Chapter Text
When Gehrman Sparrow walked out of Vice Admiral Edwina's office in the afternoon, all the pirates on deck turned to stare at him. Intense jealousy flickered in their eyes. He didn't seem to pay them any mind, opening the door to his cabin and entering without a word.
"He seems quite close with your captain," Anderson taunted. "I wouldn't be surprised if she started falling for him soon..."
Flowery Bow Tie Jodeson scoffed. "What's so good about that skinny guy? if it was a contest of strength, I'd have him on the ground in a flash!"
"No way," Danitz grunted. Having witnessed Gehrman's strength firsthand, he firmly believed that any attempts to challenge him would end in said challenger being sent straight to the underworld.
Anderson laughed, like the carefree bastard he was. "Nothing's stopping you from trying. Who knows? If you all gang up on him at once, there's a small chance you'd win..."
Jodeson appeared thoughtful for a moment.
Meanwhile, Danitz shuddered. If... if they decide to attack him, it'll be a massacre!
He was also incensed at Gehrman's relationship with their Captain, but the adventurer had drilled a deep fear into his bones. He'd rather die than fight the madman - no, the two outcomes would be exactly the same! He had to stop this somehow before everyone on the Golden Dream had their heads exchanged for gold pounds!
But how?
An idea soon struck him, as if by a divine revelation from the God of Knowledge and Wisdom himself.
Gourmet Bru Walls had found a book in Captain’s cabin describing Emperor Roselle’s many cultural innovations. While the book itself was sleep-inducing, Bru had read the whole thing in hopes of impressing Captain and found a game that he'd convinced the rest of the crew to try that night. It was a stupid plan. But Danitz’s firsthand experience revealed that Gehrman didn’t like drinking, or talking, or much of anything to do with people that didn’t involve business or blood. What else was he supposed to do?
For the Golden Dream! He declared, forcing himself to knock on the door to Gehrman's cabin. Danitz believed that even if he royally pissed off Gehrman Sparrow, the madman wouldn't dare harm him while he was on Captain's ship unless Danitz attacked first. The guy might be crazy, but he was far from stupid.
When Gehrman opened the door, Danitz immediately launched into his spiel. "We're planning on playing a game tonight, want to join? I promise it'll be-"
The door closed again before he could finish.
Dogshit! I'm trying to help you, and you're acting like this?! Screw it, this is a lost cause…
But Danitz's desire for self preservation was stronger than his pride. He knocked on the door a few minutes later.
---
Klein flat-out refused the first few times Danitz proposed his nonsensical offer, expecting the pirate to give up. Contrary to his expectations, however, Danitz continued to pester him throughout the day.
This guy is unexpectedly a pretty good provoker when he wants to be, Klein lamented. He drew his gun, weighing it loosely in his hand. Though it wasn't pointed at Danitz, the threat was obvious. "Stop disturbing me."
Danitz stiffened in fear, but whatever was driving him to go to such lengths seemed to triumph over his abject terror. "Please, just one round!"
Klein wanted to ask what made Danitz so desperate about such an insignificant matter, but held himself back from doing so. What interest would a cold, crazy adventurer have in Danitz’s troubles?
Fortunately for Klein, Danitz answered on his own. "At this rate, you'll make an enemy out of the whole crew!"
Though Klein didn't know Vice Admiral Edwina Edwards well, he knew she wouldn't be so lax in disciplining her ship. Is he worried a fight will break out despite that, or that the pirates will target me in other ways? For Danitz to go to such lengths... he's scared I'll do something crazy?
He roughly understood the situation. He knew from yesterday that Anderson had likely used his talents as a Provoker to transfer the crew's hostility onto him. Following that, Danitz had worked himself into a panic under the belief that either the crew would attempt something rash and earn Gehrman's ire, or Gehrman would find the atmosphere irritating and retaliate excessively. Klein himself didn't mind participating in a game, but it was a matter of maintaining his image. Strictly speaking, the only person on this ship whose opinion he cared about was Vice Admiral Edwards; whether or not the rest of the crew hated him was of little importance.
