"Nani? Kiana, you're not coming with us?"
"I'm afraid not. My next journey isn't the same as yours. I want to head straight to the Grand Line — there's someone I need to find."
It was already afternoon by the time I woke up. Somehow, during the time I'd been asleep, Luffy had successfully convinced Sanji to join his crew. Their little pirate group was preparing to set sail to catch up with Zoro and Nami — and Joseph had apparently returned at some point too.
"Why? We're all going to the Grand Line anyway. Wouldn't it be better to find Nami first and then set off together?"
Luffy looked genuinely confused. In his mind, once Nami came back, we would all just sail together toward the Grand Line — a full crew, a complete adventure. Why would anyone go ahead alone?
"Uhh… did I mention I've got something to take care of? I don't have the energy to follow you on an adventure right now. Sorry, Luffy."
I had no idea what my next main quest would be after reaching the Grand Line. And even if I did make it there, missions might pull me back to the East Blue again. What then? Drag the whole Straw Hat crew back this way? Obviously impossible.
Even if Luffy and the others were willing… I wouldn't be. Maybe it was better to part ways early rather than later.
"Kiana-chan…!"
Sanji looked like he was about to cry. I just boarded the ship! Was I really leaving right after he joined? Don't play like this! Luffy said there were beautiful women in the crew — lies! One already stole a boat, and the other wants to leave before the adventure even begins?!
What kind of scam cooking job is this supposed to be, huh?!
"By the way, Sanji — thanks for the coat."
I took off his suit jacket and handed it back to him. It still carried a faint scent of my body.
"O… oh!"
Sanji accepted it with utmost seriousness — fighting every instinct in his body not to bury his face in it and breathe in like a pervert. But the joy on his face couldn't be disguised.
Hehehe! The coat that Kiana wore!
"I'll never wash this coat again. I'll keep it as a treasured family heirloom…"
He whispered to himself.
"Wash it. Off. For me."I rolled my eyes so hard I could see my brain. "Seriously — don't be weird, Sanji!"
Near Baratie, I stepped onto a small sailboat carrying enough food to last one person for a month. A large pack was sitting heavily onboard — courtesy of Sanji, who had insisted I take it.
In truth, I didn't need that much weight to reach Loguetown. If nothing went wrong, I'd be there in a day at most. Extra supplies would only slow the boat down. So I casually stored all the food into my material space without hesitation.
"Kiana, are you really not going with us?" Sanji asked from his boat beside mine. Luffy was already waiting on board, shouting for him to hurry and pack.
"Sorry, Luffy. We'll adventure together once I solve my problem."
"…Alright."
He looked disappointed. One of the companions he'd worked so hard to find… was leaving already.
"Well then… if fate permits — see you on the Grand Line."
I lowered the canvas. As it caught the wind, the boat gently began to glide forward across the water — ripples trailing behind it.
"Yeah! Goodbye!"
After thinking it through, Luffy finally waved. Watching my back vanish into the distance, he sighed. Another companion… already gone.
Some time passed. When my boat finally disappeared completely, Sanji came back out, along with Paddy and the other cooks.
"Eh? Where's Kiana-chan?" He scanned the sea, panicked. "Where's her boat?!"
"She's gone," Luffy replied. "Said we'd meet again on the Grand Line. Who knows when that'll be."
"…No way—I didn't even get to say goodbye!"
Sanji dropped to his knees, devastated. It was his own fault — he'd taken too long packing. He blamed himself for missing his chance.
"…"
Everyone else just sweatdropped. Uh… isn't that a little too dramatic…?
Meanwhile, on my little sailboat — completely unaware Sanji was crying his heart out — I leaned back in a foldable beach chair. The canvas shade blocked the sun perfectly, and the mild sea breeze carried just enough warmth to make me drowsy.
Even though I'd just woken up earlier… I already felt sleepy again.
Blame the weather. Blame the breeze. Blame the good mood. I reached into the soft gap between my chest and pulled out my phone, checking the small map once more.
Gotta hand it to Sister Besta — she really made things convenient.
The map app was a lifesaver. The small green dot at the center showed my current position. You could zoom in and out to view islands within roughly 8,000 kilometers. That way, onee-sama wouldn't have to worry about me getting lost somewhere in the middle of the sea.
