Rolling My Way to Pirate King (One Piece Chaos Gacha) (Patreon)

Chapter 22: All Aboard

Following Day

Finishing lunch after another day at the Baratie, I let out a happy burp at once more getting to experience Sanji’s personal cooking firsthand.

Since the whole mess with Mihawk and the Krieg Pirates, he had taken it upon himself to become our personal waiter-slash-cook. The guy might have played it off as getting to spend time with Nami and Tiche, and while some of that was true, it didn’t erase the fact that he was starting to enjoy spending time with us.

The other cooks, led by Zeff, had spent every opportunity they could mocking Sanji’s cooking, making sure he could hear them and causing plenty of arguments.

Of course they were lying and were just trying in their own way to encourage Sanji to go out to sea and accomplish his dream. But as a dude myself, I knew they would never tell that to his face.

Using such times, I would regale Sanji with old stories that I knew were true, like the City of Gold, islands in the sky, and everything else that popped into my head.

Sanji wasn’t the only one who enjoyed them either. Usopp, Johnny, and Yosaku were always front and center when I started, with excited looks on their faces. Zoro also paid attention whenever I brought up topics that interested him, like the land of Wano where samurai lived.

After all, it was in a man’s nature to fantasize about such things, and I was no different.

Nami of course became super interested when I mentioned the City of Gold and even demanded we visit one day, which I agreed to wholeheartedly. Tiche, being the most relaxed of us all, just nodded along to everything I said as if it was gospel.

“How do you know about all of these islands and stories anyways, Luffy? According to you, you just began your voyage a few months ago, so there’s no way you would know about such things.” Nami questioned with a curious tilt of her head as she took a sip from some wine she had swindled Sanji into getting for free.

At her question, the others also became interested as they came to that realization as well and turned to me with questioning eyes.

“Yep, I’ve lived on Dawn Island for as long as I can remember, in a small village named Foosha Village. Can’t believe it’s actually been about three months since I set out to sea with Tiche.” I muttered with a reminiscing expression as I smiled nostalgically at all the adventures I had there with my brothers and later with Tiche, when memories of my old life resurfaced.

“Anyway,” I said, shaking my head and getting back on track. “The reason I know all of this is because the person who gave me this hat and his crew would always get drunk at Makino’s Bar, and I would always listen in to everything they said.”

“You have no idea how often they would get drunk and their lips would come loose during such times. I got to hear a lot of interesting stories.” I revealed with a smile, not even lying either, as it was partly true.

Shanks’s crew were extremely rowdy when drunk and would always go on about the adventures they had.

“That guy again, huh?” Nami asked with curious eyes as she tilted her head while the others listened with rapt attention. “But how do you know they were telling the truth? Pirates like to embellish a lot.” As she said that, Nami’s eyes turned to Usopp for a moment, which he caught and adopted an insulted face.

“Shishishi, I thought so at first too, but something in my gut tells me they were telling the truth. There’s also the fact that he and his crew would definitely know about things like that.” I said with a small teasing smirk as I looked at everyone, with Usopp paying extra attention since his dad was in the crew as well.

“Is Shanks’s crew really famous!?” Usopp asked in excitement.

“I would certainly say so. He is after all one of the Four Yonko, Red-Haired Shanks.” I admitted before breaking out into a laugh at the expressions of shock around the table.

“A Yonko!? Your role model is a Yonko!?” Nami exclaimed with wide eyes. “And here I thought being part of the Pirate King’s group was already crazy enough!”

“I’ve definitely heard of that name.” Sanji muttered with his visible eye wide in shock as his cigarette fell to the ground.

“Heh, I wouldn’t expect anything less from the man who calls himself my Captain.” Zoro quietly smirked as he drank some wine with some bandages still wrapped around his chest.

“My dad is part of a Yonko’s crew!? Hahahaha, that’s amazing! My dad, part of a Yonko’s crew! I couldn’t be prouder of him!” Usopp declared with crossed arms and a puffed-up chest.

Yosaku and Johnny just listened with their own surprised expressions, unable to even comment at the reveal. The only one almost as surprised as them was Sanji at all the crazy information he was learning back-to-back.

“Just how crazy is your luck, seriously!” Nami said with a groan as she shook her head and finished her glass of wine before going for another. “Your grandpa is the Marine Hero, your role model was part of the Pirate King’s crew and now he’s a Yonko himself. Is there any other crazy information you’re still hiding?” she asked a bit sarcastically.

“Well…” I smiled a bit teasingly, wondering if I should reveal that my father was the most wanted man in the world, my brothers were the second-in-command of the Revolutionary Army run by said dad, and my other brother was part of the strongest pirate, Whitebeard.

‘That’s not even mentioning that I might be the reincarnation of the Sun God Nika, who people all over the world have been awaiting the return of.’ I silently thought to myself.

“Aaargh, I don’t want to hear it!” Nami immediately denied with a shake of her head and closed eyes. “I already have enough things to worry about, thanks.”