But Danitz was unusually adamant about this, and he also knew the crew best. Was it truly possible for them to attempt something if he didn't dispel the tension? Did he overestimate the intelligence of Edwina's students? It wouldn't be entirely unreasonable for him to acquiesce out of sheer annoyance... and a part of his true self really did want to get along with the crew, if only for his peace of mind. The not-so-subtle animosity was beginning to grate on his nerves.
"You have five seconds to explain the game."
Danitz's eyes flickered with hope. He hurriedly answered, "It-it's called Truth or Dare! We found it in one of Captain's books on Emperor Roselle - everyone takes turns asking each other questions or challenges!”
Klein's eye twitched. My senior in transmigration sure made good use of his background... "If it's troublesome, I'll leave."
Danitz blinked in disbelief. "You're really join-"
Klein slammed the door in his face before he could finish speaking.
---
The sunset crested over the horizon, reflecting off the Golden Dream’s main cannon and washing the deck in gold and orange light. At that moment, the boat truly lived up to its moniker.
Klein stepped out of his cabin at the promised time. A large number of pirates were on deck, filling their glasses with liquor as they jeered and chattered. Singing Orpheus had begun a sea shanty, with many joining in a drunken fervor.
Klein stood at the edge of the deck, watching the warm and lively scene in silence. No one dared to approach him, nor did he bother to approach anyone. Danitz glanced over at him from across the deck with visible relief in his eyes, but he didn't come up to him either.
Seemingly spontaneously, the pirates gathered and the game began. With no organizer to speak of or even a consensus on the turn order, it was rather chaotic. Multiple games began running at once, and some chose to play another game entirely.
Most questions were of a rather crass nature, and all challenges involved alcohol in some way shape or form.
Klein watched as Danitz guzzled two glasses of whiskey in under ten seconds, gloating his victory over Singer Orpheus's dare before promptly vomiting into the nearest bucket.
Eventually, it was his turn.
Anderson turned towards Klein, quirking his brow in a challenging manner. "Your turn, Gehrman. Truth or dare?"
Klein pushed down the surge of irritation from Anderson's provocation and rapidly came to a conclusion. A dare was, objectively, much safer. No one would bat an eye if 'Gehrman Sparrow' refused to perform a humiliating act. Refusing to answer a question was far more dangerous. The chances of them asking a question that could shatter his persona were low, but not zero. Though he was under no obligation to tell the truth and he was confident in his ability to deceive a group of drunk pirates, it was still a risk he was unwilling to take - especially with their captain nearby.
"Dare."
"I dare you to tell me what you talked about with Captain!" Flowery Bow Tie Jodeson demanded. The rest of the pirates also turned their heads in anticipation.
This isn't how you play the game! Klein protested internally. It was difficult to argue at this point in time; bringing up the rules now would rather obviously reinforce the pirates’ suspicions of him having relations with their captain. Fortunately, the question was a trivial one.
"History," Klein replied simply.
"What? There's no way that's the whole story!" Anderson sidled up to Klein, hooking an arm over his shoulders.
Klein ducked away before Anderson could touch him, turning to look at Jodeson. "I am not interested in your captain," he said in a flat tone.
Actually, it more suited Gehrman's persona to say something along the lines of, "the only part that interests me is her bounty", but such words would instantly turn everyone on the ship into his enemy. Vice Admiral Edwards wasn't dumb, either. She would surely interpret those words as a threat from Gehrman Sparrow or the organization behind him.
"Wait," one of the pirates interrupted. "If Cap'n really has no interest in you, why'd she give you all that stuff?"
Is he referring to the Black Key and Groselle's Travels? Klein was also surprised when she offered them to him out of the blue, but her explanation and demands were reasonable.
"It was an equivalent exchange. I'm a rather fair person," Klein replied.
Danitz nearly spat out his drink when he heard that. Gehrman? Fair?! "Bullshit!" He cried without a second thought. "If you're fair, then why did you put me through all that?!"
