King of the Sea

The artifact Poseidon. It is the ship's heart, and in a sense, the ship itself.

Normally, its blessing moves the rudder and provides power at our command. Even when all you can see is empty horizon, the altar's crystal reveals our position and that of other ships. No sextant required.

A ship that houses Poseidon does not permit enemies aboard.

Which is to say, when we pull alongside our prey, not a single enemy can board us. The only outsiders allowed aboard are those we drag in ourselves.

In other words, only prisoners we've already neutralized.

Besides detection and steering, it grants "absolute defense at sea."

It repels every attack, and even if ships ram us, we always come out on top. Anyone who tries to leap aboard and strike back is flung by an invisible force into the sea, reduced to foam.

The natural punishment for those who challenge the sea god.

Also, a ship with Poseidon is never attacked by sea monsters.

There are no fools in the sea who would dare assail "Poseidon," Goddess of the sea.

So there's no need for the monster-warding arrays normal transports must carry.

I, in short, am a king of the sea, acknowledged by the Goddess herself.

I was a king.

"W-what — the ship… the ship, the shiiip!?"

The vessel that was the source of that power wasn't just cut clean in two — it vanished.

"H-how!?"

And while we're at it, a cube had been cut out of the sea itself. The ship and a portion of the ocean were simply gone, leaving only me and my crew behind.

A few heartbeats later, we fell into the void left behind and — despite already being in the ocean — were crushed from every direction by walls of water rushing in to fill the gap. An impossible experience.

"Gublbl—glub—gyaa—!?"

My underlings were pressed together by the surging waves, crushed against one another.

Back off, you idiots! No way we can swim like this! I shoved the fools aside and struck for the surface.

Pah! I broke through and drew breath.

"W-what… what happened!?"

"My, my. As expected of the captain, you managed to get up on your own."

There, on a little rowboat, stood a woman looking down at me.

Who is she? What is she? The woman who vanished from the warehouse along with our cargo. The woman who humiliated me. The woman who threw a Golem with her bare hands.

… Huh? Why? How did it come to this? My brain can't keep up.

"Y-you! What did you do!? What grudge do you have against me!?"

"Eh? I don't have any particular grudge, but since I am a 'robber,' I figured I'd try robbing a ship too — just kidding! I told you I was hired by the owner, remember?"

She cackled.

Damn it! What's so funny!? It infuriates me to no end!!

"Give everything back right now! Do that and I'll forgive you! Hand over that boat too!"

"Ahaha, why? I don't need your forgiveness. Shoo, shoo."

Tch, she jabbed me with the oar whenever I tried to get close. She was mocking me!

"How about you dunk your head and cool off. You're the only one all hot and bothered, you know?"

I looked around at her words. My men were bobbing with their heads above water like me. Terrified. Utterly cowed.

"Do you understand where we are? This is the middle of the ocean."

"Exactly! Put it all back! Everything! Do that and I might even make you my woman!"

"Hah? Are you stupid? That's your idea of negotiating? Do artifacts rot your brain the more you use them? Is that the price for wielding a god's power?"

"Hmph! That's right. I don't know what cheap tricks you pulled, but I've got the sea god, the invincible Poseidon on my—"

Poseidon is a ship.

And the ship is gone. Gone. G-gone!?

"Ahhh!? That's right! H-hey, give it back! That's my ship! That's a god's power! That's my power!!"

"Eeh, you're only figuring that out now?"

"If you return the ship and the cargo everything will be solved! Give it back! Give it baaaack!!!"

"Honestly, the fact that you can shout that much in this situation is almost impressive."

She sighed at my nonsensical demands.

I mean, I'm begging her this much. Of course she should return it!

Why won't she give it back!?

"Hey, you lot. Anyone who begs for their life, I'll carry you to that ship you can see over there."

She pointed. In the distance was our prey — the ship that should have been our prey.

"Ha! The proud Gomezti Pirates won't beg—"

"P-please save meee!"

"Me too! I don't wanna die!"

"You bastards!? Who said you could beg some random woman!?"

Treading water, I punched one of the cowards.

"Shut up! There's no ship! You're not our captain anymore!"

"What!?"

The lackey punched me back. Impossible! But I'm the captain! R-ridiculous…