Captain – Chapter 377 – Candlelight at the End

It was like waking from a dream.

When Roy came back to her senses, the Devil had already vanished, even the candles had gone out, and the captain’s cabin was dark and cold.

Using the starlight streaming through the porthole, the young woman looked around the room and found the furnishings unchanged—the wine cabinet, wooden cupboard, and navigational instruments all in their original positions.

But… time had changed.

Those once beautiful, exquisite decorations were now all covered in dust, rusted, and looking closely, one could faintly see holes from wood-boring insects.

That period of time was gone.

Time flowed again on the Satin, crossing thousands of years in an instant, causing it and everything upon it to age and rust, leaving only desolation.

“Meow.”

Of course, the cat was still there.

Awakened by the Siamese cat’s call, Roy recalled the previous meeting, experiencing an extreme sense of unreality, as if separated by lifetimes.

After several deep breaths, she finally drove away that feeling, refocusing her mind to reflect on what her ancestor had said.

If her judgment was correct, most of it was true.

The initial discussion about important matters, the promises he made, the secrets related to the magical box, and that mysterious civilization—all should be true.

Because as the Devil said, he had no reason to deceive her, at least not on these matters directly related to his interests.

So… what was false?

Everything about her father.

Although when asking about her father’s whereabouts, Roy had lowered her eyelids and wasn’t looking at her ancestor, missing the momentary change in his emotion.

But she could feel it—he was surprised, startled, very…

Insincere.

Especially when saying “he’s fine,” when mentioning those captivating secrets, bringing up that great mysterious civilization.

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Truly very insincere.

Why do you elders all love to lie, with such composed, natural expressions, exactly like comforting a child?

Why, Ancestor?

Roy thought silently, recalling the man’s self-murmured “why” when displeased, and his indifference afterward when the matter was settled.

Indeed, why?

Is it because you don’t care?

With a self-mocking smile, the young woman’s mood sank, like an iron anchor thrown into the sea, sinking deeper and deeper until it could no longer be retrieved.

Though she had never met her father and even resented him, at this moment, Roy still felt sad and helpless.

So you really can’t come back.

“Meow.”

Sensing the young woman’s mood shift, the Siamese cat nestled in her arms lifted its head, calling softly in consolation, as if criticizing the Devil.

Don’t be sad, that guy just loves to lie.

Feeling the cat’s concern, Roy shook her head lightly, as if trying to shake away the sourness at the tip of her nose, forcing a smile and saying: “I’m fine.”

Since you can’t come back, I’ll go to the Cursed Sea to find you, even if I have to search that entire sea, even if in the end I can only see your past shadow.

I will find you.

Calming her emotions, Roy took one last look at the room before stepping toward the wooden door.

Because she was holding the cat and the wooden box, opening the door wasn’t easy.

Fortunately, the door opened.

Outside wasn’t as the young woman feared, covered by impenetrable ice, trapping her inside, but rather open and empty, with the starry sky visible at a glance.

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This time, due to a certain suspicion, Roy didn’t stop to admire the view but quickly approached the wooden door, swiftly descending from the deck.

During this process, the lazy Siamese cat “mercifully” leaped down from her and entered the cabin first, saving the young woman considerable trouble.

Sure enough, after Roy climbed down the wooden ladder, a sudden change occurred.

The wooden door fell without reason, making a heavy, muffled sound, followed by a series of crisp sounds of ice forming.

It seemed to be frozen again.

Looking away from the wooden door, Roy lowered herself slightly to allow the Siamese cat to jump onto her.

After holding it, the young woman straightened up and walked slowly along the corridor.

After leaving that period of time, everything on the Satin had aged and decayed. The wooden floor creaked, and all candles had gone out.

By this observation, even the most mystical ice crystals couldn’t resist the power of time. Perhaps to truly achieve eternity, becoming a deity was the only way.

Only deities are immortal.

But what good is that?

Feeling the magic of time, Roy naturally sighed, then silently criticized, finding it truly meaningless.

Walking in the dim, silent corridor, the young woman’s footsteps were particularly clear and lonely.

Accompanied by the sharp “wailing” of the wooden boards and the intermittent dripping sounds from unknown locations, it truly had the atmosphere of a horror story.

“Meow.”

In the darkness, the Siamese cat called lazily.

“What nonsense, I’m not afraid at all. Whoever comes, it’s just another fight.”

For some reason, Roy always felt she could understand this cat’s calls, just as now, it seemed to be reassuring her with a master’s tone.

Saying something about protecting her.

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Although her ancestor had mentioned before leaving that there was another guest on the ship, the young woman was truly not worried, just somewhat curious.

She wasn’t worried because she was still on the Satin, within the Devil’s domain.

Though the ancestor had disappeared, who knew if he was still watching her from somewhere?

Even if not, as he said, he could sense her situation through the so-called divine gift, thus igniting a flame to empower her.

At that time, even if the visitor was Vivian, why should she care?

Although she didn’t like the feeling of her body being influenced by external forces, Roy had to admit it was a great psychological support.

Even she had such thoughts—if it were someone with less resolve, they might truly develop an attachment and completely turn to that devil.

What a skillful method.

Not knowing how many times she had admired her ancestor’s strength, Roy remained calm, her resolve even firmer, without a hint of wavering or fear.

Even the worry in her heart and that deep sense of powerlessness unconsciously dissipated.

Because mystery is most frightening.

But after this meeting, the veil covering her ancestor, the three thousand faces from people’s legends, all turned to smoke.

She had seen his essence.

So, whether he was truly ordinary as he claimed or terrifying as legends described, he had shed all mystery, no longer requiring her to guess or imagine.

Because the Devil was just like that.

This was her greatest gain.

As for her curiosity, it was because Roy couldn’t understand one point.

Her ancestor had clearly said that while in that period of time, one would be isolated from the outside world’s time—enter at one moment, leave at the same moment.

This meant that while she was conversing with her ancestor, outside time should have been suspended.

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But if so, when did the other visitor board the ship? Could it have been during the brief time when she was walking through the cabin, before entering the illusion?

How could it be so quick?

No matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t figure it out. Roy had no choice but to let it go, remaining vigilant for the hidden visitor while continuing forward.

But after descending the wooden stairs of each level for a long time, the young woman still hadn’t seen that person or suffered an ambush from the uninvited guest.

Everything remained peaceful.

Finally, Roy approached the endpoint.

She arrived at the deck level where she had boarded the Satin.

She just needed to follow the dark corridor forward, pass by the open-doored empty rooms, and before the no-longer-lively sailors’ quarters was the exit.

Who are you, and where are you?

At this point, the young woman increasingly didn’t understand, feeling that if it were Vivian, they should have encountered each other at the first lower deck.

Walking with her head slightly lowered, Roy’s dark golden pupils suddenly brightened slightly, reflecting light that illuminated the wooden floor like salvation.

By now she was very close to the exit, but the young woman was certain that this was not starlight falling from the sky.

Because this light wasn’t as thin as starlight but had a warm color that could comfort the heart.

It was candlelight.

Roy slowly raised her head and soon found the source of the candlelight.

It was the last room before reaching the exit. Its door was open, and candlelight flowed from within, spilling onto the mottled wooden boards.

In that candlelight, there was a shadow.

Swaying freely, shaped like a youth.