The glare Gehrman sent his way would normally have made him shut up, but for some reason he was feeling rather brash today. It’s the alcohol, the final few shreds of Danitz's reason bemoaned. They call it liquid courage for a reason... He heedlessly opened his mouth again. "You don't care about other people at all, do you?"
The crazy adventurer tilted his head. "Is this part of the game?"
Danitz threw up his hands in exasperation. "Sure, count it as skipping your next turn!"
Klein pondered the question for a moment. The time he'd spent with Danitz wasn't long, but it wasn't short either. Despite Klein's attempts to keep his distance, the incompetent yet strangely social pirate had grown on him.
You've been an entertaining companion...
"I care about your bounty," Klein replied calmly.
The pirates around him froze. Some swallowed nervously, and the atmosphere began to grow a little odd. Danitz frantically interrupted and changed the topic.
The game continued.
-
"Why'd you become an adventurer? Someone as strong as you can definitely lead a fleet of your own!"
Because Sherlock Moriarty became embroiled in too many dangerous matters, and to digest the Faceless potion...
Klein leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs in a relaxed manner. "I enjoy a good hunt."
-
"What're your goals in life? A fellow like you had to have come to the Archipelago for a reason, right?"
To raise my sequence, achieve revenge, and find a way home...
"Money."
-
"Got any friends? Family? A lover you've already devoted yourself to?" The last question was said with a note of anticipation.
The Tingen Nighthawks should have gotten new members by now. Mr. Azik sent a reply recently, I hope he's doing well... I wonder how Benson and Melissa are faring in Backlund?
"None."
---
At some point during the night, Gehrman Sparrow checked his pocket watch. He then silently got up and left without a word. Most of the inebriated pirates hardly noticed. Hell, Danitz only noticed because he’d been fearfully hyperaware of Gehrman's presence the whole time.
"Wow," Anderson whistled, stumbling to Danitz's side. "That guy sure doesn't leave anything to the imagination."
"What'd you expect?" Danitz grumbled. Gehrman’s answers were perfectly in line with what Danitz had known of him - cold, calm, and crazy. What did it matter? So long as the crew no longer considered confronting the madman, all his life-risking endeavors that day were worth it.
Anderson grabbed another glass from a nearby table and chuckled. "Hey, on the bright side: simple people are easy to understand. Take you, for example!"
Danitz's alcohol-impaired mind took several seconds to catch up. “Huh?”
Anderson turned to look at him. “You didn’t seriously think a fight would break out just because I said so, did you?”
He sputtered. “W-what?”
“Nobody would actually dare fight that guy. And unlike you lot, he isn’t careless enough to react to a little jealousy.” Anderson took a large gulp of the stolen drink. “You pestered him over nothing.”
Danitz stared at Anderson like he’d grown a second head. “Then what was all that provocation for?!”
“All the animosity I’ve accumulated has gotta go somewhere, right?” Anderson shrugged. “Better him than me.”
Perhaps Anderson truly had grown a second head. A very, very stupid head.
---
Klein returned to his cabin, closing the door behind him with a soft click. The bustle and chatter from outside was still audible within the cabin, albeit muffled. Faint streaks of torchlight shone through the cracks in the door, casting deep shadows across the empty room.
The second Faceless potion from Marionettist Rosago had digested by quite a bit.
It made sense; the mask he’d worn during that game had been a particularly thick one. Though he knew he'd have to put on even more sophisticated fronts in the future, such diligent acting was draining nonetheless. Especially so in situations like this, where the differences between him and ‘Gehrman Sparrow’ were so very clear. The lively atmosphere had been dangerously infectious, and he’d almost found himself wanting to break character. The people he could do such a thing with were few in number. After Backlund, this was especially the case.
It wasn’t good for his sanity.
Klein closed his eyes. If it’s just once…
He breathed deeply, and allowed himself to mutter a single truth aloud:
"I enjoyed this journey, and all the companions I've met along the way. I'll miss them."
---
Outside, a certain pirate passed by the door to Gehrman Sparrow’s room on the way to the latrine.
He froze in his tracks, an utterly stupefied and bewildered expression spreading over his face.