The Life on a ship in Middle of Sea

Fujimaru Ritsuka's POV

I stared at the boy in front of me, dumbfounded.

"...What?"

I must have misheard.

Working as part of a ship's crew? That was definitely not the answer I had expected.

Beside me, Mash looked just as shocked. She turned to me as if seeking confirmation, as if asking whether we were seriously going to consider this request.

I swallowed hard, trying to make sense of the situation.

Honestly, if this Rider had demanded something more complicated—like a magic contract or payment in mana—I wouldn't have been too surprised. But… working as part of a ship's crew?

That made no sense.

"…Sorry, but are you serious?" I finally asked, trying to keep my voice neutral.

Rider shrugged casually. "Of course. I wouldn't say something like this if I wasn't serious."

I glanced at Mash again. She looked a bit uneasy but remained silent.

In my head, I could hear Dr. Roman's voice through the communicator, sounding just as confused.

—"Uh… I didn't expect this. Usually, the Servants we meet tend to ask for a duel or a test of strength before they agree to cooperate. But this… this feels more like a job negotiation?"

I couldn't deny it. This situation was definitely strange.

At the same time… it wasn't the worst offer we could have received.

As a Master, I had encountered all kinds of Servants—those who attacked me on sight, those who tested me with riddles, and those who outright refused to cooperate. Compared to all that, this Rider's request seemed fairly mild.

But… still.

I stared at him intently, trying to figure out if there was some hidden meaning behind his confident smile.

"What's your reason for asking us to work as crew members?" I finally asked.

Rider kept smiling, as if he had anticipated my question.

"No particular reason," he replied nonchalantly. "I just think… if you want to be on my ship, then it's only natural for you to contribute."

"Contribute…" I repeated the word, still trying to understand his perspective.

"That's right." He crossed his arms over his chest. "Besides, you and that shield girl don't look like the type to just sit around and wait for something to happen, do you?"

Mash flinched slightly at his words, and I felt a bit called out as well.

Well… he wasn't wrong.

I took a deep breath, thinking quickly.

We were on this ship with limited options. If we refused, there was a good chance we'd be thrown overboard or abandoned somewhere. But if we accepted…

"…What exactly would we be doing if we agreed?" I asked.

Rider seemed pleased by my question. "Oh? So you're starting to consider it?"

I didn't answer, just waited for him to continue.

He chuckled before responding, "Relax, I won't make you do hard labor like hauling crates or scrubbing the deck."

He turned to Mash. "You're a fighter, aren't you? Then your job is simple: stand guard in case of any threats."

Mash nodded slightly, seeming a bit more at ease after hearing that.

Then Rider looked at me. "And you… well, you're a Master, so I suppose you can act as my advisor."

I blinked. "Advisor?"

Rider laughed. "Of course. I want to learn more about Chaldea and why you're here. And I figured, who better to explain it than you?"

I remained silent for a moment, considering his words.

Honestly, his request made a lot of sense. There didn't seem to be any hidden traps, and he wasn't demanding anything unreasonable.

I glanced at Mash again. She was waiting for my decision.

After thinking for a moment, I finally let out a sigh.

"…Alright."

Rider grinned. "Great. That means, from now on, you're part of my ship's crew."

I had no idea whether this decision would benefit us or lead to more trouble later on.

But for now…

I could only go along with the flow.

---

The Next Morning.

The warmth of sunlight filtering through the wooden planks woke me from a sleep that felt far too short.

I stretched slightly, trying to ease the stiffness in my body after spending the night on the ship's hard bed.

The sound of small footsteps running outside the cabin was loud, given that the ship's walls weren't very thick. Combined with the sound of waves crashing against the hull, I knew that morning had arrived, and life on the ship had begun once again.

I took a deep breath before finally sitting up on the bed. Mash was still asleep, her breathing steady and her face peaceful. I didn't want to wake her, so I tried to move quietly as I got up and adjusted my clothes.

The moment I opened the cabin door, the sea breeze greeted me. The golden morning light bathed the ship's deck, creating a serene and slightly magical atmosphere. However, that atmosphere was quickly disrupted by the bustling activity of the ship's crew—all of whom were small girls dressed in sailor uniforms—busily going about their tasks.

One of them, a blonde girl wearing an oversized sailor hat, ran up to me with a bright smile.

"Good morning, Fujimaru-dono!" she called cheerfully.

I nodded, rubbing my still-heavy eyes. "Good morning… You're all up early and already working, huh?"

"Of course!" she said proudly. "This ship won't run itself, so everyone has their own job to do!"

I smiled slightly, but before I could say anything else, someone tugged at the hem of my shirt from behind. I turned to see a small silver-haired girl with big blue eyes staring at me with a serious expression.

"The Captain wants you to help with food supplies today," she said simply.

I blinked a few times, processing the information. "Oh… Okay. Where should I go?"

