Chapter 6

[Two months later]

Two months have passed since that night I met Mira.

During that time she has been living with me.

The following day after I gave first-aid to her wounds she was rested enough to head into town.

As soon as she was I took her to a real professional doctor and made them a pretty belly to make sure there was nothing seriously wrong with Mira.

Thankfully there wasn't.

But the doctor did inform me that Mira was severely malnourished, had some slight muscle atrophy, and had a slight infection from one of the many wounds those slaver pirates had inflicted on her during her time in captivity.

All in all he told me she would need someone to care for her to make sure she made a proper full recovery.

A task which fell on me.

I mean I was the only one Mira knew in Loguetown and East Blue after all. Plus she was already staying with me anyway. So in the end I became her caretaker.

In doing so we grew closer and actually became friends.

Despite how we met and the age difference between us.

Which I found out was only four years in total, since Mira is only fourteen.

A fact which surprised me given how developed her body was in the ass and chest department. Even girls in my old world didn't develop that fast.

I was confused for a while at how such a thing was possible.

Then I finally remembered I was in the world of One Piece where women like Boa Hancock, Monet, Nico Robin, Charlotte Smoothie, and a whole punch of other women exist that put the women in my old world to shame and then some.

The moment I recalled this fact Mira's bodily development made perfect sense to me.

Moving on.

As the time of her recovery continued to pass I learned Mira was a master of the spear.

I also learned she had no issues taking a life of someone even if they didn't abuse her like that pirate did.

How did I learn this?

Well once she was well enough Mira accompanied me on one of my bounty hunting jobs one day.

Where she took over the job and killed the target and his entire crew after he made some lewd comments and tried to touch her chest without permission.

The man didn't realize how badly he had fucked up until it was too late.

On that day I learned how much of a true warrioress Mira was.

I also got the urge to ask her to join my pirate crew.

But then I immediately dismissed that thought.

Given Mira's experience with pirates I'm sure she has a deep seated hatred towards them. Because of that I'm pretty sure there is no way she'll join my pirate crew, and I'm also sure she'll come to hate me once she learns of my intentions.

Which is fine by me.

It's not like we're even friends to begin with.

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Returning to my ship with a briefcase of money from my latest bounty cash in I found Mira practicing her spearmanship on the deck.

Since over these past two months we've developed a level of trust where I can leave her on my ship and know she won't run away or steal from me.

Because if she had done either of those things I would've kicked her off my vessel long ago.

Stopping her spear thrusts Mira turned to face me. "Welcome back."

"Thanks." I replied.

Looking Mira's entire body over.

But it's not what some of you perverts might be thinking.

I am not attracted to Mira in the slightest. No, the only girls I go after are those 18+ and up. Not only due to my own physical age being 18 but my mental age as well.

The only reason I am looking Mira over is to determine how her recovery is going, and based on my observations it's complete.

Mira has color in her cheeks, which is vastly different from the paleness she had when I first met her. Not only that but she has some meat on her bones and doesn't look like a human slim jim. The fact that she can practice her spearmanship with ease also speaks to the fact her recovery is complete.

Seeing all this I realized the time for us to split up has come.

'Alright, let's get this over with.' I thought.

"Mira, it looks like your recovery is complete." I spoke.

"Yeah, it seems so." She retorted. "Once again Edward, thanks for all your help."

"Sure, no problem." I told her. "So, now that you are healthy it's time for us to say goodbye to each other."

"What if...I don't want to." Mira spoke.

"No, that won't work Mira." I replied. "Especially since I am going to one day become a pirate." I spoke. Finally telling Mira my intentions for my future.

The moment I did so her eyes went wide in shock.

She dropped the spear in her left hand and allowed it to hit the deck. The sound of it doing so being the only noise in this tense moment.

"Hey, is that a joke?" Mira asked me.

I shook my head. No, it's not. I am going to become a pirate."

"Why?!" She shouted at me. "Why would you want to become like those animals who hurt me?!"

"I would never!" I retorted angrily.

When I did so Mira flinched but I didn't care.

"Listen to my words carefully Mira. I will never become like those scum who hurt you. If I ever did end up like that one day I would kill myself." I seriously spoke. "I know my words might sound hollow but believe me when I tell you not all pirates out there are like the ones you encountered. Some of them are simply those who wish for freedom and adventure and take to the seas to get it. Nothing more and nothing less. Which is exactly the kind of pirate I will become. One who seeks treasure and goes where he wants without anyone telling him not to. Not a disgusting slaver who prays on the weak and innocent for his own gain. Believe me or not I don't care. All I do know is that now that you are healed our business is concluded. So back your belongings and leave my ship." I spoke.

Ignoring the small pang in my chest I did so.

Mira didn't move after I finished speaking.

She simply stared at me. The angry expression on her face disappearing and a blank one taking over instead.

After a few more seconds passed she started walking and headed below deck.

Once she did I pulled up a chair and opened up a bottle of whiskey I had and began drinking from it.

Though I kept a pistol and a dagger handy in case Mira tried to kill me.

I'm not sure how much time passed but eventually I felt a tap on my shoulder.

Turning around I saw Mira standing there.

"Yes, you need something?" I asked her.

"Yes. Can I join your pirate crew?" Mira asked me.

When she did so I was surprised.

"Mira, you know what you are saying right?" I asked her.

"I do." Mira replied. "And before you say anything Edward know that I took time to think this decision over very carefully. Yet no matter how many times I thought about it I got the same result. I want to sail the seas with you." She said.

"What about returning to your homeland?" I questioned.

Since Mira told me her goal is to return to Artemyra and reunite with her people. Her family.

"If I sail with you I can visit Artemyra one day can't I?" Mira spoke.

"Yeah, you can." I replied. "So let me ask you once again, are you absolutely sure about becoming a member of my pirate crew? Because I have no plans to be a chump pirate. No, I want to conquer the entirety of the seas and shake up the entire world. Collecting all the riches and treasure I can. No matter who or what tries to stand in my way. Are you prepared to face that?"

"I am." Mira replied.

As she did so I couldn't help but put a smile on my face.

"Alright then. Welcome aboard." I spoke.

Officially making Mira the first member of my pirate crew.

A decision I would never come to regret.