125 Change of Hear #125

I woke up in a lavishly adorned room within the magnificent Ryugu royal palace, the soft rays of sunlight gently filtering through the windows. As my eyes fluttered open, I found myself flanked by two enchanting mermaids, their ethereal beauty captivating my senses. With a grin of satisfaction at a night's-work well done, I playfully caressed their hair as I noticed their blissful sleeping expressions.

It had been a week since the harrowing incident involving Noah, the colossal ark that threatened to wreak havoc upon Fishman Island. The wound in my eye, sustained during the battle, had finally healed, but my vision had yet to return. The damage inflicted upon my eye had been extensive, but I knew it was only a matter of time before my vision returned.

I gingerly touched the scar that marred my face, contemplating whether I should embrace it as a battle scar or let my healing factor remove it. A thought crossed my mind as I pondered the allure of keeping the scar and maybe getting a tattoo or a couple to achieve the hardened pirate look.

Amidst my contemplations, my thoughts turned to Den. Over the past week, he diligently worked on our ship, pouring his skill and passion into its construction. Yet, as skilled as Den was, we both acknowledged that the vessel would not serve as my crew's permanent ship.

With his deep understanding of shipbuilding, Den lamented the lack of proper tools and resources to construct a vessel to meet my high expectations. We needed a ship capable of withstanding the treacherous trials that awaited us in the waters of the New World, one that would become our steadfast companion on our journey.

That's when Den and I reached another agreement. Once I fulfilled my part of the bargain, he would build me the ship I expected. It's why he decided to accompany my crew and me to Water Seven.

Known as the go-to destination for the world's best shipwrights, Water Seven held the key to building the perfect ship. It was only there that Den's skills could be put to their full use. Maybe we could even convince Franky and Iceberg to help with the ship's construction.

I reluctantly pried my body off the mermaid's gentle embrace and stepped away from the bed. Moving towards the window, I peered at the magnificent scenery of the Ryugu Kingdom. The hustle and bustle of the streets caught my attention as people went about their daily lives with a sense of serenity and harmony.

Reflecting on the events so far, I couldn't help but chuckle at the hero treatment we had received from the island's inhabitants. After our efforts in saving Fishman Island from the impending threat of Noah, the locals regarded us with admiration and gratitude. It was a stark contrast to when we first arrived, where suspicion and veiled hostility had met us at every turn.

With their innately kind nature, the Mermaids were the first to extend their warmth and hospitality to me and my crew. But now, even the fishmen from the district known for its cautiousness would occasionally smile if we crossed paths.

Some might find this sudden change of heart from the fishmen hypocritical or annoying, but I couldn't care less. I understood the underlying reason behind such behavior.

The fishmen had witnessed the prejudice and mistreatment their kind received at the hands of humans on the surface. Merely stepping onto land would only invite discrimination and hostility. So, their initial wariness towards us was understandable. Still, once they realized we didn't mean them harm, their m mistrust crumbled, replaced by a semblance of trust and a bit of friendliness.

It wasn't just me who found acceptance on the island. My crew, too, had formed strong bonds with the citizens of the Ryugu Kingdom. With her obsession with helping everything to walk or swim, Bavy 5 had taken a liking to the Mermaid Cafe. Despite the objections from the cafe's workers, she insisted on serving the customers, finding joy in service. The flying fish riders and Duval joined the fun, making the Mermaid Cafe their unofficial hangout spot.

On the other hand, Kieran preferred solitude and focused on honing his skills in the palace's training grounds. As the week progressed, I couldn't help but be curious about Kieran's actions. He'd always kept to himself most of the time, but I've never seen him train even once.

My curiosity got the better of me, and I asked him about it. Our conversation went out like this.

I approached him at the training ground on the second day after the incident. "Hey, Kieran," I called out, curiosity lacing my voice. "I get that you prefer your own company, but what's up with your newfound diligence...? I've never seen you train once before..."

Kieran turned to face me with a blank expression. "I remember your words when you agreed to let me follow you," he said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "You said that as long as I didn't get in your way, you didn't mind me tagging along..."

"I saw what you did when you held up that gigantic ship... as I am right now, I'll likely hold you back than be of use, and until I get my answers, I can't afford to be anywhere but here..." He concluded.

A faint smile crossed my face as I listened to Kieran's words. "I meant what I said back then..." I replied, my tone sincere. "But that was then; this is now. We're a pirate crew now. Isolating yourself from others will cause me, the captain, problems, you know..."

Kieran's eyes flickered with surprise and contemplation. "Be that as it may," he responded, his voice softening. "Right now, this is what I need to do. I refuse to be a burden...."

I took a moment to absorb his words, realizing there was more to Kieran's actions than I had initially grasped. Kieran's motto in life was that everything was fleeting, nothing mattered, and nothing had meaning.

He was the kind of guy who would only breathe, eat, and drink because he had to, always doing the bare minimum, only to surprise everyone when I least expected it, like arranging our escape from Sabaody, securing an array of supplies, etc.

The fact that such a person was going out of his way to train so diligently despite having such an outlook on life seemed like a step in the right direction, so I was content to let him be.

That was the end of my brief conversation with Kieran. Simple as it was, it helped me realize that I was no longer the burdenless horn dog, I once was. Actually, I'll always be a horn dog, but you get the idea.

I had once been a lone drifter, wandering from island to island without any attachments or responsibilities. It had been a carefree existence, unburdened by the concerns of others. Then, I joined the Marines, embracing a life of discipline and duty, which was both comforting and restricting at the same time.

But now, as the captain of a pirate crew, I faced a different set of challenges. The lives of my crew members weighed on my shoulders, and their well-being became my responsibility. It was a role I had never anticipated. It already felt overwhelming.

As a drifter, I never had to worry about anything beyond myself, and as a marine, I left such concerns to my superiors. But now I had to make decisions that would impact not only my own life but also the lives of those who had chosen to follow me.

Just as I was lost in my thoughts, contemplating the weight of my newfound responsibilities, a gentle knock on the door interrupted my musings. Raising an eyebrow, I turned towards the source of the sound, calling out, "Who's there?"

Duval's voice echoed from the other side of the door, his distinctive tone sounding narcissistic somehow. "Den wants to see you, captain," he conveyed, his words punctuated by a sense of importance.

I furrowed my brow, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected summons. Den never asked to see me or anyone since he started working on the ship. Curiosity piqued, I quickly composed myself and replied, "Tell him I'll be right there."

As I made my way to the door, I spared a final glance at the mermaids, still nestled in peaceful slumber. I silently thanked them for their company before exiting the room.

...

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