Without saying anything else, the little girl turned around and started walking, as if expecting me to follow her. I could only let out a small sigh and follow her steps toward the lower deck of the ship, preparing myself for my first task of the day.

I followed the silver-haired little girl to the lower part of the ship, where the food supplies were stored. The air here was slightly more humid compared to the upper deck, with the scent of old wood mixed with a slight hint of sea salt. The light filtering in through small openings in the ship's walls provided enough illumination, though the room still felt darker than the upper deck.

Several other little girls had already gathered there, each busy with their respective tasks. Some were checking barrels filled with water, others were counting sacks of grain, while a few were carrying crates of fruits and vegetables that seemed to have just been retrieved from a deeper storage area.

I stood awkwardly in the middle of the room before the little girl who had brought me here looked at me with a serious expression.

"Your task is simple," she said. "We need someone to record the amount of food supplies left. Make sure everything is counted correctly, or we might run out of provisions in the middle of the sea."

I nodded, feeling relieved that the job didn't sound too difficult. "Alright, I understand."

She handed me a piece of paper and a pen, then pointed to several crates and sacks around me. "Start from here."

I immediately crouched down and opened one of the crates. It was filled with potatoes, still fresh and seemingly harvested just a few days ago. I began counting them one by one, carefully noting the numbers on the paper she had given me.

As I was busy counting, another little girl—with curly brown hair and a red scarf—peeked from behind a crate, her eyes full of curiosity.

"Hey, Fujimaru-dono!" she said cheerfully. "Who do you think is stronger, a shark or a whale?"

I looked up, slightly surprised by the sudden question. "Uh… a whale, maybe? They're bigger, right?"

The girl nodded quickly. "That's right! But in terms of ferocity, sharks are scarier!"

I chuckled before continuing my work, but the girl didn't leave. Instead, she sat on one of the crates, swinging her legs while continuing to chatter about battles between sharks and whales.

Although a bit distracting, I didn't mind. This atmosphere felt… peaceful. Unlike the battles and Singularities that were always filled with danger, here I was just a crew member doing simple tasks.

After about half an hour, I finally finished recording the food supplies. I handed the paper back to the little girl who had brought me here. She examined it briefly, then nodded in satisfaction.

"Good," she said. "No mistakes."

I let out a relieved sigh. "So, I'm done?"

She stared at me for a moment before finally giving a small nod. "For now, yes."

I felt relieved, but also a little curious. "So… what should I do next?"

The little girl looked at me again with an unreadable expression. Then, without answering, she turned around and walked away.

I could only stand there, confused, as the sound of her small footsteps faded into the ship's corridor.

I didn't know what would happen next, but one thing was certain—life on this ship was far more interesting than I had expected.

After handing over the supply records, I was finally allowed to leave the storage room. I walked through the ship's narrow corridor, feeling the gentle sway of the vessel as it moved along with the ocean waves. Compared to the slightly damp and dim atmosphere below, I was starting to miss the fresh breeze of the upper deck.

A wooden staircase at the end of the corridor led me back to the surface. As soon as I opened the door, the afternoon sunlight greeted me, making me squint slightly. The sky was still bright blue, with hints of orange beginning to appear on the horizon, signaling that the sun would soon set.

A gentle sea breeze blew, carrying the distinct scent of salt and waves. I took a deep breath, enjoying the freshness after spending quite some time below deck.

On the deck, the atmosphere was as busy as ever. The little girls who made up the ship's crew moved swiftly, some adjusting the sails while others tied ropes around the ship's mast. Despite their small stature, they worked efficiently, as if this routine was second nature to them.

I walked further toward the center of the deck, trying to find someone who could tell me what to do next. However, before I could ask, a small burst of laughter sounded from behind me.

I turned around and saw several little girls sitting together near the ship's railing, seemingly taking a short break. One of them—a short-haired blonde girl with bright green eyes—noticed me and immediately waved.

"Fujimaru-dono! Have you finished your first task?" she asked enthusiastically.

I nodded. "Yeah, I just finished."

She grinned widely. "Great! How was it, working on our ship?"

I thought for a moment before answering, "A lot busier than I expected, but… fun."

The other little girls giggled at my response. One of them, wearing a red bandana, leaned forward. "In that case, get ready! There's still plenty of work waiting!"

I chuckled softly, though deep down, I wondered what else I would have to do today. However, before I could think further, a familiar voice suddenly called out from above.

"Heh… So you've started getting used to life on this ship, huh?"

I looked up and saw our captain—Rider—standing at the ship's helm with his arms crossed. His long white hair fluttered in the wind, and his blue eyes studied me with a curious expression.

I raised my head, gazing at Rider, who stood above the ship's helm with a relaxed expression. His sharp blue eyes gleamed as if assessing my progress since this morning.

"I guess so," I replied with a shrug. "Though I didn't expect life on a ship to be this busy."

