A Powerful Martial Artist Reincarnates as a Nun Knight

Sophia and Hildegard each pleaded exasperatedly with their divine spirits Jibril and Ariel.

“The ship we’re aboard is a passenger galleon. Menorca lies significantly off the established routes, does it not? Even if you insist we proceed there, just how are we supposed to convince the captain?”

As the term implied, passenger galleons adhered to predetermined routes with fixed points of origin, destination and interim stops along the way. Their very operation inherently involved manifested cargoes and ticketed passengers scheduled for transport.
To sway the captain necessitated obtaining passenger consent too.

[……!]

“Look, I understand there’s some dungeon emerging on Menorca. Naturally, we should intervene if one manifests. But not immediately. Why not simply wait until docking at the next port, then secure another suitable vessel to travel there? No need to drastically alter our current course.”

Although Hildegard earnestly strove persuading Ariel, the divine spirit merely gazed back with an abandoned kitten’s imploring stare – as if silently asking ‘You really won’t go?’

Meanwhile, Sophia innately comprehended the prudence of acquiescing to the spirits’ demands through her primordial intuition. Seldom did they insist so stubbornly except under truly pivotal circumstances that ultimately vindicated heeding their counsel.
Resigning herself, Sophia decided to at least honor her spirit’s immediate request.

“Very well. Then how would you propose we convince the captain and passengers?”

[……?]

Upon receiving Jibril’s response, an utterly exasperated Sophia began stretching the spirit’s chubby cheeks in reprimand.

[……!!?!?]

“What do you mean, ‘Simply propose raiding the pirate isle, and they’ll all gladly follow along’?! Unless those passengers have undergone collective mental affliction, they would never consent to such outrageous suggestions!”

Observing Jibril’s teary-eyed, cheek-stretched plight in disbelief, Hildegard eventually met her own spirit Ariel’s gaze.

“Come to think of it, weren’t you intending to propose the exact same notion?”

[……!?]

Startled by Hildegard’s accusation, Ariel frantically shook her head in denial while protectively cradling her cheeks – clearly unwilling to suffer Jibril’s undignified punishment. Though precisely how Sophia accomplished it remained uncertain, Jibril undoubtedly experienced excruciating discomfort from her cheek-pinching discipline.

Amid this unfolding situation, an unexpected voice proposed backing Jibril’s perspective:

“Truthfully, that suggestion carries a certain persuasive logic.”

Ezio, sitting in mid-air while lotus-positioned, nodded contemplatively as he remarked.

“Regardless of circumstances, we ultimately must journey to Menorca, necessitating confrontation with the pirates stationed there. By subduing them ourselves, the passengers effectively receive a windfall with no personal risk. Moreover, were it not for those pirate occupants, Menorca could become a pivotal maritime hub – potentially shortening voyage times compared to established routes.”

Citing the abundant prospective gains outweighing any hazards, Ezio challenged whether many could justifiably refuse such a proposal. His reasoning prompted Sophia – having momentarily paused tormenting her spirit – to ponder with a peculiar expression.

‘Hoh? That does sound rather plausible…’

Instinctively detecting Sophia’s shifting mindset, Jibril fixed her with an aggrieved, reproachful stare while cradling her reddened cheeks. Meeting that dejected look with a mildly exasperated countenance, Sophia stroked the spirit’s head – an ineffectual gesture as Jibril vainly struggled against her caressing palm.

Embracing the sullen, head-patted Jibril, Sophia began contemplating how to present this rationale persuasively.

Ultimately, however, her deliberations proved entirely superfluous.
When Sophia – accompanied by Hildegard, Ezio and Conra – directly proposed the Menorcan detour before the assembled crew and passengers, advocating it to the captain, an overwhelmingly enthusiastic tidal wave of support left her utterly dumbfounded.

“Of course we must cooperate if the Paladin Knights intend subjugating the pirates’ stronghold!”
“Some paltry pirate rabble shouldn’t impede us! Let’s seize this chance to neutralize these maritime menaces disrupting seafaring security!”

Having just witnessed the duo singlehandedly neutralizing entire pirate vessels, the awestruck crew and passengers rode an exhilarating battle-high – the gruesome yet satisfying sight of the despicable buccaneers routed so decisively instilling a profound sense of visceral elation.

Moreover, once they realized the St. Maria’s captain stood to profit considerably from the disposition of seized pirate ships and ransomed captives, the prospect of personally benefiting from those windfall shares further stoked their zeal to participate in ‘Operation Menorca Plunder’.

From Captain Benjamin’s perspective, this development represented a rather vexing quandary. The St. Maria remained a passenger transport adhering to predetermined schedules – not an exploratory vessel charting new routes or merchantman navigating freely for commerce. Any unilateral decision to deviate would fall entirely upon his responsibilities as commander.

Yet that perspective harbored an equal counterpoint – pointedly refusing to indulge the unanimous wishes of his passengers and crew would undoubtedly tarnish his professional reputation, even if upholding schedules in the short-term. Prioritizing immediate propriety over long-term credibility seemed counterproductive.
Boldly riding this groundswell could represent an opportune pathway for cultivating a more daring, venturesome image.

‘Let us see. Which course proves more advantageous?’

