After all, Orin's swordsmanship was his own, and his Conqueror's Haki was even stronger.
Rounding it up, he could be considered tied for first place.
That was how Orin saw it, anyway. He figured that if he ever declared himself a swordsman, no one in the world would dare deny him the title of "World's Greatest Swordsman."
In fact, that guy Mihawk would probably be the first to raise both hands in agreement.
Because if Orin admitted he was a swordsman, and the title of "World's Greatest Swordsman" went to him—
Wouldn't that give Mihawk a new goal to chase again?
Just thinking about it would probably make Mihawk thrilled.
But Orin wasn't thrilled at all. In fact, he looked a little bitter.
"Nani?!! Are you saying you're the World's Greatest Swordsman?!!"
Young Zoro's mouth fell open, and then he recalled that earth-shattering slash Orin had unleashed. It suddenly made perfect sense—
With swordsmanship like that, being the strongest in the world was only natural.
Kuina also stared blankly at Orin, stars flickering in her eyes.
Her lifelong dream was standing right before her—her heart filled with longing and admiration.
"Well... how should I put it... that title doesn't exactly belong to me yet~"
Orin smiled faintly.
He would never publicly admit to holding that troublesome title of [World's Greatest Swordsman].
"I'm not really the [World's Greatest Swordsman]..."
"The reason I said your dream is to surpass me is because my good friend—the current holder of the title [World's Greatest Swordsman], Hawk Eyes Mihawk—has always wanted to test his swordsmanship against mine."
"So, if one of you truly becomes the world's number one someday, the one he challenges next won't be me—it'll be you!"
Orin casually explained, brushing off their assumptions. But the two kids were still beaming with excitement, gripping their swords tightly.
Zoro, however, refused to believe that someone as strong as Orin could ever lose.
"Then why does that Hawk Eyes keep challenging you if you're not the strongest? Are you saying you're weaker than him?!"
Clearly, that was the same question burning in Kuina's eyes as she stared intensely at Orin.
But the answer she got was...
"Actually... I'm a sniper."
...
After accidentally slicing the dojo's staircase in half, Orin left behind a hefty repair fee and bid everyone farewell.
He had seen what he wanted to see, and the regrets he came to resolve were settled.
He was the freest man in the world—and he wouldn't be tied down to one place.
"Hey!!!!"
Just as Orin walked off, a shout echoed behind him.
Kuina and young Zoro, having narrowly escaped death, ran after him, panting heavily. They looked up at the man carrying a large bag of food.
"Orin-san!!!"
"Master, are you leaving already?!!!"
Orin turned back slowly, smiling and nodding.
He was never good at taking care of kids, and his time here had already been long enough.
But kids were kids. The moment Zoro realized Orin was leaving, he couldn't hold back his tears. Still, with his stubborn pride, he couldn't bring himself to ask him to stay.
He only shouted loudly:
"One day, I'll catch up to you and become the World's Greatest Swordsman!!!"
Seeing this, Orin smiled faintly.
For a brief moment, he seemed to see his younger self—crying as he watched Captain Roger leave the ship.
"Well then... since you've been calling me your master, and I haven't really done much for you..."
Orin snapped his fingers.
In an instant, a long, pitch-black, elegant sword appeared in his hand. He walked over and placed it gently into Zoro's arms.
"This is the sword I used when I was young—one of the twenty-one Great Grade Blades. Kuina has her father's Wado Ichimonji, so I can't let you lose out from the start..."
"When you become the World's Greatest Swordsman, bring this blade back to me."
Then, he reached out and ruffled Kuina's hair.
"And you too—don't let this brat surpass you, Kuina!"
"Hahahaha!!!"
"Shut up!!! I'll definitely surpass her!!!"
Watching Orin step out onto the sea, his figure growing smaller in the distance, Zoro drew the sword and looked at the gleaming blade. His determined eyes reflected back at him as he silently made a vow.
He would carry this sword—
And become the strongest swordsman in the world!!!
...
The sea breeze blew gently.
Waves rolled and splashed now and then across the calm surface of the ocean.
But whenever they neared a lone figure walking across the water, they'd quietly settle again.
Tap... tap... tap...
Carrying a large bag of food, Orin strolled leisurely atop the waves, munching on a sandwich as he studied his Eternal Pose, moving forward at an unhurried pace.
His long hair fluttered in the wind. Suddenly, he looked up and spotted a seagull carrying a newspaper flying toward him from afar.
It seemed to have a purpose—flying straight toward him.
But Orin only chuckled. Seeing the gleeful expression of that seagull, he immediately recognized who it was.
"Well, if it isn't the Seagull King himself!"
"Ga—!"
The seagull soaring proudly through the sky with a newspaper strapped to its back was none other than the Seagull King Orin had released long ago.
Now, it looked much livelier than before—majestic and sharp, almost more hawk than gull.
"Looks like you've really made something of yourself. I heard you've even awakened Conqueror's Haki~"
"Ga—!"
Once called a "mobile natural disaster" by outsiders, the Seagull King now appeared remarkably gentle before Orin.
It let out a cry, pointing its beak toward its back, clearly offering Orin a ride.
But Orin only smiled and waved his hand.
If he wanted to save time or effort, he could've teleported to his destination instantly using the Warp-Warp Fruit.
But travel—
Was meant to be enjoyed.
Understanding his intent, the Seagull King perched comfortably on Orin's shoulder instead, serving as a decorative companion.
It then pulled a newspaper from its satchel, offering it to Orin for a bit of entertainment.
"A newspaper from the East Blue, huh? It's been a while since I read one~"
Each sea had its own news networks. Unless it was some massive event, reports about the New World rarely reached the Paradise or the Four Seas.
Orin wasn't entirely sure how it all worked, but that system often made people from the Four Seas and Paradise ignorant of the world beyond.
Many so-called "Supernovas" dominated the Four Seas or the first half of the Grand Line, cutting down anyone in their way. But once they reached the New World, they quickly learned humility—questioning their entire existence before the might of the Yonko.
The East Blue's papers were the same—few stories from the New World, mostly local news.
But one headline immediately caught Orin's attention:
"Great Pirate Clown Buggy Attacks Cocoyasi Village — Motive Unknown!!!"