Captain – Chapter 414 – The Ghost Attached to the Pendant

“You should have said so earlier.”

Seeing that the Lady seemed to know a method of searching, Roy finally breathed a sigh of relief. Her words didn’t contain much complaint, but rather sounded like she was being coquettish with an elder.

“I told you that I am blinded by mist, unable to see the path ahead clearly. Therefore, the direction I point out for you next will only be vague and general.”

“You must decide for yourself.”

After throwing cold water on the captain’s expectations, but seeing that she didn’t mind at all, the Lady shook her head helplessly and continued: “For some reasons, the old calendar cannot be traced back to, and no traces or records remain.”

“But fortunately, we can still ask.”

Reaching across the various treasures on the table, after a slight pause, the Lady picked up a silver pendant and handed it to the captain.

Still can… ask?

Roy found it difficult to understand the Lady’s words, feeling that since even records of that old history hadn’t survived, how could there possibly be any remaining witnesses?

Over such a long span of time, let alone ordinary beings, even existences like the Siren and Death-Fearers with their pseudo-eternity couldn’t have survived. Only deities could pass through it unscathed.

So who could respond to her inquiries?

With great curiosity, Roy took the pendant and examined it carefully.

The pendant appeared to be made of pure silver, though time had darkened it somewhat. It was diamond-shaped, with an exquisitely carved cross in the center.

The cross was engraved with several iris flowers, all blooming slightly toward the center. Around it were flame patterns that weren’t intense but rather gentle, like the fire of civilization ignited in darkness.

And at the end where the flowers bloomed and the flames clung, there was a blue gem inlaid. When Roy looked at it, she could faintly see phosphorescence.

This pattern… why does it look so familiar?

Looking at the pendant in her hand, Roy blinked, feeling the sense of familiarity growing stronger the more she looked. After a long time, she suddenly realized.

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Putting down her wine glass, the girl rummaged around and took off the cross that was inlaid on her scabbard, which she hadn’t thought about for a long time.

That cross had once dispersed the devil’s incarnation and eliminated many troubles for her. It was something she had obtained from the bishop in the church of Providence, using the name of the Great Captain.

Well, it could also be considered a deception.

Just as the Mermaid was under the protection of the Ocean Goddess, among the treasures passed down by the Holy Church, there was also some divine blessing from the Auran Goddess.

But on that lonely island, she discovered that this cross was completely ineffective against the devil. After experiencing so many things, she had forgotten about it for a time, until now, when she recalled it upon seeing the pattern on the pendant.

Placing the pendant and the cross together for comparison, sure enough, apart from the addition of a gemstone, there was no difference in the patterns.

Is this… an artifact of the Holy Church?

“As you’ve guessed, they both came from Hestia’s hand.”

Seemingly not expecting that the cross would appear in the girl’s possession, a strange color flashed in the Lady’s eyes, but quickly returned to calmness as she said.

Hestia, the name of the Auran Goddess, was also an old friend of Lady Annisdora in some sense.

With her guess confirmed by the Lady’s words, Roy put away the cross, composed herself, and asked: “Then Lady, can this pendant… left by Goddess Hestia, answer my questions?”

As she asked, the girl’s voice became lower, feeling that such a possibility was extremely remote. Even if this pendant was a divine artifact left by the goddess, it was still an inanimate object. How could it possibly explain things to her?

“Of course not.”

The Lady’s answer remained calm, with no discernible emotion, but Roy felt that the deity should be quite perplexed at this moment.

She should be thinking, how could she ask such a question.

“Lady, don’t keep me in suspense. How could I guess your intentions?”

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The girl, feeling her cheeks burning slightly, urged somewhat uncomfortably, thinking, you can see through my thoughts, but I can’t do the same.

“This pendant was entrusted to me by Hestia before she left. Attached to it is a lingering ghost that cannot be dispersed, the child of one of her followers. Due to deep obsession, it couldn’t find release and freedom.”

As the Lady spoke, the pendant in Roy’s hand gradually changed, fluctuating between brightness and darkness, becoming more profound, like eyes blurred by tears.

