Yuuto and all members of the crew finally returned to the Belfast.
As soon as they appeared on deck, a large bird landed on the ship's railing. Its beak firmly held a neatly tied roll of newspapers.
"Oh? Looks like we have a visitor," Lady Avalon said as she turned toward the bird.
"Is that the News Coo that often appears in stories and delivers newspapers?" Kuroneko asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Seems like it," Yuuto replied quietly.
Yuuto stepped closer, took out a Berry coin, and showed it to the bird.
"Here, for one newspaper," Yuuto said.
The bird accepted the coin and handed the rolled newspaper to Yuuto. After placing the coin into its pouch, the bird flapped its wings and flew away, leaving the deck calm once more.
Yuuto turned to the crew.
"Belfast, begin moving the ship," Yuuto ordered.
"Yes, Commander," Belfast replied.
The ship's engines slowly came to life, and the Belfast once again cut through the sea.
"So, any good news?" Irene asked while glancing at Yuuto as he began opening the newspaper.
"Hm…" Yuuto immediately unfolded it.
"Doesn't look like there's anything interesting."
However, Lady Avalon glanced sideways at the front page—and her eyes widened.
"Wow," she said with a wide smile.
"Look, my disciple. You made the news."
"Huh? Seriously?" Yuuto exclaimed, startled, as he quickly flipped the paper to the front page.
"What does it say, Yuuto?" Yamato asked enthusiastically.
"Let's see," Yuuto said.
"I hope it's not bad news," Miku said worriedly.
"It's definitely bad news, Miku," Kuroneko said with a sigh.
"I can already guess what it's about. It has to be related to Yuuto's battle with that Vice Admiral."
Yuuto then began reading the article out loud.
> "A mysterious young pirate has defeated the youngest Vice Admiral of the Marines.
He crushed his opponent completely, leaving not even a body behind.
This individual possesses the appearance of a prince, with handsomeness said to rival even the beauty of Boa Hancock.
Wearing iron armor, he looks exactly like a knight from children's dreams—
a living embodiment of knightly legends themselves."
Yuuto paused briefly, then continued reading.
> "As his name remains unknown, he has temporarily been given the title:
THE KNIGHT."
"Wooo! That sounds amazing!" Yamato said, clapping loudly.
"I think I know who writes with this kind of style," Kuroneko muttered.
"Could it be Morgans?" Miku asked.
"Who else," Kuroneko replied flatly.
"'The Knight,' huh…" Lady Avalon smiled with satisfaction.
"Hm, that's acceptable. Congratulations, my disciple."
"Congratulations, Commander," Belfast said respectfully.
"Hahahaha… looks like our name is going to become more well-known," Yuuto said, laughing.
Suddenly, a bounty poster slipped out from the folded newspaper.
Irene picked it up and stared at the clearly printed number.
"Looks like they value you highly," Irene said as she showed the poster.
Lady Avalon glanced at it briefly, then snorted softly.
"Hehehe~ still not enough," she said casually.
"For my disciple's head, it should be worth far more."
"Well, this is our first adventure," Kuroneko said.
"It's reasonable for the bounty to be that much at the start."
"But still," Miku said while tilting her head,
"I'm confused… who managed to take such a perfect photo of Yuuto in the middle of such a chaotic battle?"
"For that, the Marines have special personnel who can do it, Miku," Kuroneko replied.
Yuuto clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention.
"Alright, let's forget about that for now," Yuuto said.
"We all need some rest."
He turned around, leading them toward the ship's cabins.
---
The Tree of Life crew continued sailing for the next few days, cutting through the Grand Line without any major disturbances.
During those days, Yuuto never stopped training.
From morning until evening, he trained his magic under Lady Avalon's and Irene's guidance. Requip, telekinesis, mana control—everything was honed relentlessly. But his training did not stop there.
Between magic training sessions, Yamato began guiding Yuuto in Haki.
Yuuto started training Kenbunshoku and Busoshoku, learning to sense intent and strengthen his body. Every mistake was immediately corrected by Yamato, and every improvement was met with a satisfied nod.
"Yuuto," Yamato said one day with her arms crossed.
"After you master Kenbunshoku to the point where you can briefly see the future, we'll move on to Busoshoku… all the way to the level of Ryuo."
Yuuto simply nodded, his breathing still heavy from training.
---
One night, when the ship was calm and the sea breeze blew gently, Yuuto sat alone on deck. The sky was filled with stars, and boredom slowly crept in.
Without realizing it, he began humming.
His voice was soft, yet clear. The melody flowed naturally, as if the song had long existed within him.
But he was not alone.
"Yuuto," a cheerful voice came from the shadows.
"You have a really nice singing voice."
Yuuto startled.
Miku stepped out from her hiding spot, smiling brightly.
"I knew it since the last time on the island," Miku continued.
"You really do have a great voice when you sing."
"Eh?! Miku!" Yuuto exclaimed.
"You heard everything?!"
"Of course," Miku replied lightly.
"And from now on, you have to practice singing too. It would be a waste if you didn't train a voice like that."
Yuuto hurriedly shook his head.
"Wait, Miku. That's probably because of my genuine fae traits, so—"
But Miku wasn't listening at all.
She immediately grabbed Yuuto's hand.
"Come on," she said enthusiastically.
"I'll guide you."
And before Yuuto could protest, he was already being dragged away.
Just like that, Yuuto's music training began—without any chance to refuse.
---
The days passed peacefully.