“Very well, I can always share it later.” I said with a casual shrug of my shoulders.

The table became relaxed again as we all went back to our own things before Sanji spoke up after taking a drag of his cigarette.

“It seems like you were born under a lucky star or something. To be honest though, I’m glad you didn’t say anything about the All Blue. If you had just casually confirmed its existence under a lunch conversation, I don’t know how I would have taken it.” Sanji muttered calmly as he let out a breath before looking around the table and then turning his gaze to me.

“Hmph, and ruin your dream? Yeah, fat chance.” I snorted with a shake of my head.

“We all set out to sea for a specific reason, and if someone — no matter who it was — just told me what the One Piece was, I would beat them up and then give up on searching for it on the spot.” I declared firmly with a serious expression.

It was one of the many things I wholeheartedly agreed with the original Luffy, and in fact the feeling became stronger after my reincarnation.

“I won’t have a boring adventure! So I would never be foolish enough to wish the same on my nakama.” I finished before relaxing again.

I ignored some of the looks the others were giving me, a bit embarrassed honestly at the looks of admiration Nami, Tiche, Usopp, Johnny, and Yosaku were giving me, and shoved a piece of food into my mouth to disguise it.

“Heh, yeah. That’s what I honestly expected you’d say even after knowing you for so little.” Sanji huffed with a bit of a smile before sighing and adopting a serious expression.

“What the heck, we all have crazy dreams so what’s one more. Hey Luffy, is that spot as a seafaring chef still open?” Sanji asked with a resigned but happy expression.

Blinking, it only took me a second to realize what he meant before letting out a hearty laugh. “Shishishi. What are you talking about, Sanji? That spot’s been yours for a while now.”

“Tsk, pushy bastard.” Sanji muttered with a small scoff but didn’t sound angry at all.

“Woo! We have a cook now!” Usopp celebrated with a cheer as he raised his hands in the air.

“Well, at least that’s one more thing to not worry about.” Nami muttered with a small smile.

“It was always inevitable. Luffy-sama just has a way with words.” Tiche said with a small shrug.

“Nami-swan~ Tiche-schwan~ Now we don’t have to worry about being apart anymore.” Sanji immediately went into simp mode as he went googly-eyed over the girls.

“Sure, sure.” Nami said dismissively.

“Remember to keep your hands to yourself.” Tiche reminded with a serious expression.

“Aaah~ I’m getting scolded by a goddess and an angel!”

“Tsk, so he ended up joining after all.” Zoro grunted, being the least pleased of the group about the situation.

As was becoming usual now, Sanji heard him and immediately turned to him as they began arguing again.

While they were busy I finally heard the familiar ping of a new notification and pulled it up.

[Feat Achieved! Sanji joined the crew.]

+1 Gold Random Ticket

‘Nice, let’s roll.’

[Rolling…]

[Iaijutsu]

|Rare Skill|

A refined blade art that takes advantage of the motion of drawing the blade from its sheath to unleash blitzingly fast, precise slashes. With experience, the user can imbue their scabbard with energy to propel the sword even faster and increase the potency of their attacks.

Wincing a bit as the information about the skill was shoved into my skull forcefully, I blinked a moment later when the new information settled.

‘Nice, another blade art that will definitely pair well with my Thunder Breathing. I’ll just have to practice to integrate the two together.’ I thought silently pleased.

Feeling a tug on my sleeve from my right, I turned to see Nami who had suddenly gotten extremely close to my face, causing me to blink as my eyes went to her soft and plump lips for less than a second before I forced my eyes to meet hers.

Seemingly not having noticed my action, Nami got even closer and brought her head near my ear. “Luffy, now that the thing with our chef is settled, I was thinking of going back home.”

Widening my eyes a bit in realization about what she meant, I nodded slightly and turned my head, bringing it closer to her ear as I whispered back.

“Of course. That was always my plan anyway.” I said softly, making sure no one other than Tiche, who was on my other side, heard us.

“Do you plan on telling the rest of the crew about your past?” I asked tentatively. “Just know that whatever your choice, I’ll stand by you.” I assured.

I saw and felt as Nami’s shoulders became stiff at my question as she remained silent for a bit before they relaxed a moment later.

“Yeah, I might as well. But, w-would you be there with me when I do?” she asked with a small and somewhat vulnerable voice.

“You don’t even have to ask, Nami. Of course I will.” I immediately replied without hesitation as I leaned back and offered her a reassuring smile.

Looking relieved if a bit nervous, Nami nodded back with thankful eyes before we both sat back properly and relaxed, ignoring the curious looks from Usopp who was the only one to have noticed other than Tiche.

=====

A While Later

It didn’t take too long for Sanji to get his things ready as we bid goodbye to the chefs of the Baratie and got onboard the Merry while we waited for him on the deck.

