Barbecue with Luffy

An accidental encounter, and as I casually called out the name, Luffy tilted his head.

"Who are you? How do you know my name?"

"Oh, I heard from an acquaintance. Besides, you're a wanted man with a bounty on your head, so it's not surprising I know. Anyway, let's talk about that while we eat. Take a seat. Here, this meat around here is just right."

"Can I eat? You're a good guy!"

Luffy, who loves meat, obediently took a seat across from me according to my words. I picked up well-cooked meat from the wire mesh and placed it on a plate for Luffy.

Of course, knowing that Luffy has a big appetite, I put a generous portion on the plate and didn't forget to place more meat on the grill.

As Luffy began to eat the meat with delight, Pochi returned with a large amount of meat. She worked quickly indeed.

"Oh, let me introduce her. She's Chelsea, my assistant."

"I see, nice to meet you."

"Yes, nice to meet you too."

"Since I had her buy additional meat, feel free to eat as much as you want."

"What!? Can I really eat to my heart's content?"

"Yes, of course."

"You're really a good guy! Thanks!!"

Smiling, I nodded at Pochi, then turned my gaze to Luffy as she started grilling the meat.

"Now, getting back to our conversation, the acquaintances who told me about you are more than one. First, Vice Admiral Garp of the Navy."

"What!? Grandpa... He's your acquaintance... Is he a marine?"

"No, he's affiliated with the World Government, but not a marine. I've talked to Vice Admiral Garp a bit before, but we don't meet very often."

Luffy's fear towards Garp seemed evident. His expression stiffened for a moment, but he quickly eased and started eating again.

Although it doesn't seem like Luffy hates his grandfather, there's still a certain unease present, probably stemming from some personal discomfort.

"Next, it's Red-Haired Shanks."

"Shanks? Do you know about Shanks?"

"Yeah, but just like with Garp, I don't frequently meet Shanks either. But there's another person who told me about you... Uta."

"...Uta."

Oh? This reaction was a bit different from what I imagined. Unlike Garp or Shanks, upon hearing Uta's name, a faint sense of "wanting to meet" seemed to flicker in Luffy's expression.

Based on what I heard from Uta, it seems that she sent a letter and a Vivre Card to Luffy in Foosha Village, which might be influencing this reaction. But it appears that Luffy is more interested in Uta than what was depicted in FILM RED.

"Uta is someone I occasionally meet, but she seemed pretty happy when she talked about you after your bounty was issued. She mentioned being childhood friends and that he's on a winning streak of 183."

"Wait! I'm on a 183-win streak!"

"Telling me that won't change anything... Well, Uta is currently on an island called Elegia, pursuing a career as a singer. If you happen to stop by during your journey, you should visit hre. She'll surely be thrilled."

"I see."

However, beyond Uta, there was something about Luffy's demeanor that caught my attention even more. But now wasn't the time to address that. Timing is important in all things.

We continued to eat meat and engage in casual conversation for a while. Including discussions about Shanks and Uta, the conversation flowed well, and the atmosphere lightened. When the time felt right, I decided to bring up the topic I had set aside.

"By the way, is the meat delicious?"

"Yeah, it's amazing! This Mizu-Mizu Meat is insanely good!"

"I'm glad you like it. But despite enjoying this delicious meat... you sometimes have a troubled expression on your face. Why is that?"

"..."

Luffy is generally positive and quick to change his mood, not someone who deeply ponders over things. However, there are exceptions, of course.

In the original story, when his brother Ace died, Luffy was emotionally devastated and had a hard time recovering. There have been other moments where he's struggled, albeit few.

And even in Water 7, there was a rare occurrence where Luffy faced deep turmoil, and an event led to fractures in the bonds among his crew. It's likely related to that.

"...It might help to talk about it. Sometimes, sharing your troubles with a complete outsider can lead you to find a path to resolution."

Having established a certain level of trust through our conversation so far, Luffy listened to my words and began to speak, piece by piece.

He talked about the Going Merry's condition, the upcoming discussion with his crew about the ship's fate, the responsibility he felt as a captain to make tough decisions, and above all, his concern about how to approach the grieving Usopp.

After hearing him out, I nodded once and then continued.

"I see. You have to make responsible decisions as a captain. It's admirable to care for your crew... but sometimes, that care can backfire."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, of course, Usopp is probably feeling uneasy right now. He might wonder if he's the only one feeling this way, or if his crewmates are already considering moving on to a new ship. He understands it intellectually, but he's struggling to control his emotions."

This observation is likely correct. In the original story, Usopp couldn't accept the Going Merry's limits even though he knew it was time. But more than that, there seemed to be an undercurrent of dissatisfaction with Luffy's swift decision to transition to a new ship. While Luffy's judgment is correct, his attempt to cheer Usopp up by acting cheerful and supportive is understandable.

However, in that moment, Luffy shouldn't have suppressed his emotions as a captain.

