MTFBMP Chapter 25

“I don’t want to start at the bottom and do the dirty work. I’ll just help out in the kitchen a little around meal times.”

 

“When you say kitchen work, do you mean you want to cook?”

 

“Serving, yes. That’s what inn work is all about.”

 

I shrugged, trying to feign nonchalance.

 

As long as I could get into the kitchen, I didn’t care what they asked me to do. The kitchen was the best place for me to keep an eye on Rhodon, or more precisely, to keep an eye on all the sailors on the ship.

 

No one lives without eating.

 

Fortunately, Dion didn’t seem particularly suspicious of me.

 

“Sounds good, but if you’re not comfortable, just let me know.”

 

Without any further convincing, the offer was easily accepted.

 

“I’ll make sure to get you settled right away, and I’ll let you know what time to get up.”

 

“Alright. Please.”

 

With that, Dion left the room.

 

“Whoa.”

 

To say I wasn’t tense was an understatement. Jade walked to my side as I let out a deep breath.

 

During my last conversation with Dion, Jade had apparently found the contract form I needed.

 

“What you’re looking for is here.”

 

I sat up and looked up at Jade. I could feel the disapproval in his eyes, as if he didn’t feel the need to be polite at all.

 

It could be interpreted as the look of someone you don’t fully trust, but I’ve decided I don’t fully trust Jade either. We’re both on the same page.

 

“Thank you.”

 

I took the parchment from Jade’s hand, trying to suppress my unease.

 

It was definitely inferior to the parchment I’d seen earlier. Maybe this one was a little more like the parchment I usually use?

 

Dion must have prepared my contract separately.

 

The handwriting on it was also completely different. This contract was probably written by Jade. I handed the parchment back after checking everything over.

 

Jade took one look at the parchment and pushed it toward me.

 

“I don’t mind if you take it.”

 

“No. One look is enough for me.”

 

“If there’s anything else you want to ask, now’s the time.”

 

As Jade took the parchment back, I spoke up again, “So, is there anything else I should be extra careful about on this ship? Places I shouldn’t go, things I shouldn’t touch.”

 

The dungeons, the beasts trapped there.

 

If the secret marketplace was their final destination, it would be rather disconcerting not to wonder what they’re trying to trade. It’s better to ask now than later, to arouse less suspicion.

 

“There’s no place on this ship you can’t go, Anthele.”

 

“Does that mean I can wander around to my heart’s content? As long as I don’t interfere with navigation.”

 

“Yes. If a door is open, please feel free to use it. Those that don’t allow you to visit will lock their doors.”

 

He sounded like he knew something, somehow.

 

“Now, if you’ll excuse me?”

 

Jade gave me a final polite bow and stepped out of my way. It was a polite parting of ways.

 

With those words, the last of the birds perched on the window sill flew away.

 

Only the clatter of food filled the cabin.

 

✨ 

 

When I returned to my cabin, I stood against the door, unable to take a step, and swallowed a scream.

 

‘Adelaine!’

 

Instead, I called out to the object of my anger.

 

Tap, tap, tap!

 

The rats spotted me and quickly disappeared around the corner as if they had accomplished their mission.

 

It’s not that I was afraid of the rats on the ship. 

 

Sure, they startled me, but I’d seen them countless times in the inn. The problem was the other animal that came with it.

 

“You didn’t come after me, did you?”

 

Bleep—

 

I whispered, and the ghost bird in front of me let out a small cry.

 

I’d had a bad feeling about this since the birds had been hovering in the cabin. Perhaps Adelaine had attached this bird to me.

 

“We’ve only just parted ways.”

 

I raised my voice as if addressing Adelaine. The ghost bird just shook its head in innocent disbelief.

 

Whether it was Adelaine in there now or the ghost bird itself, I couldn’t tell. I squinted and looked at the bird.

 

It felt like I was looking at a living crystal ball.

 

“How did you get here without being seen?”

 

I asked the ghost bird half-heartedly.

 

The ghost bird understood me and turned itself completely invisible, then hopped on its thin bird legs on the wooden floor with a chirping sound.

 

“You can’t even fly yet.”

 

It was too young to have learned to fly. My heart sank.

 

‘Of course, parrots on shoulders are a staple of pirate stories.’

 

This wasn’t even a parrot. It’s a bird whose natural habitat lies near graves, and it would frighten the sailors if it were found wandering outside. 

 

If they saw it hovering around me, they might get the wrong idea.

 

‘At best, I have a new plan.’

 

For now, I realized, I couldn’t leave him here.

 

“Come here.”

 

Sitting down on my knees, I opened the bag I was carrying by my side and called the ghost bird. 

 

The bird flew straight into my bag. It was so small that it fit perfectly in my bag.

 

Its blue flames seemed out of place among the golden coins.

 

The blue flashed against the gold, especially on Simon’s coin, the coin that had been recovered from Adelaine.

 

‘Adelaine’s beast’s paw would have to be about the size of that light.’

 

It was a new realization.

 

‘Then…’

 

I gently scratched under the ghostbird’s beak, then pulled out the coin beneath it and squeezed it. Next, I placed my other hand over it.

 

“A man’s hand is as strong as two hands put together, but the light pierces through.”

 

It was a special coin in more ways than one.

 

“Not today, I’ll take you back tomorrow.”

 

Chirp!

 

“Shh, shh!”

 

The bird cried twice, in a high-pitched cry, and I gasped and closed the bag, afraid that the sound might escape. Thankfully, there were no other chirps.

 

“Be quiet.”

 

I peeked the bag open again and set it on a nearby table. Then, after a moment’s hesitation, I took off my hat and covered the round window. 

 

The cabin soon became dark.

 

Next, I went to my bunk and lay down. I was so tired.

 

“Let’s get some rest.”

 

The little bird in my bag seemed to understand and stayed quiet. As soon as the cabin was silent, I dozed off.

 

“I shouldn’t be asleep yet.”

 

When I muttered, the ghost bird flicked its head once and emitted a soft glow from its body, filling the cabin with blue glitter on the walls as if it had a full-scale LED lamp on.

 

It was like stepping into the depths of the ocean. It was beautiful enough to make me forget my troubles.

 

The ghost bird made eye contact with me. The depth of the gaze seemed different, like it belonged to someone other than the bird I’d seen earlier. Perhaps it was Adelaine.

 

“I’m only going once a day, that’s it for today.”

 

With those words, I closed my eyes tightly, refusing to listen to any arguments. A blue glow formed within my eyelids.

 

“I promise, no more, not today…”

 

I said the word promise in my sleep.

 

The lights swirled around me, and I dreamed I was flying through the night sky. I’m not sure what I was riding in my dream.

 

That’s how I came up with the timetable for my daily visits to Adelaine.

 

✨ 

 

The next day. I set out for Adelaine at dawn, before the sun had even risen.

 

“I was told I could enter any open door.”

 

It took me only a few trips to the basement before I became brazen. It was almost as if Jade had given permission.

 

The problem was, that Adelaine had become brazen, too.

 

— There was no other beast that could escape this place but him.

 

I heard Adelaine’s voice behind me as I placed the ghost bird back in its cage and tended to it. He was still in his animal form.

 

— I can’t help it, can I? You wouldn’t come here if I didn’t welcome you.

 

I hadn’t done anything wrong, but I’d been through this before, and I didn’t know what to say.

 

“Is there any other way to do this?”

 

If I didn’t answer, he’d keep switching beasts and sending them to me.

 

— Hmm.

 

“I don’t like rats either, I’ll be working in the kitchen from now on, and they don’t look good for hygiene.”

 

I tugged at my cloak as Adelaine deliberated.