry at his own failure today.
___Captain___
(Anger) …You! How long are you going to keep sitting there and playing around! Haven't you fixed it yet?!
___Narohime___
(Calm expression) …Hmm… I honestly don't know the reason. There's no malfunction! Yet it still doesn't work!
___Captain___
(Anger) You! Are you joking with me?! I should have known that an arrogant brat like you wouldn't be able to do anything!… (sigh) Even I, this old, frail man, don't know what's going on! (Worried)
In the middle of that anxiety and silence, suddenly the ship shook. The screams of the passengers could be heard. All three felt panic. Narohime rushed to leave the control room to see what was happening, but Lara grabbed her hand tightly, stopping her from going out.
___Lara___
(Worried) No!… We don't know what's happening outside! It's dangerous! I won't let my sister Narohime go out!
Narohime held Lara's hand, which was about to give out, and smiled at her to reassure her.
____Narohime____
(Sigh) …There's no need to worry… Lara… I'll be fine! Stay here and protect the captain. I'll see what's outside, so let me go… please…
Narohime tried to pull away Lara's hand, which was gripping her tightly, but it was useless—Lara did not let go at all!
___Lara___
(Worried, with teary eyes, looking at Narohime pleadingly) …Please… let me be the one to go out!… I'm strong… you know that…I don't want my sister Narohime to get hurt!
Narohime sighed and looked at Lara with serious eyes. She brought her head close to Lara's, staring straight into her eyes. Lara felt embarrassed and her cheeks turned red. Suddenly, Narohime headbutted Lara hard with her own head… and from the dizziness, Lara stumbled back and released Narohime's hand.
___Narohime___
(Frown and anger) …I know you're strong! Don't boast just because you're Special Grade! I'm S-Grade too, still strong, and my classification is rare!… (sigh) I'm going out now. Lara, take care of the captain—I trust you. There's no need to worry about me!
Narohime headed toward the door to open it and leave, while Lara looked at her with teary eyes, on the verge of crying.
___Lara___
(Worried) …But sister… I—
Narohime didn't even listen to Lara. She left immediately and slammed the door shut, leaving Lara worried about her and saddened by the misunderstanding that had occurred between them.
As for Narohime, she went straight outside, rushing to find out the cause of the commotion. After leaving the room and climbing the stairs, she reached the deck of the ship to see that the passengers were tied to the ship's pillars. She felt panic and quickly hid behind barrels of wine. She stole glances to see what was happening, and her fears were indeed correct… they were pirates, wanting to loot and steal the ship. They were roaming around the place and threatening the passengers.
Narohime prepared her dagger and gun, using her special ability—the sniper's ability—to silence the sound of the gunfire so her position would not be revealed.
Narohime aimed and fired… again… again…
…and again. Four pirates had already fallen. But unfortunately, she was spotted by their leader, who sneaked up behind her, completely hiding his presence, and struck Narohime directly on the head. Narohime tried to resist, but she immediately lost consciousness.
After a while, Narohime woke up to one of the pirates throwing water on her. She found herself bound with chains. She tried to break free, but couldn't. Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching from in front of her. She raised her head and saw a young blond man with long hair and blue eyes, pale white skin, wearing a black eyepatch. He looked at her with disdain and a devilish smile.
Narohime looked at him with hatred and anger—he was the man who had struck her on the head.
____Narohime____
You!… Who are you?!… Why are you doing this?!… We're not a merchant ship or anything like that! There's no cargo to steal! So stop this at once and release us!
____Pirate Leader____
(Laughs) …I know that very well! A luxurious ship like this couldn't be carrying cargo anyway. It's far too luxurious for that, so it must belong to wealthy people (laughs) …
____Narohime____
(Anger) …You!
____Pirate Leader____
(Laughs) …Ah! Don't be angry~ You'll ruin your young face like that, and we don't want to lose a beauty here… right?~ …Hahaha!
Narohime grew furious and glared at him with hatred and anger, while secretly trying to break her chains.
____Narohime_____
Damn you, bastard! (Trying to distract him) …Since you've gotten everything you want, then release us! We didn't do anything to you, right?!
The leader sighed and gestured to one of his men, who brought him a chair. He sat down, crossing one leg over the other, looking at Narohime with a pitying gaze.
____Pirate Leader_____
Ah~ what a shame. I actually liked the ship… so~ guess what!~ …Haha! I won't release you! I'll take you as servants or sell you, and I'll take this luxurious ship. It's time to replace my own after all! (Laughs)
_____Narohime_____
(A look of hatred and anger) …You!… You filthy bastard!
The man laughed wickedly and signaled to his guard to leave the room where Narohime was bound. The guard left, while the leader remained seated, silently staring at Narohime with strange looks, as if thinking about something.
_____Narohime_____
(Speaking angrily) You!… What are you staring at, you bastard?!
