In the center of a burning town reduced to ruins, the raucous laughter of pirates echoed through the wind.
"Great sir!"
Lowering his head, Gera pushed aside the young man next to him. With fear and feigned flattery, he hurried toward the pirate captain, Sator.
"Sir, we truly don't have that much money. How about this? We will give you everything we have—15 million berries—and let the women of our town make sacrifices for the greater good. Please, I beg you, show us mercy!"
Once again, Gera fell to the ground before Sator, trembling as if paralyzed with fear, his body bowing low.
"Hahaha!"
Sator, usually calm and composed, suddenly burst into laughter. To the astonishment of his crew, he approached Gera without caution. The pirates' laughter abruptly ceased, leaving only Sator's voice carried by the wind.
His crew, who had always seen him as a cold, calculating leader, instinctively stepped back. Under Sator's command, they had conquered eleven towns, witnessing him maintain an icy demeanor during their revelry. The only times he showed emotion were when towns burned or screams filled the air—and when he slaughtered without hesitation.
But now, the once-untouchable captain was laughing carelessly and approaching an enemy.
Gera, sensing his chance, gripped a concealed dagger tightly. With a swift motion, he thrust it at Sator.
Shlick!
Guided by the wind, the dagger that should have merely wounded Sator's abdomen pierced upward from his lower torso to his head. Blood gushed from Sator's split body, staining Gera red. The pirate captain collapsed lifelessly, disbelief frozen on his face.
Staring at his bloodied hands, Gera felt as though the dagger had slid through butter. He couldn't believe he had killed someone as powerful as Sator so effortlessly.
"He killed Captain Sator!"
"Get him! Whoever avenges the captain will be the next leader!"
The pirates' cries snapped Gera out of his stupor. As a horde of pirates charged toward him, he wiped the blood from his face and charged forward with the dagger, meeting their weapons head-on.
Behind him, townsfolk who had been paralyzed with fear now rose up. Armed with stones, sticks, or even bare hands, they joined the fray. What followed was a lopsided battle as though the townspeople were blessed by divine favor.
A gentle wind surrounded the villagers, enhancing their speed and providing a protective barrier. Pirate weapons were deflected by unseen forces, and the pirates themselves struggled to move as if their limbs were weighed down.
Within moments, the pirates were routed, screaming as they fled. Gera, wielding a stolen longsword and mace, pursued them relentlessly. Despite his age, he became a force of nature, cutting down the fleeing pirates as though harvesting crops. The remaining pirates, slowed by the mysterious wind, fell one by one.
With the final pirate defeated, Gera discarded his weapons and turned to the villagers who had fought beside him. These were brave men and women who had risen to defend their home, united in courage.
Gripping his weapon tightly, Gera looked toward the now-smoldering town.
"Everyone! We've defeated the pirates and protected our home!" he declared, raising his weapon high. The winds carried the melody of a lyre, a song of true freedom, courage, and defiance against tyranny.
With newfound determination, Gera addressed the crowd. "This time, we defended our town with courage and the wind's protection. But what about the next time?"
He paused, letting the question sink in. "We must reflect deeply."
Raising the sword and mace, Gera took a deep breath. "I propose we form a defense force for our town. Our mission will be simple: to protect our home! We will harm no one, succumb to no evil desires, and hold fast to the resolve we feel now—to safeguard our loved ones and our town!"
Turning to the townsfolk gathering from every corner, Gera's expression grew solemn. "From this day forward, our town will rise from the ashes. Because the wind has shielded us and given us new life, we shall call our home the Town of the Wind."
The gentle breeze brushed over the cheering villagers, carrying their joy to distant places.
Across the South Sea, similar scenes unfolded. The wind protected the courageous, enabling them to overthrow their oppressors. Pirate ships, stained with malice and blood, were smashed by waves conjured by the storm. As the sea calmed, only the wind and the tranquil blue ocean remained.
"Oh wow~" Kazuma Sato sat cross-legged in midair, watching the rising and falling winds. Raising an eyebrow, he turned to Venti. "I thought you said your powers were diminished because you'd been sleeping!"
Propping his chin on his hand, Kazuma sighed in boredom. "So, we're just here to be bystanders, huh? Hey, Huihui, want to go fishing? I saw plenty of fish down there."
Huihui's eyes lit up. She'd resisted joining Klee's recent fishing trip to maintain her older sister image, but now the idea thrilled her. Nodding eagerly, she said, "Sure, let's see your fishing skills today!"
Pulling out a fishing rod, Kazuma landed on the sea's surface, while Huihui prepared her explosive magic with visible excitement.
Above them, Venti listened to the wind's whispers, smiling faintly.
"Freedom isn't about indulging in unchecked desires," he mused. "True freedom lies in choosing one's path within the bounds of reason."