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"Now… is that enough?" Ain asked after deleting every Navy contact and group from her diary. She lifted her gaze toward Nojiko and the others.
"That should do it," Carina replied, crossing her arms with a serious nod. "We understand why you came here. But you should also know something."
She leaned forward slightly, her eyes narrowing. "Captain Arton doesn't necessarily have to grant you power. Don't resent him if he doesn't. Because if you ever turn that resentment toward him…" Carina's tone grew cold. "We won't forgive you."
Ain met her gaze firmly. "That won't happen. I'll prove myself—and prove that I'm worthy of a template."
She knew everyone before her already possessed one. In theory, a person could hold multiple templates—Arton himself was proof of that. But until Nami and the others fully mastered the power of their own, Arton wasn't likely to hand out another.
In other words, as long as Ain could earn Arton's trust and be accepted as one of them, she'd have a real chance to receive a template of her own.
"I hope your resolve pays off," Carina said flatly. "But for now, you're still a hostage. Only when Captain Arton himself sees you as a true companion will we stop watching you. So be prepared."
Hearing that, Ain hesitated. If they're monitoring me all the time… how am I supposed to even get close to Arton?
Nojiko smiled faintly. "Don't rush, Ain. Zephyr's future is still far away. You have time. Even for me, it took a long while to reach this point."
Ain exhaled and returned the smile. "You're right. I still have time." Turning to the others, she said earnestly, "Don't worry, I'll behave. If there's anything that needs doing—any task at all—please leave it to me."
Carina chuckled. "We're not here to exploit you. After all, you might become one of us in the future. For now, go greet Captain Arton properly—and make sure he knows you're not hiding anything."
Nojiko paused, a teasing smile curling her lips. "You know, if I'd used Mirajane's Command Spell to make you answer Arton earlier, maybe you'd have said the same kinds of things Tina once did."
Carina smirked. "What a shame. I would've loved to see that scene again."
Ain twitched, staring blankly at them both. Demons… no, sly foxes—that's what they are.
…
On the deck—
"Captain, could you please stay still? I can't concentrate on healing you if you keep moving," Kaya sighed, looking helplessly at him.
"Sorry, Kaya," Arton murmured. "I'm just too tired to move."
"You clearly have enough energy," Kaya pouted. She didn't believe for a second that fighting Zephyr had drained him completely. She'd already channeled plenty of chakra into him—he should've recovered by now.
"Hehehe… it's just that your embrace is too comfortable, Kaya. I can't bear to leave it."
"Wha—!" Kaya's face went crimson. "Even if you say that, I…"
Arton raised his head slightly, admiring her shy expression. "You're adorable, Kaya. Makes me want to enjoy the view a little longer."
"Mm!" Kaya squeaked, shutting her eyes tightly, not daring to look at him or say another word.
Arton chuckled. "Such a shame. In that case, I'll just keep lying here a while longer."
Chapter 296 – Toward Reverse Mountain
Arton chuckled softly and decided to stop teasing Kaya. He lifted his head from her chest and instead laid it gently across her lap.
He couldn't deny it—Kaya's lap pillow always had a special kind of comfort.
"What a harmonious scene," Carina's amused voice came from not far away. "I hope I didn't interrupt something?"
Kaya immediately opened her eyes, spotting Carina approaching with Ain and the others. Her face flushed an even deeper red.
"The questioning's done already?" Arton asked, still resting his head comfortably against Kaya's thighs.
"Mhm. It's finished," Nojiko replied. "This Ain doesn't have any strange intentions. She truly just wants to save Zephyr."
She stopped in front of him with Ain in tow. "Captain Arton, how should we handle her now? Should we lock her up… or, as she herself offered, put her in your bed to keep it warm?"
Nojiko smirked.
Ain blushed hard, yet still looked up at Arton with faint hope.
"That won't be necessary," Arton said, waving a hand. "If she insists on staying, let her work as a maid for now—handle the ship's cleaning."
"The cleaning?" Uta grinned and tilted her head, her gaze sly. "You mean your personal cleaning, Captain?"
"Uta, don't go corrupting the new girl already," Arton sighed.
Not that he knew—Ain had long been "corrupted" by all those works of his. In terms of theoretical knowledge, she could practically lecture on it.
Her cheeks burned red as she glanced downward at the captain's lap. Unbidden, memories of those indecent panels flashed through her mind, and she instinctively licked her lips. If I offered to take care of his… personal needs, would he accept?
Before she could think further, the ship suddenly jolted with a violent shake.
Everyone staggered from the impact.
Ain, being the least physically stable, lost her balance and fell forward—straight onto Arton's abdomen.
To be exact… a little lower than that.
Her eyes went wide in shock. She froze, her body stiff as stone.
Arton coughed, a bit awkward himself, rubbing the back of his head. "Cough—try standing steady next time, will you?"
He helped Ain up, resisting the urge to make a joke with so many people watching. It wasn't the right moment for teasing.
"Nami, what happened?" he called over his shoulder.
"Captain, we've begun ascending Reverse Mountain!" Nami shouted from the helm. "The ship's being pulled upward by the rotating sea current!"
"Oh-ho… perfect timing," Arton said, his eyes lighting up. "Everyone, ready to step into a new world?"
"Of course!" the crew shouted in unison.
"Good! Then let's go, everyone!"
Arton stood and moved to help steer the ship himself. Normally, he left the navigation to the others, but for a moment this monumental, historic—almost symbolic—he wanted to be part of it.
Even as a "hostage," Ain eagerly joined in, determined to earn her place among them by helping guide the vessel.
Gradually, the ship rose along the reverse-flowing waters climbing the face of the mountain.
For Nami, Nojiko, Kaya, and the others who had never experienced the passage before, it was pure exhilaration—they cheered loudly as the current carried them skyward.
"What an unbelievable sight," Kaya said with wide eyes. She turned to Arton beside her, smiling warmly. "Arton, thank you for taking me away from Syrup Village."
"And thank you," Arton replied, placing a hand on her shoulder. "For becoming my doctor."
With that, he opened his diary system once again, activating the real-time recording.
For a moment like this—one that marked a turning point in their journey—mere words weren't enough. He wanted every second captured in motion.
...
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