Rider chuckled. "Did you think you could just laze around here?" He jumped down from the helm with a light movement, landing on the deck in front of me. "This ship is always moving, and its crew must stay busy too. Otherwise, we could all be in danger in the middle of the vast ocean."

I nodded, understanding his point. On a ship, there was no time for idleness. Everyone—or in this case, all the little girls who made up the crew—had their own duties to ensure the ship functioned properly.

"But still, you seem to be adapting quite quickly," Rider continued, his eyes still on me. "Maybe you have a talent for being a sailor?"

I chuckled at that. "I don't know… But I'm more used to battles on land than at sea."

"Of course," he replied with a half-mocking tone. "As a Master, you're surely used to the battlefield. But here, you're part of the crew. You need to learn how to survive at sea as well."

I looked at him for a moment before finally smiling slightly. "I understand, Captain."

The small crew members who overheard our conversation chuckled softly. One of them, wearing a beret, nodded enthusiastically. "That's right! If Fujimaru-dono can master life on the ship, maybe one day he could become a captain too!"

Rider laughed louder this time. "Hah! That would be an interesting sight!"

He patted my shoulder casually. "But before that, you still have other tasks to complete."

I let out a small sigh, knowing that the work was far from over. "Alright, so what's the next task?"

Rider smiled meaningfully. "For now, you can rest for a bit. But not for too long," he pointed toward the horizon, where the sky was starting to turn a golden orange. "Once the sun sets, we'll face something far more interesting."

I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean…?"

He simply gave a mysterious smile. "Just wait, you'll find out soon enough."

The sea breeze blew gently between us again. I looked into Rider's confident eyes, feeling that the adventure aboard this ship was only just beginning.

I gazed at Rider with growing curiosity. His words seemed to hold something that couldn't be easily explained—something I could only understand if I waited.

But before I could ask more, one of the small crew members approached quickly. The girl wore a red scarf that fluttered slightly in the sea breeze, and the serious look on her face indicated that something important was happening.

"Captain," she called out, her voice firm yet slightly soft. "The sky is changing colors—we need to get ready."

I glanced at the horizon, and sure enough—the sun was setting, leaving streaks of red and orange in the sky. The colors were beautiful, but for some reason, a strange feeling stirred in my chest.

Rider nodded slowly before turning back to me. "Well, Fujimaru. You've rested enough, haven't you?"

I sighed and nodded. "I suppose so. So, what happens after the sun sets?"

Rider grinned, his expression full of anticipation. "When night falls, this sea will reveal its true face."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

But before he could answer, another voice cut into our conversation.

"Captain! Something's moving in the water!"

I immediately turned to the crew member who shouted. Several other small girls also ran to the side of the ship, staring at the ocean's surface, which was starting to ripple unnaturally.

Rider remained silent for a moment. He simply stood in place, observing the sea with a sharp gaze.

Then, in a calm yet clear voice, he spoke.

"Prepare yourselves."

I swallowed hard, feeling the sudden tension in the air.

It seemed that tonight would be far from peaceful.

I stepped closer to the ship's edge, following the gaze of the small crew members who were watching the ocean's surface warily. The ripples in the water, which had been faint before, were now more pronounced, forming an unnatural pattern.

I could feel the air growing colder. The once-calm waves began to move more wildly, and for some reason, I could sense something watching us from the depths.

"Report!" one of the small blonde-haired girls shouted. "Something is emerging from the ocean floor! There's more than one!"

I frowned, trying to get a clearer look at the darkening water as the sun continued to set.

Rider remained calm, one hand resting on his hip while his eyes stayed locked onto the sea.

"This sea is no ordinary body of water," he said, his voice light but firm. "When night falls, creatures that shouldn't exist in this world begin to appear."

I swallowed hard. "What kind of creatures?"

That was when the water's surface suddenly broke, and something emerged from within.

A massive black tentacles with a slick body and glowing red eyes revealed itself, letting out a thunderous roar that echoed across the sea. Saltwater sprayed into the air, soaking the ship's deck and causing some of the small crew members to take a few steps back.

I felt my body tense. "That—"

"Sea Demons," Rider interrupted, his voice still calm even as more of the creatures surfaced one after another. "They hunt ships at night."

I turned to him in shock. "And you're only telling me this now?!"

Rider just chuckled lightly. "If I told you earlier, it wouldn't have been as fun, would it?"

I took a deep breath. Of course, he still had time to joke at a time like this.

"But don't worry," he continued, now with a more serious tone. "You wanted to know what life on this ship is like? Well, this is part of your first lesson as a crew member."

I raised an eyebrow. "First lesson…?"

Rider grinned. "How to Fight in the middle of Sea."

I turned back toward the creatures. Their numbers were growing, and from their aggressive movements, it was clear they wouldn't let us leave easily.

I clenched my fists. "Alright, if that's what I have to do!"

Rider chuckled again before stepping forward. "Good. Then let's show them that this ship won't sink so easily!"

And with that, the battle on the night sea began.

***

Author note:

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