---

In the fading consciousness, Gale reminisced about that day.

Whoosh—

“I want to entrust this child to you.”

Yes. It was a night of pouring rain.

A woman cloaked in a robe came to find Gale.

Though her face was hidden under a deep hood, Gale knew who she was.

“Mei, you… How did you get here…?”

“Hehe… There’s always a way.”

“You’re really unstoppable… No wonder they call you a troublemaker. Come in and let’s talk.”

“No. I can’t stay long. So…”

What Mei held out was a small basket.

“I’m entrusting this child to you.”

“A child…?”

Out of nowhere, inside the basket was a newborn baby wrapped in a blanket, breathing softly.

The baby slept like an angel descended from heaven. Gale stared blankly for a moment, then a thought struck him.

As he reached out his finger toward the baby, he realized. The magical energy flowing from the baby was the same as his own.

“……This child, could it be?!”

“Sorry. I only found out not long after you left.”

Though Mei’s expression was hidden, her voice carried a complex emotion.

“Send the child to an institution. I’m a fugitive; I can’t raise her.”

“Mei…”

There were many things Gale wanted to ask, like what had happened. But what came out of his mouth was something else.

“Would you… consider being my concubine? Then we could raise this child together.”

“……Don’t say things you don’t mean. Do you think your wife would just stand by? Even if we managed, how long do you think we could hide my identity?”

“Still, if I intervene…”

“No. If I stay, it will only bring harm to you and the child. Besides… You know someone as free-spirited as me isn’t suited for marriage, Gale.”

“……”

“So don’t make that face, Gale.”

Without a mirror, Gale couldn’t see what expression he was making.

But it certainly wasn’t a good one.

The look on Mei’s face as she gazed at him wasn’t good either.

“It’s shameless of me, but I’m asking you. I’m a criminal with no place in this country, but this child isn’t. She at least deserves to live an ordinary life.”

Gale had no choice but to agree with Mei’s words.

Gale stared at the small life in his hands. A baby no bigger than the palm of his large hand.

Does the blood of the Wolfbert family flow in this child?

With that thought, Gale felt a sense of responsibility.

“Mei… Maible.”

“Huh? Why are you suddenly calling me by my real name so seriously?”

“Can you show me your face after all this time?”

“……”

After a brief hesitation, Mei removed the hood she had pulled over her head. Revealed was the face of a woman with short purple hair.

Despite a large scar by her eye, she was quite beautiful.

“…Satisfied?”

Gale took a good look at Mei’s face.

To not forget the face of the only rival he acknowledged, the savior of his life, and the woman he loved.

And he made a vow.

“Maible… I will register you as my concubine in the family records. And I will raise this child as my daughter.”

“What?!”

“I can’t put a child with Wolfbert blood in some institution. And to raise this child in our family, I need you.”

“You stubborn… What part of what I said did you not… Ugh…”

Mei let out a deep sigh.

It wasn’t that she didn’t understand his feelings.

But she wasn’t destined to stay by his side.

“Fine. If it has to be this way, then let me be dead to the world… That would be best for both of us.”

“If it’s because you’re a criminal, I can do something…”

“Don’t be stubborn. Sure, you could probably manage something. But I’m… not just any ordinary criminal, am I?”

Mei said with a bitter smile.

“What a funny fate. I never thought I, a navy officer, and you would end up like this…”

“Yeah. I never thought you’d be the infamous pirate Maible…”

If one were to name the most famous pirate in the empire, it would undoubtedly be Maible.

The queen of pirates who ruled the nearby seas and commanded numerous pirate crews.

Naturally, she was also the greatest enemy of the imperial navy led by Gale.

“Don’t you think about quitting piracy now? I can arrange a new identity for you.”

“That’s impossible. If I could have, I would have quit long ago. And noble life doesn’t suit me.”

“I guess so…”

Gale looked bitterly at the baby wrapped in the blanket.

Amid the pouring rain, the baby slept oblivious to the world, looking every bit like a newborn.

“Isn’t she cute?”

“…Her mouth looks just like yours.”

“Hehe… Her ears are just like yours. Oh, but I hope she doesn’t take too much after you. Poor girl.”

“So it’s a girl… Does she have a name?”

“Helga.”

Gale mulled over the name for a moment before speaking.

“Of all names, you had to give her a pirate-like one.”

