Chapter 328: The Merry Just Happens to Be Missing a Musician
In the hammock, Sanji woke up and sat up, subconsciously glancing at the clock on the wall.
"Is it eight o'clock already? I missed mealtime..."
"Wait, why am I on the ship?"
Sanji was bewildered. He shook his head, looking around. Luffy and the others were sleeping soundly in their hammocks.
Wasn't I just at Uta's concert?
Walking out of the dormitory, Sanji's gaze swept across the deck.
Zoro was sitting on the lawn, leaning against the mast, and he glanced at him.
And behind him, Reiner happened to be walking out of the second-floor girls' dormitory.
"What happened... wait! What are you doing in the girls' private chambers!"
Sanji's eyes burned with jealous rage.
Reiner looked at him with a speechless, sidelong glance.
"Don't question my character with your dirty thoughts."
"Your character?"
Faced with Sanji's disdain, Reiner said with a sinister expression:
"Please think of me as even dirtier."
"I knew it! You bastard! Let me confirm their safety quickly!"
Sanji roared angrily and jumped up to the second-floor dormitory, rushing into the girls' dormitory with a lecherous expression.
"Are you a dog or something?"
Reiner gave him a disdainful look, then put aside his playful thoughts, reached out, grabbed Sanji by the collar, and pulled him back.
"Wait a minute. Who's that sleeping with Pudding?"
Sanji spoke quickly, having already glimpsed the figure of the young girl on Pudding's bed.
"Uta? Princess Uta?!"
"Mm. It's a long story."
Reiner nodded, closed the door, jumped down, and after crossing the lawn, he walked towards the ship's building.
"Go and cook your meal first. We'll wake them up later."
The moonlight parted the hazy clouds, casting a silver glow.
Under the quiet night sky, the small boat was docked silently by the shore, the gentle lapping of the waves a lullaby.
While Sanji was cooking, the others slowly woke up one after another.
Only Uta, who had overused her ability, was still sound asleep.
"That's about what happened."
"It wasn't right to leave Uta there alone, so I brought her back first."
In the dining room, Reiner explained the whole story to the group who were sitting around.
Their ship was docked at the back of the island. On the front of the island, the Marines were already evacuating the civilians from the scene.
After hearing this, the group had various expressions, their hearts heavy.
Luffy stared with a focused gaze, saying nothing.
Usopp clenched his fists, finding it a bit hard to believe. His voice was low and lacked some confidence.
"Would my dad and his crew really do such a thing?"
The Red Hair Pirates had destroyed this country, taken the treasure, and abandoned Uta here...
The whole story made the Red Hair Pirates sound like complete bastards.
He found it a little hard to accept. That was the father he had always admired.
"Luffy, do you think there might be some misunderstanding? Didn't you also admire Shanks a lot?"
Usopp's throat bobbed. He looked at Luffy, as if trying to find an answer in his eyes.
"Maybe there was some misunderstanding. I don't know, but I believe in Shanks."
Luffy looked up slightly, his voice low, but his tone was extremely firm.
"The more important thing now is Uta. What do we do after she wakes up?"
"..."
The dining room fell silent again.
Thump—Thump—Thump!
Just then, a sound was heard.
Reiner and the others turned to look. The dining room door was open, and a tall, thin figure stood at the entrance.
The man wore a dark green coat, had a long seam on the top of his bald head, and wore small sunglasses.
"You must be the Straw Hat crew. My name is Gordon. I was the king of Elegia back when it was still renowned as the kingdom of music."
Under the puzzled gazes of the group, Gordon walked in on his own accord and explained in a low voice:
"In all these years Uta has been on the island, it was I who was responsible for teaching her music. I was also a survivor who witnessed the Elegia incident back then."
"I bear an undeniable responsibility for the near-disaster today."
Gordon came to the dining table and bowed to the group.
"Thanks to you, that child was not burdened with such a heavy sin."
"You just said the incident back then... uncle, do you know something?"
Luffy stood up and spoke urgently.
Only then did Gordon straighten up. He nodded and said slowly:
"The news reports were false. Back then, this country was not destroyed by the Red Hair Pirates."
"I knew it! My dad would never do such a thing! Right, Luffy!"
Hearing this, Usopp jumped up excitedly.
"Mm," Luffy also let out a sigh of relief, the corners of his mouth lifting.
"What exactly happened back then? Why did Shanks and his crew leave Uta here?"
Nami couldn't help but speak up.
Having learned about Uta's experiences from both Luffy and Reiner, she felt very sorry for Uta's plight.
"They were afraid. Afraid that the truth would be too heavy for Uta to bear."
"That's why they had me lie, saying that it was all their doing..."
Gordon slowly revealed the truth of that year.
"If Uta knew, she would definitely blame herself for everything."
Eleven years ago.
On the town that was being mercilessly burned to the ground by flames, that red-haired man had said to him with a smile.
