"Grandpa, will you please teach my friend the Hakashi technique?!" Prīōra asked as she stood in front of Tuziku.
Suddenly, Nēgus stepped toward her.
Then—
SMACK!!
The sharp sound of his palm striking Prīōra's cheek echoed throughout the room.
For a moment, everything went silent.
Prīōra stood frozen, her hand slowly rising to her cheek.
Then—
"You bastard...!!"
"How dare you hit a member of my crew?!" Tuziku snapped.
His eyes burned with anger.
Kutcher immediately drew his blade.
Tuziku charged toward Nēgus, swinging his fists blindly in a burst of rage.
However—
Before he could land a single blow...
"HEAVY—GUST!!"
FWOOOOOSSSSHHH!!!
SWOOOSSH!!
"Ahhhhh—!"
A violent gust of wind slammed into Tuziku and sent him flying through the doorway.
He crashed outside, rolling across the ground before finally coming to a stop.
Kutcher immediately responded.
He dashed toward Nēgus, his blade aimed directly at his torso.
But before his attack could land—
Ryōkōjū suddenly appeared in his path.
His movements were so swift that Kutcher barely had time to react.
With a series of meticulous and decisive movements, Ryōkōjū calmly redirected Kutcher's sword with his bare hands.
Then—
In the blink of an eye...
He twisted Kutcher's wrist and effortlessly stripped the sword from his grasp.
Kutcher's eyes widened.
Wh—what just happened...?
"My sword..." he whispered.
For the first time since entering the village, Kutcher was completely speechless.
Ryōkōjū examined the blade in his hand before calmly turning toward Nēgus.
"That's enough of this nonsense...!"
"Nēgus...!"
"Your actions just now..."
"Were completely unforgivable!" he shouted.
Nēgus looked at him in surprise.
"But Grandpa, I was just punishing her for her insolence—"
"Silence, Nēgus!"
Ryōkōjū's voice thundered throughout the house.
A sudden gust of wind swept through the room, rattling the windows and sending several loose objects flying.
Nēgus immediately fell silent.
Ryōkōjū turned toward Prīōra.
"I am truly sorry on behalf of your foolish brother, Prīōra," he apologized.
"It's okay, Grandpa," Prīōra calmly replied.
"Where did your other friend go...?"
"I'm fine!"
Tuziku came walking back inside, brushing the dust from his clothes.
His expression was still irritated.
"What was that all about, old man?!" Kutcher shouted.
Ryōkōjū sighed.
"Hmm..."
"You'll all have to forgive my foolish grandson..."
"But even though I disagree with his actions..."
"I understand how he feels."
Ryōkōjū returned Kutcher's sword to him.
Kutcher caught it and immediately sheathed it.
Tuziku continued to stare at the old man curiously.
Ryōkōjū walked toward the window, placing both hands behind his back.
For a brief moment, he gazed outside at the village.
Then—
"...What were you boys' names again?"
He scratched his head.
"It's Tuziku and Kutcher," Tuziku answered.
Kutcher stared at him in disbelief.
Is he serious...?
"That's right!"
"Tuziku and Kutcher..."
Ryōkōjū cleared his throat.
"How much do you boys know about the Hakashi village?" he asked.
...
Silence filled the room.
Tuziku stepped forward.
"...Well... it's a village that's made up of members who are all a part of the same clan."
"And your clan has the ability to manipulate the wind..." he added.
"Yeah, that's right," Ryōkōjū nodded.
"You see, the Hakashi technique is a unique and obscure ability that was discovered by one of our most honored and prestigious descendants almost a century ago..."
"Since then, it has been discreetly passed down amongst the Hakashi clan members to this day..."
Ryōkōjū wore a proud expression.
A century?!
Tuziku's eyes widened.
That's actually impressive.
Kutcher remained silent, but even he couldn't deny the significance of what he had just heard.
Ryōkōjū continued.
"Over the years, our people have formed our village and our unity using this technique..."
"Meaning this technique..."
"...is our Pride, Dignity and our Honour!"
He approached Tuziku and folded his arms.
"Why should I teach an outsider who doesn't even have the courage to ask for himself such a precious ability?"
His gaze hardened.
Tuziku remained silent.
His fists slowly tightened.
Then—
"I'm sorry, but I thought it wasn't my position to ask you such a question..."