Every morning, when Yuuto woke up, he always found Miku beside him, hugging him tightly in her sleep. Yuuto never stopped her—he genuinely liked the warmth.
But one morning, when he opened his eyes, something was different.
Not only Miku was there.
Kuroneko was there too.
"—!"
Kuroneko immediately woke up, her face turning bright red.
"T-this is your fault!" she said quickly as she stood up.
"Because you have a body like that!"
She ran out of the room immediately.
Yuuto could only smile faintly as he watched her back disappear.
Beside him, Miku murmured softly while hugging him tighter.
"Yuuto…"
---
Those peaceful days eventually came to an end.
On the day the dimensional rift was supposed to open, their ship arrived at a certain point in the sea.
All members of the Tree of Life crew stood on the outer deck, looking around. The sea was extremely calm.
"Is this really the place, Kuroneko?" Miku asked.
"Yes," Kuroneko replied while staring at her device and map.
"According to the map from the chat group, it should be around here."
"But it's so calm," Yamato said as she scanned the horizon.
"There's nothing here."
Yuuto stepped forward, gazing at the sea calmly.
"Let's wait," he said shortly.
And so they waited.
Yuuto looked around.
There was nothing. The sea was too calm.
Even the wind barely moved.
Then suddenly—
A heavy sound shook the air, as if the sky itself were growling.
"W-what was that sound…?"
Kuroneko reflexively ran toward Yuuto and hid behind him, her fingers clutching his clothes.
"This isn't normal," Irene said, her expression tense.
Yamato immediately gripped her club, her stance widening into a combat position.
Belfast activated all of the ship's weaponry, the cannons locking into readiness.
Miku activated her angel form, a soft light enveloping her body.
"It seems… it has begun," Lady Avalon murmured as she looked up at the sky.
Yuuto pushed Kuroneko further behind him to make sure she was protected.
"What's happening, Sensei?" he asked, looking up.
"We're about to see," Lady Avalon replied calmly,
"the true purpose of this group."
Then—
KRAKKK
The sky in front of them cracked.
A dark fissure, like shattered glass in reality itself, slowly opened.
"I-is that… a dimensional rift?" Kuroneko whispered, her voice trembling.
"Looks like it," Irene replied.
She activated her mystic code—mercury-like matter flowed around her body, gleaming and ready to be controlled at any moment.
"What should we do, Yuuto?" Miku asked.
Yuuto stared at the rift for a moment, then looked at them.
"You all stay here," Yuuto said firmly.
"I'll go there."
"Wait!" Irene immediately grabbed his arm.
"That's dangerous! We don't know what that is!"
"Don't worry," Yuuto replied.
"I'll just check it out and come back as fast as I can."
"Yuuto, listen!" Miku added, grabbing him as well.
"We really don't know—"
But Miku's words stopped.
From her pocket—
LIGHT appeared.
Not just hers.
All crew members felt the same thing.
"Look, my disciple," Lady Avalon said slowly.
"It seems… the problem has already been resolved."
"Eh?" Yuuto exclaimed.
"Don't tell me—"
He reached into his pocket.
His folding phone vanished, turning into pure light.
The same happened to everyone else—their connecting phones transformed into light and flew toward the rift.
WOOOOSH
The light sealed the rift from within.
The sky returned to normal.
Then the light returned, one by one,
transforming back into folding phones as before.
"It seems these phones still hold other mysteries," Lady Avalon murmured.
"Closing a rift like that must require immense power," Irene said seriously.
"These phones… are getting scarier," Miku said quietly.
"Well, whatever," Kuroneko shrugged, though she was clearly nervous.
"With this, all our missions in this world are finished. We just need to wait for the reward."
"I can't wait to see what reward we get," Yamato said with a wide grin.
Belfast lowered and deactivated all ship weaponry.
She approached Yuuto, who was standing silently.
"Commander," she said respectfully.
"Congratulations. You have completed your mission."
No response.
"Commander…?"
Belfast stepped closer and touched Yuuto's body.
"Commander, are you alright?"
Her voice began to panic.
Yamato turned around.
"Belfast, what's wro—"
Her words stopped.
Yuuto's body—
THUMP
Collapsed and lay motionless.
Yuuto had lost consciousness.
"C-Commander!!"
Belfast cried out.
All crew members froze.
Confusion, panic, and disbelief merged into silence.
---
Elsewhere
Yuuto opened his eyes.
White.
Empty.
"This place…?" he murmured.
"It's similar to where I met Arthur," he said while looking around,
"but… it feels different."
Then—
A white silhouette appeared.
It sat in front of him.
"Who are you?" Yuuto asked.
"Ooh," the being said while raising its hand, pretending to be surprised.
"That's rare. Every time someone comes here, they usually guess who I am right away. No one ever asks."
It smiled.
"I've wanted to do this for a long time," it said, smiling further before continuing.
"I am the existence you call 'God.'"
It continued, its voice echoing from all directions.
"Or the world.
Or truth.
Or demon.
Or angel.
Or everything.
Or one."
It pointed at Yuuto.
"Or you could say… I am the being that rules over everything."
Its smile widened.
Unnaturally white teeth were visible.
Yuuto flinched—
not from fear or confusion,
but because something within him had begun to change.
Yuuto's eyes slowly shifted.
But the being could not see it.
Yuuto's head remained lowered.
"I never get tired of doing this," the being said, smiling wider.
"Yokoso," it said softly, yet echoing.
"Welcome… unreal character."
Yuuto remained silent.