"As a father, how can I let my daughter bear such a sin?"
"This was all our foolish doing. When she wakes up, just tell her that, Gordon."
"Are you really going to leave her here? She will surely hate you for the rest of her life. Is this really okay?"
The young Gordon had questioned the red-haired man, finding it hard to understand.
However, the other just gave a relieved smile.
"Whether the future will be good or not, we cannot give an answer now."
"But if she follows a group of pirates, we won't be able to teach her to become a musician. I'm counting on you, Uta."
With that.
The group of pirates boarded their ship and left.
When Uta woke up, they were standing at the stern, raising their cups beside a mountain of treasure.
As if they were celebrating their harvest, and also as if they were saying goodbye to someone who was taking a new step.
The pirate ship sailed farther and farther away.
On the shore, only Uta's crying voice was left.
"Now, perhaps Uta is able to bear this truth. But I still don't dare to tell her."
Gordon fell to his knees with a thud, his hands on the floor, his five fingers digging into it, tears sliding from the corners of his eyes.
"All these years, I have been so keen on teaching Uta music, wishing I could pass on everything I've learned in my life to her. But I have neglected the growth of Uta's character."
"I was afraid that if Uta learned the truth, she would go out to sea and become a pirate. It was all because of my selfishness. I thought I could rely on Uta to restore the glory of Elegia..."
"I never thought it would lead to today's situation. It's all my fault."
Gordon's head was buried deep in the floor, his face wet with tears of remorse.
"..."
"Gordon, right? Thank you. Thanks to your teaching all these years, Uta has finally realized her dream of becoming a musician."
Luffy squatted down and helped him up, smiling faintly. "Uta will find her own path. Let's believe in her together."
"Straw Hat..."
Gordon looked up, his teary eyes fixed on Luffy, his lips pressed tightly together.
The Merry left the coast and set sail again.
Before leaving, Pudding had copied Gordon's memories of that year and implanted them into the sleeping Uta.
That night, the young girl dreamed again of eleven years ago, back to the port that was burning with raging flames.
From another perspective, she watched the Red Hair Pirates fighting with all their might against the demon.
She watched the Red Hair Pirates, laden with treasure, yet each with a heavy heart, no one able to smile.
She also seemed to have dreamed of Windmill Village.
After the Red Hair Pirates returned, a little boy ran onto the ship, searching everywhere for her figure.
Crying and wailing... so embarrassing, Luffy.
The sleeping Uta smiled faintly, and the sadness of the tear stains on her cheeks and the wet pillow faded a little.
"Yare, yare~~, how scary."
At the concert venue on the front of the island.
Several figures surrounded the two in the middle, pointing their pitch-black gun muzzles at a person in a "Justice" cloak.
Kizaru raised his hands, his sleazy face feigning fear.
"That little girl has already been taken away by the Straw Hat crew. Can you put away these dangerous things?"
Staring at the cold, glinting blade of the sword pressed against his throat, Kizaru's eyes were teasing as he looked along the blade at the man before him.
"...Members of the Red Hair Pirates."
Hearing this, the gloom in the other man's eyes softened a little.
A few strands of deep red hair half-covered Shanks's face. He wore floral shorts and sandals, his temperament wild and somewhat unrestrained.
"Looks like we were a step too late, boss. That kid Luffy beat us to it."
Lucky Roux tore off a piece of bone-in meat from the one in his hand and said with a cheerful laugh:
"Well? Should we go after them? We still have a spot for a musician reserved for Uta on the ship."
"Luffy, huh..."
"...Let's forget it."
Clang.
Shanks sheathed his sword, slowly, and said with a low laugh:
"Of course, the young should be with the young. It would be a bit tactless for us adults to go and ask for someone."
"Hahaha, that sounds just like you."
Yasopp also lowered the gun he was pointing at Kizaru and said with a light laugh:
"To think he took both your daughter and my son onto his ship. I never saw that this clumsy kid had such skills before."
"Ah, I'm really looking forward to them more and more."
A corner of Shanks's mouth lifted slightly. He turned and, with a wave of his hand, his black cape billowed.
"Let's go, everyone. We'll set sail too. As long as we're on the sea, we'll meet again one day."
"How casual."
Benn Beckman, a cigarette held in the corner of his mouth, lowered his muzzle, turned, and followed slowly.
The others also put away their guns and followed the two, laughing and chatting as they left.
"Speaking of Luffy and his crew, Hongo, have any of the other rookies made any moves recently?"
"You're quite interested in the new generation. I'm sure you'll be interested in the few who have been quite active recently."
Hongo smiled and replied to Shanks:
"Captain Kid, the Surgeon of Death, Law, and the Gangster Kid have formed an alliance and landed in Wano Country. It seems they are preparing to make a move on Kaido."
"Kid, huh? I have some impression of him. Beckman broke one of his arms before, right?"
Shanks said with a smile.
