In the dining room.
"Isn't the top priority to find a cook?"
Usopp looked at the large table full of leftover fish and couldn't help but complain.
They couldn't just waste all these fish he electrocuted, and the biggest bottomless pit who could digest anything hadn't shown up today either.
"Do you have a problem with that?"
Nami's smiling face was terrifying. It was with this expression that she had established her imperial position on this ship... Of course, the navigator's status on a ship was generally quite important.
Otherwise, a bad mood or depression could lead the entire crew to their deaths.
That's why, often, the captain of a pirate crew was also the navigator, especially among pirates who didn't trust their subordinates.
"If you have a problem, then cook yourself! Let's see what you'll eat."
She was the navigator, not the cook!
"The problem is, even Luffy won't eat this... Also, Nami, is something on your mind? You seem distracted." Usopp asked with a bit of perceptiveness.
The next second.
The sound of running footsteps echoed.
It was Luffy!
He looked like he had been starving for a week. The fish that Usopp just said "even Luffy wouldn't eat" was instantly devoured by a cavernous mouth.
Not enough. Still not enough.
"Is there more?"
Luffy panted heavily, his eyes red as he looked at Nami.
[Warning. It is now time to learn nautical knowledge with Nami. Please proceed to Nami's room for study in one minute... Countdown: fifty-nine, fifty-eight.]
Luffy clenched his fists.
Do you only get one minute for mealtime?!
But there was no time to complain.
"There is, but I need to draw nautical charts later. Get Usopp to make it for you..." Nami wasn't exactly brushing him off.
But the next second, Luffy grabbed her hand and started pulling her towards her room. "I'm full! Nami, I want to study with you!"
Usopp watched their retreating backs with a suspicious look.
Were Luffy and Nami in that kind of relationship?
He kindly reminded them.
"Hey, it's still daytime!"
At least close the door.
...
"You want me to teach you nautical knowledge?"
Nami was slightly out of breath and her heart was pounding from being dragged along by Luffy. On the way, she had been wondering what he was thinking, pulling her into her room like this.
"Yes, yes! I really want to learn!"
Luffy hurriedly sat down on a chair, picking up a pen and mimicking how he'd seen Nami hold it before.
That dreadful feeling finally began to recede.
He took a deep breath. Thank goodness he made it in time.
"Luffy, what kind of joke is this?"
Nami put her hands on her hips, leaning forward slightly to look down at Luffy.
They were a bit close, close enough to see the fine hairs on each other's faces.
Perhaps due to the series of chaotic punishments, Luffy, who usually paid no mind to such things, frowned slightly.
A faint, fresh scent hung in the air.
"I'm telling you, don't come here and cause trouble for me!" Nami said angrily, grabbing Luffy's clothes.
"I'm not causing trouble! Nami, hurry up, I need to learn!" Luffy said with a serious expression.
If Makino back in Windmill Village heard this, she might think the world was ending.
Nami stared at Luffy with deep suspicion.
"Nami, this is a task from your captain!" Luffy declared with an air of authority.
One could tell from Nami's room that she was an excellent navigator. Hand-drawn nautical charts covered the walls, and her books were filled with notes.
Shanks had said the sea was the most dangerous place.
Sailing on the ocean meant facing all sorts of bizarre weather and unpredictable maritime conditions.
Even great pirates had perished due to extreme weather.
The might of nature was a natural disaster.
...
Fine.
It's merely the captain's task.
It just wasn't very... Luffy-like.
Luffy was usually afraid of being hungry, afraid of being bored, but he was never afraid of studying because he would never even try to learn in the first place.
Although Nami hadn't known Luffy for long, he was just too easy to read.
Nami thought Luffy was just having a momentary burst of enthusiasm. You could tell from the expression on his face—full of reluctance, his eyes filled with a desperate will to survive. She didn't know what was driving him.
It was willpower!
Luffy felt his mind was being polluted. He didn't even recognize many of the characters, let alone understand those messy, obscure, and difficult nautical terms.
What's the use of learning this?!
[Warning. Do not be distracted while learning with Nami. Please devote your full attention...]
[Warning. Random punishment countdown: ten...]
"I'll learn, I'm learning!"
Luffy's eyes widened, summoning the intense survival instinct he'd honed during his childhood training with his grandpa.
The voice seemed to have found Luffy's weak spot.
Not afraid of electricity, huh?
Then try a little... sensory shock.
"No, my adventure...!"
Luffy looked like a salted fish that had lost its dreams, the light gradually fading from his eyes.
However.
The one being tormented turned out to be Nami.
"You don't even recognize all the characters yet! How am I supposed to teach you?!" Nami was nearly frantic.
"Then use simpler words so I can understand! I believe in you!" Luffy said, patting Nami on the shoulder. "After all, you're the best navigator on our ship."
"While that's true, teaching an idiot is still difficult," Nami retorted, glancing at Luffy.
"Nami, you wouldn't want to lose your most precious things, would you?"
"You!"
Was she being threatened? Was she actually being threatened?!
As much as it annoyed her, Nami had to compromise.
For her, the most precious things were undoubtedly the treasures she had collected.
Tch, did he figure it out?
Nami felt a bit panicked.
Watching Teacher Nami's motivation max out, Luffy felt very pleased.
As expected, she didn't want to lose her captain after all!
In less than an hour.
Luffy felt like he was about to throw up.
[Mental energy severely depleted. Your willpower has increased. Observation Haki proficiency +1]
"Huh?"
Luffy was taken aback.
He remembered hearing a similar voice in the morning, but he had ignored it.
It seemed he could review the records.
[Physical energy compressed and exercised. Your physical strength has increased. Armament Haki proficiency +1]
Luffy felt like he had heard these terms somewhere before.
"Nami, have you heard of Observation Haki and Armament Haki?"
"Keep talking, and I'll let you experience what 'Nami Haki' is." The pen in Nami's hand snapped with a crack.
So scary.
Luffy wisely decided not to provoke this woman any further.
He massaged his temples, lost in thought, then suddenly clapped his hands together.
I think Shanks and the others mentioned it when I was little!
Was this some kind of unknown power?
Luffy's intuition about these things was very sharp.
"This is essential training to become the Pirate King."
Luffy suddenly felt there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Mainly because the punishments were unavoidable. If he could get stronger through this, he just had to accept it!
Just then, an interface appeared before his eyes.
Luffy:
Observation Haki Proficiency: 1/1000 (lv0)
Armament Haki Proficiency: 1/1000 (lv0)
Conqueror's Haki Proficiency: 0/1000 (lv0)
Devil Fruit Development: 0/10
...
I'm the man who will become the Pirate King! A little difficulty like this won't stop me!
Even as he said that, the thought of this life continuing made Luffy want to roll his eyes back in his head.