Pipe strained to recall everything since arriving here… and the current situation…

This was all wrong!!

I just wanted an excuse to slack off! Pathetic as it was, I’d hit my limit. Facing subordinates so fiercely loyal, my conscience gnawed at me—I needed to escape, just for a moment. The mental burden had become crushing. Just… a breather!

Ah~~ It’d been about a month since I came to this world?

Being constantly surrounded felt suffocating! My subordinates were terrifyingly powerful—though I wasn’t weak myself…

But… every “morally upright” transmigrator I’d read about in novels… shouldn’t it be…

How to put it?! Even as a part-time, lazy novelist, I’d occasionally read other works to “research.” That shaped my idea of transmigrators: starting small, then growing stronger! Yes—growth! Savoring the joy of progress and life’s hardships…

Adventuring with companions… slaying monsters… leveling up. Then cliché tragedies to spark revenge quests…

Was this expectation born from Ma Xiaoming’s own trashy novels?!

Following the plot, you’d get miraculous guidance from an Immortal… grind skills to max level… earn a divine artifact after trials… and finally kill your仇人!!

That’s what a “proper” transmigrator deserved! And when killing the仇人, you’d discover they were actually a world-ending Big Bad—so defeating them saved the world too!

Hooray! That’s how things should be—“moral” and “logical” enough to accept!

But reality wasn’t like that at all! What even was this situation? Oh right—it was like joining a company: nervously acing interviews, steeling yourself for an entry-level role…

Only to have department heads and executives swarm you, bowing at 90 degrees with sickening smiles, chanting: “Welcome, CEO! We await your guidance!”

Totally messed up! Worrying over this made me seem foolish—but not worrying would be stranger.

Something had gone terribly wrong! Back in my old life, I was just a nobody office drone.

I’d braved sun, wind, and rain for a pittance. Envied the rich and powerful while scraping by. No girlfriend. Barely any real friends.

*Sigh*… Why was I complaining? Even with hardships, there’d been joy—coming home to write stories for pocket money. Online strangers cheering me on… that pride had been my lifeline.

Earning respect through effort—that was my core belief. What made me feel worthy.

Yet now… undeserved loyalty from overwhelmingly powerful subordinates? It felt unreal.

So I had to do something for them! Yes—act! But… I was useless. They handled everything while I just sat there…

Fine, I could tell myself I was “not getting in their way.”

But why did I keep scowling at them?! Was it Pipe’s personality bleeding through?! Damn it!

Partly the lingering traits of Pipe Captain… partly this skull face having zero expressions.

Even unintentionally, it caused trouble! I desperately wanted to smile and encourage them…

This was the Undead’s curse: trying to sound passionate, but my voice stayed flat. The tricorn hat added sternness… making me even more uncomfortable.

I’d watched skilled managers back at the office. As a lowly clerk, I’d never learned leadership. But everyone dreams of climbing high when young—fearless as newborn calves…

After repeated failures, I’d accepted I lacked that talent. My courage faded…

I’d planned to coast by trading “hardship for merit”—shameful, but bearable. As a human, self-deception was common. At least the guilt felt shared…

But that passive strategy had a fatal flaw: as long as my boss stayed, I’d never advance. Bad at flattery or scheming, I had no chance.

Now this treatment unsettled me. Pathetic, I know—*literally* just bones now—but ungrateful as it sounded… it left me anxious. Restless.

I needed calm. To explore the outside world alone. A change of scenery to clear my head—like a vacation after burnout! But…

“What?! Master will investigate imperial magic alone?!” Purames gasped, then quickly calculated. “We must prepare thoroughly…”

“Indeed,” Greenland agreed.

“I wish to go alone…”

……!!!! Their shocked faces said it all. I wanted to snap, “I’m doing it anyway!”—but guilt held me back.

“How can we allow it?! If danger finds you, we’re too far to help!”

“Yes! Imperial magic is formidable. Even if Master is strong, unknown spells might—”

*Of course.* Ma Xiaoming… Pipe Captain… how could I snap at those who cared? Excuses. I needed gentle, honest-sounding excuses…

“…I have always been invincible…” (*I meant: You work so hard for me…*) “…mere magic is nothing…” (*I meant: Let me contribute this once…*) “Why do you look so tense? Do you doubt I’m fit to be your master?” (*Damn it! That’s not what I wanted to say!*)

I gripped my forehead, a headache blooming.

