How the Villainous Consort Avoids His Death Ending

However, mentioning things like “Do you not trust me?” to Tristan always worked immediately. Tristan hesitated briefly, then replied as if he could not help it.

“You may only assess the situation briefly, then return to the cabin immediately. Also, stay by my side and do not move elsewhere. If you promise that, I will allow it.”

“Yes, yes. I will stick right next to Your Grace like a wet leaf.”

“…….”

I knew very well that my life was precious. No, it was precisely because my life was precious that I was acting like this in the first place. In any case, I had to see it with my own eyes to check the status window.

So I stayed perfectly still beside Tristan, holding my breath. At last, a pirate fleet with black sails entered our field of vision.

The pirate fleet, which looked to consist of well over fifteen ships, had the classic appearance of pirate vessels. On the pitch black sails, roughly painted skulls and crossed swords created an ominous atmosphere. Each ship was not particularly large and looked quite old, with moss clinging thickly to the hulls, but even that appearance felt brutal and threatening.

The moment the pirate ships appeared, a status window floated up before my eyes.

[♡Checking enemy fleet status window♡]
Fleet name: Black Skull Pirates
Fleet composition: Total of 17 small to medium combat ships
Nicknames: Devil’s Hammer, Devourer of the Eastern Sea, Fleet of Death, Noble Hunters
Stats
Attack power: Very high
Main armament: 12 to 15 cannons mounted per ship
Speed: Fast
Powerful propulsion composed of oarsmen
Crew size: Approximately 100 per ship
About 60 seasoned combatants
40 oarsmen serving as reserve combat force
Crew condition: Highly experienced in battle, high morale
Traits: Artillery fanatics, overwhelming propulsion, overwhelming numbers, brutality
Specialty: Disable enemy fleets through concentrated long range bombardment, then swiftly finish with boarding combat. Overwhelming combat strength with every oarsman also serving as a pirate
Weakness: Fragmented command structure, though it may function as an advantage

‘What is this? They seem far stronger than I expected…….’

I had secretly hoped they would be easy opponents like the pirates we encountered last time, but that did not seem to be the case. Their firepower was formidable, the number of pirates available for boarding combat was overwhelming, and even their speed surpassed ours.

I could not be certain of the exact details, but overall, they seemed to have the upper hand. My heart began pounding. Sweat gathered in my clenched palm.

‘System. Check our fleet’s status window too.’

It seemed unlikely, but I shouted anyway, pretending not to know better. I was hoping it might let it slide. However, as expected, the system immediately rejected me.

The reward details were limited to checking the enemy fleet status window……

‘What kind of half baked reward is that? You need to know both the enemy and yourself to win every battle. How are we supposed to deal with them if we do not know our own strength?’

After several months of sailing, the fact that you still have not grasped your own fleet’s capabilities may itself be problematic, the system cautiously speculated.

‘Am I an admiral? A navigator? A naval soldier? Have you ever seen me understand how naval battles actually work? I know nothing at all, so how am I supposed to know?’

Not knowing anything is not something to be proud of.

‘That is why I am asking you. Let us live a little flexibly, okay?’

Insisting will not change anything. Principles are principles……

‘No, wait.’

I stopped mid protest and recalled the reward description once more.

‘System. You never said that when encountering an enemy fleet, you would only show the enemy fleet’s status window, did you? I clearly remember you saying you would check the status window for all fleets.’

……What do you mean…….

The system asked in a displeased tone. I grinned and replied.

‘What you told me back then was clearly “check fleet status window upon encountering an enemy fleet.” You did not say you would show only the enemy fleet’s status window.’

…….

Perhaps finding it ridiculous, the system acted as if it did not even want to respond. But when I kept pestering it, it reluctantly and irritably displayed more text.

When compound sentences are used and the subject is the same, repeated subjects are omitted. In other words, the content refers to “check the enemy fleet status window upon encountering an enemy fleet.”