We were sent on our last voyage aboard the HMS Maria.
"We defeated Varrak the Mad Titan. I have done what I must do in Kajuu now. So I'm going to the eastern continent, my next destination - but before that I've decided to stop at Guava Island.
　I was told that I would need two weeks to repair the Gladius that I had left with Bazelph, so I thought I'd play it off as a vacation anyway. It would also be a present for Aria, who has supported my business all this time, being an outsider to the gate.

''For me, though, I was able to be with Magnus-san for a few months here in Kajou, and it was already like a vacation...''

　At the edge of the boat, holding my hair in the strong sea breeze, Aria said something that made me happy.
　At the same time, we are both pensive.
　At the same time, we were both happy to see each other, for after our trip to Qaziou was over, Aria would return to Malm's Trading Company in Rakstad and we would only see each other again on our 'days off'.

'Aria-sama, why don't we continue to travel together for a long time to come?
Oh, Chocolat?　What kind of a windbreaker is that?
'I don't have any ulterior motives!　It's a kindness!'
'Uh-huh, just kidding. Thank you. But I'm going back to Laxter. I've thought many times about following Magnus-san all the way through...
How so?
We can't just say that the business we started in Qaziou is over now that we've killed Barlack, it's done. Many people's livelihoods depend on it now, so we have to take responsibility for it. But Magnus-san has a mission to take out the Demon King, so I have to take care of that.
'I see, your future wife's mission!
'And if Mr. Magnus doesn't have to do business anymore, there's really no use for me to go along with him. Rather, it's just baggage at worst, right?　It's not as if I have any pride in that, or that I don't really want to be a heavy woman.
''Ugh. What a great gesture.... This chocolate is very impressive.
And you're thinking, "Yeah, you're bugging me, yeah, you're bugging me.
'No, it's not!　I don't know if it would have been in the past, but now I have serious respect for Lady Aria too!　A fine future wife worthy of service!'
'Thank you. So, you'll take care of Mr. Magnus for me, won't you?
"For the life of...　I've been ordered to stop saying -- and I'll do my best anyway!　Also, we'll guard that one as well to prevent strange women from getting close to you!
Only Magnus-san would feel comfortable there but you're counting on him, aren't you?
'Yes!　We'll take care of it!

　And the two women talk to each other.
　I'm also there, but I'm out of the loop.
　Men are in a weak position....yes.....

　It's daytime and I'm in a daze when Captain Barbas comes in.

"Good job, Captain. How's the voyage going?

　I stepped on the assumption that it would be a report on time, and I'd check it out first.
　This captain is a dynamic man, but on the other hand, he doesn't neglect such detailed work.

　However, it was a premature decision and Captain Barbas was different from the usual.
　He starts off with a strange new attitude.

When this voyage is safely over and we have delivered Master Magnus to the eastern continent, we would like to have some time off, Miss Aria.
Oh, are you unhappy with Malm's pay and treatment?
'No, sir!　Your daughter and your husband have been really good to me. It's just....

　The captain stammered, wondering how to get out of it.
　So I offered him a helping hand.

"I have to get back to the Zale Trading Company, don't I?
What do you mean by that?
"Betrayal-- you mean you weren't headhunted?

　Aria rolled her eyes and Chocolat tried to run off some disturbing lines.
　The captain, on the other hand, seemed to take his hat off.

"Ah, well, you're right, Master Magnus does know everything...

　No, you're the one who knows about it, not me.　No human being is that clairvoyant, by the way, right?
　But I can't tell you what's going on, so I'll take an attitude of "huh, I knew it". .........or is that not cool.

I'm a member of the Zale Chamber of Commerce, originally. Young lady.
'Oh ... so that's what your background as an ex-pirate was all about!
'It was a position of responsibility, if I do say so myself. .... More to the point, I was the one in charge of the backroom organization before Pauli, and Pauli was my nephew, and my brother was the previous leader of the party. ....More to the point, Pauli is my nephew, and the previous head of the party was my brother.
"Ehhh?
'So, you're the head of the Zale Chamber of Commerce family?
That's what I'm going to be honest with you about.

　Captain Barbas confessed with a divine look on his face.

　It was obvious that the face behind the Zale - the superiority of the pirate trade association - had survived in hiding until just the other day. It's no wonder that Captain Barbas, who led the organization, and the crew that he expected to work with, were excellent.

How could such a great man fall to the position of captain of the Malm Chamber of Commerce?
Chocolate-san?
"Hi, Lady Aria!　Please don't smile and be awesome!'
I'm just grateful to the Malm Chamber of Commerce for their support. Being the mastermind behind the Zales isn't much better.

　Captain Barbas spoke with a bitter look on his face as he recalled those days.

