Chapter 37

In the evening, Logan completed a day's worth of Manga work. Upon returning to his room, he found Nami sitting on his bed.

Upon seeing Logan, Nami immediately stood up, wearing an expression reminiscent of a child who had made a mistake.

"There you are. I was wondering why I couldn't find you," Logan remarked, closing the door with a stern tone.

Earlier in the day, when everyone left Orange Town, Logan had intended to question Nami. However, upon returning to the boat, Nami had executed a "bath escape" and avoided appearing in front of Logan. Unwilling to engage in a futile game of "hide and seek" on the boat, Logan proceeded with his manga work.

Unexpectedly, Nami had been hiding in his room the entire time. As Logan approached, Nami licked her red lips and lowered her head slightly.

"Do you know what I'm going to say?" Logan, towering over Nami, asked in a stern, teacher-like voice.

"Um..." Nami nodded, assuming a progressively more endearing posture.

"You...!" Logan couldn't help but feel furious at Nami for admitting guilt and accepting punishment in such a manner.

Taking a deep breath, he placed his hands on his hips and sternly asked, "Didn't you promise me not to steal money again?"

"Sorry, I already know I was wrong~~~" Nami placed her two small hands on her heart, appearing cute and pitiful.

"Knowing? Is it enough to just acknowledge that you were wrong? In the past, you stole to save money for your hometown, and I completely understand that. Now that I've promised to lend you money, why do you still want to steal?" Logan's frustration was evident in his voice. "If I hadn't found out in time today, you might have been in serious trouble. Nami, you really disappointed me today!"

Perhaps because he cared deeply, Logan's anger was palpable. It seemed that the idealized Nabo from everyone's pirate fantasies did not match the reality of someone who stubbornly clung to their old ways.

Listening to Logan's stern criticism, Nami didn't protest. Instead, she felt a strange happiness. It turned out this guy cared so much about her! Especially the words, "If I didn't find out in time today, you might have died," struck a chord with Nami.

"Just admit it, you care about me!" she thought, though there was a caveat.

Yet, people steal nautical charts for you, and you scold them without discrimination. The tone is still so fierce!

Feeling wronged once again, Nami suddenly burst into tears.

"Wow—" Nami sniffled, her nose sore.

"Cry, cry, cry! Do you think crying can erase your money theft?" Logan's tone remained stern. "Speak! Why did you want to steal money?"

Logan glared at Nami with frustration.

Raising her head, Nami looked back at Logan with a pleading gaze. "I... I didn't steal the money."

"No money stolen?" Logan frowned. "Then why were the Buggy Pirates after you?"

Nami's nose twitched as she mumbled, "I... I stole a nautical chart."

With that, Nami shaped a crumpled piece of paper and handed it to Logan.

Opening it, Logan confirmed that it was indeed a nautical chart.

"Why would you steal this?" he inquired.

"Because you're heading to the Grand Line, and it's incredibly perilous. Without a navigation chart for the Grand Line, even the most experienced crews wouldn't dare venture into those waters. While shopping in Orange Town, I heard that the Buggy Pirates hail from the Grand Line. I thought they must have charts for that area," Nami explained, lowering her head.

"You..." Logan began to understand.

Like this,It appears,It seems.

Maybe I blamed Nami wrongly? Logan wondered.

At that moment, Nami continued, "Regardless, I did steal again and let you down. Logan, hit me."

Nami extended her small, white hands, akin to an elementary school student awaiting punishment from her teacher.

"I..." Now that things were clarified, Logan couldn't find it in himself to blame Nami, let alone administer any punishment. He had reprimanded her fiercely earlier, and Nami was likely feeling aggrieved.

With that realization, Logan felt a pang of apology. "Nami..."

Gently, he wrapped his palm around Nami's head and, with a tender force, pressed her head into his arms.

After adjusting his breathing and calming down, Logan sincerely confessed in Nami's pink ear, "I blamed you..."

Hee hee~~

The corners of Nami's mouth lifted slightly, and a hint of happiness sparkled in her wine-red eyes, resembling jewels.

"You rascal, you can finally coax people~"

{Note : Because of the upcoming holiday, there might be delay on update so here some few chapter for you guys as a new year gift}

{Read ahead up to ch135 only on P@treon.com/goldengaruda}