The captain briefly weighed the potential liabilities against prospective gains – whether incurring heavier penalties for arbitrarily rerouting, or the lucrative prospects of plundering Menorca’s riches.
After carefully considering that scale, he finally reached his determination.

“Very well! These dastardly, lawless pirates deserve the harsh lesson we shall impart!”

“Truly a mariner’s decisiveness worthy of admiration. Rest assured, I shall ensure this choice proves anything but regrettable.”

While inwardly plagued with lingering ‘Is this really advisable?’ doubts, outwardly the captain maintained his bravado. Torn between bewilderment and relief, Sophia observed the enthusiastic captain, crew and passengers before allowing a resigned smile.

‘Well, does it truly matter how, as long as the outcome proves favorable?’

And so the St. Maria’s next destination became the pirate isle of Menorca.

+++++

South of Frankia and east of Hiberia existed a cluster of three major islands collectively dubbed the Balearic Archipelago.
The westernmost and smallest comprised Ibiza, with Menorca situated eastward while the central and largest landmass represented Majorca – arranged horizontally in a linear row.

Since antiquity, this Balearic Archipelago represented a pivotal maritime crossroads for vessels traversing the Thetys Sea, occupying an exceptionally strategic location. Its proximity to the merfolk, sea-elves and cetacean-kin’s realms also enabled monitoring malicious aquatic monstrosities like saffygons and kelpies.

So crucial was controlling these islands that a popular adage proclaimed: ‘Whosoever commands the Balearics shall dominate the Thetys.’
Yet those halcyon days eventually faded alongside tectonic upheavals and catastrophic elemental occurrences displacing the merfolk, sea-elves and cetacean territories. As terrestrial nations simultaneously lost their maritime influence amidst domestic turmoil, that former glory devolved into antiquated lore.

Now, the only forces occupying these isles consisted of vicious pirate miscreants alongside malicious aquatic confederates like harpies, saffygons and kelpies with whom they allied.

Remarkably, a semblance of societal order had manifested within Menorca – the pirates’ primary stronghold bustling with riotous energy reminiscent of a ‘outlaws’ code’. Raucous black markets trafficked illicit spoils while gambling dens hosted drunken buccaneers squandering their latest windfalls in frenzied depravity, the entire urban panorama pulsating with chaotic revelry.

“Hurry up and buy, come buy! Freshly captured slaves, a mere two thousand ducats! Two thousand ducats, I say!”
“The Saffygon warrior Aron versus dread pirate Blackbeard’s cutthroat Eduardo Teach! Which combatant shall prevail?!”

Observing that cacophonous island atmosphere from a detached vantage, Menorca’s ruler Haidrine dismissed the groveling subordinates prostrated behind him without a backwards glance.

“Please, great Haidrine! Have mercy upon us!”
“Mercy, we beseech you!”

The wretched cowards who had fled in abject terror after two of their three accompanying ships fell victim to the unidentified assailants now professed desperate pleas for clemency. Tongue-clicking in derision, Haidrine contemplated the appropriate disciplinary action to reinforce Menorca’s martial order.

“Very well, I have decided.”
“Great Haidrine, please, we implore you to spare our lives!”
“Lord Haidrine…!”

Baring his fangs predatorily, the ruthless Amaro Rodrigues de Leon y Tenerife – Menorca’s tyrannical sovereign – pronounced the judgment awaiting these contemptible, groveling swine:

“You whimpering curs deserve nothing less. Sniveling porkers gifted only with the capacity to squeal all day long – so I shall have you demonstrate that singular ‘talent’ conclusively.”
“Wh-What? Lord Haidrine, surely you don’t intend…?!”
“Precisely. Your punishment shall be the brazen swine – immolation within a hollow bronze pig effigy heated until your death squeals provide the authentic porcine ambiance.”

The ‘brazen swine’ represented a hideous execution by locking the condemned within a hollowed bronze swine statue before applying escalating heat – their death throes and agonized shrieks eventually resembling convincing swine squeals as life expired.
In other words, Haidrine metaphorically demanded an authentic ‘deathbed performance’ before permitting their final soul-rending squeals.

“No, please, I don’t wish to die…!”

“What are you layabouts gawking about?! Drag those squealing piggies to inflict their sentence immediately!”
“Yes, milord!”

As the soldiers obeyed Haidrine’s barked order, dragging the condemned men away despite their desperate crawling resistance, their final indignant throes manifested – wild-eyed rage flickering across bloodless faces contorting into rictus sneers as shrill curses and maledictions erupted:

“Mercy, mercy we beg you! Kkkhh…death shall never appease this vile bastard’s malice! You are no Haidrine, just a mangy wretch deserving hellfire’s torment! Uwaaaaah, be forever accursed, you and your entire bloodline!”

Dismissively waving away their profane imprecations, Haidrine scoffed derisively.

“Hahah, as if any curse could ever befall this personage? I am this land’s undisputed sovereign, feared by even the celestial deities themselves – do you think your worthless porcine squeals concern me in the slightest?”

With that pronouncement, Haidrine returned his scrutinizing gaze toward the bustling cityscape sprawled below.
At that very moment, an unscheduled passenger galleon called the St. Maria began its unplanned approach toward the pirate haven of Menorca.