Captain – Chapter 417 – The Moment of Parting

Even before the Lady mentioned it, Roy had already heard about that curse-breaking blade from the “old pirate,” so she wasn’t particularly surprised.

In fact, after experiencing so many things and understanding that the devil couldn’t be harmed by ordinary weapons, she had already considered this possibility.

That Nethergate Dagger could destroy the Box, so it should also be able to harm her ancestor.

However, immediately afterward, the Lady added in a calm voice, extinguishing the captain’s self-satisfaction: “I imagine, little captain, that before coming to see me, you had already deduced this, and even determined it was in my possession.”

Roy had indeed thought this.

In her view, since the Lady and her ancestor were mortal enemies, she must have prepared a means to end his life, namely that dagger.

And this could also perfectly explain why First Mate Isaac would know of its existence and could create a replica using divine power.

But now, the Lady’s words completely overturned this assumption.

“Is that… not the case?”

Roy blinked, suddenly confused, and asked somewhat hesitantly.

“No, quite the contrary.”

The deity shook her head, not continuing her explanation, but turned around, standing sideways to the young woman, then bent down and blew out the candle.

The small room immediately fell into darkness.

However, because the wooden windows were all open, the aurora and starlight could enter. By this light, Roy could still vaguely make out the Lady’s gentle profile.

But without the warm candlelight, that rather ordinary face seemed to be suddenly veiled in mist, difficult to see clearly.

That floating, detached feeling was as if she might dissolve into mist at any moment.

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As if she might follow the starlight back to the other shore.

“Not only is the Nethergate Dagger not in my possession, but I know nothing of its whereabouts. In fact, throughout these hundreds and thousands of years, I have never laid eyes on it, so I cannot guide you to it.”

The silence in the room was broken, and even the mist surrounding the deity diminished somewhat due to her slightly apologetic words.

But even so, the captain still felt somewhat at a loss regarding the Lady’s display of detachment, and hastily said: “It should be my responsibility to find that dagger. How could I possibly blame you?”

“Besides, all these years you’ve been constrained by the devil, how could you possibly…”

Feeling the Lady’s gaze upon her, looking at those eyes that remained clear and bright even in the darkness, Roy’s voice grew softer and softer, until finally it became inaudible, leaving only dejection and silence.

After a moment, she asked softly: “My Lady, are you… leaving?”

Whether it was her ancestor or First Mate Isaac, both had said that deities don’t care about worldly matters. Now it seemed that although this statement wasn’t entirely correct, it wasn’t far off. The reason the Lady hadn’t left…

Was because there were still some people and things she couldn’t let go of.

Like her beloved trapped in obsession, like Vivian who had accompanied her for a thousand years like a child, and after tonight, perhaps also the lonely sea creature.

Apart from these, she truly didn’t care about the world’s situation, the changes brought by time and past events, or even her own suffering.

Now, her beloved had scattered into starlight, and Vivian and the Siren had been entrusted to Roy. The “bargaining chips” of their transaction—secrets from the old calendar and the clear path needed by the young woman—had all been fully explained.

With this, all matters were settled, and it was time for her to leave.

The captain understood all this and knew she had no reason or right to ask the Lady to stay, but still couldn’t help asking this way.

Expressing a childlike reluctance to part.

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The young woman’s thoughts and feelings were very clear, and naturally the Lady could see through them, but until the end, she didn’t answer.

She only gently stroked the captain’s head, then walked toward the wooden door.

Seeing this, although she hadn’t received any promises, Roy’s mood still improved considerably. The dejection on her face was swept away as she quickly followed.

With a slight “creaking” sound, the wooden door slowly opened. The two young women waiting outside, constantly concerned, naturally immediately cast their gazes, unable to suppress their curiosity.

The Lady led the captain down and didn’t stop or explain anything to Vivian and the other. She merely gestured slightly for them to follow her, then walked toward the dense forest without looking back.

She wouldn’t stay here, and probably… wouldn’t return either.

Feeling the gazes of Vivian and the Siren upon her, Roy shrugged her shoulders, indicating her innocence, then lowered her head and followed.

