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“Largo, I’m counting on you to take care of the rest. I’m going to check on Floria.”
There were still many crew members on the ship, working diligently under Zanarf’s instructions. There was no guarantee that the island wouldn’t be attacked at any moment. In case of an emergency, they had stationed a certain number of crew members and soldiers on the ship even while it was at anchor.
When he stepped onto the deck, the sun was already setting, and the sky was growing dark. Perhaps it felt slightly brighter than usual because the days were getting longer.
Then, from somewhere, a parrot landed on the railing of the deck and squawked loudly.
“Hmm? Who are you? An annoying fellow, aren’t you? Where did you come from?”
As he tried to approach and capture the parrot, it suddenly took flight and flew off towards the sea.
“Hey, that’s not the direction of the island!”
Zanarf looked beyond the parrot to the horizon and was startled.
A small boat was drifting out to sea.
The open sea is treacherous, with numerous whirlpools forming in that area. These whirlpools are the reason this island is known as the phantom island.
Only a few navigators and islanders familiar with the currents know the times and are able to read the tidal currents when the whirlpools don’t form, allowing them to reach the island. Those unfamiliar often can’t reach the island easily, as the ceaseless whirlpools prevent them. Once caught in a whirlpool, there is no escape – it means certain death.
The phantom island stands before you, yet you can never reach it.
──And yet, who could it be? Has the small boat been swept away?
Zanarf had an uneasy feeling. He immediately went to the helm, peering through the onboard telescope, and was left speechless.
In the small boat, a small human figure was visible. Her rose-blonde hair shimmered in the setting sun.
There is only one person on this island with rose-blonde hair.
“Damn it, quickly raise the sails! We need to head out to sea at full speed!”
Zanarf shouted at the top of his voice. The crew, though startled by Zanarf’s intensity, were well-trained and quickly raised the sails, speeding out to sea.
“Hey, Zanarf! Are we under attack or something?”
Largo, who had been working on the inventory, came rushing in with a flustered expression.
“No, look over there! That’s Floria.”
A dreadful whirlpool was forming up in Floria’s path.
“Why is the princess…?”
‘Is she trying to escape on her own?’
Zanarf felt a pain in his chest that he had never experienced before. At the same time, a simmering anger welled up within him. Perhaps this is what they mean by “love turns to hate.”
“Largo, I’m going to jump and get on that boat. When I reach the small boat, throw the rope with the anchor on it.”
“Are you out of your mind? That’s an incredibly rare and dangerous whirlpool. If you fail, you’ll be dragged into it and die. I’m not trying to be mean, but you should just give up on the princess!”
“I swore to protect her, even at the cost of my life.”
Zanarf went out to the deck and leapt powerfully from the bow into the sea.
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