The storm had passed.
Steel had carved silence into the sea of milk, and the enormous jelly carcass lay still—glistening under the pale sky like a mountain of rose-colored glass.
After the chaos came quiet.
One by one, the crew returned—clean, steam-warmed, and finally free of the clinging sugar in the air. They gathered around the fallen beast in something like a ritual circle.
Almost.
Styx's tongue lolled, drool already pattering on the planks as her wide eyes devoured the sight.
Beside her, Lien twitched in place, gaze locked on the pink mass. His body screamed hunger, but his ears strained desperately, trying to catch his master's words.
Piers cleared his throat. "Ahem."
Eyes shut, chin lifted—Posture too perfect to be natural.
"Listen up, my bitter warriors," he faked.
"I want every one of you to enjoy our adventures—no matter when or where they drag us. So…"
His lids slipped open, a playful spark flickering beneath the deadpan.
"…I've decided. We're turning this into a competition."
The crew erupted instantly—claps, cheers, and feral excitement.
Styx and Lien practically vibrated in place, pupils blown wide.
Piers felt the tips of his ears burn faintly, but his face remained composed—mask unbroken.
"The competition," he continued smoothly,
"is simple. Whoever eats the most of this Jelly… wins."
Gasps. Wide eyes. The tension was electric.
Lien's hand shot up like an overeager kindergartener.
"Yes, Lien?" Piers asked, voice touched with amusement.
"Master," his face dead serious.
"Do we… get any reward?"
Piers blinked.
A reward, huh?
His lips tugged into a sly grin.
The group leaned forward as he raised a hand. Silver light flared, shimmering and twisting until—
Flash!
Behold:
A butterfly-shaped fidget spinner rested on his tiny palm, gleaming like a sacred relic.
Both gremlins' jaws dropped.
Styx gasped so hard it was almost a scream. "Uwaaaaaa!"
Lien's eyes glittered.
"Whaaa… What does it do?!"
Piers's smirk deepened.
"Fu Fu Fu…"
Watch closely, rookies."
He pinched the spinner between thumb and forefinger, tongue poking out in intense toddler concentration.
Suya suya suya—
The toy spun to life, humming like a miniature turbine.
The sound alone mesmerized them.
Styx clutched her cheeks, squealing.
"SO Cooool!"
"Master… This is insane," Lien added in awe.
Even Rook and Liel leaned in, stared with reluctant awe.
Off to the side, Luci and Mutou shared a single, Thought.
Children. We're surrounded by children.
With a soft thup, Piers stopped the spinning toy.
His expression went back to flat, but his voice carried authority.
"Now… let's move on to the competition.
Who's ready?"
"YES, WE ARE!" the crew roared in unison, voices brimming with excitement.
Satisfied, Piers strode up to the Jelly Beast and raised his hand.
"On my mark… ready… GO!"
BWOOSH!
Styx and Lien shot forward first, crashing into the jelly corpse like rabid beasts.
They tore handfuls of gooey flesh, stuffing it into their mouths with the hunger of starved wolves—no dignity whatsoever.
Meanwhile, Liel edged closer to Mutou, lowering her voice.
"…Mutou," she asked quietly,
"Could you portion it for us? I don't want to get all sticky again."
The dullahan bowed his head.
"Of course, Young Lady."
With a flourish, Black-Saor swept down.
SHHK—SHHK!
In seconds, he'd carved four flawless cubes of shimmering jelly, perfectly portioned.
Thank you, Mutou-dono," Rook said reverently, bowing.
Piers, already moving, conjured four wooden spoons and handed them,
"Take these. We have to eat it."
His tone left no room for discussion.
They nodded nervously and began to dig in—
While Styx and Lien, oblivious to the dire consequence, gleefully doomed themselves into the pink jam.
Mutou, unable to partake due to his Dullahan nature, returned to the helm.
Twenty minutes passed.
Luci, her hand pressed to her stomach, set her spoon down.
"Piers-sama… I don't think I can eat more."
Piers, mid-bite, didn't even flinch.
cheek smeared with pink jelly.
"It's fine,"
His head tilted toward Styx and Lien, who were tearing the mass at full speed.
"We still have two hungry monsters over there."
Luci's eyes flicked to the jelly smear on his cheek. Without hesitation, she brushed it away with a fingertip… and popped it into her mouth.
Her heart fluttered.
Yess… I already got my reward.
Sweeter than victory itself.
Still chewing, Piers turned with a deadpan stare.
Luci cleared her throat, snapping to composure.
"…If I eat any more, I'll end up like Liel."
TWITCH.
A vein bulged on Liel's temple. She spun around, —cheeks puffed with jelly like a smug squirrel.
"At least I'm still trying! unlike someone who doesn't even respect our Master's competition!
Take that, you bloodsucking fiend!"
Luci's smile cracked—
and so did her spoon. SNAP.
Rook, drowning in sweat as he watched the tension spike, threw his hands up, desperately trying to mediate.
.
..
…
One hour later
Rook shuffled up to Piers, one feathered hand clutching his stomach.
"Lord Piers… I think I'll need to take a break.
Is that allowed in competition?"
Piers, legs spread wide, belly bulging, mumbled flatly,
Yeah, sure. As long as you eat more after, breaks are fine."
Rook blinked, and a quick bow,
"Then—excuse me." He waddled off, feathers ruffled, hurrying down to the lower hold for the restroom.
Piers scooped another bite into his mouth, blinking at his own reflection in the wobbling pink surface.
"Hmm. I've eaten way more than expected."
He tapped his stomach once, testing it.
"Turns out my appetite runs deeper than I thought—as long as I don't get bored, I can… keep going."
Puru puru. He swallowed.
Meanwhile, Styx and Lien were locked in what could only be described as a hog's duel, snapping and shoving as they devoured their side of the beast.
Yeah.
That's a battle. A dessert battle. No doubt.
"Fuuu…"
Liel collapsed backward, cheeks flushed, a satisfied smile on her lips.
"Piers-sama… I'm done. I can't eat more."
He eyed her swollen stomach.
…That belly looks like a jelly balloon ready to pop.
Didn't know Liel liked sweets this much.
Another puru puru gulp.
"It's fine. I'm done too.
Which means—"
He raised his voice.
"STYX. LIEN. YOU'RE THE ONLY TWO LEFT!".