Chapter 32: I'll reluctantly inherit it
"Roaoooar…"
The massive whale-giant smashed its head brutally against the red mountain. Its roar—filled with grief, anger, and pain—echoed across the area, the soundwaves booming like explosions.
The sea raged, the mountain trembled, and the red platform at its side shook as if struck by an earthquake.
Crocus's figure could be seen running toward the whale, worry and helplessness etched across his face, followed closely by Luffy and his crew.
Booom!!
Another ferocious head-butt. Seawater exploded upward, and with it, the whale's hideous scars swelled, while fresh, smaller cuts began to form.
Crocus shouted,"Laboon, stop!!"
But the giant whale ignored him. Instead, its onslaught became even more violent.
Crocus could only stand there, helpless, sighing in sadness as he watched.
Vivi, arriving last, hesitated as her eyes landed on the scene. She hadn't expected the old man and the whale to share such a deep bond.
Nami—who had chatted briefly with Crocus earlier about the Grand Line—couldn't restrain her curiosity."What's wrong, old man? Do you know this whale? And why is it harming itself by smashing into the Red Line?"
Crocus turned to the group behind him, sighed, and his eyes grew distant with reminiscence as he began to recount what had happened decades ago.
The Rumbar Pirates.Laboon's background.The promise.The reason behind its self-inflicted injuries…
It was a story so full of emotion that the girls couldn't help but develop deep sympathy for the whale—and resentment toward the irresponsible pirate crew.
The way Crocus told it, it sounded as if the crew had abandoned their companion, perhaps even fled the Grand Line in fear, completely forgetting about Laboon. Yet here the whale still waited, ramming its head into the Red Line in the hopeless belief that it could destroy it and reunite with them.
Nami cursed."As expected of pirates. They're really a bunch of ugly, unreliable people…"
Nojiko's lips twitched."Nami, we're also pirates…"
Kaya chuckled softly, her gaze fixed on the whale. Then her expression turned thoughtful as she began mentally assessing its health and possible treatments.
Zala snorted."Maybe they just unfortunately died? Why assume they ran away?"
Kuina smacked her on the head, sighing."Can you just shut up? You're killing the mood!!"
Yasha shook her head. The reason everyone assumed they ran away was simply to give the whale some small shred of hope.
She leaned closer to Zala and whispered, just loud enough for those nearby to hear:"Running away is more merciful than dying in obscurity."
Vivi kept her gaze fixed on the whale, still violently crashing into the mountain. She somehow empathized with it. Wasn't she the same? Knowing something was bound to be impossible, yet refusing to accept it—clinging to that tiny sliver of hope.
The air grew solemn, the mood heavy with sympathy and indignation.
Luffy, however, looked at them with a strange expression.
Honestly… wasn't this all just nonsense?
The story was full of holes. And for him—someone whose will was nearly unmatched in the world, and whose mind operated on a transcendent level—Laboon's thoughts were as easy to read as an open book.
He coughed lightly, breaking the suffocating atmosphere and drawing everyone's attention."I'm sorry to interrupt your little emotional moment, but I think you've got some misunderstandings…"
Crocus and the girls stared at him in surprise. Even the whale paused mid-charge, glancing at the tiny human in curiosity and awe. It understood his words—and its instincts told it this human could crush it to dust with a flick of a finger.
Luffy continued with a faintly amused smile."First of all, a whale's perception of time is completely different from ours. Decades to us might be nothing more than a short while to them. That's why Laboon is convinced the crew is still alive—and why it won't believe Crocus's story about their death. At best, it reluctantly accepts the idea that they ran away."
"Second… its reason for attacking the Red Line has little to do with its old companions. If it really wanted to find them, the Calm Belt is right there. It wouldn't be hard to cross. So why leave the Calm Belt to ram an indestructible wall?
"The truth is—it's not trying to leave. This behavior is instinctive, something engraved into the genes of island whales. Sure, part of it might be venting its frustration, but most of it is pure instinct. So stop crying—it's not as heartbreaking as you think."
The girls stared at him as if he were a devil.How dare he ruin such a touching story with cold, twisted logic?!
Even the whale's eyes widened slightly in surprise as it drifted toward the platform. It wanted to ask—how did he know? Yes, it missed its companions, but the headbutting was mostly just a way to suppress its emotions… a racial instinct.
Crocus's eyes widened too. Memories stirred of other island whales he'd encountered during his travels—whales bearing scars almost identical to Laboon's.
Luffy's body began to glow with silver-white light, wisps of aura swirling around him.
He stepped toward the whale, which now loomed over the platform, watching him with innocent curiosity."Come down…"
At his command, the whale instinctively lowered its massive head until it hovered just centimeters from his.
"Good boy…"
Luffy patted the scarred head gently, and the silver light enveloped the whale.
Old wounds faded away as if time itself rewound, vanishing completely. Even the hidden, internal injuries disappeared under Luffy's touch. At the same time, the Straw Hat emblem etched itself onto the whale's head.
He gave it one last pat, making it rumble in satisfaction."I've left my mark on you. Be obedient and don't bash your head anymore… The mark will help suppress those impulses."
Laboon roared joyfully and nodded.
The girls, who had earlier called him a devil, now watched with softened gazes. Their captain was gentler than they'd thought.
As for his miraculous display—they knew Luffy could heal the whale instantly if he wanted to. The performance was just for Crocus and Vivi, so they wouldn't die from shock.
Vivi stared at him in awe."What a powerful healing ability! Is your Devil Fruit some kind of top-tier healing type?"
Crocus's reaction was even stronger."Impossible…"
Luffy grinned mischievously, stretched his cheek to the limit, and let it snap back."Old man, my Devil Fruit is already awakened…"
It was the only explanation Crocus's worldview could accept.
The old man's eyes lit up with excitement. Beyond gratitude, he felt as if he were witnessing the start of history. He knew well how mysterious and broken the Nika Fruit was—and like other old men who had reached Laugh Tale, he had an unshakable faith in the so-called Joy Boy.
Luffy chuckled at his reaction.Sorry, old man… Joy Boy was beaten to death by me the first day I arrived in this world. But don't worry—the nickname's nice. I'll reluctantly inherit it…