Chapter 75: Sanji: This Is Too Hard For Me!
"Ah?!"
The morning sun bathed Cocoyasi Village's harbor, turning the sea into a sea of scattered gold.
The Going Merry rested quietly by the dock, its sheep figurehead looking particularly spirited in the morning light.
The sails were already raised, the anchor secured—ready to set sail at a moment's notice.
The dock was packed with people.
Nearly all of Cocoyasi Village's residents had come.
Genzo stood at the front, wearing his old but neatly pressed sheriff's uniform.
Nojiko stood beside him, along with Chabo, the boy from Syrup Village.
His face was still bandaged, but his eyes sparkled as he stared intently at the Going Merry.
Johnny and Yosaku were there too.
And so many others!
They had come to say goodbye.
To bid farewell to the heroes who had saved their village.
And to bid farewell to Nami.
The girl who had struggled in darkness for eight years, stealing and saving nearly 100 million Berry for their sake.
When the villagers learned that Nami intended to leave all the money to the village, everyone reacted the same way:
"No!"
"Nami! This money cost you your life!"
"How could we accept it?!"
Genzo's voice was the loudest, almost shouting:
"How can someone be this kind?! And the Pirates who fought for our village! How... how can we ever repay this debt..."
It was about to turn into a long, emotional farewell.
Just then—
"Wee—!!! Set sail—!!! We're departing—!!!"
Nami's voice rang out from behind the crowd.
Everyone turned.
They saw Nami standing at the edge of the dock, still dozens of meters from the ship.
She wore a white crop top and a black miniskirt, a sly smile on her face.
Then, she moved.
Sprinting!
She dashed through the crowd as if without a single regret!
The villagers instinctively made way.
Nami moved incredibly fast, reaching the edge of the dock in just a few steps!
Then, she leaped high into the air!
In the morning light, her figure traced a graceful arc through the sky, her orange short hair flying in the wind.
"Thump!"
She landed steadily on the Going Merry's deck.
The entire sequence was fluid and decisive.
Leaving no one any chance to react, plead, or cling to her.
Ralph stood by the ship's railing, watching the scene with a slight smile.
After landing, Nami lifted the hem of her crop top.
"Clatter—!"
Over a dozen wallets tumbled onto the deck.
On the dock, the villagers were stunned for a moment before patting their pockets.
"Where's my wallet?!"
"Mine's gone too!"
"When did she...?"
"Nami—!!!"
Their shouts were a mix of anger and amusement.
Nami stood at the bow, hands on her hips, grinning like a cat that got the fish.
"Thanks for the funding, everyone! Take care!"
She paused, her smile softening slightly, her voice growing gentle:
"Everyone, goodbye! I'm leaving!"
As she spoke, she raised her left hand and waved vigorously toward the dock.
The sunlight shone on her arm.
Ralph noticed that the tattoo that had once been branded on her left arm—the mark of the Arlong Pirates—was gone.
In its place was a new design.
A windmill.
A four-bladed windmill pattern, incorporating elements of oranges.
Delicate, cute, and full of hope.
In the original story, this had been Nami's own idea.
Covering the scars of the past with the windmill and oranges that brought her joy in childhood.
But now...
Ralph gazed at the pattern, feeling a stir in his heart.
He didn't know if Nami's decision had been influenced by his earlier telling of Fisher Tiger's story.
The marks of the past would always remain, but we could choose to cover them with a brighter future.
This was Nami's choice.
In her own way, she was bidding farewell to the past and embracing a new beginning.
On the dock, the villagers watched the windmill tattoo on Nami's arm and her waving figure in the morning light with complex expressions.
There were tears, smiles, anger, and reluctance.
Eventually, all these emotions transformed into words of blessing:
"Fair winds and following seas—!"
"Stay safe—!"
"Nami—remember to come back and visit us—!"
"Straw Hat Girl—take good care of Nami—!"
Lufia stood at the bow of the ship, pressing down her straw hat as a brilliant smile spread across her face:
"Of course!"
She turned back and shouted:
"Ralph—take the helm!"
"Sanji—raise the sails!"
"Zoro, Usopp—to your positions!"
"We're—setting sail—!!!"
The Going Merry slowly departed from the dock, its sails billowing in the sea breeze as it headed toward the distant horizon.
On the dock, the farewell voices gradually faded away.
Eventually, they became just a small dot on the sea's surface.
[Ding!]
[System Notification: Successfully helped Lufia defeat Arlong, Nami officially joins the pirate crew]
[Lufia's favorability toward you +10%]
[Current Favorability: Close Friend Level 35%]
[System Notification: Lufia is very satisfied with your help in training to improve her strength]
[Favorability +5%]
[Current Favorability: Close Friend Level 40%]
A series of system notifications echoed in his mind.
Ralph stood behind the ship's helm, feeling the sea breeze against his face, his heart calm.
Aside from the steady increase in favorability, his own Armament Haki had shown significant improvement during this period of training with Lufia.
He estimated it wouldn't be long before he could advance from intermediate to advanced level.
Judging from the current "beginner" level where he could only cover parts of his body, reaching "intermediate" should allow full body coverage, and even extending it to weapons for "external release."
Wasn't that... the legendary "external release of mana"?
Ralph couldn't help but smile.
Who would have thought that in the world of One Piece, he could experience the thrill of being a "magician."
He looked forward to it with great anticipation.
The Going Merry sailed across the calm sea.
On the deck, everyone was busy with their own tasks.
"Another price increase?! Your newspapers are too expensive?!"
Nami complained, but still took out money to buy a newspaper from a passing news bird.
The news bird cooed twice, accepted the money, dropped the newspaper, and flew away flapping its wings.
Usopp crouched on the deck, surrounded by various bottles, jars, and strange powders.
Wearing goggles and holding a small spoon, he carefully mixed something together.
He had truly taken Ralph's words to heart and was researching new, more powerful ammunition.
Sanji stood before several orange trees... oh, they should now be called "Miss Nami's Orange Grove."
He declared loudly:
"I swear! I will defend Miss Nami's orange grove with my life! I won't allow any pests, any sea breeze, any trace of—"
Before he could finish speaking.
A small hand reached out from behind him, quietly making its way toward the largest, most golden orange on the tangerine tree.
Sanji spun around abruptly:
"Who's there?!"
Then, he saw Lufia.
The Straw Hat Girl looked up, her eyes fixed longingly on the orange, her lips slightly pouted, her gaze filled with "I want to eat it."
Sanji: "Miss Lufia..."
Sanji's tone softened instantly, "That... the orange isn't fully ripe yet..."
Lufia didn't speak, continuing to stare at him with that pitiful expression.
Sanji's "chivalry" spirit was burning.
On one side was his vow to "defend Miss Nami's tangerine garden with his life."
On the other was his principle of "never refusing a beautiful lady's request."
"Ah—!!! Oh my god—!!!"
Sanji knelt on the deck, clutching his head with both hands, howling at the sky:
"I'm so torn—!!!"
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