I admired my father--the predecessor of Zeal--and was a pirate in the business, but then he was forced to retire, and my brother took charge of Zeal, and this was another era of...I don't know if it's called an era...of organization. It's like they've changed.
　A pirate is just a villain.
　But in my dad's day, he was a proud and proud villain. He'd fight with the marine police (Cagliostro) and if he lost, he'd be hanged, and he wouldn't let anyone deny that he had integrity.
　But my brother's time was different. Anyway, first and foremost, you don't want to be found doing anything bad. We'd sneak around like rats in a ship's hold, going after only the smallest of prey.
　It wasn't like that. That's why I decided to run away with these guys here and live with a different name.

　The fact that the captain speaks so openly and honestly is at least an apology for leaving the Malm Chamber of Commerce so suddenly. He is a man of sense.

'I abandoned Zale once, but I heard that even Ellis, the leader of the party, has left. Paulie is now a maritime police officer (Cagliostro). The Chamber of Commerce can't go on like this. Even though it has changed a lot, my father, who I loved so much, left me a business association.

　So Captain Barbas is going to go back to Zaire and do it as the head of the party. At least until his successor is raised. No more pirate business, of course.

If it's a family affair, it can't be helped. I understand. I'll let my father know just fine.
Thanks a lot, miss.

　Captain Barbas bowed politely.


　Thus - this last voyage was a departure from the gate at the same time.
　And for me. And for Captain Barbas.

　　　　◇◆◆◆◆.

　It's been a long time since I came to Kajiu.
　As expected, I too have learned how to enjoy swimming.

　You can swim mindlessly or you can relax on the beach and drink coconut juice. If you are tired, you can drink coconut juice while lounging on the beach. And when you're hungry, you can indulge in a seafood meal. Especially, there were many nice restaurants in this island. Anyway, I could have caught it by myself. At first I wondered what was so interesting about just waiting for fishing line, but after I realized it was a kind of intellectual game.

　It was a kind of intellectual game, and as I was thinking about it, I was getting hungry.

Let's have lunch now.

　I was enjoying a leisurely swim, and once I stopped standing in place, I stopped and consulted with Aria and Chocolat.

'What shall we have today?'
I'd like to try the shrimp and crab salad at Ao no Shiosai Tei.
''Haha. Aria really likes crustaceans.
But no?
No, I'll take it. They have the best abalone steaks in the world.

　I've been enjoying marine leisure activities to the fullest.

　I miss the days when I would get upset just to see Aria and Chocolat in their swimsuits, or nearly faint at the mere sight of bare skin against bare skin in an accident, and now I miss it!

So let's get back to the shore.
Yes, sir.

　Aria replies with a smile and we try to swim again for the beach.

''Oh, please wait!''

　But Chocolat said in a strangely urgent voice.
　Is there some trouble?　I thought it was odd that this guy, who was quite a picky eater, hadn't gotten into the lunch conversation.

What's up, Chocolat?
"The top of my bathing suit came off and I got swept away...
Huh!

　Chocolat, who was half crying and complaining, I said, "How can that happen?! And without thinking, I try to look at Chocolat's body below the surface of the water. No, I can't and shouldn't see it from the water, but it's really spur of the moment.

　I mean, even if I can't see it, I can't help but imagine it, and that's bad!　He can't afford to say he's used to seeing the two of you in swimsuits and all that!　Room to spare!

''It's ... disgusting. That's how you casually seduce me, Chocolat-san.
"This is a misunderstanding, Lady Aria. Unlike Miss Aria, Chocolat doesn't have much in the way of body traits.
I don't know!　I'm afraid that after I'm gone, I'll be traveling alone with Mr. Magnus, and Chocolat will tempt me at every turn!
"It's hard for a Servant to be suspected by a future Mistress........

　Aria and Chocolat were arguing with each other, but I wasn't in the mood for that anymore.
　I was too busy trying to hold back the blood from my nose.

I'm sorry. I'm going to go back to the shore first........
"Don't leave me, Mr. Magnus! You can't go up to the beach with this. Please do something!
'I can't do it!　Get Aria to do something about that!
I don't know anything about Chocolat. I don't know anything about you, Chocolat.
"Hmm, if the two of you abandon me, I'll have no choice but to enter the water like this, for the sake of the world.
You don't have to hang on to me like that!　Don't hold on to me like that!

　Room to spare!　Room to spare!

'Pssst. Okay, I'll have the shrimp and crab salad first, so you two can make out at your leisure.
Wait, Aria!
"Wait for me, Mr. Magnus!
Pfft.
Aria!
"Dear Mr. Magnus!


　-- and.
　In the end, I had to leave Kajuu without ever having been able to enjoy a swim in the water in my spare time.