This world is incredible.
It's only been a few months since I started training, but I can already see tangible results. It's genuinely astonishing.
As expected of a world where physical limits are shattered, the progress is so clear and undeniable.
Maybe I had some innate talent for this all along, but honestly, it doesn't matter. The important thing is that I'm actually getting stronger.
Still, I'm only five years old. There are physical limitations.
Of course, I'm only strong "for a kid," but even so, I can feel myself moving much more freely and easily than before.
Fighting would be tough, but if attacked, I might actually be able to run away... maybe.
Besides, there were plenty of kids younger than ten who were stronger than adults. I still had a long way to go, but I was determined to keep at it steadily and get stronger.
"Hey, mister! I'm done carrying the supplies!"
"Whoa, Sue-chan, you're as quick as ever! Thanks a bunch! You can head home for the day."
"Huh? But it's not even noon yet..."
"Looks like the merchant ship bringing in our supplies got attacked by pirates and can't make it. So, we're postponing the restocking and organizing. Here's your pay for today."
For a five-year-old, I was fairly tall and strong from my training. I usually helped out with odd jobs around the village to earn pocket money.
The village still needed all the help it could get, so everyone pitched in wherever they could. It was a community effort, and even I, little as I was, had my part to play.
I eagerly take on jobs that involve carrying heavy things like books and sake bottles. It's a win-win, or maybe even a win-win-win—I get to help people, train my body, and earn money.
But today, my work finished early, so I collected my pay and left the shop.
On the way home, I caught a glimpse of myself in the shop window.
As I mentioned before, I'm tall for a five-year-old, and my body seems fairly well-developed. I could almost pass for an older elementary school student. Physically speaking, I'd say I'm blessed with a good build for manual labor.
My hair is platinum blonde, almost pure white—a beautiful feature I inherited from my mother and take pride in.
...Though in the world of One Piece, height is just flavor text anyway.
In this world, it's not uncommon to see pure humans towering at three or four meters tall, so it's hard to say if my current build and growth rate even qualify as "tall."
I think I'm pretty good-looking. I'm still a child, so who knows how I'll turn out... but I have long legs and fair skin. I wonder if my body will change more as I grow, becoming more feminine.
I've regained my past life memories, but mostly just the knowledge and common sense. Personal memories—like who I was, where I lived, how old I was, or what job I had—are completely gone.
Of course, I don't even know if I was male or female in my past life. Not that it really matters. In fact, if I'd been a man before and was now a woman... that might have been mentally taxing. Maybe it's better this way, without those personal memories.
Well, work's done and I'm bored. What should I do with my free time?
Should I get back to training? Or go home and study... or maybe just curl up with a book?
Since my house is a bookstore, I'm surrounded by books. Dad (the manager) lets me read anything from the store's stock, so I never run out of ways to kill time.
I think I loved reading in my past life, too. Yeah, I'll spend the afternoon reading.
It's almost lunchtime anyway. I'll stick to my plan and train after lunch.
For a while after that, my days fell into a routine of four main things: my own style of training, studying, helping out at the bookstore, and indulging in my favorite hobby, reading.
Of course, I still made time for family and friends.
I was always a bit bigger than the other kids, nearly as tall and strong as the boys my age. Since I loved running around and playing, I often joined them in their games.
I was always getting into fights with older, sturdier kids, three or four years my senior, and winning without holding back. Before I knew it, I'd somehow become the boss kid myself. My parents were exasperated.
Still, those were good days. Lively yet peaceful, and full of contentment.
...But those days came to an abrupt end.
It was about a year after the last pirate raid. The village had finished rebuilding, and though things weren't quite back to normal, life had regained its vibrancy... when the pirates struck again.
This time, there was no time to send a distress signal to the Marines.
In the blink of an eye, the village was overrun, looted, and pillaged. Familiar villagers fell one after another to brutal blades and bullets. Others were dragged onto the pirate ships.
The liquor store owner, who often let me help with odd jobs, was killed.
The shopkeeper, who tried to protect a child, was also killed.
Even the former boss kid I used to play with, along with all the other children, were slaughtered simply because their crying was too loud.
And then... my parents.
My father, sword in hand, desperately tried to defend us, but he was no match for them and was cut down without hesitation. My mother, shielding me in her arms, was riddled with bullets and died instantly.
Perhaps because she protected me... I, cradled in her arms, wasn't hit by a single bullet.
The pirates, laughing crudely, tossed my father's body into the shop, set it ablaze, and swaggered away. They probably assumed I was dead too.
At that moment, I was overwhelmed with grief, resentment, anger, and despair. My mind was a chaotic mess of emotions.
But perhaps because I no longer had the luxury of overthinking, I found myself acting with surprising calm.
I knew there was no saving my parents. I couldn't possibly carry their bodies out alone.
So I removed their wedding rings and my mother's earrings. At least I could take these keepsakes, something to remember them by.
Then I opened the hidden safe in the shop, grabbed all the money and jewelry I could find, stuffed it into a bag, and fled through the back door as the flames spread.
Fortunately, there were no pirates in the back, so I just kept running.
I left the village and walked endlessly along the main road.
Fortunately, the pirates didn't seem to be searching beyond the village outskirts, so once I was out, I could move relatively safely.
It was lucky that it was already night and dark. The moon was out, providing just enough light to see the road.
Still, even though I was relatively fit, the distance was grueling for a child's legs.
And...
I messed up... I grabbed money and valuables, but I forgot food...
Honestly, I'm so careless, so stupid...
Well, I guess it's hard to carry bulky supplies from a burning house. But still, I should have managed to grab at least one or two meals.
Anything to fill my stomach would be enough—even just bread or ham.
I've been walking for about half a day without eating anything.
Half a day might not sound like much, but I'm only five years old. I'm not just growing; my body isn't even fully developed yet. I'm kindergarten age.
I have nowhere to go, no place to return to, I'm hungry and thirsty, and my parents are gone.
Half a day without food or water is an eternity when you're physically and mentally exhausted. I can feel my strength draining away.
If things get desperate, I could try eating wild berries or mushrooms, but I don't know if my five-year-old digestive system could handle them without getting sick. And river water? That's scary too.
Still, if I'm about to starve, I'll have no choice but to take my chances and put something in my mouth.
...Actually, I think I'm reaching my limit.
My vision's been getting blurry for a while now.
And I'm starting to lose feeling in my hands.
...Wait, what was that noise? A thud...
Oh, right. I dropped my bag. Guess my grip's completely gone.
...Shit, this is bad. I don't even have the energy to try that "last-ditch gamble" anymore. I can't move.
Grandma's old saying about drinking water before you get thirsty flashes through my mind. Damn it, of all times... too late now.
Maybe I passed the point of hunger and exhaustion so long ago that I stopped feeling it...
The ground's rushing up to meet me. I'm falling. I fell.
There was an impact... but it doesn't hurt. Seriously?
Only my head is working now. My body's completely given out. It feels so strange.
Everything's going dark, and I can't hear anything anymore.
This is bad.
Is this...
Really...
Death...?
"Hey, look at this!"
"What's wrong? Oh my god, a dead child here?"
"So young... how awful."
"Didn't we see that village the pirates attacked earlier? Maybe he escaped from there?"
"He walked quite a distance... impressive for such a little kid."
"...Wait, I think he's still alive."
"What? ...You're right, he's barely breathing."
"What should we do? Save him?"
"...Let's check with the Captain first. Maybe he can tell us something."
To be continued...