ECA Chapter 2: Encounter With Space Pirates

When Sett woke up, he found himself in the living quarters of a small ship.

　It was a small craft with a capacity that could not have been larger than four people max. Sett was the person on board. He tried to control it, but he could not establish a connection with the craft, forcing Sett to leave his direction at the mercy of space.

　There was enough food to sustain him for ten days.

　He took control of the navigational computer to check the destination of the cruiser and found that the destination had not been set.

“Ah, so I really am just flying through space.”

　He couldn’t control his craft. Outside, it was just darkness. No planets, no sign of civilization, nothing.

　The blood drained from Sett’s face.

　 “This is equivalent to being told to die. I’m being put to death because I can’t pilot a dragoon!”

　He was stunned.

　After a few moments of gazing at the stars on the navigational screen, his stomach rumbled, and Sett finally began to move.

　He ate a piece of bread from the storeroom and he slowly regained his bearings.

(T.L. Note: Looks like this guy is a stress eater.)

“For now, I just have to do whatever I can.”

　Every spacecraft has an SOS transmitter. If he was able to successfully transmit a signal, then he might be able to get help. So, the first order of business was setting up a SOS signal.

　The next priority is food. Even if help arrived, it would be useless if they arrived after he was dead. In order to make the food last as long as possible, the ten-day supply was divided into smaller rations, enough to buy him 30 days of time.

　The water can be recycled due to the onboard systems.

　The energy in the cruiser likely wasn’t a problem either, as the craft was simply idling in space.

　The only thing left to do was to wait.

　Ten days passed, spent looking blankly at the stars.

　No help had arrived.

　For the next ten days, he stopped looking at the external images shown through the computer.

　He had little to eat and felt hungry all the time. The temptation to eat a full meal of food was tempting, but Sett doggedly resisted the urge.

　Sett had almost given up. He became convinced that he would die of hunger.

　On the 30th day, he ate the last of his food.

　Still no help in sight. It was just as he fell into complete despair that a communication arrived.

“Uh, can you hear me? Did you send a distress signal?”

　Sett jumped to the computer, heart gladdened by the female voice.

“I hear you!”

“Oh, my God. You’re alive… what do we do now? Yeah… okay.”

　It seemed that the woman was discussing with someone on the other end of the line.

“Okay, then. Will you let us help you?”

“Please.”

　Sett had no more food, and he had no other options left.

“Okay. How many people are left?”

“I’m the only one.”

“Understood. Can we unlock the airlock externally?”

“I can unlock it myself.”

“Okay, I’ll be there in about ten minutes, so leave it open. Do you have any space suits?”

“Yes, there is one on board.”

“All right, I’ll see you later then. I’m glad you’re alive.”

　The communication was cut off and Sett sank back into his seat, collapsing in exhaustion.

(Thank God…)

　The words “I’m glad you’re alive” brought tears to Sett’s eyes.

　However, this was no time to cry, he had to put on his spacesuit soon.

　Sett left the cockpit to put on the spacesuit that had been provided in case of emergency.

　Ten minutes later, help really came.

　Two people boarded the cruiser, one of them a woman and one of them a man.

　The woman was a vivacious young redhead, about 20 years old. The man was a bearded uncle who looked to be around 60 years old.

　It was a curious combination, looking almost like a father daughter pair.

“I don’t have much time and I need to go quickly. Do you have anything you need to take with you?”

　The woman hurriedly asked.

“No,”

　Sett replied, and the two stared at each other.

“You should at least bring a change of clothes.”

“Oh, yeah, you’re right.”

　Sett had forgotten about it. He hurriedly returned to the living quarters, packed a change of clothes and stuffed them into a bag.

　Setsuo was then led out of the cruiser, with Sett being carried on the old man’s back.

　Looking back at the now abandoned craft, he finally realized what exactly his prison of more than a week had been. It was a nondescript type of craft that the count’s servants occasionally used, missing any marking that could implicate the count should his craft, and likely his corpse, be found.

(Goodbye, my coffin.)

　Sett gave a final greeting to the cruiser. Having made his goodbye to the craft, he turned and saw a huge ship. It’s hard to compare sizes in space, but it was probably several sizes larger than the cruiser he was on.

　The three of them entered through the ship’s airlock, orienting themselves with the thrusters on their spacesuits.

　When the outer bulkhead was closed and the air pressure was up to one atmosphere, Sett took off his helmet.

　The two who had brought Sett here quickly began to take off their space suits. They were both dressed in short-sleeved shirts and pants, which seemed to be easy to move around in.

　Sett, following their lead, also hurriedly took off his space suit.

“That hand, is that a connection crystal?”

　The woman noticed Sett’s left hand.

“Eh, uh, yeah…”

　Sett quickly hid his hand behind him.

“That one looks top of the line, it would be a fine piece even for aristocrats.”

　Her gaze was inquisitive, her eyes asking him what the crystal meant.

　Sett was troubled as to how he was going to answer her.

“Well that’s fine.”

　The woman cracked a smile when she saw the difficulty Sett was having in answering her. She lazily pointed a finger at one of the ship’s doors.

“Let’s hear the details on the bridge.”

