Sargon had always assumed this woman was just some mountain bandit boss. After all, this place was crawling with them—on average, you'd run into a gang every kilometer.
"So turns out you're not," he mused aloud. "I was just thinking... you've got that refined face, kind of elegant. Didn't look like a thug. A princess, huh? Wait a sec—"
He suddenly narrowed his eyes and turned to Lily."You're royalty, and the royal family's the one who put the bounty out… so that means—what, a dogfight?"
"I'm not a dog!" Lily snapped, grinding her teeth hard enough to crack. "He is! He's a traitor! A usurper! The most wicked man on this earth!"
"Oh."Sargon simply nodded and then placed a firm hand on her shoulder, steering her back onto the path. She'd veered off without realizing.
"I took three days to get here from the capital," he said casually, "but that's because I didn't walk in a straight line. If we push through tonight, we'll probably reach by morning."
Lily froze. She'd been about to say something, but the words stuck in her throat. She simply stared at him in silence.
Half an hour passed.
She couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Aren't you... even a little curious?" she asked.
"Curious about what?"
"The royal bounty."
"Not at all."
Sargon shook his head. "I don't wanna be some justice-obsessed hero. I'm aiming to be a filthy rich landlord who exploits people. I asked your name because I thought it might make for a good story later. That's all."
"You really are…" Lily sighed. "You don't act like a strong man at all."
"That's because I don't think I am," Sargon replied with a grin.
Having a cheat ability didn't make him invincible.
Even if he couldn't recall the full story of this world, he still remembered the kind of monsters that roamed this sea—people who could level islands or shatter the sky.
He could take on regular thugs just fine. But reshape the land? Change the weather? Not even close.
"Is that so…" Lily murmured, then went quiet. Her expression was stubborn, but it couldn't fully hide the frustration in her eyes.
The only sounds left between them were their synchronized footsteps on the dirt path.
Until another, much quicker set of footsteps shattered the silence.
"Stop right there!"
Several armed men burst out of the forest and surrounded them. The leader, a towering brute, snarled, "Hand over your money!"
They were all dressed in rags, skin pale from hunger. Their hands shook on the hilts of their blades, and their eyes betrayed hesitation.
Sargon had seen their kind more than once these past few days.
Mountain bandits.
He sighed and said slowly, "Look at me. Do I look like someone who even has pockets? I don't even have a bag. I'm poorer than you. At least you've got swords."
"Cut the crap. That sword at your hip looks expensive. And that woman—she's gotta be a noble!"
The bandit chief raised his blade. "Hand over the cash, or I'll kill you both!"
"Boss, wait! Look at that woman—"
One of the men stepped forward and pulled out a familiar-looking bounty poster, holding it up next to Lily's face.
"It's her! Boss, it's her! We catch her and we're rich!"
"One million Berries!"
The bandit chief's eyes went wide. He turned his blade toward Sargon."We're taking the girl. Get lost if you wanna live!"
"Don't—"
Before Lily could even finish, Sargon vanished from sight.
A flash—like a shadow flickering between frames—shot through the crowd.
In the blink of an eye, he was behind them again.
All the bandits—swords raised, faces frozen in shock—were now completely still. Like statues. Not a single muscle moved.
Sargon walked back toward the chief and patted his shoulder.
"Look, man. We're all just trying to survive. Rob someone else, alright? I'm counting on this girl to help me reach my dream."
He casually grabbed the flask at the bandit's waist, uncorked it, and took a swig.
"Blegh. What the hell is this swill?"
He exhaled sharply. "You'll be able to move again in half a day. Next time, maybe check who you're messing with."
Lily quietly stepped up beside him. She bit her lip and whispered, "...Thank you."
"I just don't like picking on the poor. They've got no bounties, no value. What's the point?"
He tilted his head at her. "By the way, does your country have some kind of treasure belonging to a Bandit King or something?"
Lily blinked. "I've never heard of any treasure legends."
"Then why the hell are there so many bandits?" Sargon frowned.
Lily's gaze dimmed. She lowered her voice. "The taxes are too high. Ordinary people can't survive anymore. They become bandits because they have no other choice."
"Huh?"
Sargon looked puzzled.
"Don't you get it?" Lily said, voice rising. "They can't afford the crushing taxes, so—"
"So the sea doesn't come with a lid," Sargon cut in. "If they can't survive on land, go to sea."
"I've never heard of the Kingdom of Oycott banning people from sailing."
He himself had hit rock bottom before choosing to head out to sea. If he'd had just a little more money, he might've tried starting a business instead.
Lily's eyes widened in shock, a look so intense that it startled even Sargon.
"Wait, don't tell me…" He raised an eyebrow. "You never even thought of that?"
In the age of pirates, people took to the sea for all kinds of reasons—especially the ones who had no other way to survive.
But here? These people would rather become bandits than set sail?
This was the East Blue—not the Grand Line. The weather was calm. Even a kid could sail out on a makeshift raft.
If you can't survive... then leave.
"Go to sea…"
Lily whispered, eyes flickering with sudden clarity. But then her mood sank again.
"No... The Kingdom of Oycott went through a pirate war. The people hate anyone who tries to leave by sea. They'd never do it lightly."
Beyondetta Lily, sixteen years old, princess of the Oycott royal family. If nothing went wrong, she was supposed to be next in line for the throne.
The country had been plagued by war, especially after a naval battle between Marines and pirates more than two decades ago. It was a wreck until her father took the throne, bringing some brief peace.
But when Lily was born, her father died in an "accident." Whatever progress he made vanished like smoke. Her mother, instead of picking up the pieces, found herself a new man—a scheming bastard who became Lily's stepfather.
Not long after the second marriage, Lily's mother also died. And the man, claiming Lily was still too young, took over the Beyondetta name and declared himself king.
Under his rule, things got even worse. Bandits, crime, lawlessness—chaos reigned.
He wasn't a genius. Hell, he barely did anything at all.
And somehow, that mess dragged on for over a decade.
Lily grew up in that nightmare. And with a heart set on saving her kingdom, she did the only thing she could.
Six months ago, she tried to assassinate the usurper.
The result?
A bounty on her head.
And shortly after… she ended up in Sargon's hands.
"Man, you're unlucky," Sargon muttered with a scowl.
"You—" Lily looked up, startled by his sudden anger.
Was he... actually sympathizing with her?
Would he help her?
"A royal princess, an actual would-be regicide," Sargon said indignantly, "and your bounty's only a million Berries? Seriously? You should be worth ten million—no, twenty!"
So that's what he meant by unlucky?!