Chapter 1: Wide Seas and a Lost Heart!

"W-why is this happening?"

Darkness... Darkness all around consumed him, as he couldn't see anything.

"When did things go wrong?"

His body was squeezed down as if it were barely fitting inside of a container.

Huff Huff

"Did you hear something?" A voice was heard close as the young man forcibly shut himself down and stopped breathing even when he had almost no air.

"No, did you?" another voice replied.

"It felt like someone was breathing nearby, but it might have just been you." 

"Hmm..." Before the two could think further...

"'Ey Lads, Get over here NOW!"

"Aye!!" Without wasting a single second, the duo ran as fast as they could so as to not anger the one who shouted.

HUFF HUFF HUFF*

17 years!

It's been 17 years since I woke up in this accursed world as a baby, and I have yet to live a peaceful day!

Why? Just why? What did I do wrong? Can't I finally have some peace after the hardships I led on earth?

Just where is this? Swordsmanship capable of cutting trees, people with heads shaped like pineapples, kids with voices that can make the earth tremble, babies the size of a house... Just... Where am I?

What is a normal person from here? What is a normal person even supposed to do in this situation?

It was a miracle that I even managed to live for 17 years, and now that I thought it was finally over...

I had to hide inside this colossal ship?

Indeed, this young man, a reincarnator from earth whose name is Ken, was inside a ship the size of an island.

'Did they leave?' Finally not hearing any voices near, the young man started having thoughts of leaving.

It has been long since he had the time to sit and think about the unfortunate life he has been experiencing, but now it was time to end it.

He had to not even be heard in this ship; otherwise, the weakest guard can split his head with his bare hands.

Was the whole world like this, or was he just unfortunate? Were all people this strong and crazy? Were all the islands supposed to have never-ending wars?

'It doesn't matter.' He thought. His eyes that were darker than the abyss of the wooden container he was in seemed resolute.

'I... Refuse to die!' He shouted in his mind.

He lifted the lid of the container just a bit, then, once he saw no one, he left.

"Finally!" Breathing heavily, his face showed no sign of happiness as he was still cautious.

He wasn't sure, but this place sure as hell is important.

It has been 5 days. 5 whole days! And it's the first time those guards left.

Sure, they sometimes left, but there was always one left to guard the room. This was the reason he thought so.

"What to do now?" he thought to himself.

First, he looked back at the container. He took the lid and put it back on, then he looked around the room.

In multiple containers like the one he was in, there were also some weapons, some food, some rust, a lot of gold, like a shit ton of gold, and on top of it all, there was a small chest.

"A chest, huh?" He looked at it and thought.

"What do I do? I don't have much time, and I don't know how much time it will take for those guys to come back." He thought.

Not to mention... He looked at the door.

He has no way to leave; he could hear voices outside, though far it didn't make things easier for him, and he also had no way to know the layout of this huge boat. It sure as hell only has the crew members, and they should know each other.

"Should I?" He thought to himself.

He knew nothing about this crew nor this boat, but the distance he crossed after they caught him up from the sea to get to this room was MASSIVE.

Were the pirates good-willed? Were they evil? Were they famous? Were they infamous? He knew nothing, and this was the worst thing that could happen to anyone.

Lack of information was a curse and a blade that would cut your head if you didn't actively try to gain more information.

"Whatever happens, one thing I'm sure of is that I won't be leaving this ship anytime soon." 

"That being said, before I decide if I take the chest or not, I should check this room more thoroughly; maybe I will find some clues." 

And so Ken started to search; he found swords, one of them which he liked a lot but decided not to take, at least not yet.

He didn't know what was important and what didn't matter, so he couldn't just recklessly take anything; otherwise they might find him, and before he's fully ready to leave, they shouldn't even now that he exists.

He also found some armor, some scrolls, some books, and weapons in abundance, second only to gold. Then the serious stuff:

There was a small boat! Indeed, a small boat is inside this room. Though it wasn't a huge room compared to the entire ship, it was still huge; after all, this room was the treasury of the crew.

Everything important aside from the captain's own treasures could be found here. The valuables of all crew members and even those belonging to the entire crew. It was simply phenomenal.

The result of dozens of years of piracy was nothing to scoff at, and Ken experienced this firsthand.

Thus, looking at a corner where some food and water were preserved, he made up his mind.

He would hide here and gain enough information till he was ready.

And just as he thought of that, the crew members returned. He hid in a pile of gold and made a hole to see and hear well.

Starting now, this young man would become this ship's rat.

-----End-----

The second chapter will be released today on my Patreon. Check it out if you want to read early chapters and support this poor author.

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The quality of the story is guaranteed, and the events from here will not be mediocre—that much I can tell as an author with 5 years of experience.