　With that said, she walked towards the door, with Sett and the old man following close behind.

“Dardov, bring the boy something warm to eat.”

“Yes head.”

　The man then turned and disappeared into one of the ship’s other passages.

“Head?”

　It’s a word that Sett has only heard of in books. In such media, the head is usually the top of the ‘bad guys’.

(Are they… space pirates?)

　I had heard about them on the news.

“Ah, that face. That’s the face of someone realizing that they were on a space pirate’s ship.”

　The woman was surprisingly blunt when she admitted her ‘profession’.

“By god, you offered me help because you were trying to capture me!”

“Bingo.”

(T.L. Note: This puts a whole new spin on what she meant when she said “I am glad you are alive.”)

　Sett began to regret his previous decisions, maybe it would have been better to have stayed on the cruiser.

“Well put, my dear noble child. By the way, my name is Kittitia and I am the head of this pirate ship.”

“…I’m sorry, but I have no value as a hostage.”

“Is that so?”

“Unfortunately, it is true.”

　He is officially dead. A dead man has no value as a hostage.

“Hmm.”

　Kittitia, having reached the door to the bridge, opened it and entered.

　The bridge of the spaceship was a cozy one, about 50 square meters large, with about eight men sitting in front of various control panels. Half the men turned to stare at Sett as they entered.

　In the middle of the bridge, there was a sofa large enough to seat two people comfortably. It was terribly out of place, but it looked as though it was the captain’s seat based on its central location.

　Kittitia sat down on the sofa and crossed her legs with an air of confidence.

“You. Sit down next to me.”

“Yes…”

　Sett approached the sofa with a fearful expression.

“Sit.”

　Kittitia slapped the spot next to her.

“Well then, excuse me.”

　Sett was nervous about sitting right next to a woman, an experience he had never had before. Moreover, the woman is the head of a space pirate ship. I’m not sure what will happen to me.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to eat you. So, what’s your situation?”

　She looked like she was curious about his situation.

(Well, there is no point in hiding it.)

“I’m a failure.”

　Sett told the whole story.

　He told her that he was the eldest son of the Count of Vaye1, he told her about receiving the connection crystal implantation and not being able to connect to the dragoon, and he told her about being kicked out of the orbital castle hall. He told her everything.

　At first Kittitia exclaimed, “A count’s heir! What a catch.” But as the story went on, her excitement waned.

“ And that’s why I sent out an SOS and was drifting aimlessly through space.”

　As Sett finished his story, a sobbing voice sounded on the bridge.

“Don’t cry, Denius, don’t cry.”

“But it’s awful. He basically killed his own son.”

“Hey, crying won’t help anything.”

“Let him cry man, it’ll help.”

　The men on the bridge were mumbling to each other, with one of them even crying.

“Hey, Cook, check the news for me.”

　Kittitia motioned to someone on the bridge, with one of the men quickly responding, staring intently at the console.

“Found it. Sett, the eldest son of the Countess Vayel, died of illness 20 days ago, according to the announcement.”

“…!”

　Sett once again began to feel the weight of the sudden events.

　He was no longer a part of this world, as far as it cared.

“That’s right… I am dead…”

　Sett let out a small cry, with tears pouring out of his eyes. Kittitia gently pulled Sett closer and hugged him.

“I’m jealous.”

“Shut up, I’m just comforting the poor boy. Get back to work.”

“Yes, head.”

　That’s all the light-hearted banter that could be managed with such a gloomy mood pervading the bridge. For a few moments, no one said anything and the bridge was silent.

　Then, breaking the silence, the bridge door slid open and Dardov walked in with a tray.

“Head, I’ve brought the food.”

“Thank you. Leave it there.”

“Understood.”

　Dardov laid the tray upon the console in front of the captain’s seat, leaving the room as soon as he accomplished his task.

　Sett could smell the appetizing smell of beef stew.

　A few moments later, Sett pulled away from Kittitia.

“Are you settled down now?”

“Yes…”

“Okay, so, do you know where you’re going to go next?”

“No…”

“Then how about you ride with me for a while. I can’t make any promises, but I’ll make sure to keep you fed, at least.”

“Are you sure you want me?”

“I don’t care. So long as you don’t go throwing your weight around because of your connection crystal, you are welcome on my ship.”

“…Then, please. If you’ll have me.”

“Then it’s decided, it’s nice to meet you, Sett.”

“Thank you, head.”

　And so Sett became a space pirate.

　It was then that events took a sudden turn.

“Attention! Incoming artillery fire!”

　Several beams ran across the monitor on the bridge.

(Huh?)

　Sett was confused by the sudden attack.

“Oh, that’s right. I didn’t tell you. This ship is being hunted right now.”

　Kittitia said such ridiculous things with an annoying matter-of-fact face.

(You should have said something!)

　As Sett silently exclaimed his protest, the ship began to shake under his feet.

“Ah, the one Sett was on blew up.”

　Someone made quite a terrifying remark.

“You’re very lucky we found you, aren’t you?”

“Yes, yes I am.”

　Sett gave a limp smile.

“Okay, bastards, let’s get out of here!”

　Kittitia’s commanding call echoed in the bridge.

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