#silva hamefura

All of the summaries I have written so far are available in the Hamefura Pirates Summary Index.

Chapter 6: A Suspicious Presence (Part 1)

Katarina has fallen into the ocean. She can’t breathe and feels like she might die at this rate. After hearing someone calling her name, she then feels someone holding her. For some reason she can feel the wind blowing and can somehow breathe.

Katarina slowly loses consciousness and can’t see the face of her savior. While she is out of it, she can hear a woman’s voice sobbing in her mind. She can also feel someone desperately holding on to her while she is washed by the waves.

(The translation of this scene is available here)

When she comes to, her body feels heavy and someone is giving her light slaps on the cheeks while calling her name. Katarina wakes up and sees Nicol by her side. They are on a beach.

Katarina remembers that she fell into the ocean and is confused about how they got there. Nicol explains that he has dived after her after she fell off the ship. However, since the current was too strong, he couldn’t get them back on the ship and so they ended up drifting here. Katarina is shocked that Nicol jumped after her and apologizes to him. But Nicol is just glad that they are both safe since the sea was raging at the time. With this, Katarina realizes that she has just avoided death.

Nicol adds that he has been using his magic all along to ensure that she could breathe. He asks her if she is feeling okay. After Katarina replies that she is completely fine, Nicol feels deeply relieved. Katarina notices that Nicol is looking weary, probably because he has been using his magic continuously to save her. And he also fought Frederic just before. Katarina wishes she could give Nicol some food to help him recover, but her pockets are empty.

Katarina asks Nicol where they are. Since the fog is out, Nicol thinks they are probably on an island in the Blank Area.

When he holds out his hand towards her, Katarina realizes that Nicol is not avoiding her anymore. Nicol is confused to see Katarina smiling, so she explains to him that she is happy that he is back to his usual self. Nicol gasps in realization and looks away. It seems like Nicol simply forgot he was avoiding her.

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Katarina: Umm, Lord Nicol. Could it be that I did something to you?

Nicol: …! Well…

Katarina: If I did something that hurt your feelings, then I want to apologize. So could you tell me without restraint?

Nicol: That’s not it!

His voice was louder than usual.

Seeing me wide-eyed, Nicol came to his senses.

He dropped his gaze like he regretted raising his voice.

Nicol: …I am sorry for raising my voice. In any case… That’s not it. It isn’t your fault, Katarina.

Katarina: (But why are you avoiding me then…?)

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Nicol remains silent. A cold breeze blows, which makes their wet bodies shiver. As a result, Katarina ends up making continuous loud sneezes. Nicol is completely dumbfounded. Katarina wonders if it is because she didn’t sneeze in a ladylike way and plans on sneezing “AAATCHAH desu wa” next time. Nicol gives her a soft smile and tells her they should get going so that they can dry their clothes fast.

They must find shelter and food. But there doesn’t seem to be houses around, so Nicol wonders if they are on an uninhabited island.

Nicol and Katarina set off to explore the island. They enter the forest. While they walk, Nicol uses his magic to dry their clothes little by little. He can’t dry them in one go since the wind is chilly.

Katarina tries to search for food on the way, but can’t find any. She thinks of climbing a tree to search for food from above. When she raises her head, she sees a mansion at the other side of the fog, and notifies Nicol. Feeling relieved that this island is inhabited after all, Nicol and Katarina both rush to the mansion.

The mansion looks old and yet sturdy, but its western design reminds Katarina of a haunted house. There doesn’t seem to be any other building on the island. Hoping there would be people inside, Katarina knocks on the door of the mansion but there is no response. Peering at the windows, there doesn’t seem to be anyone either.

Katarina is disappointed that there is no one after all. She looks more closely towards one of the windows on the second floor and sees the curtains swaying a little. When she stares at it more closely, she sees a swaying human-like form with amber eyes.

The amber eyes remind Katarina of her dream. She is terrified over the possibility that this silhouette might be a ghost. Nicol worriedly asks her what’s wrong. Katarina tells him she saw the silhouette of a person on the window of the second floor. But when they look again, there is no one. Katarina is confused since she is sure she saw something.

For the time being, Nicol suggests they enter the mansion since it isn’t locked. After all, they will catch a cold if they don’t dry themselves fast. Katarina reminds him that there may be a ghost in the mansion, but Nicol doesn’t seem to believe in them. With this, Katarina realizes that unlike Sophia, Nicol is actually a realist. She also remembers how FL!Nicol said in her dream that he didn’t believe in supernatural phenomenons. FL!Nicol also said the fog was the result of a curse. Katarina shivers at the thought. The mansion does feel ominous, but Katarina is cold and wants to warm up, so she gives in and decides to enter the mansion.