"But—"
He clenched his fists.
"I have a goal that I've decided to achieve!"
"Hmmm..."
Ryōkōjū casually picked his nose.
Tuziku took a deep breath.
"I—have a very dangerous Abyssal ability that I can't control..."
His expression gradually darkened.
Memories flashed through his mind.
Sailou.
The destruction.
The people he had hurt.
The terrifying feeling of losing control over his own body.
Every time his Abyssal ability consumed him, innocent people suffered.
Even those he cared about.
Tuziku placed a hand over his chest.
"Because of this power that I possess, I've hurt a lot of innocent people..."
"Even the people that I care about!"
His voice trembled.
Then—
Tuziku lowered himself onto his knees.
He bowed his head before Ryōkōjū.
Kutcher's eyes widened slightly.
Tuziku...
Even though that's not how a Captain should act...
It takes real courage to do what you're doing right now.
Tuziku continued.
"In order to protect my comrades as they help me to achieve my goal..."
"I need to get stronger, without using my powers..."
"And so..."
"I implore you, sir..."
"Please teach me the Hakashi Technique!!"
His voice echoed throughout the room.
His head remained bowed.
...
The room fell completely silent.
Kutcher, Prīōra and even Nēgus waited anxiously for Ryōkōjū's response.
The old man stared down at Tuziku.
Then—
"...I'm sorry, boy."
He placed his hands behind his back.
"I'm under no obligation to help a stranger just because you have a sad story..."
His expression hardened.
"If I did that for everyone who came here asking the same thing, half of Shiriku would be using the Hakashi technique by now!"
Ryōkōjū took a step forward.
"Boy..."
He glared directly at Tuziku.
"You and your friend..."
"...SHOULD LEAVE MY VILLAGE AT ONCE!!"
His voice shook the room.
Tuziku and Kutcher were forced out of the house.
Nēgus let out a cocky grin.
"Serves you right, you damn imbeciles!"
"Now leave!"
Tuziku wore a defeated expression as he and Kutcher slowly walked away from the house.
Suddenly—
"Don't give up that easily, Tuziku!"
Prīōra rushed after them, clenching her fist.
"Tuziku..."
Kutcher gazed at him.
"Don't let this get you down...!"
He placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah!"
Tuziku slowly lifted his head.
"I don't plan on giving up that easily!"
The determination in his eyes had returned.
The two continued walking through the streets of the village.
Back at the house...
Prīōra stood before Ryōkōjū and Nēgus, glaring at them.
Ryōkōjū approached her.
"I'm sorry about this, my child," he said, trying to console her.
Prīōra's expression remained stern.
"Where is my father...?"
"...He's been away on a mission for quite some time now..." Nēgus replied as he ran his fingers through his hair.
Prīōra grunted.
Without saying another word, she stormed through the door.
Ryōkōjū watched her leave.
He sighed.
"It can't be helped..."
...
The next morning...
The sun had barely risen over the mountains of Shiriku.
Ryōkōjū stepped outside his home for his usual morning walk.
But after taking only a few steps—
He stopped.
Something caught his attention.
Two figures were lying on the ground outside his home.
"Hmm...?"
Ryōkōjū approached them.
"Oii!"
"What are you two doing out here...?"
Tuziku slowly opened his eyes and stood up.
Kutcher remained on the ground for another moment before slowly opening his eyelids.
"Don't tell me that you two actually slept out here all night?!"
Kutcher finally stood to his feet and stretched his arms.
"And what if we did?"
Ryōkōjū sighed.
"I thought I told you two to leave this place..."
Tuziku stood firmly before him.
"I refuse to leave here until I get what I came for..."
He clenched his fists.
"And besides..."
"One of my crew members is still here."
Tuziku glared at the old man.
...
Ryōkōjū stared at him for a long moment.
"I see..."
"So that's how it's going to be...!"
The old man slowly stroked his beard.
Then he turned his back toward Tuziku.
"In that case..."
"Follow me."
He glanced over his shoulder.
"Let's test your resolve."
Ryōkōjū began walking away.
Then—
"Kutcher, you can come if you wish..."
Tuziku and Kutcher glanced toward each other.
They both nodded.
Without another word, they followed behind Ryōkōjū.
CHAPTER 37 END