King of the Sea

Artifact Poseidon. It is the ship's heart, and in a sense the ship itself.

Normally, its blessing moves the rudder and provides power at our whim. Even when all you can see is empty horizon, the altar's crystal reveals our own position and that of other ships. No sextant required.

A ship that houses Poseidon does not permit enemies aboard.

Which is to say, when we pull alongside our prey, not a single enemy can board us. The only outsiders allowed in are those we bring in ourselves.

In other words, only prisoners we've already neutralized.

Besides detection and steering, it grants "absolute defense at sea."

It repels every attack, and even if ships ram us, we always win. Anyone who tries to leap aboard to strike back is flung by an invisible field into the sea to become foam.

The natural punishment for those who challenge the sea god.

Also, a ship with Poseidon is never attacked by sea monsters.

There are no fools in the sea who would assail "Poseidon," the Goddess of the sea.

So there's no need for the monster-warding arrays normal transports must carry.

I, in short, am a king of the sea, acknowledged by a the Goddess.

I was a king.

"W-what — the ship… the ship, the shiiip!?"

The vessel that is the source of that power wasn't just cut clean in two — it vanished.

"H-how!?"

And while we're at it, a cube had been cut out of the sea itself. The ship and a portion of the ocean were gone, leaving only me and my crew behind.

A few heartbeats later we fell into the cut-out sea and while already in the ocean were crushed from front, back, left, and right by walls of water. An impossible experience.

"Gublbl—glub—gyaa—!?"

My underlings were pressed together by the surging waves, squeezed tight.

Back off, you idiots! No way we can swim like this! I shoved the fools aside and struck for the surface.

Pah! I broke through and drew breath.

"W-what… what happened!?"

"My, my. As expected of the captain, you managed to get up on your own."

There, on a little rowboat, stood a woman looking down at me.

Who is she? What is she? The woman who vanished from the warehouse with our cargo. The woman who humiliated me. The woman who threw a golem with her bare hands.

… Huh? Why? How did it come to this? My brain can't keep up.

"Y-you! What did you do!? What grudge do you have against me!?"

"Eh? I don't have any particular grudge, but I do seem to be a 'robber,' so I tried robbing a ship too — just kidding! I told you I was hired by the owner, remember?"

She cackled.

Damn it! What's so funny!? It infuriates me to no end!!

"Give everything back right now! Do that and I'll forgive you! Hand over that boat too!"

"Ahaha, why? I don't need your forgiveness. Shoo, shoo."

Ghh, she poked me with the oar so I couldn't get close. Mocking me!

"How about you dunk your head and cool off. You're the only one all hot and bothered, you know?"

I looked around at her words. My men were bobbing with their heads above water like me. Terrified. Utterly cowed.

"Do you understand where we are? This is the middle of the ocean."

"Exactly! Put it all back! Everything! Do that and I might even make you my woman!"

"Hah? Are you stupid? That's your idea of negotiating? Do artifacts rot your brain the more you use them? Like a price for wielding a god's power?"

"Hmph! That's right. I don't know what cheap tricks you pulled, but I've got the sea god, the invincible Poseidon on my—"

Poseidon is a ship.

And the ship is gone. Gone. G-gone!?

"Ahhh!? That's right! H-hey, give it back! That's my ship!? That's a god's power!? That's my power!!"

"Eeh, only now you figured it out?"

"If you return the ship and the cargo everything will be solved! Give it back! Give it baaaack!!!"

"Honestly, being able to shout that much in this situation is kinda impressive."

She sighed at my nonsensical demands.

I mean, I'm begging this much. Of course she should return it!

Why won't she give it back!?

"Hey, you lot. Anyone who begs for their life, I'll carry you to that ship you can see over there."

She pointed. In the distance was our prey — the ship that should have been our prey.

"Ha! The proud Gomezti Pirates won't beg—"

"P-please save meee!"

"Me too! I don't wanna die!"

"You bastards!? Who said you could beg some random woman!?"

Treading water, I punched one of the cowards.

"Shut up! There's no ship! You're not our captain anymore!"

"What!?"

The lackey punched me back. Impossible. But I'm the captain!? R-ridiculous…