Chapter 18 Harvesting Kaya24 hours later!
Night fell!
Kaya sat alone by the window in her room, the light off, letting the cool moonlight bathe her.
The villa was quiet. The maids had long since gone to bed, and Nojiko and Nami had returned to their guest rooms.
The daytime commotion, Usopp's tears, Luffy's words—all swirled in her mind.
She knew what might happen next.
Nojiko hadn't said it explicitly, but her hesitant gaze and occasional hints were enough for her to understand.
Nervous?
A little.
Afraid?
Not as much as she had imagined.
More than anything, there was a calm after the dust had settled, and a hint of…indescribable anticipation.
The sound of the door being gently pushed open interrupted her thoughts.
Kaya's body trembled slightly, but she didn't turn around.
The footsteps were light but steady, approaching step by step until they stopped behind her.
Kaya could feel that familiar presence, a cool yet powerful scent like a sea breeze.
Luffy walked up to her, the moonlight outlining his tall, imposing figure.
Luffy looked down at Kaya. In the moonlight, her face resembled delicate porcelain, pale from the early stages of recovery. Her long eyelashes cast small shadows beneath her eyes.
"Luffy…" Kaya called softly, her voice slightly strained.
Luffy didn't answer, but instead extended his hand, forcing her to look up and meet his eyes.
"Have you thought it through?" Luffy's voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet night.
Kaya looked into his eyes; they held little emotion, yet possessed a reassuring certainty.
She took a deep breath, her long eyelashes fluttering, then nodded firmly: "Yes."
Luffy fell silent, lowering his head…
The moonlight flowed silently, seeping in through the windowpane and spreading across the floor like a soft silver veil.
The distant sound of waves lapping against the rocks on the shore echoed rhythmically, like an age-old lullaby.
The evening breeze rustled through the garden leaves, like a lover's whisper.
The lights in the room were long gone, only the moonlight providing a faint illumination, outlining blurred, overlapping silhouettes.
The seabirds outside seemed to be infected by the tranquility, falling silent.
The whole world seemed to be asleep, leaving only this room, under the watchful eye of the moonlight, conducting a silent ritual.
…
When the first rays of dawn replaced the moonlight, seeping into the room through the gap in the curtains, Luffy was already awake.
Luffy leaned against the headboard, his upper body muscles sculpted, his straw hat resting beside his pillow.
His eyes were closed, as if he were sensing something.
Accompanying him were numerous fragments of knowledge about human anatomy, systematically integrating into his memory and understanding.
At the same time, his body seemed slightly lighter, a subtle enhancement from Kaya's 11% increase in physical attributes.
[Ding! Harvest complete!]
[Successfully acquired permanently from target Kaya: Medical Talent 18%, Physical Attribute 11%!]
[Knowledge fusion in progress... Physical attribute enhancement fusion in progress... Estimated complete digestion time: 24 hours.]
Luffy opened his eyes, a barely perceptible hint of satisfaction flashing within them.
Medical talent, extremely useful.
While the increase in physical attributes was small, every little bit helps, and it adds up.
Luffy turned his head to look beside him.
Kaya was still fast asleep, her long golden hair spread across the pillow, making her small face appear even whiter.
Her long-term illness had left her somewhat frail, but now, in her sleeping state, her brows were relaxed, her usual melancholy replaced by a serene tranquility.
Only a trace of dampness remained at the corner of her eye, proving that last night hadn't been entirely peaceful.
Luffy looked at her for a few seconds, then looked away and got up to dress.
The rustling sound of dressing startled Kaya.
Her long eyelashes fluttered a few times, and she slowly opened her eyes.
The initial grogginess was quickly dispelled by the soreness in her body, and a layer of mist rapidly filled her sapphire-like eyes.
Kaya instinctively pulled the thin blanket over herself, leaving only her eyes peeking out as she stole glances at Luffy, who was buttoning his shirt.
Luffy dressed, put on his straw hat, and walked to the window, his back to her.
"Awake? Get dressed, it's time to start training."
Kaya froze. Training?
Luffy waited a few seconds, but heard no movement. He turned and walked back to the bedside.
He didn't look at Kaya's shy, evasive expression. Instead, he picked up the straw hat from beside the pillow and weighed it in his hand.
Then, Luffy raised his hand and gently placed the straw hat over Kaya's head, which was covered by the blanket.
Luffy's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable strength: "My ship doesn't need patients. From today onwards, you will begin learning medicine and also train your body."
Kaya stretched her small hand out from under the blanket, adjusted the slightly askew straw hat, and timidly looked at Luffy from under the brim.
Learn medicine? Train your body? Become…someone useful to him?
"I will try my best," Kaya said softly, but her tone was unusually firm.
The thought that she didn't want to be a burden, but rather someone who could help him, was stronger than any shyness or unease.
Luffy seemed satisfied with the answer, nodded, and turned to leave.
Kaya, clutching the straw hat still warm from his body, sat on the bed for a while before enduring the soreness in her body and slowly beginning to dress.
A smile involuntarily crept onto her face.
When she went downstairs, Nojiko was already in the dining room, setting out a simple breakfast.
Seeing Kaya struggling down the stairs, her gait slightly awkward and her face flushed, Nojiko smiled knowingly, her eyes gentle.
"How are you feeling?" Nojiko asked softly, handing her a glass of warm water.
Kaya blushed even more, took the water glass, and stammered, "Nochiko-neechan..."
Nochiko laughed and put her arm around Kaya's shoulder, like she would a younger sister: "From now on, we're real sisters."
Nami strolled out of the kitchen, biting into a slice of bread with jam on it. Seeing Kaya's expression, she pouted and muttered, "Another one, sure enough."
Hearing this, Kaya quickly put down her water glass and said to Nami with a mixture of eagerness and sincerity:
"Nami-neechan, I'll study medicine diligently and train hard. I won't hold everyone back!"
Nami looked into Kaya's clear, sincere, and slightly apprehensive blue eyes, snorted, and turned her head away, but a smile involuntarily crept onto her lips. She shoved another slice of bread with jam into Kaya's hand:
"Eat quickly, you still have to run! Luffy won't wait for you."
The atmosphere at breakfast was a little awkward, but still harmonious.
Luffy stood on the villa's ocean-facing terrace, the sea breeze ruffling his hair and clothes.
Behind him, the dining room was gradually becoming lively, the hushed conversations of girls faintly audible.
Luffy gazed at the horizon where the sea met the sky, his eyes unfocused.
In his mind, the system panel quietly updated.
[Current Harvest Status:]
[Nami: Navigation Talent 19%, Physical Ability 16%]
[Nojiko: Botany 15%, Physical Ability 12%]
[Kaya: Medical Talent 18%, Physical Ability 11%]
Luffy's fingers unconsciously tapped the railing, contemplating his next target.
But before that…
Luffy turned back, glancing towards the dining room.
He needed some time for the newly acquired powers to fully integrate, and for these three special collectibles… to grow a little.
At least, they needed basic self-defense capabilities; he couldn't always have to deal with the minions himself.