Before we got onboard, Zeff had sent us, me specifically, a thankful nod that I had returned, probably happy that I had managed to convince Sanji to follow his dream, whom he saw as his own son.

With smiles on our faces, we watched as Sanji walked out of the Baratie with a suitcase on his back and a bag of his clothes, the chefs standing to the sides, before coming to a full stop at the next words from Zeff.

“Sanji!” Zeff called out from the second story of the Baratie while looking down at Sanji with crossed arms and a calm smile.

“Don’t catch a cold.”

Such simple words, but they had a devastating impact on Sanji, who froze up before his face twitched and eventually lost his battle with his tears as he all but silently bawled.

He quickly turned around and got on his hands and knees with his head coming down on the deck in a sign of respect.

For Sanji, who had grown up with a father that genuinely hated him for being a failure in his eyes and brothers who bullied him and beat him up constantly for having emotions, such a simple greeting must have meant a lot to him.

“Owner Zeff!!” Sanji screamed at the top of his lungs. “Thank you for all the damn things you’ve done for me over all these years!”

“I’ll never forget your kindness… for the rest of my life!” Sanji finished as he let out his honest feelings, causing a chain reaction as all the chefs started bawling as well, along with Zeff himself who let out a few tears.

“Men should part without a word. Idiot.” Zeff muttered in between tears.

We at the Merry just watched the happy parting with smiles, with Johnny and Yosaku already in tears as well.

“Shishishi, this place turned out great. I’m glad we came here.” I declared with a grin as the others agreed as well.

As we eventually sailed away with Sanji promising to see the chefs again, my gaze turned to Nami and softened a bit.

Once we were properly on our way, I called out to everyone and waited until everyone was gathered on the deck with a

somewhat nervous Nami beside me.

“Alright everyone, please make sure to pay attention since our dear Navigator has something she wants to share.” I declared before turning to Nami and giving her a reassuring nod.

Taking a steady breath to steady her nerves, Nami nodded back a bit hesitantly, which was obviously caught by the others.

“Everyone, what I’m about to say next is a bit difficult for me so be patient with me.” Nami started out with a small stutter in her voice.

Immediately Zoro and Sanji caught on that something was wrong and adopted serious expressions of their own, while Usopp, looking a bit confused, followed along.

“You see, when I was little…”

And so Nami slowly but surely, with some reassuring pats on her shoulder or smiles, told everyone the condensed version of her past, nonetheless revealing all the key details.

Her mother’s murder by Arlong, being forced to work for him for eight years to gather money to buy her village back, up until her meeting with me.

Finally she had looked up with teary eyes and asked everyone if they would help her liberate her village from her tormentor, as she didn’t think he would keep his end of the bargain.

When she finished, total silence encompassed the Merry, with the only noise being the waves of the sea and the grinding teeth of Sanji, who looked pissed beyond belief. Usopp had a mixture of anger and fear on his face as his knees shook at the thought of facing the Arlong Pirates, and finally there was Zoro, who was looking down at the ground.

The only calm one was actually Tiche, who already knew about this and was already aware of my plans, as Johnny and Yosaku were not part of the conversation.

“So that’s the story.” I said firmly as I stepped up next to her and caressed her head a bit playfully, not liking her looking like that, as I addressed the rest of the crew.

“As our navigator and, most importantly, our nakama. We are going to beat the shit out of the Arlong Pirates for daring to make our navigator cry.” I declared with a fierce grin as I grabbed my fist and popped it.

“Any questions?”

“You bet we are!” Sanji immediately exploded in anger. “Count me in! I’ll teach those shitty bastards a lesson for making a girl go through all that!”

“Y-Yosh! Leave it to Captain Usopp!” Usopp declared bravely too, even if his legs were still shaking.

“Luffy-sama already decided our course of action and I shall follow.” Tiche declared calmly with a nod.

With teary eyes, Nami held her mouth as she started hiccupping before turning to Zoro, who instead of saying anything turned around.

“Z-Zoro?” Nami asked, looking a bit hurt at his actions.

“Tsk, how do we make this ship go faster?” Zoro asked out loud instead of giving an answer, saying everything he felt about the situation with those words and causing Nami to start tearing up again.

“You see?” I asked softly as I turned my head and shot Nami a boyish grin. “I told you they would all be on board. So don’t worry your pretty little head, Nami. Like I told you when we first met, since you decided to trust me with your dreams, I would do everything to protect them as if they were my own.”

“Mmn.” Nami could only nod her head softly, too overwhelmed to say anything else as she continued to cry softly.

Ignoring the shouts coming from Sanji about holy retribution, Usopp trying to hype himself up for the upcoming fight, and Zoro, I let a small frown mar my face.

It was finally time to deal with some racist Fish-Men and liberate Nami’s island from both their control of her home and from the hold they had on her personally.

‘I’m personally going to make sure to break Arlong’s spine at the least.’ I thought, feeling a muscle jump in my jaw.