Chapter 15

|Gion - the Peach Rabbit of Marine|

"Now, you can tie it like this. That's right. Good. That's it for today's study. Go and take a break."

"What about you, sir?"

I look at my captain and see him look out the ship for a second before saying.

"I think I will take a walk for a moment. I want to make sure the people of Nakuum Island are doing alright before we continue our patrol."

"Then I will be with you, sir."

Captain Yuuji looks at me and nods his head.

When we arrive in the village, all of the people there quickly run toward the captain, who greets them as if they are a member of his family. This is what makes him different from any other captain I have ever known.

While we were in battle, he put himself as a captain. Someone who has a burden of all of his crew on his shoulder. He will speak with authority, and each of his words has steel behind it.

However, when we are not in battle, he will talk to all people as if we have the same standing. As if we are all equal. Of course, he will scold anyone who is too disrespectful, but other than that; he treats us equally.

He ate with us in the dining room and did not get served a different kind of food.

"There is an old saying: if a meal isn't suitable for the captain then it's not suitable for the crew."

That was what he said when he was served more extravagant food. After that day, the chef will always cook something more delicious and more nutritious for all of us, and the captain will always have the same food as us.

It makes him more approachable, closer than any captain. It was as if he was a friend and maybe a brother to all of us.

And that makes him more attractive than anyone.

I shake my head and make sure that kind of thinking gets out of my head. He is my captain, for goodness sake. Well, there are many captains who end up marrying their Lieutenant. No! Bad, Gion. Bad.

"Elder, how is it? How are your people doing?"

"We are doing fine, my lord."

"Please call me Yuuji, I'm not a noble."

"Captain Yuuji then. The people are doing fine, captain. Because of your help, we managed to reconstruct all the destroyed buildings and other things the pirates destroyed. We will get back on our feet in a few days."

"Ah, that is good. I just want to tell you that we will continue our patrol around the South Blue in a few days. Maybe in three days we will be ready to set sail."

"Ah! Really?! Then let us make sure your journey is comfortable, sir. We will gather as much food as we can for your journey."

"You don't need to do that, you know? We still have some food on our ship."

Three weeks' worth of food. Maybe less but more than two and half weeks. I already checked it this morning.

"No. We insisted. We owe you our life, this is the least we can do for you."

"... Very well. Thank you, Elder."

"Hahahaha, why are you thanking us? Like I said, we are owing you our life."

Afterward, we walked around the village for a few minutes before arriving at the cliff facing the sea. Both of us sat on the ground, and the captain put the food the villager gave him and gave one of them to me.

"Here you go. I cannot eat all of them. Help yourself."

"Thank you."

While eating the food, I look at Captain Yuuji and say,

"Captain, can I ask you a question?"

"Ask away."

"Why did you decide to help them? We will follow you if you decide to run away, you know? They are not the village under the Marine's protection. We did not have to put our life in line to protect them."

"Why? Because it is the right thing to do. Marines' duty is to protect the innocent. It is true that said innocence needs to be under World Government protection but I believe in the main motto of the Marines. I will protect the innocent. They are innocent people and because of that, I will protect them."

I can feel my face heat up when I see him smiling at me like that. Then, I look away and munch on my rice ball.

"Can I ask the reason why you ask this question?"

I swallow the food and say.

"Because I once had a crew of a captain that ignored the plea for help. Because of this, the said island is now a dead island without anyone living on it. The pirates massacre every living being in the island and the one who live did not have better fate as they are being sold as a slave for the World Noble."

I spat a little at the mention of the World Noble because they are anything but noble. On the contrary, they are disgusting pigs that take anything they like and leave nothing behind. So I will never call them noble.

"The Massacre of Glarun Island, huh? It was a small island in West Blue. However, even though it was a small island it was a rich island because it was a great port island that many merchants visit in their journey."

"Yes. We are supposed to be the ones helping them but the captain decides to abandon his mission because we are outnumbered three to one. We have time to prepare, make a trap and catch them off guard but he decides to run away after learning the number of the pirate. I can still remember how they are shocked at our betrayal and how we abandon them in their time of need. One of the women even begged for us to take her children but the captain did not budge and told us to get into the ship."

I clutch my hand in anger at the memory of the captain who is saying that they are not important enough for him to care.

I jump a little when I feel my arms hug me lightly. Captain Yuuji pulled me into his arms and gave me a warm hug. I hug him back and continue to hug him for who knows how long. When I released him, Captain Yuuji looked at me and said,

"You don't need to worry. As long I'm alive, I will not abandon the innocent and I will never abandon you. I'm your captain after all!"

I smile a little when I see him. Yeah, he will not abandon them. He will help them. He is the White Warrior, after all.