Chapter 15: Goodbye, Elbaf!
By the sea, a massive Elbaf ship was docked along the shore, its sails rippling under the cold morning wind. Several giants stood aboard, waiting patiently as the nuns and children of the Sheep's House approached.
Some of the giants had come specifically to see the nun off—those who still respected her despite recent events. Others, like Redding, Casey, Hajrudin, and Gerd, were there for a different reason: to see Roy leave.
"Hey, everyone's here to see us off~" Linlin waved happily, completely unaware of the tense atmosphere.
"Tsk, you don't even remember what you did," Hajrudin muttered, turning away as he grabbed Roy's shoulder and led him toward Redding.
None of the giants bothered responding to Linlin.
Roy glanced back at her. Truthfully, this was the best outcome for both sides. If Linlin remained in Elbaf, he couldn't possibly keep feeding her forever. Her uncontrollable hunger would eventually return, and the next outbreak could be far worse.
By leaving, Linlin avoided the fate of destroying Elbaf—and Roy avoided becoming her permanent babysitter.
Redding smiled when Roy approached. He crouched down, resting one giant hand on the ground. "Guess what I have in my palm?"
Roy tilted his head. "A sword, or a knife."
"Uh…" Redding looked helplessly at Casey, embarrassed.
"Guess again!" he said with a strained grin.
"No need to guess," Roy said calmly. "Since my sword was broken, you're probably giving me a new one."
Redding laughed and opened his palm, revealing a brand-new sword. "Why can't it be money or something else, huh?"
"Giving money directly as a gift? That's way too weird for a master~" Roy said with a teasing smirk as he drew the sword from its sheath.
A cold gleam flashed across the blade. Roy swung downward, slicing through a nearby rock.
Clang!
The stone split cleanly in two.
Satisfied, Roy twirled his wrist and slid the blade smoothly back into its sheath. "Thank you, Master."
The sword, while not famous, was a relic collected long ago by the Giant Pirates during their raids. Redding had found it in storage the night before—no name, no history, but a solid blade nonetheless.
Roy inspected the weapon, the corners of his mouth curling in approval. Then his gaze drifted toward Redding, Casey, and the others. "So… are there any other treasures from the Giant Pirates lying around?"
Redding raised an eyebrow, and Casey chuckled.
Hajrudin, looking conflicted, stepped forward and handed him a bulging backpack. "Here. But don't open it until you're on the ship!"
"Okay," Roy said, taking it.
Pandora floated over curiously, peeking through the small gap in the bag. His eyes widened. "Huh? He actually gave you money? There really are people that stupid!"
Pandora crossed his fiery arms in disdain. "Such low emotional intelligence…"
"Pfft…" Gerd couldn't help but laugh.
Hajrudin's face flushed crimson. "Tsk! Hurry up and go already! I don't want you here anyway!"
He turned away quickly, trying to hide his embarrassment.
Roy grinned. "Let's go, everyone." He looked at the giants one last time and blinked playfully. "Are you sure there aren't any more gifts?"
The giants smiled but said nothing.
"Oh well, guess that's a no," Roy sighed dramatically before heading toward the ship.
"Goodbye!" Gerd waved.
"Swish!"
Roy suddenly stopped and turned around.
There, behind the crowd, Hajrudin stood stiffly with his sword in hand, pretending not to care—but his eyes betrayed a reluctant sadness.
Roy smirked. Ah, so you do care, huh?
He turned away with a satisfied grin. If he ever got his hands on a camera-powered Den Den Mushi, he'd make sure to record this moment—Hajrudin's dark history as a softie. And when the day came that Hajrudin, Gerd, Road, Statham, and Bug formed their new Giant Pirates, he'd show them all.
"Goodbye, Master Redding, Casey, Gerd!" Roy called out as he climbed aboard. "Goodbye, everyone in Elbaf!"
"Goodbye, Roy!" Gerd waved, her long yellow hair swaying in the sea breeze.
Hajrudin glared at him, furious that Roy hadn't mentioned him first.
The giants pulled up the anchor. The massive ship creaked and began to move, cutting through the waves as the cold wind carried them away from Elbaf's towering trees.
Standing at the stern, Roy waved one last time. "Goodbye, Hajrudin!"
On the shore, Hajrudin suddenly drew his sword and raised it high. "Roy! When I grow up, we'll fight again! I swear I'll defeat you next time!"
Roy held his sword close, his red hair blowing wildly in the wind. "I'll be waiting!" he shouted back.
Hajrudin stood tall on the beach, the morning sun reflecting off his blade. Beside him, Gerd watched silently, her expression soft. They stood there until the ship was nothing but a silhouette on the horizon.
---
On the ship, the wind howled through the sails.
Roy leaned against the railing, his crimson hair rippling in the sea breeze. He watched Elbaf slowly vanish from sight, gripping his new sword tightly.
"Seeing how serious Hajrudin looked," he muttered, "I almost feel bad about making fun of him. But seriously, how's he going to be a swordsman if he keeps punching everything?"
He sighed, shaking his head.
Linlin plopped down beside him with a puzzled expression. "It's strange… why doesn't anyone want to talk to me?"
Roy looked at her and said softly, "Linlin, friendships built only on taking will never last long."
"Eh? What does that mean?" she asked, scratching her head. "But Linlin doesn't have anything to give them…"
Roy smiled faintly. "That's the problem."
Linlin tilted her head. "But Brother Roy spoils me all the time! Doesn't that mean our friendship will last forever?"
Roy paused, then sighed inwardly. Not for long…
Despite everything, his "intimacy level" with Linlin hadn't increased at all.
Maybe friendship required something deeper. Maybe—after reaching a certain point—it wasn't friendship that mattered anymore, but something else entirely… affection, or perhaps love.
He shuddered at the thought. Forget it. I'm not trying to hook up with Big Mom.
Two orange talent cards from Linlin were already more than enough. It was a powerful start for his journey.
Pandora, who had been hovering nearby, tilted her head. "So friendship is mutual, huh?"
"Yeah," Roy said with a nod.
"Oh, then I can bite your little face whenever I want, right, little devil?" Pandora teased, lunging toward him.
"Snap! Snap! Snap!"
Roy caught him midair and gave him a light flick on the forehead. "Pandora, you're outrageous! Just behave and accept your lessons already!"
Pandora pouted, sparks flying from his cheeks as Roy laughed, the two of them bickering playfully under the vast blue sky.
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