Of course, before doing so, she didn’t forget to whistle, reminding the little ones who had again disappeared that she was leaving.

The sound of wingbeats passed overhead, and the caws and low growls gradually faded away. It seemed the raven and young dragon hadn’t flown far, and after hearing the captain’s whistle and observing the atmosphere, they headed toward the warship.

After the unexpected visitors left, the dense forest regained the tranquility it had maintained for thousands of years, though not desolate—bird songs could be heard all along the way.

Those calls were not loud but melodious and low, as if bidding farewell, sending this kind, last deity in the world on her journey.

The four “individuals” traveled in silence, accompanied only by birdsong and footsteps.

After a long while, the birdsong faded away, replaced by the increasingly clear sound of tides. The sea surface, reflecting soft light, finally came into view.

Stopping at the seaside, the Lady gazed at the ocean, as calm as ever, with slight movement in her light brown eyes, faintly revealing nostalgia and longing, but these quickly transformed into complete acceptance.

Even deities have people and things they find hard to let go of, but that doesn’t mean they truly cannot let go. If willing, she could return to indifference at any time.

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But she hadn’t, waiting instead until the very end of everything.

Only, did she have any regrets?

The answer to this question, perhaps no one would ever know.

After an unknown amount of time, the Lady, as if relieved of a burden, let out a light sigh and turned around. Her gaze swept over Roy and the other two, finally resting on Vivian: “From now on, you will follow Captain Roy.”

“Although until the end, I couldn’t help you break the curse, and now I no longer have the chance, that doesn’t mean there is no more hope.”

“When the day comes, if Captain Roy can truly awaken, I think she will be able to replace me and help you complete that curse-breaking ritual.”

“Vivian, do you remember?”

The Lady seemed worried, asking finally, showing their closeness.

Although she had many doubts in her heart, when meeting the Lady’s gentle gaze, the Blood Craver responded without hesitation: “Yes, my Lady.”

Receiving this acknowledgment, the deity nodded slightly, then looked at the Siren and said: “You have your own thoughts, and I won’t interfere much. You only need to remember that if you have nowhere to go, Captain Roy will help you.”

“This is my agreement with her.”

Hearing the words “agreement,” the earlier feeling of transaction in the small cabin immediately vanished, and the captain also expressed her approval.

Hearing this, the sea creature briefly closed her eyes and lowered her head to show gratitude and respect.

“As for you, little captain.”

The Lady’s gaze finally fell on the captain, and she gently advised: “Don’t fear the hardships ahead, nor worry about the power hidden within you. That is your innate good fortune.”

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“As long as you are determined enough, it won’t affect you. Your bloodline should never be your shackle, but rather the most trustworthy support.”

Hearing the Lady’s words, Roy’s concerns and slight resentment about the so-called awakening finally dispersed. She finally understood that her ancestor’s arrangement of that snowy path, his stirring of her bloodline…

Was also part of his scheme.

His purpose was to make her believe that the further she walked on that divine path, the closer she would get to true indifference, thus making her hesitate.

From the moment the devil’s curse was lifted, as long as Roy didn’t wish to awaken, no external force could stir her bloodline, and with only a complete body but no great power, she posed no threat at all.

But now, such careful planning was ultimately exposed by the Lady’s words.

“I understand, my Lady.”

The heaviness in her heart dissipated, and Roy responded with a smile, but the next moment, as if thinking of something, she appeared to be hesitating to speak.

Knowing what she wanted to say, the deity turned slightly, looking toward the Mermaid in the distance. Her gaze seemed to penetrate the hull and walls, quietly resting somewhere, not moving for a long time, as if seeing an old acquaintance.

There, a cat was curled up in a corner, burying its head in the angle of the wall.

Not knowing if it was truly sleeping, or just unwilling to look back.

As if remembering something amusing, a faint smile appeared at the corners of the Lady’s mouth. After a long while, she finally withdrew her gaze and, meeting the three’s looks of either expectation or hidden worry, gave her answer.

“Don’t worry, I won’t leave for now. Before the curtain falls on everything and the final outcome is determined, I will be watching you from somewhere.”

“It’s also… in accordance with my beloved’s wish.”