Mirai waited for a while, but there was still no movement. Only then did he quietly board the ship.
Thud... thud...
As the seawater rose and fell, the massive hull would occasionally strike the rocks, producing a dull sound, as though someone beneath the ship was chiseling away at it.
Mirai hid in the shadows and scanned his surroundings. The ship's sails and ropes were damaged, and the mast had snapped as well. The broken mast leaned against the ship, its tip pointing toward the hatch like a signpost.
Following the mast, Mirai reached the hatch and raised his right hand. The heavy mast had been abandoned there. He opened the door, revealing pitch-black darkness within, along with a strange moldy stench.
Mirai swiftly covered his nose and mouth and stepped back.
"Ugh! What a horrible smell..."
About half an hour later, the foul odor in the cabin gradually faded. Mirai cautiously sniffed at the hatch and found that he could bear it now. Then, he carefully stepped inside.
He took out some tinder and lit it. The interior was empty, with a table in the middle that was probably a dining table. Several plates of rotten food sat on it. Those were likely the source of that strange smell.
Farther inside was where the crew ate, rested, and slept. The facilities were fairly complete, but there was no one there.
"Strange! Everything is still here, but there's no one around. That means we aren't dealing with pirates!"
Mirai continued inward. In the middle was a small room with three black words written above it—Captain's Cabin. The glass on the door had shattered, and the key was still in the keyhole, but the door had not been opened.
Creak...
The wooden door was easily pushed open. Inside were a