Jingle— Just as Afra finished speaking, the tavern door was pushed open once again.
The bell above it rang with a crisp, pleasant sound.
The noise caused Afra, Lily, and Light to instinctively look toward the entrance.
A man wearing a suit, round glasses, and sporting a pair of pointed ears and a tail stepped into view.
It was Demiurge.
Behind him followed more than twenty crew members, both men and women, each carrying the same style of sword at their waist.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Orderly footsteps echoed throughout the tavern.
With a faint smile on his face, Demiurge walked straight toward Carnes.
The crew members behind him split into two lines upon entering.
They stood on either side of the doorway, forming a ceremonial passageway.
“T-These…
are pirates?” Watching the scene unfold, Light’s eyes trembled slightly.
An indescribable emotion surged within him.
Demiurge arrived beside Carnes.
Facing him, he bowed respectfully and spoke in a humble tone.
“My deepest apologies for keeping you waiting.” “We’ve come to welcome you, Captain.” Hearing the way Demiurge addressed Carnes, Light froze.
His gaze immediately shifted toward Carnes, disbelief written all over his face.
“C-Captain?” Carnes didn’t answer him.
Instead, he looked at Demiurge and nodded.
“Good.
I understand.” Then he lifted his glass and drained the remaining liquor in a single gulp.
After setting the glass down, he looked toward Afra.
“Well then, it’s time for me to leave.” A gentle smile appeared on Afra’s face.
“I wish you victory in all your endeavors.” “Mm.” Carnes nodded.
Then he turned and walked toward the exit.
Demiurge glanced at his departing back.
He could tell that his captain shared a close relationship with the people in this tavern.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Demiurge raised a hand.
A magic circle appeared.
Reaching into it, he withdrew a pouch filled with gold coins.
Turning toward Afra, he said, “This is payment for the drinks.
Please allow me to settle the captain’s tab.” He placed the heavy pouch on the counter.
Watching Demiurge casually pull a bag of gold from thin air, Afra, Lily, and Light all stared in shock.
Their eyes widened.
When Afra was about to politely refuse the money, Demiurge had already turned away and followed Carnes out of the tavern.
The crew members lining the sides quickly fell in behind them after Carnes and Demiurge passed.
They had arrived swiftly.
And they departed just as quickly.
Within moments, they were gone.
The spacious tavern was left with only Afra and her two children.
Lily tugged lightly at her mother’s sleeve.
Her large eyes blinked as she asked, “Mom, did Grandpa Carnes really leave?” “Was what that big brother said true?” Afra looked down at her daughter and smiled affectionately.
“Yes, it’s true.” “Are you reluctant to see Grandpa Carnes go?” Lily said nothing.
She simply nodded honestly.
Afra seemed to share the same feeling.
Gently rubbing Lily’s head, she murmured, “Yes…
after spending so many years together, it’s impossible not to feel a little sad.” Then she looked at her son.
“Light, go lock the door.
We’re closing early tonight.” “Okay~” Light responded and ran off to shut the tavern doors.
“Mom,” he suddenly asked after returning, “I don’t understand.” “Why did Grandpa Carnes leave?” “Wouldn’t it have been nice to stay here with us?” “He’s already so old.” Hearing Light call Carnes Grandpa instead of old man for the first time, Afra couldn’t help showing a hint of surprise.
Soon, however, she smiled.
“Because Grandpa Carnes has something very important waiting for him.” “Alright, both of you should get to bed early tonight.
Tomorrow is going to be busy.” “Okay!” “Alright~” The siblings answered together.
A while later, Afra went upstairs.
She entered a room and sat on the large bed.
There, she picked up a photograph resting on the bedside table.
The picture contained three adults and a child.
Standing in the center was a brown-haired man holding a little girl in his arms.
To his left stood a black-haired man.
To his right stood a woman with long blonde hair.
The little girl in the photograph was none other than Afra herself.
The man holding her was her father.
The blonde woman was her mother.
As for the black-haired man…
It was a young Carnes.
Back then, Afra had still been a child.
Her parents had still been young.
Gently caressing the photograph, Afra murmured softly, “Dad…
Uncle Carnes has gone back to sea.” “You probably wouldn’t believe it if I told you, but Uncle Carnes became young again.” As she spoke, she unconsciously glanced toward the ceiling and sighed.
“Honestly, when I first saw him, I was so shocked.” “For a moment, I thought he was one of Uncle Carnes’s relatives.” “It was unbelievable.” “He actually looks younger than I do now.” “I almost couldn’t recognize him…”