With the enemy's shadow gone, we are finally relieved of the tension. Then I tell the command center that I was able to retreat from the island.

'Good job. Everyone is thanking you.''

I'm flattered, but it's a serious matter.

I've been informed. It's an enemy that even the sacred attribute can't defeat. But I'm sure that we can defeat them.

Yes, there must be a strategy. There must be a strategy. I just don't know what it is.

"The boss is Davy Jones. Apparently, he could take apart and live.

'Is Davy Jones the one with the squidgy face?

'That's a movie. In this game, it's like a demon with a fish tail.

A demon with a fish tail? Like Leanne? I gave up my imagination because I was getting sick. But the fish reminded me of it.

'Oh... was it originally a demon believed in among sailors?'

You're familiar with it. You're familiar with Davy Jones' jail, aren't you? They say that sunken ships and drowned people were sent to Davy Jones' jail.

So you're saying it's the bottom of the ocean that's suspicious?

'Yes, I suppose so. The pirate ship is said to have emerged from the seabed, and we have concluded that something is going on. It's just that...

I can sense that Lwin-san is in pain.

''Is the damage still considerable...''

'Yes... we've lost at least four gunboats. There was a lot of damage on the other ships. Only about 150 returned to their deaths... including Full Moon and the others, and Yoichi and the others.

The damage was bigger than I expected... or should I say, I'm glad it was only that much damage. We could have been wiped out.

The gunship is safe and Yug and his team will repair it now. The only thing we need is more wood, so we'll have to repair them ourselves.

I'll calculate the time: ...... Okay.

"I've got a few ideas, okay?

What is it?

"The second island and the first island... why don't we throw them out with all our might?

What?

Even Ruin-san, as expected, was surprised.

''...What is she aiming for?''

'We are at a disadvantage since we can't use our gunboats. Then I think it's best to set a trap on the second island and find a way to attack. And the first island is where they're all gathered.'

"That's a bold move... we need to talk about it.

Please.

In the meantime, I asked Lily and her friends if they had noticed anything. Then Lily tells me something significant.

'There's a lot of little boats out there!　Takt!

Probably a landing craft. But why would we need a landing craft? I can understand if you can't get close enough to it with a ship... no, there are other uses for it that are more effective with small boats. So that's what the enemy is after.

The limestone cave that is the base of the second island is a good place to set up a trap. If we work with Fire Shadow and the others, we can do something about it.

The problem is the inexplicable invulnerability of the Carth Pirates. Whether or not they're limited to the third island will depend on the means they take.

My prediction is that it's limited to the third island. For starters, their names. The Carthage Pirates... the cursed pirates. And yet they have never cursed themselves out of it. This makes it more likely they are not cursed pirates, but cursed pirates. This explains their invulnerability.

The question is, what are they cursed with? I have a hunch it's Davy Jones, but if he's also immortal, then Davy Jones is also cursed. I'm still suspicious about the seabed, and then the inside of the base.

After a while, opinions are still divided. But this is because there is too little information available. As a result, it was unanimously agreed that we should set up a trap on the second island to gather information on the enemy.

I'm going to have to ask you to take command of it since Tact-kun was the first to come up with the idea. Do you have the personnel you want?

''Now, Hikage-san and the other ninja people... and Nick and the others, I need you to check something for me. And are you and Tyrol and the others okay with this?

No problem. What do you want to confirm with Nick and the others?

"Can you ask the alchemist if he can build a wall?

And the answer was answered by Saber Can.

''I think most alchemists can do it because the alchemy skill is wall smelting. It's everyone's favorite skill.''

So, please contact Nick and the others to invite them to join us.

"All right. We're both on the first island and I'll call you now.

So I had to cooperate with Tyrol and the others, Hikage and Nick. And I was made the operations commander without a second thought.

That's a big responsibility...

'Tact-san will be fine. You should be confident, Tact-san.

He gave me back what I said before about having confidence. Then I'll be confident in giving you instructions.

'Did Tyrol and the others trade their witches' cover?'

They all nodded. 'All right, then, I'll ask Tyrol and the others to do something serious.

'Lily and the others have told me that the Carth Pirates had a small boat on board. Perhaps the enemy will use it. So Tyrol and the others will keep an eye on the Carspirates' little ship and tell me the size of it.

It's a big responsibility. Is that all?

'Of course there's more to it than that. When you've finished watching the Carthage Pirate's little ship, I want you to check out the enemy's ship. Also, I want to know what the enemy is doing now, so I want a couple of guys to go on a reconnaissance mission. The rest of you will consult with me and set up a scouting rotation.

I get it!

The safe ships were to gather at the first base. Therefore, I decided to leave Sknavikona with Mel and the others as is. If we want to scout or run away, Safi's the better choice.

It was just before noon when we arrived at the second island. On the way there, I received a call from Ruin that Hikage and the others, as well as Nick and the others, would be arriving soon. I decided to contact them and log out except for those who were willing to take on the scouting and then decide about the trap.

I ate lunch and then logged in. Then I was immediately informed.

'There's movement in the enemy, 30 pirate ships are heading our way.

Do you know what time it moved?

He said it was 1:00 p.m.

If that's the case, the earliest we could get here would be 3pm, the first island would be at 5pm, and the first island would be at 7pm. Since this is where we set up our traps, it will probably take longer to reach the first island. That would narrow down the enemy's target. I'll call Cosette and Felt, who are scouting the area.

It's Tact! It's Tact, what's going on with the magical fog?

The pirate ship is on its way through the magical fog.

The magical fog seems to be locked in the vicinity of the third island.

Well... Thanks for your help. You want to log out, don't you?　I'll send a replacement and you can come home.

They were replaced by Tyrol and Aroma.

Now, let's start preparing the trap with the assembled members.

First of all, they wrote the topography of the limestone cave on a piece of paper based on everyone's information. The uncertain information was confirmed by actually going there. The map is now mostly correct. And we found out that the cave is quite large. It's very helpful.

'It's easier to understand on paper, that it is.

If we're going to set a trap, it'll be here and here.

You can go here and here, that I can.

We all come up with a plan for a trap, and I explain the plan we had decided on.

"As expected of Takuto-dono...you are relentless, that you are.

'That's how you use wall smelting... this is nasty.

But... it does sound like fun.

'Alchemist was a profession that didn't get much sunshine~'

Apparently, everyone agreed with me. Hikage and the others, Setia, Aranea, Iyuki and Mir immediately went to set up the trap. We don't have much time.

After a while, the information comes from Lara and the female summoner who changed her role as a scout with Tyrol and the others. The enemy seems to have anchored and sent out a small boat.

'The enemy ship has disappeared from sight!

"I believe it to be a small craft...

I knew it... that small boat is not only for landing, but also used for surprise attacks and night raids.

"Thanks for your help. I'll be in charge of surveillance. You two at your posts.

Copy that.

I'll tell them all.

"It's our timing and our coordination that will decide the outcome. Let's show these pirates what we can do!

『『『『 Oh! 』』』』

Thus began the second island, the defensive battle.