The sea didn't calm immediately.
It took time.
Like the world itself needed a moment to process what had just happened.
Carina was still lying flat on the deck, staring at the sky.
"…I'm alive…"
She lifted one hand slowly.
"…I'm actually alive…"
Kuina sat down nearby, resting her wooden sword across her lap. Her breathing had stabilized, but her muscles still felt tight from the fight.
"…We pushed too far," she said quietly.
Tashigi stood near the edge of the ship, looking toward the unconscious Marine bodies.
"…No," she replied. "…We reached where we needed to."
Kevin stood at the center of the deck, unmoving.
Silent.
Processing.
"…Rokushiki foundation acquired," he said.
Carina turned her head slightly.
"…You're really just going to say that like it's normal?"
Kevin didn't respond.
Instead—
He moved.
A single step forward.
Then—
He vanished.
Carina sat up instantly.
"…WAIT—!"
A split-second later, Kevin reappeared a few meters ahead, slightly off balance.
His foot slid across the deck.
"…Incomplete," he said.
Tashigi's eyes widened.
"…That was—"
"…Soru," Kevin confirmed.
Kuina stood up slowly.
"…You already used it?"
Kevin nodded once.
"…Memory-based replication. Execution unstable."
Carina stared.
"…So you just… downloaded Marine skills mid-fight and now you're testing them?!"
Kevin replied calmly.
"…Yes."
Carina fell back again.
"…I give up."
A groan came from the side of the deck.
Everyone turned.
One of the Marines—the close-combat officer Kuina and Tashigi had defeated—shifted slightly, regaining consciousness.
Kuina stepped forward immediately.
"…He's waking up."
Tashigi didn't draw her blade.
"…Wait."
Another movement.
The rifle Marine stirred as well, slowly pushing himself up.
Confusion filled his eyes—
Until he saw Kevin.
Then—
Tension.
Carina whispered.
"…Are they going to attack again…?"
Kevin didn't move.
"…No."
The two Marines looked around.
Their eyes landed on Solen.
Unconscious.
That alone froze them.
"…Vice Commander… defeated…?" one of them muttered.
Tashigi stepped forward slightly.
"…You've lost."
Her voice wasn't hostile.
Just clear.
The Marines stiffened.
They understood.
Completely.
One of them clenched his fist—
Then slowly relaxed it.
"…We… cannot continue," he said.
Kuina watched carefully.
"…You're standing down?"
A pause.
Then—
"…Yes."
A few moments later—
Solen moved.
A slow breath.
Then another.
His eyes opened.
Sharp.
Aware.
Even while lying on the deck.
Carina tensed immediately.
"…HE'S UP—!"
Kuina raised her sword slightly.
Tashigi stayed still.
Watching.
Solen didn't move right away.
His gaze shifted—
First to the sky.
Then to Kevin.
Silence stretched.
Then—
He spoke.
"…I lost."
No denial.
No anger.
Just fact.
Kevin answered.
"…Confirmed."
Carina blinked.
"…That's it? That's the conversation?!"
Solen slowly sat up.
His body showed damage.
But his presence hadn't broken.
"…You had the opportunity to kill," he said.
Kevin replied.
"…Unnecessary."
Solen's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You are pirates."
Kevin didn't deny it.
"…Yes."
A pause.
Then Solen stood up fully.
The other Marines immediately moved behind him, not in attack—
But in formation.
Defensive.
Solen looked at his subordinates briefly.
"…Stand down."
They obeyed instantly.
No hesitation.
Then he looked back at Kevin.
"…You changed the engagement outcome."
Kevin tilted his head slightly.
"…Explain."
Solen spoke calmly.
"…You chose not to eliminate defeated enemies."
Carina raised a hand.
"…Yeah, we're kind of into the 'not dying and not killing if we don't have to' thing."
Kuina didn't comment.
But didn't deny it either.
Tashigi watched Solen carefully.
"…Will you continue pursuit?"
That question mattered.
Solen didn't answer immediately.
His gaze moved across the crew—
Kuina.
Tashigi.
Carina.
Then back to Kevin.
"…No."
Carina froze.
"…Wait… what?"
Solen continued.
"…Direct engagement without escalation support will result in repeated loss."
A pause.
"…Future encounters will be reassigned."
Tashigi narrowed her eyes.
"…So you're withdrawing."
"…Temporarily."
Kuina tightened her grip.
"…Meaning stronger forces later."
Solen didn't deny it.
"…Possibly."
Kevin stepped forward slightly.
"…Then why disengage now?"
Solen answered without hesitation.
"…Because this level of conflict no longer produces results."
Carina muttered.
"…That's a very calm way of saying 'we lost'…"
Solen ignored her.
"…Next time, it will not be like this."
Kevin nodded once.
"…Understood."
Silence settled again.
Then Solen turned.
"…We leave."
The Marines moved immediately.
Efficient.
Disciplined.
They returned to their ship without another word.
No attack.
No tricks.
Just withdrawal.
Carina watched them go, still processing everything.
"…Did we just… scare off a Vice Commander?"
Kuina exhaled slowly.
"…No."
Tashigi corrected.
"…We forced a recalculation."
Kevin looked at the horizon.
"…Next encounter probability reduced."
Carina sat down again.
"…I'll take that as a win."
The sea finally calmed.
Not completely.
But enough.
For now.
Kuina rested her sword against her shoulder.
"…We need to get stronger."
Tashigi nodded.
"…We will."
Carina raised a hand weakly.
"…After food. Definitely after food."
Kevin stood quietly.
His mind still processing the memories he had taken.
Movements.
Techniques.
Understanding.
And something else.
Something new.
Something human.
He looked at his hand briefly.
Then toward the sea.
"…Next destination required."
Carina groaned.
"…Can we at least eat first before the next life-threatening decision?"
Kuina almost smiled.
Almost.
And the ship continued forward—
Not hunted.
Not safe.
But stronger than before.