Chapter 19: Chapter 18: Loguetown

After parting ways with Zoro, I immediately ran toward an upscale clothing store.

There was something I absolutely wanted to buy. I didn’t have time.

When I pushed open the shop door, Nami was there, just about to leave.

"Jin!!"

Nami happily welcomed me.

"Nami, there’s something I want to buy. Can you help me pick it out?"

"Sure!!"

"Um, sir, what can I get for you?"

The shop owner looked absolutely exhausted.

And behind him was a considerable pile of women’s clothes.

Ah...

"Uh, first, could you ring up all those women’s clothes in the back? And could you show me some coats? I’d also like clothes that go well with the coats."

Hehe. Shanks wearing a coat like a cape had looked so damn cool, and ever since I was a kid, it had been a style I desperately wanted to try.

A full black suit set to go with a black coat.

And a full red suit set to match a red coat.

Nami liked both, and so did I, so I bought around twenty of each.

Because when I wore one, I looked like the captain. But having only Luffy and me wear them would feel like we were separating ourselves by rank.

So I generously bought twenty each, enough for the people we’d recruit later too.

Honestly, I wanted to buy more, but they were out of stock. Nami tried some on and bought clothes for herself too.

Ah, finally, I’m getting my fashion game on!!!

On the way back, I also bought some comfortable clothes to wear casually.

Since we were already shopping, I bought seasonal clothes for the others too before we headed out.

Of course, Nami had everything wrapped in plastic.

"I’m really glad I met you, Jin!"

Nami said with a smile.

"Yeah, that was a lot of luggage for you to carry alone."

"It looks like it’s about to pour, so I think we should hurry back."

"Okay!"

Then we arrived at the plaza...

Luffy was talking to an incredibly slim, beautiful woman.

Why wasn’t that idiot on the execution platform? Why was he flirting with a girl?

"Yo, Luffy!"

Unlike the original Luffy, was my friend Luffy going to start dating now?

I’m rooting for you, Luffy!

"Shishishishi, Jin!! Can you tell who this is?"

Huh?? In an instant, my brain got to work and told me that the beauty was Alvida.

"Don’t tell me... Alvida?"

"Whoa!! How’d you know?"

"Jin!! Long time no see. You’re still handsome."

"Ah... yeah, it has been a while. You look... good."

"Yep, I ate the Devil Fruit, the Smooth-Smooth Fruit. Now no attack can hurt my beautiful skin!!"

"Unfortunately, my beauty hasn’t changed much, but...!"

"The only real difference is that your freckles are gone."

"That’s no big deal."

Luffy said, waving a hand.

I knew eating the Smooth-Smooth Fruit made her pretty, but seeing it in person was something else... Oh, damn...

"Jin, who is she?"

Nami asked, linking her arm through mine.

For a moment, it felt as if Luffy’s Gum-Gum Pistol had struck me right in the heart.

But I figured showing it would make things awkward, so I kept my expression under control as best I could and answered.

"Well... um, back then—"

"That time, I felt it."

"!!!!!"

"Hey, Luffy, you can’t be shocked too!! And aren’t you supposed to be the kind of character who doesn’t know R-rated stuff like that??"

"Nami, no! It’s not like that!"

"I couldn’t forget that time. I came looking for you because I wanted to be with you..."

Uh-oh... Nami’s face darkened, and she quietly unlinked her arm from mine.

"Hey, hey... Don’t say it in a way that makes people misunderstand. All I did was knock you out with my fist..."

"Shishishishi, so that’s what it was!!"

"You bastard, you should’ve known that!!"

"Jin, so you have to take responsibility for me."

"Uh... a settlement payment??? But I stopped a crime, so wasn’t that self-defense?"

"Pfft!! Jin, you’re funny."

Alvida laughed and tapped my arm.

Char D. Origin, Foosha Village’s greatest success and most handsome man!!

I will not be swayed by such foxy tricks!!

"I do hear that a lot."

Nami pinched my side.

"Urgh."

"Whoa!! That amazing beauty from earlier!!"

"Hey, Sanji, are you going alone?! Don’t just stare at Zoro—help carry this stuff!"

Things were already chaotic enough, with Sanji coming over with hearts in his eyes, Usopp carrying a fish as big as himself in each hand,

and Zoro approaching with the expression of a man who couldn’t care less about anything in the world.

Could things get any more chaotic than this??

Or so I thought. They could.

"Straw Hat Luffy!! Surrender!!"

The Marines surrounded the plaza. And there he was: a white-haired man with slicked-back hair, smoking two cigars like he had dual cores.

Smoker.

"Let’s run for it first! I’m heading to the ship!"

"Shishishishi, I’ll be there soon!"

I formed wings, picked up Nami, and flew to the ship first. If the ship wasn’t ready to depart, then even if we made it to the docks, we’d just be surrounded. Since Nami’s combat ability was low, I decided to get her out first.

I just hoped they wouldn’t get caught by that cloud of smoke.

As I worried and flew toward the ship, lightning flashed once and rain began pouring down.

Not just rain—powerful winds began to blow too.

"It’s a storm!! Luckily, the wind is at our backs, so we can leave as soon as the others get here!!"

Nami said as she prepared the ship for departure.

I spread my Observation Haki, checked for presences, and flew back toward where Luffy’s group was.

The wind was growing fiercer, so this time I flew low to the ground.

Luffy’s group was running down a street between large buildings,

with Marines chasing after them.

And Alvida was mixed in with the group.

It looked like she had simply slipped into the crowd amid all the confusion.

