A New Path
Hmmm...
Mm.
Hmm...
With our resolve renewed, we got right back to searching for the Pirate King's treasure.
That pouch of silver coins is unlikely to be the Pirate King's treasure.
The map had two instructions.
One read, Find the stone marked with a moon buried at the ships' final resting place, then dig beneath it.
We followed it to Grave Island, dug beneath the stone, and found a pouch full of silver coins.
Yeah... That's right.
But the map had one more instruction.
Even if the end is already decided, seek the new path that can only be opened by those who choose to press onward.
If the first instruction alone led to the treasure, the second one would serve no purpose.
By that logic, the pouch of silver coins probably isn't the real Pirate King's treasure.
Simple.
When lost, return to the starting point. Basic principle.
We need to retrace our steps from the beginning.
...Following Smile's logic, we returned to the Pirate King's treasure map, where this whole adventure began.
Could we have taken a wrong turn somewhere?
Without the other half of the map, finding the right path... won't be easy.
...Unlikely, but worth considering.
Hmm...
After fiddling with the coins in the pouch for a while, Luna finally pointed to a line of text along the edge of the map.
It's not just the wording. The meaning bothers me too.
It talks about the end being decided and a new path that can only be opened by those who choose to press onward, right?
I've got a feeling it isn't telling us to just follow the map.
...
...
...
...Huh? What is it?
...Normally, you'd have forgotten everything we said five minutes ago.
Luna, when did you get so smart?
...Yes. This isn't like you at all, Luna...
...Yeah. You're definitely someone else.
What's with that reaction?! I can use my brain when I need to!
That's a lie. Give us back the real Luna.
Oh, you little...!
Hah.
As the two slipped back into their usual bickering, Ayla finally relaxed enough to laugh.
Ahaha... Please stop, you two... It's dangerous...!
*Clack*
...Huh?
As they horsed around, the silver coin in Luna's hand slipped free and fell to the ground.
She then picked it up with a puzzled look and began turning it over in her hands.
What's wrong?
...You know what, Captain?
You know I'm always dealing with money, right? Borrowing money for bets, getting in debt with loan sharks...
The two are basically the same thing...
Anyway! I've handled more silver coins... no, more coins than I can count...
But I've never heard a coin make a sound like that.
Even the other coins in this pouch didn't feel like this one.
Feel like what...?
Hmm... Like it isn't made of metal? It's way lighter than a normal coin, too.
...
Smile took two silver coins from the pouch, one in each hand, then closed her eyes and focused on the sensation at her fingertips.
...!
The difference is slight, but these two don't weigh the same...!
Then... does that mean one of them isn't a real silver coin...?
Hmm. I can't be sure, but it looks like there are both real and fake silver coins in this pouch.
...
Aah... Even so, there's no way to sort through all these.
It'd be nice if there were an easy way to tell...
...
I looked at Smile.
She nodded as if she'd had the same thought.
If it isn't metal...
There might be a way to confirm it scientifically.
...Yes. Captain's right.
Luna, remember when you dropped your wallet in the sea and we had to search for it?
Coins made of metal alloy are too dense to float.
We just need to see which ones float.
...B-but then the lighter fake coins might get swept away by the waves...!
And even if they're not metal, they could still be made of something that sinks...
Then we'd lose the evidence we worked so hard to find...
Valid point... Too risky to attempt without confirmation.
...Hmm... But if that's not it, I don't see how these silver coins are supposed to help us press onward and find a new path, even if the end is already decided...
Huh? Come to think of it... If the end is already decided...
Luna studied the pouch of silver coins. Then her eyes widened, as if she'd just realized something.
Ayla, I think we're meant to put these in the sea.
What...? But what about everything we just said...?
We only need one shot. Want to bet on me?
I might be able to pull off a miracle too!
...!
...
Ayla looked at Luna anxiously, then clenched her fists.
...Ugh...
...Even if these stupid coins are real, I won't be around to spend them after tonight. So...
...Yes. I'll bet on you...!
Ayla took the coins from Luna and strode toward the sea.
Okay, here we go. On three, we all toss them in.
One...
Two...
Three!
Three!
*Plop!*
*Plop, plop!*
The coins all fell into the sea at once, sending out small ripples.
And moments later...
...!
Wow...
One by one, the coins rose to the surface and formed a long line.
It stretched toward the second moon, gleaming silver-white in its light.
The coins... They're floating...!
Hehe... Just as I thought.
...
What's with that skeptical look?!
The map's second line said the end is already decided!
Considering the fact that the Pirate King roamed the seas...
I figured the invisible new path had to be out there on the water!
...A rather illogical explanation.
Hehe. It's my own little miracle! Miracles don't need logic.
Yes...! Just like you said, the new path must be the trail made by the silver coins...!
...One problem. Even if we follow this path, there's nothing at the end.
Could be underwater. If so, we may have to swim...
Ahaha! Then you can wait on shore, Smile! The rest of us can go without you!
S-sorry, Luna... I'm not much of a swimmer either...!
Whaaat?! You too, Ayla?!
Once the excitement of solving the map's secret wore off, we started wondering how we were supposed to follow the coins...
Then something hazy began to appear at the end of the trail.
Th-that...
It looks like... a ghost ship...!
A wrecked ship that hadn't been there before floated on the water, completely intact.
Looks like... we found our answer.
No one had to say it. We were all brimming with hope.
...Let's go.
...Yeah!
Trying to contain our excitement, we strode toward the ship.
The Pirate King's treasure that can break Ayla's curse has to be inside that ship!
...Though I could've sworn I saw that familiar shark fin slicing across the horizon again.