Finch's bisected body drifted down into the deep abyss. Simon watched with a blank expression, then suddenly clamped a hand over his mouth.
'Agh, I can't breathe...!'
[Go, boy! Propel yourself by injecting Jet-Black into the greatsword!]
Simon nodded, aiming the greatsword down and his body up. He fired off short bursts, propelling himself toward the surface.
'This is... my limit!'
He was on the verge of blacking out from exhaustion and oxygen deprivation. He bit his lip until it bled, barely clinging to consciousness. He somehow made it back to the ship, just one final push away from the hull.
A sputtering sound came from the tip of the greatsword. He was completely out of Jet-Black. Just as his mind, pushed far beyond its limits, was about to break when—
He saw Shun swimming toward him.
'Shun...!'
They reached for each other. Their hands locked in a firm grip, and in that instant, Simon's world went dark.
"Pffft! Agh! Haah!" Shun and the unconscious Simon broke through the surface of the violently churning sea.
"Grab this!" Erzebet yelled, throwing a rope woven from spider silk.
Shun swam to the end of the rope, and with the monstrous strength of an Ancient Undead, Erzebet hauled them both onto the deck.
"Phew!" Shun collapsed onto the deck, gasping and coughing up mouthfuls of seawater.
"Count! What about my Master?" Erzebet asked, her voice tight with worry.
"He's fine!" Shun gasped. "He just passed out from exhaustion."
They quickly administered first aid, but the pirate ship was no longer safe. With a hole in its hull, it was rapidly sinking.
A corpse spider appeared and signaled to Erzebet.
"A-A spider?" Shun asked, startled.
"Don't worry. It's an ally." At her gesture, five corpse spiders struggled to drag over a small but intact wooden boat. "I found an emergency lifeboat. We can take this to Blue Harbor."
Shun threw his arms in the air. "Well done, spiders!"
The spiders raised their front legs, mimicking a high-five. Erzebet gently stroked Pier's skull, which had separated from Simon.
"You did a great job too, Pier."
[Ughhh! My whole body is aching!]
"You'll feel better once we get the saltwater out on land. Now, let's get moving!"
How long had he been out? When Simon finally opened his eyes, he stared blankly at the ceiling for a long moment before bolting upright.
'Ugh.'
A sharp pain shot through him, and his entire body ached. He was covered in bandages. "Master! You're awake!" Erzebet cried, rushing to his side.
She grabbed his shoulders and shook him. "Can you recognize me?"
"I'm... dizzy, Erze..."
"Thank goodness!"
The maids in the room shot to their feet. "Mr. Simon!"
"Count Shun! Mr. Simon is awake!"
"Huh, really? Simon!"
Shun dashed over and threw his arms around Simon in a tight hug. He'd been dozing in a chair, waiting for him to wake. Simon, slowly piecing his memories together, managed a faint smile and patted Shun's head.
"You saved me, didn't you, Shun?"
"No! You saved me!"
He was in the Oldone family mansion. Shun filled him in on what had happened. It was now the fifth and final day of the mission. A full day had passed since the pirate attack. The remaining pirates, having lost their captain, were swiftly dealt with by Blue Harbor's regrouped navy. Erzebet's scheme to wear down the pirate crew during the chaos with Finch had been a decisive factor.
After the battle, Simon had been brought straight to the mansion for treatment. Pier was also safe. While Blue Harbor's main district had been damaged by cannon fire, the flames were out, and reconstruction had already begun. Shun assured him that with the Oldone family's wealth, it would soon be restored.
Shun had also decided to reinvestigate his mother's death. Suspicions had fallen on several family elders who, it seemed, had wanted to arrange a political marriage for his father. Rooting out the corruption would take time, but Shun's resolve was firm.
After hearing everything, Simon let out a long sigh. "I'm glad it all ended safely. We didn't even go over the mission deadline."
"Yeah! A subordinate from Kizen actually came by earlier."
A man in black, who had been standing so still against the wall he was almost invisible, gave a slight bow. Simon nodded to him.
"When do I need to return to school?"
"There's no need to rush, sir," the man replied. "Just let us know when you'd like to leave today, and we will prepare a teleport for that time."
"Thank you."
As if to give Simon some space, Shun, the maids, and the subordinate left the room. Only Erzebet remained, quietly peeling an apple. Simon looked her up and down.
"By the way, Erze, what's with the outfit?"
She turned from her task, a wide grin spreading across her face. She was dressed in a maid's uniform. "Well, since I kept calling you Master, the maids here assumed I was in the same line of work and lent me a uniform. Does it suit me?"
She curtsied, giving her skirt a little twirl. Simon chuckled.