Weak words refused to leave my lips. Had my personality turned domineering?

“Forgive us, Master!” (The plea echoed as one.)

Purames, Faglas, Greenland, and the Silver-Gold Twins knelt, trembling under Pipe Captain’s aura of death. (*Why do I keep doing this?! This despairing aura—what’s wrong with me?!*)

“…I know you worry. Rise.”

“Yes! Still… we must assign guards.”

“The operation has begun. We can’t spare personnel—you must raid the pirates…” (*Yes! Perfect excuse!*)

“Ah… Master prioritizes the mission. Truly a thoughtful ruler. We were foolish…” Purames bowed deeply upon rising.

“Foolish? No. It’s ‘worry blinding judgment.’ I value your loyalty…”

“Truly?! Then… our devotion is acknowledged! Your words are our greatest reward…”

“Hm… Continue serving faithfully.”

“Yet we cannot allow Master to investigate magic alone. We summon the Three Guards.”

“The Three Guards…”

“Yes! They were training in the deep sea, but urgency demands their return.”

“…Very well.”

A compromise I could accept. Three followers were manageable.

“This eases my mind slightly… though guilt remains…”

————

Pipe’s thoughts snapped back to the present. Purple Rose Harbor—where the empire met the outer sea.

Morning sun gilded the waves, turning deep blue water to liquid light. Fishermen who’d sailed before dawn returned alongside merchant ships.

An unremarkable trading vessel passed naval inspection and docked. Ropes flew, snagging posts. Anchors dropped as the ship eased toward the pier.

The gangplank thudded onto the dock.

Before the ship fully settled, three women in warrior attire leapt down, landing with feline grace. Each radiated striking beauty.

The leader commanded attention: fiery wavy hair cascading over a figure both powerful and sensual. Her armor—adorned with shells and sea charms—covered only vital points: left chest, joints. Sun-kissed skin gleamed where armor left her bare. Most sailors would fantasize about her—but her smooth hands, lacking calluses, hinted she’d never gripped a sword. *A noble’s plaything?* some might assume.

The second had a crisp kappa-style bob. Her armor matched the first’s decorative style—sea motifs over negligible protection. Porcelain skin seemed touchably soft. Dead-fish eyes stared blankly, heavy with exhaustion. *What kept her awake all night?* the mind inevitably wandered…

The third female warrior was dressed much like the previous two, but her armor looked more conventional and offered far better protection. Her skin had a glossy, light honey hue, and she sported short brown hair.

She didn’t resemble a martial artist at all—not a trace of muscle on her body. With a well-behaved child’s demeanor, her sunny smile and innocent, pure expression were utterly endearing.

Three women, three distinct auras, three unique beauties… How envious one would be! To be their master was truly a blessing. And looking at oneself… If only one could have them all serving in bed together, life would be complete.

“I wonder which noble’s favored concubines they are…”

“Concubines? Aren’t they three female warriors?”

“You little punk, not even grown up yet—what do you know!”

“Hey, don’t look down on me!”

“Shh! We can’t afford to offend those lords… Stop talking!”

“Speaking of which, maybe these three women really are warriors… Jumping off the ship from such a distance…”

“Don’t be silly. Warriors wear full-body armor and wield broadswords or two-handed rapiers—fearsome fighters. Look at these three; where do they look like warriors…”

“…Hey, hey, they’re coming out! Look at that young man… He must be their master.”

At that moment, a young man in noble attire stepped off the ship. Golden-haired, he exuded a gentle and refined aura. His resolute face retained masculine beauty, with a scholarly touch like an academic. He wore a red tweed overcoat favored by nobles, adorned with pure white fox fur at the collar and cuffs—luxurious and spotless. A golden chain connected a monocle with gold wire rims to his right eye, linked to a gold watch chain.

Owning such a luxurious pocket watch meant this young man was no ordinary person. After all, clocks were masterpieces crafted by dwarf masters—each one a display of perfect artistry, unattainable for common folk. Not to mention the dazzling jewel rings on his fingers that nearly blinded onlookers.

Wealthy, powerful, handsome enough to evoke jealousy and envy, with refined taste—all these qualities in one person made one sigh… What a lucky bastard, probably born with a golden spoon in his mouth, damn it!