You simply tap your destination, set a marker — and a dotted line would guide your path.
But this map had one annoying drawback — enemy detection only worked within a 5-kilometer radius.
Five. Kilometers.
What kind of stingy range was that?! With my eyesight alone I could see farther than the detection radius on this dumb phone! You couldn't even see the red dots on the map that gave EXP. If the East Blue was really that weak… how was I supposed to level up?!
"Come on…! Show up already, red dots! Anything is fine! Sea Kings, please! Uncle Sea Kings, I will serve you with the full VIP package!"
I muttered under my breath like a mad gambler staring at a slot machine, shaking the phone slightly.
But nothing. After more than an hour of sailing — nothing changed at all. Aside from the sun's slightly higher position, the sea was as calm as ever.
No danger. No monsters. Not even a damn jellyfish.
Finally, my eyes began to ache from staring too long. With a sigh, I gave up. I hadn't seen a Sea King the entire time I was at Baratie either — looks like they really weren't just floating around like pigeons on a street.
But just as I was about to slide the phone back into the soft valley of my chest…—a sudden bright red dot appeared on the edge of the map.
And then it turned black.
"…That's Mihawk, isn't it? Didn't expect to catch up to him so soon."
I'd seen him earlier today. I didn't think our paths would cross again so quickly — and it looked like he was heading toward Loguetown as well. Probably planning to rest there before heading into the Grand Line.
That made sense. Loguetown was right near the entrance to the Grand Line. It wasn't strange for Dracule Mihawk to pass through.
What bothered me was his sailing speed. For a man who chased the Krieg Pirates all the way to the East Blue just because he was bored… you sure sail slow.
In the far distance, I could barely make out a tiny black dot on the water. Should I speed up and pass him? Or wait for him to move ahead? Right now Mihawk was directly between me and Loguetown — meaning I'd have to detour around him unless I wanted to sail right beside the world's greatest swordsman.
To be honest… I had no intention of confronting him. I just needed to pass by peacefully.
But this was Dracule Mihawk — the man who hunted down Krieg's entire fleet just for entertainment. If boredom alone was enough reason to annihilate dozens of pirates… what would he do if he got interested in me?
After thinking it over… I shook my head.
Whatever. As long as I pass by quietly, we'll be fine. He won't strike without reason. Right?
And if he does… well, I've still got my trial cards. If he tries anything — he'll become my EXP fodder!
That's what I told myself… but deep down, a chill ran down my spine.
Even with stronger combat power from a trial card — a real battle isn't determined by stats alone. Experience matters. Mihawk is the world's greatest swordsman — someone who has crossed blades with the Yonko Shanks countless times. His battlefield experience is on a whole different level.
Right now, I still didn't know Armament Haki or Observation Haki. In that area, I'd be severely disadvantaged.
In short — my odds of winning were… maybe 50-50.
Of course, if he really rushed at me — I could use all three trial cards at once and go full berserker mode. Even Mihawk might not withstand a revolving death match against level-graded characters spamming ultimates like a mobile game.
While I secretly compared our strengths, our distance shrank.
As if sensing something, Mihawk — eyes closed until now — slowly opened them and glanced back.
And then — he lost interest.
I felt it. That gaze. Sharp and cold as the edge of a blade.
My entire body tensed. Sweat prickled down my back.
From a single glance.
A single glance made my body respond with fear.
Zoro… he actually fought someone like that? And held his ground long enough to earn Mihawk's respect? That was… incredible. Terrifying, even.
I sank deeper into my chair.Yeah. Forget getting closer. It's safer to grow quietly — like a cockroach under a rock — and challenge him when I reach his realm.
While I was busy convincing myself to avoid the world's strongest swordsman… I failed to notice the phone on my chest had lit up again.
And in the deep darkness of the sea below — something else was rising.
A faint red dot.Weaker than Mihawk — but moving rapidly.Targeting me.
So… you wanted a Sea King, didn't you?
Well then, Kiana-chan — serve him well.
Just finishing her shift at the Hall of Reincarnation, Sister Besta locked the door with a wicked grin.
Then happily skipped all the way home.