CH 44

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The female pirate Cecily had left Monte Chris Island and was on a solo journey of revenge.

It was a lonely voyage, but the winds were blowing smoothly and she was able to reach the small port town of Maltaya in about five days. Maybe the good charm, the kiss on her forehead that Shirou had given her during their parting moment, was truly working.

When she thought about Shirou, Cecily always wondering if she would’ve been happier if she had just stayed on the island without going down on the path of vengeance, but at the end of the day, her desire for revenge was always stronger.

Cecily’s arrival to the port town was not a coincidence; when Cecily was still a pirate captain, Maltaya was her base of operation, with her assuming the role as captain of a trading ship as a public persona. After all, a ship does require regular maintenance, and what could give a better maintenance service than a port town?

She had assumed that Janice, the traitor, did not immediately set out on the next voyage, but instead decided to repair the ship and recruit new crew members, and it looked like Cecily was right on the money.

Her main target was her former vice-captain Janice, Anne, Hillary, Futch, and Buten, and she had a good idea of where to find them. Traditionally, pirates on dry land were usually found drinking, brawling, gambling or screwing. All of which could be found at the same place.   

Cecily, wearing a hood over her head, hid on the rooftop of a building overlooking the downtown area, keeping watch of anyone moving on the street.

It was later in the evening when Cecily finally spotted one of her targets, Buten. Her large, overweight figure was swaying back and forth with every step. She was the one who had plunged the knife into Cecily’s back, and that hatred towards her was only second to what she felt for Janice, who had arrange the coup.

Cecily followed Buten through the streets as the sun set, making her way towards the East End part of town; it was on the outskirts of the entertainment district, where there were many male prostitutes. Most probably Buten was looking for some fun, which would be a perfect chance for revenge. Cecily grinned at the thought of that.

As expected, Buten started looking for male prostitutes on the street corner, and before long she had selected a timid-looking man to enter into price negotiations with.

Eventually a good compromise had been reached.

The two began walking toward the warehouse district, cuddling up together.

Did you go to the warehouse district to skimp on lodging fees? What a cheapskate…

There weren’t many people in the warehouse district at night. It was a perfect place for dubious activities, and often women would bring prostitutes to have their fun there.

Buten stopped after entering a short distance into a narrow alley. When Cecily peeked at them from the shadows she saw that Buten was sitting on a wooden box that had fallen into the aisle.

“Here, take off my shoes.”

“Shoes?”

“Just shut up and take them off already!”

The man, perhaps frightened by Buten’s angry words, timidly began to take off her shoes.

“Like this?”

“Good. Now carefully lick my feet.”

“Eh…” This time, the male prostitute did not move.

“Come on, do it quick!”

“That’s…”

“Heeehh… you’re saying you won’t do it?” Buten squinted at the man, her face twisting into an ugly sneer.

“I’m sorry, I can’t do that request, tha- BLEURGH!”

Buten planted a booted foot into the man’s crotch; he keeled over and wept in pain, and she stepped onto the side of his face.

“I’m paying for you, so shut yer trap and do what I told ya already!”

“Uuh…”

“And dontcha dare thinking of escaping! I’m going to make you lick all over my body until I’m satisfied! You got that!?”

After kicking the man in the stomach a few times, Buten grabbed him by the hair and made him look up.

“So, what’s your reply?”

“…yes ma’am.”

The timid-looking man nodded with tears welling up in his eyes, and Buten laughed in satisfaction.

Cih, that wench still likes to do disgusting things. Now, how to get this done?

Cecily was planning on taking her out when she was all alone, but now that there was a male prostitute with her, it would risk him being taken as a hostage. While she didn’t care for the man either way, it would still be unfortunate if he got involved in their fight.

However, knowing Buten’s personality, the man wasn’t going to escape this exchange unharmed.

It can’t be helped, I guess…

Cecily moved to the side of the warehouse and climbed onto the roof, then crept silently towards the area just above where Buten and the prostitute were. When she looked down from the roof, she saw that Buten was leaning heavily against a wooden box and was having her feet licked by him.

“Lick carefully around the toes too… That’s it, that feels reeeeal good. You might have a knack for this y’know. Hehehe…”

Cecily, disgusted by Buten’s pleasure in forcing the man to kneel and lick her toes, swooped down from above and grabbed her head in a vice-like grip.

“Sorry for barging in during your fun time.”

Buten was grabbed from behind, so she could not see the face of the person who had attacked her.

“Y-you bastard. Who are you? How dare you attack an officer of Captain Janice’ pirate crew!” Buten tried to put up her best bravado, but it had no effect on Cecily.

“I can’t believe Janice made a small fry like you an officer, how laughable.”

“H-hey, if it’s the money you want…”

“Shut up and don’t you dare move a muscle.”

Cecily tightened her hold even more as she searched Buten’s pockets. Eventually, she found the bag of money and threw it to the prostitute who was still sprawled on his back.

“Take that money and go home. Consider your work done for the night.”

The man quickly nodded without saying a word and staggered into the darkness, but not without taking the bag of money first.

“You wench… what are you planning to do with me?”

Cecily restrengthened her hold on Buten again. “Hey now, I know you’re stupid, but isn’t it about time for you to remember who I am? Don’t tell me you forgot my voice already.”

Buten’s eyes widened as realization clicked in, and she began to tremble in fear.

“It-it can’t be…”

“You finally remembered, huh?”

“C-c-c-c-captain!”

“That’s right, it’s me, Bursting Flame Cecily, your captain. Or should I say ‘former captain’?”  Cecily’s voice was heavy and cold, like steel.

“N-no, please, it wasn’t my fault.”

“Not your fault? That’s funny, because I seem to recall it was you who stuck the knife in my back. Or are you saying it was someone else who stabbed me?”

Buten was shaking. “It’s not what you think. Janice made me do it!”

“Who cares about whether she made you do it or not.” Cecily’s voice was a fierce snarl, “The only thing I want to know is where they are RIGHT NOW?”

“If… if I tell you, will you let me go?”

“… I’ll think about letting you go.”

Buten’s words came out in a desperate flurry. “T-they’re at a new inn called The Three Thrushes Pavilion. The owner is Janice’s new lover, we’re all staying there. We’re going to play cards, so all of us officer ‘re gonna drink all night. I went out because I wanted a little action.”

“I see… and where is this inn located?”

“It’s around the back of the Longin Street… you’re letting me go now, right?”

Cecily gathered her will towards her fingers, grappling Buten’s face with a vice grip and turned Buten around to face her.

“I said I’d think about letting you go, right? Well I’ve been thinking about it, and I’ve decided I can’t forgive you after all.”

“T-that…!”

“§ΛΖΛΦΓΔΧ”

“S-stop it!!”

Buten’s scream ended abruptly as an explosion blew most of her head off.

“That’s one down…”

Without much of a head to have a grip of, Buten’s body fell to the alley floor with a wet thud. Cecily pulled her hood up and disappeared into the darkness.

In the back alley of the warehouse district, the only thing left was a corpse with half of its head blown off and its saliva-soaked legs exposed to the cool night air.

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Whoa. Cecily is ruthless.

Also, the next two chapters won’t be around Shirou either. Just a heads up.