"Let's rest for two more hours, then we'll head back to Kizen."
"What? Shouldn't you rest longer?"
"I have a mountain of things to do," he said, shaking his head. "I have to write a report for Kizen and prepare for tomorrow's classes. Besides, we're imposing on everyone here."
"As the Legion Commander wishes. I'll inform the head butler."
After a meal of porridge, Simon felt his strength return. He changed into a freshly laundered Kizen uniform and followed the butler outside.
"Good luck, Mr. Simon!"
"We'll never forget you!"
"If you ever drop out of school, come find me, you hear?"
The maids had abandoned their duties and crowded outside, waving handkerchiefs and calling out their farewells. Simon bowed politely to the women who had cared for him.
Shun, waiting by the carriage, chuckled. "Wow, Simon, you're popular with the maids."
"I'm not really sure why."
"My, my, where are you looking when you have such a beauty by your side?" Erzebet declared, осtentatiously linking her arm with his.
A chorus of indignant shouts erupted from the mansion, telling her to back off. Erzebet just stuck out her tongue playfully.
"Alright, stop messing around. Let's go," Simon said, pulling his arm free.
"Okay!"
Shun hopped into the carriage, with Simon and Erzebet following. As the wheels began to turn, Simon asked, "Where's the subordinate from Kizen?"
"He's at the meeting point, preparing the teleportation circle. But more importantly, Simon..."
"Yeah?"
Shun giggled. "It's not over yet."
As the carriage passed through the mansion's main gate, Simon's eyes went wide. A huge crowd of residents had gathered, and they burst into thunderous applause and cheers.
"Farewell, Kizen student!"
"Thank you for saving Blue Harbor!"
"You have to stop by our shop sometime!"
He saw the faces of those who had worn his Bone Armor and fought alongside him.
"We'll never forget fighting with you!"
"Take care!"
A lump formed in Simon's throat. He leaned out the window and waved to the cheering crowd.
"Go for it! The son of Blue Harbor, Simon Polentia!"
'Ah, that's a bit much,' he thought. 'The people of Leshill would be heartbroken.'
"Heehee, why are they so fond of you? What were you doing when I wasn't looking?" Shun teased.
"Nothing! I was just fighting like you told me to."
The carriage finally slowed to a stop in a familiar place: the Undead Exhibition Hall.
"Why are we here?"
"There's something I need to pick up."
Shun jumped down, and Simon and Erzebet followed. The guards at the door stepped aside, one of them thanking Simon for protecting their city. Simon smiled and nodded in return.
"I'm just grabbing something quickly," Shun said. "Are you coming?"
"I'm still your bodyguard until the end of today," Simon reminded him.
"Oh, right!" Shun giggled and led the way up the stairs. "It took a little while to get permission."
At the top of the stairs, the head butler and his staff bowed deeply. The head butler was holding a large, ornate box.
"What's this?" Simon asked.
"What do you think? It's your mission reward."
Simon took the box and carefully opened the lid. Inside, 1,000 gleaming gold coins shimmered.
'Ahh...!'
The number hadn't truly registered before, but seeing it with his own eyes, he finally understood what a fortune it was.
"Thanks... I mean, thank you very much, Count," Simon said, his voice thick with emotion.
"Ahaha! Why the sudden formality?" Shun laughed, then gestured to the butlers, who scurried into action. "And, Simon. Did you forget something?"
"Hm?"
"Yesterday, I said I'd give you an additional reward if you protected this island and its people."
Simon scratched the side of his head, embarrassed. "No, you really don't have to..."
"Unveil it," Shun commanded.
The butlers whisked away a large cloth, revealing a glass tank. Inside was a skeletal, mollusk-like creature.
"The next-generation Undead valued at 10,000 Gold," Shun announced, taking a deep breath. "The Overlord. From now on, it's yours. I want you to have it."
"HUH..?!!"
The words hit Simon like a tidal wave. His jaw dropped. Owning a skeleton made from the bones of a skeletal horse or a demon was on his bucket list, but he had never even dreamed of possessing something as valuable as the Overlord.
"Sh-Shun! This is too much for me to accept..."
Shun grinned, rubbing his nose. "Seeing your reaction makes me even more certain. You'll accept this token of gratitude from me, the Oldone family, and the people of Blue Harbor, won't you?"
"Uhh..."
Shun had left him no room to refuse. Stunned, Simon felt a swirl of emotions before finally giving a small nod.
As if on cue, the butlers and Erzebet burst into applause.
And from his Subspace, a garbled, ecstatic roar echoed in his mind.
[AdfsjLytEwqGpIvbOdNm!!!]
He couldn't understand the words, but he knew Pier was overjoyed.

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