The leader stood up from the chair and walked toward Narohime, who was sitting on the ground bound. He approached and bent down, grabbing her chin and lifting her head so their eyes met. Narohime glared at him with hatred again. The man smiled and tried to get closer, but Narohime surprised him with an attack, taking advantage of his lowered guard, and struck him… She had already freed herself from the chains. She punched him, knocking him to the ground, then stood up herself, grabbed him by the collar, and continued punching him again and again. The men outside heard strange noises and grew suspicious, so they rushed into the room.
Narohime was busy beating that filthy man, looking at him with contempt and disgust—she had completely altered his face!
______Narohime______
(Punch) You're really filthy!… Where's your strength!? Huh!?
Suddenly, the door burst open and dozens of pirates entered, finding Narohime about to kill their master. They aimed their weapons at her and surrounded her. Narohime slowly raised her head, glaring at them with hatred and an intense killing intent, her face splattered with their leader's blood. She wiped it off, spat on the ground, then smiled mockingly.
_____Man1_____
Release the boss! … (trembling) …I said, release the boss… now!!
______Man2______
You're surrounded—you can't defeat us! …Surrender already!
_____Narohime_____
(Hysterical laugh) Hahaha!… (sigh, then looks at them with killing intent) …Trash… it seems you don't know who I am.
Narohime released the leader, letting him fall to the ground half-dead. Then she looked at them, laughing with madness and a strong thirst for blood. The men were frightened and braced themselves, aiming their weapons at Narohime.
___Man1___
Men, kill her! That's an order!
The men charged toward Narohime, weapons in hand, aiming to kill her. The first man who reached her was holding a dagger and tried to stab her. Narohime caught the edge of his dagger between her index and middle fingers, stopping the attack with ease—as if she were holding a feather. The man tried to strike again, but in an instant the dagger was gone from his hand; he didn't even realize how. Immediately, she struck him with her elbow on the jaw, sending him to the ground.
___Narohime___
(A disdainful look accompanied by a mocking laugh) …Weak.
The men swarmed her like ants, but she was faster than them. A single strike from her was enough to bring each one down. Even so, they kept getting up and continuing to fight. She rained punches on them one by one, dodging their attacks at incredible speed. She twisted one man's arm and broke it, sending him screaming to the ground. She kicked another in the stomach until he vomited blood and collapsed beside his comrade. Some of the remaining men began to feel fear and tried to flee—but she didn't let them. She grabbed them one by one and beat them brutally. Now everyone in the room was trying to escape from the monster before them.
Narohime sighed and finally drew her weapon—two guns. She laughed hysterically and aimed at all of them, continuing to fire… They fell like flies. Narohime enjoyed the sight and laughed, continuing to shoot as they screamed and begged for mercy, but she didn't care. She kept firing, enjoying the blood raining down like a storm, forming red pools on the deck of the ship. She left no one alive… except for that filthy leader, whom she bound in the same place where she had been earlier. As for the rest, she threw them all into the sea one by one afterward.
She then freed the passengers, who were terrified of everything—especially of Narohime, who was drenched in blood while a smile and happiness filled her face, looking as if she had entered a drug-like state of euphoria.
After that, Narohime headed to the control room, where she found that the captain and Lara had fixed the compass. Lara looked at her with teary eyes and ran toward Narohime to hug her.
___Lara___
(Crying) …Sister Naro~ are you okay? (Worried) …All this blood!
____Narohime____
(Looks at Lara with sympathy; her hysterical state has already stopped) … (sigh) I told you there's no need to worry (smile) I'm strong too, after all… ah… as for this… this isn't my blood!
___Lara___
Ah! Sister Naro… I'm really sorry! I didn't mean to say you were weak earlier… (sob) …I… I… I'm really sorry! …Sister Naro!!! …Do you hate me now? (Crying and hugging Narohime tightly)
Narohime sighed, hugged Lara, and patted her head.
____Narohime____
Hate you?! … (sigh) What are you talking about! That's impossible, Lara! …Lara… look at me!
Lara looked at Narohime with her teary eyes. Narohime smiled at her reassuringly, held Lara's face, leaned closer, and kissed her on the forehead.
___Narohime___
(Smiling while looking into Lara's eyes) …Now stop crying! (Wipes the tears from her flushed face)
Lara felt nervous and hugged Narohime tightly, hiding her reddened face.
___Lara___
Um… I'll stop crying…
Lara continued hugging Narohime, while Narohime patted her head like a loving mother to her daughter.
Time passed… suddenly, both Narohime and Lara remembered the captain's presence. They looked at him and found him glaring at them angrily.
___Captain___
Ah! (Anger) …Damn you two, get out of here! Let me continue my work already! …You cause so many problems and unnecessary noise!
___Narohime___
(Nervous) Ah… we're leaving, sorry for the disturbance!
Narohime hurried out, pulling Lara along, who was in the process of calming down, both waving their hands to bid farewell to the captain.
____Captain____
(Sigh) …Kids these days… unbelievably annoying! So much noise and unnecessary trouble! (Returns to his work)