Nami clung tightly to the massive greatsword, trembling for quite a while before finally shaking off the dizziness from the high-speed flight.
The first thing she saw when her vision cleared was Garen's amused smile.
Nami tensed immediately.
As a thief, getting caught by the victim was never a good thing—especially if that victim turned out to be some vicious pirate. Her life could very well end here.
But Nami didn't panic.
She was a seasoned professional, having escaped from death countless times. All it took was a calm mind and a quick wit.
So, she began thinking hard about how to make her escape.
But Garen's teasing voice interrupted her thoughts:
"What's wrong?"
"My knight's lady—aren't you going to get off my sword?"
As he spoke, Garen cheerfully swung his greatsword with both hands.
Even though there was still an entire girl clinging to it, that wasn't a problem for someone with his superhuman strength.
"Ugh…"
Only then did Nami reluctantly let go of her obsession with the greatsword and, flustered, loosened her grip and slid down to the ground.
For once, she actually blushed.
Yet, as she distractedly smoothed her slightly messy hair, Nami couldn't help but glance once more at the large, dazzling sapphire embedded in the sword.
Garen silently shifted the greatsword to the other side.
Nami's gaze instinctively followed.
"Quit staring!"
Garen said irritably, "You're not stealing my sword. Don't even think about it."
Although his tone wasn't exactly friendly, Nami, who was an excellent judge of character, felt herself relax a little.
She could tell that this walking tin can didn't really mean her any harm. In fact, he was somewhat protective and gentle toward her—even though she'd nearly made off with his precious weapon.
This guy… he might really be one of those knights who know how to treat a lady well.
"Well then, my lady…"
Garen's mischievous grin returned.
"Shall we talk about your little stunt—running off with my sword?"
Two thick veins popped on Nami's smooth, delicate forehead. She silently shoved any earlier warm feelings straight into the mental trash bin.
"Hmph!"
She crossed her arms and pouted haughtily. "Who's your lady?!"
"You expect to get a wife when you can't even pay for your own meal and make a woman do it?!"
Garen took a heavy blow to the heart. Gritting his teeth, he said:
"Watch your tone. You're my prisoner now!"
"Oh yeah? So, what do you want then?"
Nami retorted shamelessly.
"What do I want? Well, with prisoners… I can do whatever I want."
"Hehehe…"
Garen chuckled with feigned villainy.
That sinister laugh sent a shiver down Nami's spine.
"Money!"
Suddenly, Garen extended a wide palm toward her. "Pay up—for your ransom!"
Money makes the world go 'round—this is true in any world.
Just arrived in the world of pirates, Garen now saw his first chance to strike it rich, thanks to this failed robbery attempt by a pretty thief.
"What? You want me to pay you?!"
Nami reacted like she'd just encountered some depraved pervert. She exploded with fury and shouted at Garen:
"That's absolutely impossible!"
"If you won't pay…"
Garen looked her over with interest, his gaze not exactly pure, and said with playful malice:
"Then I guess I'll go with what you suggested and keep you as my lady!"
"Heh."
Nami sneered in disdain.
By now, she'd practically built a full character profile of the guy in front of her:
This guy had obviously had little experience with women—bold in words but cowardly in action. Probably some spoiled noble with all the gear and none of the skill, who'd never even fought in his life.
"Go ahead and try me."
Nami smiled charmingly and, rising onto her toes, leaned her curvaceous body against Garen's cold breastplate. Then she looked up at him with big, soulful eyes, locking eyes without the slightest hint of fear.
They were so close that Garen could clearly feel her breath.
As expected, just like when they first met, Garen immediately became flustered again.
"Hehehe…"
Nami, now fully in control of the situation, giggled smugly into Garen's ear.
"If you want me to be your lady, you'll have to stop being scared like this…"
With that, she pulled away and turned around abruptly.
Then, with a carefree wave of her hand, she said with a smirk, "Well, if you're not going to keep me here by force, I'm off!"
"Farewell, my dear knight!"
Even as she said her goodbyes, Nami had already given up on any ideas of stealing from Garen.
Taking advantage of kindhearted people wasn't her style. Besides, that flying greatsword of his really was beyond her ability to steal.
As for the money… well, she'd just have to find another way to gather it.
She comforted herself with that thought, although the image of that enormous, dazzling sapphire still sparkled in her mind.
Eventually, she walked off into the crowd.
"Sigh…"
Garen muttered to himself, sounding a little helpless, "Can't believe I just got flirted with by a thief…"
"Guess girl drivers really are the queens of the road. I couldn't even keep up."
He watched as Nami's figure gradually disappeared into the bustling crowd—and felt an odd sense of loss.
But just as her figure vanished, Nami suddenly popped back out of the crowd and came sprinting straight toward him like a swallow returning to its nest.
She didn't slow down one bit and crashed right into Garen's broad chest.
"What the heck?!"
Caught off guard by the sudden blessing, Garen didn't know how to react.
"Honey!"
Nami's sweet, affectionate voice rang loudly in his ears—so loud, in fact, that everyone nearby heard it too.
Garen was completely dazed.
Then, as he looked down, he saw the unmistakable mischievous grin on Nami's face.
From within his arms, her soft whisper floated up:
"Sir Knight, your lady has returned."
"So… I'll be counting on you in a moment."
Garen instantly snapped out of his daze.
This little witch definitely had something up her sleeve!
Sure enough, just as he was trying to figure out what evil plan she was cooking, a thunderous roar came from not far away:
"Well, well!"
"No wonder this little brat dared lay hands on the Steel Blade Pirates' treasure…"
A burly man nearly three meters tall, veins bulging and eyes full of fury, stormed toward them swinging a massive broadsword. He glared at Garen's shining armor and growled:
"So, you've got a backer like this, huh?!"
"Huh?"
Garen stood dumbfounded.
Nami, however, slipped out of his arms with perfect timing. Her mischievous grin shifted instantly into a pitiful expression.
She clung to Garen's armored arm with one hand and pointed at the burly pirate captain with the other. In a soft, trembling voice, she said:
"Honey, those people are trying to bully me!"
Then she quickly ducked behind Garen's broad back.
Dozens of angry, sword-wielding pirates, led by the Steel Blade captain, now had their murderous glares locked on Garen.
"I…"
Garen suddenly felt the urge to curse.
"Gentlemen…"
He tried to explain helplessly, "I don't even know her!"
But the hot-tempered captain wasn't having it. All he wanted now was to swing his sword.
"Brothers! Get him!"
In the streets, there was no room for words—just action.
Within seconds, a few pirate grunts with massive blades charged toward Garen in broad daylight.
"Wait, calm down!"
One blade clanged against Garen's greatsword.
"Bro, I really don't—"
Another blade struck his armored arm with a metallic clang!
"Don't—"
The third blade came down right toward his head.
"You've gotta be kidding me!"
Enraged, Garen swung his greatsword in retaliation. The pathetic pirate blade was instantly knocked dozens of meters away—and the unlucky pirate along with it, sent flying like a ragdoll.
"Well, well!"
"Broad daylight, in the middle of a crowded street—and you dare break the law and commit murder!"
"You vermin—how many innocents have you harmed already?!"
Garen raised the Sword of Justice high, righteous fury radiating from his entire being.
"I, Garen the Might of Demacia, shall carry out justice today!"
(End of Chapter)