Asch Albright's Card story – The secretive Asch-paisen

[kozvme]

 

Jay: ー This is truly a splendid pirate ship, huh.

Billy: For real, for real. It looks like the set of a movie, but this one actually moves.

Jay: Still, why is this the only pirate ship? The citizens asked the same, but I'm confused about what should I answer.
When I asked Asch, he was vague or said there's no special reason for it, it seemed he just didn't want to answer.

Billy: That Asch-paisen is really secretive! He gets caught almost immediately, so I wish he'd be more honest~

Jay: I don't believe there's no particular reason behind this, he even went out of his way to prepare these costumes for us.

Billy: I think it was easy to arrange the ship since Albright Enterprise is also involved in shipbuilding.
But that's not enough reason to prepare a pirate ship... so no matter how you look at it, this ship is special~
There's the date 20 years ago written on the hull, but I wonder if it was built to commemorate something?
Asch-paisen was 5 year old 20 years ago... Nah, you don't build a pirate ship for a kid that age, do you?

Jay: No... knowing Asch's family, that's possible. I heard he got an island for Christmas when he was 9.

Billy: Waoh, he's really on another level...

Jay: That reminds me, I wonder where this ship name, "Sharbesha", comes from?

Billy: Ah, right, right! We should look it up, shouldn't weー

Gray: I think... it's probably the name of a beast in Hindu mythology...

Billy: Gray! Amazing, fantastic, you knew about it?

Gray: Uhm... sorry, it's what I learned from games...
There's a strong god of destruction called Shiva... and Sharbesha is the name of that god when he transforms into the beast...
If I'm not mistaken... it's a "winged lion"?

Jay: That's amazing, Gray. The words roll off your tongue when it comes to that.

Gray: Uuh... I'm sorry for being a geek...

Billy: A winged lion...

Asch: Oi, Old man.

Jay: Oh, ooh, Asch. What is it?

Asch: The citizens are hunting for ya. They wanna take pictures together.
Tch, sending me of all people for you... Were they not citizens I woulda tossed them to the sharks.

Jay: Oioi, it doesn't sound like a joke at all when you say it.

Asch: I ain't jokin'.

Jay: Eeeh!?

Asch: Move your ass and go, the citizens are waiting...!

Jay: I got it, I got it. Thanks for letting me know, Asch.

Asch: ......

???: Why is Jay the only one getting people's attention? I dun like that. I, Captain Asch, am in command of this ship!

Asch: Haaah?

Billy: Kyaaa~ he looked this way! Gray, I'm scawed!



Gray: Awahwah... Don't hide behind me, Billy-kun...

Asch: Tch... stop with the nonsense, brat.

Billy: Wai... Wait a second! We were just talking about you, Asch-paisen.

Asch: ...... What?

Billy: Why is this ship called "Sharbesha"?
Gray told us about it, but is it really because of Sharbesha, the winged lion?

Asch: ...... Beats me.
I wouldn't tell ya even if I knew about that.

Billy: Boooooo! You're being secretive again! Asch-paisen, you stingy!

Asch: Hah!? Stingy, you say...?

Billy: You always keep everything a secret, telling me one thing won't hurt you!

Asch: You little...

Gray: Billy-kun... Y- You should leave it at that...

Billy: Ah, how about this question, then? There's one thing I've always wanted to confirm.
Is it true that you have a tattoo on your back, Asch-paisen?

Asch: ......!

Billy: I've known about the rumor for quite some time, but I didn't check whether that's true or not...
What kind of tattoo do you have? Show me, show me~!

Asch: Hah!? Why do I gotta show it to you? Of course I'm not gonna.

Billy: Why not, it's no big deal after all! I'm gonna call you stingy again!



Asch: Kh, hmpf... Say whatever you want. No matter how hard you press, I ain't showing it to you.

Billy: Boo, I've even said it to your face...
Maybe you forgot, but I'm the informant New Million takes pride in! I look into the rumors that interest me throughly! I'll even use your roommate Jayー

Asch: Go ahead and try. Just so you know, though, the old man ain't knowing crap.
I don't allow him to loiter around half-naked after a bath, and make sure not to be like that either.

Billy: Eeeh!? He must have seen it at least when you c- change, right...

Asch: Who would expose their unprotected back to some other guy?

Billy: Impossible... Just how can you live so vigilant...

Asch: Fufun.

Billy: Uuh~ It won't hurt to ask, but you don't happen to know about Asch-paisen's tattoo, do you, Gray?

Gray: Eh...!?
No... I d- d- do not...
Ah... but now that I think about it, I might have heard him boasting about getting a tattoo... in our Academy days...
But I didn't care about it since it had nothing to do with me...

Asch: Geek, you little...

Gray: Heek...

Billy: I see~. Paisen got his tattoo in his Academy days... I'm finally onto something~!

Asch: ...!
Hmpf, 's not like I was hiding it. It's not a big deal if you know that much.

Billy: Uwah, he's turned on me! Then, isn't it fine if you show me?

Asch: Haah? Didn't I tell you I ain't showing it to YOU?

Billy: Boo...

Asch: ......

Gray: A- Awawah...

Young Passenger: Uhmm, may I?

Asch: ...... Hah?

Young Passenger: A- Asch Albright-san! I am... I am your fan!

Asch: Wh...

Young Passenger: I've always admired you, so I am very happy to be able to be part of this cruise...!

Asch: ... Heh?

Young Passenger: That pirate costume really suits you! Captain Asch!

Asch: Oi, flattery will get ya nowhere.

Young Passenger: Th- That wasn't my intention... I simply wanted to tell you that I am a big fan of yours...
That's right! I celebrated my birthday recently, so I got the same tattoo you have, Asch-san.
 
Asch: ... What?

Young Passenger: The same wings as the Asch-san I so admire!

Asch: !!
W- What you... just said...



Billy: Nihhihii~. I heard that. I heeard that~♪
I see, wings, huh...
Hey you, wanna tell me the details? Let's talk about all sorts of things related to Asch-paisen!

Young Passenger: !! If you're okay with me, then by all means...!

Asch: Kh, oi! What do you think...

Billy: Let's take our time talking over there! If Paisen gets in the way, I'll get back to you ♪

Asch: Don't fuck with me! Wait up, bastards...!

Gray: ...... Wings...
I also learned this from games, but... I think having wings tattooed means "freedom" and "rising"?

......

It has nothing to do with me, nothing to do with me...