After entering the mansion, Nicol and Katarina are shocked to see that the inside is clean and pretty. From the outside, the mansion looked old and damaged. Katarina feels relieved since ghosts might not come out after all. Nicol is puzzled since it seems too unnatural. In any case, they set off to find a place where they can rest.

Nicol and Katarina start exploring the inside of the mansion. It feels ominous since there is no one and they can only hear the sound of their footsteps. It reminds Katarina of a haunted house and she can’t help feeling scared. Without thinking, she ends up grabbing Nicol’s clothes.

Nicol is taken aback. Then Katarina remembers that Nicol wanted to avoid physical contact with her, so she sadly pulls her hand back. At that moment, Nicol seizes her hand and tells her he doesn’t mind it if she feels more at ease this way. He also apologizes to her: he doesn’t believe in ghosts so he ended up not being considerate of her feelings. Feeling Nicol’s kindness, Katarina smiles and grabs his sleeve again. Nicol looks away but Katarina could faintly hear him say “Sorry”.

In the next room, Nicol and Katarina find a towel lying on a desk. The towel is dry and soft, and it seems like it has been washed, so someone may be living there after all. Katarina is confused since they haven’t seen anyone. Nicol guesses that everyone must be out at the moment. Katarina can’t help feeling it is weird: on one hand, the mansion looks cold and deserted - which hints at no one living there - but on the other hand, there is a clean and soft towel lying around - which hints at people living there.

While Katarina is trying to process the contradiction, Nicol envelops her head with the towel and then shyly but roughly dries her hair. Despite his expressionless face, Katarina can see worry in his eyes. His gaze is just like the ones he gives Sophia. From his experienced moves, Katarina realizes that Nicol must have dried Sophia’s hair the same way on several occasions, even though it would normally be a maid’s job. Katarina feels happy that Nicol is taking care of her.

Katarina reminds Nicol that he also needs to dry himself up, but Nicol replies that he can do that later. He explains that it would be terrible if she caught a cold. Katarina thinks to herself that it would also be terrible if he caught one. Nicol is so gentle, he can’t possibly hate her, just like Sophia said. She doesn’t know why Nicol is avoiding her, but she decides to wait until he opens his heart to her.

Nicol dries himself with the towel and uses his magic to dry their clothes. Since they are indoors, the wind doesn’t feel as cold as earlier. Now, Nicol, Katarina and their clothes are completely dry.

Nicol and Katarina resume their exploration of the mansion. Nicol suddenly stops. When Katarina asks why, Nicol tells her that he has felt some presence at times. However, whenever he looks back, the feeling disappears. Katarina gets scared again and grabs Nicol’s sleeve. Nicol tries to reassure her by saying it must be a mouse or something, but Katarina can tell that Nicol is holding back on saying anything that might make her feel anxious.

Nicol and Katarina resume their exploration and finally reach the room on the second floor where Katarina saw the silhouette. Katarina is highly nervous since it feels like a horror game to her. But when they enter the room, there is no suspicious silhouette nor ghost. Katarina feels relieved but Nicol stiffens when he sees an envelope which has fallen on the ground.  

Nicol picks up the envelope and opens it, but there is nothing inside. However, when he turns it over, his eyes open wide.

???: Good grief. Even though we thoroughly searched for you, I didn’t expect you would manage to arrive here ahead of us.

When they turn around, they see Silva. Katarina is shocked to see him. Silva explains to her that this mansion is their hideout. So the presences that Nicol felt must have been pirates. Katarina feels relieved, but Nicol reminds her that their situation is not good at all since they have been captured again.

Silva tells them he has been worried about them since they are “their precious hostages”.

Nicol: “Your hostages”, huh? By that, you mean “Queed’s hostages”?

Silva takes a serious expression and asks Nicol to explain himself. Nicol tells him he has found in this room an empty envelope with a wax seal featuring Queed’s emblem. The same emblem as the one on Frederic’s badge.

Nicol sternly asks Silva why there is an envelope with Queed’s emblem in the hideout of a pirate gang. Silva is taken aback for a while and then laughs with a loud voice. Silva explains that Nicol got it all wrong since this letter is something he stole before the raid, to know stuff like the number of guards on the Vinklem. Nicol doubts Silva’s explanation but doesn’t pursue the matter and leaves the envelope on the desk.

Then Silva reminds Nicol and Katarina that they should hurry up and see their friends since they have been worried sick about them. He informs them that they should have arrived by now. Hearing this, Nicol and Katarina rush downstairs.

****** Silva’s POV ******

After Nicol and Katarina have left, Silva breathes a sigh of relief and takes the envelope away. He told Nicol a big fat lie to deceive him and it was nerve-wracking. He can’t afford anyone to figure out their true identities. They must accomplish their mission secretly and peacefully without anyone figuring anything out.