"That kid was too arrogant. I couldn't help but teach him a lesson."
Benn Beckman's tone was flat, smoke curling from the corner of his mouth. He then added a comment:
"His recklessness and arrogance are a bit like you when you were young."
"Hey, hey, hey! I was never like that."
"You really have no self-awareness, do you, boss?"
"Hahaha!"
The group roared with laughter at Shanks's retort.
Hongo's smile faded, and he added:
"Oh right, the Blackbeard Pirates have appeared near Elbaf. They've been hunting ability users everywhere. I don't know if they're targeting Loki."
"Elbaf..."
Shanks was lost in thought. A moment later, he had made up his mind.
"That's the hometown of my old friends Dorry and Brogy. We can't let others cause trouble there. Let's make a trip to Elbaf."
"Oh, are we going to fight?"
"This is getting interesting, brothers."
"Then let's have a banquet to celebrate first."
"Are you going to get drunk again, Shanks?"
Watching the departing figures, Kizaru slowly lowered his hands and put them back in his pockets.
"The emperors of the sea, one after another... they've scared me into a cold sweat."
He looked back at his subordinates, who had been knocked out by Red-Hair's Haki, and couldn't help but hold his forehead.
"They just got up and were knocked down again. Even some of the Vice Admirals couldn't take it. What a headache."
"Good thing Master Z isn't here, otherwise I'd get another scolding when I get back."
"The Marines these days really need to temper their willpower."
Kizaru murmured to himself, his expression complicated as he let out a light sigh.
The next morning, the golden, warm sun shone on the sea surface, the sparkling waves like shimmering碎金.
On the Merry.
Uta, who had just woken up, was still sleepy-eyed. Strands of hair stuck to her pale face, making her look somewhat delicate.
She rubbed her eyes and looked around the unfamiliar room, then got out of bed and walked to the door.
On the lawn were several figures. Luffy was sitting cross-legged on the ship's rail, fishing.
Noticing her movement, Luffy turned his head to look.
"You're awake, Uta."
"Luffy?"
Uta looked at the other few people with a puzzled expression. Chopper, Franky, Nami...
They were all familiar faces she had met yesterday.
"Good morning, Uta."
"How are you feeling, Uta?"
"There's breakfast in the dining room."
The group all greeted her with concern.
"Mm. Hello, everyone. I'll be over in a bit."
Uta replied with a smile and looked at Luffy.
"Is this your ship?"
Leaning on the railing, she slowly walked down to the lawn and came to Luffy's side. Uta already had the answer in her heart.
"Mm. This is the Merry. Not bad, right?"
Luffy said with a cheerful laugh.
Uta turned and leaned against the railing, looked up, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, feeling the cool breeze on her face.
"Well, it's not bad. But it's not as big as Shanks's ship."
"..."
Veins popped on the foreheads of the group. Luffy even rolled his eyes, his teeth chattering with anger.
This little girl really knows how to talk.
Franky suppressed the anger that was about to erupt.
"But it's actually quite cozy this way."
Uta smiled again.
Hearing this, the group's expressions softened a little.
You can insult us, but insulting the Merry? Not okay. Not Uta. Not Uta's dad either.
Luffy regained his composure and asked:
"Uta, what are your plans for the future?"
"Hah? Of course, I'm going with you guys."
Uta pinched Luffy's cheeks and pulled, her face a little dissatisfied.
"You've already carried me onto your ship, and you're asking a question like that? Are you trying to be like that bastard Shanks?"
"Eh!"
Chopper's eyes immediately lit up. "Is Uta joining us?!"
"That's great!"
"Welcome, welcome!"
The group cheered enthusiastically. This commotion also brought the rest of the crew to the deck.
Uta looked at Luffy with a triumphant expression.
"Hee hee, see how popular I am?"
"Well~~"
Luffy, however, scratched his head, his expression a little troubled.
Seeing him like this, Reiner and the others couldn't help but frown.
Luffy said with some embarrassment, "Uta is a musician, right? But we already have Brook on our ship."
"Is that what you're worried about!!" xN
The group erupted in an angry roar.
Sanji, a cigarette dangling from his lips, held up the trussed-up Brook and walked to the edge of the ship, preparing to throw him into the sea.
"Eh, wait a minute! Are you feeding me to the fish, Sanji? Though I have no flesh left."
Brook still had a cheerful smile on his face.
"Yohoho—"
Gulp!
"Glug-glug-glug~~"
A splash was heard. Sanji turned back and said lightly:
"Our ship is still missing a musician. It's just right to have Miss Uta on board."
Luffy: "..."
Uta: "..."
Something's not right. I think I got on the wrong ship.
(End of chapter)
♧♧♧
-> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE
-> FOR EVERY 200 PS = BOUNS CHAPTER
♧♧♧
-> 25 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.patreon.com/c/Segais
(Just remove the hyphen to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you