I couldn’t exactly tell her to go her own way in the middle of this.

"Get down!!"

I spread my wings as wide as possible, flew into the pursuing Marines, and sent them flying.

"Run now!!"

"As expected of you, Jin♡"

"..."

Not long after, Tashigi drew her sword and blocked the way.

"Roronoa Zoro!!"

"So you’re Roronoa Zoro—and a pirate too!!"

"You were mocking me. I can’t forgive you!"

"I will reclaim the famous blade, Wado Ichimonji."

"Go on ahead to the ship."

Zoro told his crewmates, then began fighting Tashigi.

"Wait a second!!"

There were a few things I couldn’t stand.

The thing I couldn’t stand most was having to endure something myself, and the next thing I couldn’t stand was hypocrisy.

That was why I had no choice but to stop their fight for a moment.

"Jin. No matter who you are, this is my fight."

"Ah, Zoro, you know I’d never do that."

"???"

"I just have something to ask that female Marine over there."

"What is it?"

"You said you’d reclaim Zoro’s sword, so I was wondering: if you lose, does that mean we get your sword instead?"

"A duel with our swords on the line. Interesting."

"Fine!!"

Zoro and Tashigi agreed. An upright person like Tashigi had no choice but to accept.

Hehe, Tashigi’s sword looked exactly like my type. I should ask Zoro to give it to me.

And as expected, Tashigi lost quickly.

"This sword... I can’t give it to you. Even if it kills me...!"

Zoro delivered that line so coolly as he sheathed the sword that I decided I would collect the spoils.

After saying something that cool, it would look pathetic if he came away with nothing.

And since I was the one collecting it, didn’t that make it mine?

"Why won’t you cut me down!!!"

"Is it because I’m a woman?"

"Hey, wait a second again!!"

I interrupted Tashigi... then held out my hand while carrying her sword.

"You need to give me the sheath too!"

Tashigi trembled with rage as she handed me the sheath as well.

Ohh... I’m a Three-Sword Style user too!!!

"Ah, thanks. And you got as far as, ‘Is it because I’m a woman?’ Okay! You two can continue talking now. Zoro, I’m heading out first."

If I stayed right now, somehow it might turn into the kind of situation where I had to give Shigure back.

So hurry up and keep talking to hold Zoro here!!

"...."

"...."

Uh... why were they both looking at me like that? It couldn’t be helped.

"Hey, Zoro! Going easy in a real sword fight just because a woman is weaker than a man is a humiliation to that woman!!!"

"That’s right!!!"

"You have no idea how it feels to wish you’d been born a man!!"

"I’m not doing this as a joke!!"

Zoro’s expression began to change.

"You... I really don’t like you!!! Your very existence!!"

"That same face as her! Spouting the same damn things!"

"Don’t imitate her, you plagiarist-singer-looking woman!!"

As expected. Humans... are fun!!

I spread my wings again and followed Luffy in low-altitude flight.

Luffy had just run into Smoker.

And as I arrived, Luffy threw a punch at Smoker, but it passed right through him. He was stunned and just about to be taken down by Smoker.

I coated my wings in Armament Haki and knocked away Smoker as he tried to restrain Luffy.

Then I immediately closed in with the Six Powers’ [Shave] and gave him an uppercut with my hardened Armament Haki fist just as he was getting back up.

Ahh, this was what they called an [Electric Wind God Fist].

Right now, in this very moment of battle, I had attained enlightenment.

Wings!!

That’s right. I was Devil Jin.

And as he fell back down, another [Electric Wind God Fist]!!! Hell yeah!!

[Rasetsu Gate]!!! I was about to push him into a wall and start a wall combo,

but someone stopped me.

Monkey D. Dragon.

"Uh... hello."

He was Luffy’s dad.

"I think that’s far enough."

I had seen people say something online.

That someone with real anger-management issues had to be incapable of managing their anger even in front of someone stronger than them.

Hmm. Then I didn’t have anger-management issues. What a relief.

This wasn’t enduring it. This was managing it.

"Yes, sir. But I’ll be taking this, like a gentleman."

Smoker’s equipment, while he was barely conscious.

I said this as I picked up his weapon, with Sea Prism Stone embedded in its tip.

"..."

"What’s this thing called?"

"Nanashaku Jitte..."

"Then I’ll see you next time."

"... And, um... I’ll see you next time too."

I knew he was Luffy’s father, but I didn’t think there was anything to gain from letting that show, so I gave him a casual greeting and headed for the ship.

In the storm of rain and wind, a lighthouse came into view from the rocking Going Merry.

"At the end of that light is the entrance to the Grand Line."

"What do you say?"

Nami asked us.

"All right. Shall we hold a launching ceremony for our ship as we sail into the great sea!!"

Sanji brought a barrel to the middle of the deck.

"To find the All Blue..."

Sanji said, placing one foot atop the barrel.

"I’ll become King of the Pirates!!"

"I’ll become the greatest swordsman!!"

"I’ll become the King of Adventure!"

"To draw a map of the world."

"I-I-I’ll become a brave warrior of the sea!!"

We each spoke of our dreams and placed a foot on the barrel.

Then we naturally looked at Alvida.

"Shishishishi, Alvida, hurry up and tell your dream in front of your crewmates."

"Thanks."

With a beautiful smile, Alvida placed one of her slender legs atop the barrel.

Uh-oh, Sanji’s eyes were turning into hearts... Scary.

"To marry Jin!!"

"Let’s go!! To the Grand Line!!!"

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