"Bluru-Bluru Island! We're back!!!"
Joy Boy's ridiculously loud voice rang across the shoreline long before the ship even reached the harbor.
His rubber arms spun like windmills, drawing the attention of everyone on the island. One after another, people looked up from their work and broke into smiles.
The Blood Mist ship docked.
Rite jumped ashore with his quiet vice-captain still perched on his shoulder, steadily munching on Deep Sea snacks.
Ever since their trip to Fish-Man Island, the little girl seemed to have awakened some mysterious new attribute.
An endless appetite.
Alongside Joy Boy, they stepped onto the familiar shore.
"Big Brother Rite! Big Brother Joy Boy!"
Ayo and Asei shot forward like cannonballs.
Behind them came a crowd of strange beasts of every shape and size, with Bufon jogging after them, wearing his usual cheerful grin.
"You finally came back!"
"Where did you guys go?!"
"If Eagle Brother hadn't told us you went willingly, we would've gone searching for you ourselves!"
Rite looked at Ayo in confusion.
Then he reached out and rubbed the boy's head.
"Ayo, didn't I send a leaf message back?"
"I clearly wrote that we were going to Fish-Man Island for a visit."
Asei immediately looked at his older brother with complete exasperation.
"Lord Rite, this idiot got drunk on the Chief's fruit wine that day and slept for an entire day."
"When he woke up, he wanted to go looking for you."
"Eagle Brother already explained everything."
"And he didn't even discuss that question with us before asking it."
"Fish-Man Island was really real?!"
"Were there actually mermaids?!"
Asei's eyes sparkled.
"Of course there were!"
"There were tons of them!"
"And there was this suuuper huge monster too!"
"Rite and I sent it flying!"
Joy Boy immediately launched into an exaggerated reenactment, twisting and stretching his rubber body in every direction.
Bufon walked over to Rite and smiled warmly.
"Big Brother Rite, it's good to see you're safe."
"What could've happened?"
Rite set the vice-captain down from his shoulder and casually stole a snack from the bag she was carrying.
He tossed it into his mouth.
"We just helped settle a fight."
"Destroyed a few things along the way."
"And witnessed a pretty famous scene."
At that moment, members of the Roger Pirates arrived after hearing the commotion.
Rayleigh grinned and slapped Joy Boy on the back.
"You brat really stirred up trouble this time."
Gaban glanced toward Rite, curiosity obvious in his eyes.
Then the village chief strode over, his trademark laughter booming across the harbor.
"Hahaha!"
"So you've finally returned!"
"Perfect timing, Rite!"
"Come take a look at your ship!"
The group headed toward the opposite bay.
There, quietly anchored by the shore, was a sleek and uniquely designed sailing vessel.
It looked even better than before.
The hull gleamed with careful maintenance.
Fresh sails were neatly folded and ready for deployment.
"Whoa!"
Joy Boy stretched his rubber neck absurdly long as he circled the ship.
"It looks amazing!"
"It's even cooler than before, Rite!"
Rite studied the fully restored vessel.
In fact, it looked like it had been improved in several ways.
"Well?"
The chief crossed his arms proudly.
"Not bad, right?"
"I worked on it together with the old craftsmen from the village."
"Bufon supplied a lot of the materials too."
"We made it stronger and faster than before."
"Still, my offer stands."
"If life out there doesn't work out, come home."
Rite remembered the embarrassingly enthusiastic welcome he'd received when he first arrived.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
He ran a hand along the ship's hull and nodded.
"Thanks, old man."
"Hahaha!"
"It was nothing."
"That flimsy old mast of yours got replaced completely."
"We built a new one."
"So?"
"What are your plans now?"
Rite shook his head.
His gaze drifted toward Ayo and Asei, who were currently wrestling and playing with the strange beasts.
Then he glanced at the quiet vice-captain standing beside him.
Though silent as always, anticipation lingered in her eyes.
"It's time to continue our voyage."
His tone remained calm.
"The ship's repaired."
"Which means it's time for us to part ways."
The atmosphere immediately quieted.
Even Joy Boy stopped fooling around.
Rite looked at him.
"Rubber Head."
"You're the man who's going to become the Pirate King."
"Take your crew and keep adventuring."
He gestured toward Ayo, Asei, Bufon, and the enormous beasts.
"They're good companions."
"Important crew members."
Joy Boy blinked.
Then his trademark grin returned.
He punched Rite's shoulder with a finger.
"What are you talking about, Rite?!"
"We'll always be friends!"
"We're definitely going to meet again somewhere out on the sea!"
"When that day comes, I'll treat you to meat from every island in the world!"
"Me too! Me too!"
"I'll become the greatest navigator ever!"
Asei shouted.
"I'll get stronger and help everyone!"
Ayo clenched his fists.
Asei immediately sighed.
"When Brother says things like that, I get really worried."
Bufon and the intelligent beasts all let out sounds of agreement.
The chief smiled.
"What a stubborn decision, Rite."
Joy Boy looked at Rite.
Then he glanced at the petite but extraordinary vice-captain standing beside him.
He burst into laughter and slapped Rite's shoulder.
"Hahaha!"
"Fine then!"
"Let's part here!"
"Rite, take your vice-captain and go cause chaos across this sea!"
"We'll meet again at the summit!"
"Yeah."
"We'll meet again at the summit."
Rite answered seriously.
Yet inwardly, he thought:
By the time you reach the peak...
I may have already returned to where I truly belong.
There was no excessive sadness.
Pirate farewells were always filled with anticipation for the future.
The sails were raised.
The journey resumed.
The black ship slowly departed from Bluru-Bluru Island.
The vice-captain stood at the bow.
Her ice-blue eyes gazed toward the endless sea.
The wind lifted strands of her hair.
Rite held the helm and looked ahead.
His voice was relaxed.
"Little one."
"From here on out, it'll just be the two of us."
"Where do you want to go?"
She turned around.
Then, with complete sincerity, she replied:
"As long as you're there..."
"Anywhere is fine."
Rite froze.
For a brief moment, he didn't know what to say.
Then he burst out laughing.
"HAHAHAHA!"
Yet the answer also gave him a headache.
He knew he couldn't remain in this era forever.
Which reminded him of something.
How had his future self arranged things for this little girl?
How had he kept her asleep until the day he found her again?
Looks like I'll need to spend some time figuring that out.
"Alright!"
"Then let's go turn this world upside down!"
The vice-captain peeked her little head out from behind his shoulder.
Her ice-blue eyes looked toward Joy Boy, Asei, and the others.
Then she gently waved her hand.
"Big Brother Joy Boy!"
"Big Brother Rite!"
"We have to meet again someday!"
Ayo and Asei waved their arms with all their strength.
"We definitely will!"
Bufon and the intelligent beasts let out reluctant cries of farewell.
Joy Boy watched as Rite boarded his ship and raised the sails.
Suddenly, his rubber arm stretched out dozens of meters.
Using every ounce of strength in his body, he shouted:
"RITEEEEEEE!!!"
"MAKE SURE WE MEET AGAIN AT THE VERY TOP OF THE SEA!!!"
"AND WHEN THAT DAY COMES..."
"WE'LL THROW THE BIGGEST BANQUET IN THE WORLD!!!"
Rite never turned around.
He simply raised one hand and waved casually.
Then the black ship sailed toward the horizon.
Toward a future known to no one.
Toward the endless sea.