"So, what Usopp needs isn't just concern, but empathy. You, too, would rather not switch ships, right? Tell him about your sadness and frustration. If you truly cherish your crew and Usopp, show them your vulnerability. There's no need to overthink it. Just spend time reminiscing with your crew. Recall the memories you made on that ship, share your feelings, and your vulnerability will naturally come to the surface."

"..."

As Luffy listened to my words, he pondered intently. Despite his simple way of thinking, he's not incapable of considering complex matters. He knows when to think seriously and make the best choice.

Above all, Luffy is someone who can accept when he's wrong, and he has the strength to acknowledge advice from others.

After a brief reflection, Luffy rose from his chair. His eyes no longer displayed uncertainty.

"Thanks. Thanks to you, I know what to do."

"I'm glad to hear that... Pochi, hand over the leftover meat."

"Yes."

"Can I have it?"

"Yeah, there's quite a bit, and it's good to eat it with your crew. Pirates need a feast to share their stories of the past. Have a celebration with your crew and let the memories flow."

"Hehe, you really are a good guy... Thanks, I'll take it."

Packing the large amount of meat that Pochi had prepared—due to my instruction to get a substantial amount—into a big bag, I handed it over to Luffy.

Carrying the massive bag, Luffy thanked me with a bright smile and then suddenly asked.

"Oh, by the way, I still haven't heard your name."

"Now that you mention it, I didn't introduce myself. My name is Spandam."

"Spandam... Huh? Wait? Hmm..."

"If it's difficult to pronounce, you can just call me Panda. Some people call me that too."

"What? That's funny! Panda... Huh? Oh, I remember now!?"

"Huh?"

Luffy's sudden exclamation made me tilt my head. He remembered something upon hearing the word "Panda"? What is it?

"Oh, I get it! You're the legendary mystical beast Panda that was rumored on Skypiea!"

"Rumored on Skypiea? A legendary mystical beast? What are you talking about?"

"There was a rumor on Skypiea that a legendary mystical beast named Panda lived in the Blue Sea. Zoro and Robin mentioned it too. They said there's this really strong Panda that Enel, the guy who claimed to be a god, was terrified of. So, you're that Panda, right?"

"...Hmm. Well, I did visit Skypiea before, and I did encounter someone who claimed to be a god... to some extent."

...So, I've become a legendary mystical beast on Skypiea? I can understand being feared by Enel, but what's with this rumor about a mystical beast Panda?

As I pondered up to that point, something suddenly occurred to me. Come to think of it, when I visited Skypiea, I didn't introduce myself to Enel, but Lilith, who was with me, called me Panda.

So, Enel must have thought that this Panda was my name. He probably passed on this information to his underlings, instructing them to be cautious.

However, when people hear the word "Panda," they'd normally think of the animal. Maybe due to some miscommunication, it ended up being interpreted as a mystical beast living in the Blue Sea... Well, I guess it's my fault for not properly introducing myself. Blaming Lilith would be a mistake.

"I see. Well, it does make sense that you'd become a legend."

"You think so?"

"Yeah, you seem really strong... Much stronger than the Marine Admiral we met before, even stronger than my grandfather, much, much stronger... You're the toughest person I've ever seen."

As Luffy laughed and said that, there was no sense of ill will. He was genuinely praising me. Probably because of the "good guy" assessment he made based on our interactions so far. Luffy doesn't really care whether someone is a marine or an official; he just likes who he likes and dislikes who he dislikes.

"Well then, thanks for everything, Panda."

"Don't mention it. If fate allows, we'll meet again somewhere."

"Sure! Well then, see you later!"

I waved my hand lightly to see Luffy off as he carried the large package with his cheerful smile. After Luffy was completely out of sight, I broke into a deep smile.

"Captain, you seem to be having fun?"

"Yeah, thanks to a roll of the dice that turned out unexpectedly well... Now, let's start fresh. Pochi, you too, take a seat."

"Yes!"

Ah, this was truly an unexpected gain. Meeting Luffy at this timing was a fantastic stroke of luck. Moreover, all the other elements came together perfectly.

Truly... the ability to replicate powers by seeing the soul's information. Direct contact and infusing magic would be quicker, but when doing it from a distance, I need to be fairly close, probably within a few meters, and maintain it for a considerable amount of time.

That's why the current situation was ideal. Barbecuing and eating meat inherently take some time. Add to that the casual conversation about mutual acquaintances. Luffy, who's usually not very composed, being willing to stay at close range for an extended period—such opportunities are rare.

Thanks to that, I could replicate the ability without raising any suspicions or discomfort. While it might not have a significant impact on combat situations, considering it's a power possessed by the protagonist, there's a good chance it will prove useful in a different context in the future, making it worth having.

Ideally, I would like to acquire other abilities related to gods and such, but there are still many unknowns, so for now, let's be content with the fact that I've managed to replicate Nika's ability using magic. It's a fortunate result that can be considered a windfall.

***

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