“But at that time, she could no longer stay, and had no time to help the child resolve its obsession, so she requested that I continue in her place.”

“But I ultimately couldn’t accomplish it.”

Saying this, even the Lady fell silent, showing some regret.

The Lady explained very simply, without more specific details, but Roy already understood the general situation and knew why she hadn’t been able to complete the task.

Goddess Hestia was incredibly great, universally recognized by believers as the mother-like existence who guided humanity out of darkness.

Her love for humanity simply couldn’t be described in words or language. If one had to say, it would certainly be more vast than the sea.

However… even deities, once they step into the mortal realm and possess mortal bodies, would develop emotions similar to mortals. She viewed all of humanity as her children, but would certainly have some partiality.

Like those close to her, like her followers.

How many lingering ghosts and unresolvable obsessions were there in the world? If not for some partiality, why would that goddess come to request the Lady’s help?

This was the nature of “people,” understandable.

As for why the Lady had been unable to complete the task, it was naturally due to the devil’s schemes.

After clarifying all this, the captain looked at the Lady and thoughtfully asked: “So, Lady, will this ghost guide me forward, leading me to find that legendary ship hidden in the old calendar?”

“I cannot guarantee that.”

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The Lady said such words for the first time. She looked into the girl’s dark golden eyes and said gently: “The only thing I can guarantee is that the unidentified warship is related to that child’s obsession.”

“As for what exactly the relationship is, I didn’t get to see the truth, so the answer to the question can only be found by yourself.”

“Although I shouldn’t say this, and shouldn’t give you more burden, little captain, I still believe that your upcoming journey is more like a path of redemption, and on this path…”

“You will gradually awaken.”

Awaken…

Similar words, Roy had heard from her ancestor before, but at that time, they brought her a bone-chilling feeling, like a cold wind. Yet when the Lady said them, they were like the newborn sun.

Warm, with visible hope.

“At this point, I no longer have the power to change more. Whether it’s the ghost in the pendant or the two children waiting outside, from now on, they may all have to rely on you, my little captain.”

“Whether it’s confronting Captain Edward, or helping them eliminate curses and obsessions to find a place of peace, only when you truly awaken will you be able to see a glimmer of opportunity in despair.”

“But… you still have a choice.”

With these words, the Lady spoke no more, but her attitude was already unmistakable.

Even though, due to her beloved’s wish, the Lady had waited in the cottage without leaving for Roy’s arrival and the future of those close to her like Vivian, ultimately… she would have her moment of departure.

Just like Goddess Hestia’s request before leaving, the Lady’s chosen, and only possible chosen trustee, was the girl before her.

But although the deity hoped the captain would accept, she also knew what a heavy burden it was to shoulder the fate of others, so she didn’t make the decision with a single word.

She gave the choice to the girl.

If Roy agreed, then the conversation would continue, and she would lay out the vague path she had deduced before the girl’s eyes.

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But if she disagreed…

The deity would not speak again.

As Roy already knew, after possessing a mortal body, even deities would have likes and dislikes, and emotions would emerge.

There would also be reluctance and worry.

Perhaps after truly departing, she would gradually forget all this, would be indifferent to the encounters and feelings of this life, but at least at this moment…

She would still care and consider.

This was the reason.

What Roy faced now was a choice, but it also seemed like a transaction. This reminded her of her first meeting with the Lady through the cat’s eye stone in Solomon’s treasure room.

She had said that she was not good at asking, preferring to establish covenants or make deals.

Now it seemed that was indeed the case.

Thinking about this, the captain couldn’t help but smile, feeling that she and the Lady weren’t particularly close anyway, so why should the other give without receiving?

In other words, this was how it should be.

Moreover, the deity’s request didn’t seem like much to her.

“If you trust me…”

Shaking the pendant in her hand, Roy instantly transformed from that obedient child back into the mischievous captain, the corner of her mouth curving upward.

“This captain is willing to share Lady’s worries.”