“It’s my mother’s name.”

“……Actually, I think it’s a good name.”

“But my mother was a pirate.”

“…What?!”

“Pfft! Look at your face!”

Mei laughed, amused by Gale’s expression.

Then she kissed her young daughter’s forehead.

Watching Helga stir in her sleep, Mei spoke softly.

“This child is the most precious treasure I’ve found in my pirate life. A treasure beyond compare… the treasure of treasures.”

“……”

Now, Gale could understand Mei’s feelings as she had to leave her daughter behind.

Perhaps she too foresaw a long separation. Despite her efforts to appear cheerful, deep sorrow was evident on her face.

But only for a moment. Mei swallowed her sorrow and wiped it from her face.

Her face returned to that of Maible, the queen of pirates.

“Well, it’s time. I’ll be going now.”

“…Mei. When will I see you again?”

Mei pulled her hood back on and said.

“Hmm… Maybe in about three years.”

“Three years…”

“Don’t worry. For this child’s sake, I’ll come back. She’s more precious to me than anyone.”

“I’ll raise her well, so you won’t be ashamed.”

“Enough. Raise her as a child should be raised. If you do anything strange, you’ll hear from me.”

“Hmph… Be careful. Don’t cross paths with me at sea.”

“Heh… You should be the one careful.”

With those final words, Mei disappeared into the pouring rain.

And that was the last time Gale saw her.

A few years later, the pirate crew she led was utterly annihilated by the imperial navy.

Mei’s body… was never found.

*

“Father.”

“…?!”

At Helga’s voice, Gale snapped back to reality.

He was kneeling on the sandy beach, battered and bruised.

It didn’t take long for Gale to understand the situation.

“Did I lose…?”

The first defeat of his life.

And to think it would be at the hands of his own daughter.

“…How long was I out?”

“About ten seconds?”

Helga, looking down at the kneeling Gale, no longer exuded any magical energy or killing intent.

From afar, the shocked members of the Wolfbert family were rushing over. Gale’s era had come to an end.

A bitter smile crossed his lips.

Gale recalled the brawls he had with Mei back in the day.

They would beat each other to a pulp, but it never ended in a decisive victory…

Losing to Helga felt like losing to Mei.

As if reading his mind, Helga spoke.

“Do you feel relieved now?”

“…I guess so. Cough…!”

Blood spilled from Gale’s mouth.

He was severely injured. Considering his recovery abilities, he wouldn’t die, but it had been a long time since he was this badly hurt.

Gale let out a pained laugh.

“Heh… You must feel relieved too. You finally took down the person you hated so much.”

“I thought I would, but not really. Ouch…!”

Helga winced as she tried to shrug her shoulders. She was just as badly injured as Gale.

“Did you feel emptiness after getting your revenge?”

“No? What are you talking about? Revenge feels thrilling. I’d like to beat you up some more, but my body hurts too much to continue. Besides… It wouldn’t make any difference anyway.”

“Are you pitying me…?”

He didn’t even feel resentful.

After all, he had truly been defeated.

But… Gale had one question.

“Then… why didn’t you kill me when I was unconscious? Didn’t you join the Head of House Duel to kill me?”

“Considering what you did to me when I was a child, you probably deserve to die.”

Helga wiped the blood from her mouth as she spoke.

“The wounds and resentment I received from you will never disappear.”

“Then why? You had every reason to kill me.”

“Hmm… Maybe because I’m weak?”

“……”

Helga chuckled.

Seeing her smile, so much like Mei’s, Gale realized. He had been utterly defeated by her weakness.

“I see… That’s how it is…”

In the end, Gale decided to admit it cleanly.

“Then I admit it. My… defeat.”

“I refuse.”

“…What?”

“Your defeat. I refuse it.”

Gale struggled to his feet.

“What nonsense are you spouting…?”

“Why? The winner gets to decide, right? I won with my strength, so you have to listen to me.”

“Stop joking! You must succeed me as the Head of Wolfbert—!”

“No. I plan to abandon the Wolfbert name from now on.”

Helga’s calm words momentarily froze Gale’s thoughts.

What? Abandon the name? The Wolfbert name? How could that be possible? Did I hit my head too hard…?

As Gale was thrown into confusion, Helga succinctly stated her position.

“Ah, I’m going to be disowned.”

*

 

---