The young man, about to step down the gangway while holding the hand of a noble girl in Western dress, glanced at the narrow plank that could barely fit one person. After a moment’s thought, he turned smoothly, bent down… and gently lifted the silver-haired noble girl. Carrying her steadily down the steps, her flushed cheeks showed a mix of shyness, delight, and a hint of mischief.

Her petite, frail figure and fair face made onlookers think, “This is what a noble girl should look like.” Only a few passersby in butler and servant attire nodded subtly, a lewd smile flickering on their faces.

“Master is amazing~!”

“Master is the coolest, so handsome~!”

“Hmph…”

The three female warriors cheered for the young man—a common flattery tactic used by noble households’ servants.

The leading seductive woman directed the ship’s servants to unload various items. The servants seemed strong and capable, each a skilled hand. Many carried large and small bundles steadily down the steps to the dock, placing them down gently. Everyone remained silent, their steps perfectly synchronized.

“He seems like an extraordinary person…”

“Mm… judging by his aura, he must be someone important.”

“I thought he’d be a creepy old man—how envious…”

“He’s from a completely different world than us…”

The dock buzzed with chatter.

“Hey… look over there, those must be soldiers?”

“Yeah, seems like it…”

“How do you know?”

“You greenhorn, what do you know? Didn’t you see their effortless bearing? And their steps—almost identical. All soldiers!”

The three dock soldiers chattered among themselves.

“Well done, Silver Lock… This disguise crafted by Black Magic is a success.”

“I’m glad you’re satisfied, Master. This face is a masterpiece that aligns perfectly with our Blood Clan’s aesthetics… It’s so boring without Sister here… With her help, I could do even better…”

“…What kind of help? (These two vampire sisters, who’ve lived for centuries, love playing torture games. Thankfully, their regenerative abilities kept them alive; otherwise, they’d have died from centuries of torment. Sigh.)”

“Of course, to have Sister inspire me… I only get inspired when playing games with her…”

“.......”

Pipe Captain, disguised as an ordinary person, carried the vampire Silver Lock—dressed as a noble girl—off the dock. His gaze fell on the red-haired female warrior among the three. Lil V… the Giant-Toothed Sea Monster. With a formidable body that could withstand extreme physical attacks, she served as a tank, capable of spewing acidic gastric fluid. As a Siren, she could also summon massive waves; with her, even if they couldn’t win, creating chaos with tidal waves during escape would suffice. Recalling this redhead’s profile, Pipe calculated in his mind.

“Master! The carriage is ready! Hey! You! Still half-asleep?” The brown-haired female warrior shouted at the noble youth while shaking the short-haired warrior who was nearly dozing off.

“It’s fine… Del Sira, if Hill Rock is tired, let her board the carriage first…”

The girl called Hill Rock, looking extremely sleepy, immediately bowed respectfully, though still drowsy.

“…We can’t do that. If Elder Sister (Purames) finds out, she’ll punish us. I don’t want to chew garlic.”

Hill Rock (the black short-haired girl) was a Child of Night from the Nightmare Siren Nightwalker Clan—a terrifying entity that roamed at night, slaughtering the living. Since they’d used the excuse of gathering intelligence, they couldn’t disappoint their subordinates; she’d assist in the operation tonight.

Finally, Del Sira—a sea monster that roamed the oceans, using her tough body to sink ships and devour creatures that fell into the sea. With these three, who were essentially Purames’ sisters… plus Silver Lock, ready to support with Blood Clan’s Black Magic at any time, nothing should go wrong.

“Understood… Then let’s head to our lodging.”

————

Meanwhile, at a pirate haven near the Devil’s Sea.

“Attack! Let the Phantom Sailors lead the charge, destroy their ships first! Golden Key! Aim the Fire God Cannons at their masts and rudders. With Master away, we can’t let them escape.”

“Yes!”

“Faglas, assault their key personnel—capture them alive if possible.”

“Understood!”

“Greenland, you handle perimeter watch. Don’t let anyone slip away. Are the surveillance puppets deployed?”

“Relax… Though some tried clever tricks, everything’s under my control.”

“Good. Then let’s consolidate all other pirate forces in this sea as a gift for Master’s return.”

The core members’ eyes burned with fervor to prove themselves… Under the glow of the Fire God Cannons lighting up the sea, they split up. Waves of Undead crossed the sea from white bone ships….