2. Pirates

'But why did I transmigrate in such a situation where I can't even move?'

The thought kept plaguing Orion's mind as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.

He looked around and noticed that the room they were in had a musty smell, with the walls covered in moss and slime. The only light source was a small window high up on the wall, letting in a dim light that barely illuminated the room.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching, and a group of rough-looking men entered the room. They were dressed like pirates, with bandanas on their heads and swords at their hips. They looked menacing, and Orion felt a shiver run down his spine.

One of the pirates approached him and roughly pulled him to his feet. "Come on, you little brat. It's time to work," he growled. Orion stumbled and almost fell, but the pirate's grip on his arm was too tight.

The other pirates approached the kids in the room and opened their shackles.

They were then led out of the room and onto the deck of a ship. After that, all the pirates left Orion and the kids here.

Orion's heart raced as he looked around the ship, taking in the sails flapping in the wind and the salty smell of the sea. He couldn't believe that he was actually on a pirate ship.

His mind raced with questions—how did he transmigrate here? What would happen to him now?

As he looked around, he saw the crew members going about their duties, some scrubbing the deck, others hoisting the sails. They all seemed to be in a hurry, as if they were on a mission.

He tried to speak to one of the crew members, but they all ignored him as if he didn't exist. Orion felt a sinking feeling in his stomach—he was alone, with no one to turn to for help.

As the ship sailed on, he stood on the deck, lost in thought, trying to make sense of his situation. He wondered if this was all a dream or if he had actually transmigrated into another world. But one thing was certain: he had to find a way out, no matter what it took.

At this time, one of the pirates came towards Orion and the other kids. He looked at them with disdain.

"You kids are pathetic for getting caught by us," he sneered. "But if you do as you're told, we won't mistreat you. If you don't, well... you'll regret it."

All the kids's faces turned pale with fear as they heard the pirate's words, and some even took a step back.

'Have I been transmigrated into a slave here?'

Orion cursed his luck as he thought about this.

Even though he was almost twice the age of the other kids around him, he couldn't shake off the constant feeling of fear and anxiety that consumed him as he heard the pirate's words. His heart raced, his palms sweated, and his mind raced with negative thoughts.

Despite his best efforts to blend in and appear confident, he felt like an outsider and struggled to find peace within himself.

As he cast his gaze towards the other kids, fear and panic were evident in their eyes. Despite this, he couldn't help but notice the remarkable composure and self-control that they exhibited.

It was as if they had undergone extensive training to remain calm in such situations. Within moments, the frenzy had subsided, and the kids had regained their composure. Only some of them, while others were still trembling in fear.

At this moment, the pirate who talked to them previously continued.

"Now, you see those cleaning tools over there. Go and take them and start cleaning the whole ship."

All eyes shifted to where the pirate gestured, revealing a multitude of cleaning tools scattered in a corner of the ship.

"Now go and do your work."

The pirate at last ordered.

All the kids, Orion among them, felt powerless as they headed towards where the tools were placed. Upon reaching their destination, they individually chose cleaning tools for their own use. Choosing the most basic choice, Orion grabbed a broom.

Aware of the pirate's watchful gaze, Orion scanned the deck for a suitable area to clean.

However, he quickly realized that most of the surrounding surfaces were wet. Undeterred, he embarked on a thorough exploration of the ship until he discovered a spot where dust had accumulated.

Upon reaching the chosen spot, Orion swiftly wielded his broom, stealing occasional glances to ensure the pirate's attention had shifted. To his relief, the pirate eventually turned away and retreated inside the deck.

'Why am I so scared? I have probably already died earlier, so what's there to fear?'

Orion sought solace in contemplation, pondering his next steps. The prospect of enduring a life enslaved to pirates filled him with dread; the thought of an uncertain fate in this environment weighed heavily on his mind.

Lost in thought, Orion was startled when someone approached him from behind.

Turning around, he recognized the child as one of the kids who were shackled, but the expression on the kid's face was unsettling. Trembling and wide-eyed, as if he had witnessed a ghost, the kid pointed at Orion, his terror palpable.

"B-behind you."

Muffled words escaped the child's trembling lips, barely audible to Orion in their proximity.

However, this proximity also triggered a sense of foreboding within Orion, as he suddenly felt a wave of unease wash over him.

'Is something behind me?'

Inhaling deeply and with his heart pounding, he gradually shifted his body to confront whatever lurked behind him. While looking around, he saw something that terrified him and made him feel sick to his stomach.

He felt a surge of fear as his brain tried to make sense of what he was seeing. It felt as though he was in a nightmare, confronted by a twisted and grotesque figure lurking in the darkness, its eyes glaring at him with malicious intent.