~ As Usual. Bonus Chapter Every 300 Powerstones :)
~ Perhaps there won't be a bonus chapter today, since we didn't reach 300 PS——Don't slack off — long chapters are just around the corner.
~ 18 Advanced Chapters Available on my Patreon!
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"So you guys came here to buy swords?" Tashigi asked, leading Rowen and Zoro through the streets of Loguetown.
"I'm actually here to pick up my sword that was being sharpened. But it's strange—don't you already have one sword?" Tashigi looked curiously at Zoro.
"He just really likes collecting swords," Rowen interjected with a smile, clapping Zoro on the shoulder before Zoro could answer.
Although Tashigi was endearingly naive, recognizing a three-sword style user in the East Blue could easily lead to identifying Zoro. Rowen still needed this clueless Marine to guide them.
"Really? You like collecting swords too?!" Tashigi suddenly asked Rowen, her eyes lighting up with surprise and excitement.
"Oh? You like collecting swords as well?" Rowen asked, feigning ignorance with a smile.
"Well, it's not exactly collecting—It's just that in this era, most of the famous blades have fallen into the hands of villains!—The 12 Supreme Grade Swords, the 21 Great Grade Swords, the 50 Skillful Grade Swords! My dream... is to retrieve all the famous swords in the world from the hands of those villains! Even if I have to risk my life!" Tashigi declared passionately, her eyes sparkling brightly as she spoke of her dream.
"That's quite an admirable dream," Rowen commented, looking at Tashigi, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Eh? Really?!" Tashigi gasped, then excitedly grabbed Rowen's arm.
This was the first time anyone had genuinely acknowledged her dream!
Most people reacted with disbelief or condescension, thinking, 'Just a woman, talking big'. Even her fellow Marines, while not saying it outright, often conveyed similar sentiments through their expressions. Women were inherently weaker than men... Tashigi often wished she had been born male.
"Do you really think I can achieve my dream?" Tashigi asked eagerly, sensing Rowen's sincerity, craving further validation from the first person who truly seemed to believe in her.
"Achieve it? Well, that might be rather difficult," Rowen replied honestly, looking at the excited Tashigi.
The famous swords of this world... who wielded them? Setting aside others, among the Supreme Grade Swords: Ace (sword name) belonged to Gol D. Roger (current whereabouts unknown);
Yoru, the black blade, belonged to the World's Greatest Swordsman, Mihawk;
Murakumogiri belonged to Whitebeard, the Emperor known as the World's Strongest Man.
Trying to retrieve those swords? Given Tashigi's current strength and aptitude, the probability was practically zero.
"Is it—because I'm a woman, after all?" Tashigi's bright eyes instantly dimmed with disappointment. She had thought she'd finally met someone different, but was he ultimately looking down on her because of her gender? Tashigi's insecurity about being a woman made her interpret almost any comment through that lens.
Zoro's eye twitched upon hearing Tashigi's words. 'Not only does she look like Kuina, but she even sounds like her!' Though, Kuina was much smarter than this woman.
"No, it's not because you're a woman. Even for the World's Greatest Swordsman, accomplishing that goal would be nearly impossible," Rowen stated seriously, pausing to look directly at the disheartened Tashigi.
Even Mihawk would struggle immensely to acquire all those famous blades—many of which were held within the territories of the Four Emperors.
"But... just because something seems impossible, does that mean you shouldn't even try? That's not how things work on this sea, After all, People's dreams... NEVER END!" Rowen declared, spreading his arms wide and laughing heartily.
"Hmph." A smirk touched Zoro's lips. 'As expected of Rowen.'
Tashigi stared blankly at the laughing Rowen. For some reason, at that moment, she felt like the man before her was radiating light.
"That's right! I absolutely WILL achieve my dream!" Tashigi exclaimed, inspired by Rowen's words.
"Hey! Watch where you're going!" Just then, someone bumped into Tashigi as they walked past.
"S-Sorry!" Tashigi quickly tried to step aside. In her haste, she once again tripped over her own feet.
THUD!
"Ouch!" Tashigi cried, rubbing her head.
Zoro's eye twitched again watching the clumsy idiot. 'Truly... a national treasure level klutz.'
Rowen also looked helplessly at Tashigi, who had been so full of determination just moments before. 'Yep. Definitely belongs in a museum exhibit of clumsiness.'
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Led by Tashigi, Rowen and Zoro soon arrived at a sword shop.
"Shopkeeper! Is my sword sharpened yet?" Tashigi called out upon entering.
"Your sword..." The shopkeeper, a man with a prominent drinker's nose, looked up, but his pupils instantly constricted the next moment.
"Th-That sword is—!" the shopkeeper stared intently at the sword at Zoro's hip.
"Shopkeeper, do you have any suitable swords? I need two. Here's 100,000 Beri," Zoro said, placing the money he borrowed from Nami on the counter.
"100,000? You won't find any good swords for that price. How about... you sell me your sword? I'll give you 200,000 Beri! Then you can buy three 100,000 Beri swords," the shopkeeper suggested, his eyes greedily fixed on the sword at Zoro's waist.
Wado Ichimonji! One of the 21 Great Grade Swords! This poor fool buying 50,000 Beri swords probably has no idea how valuable this blade is!
"Sell my sword?" Zoro's expression clearly conveyed refusal.
"Alright, alright! I'll take a loss! 400,000! No—600,000 Beri!" the shopkeeper urged desperately, knowing such treasures were rare finds.
"W-Wait! I didn't notice it properly before... May I take a look at that sword?" Tashigi's attention was suddenly captivated by the sword at Zoro's hip.
Zoro didn't refuse, handing the sword to Tashigi.
"There's no mistake! This is Wado Ichimonji! One of the 21 Great Grade Swords! This is a famous blade worth over 10 million Beri!" Tashigi exclaimed. The shopkeeper's face turned pale green.
"Wado Ichimonji?" Zoro's eyes narrowed slightly. This was the first time he'd heard the sword's name. Previously, he had simply thought of it as the 'Sword of promise' between him and Kuina.
"I'm reporting you for obstructing business! Your sword is sharpened! Take it and get out!" His hopes dashed, the shopkeeper rudely tossed Tashigi's sword towards her.
Clack!
Rowen caught the sword thrown at Tashigi with one hand, while his other steadied Tashigi, who had stumbled and nearly fallen while juggling both Wado Ichimonji and her own thrown sword.
"You were so eager to raise the price earlier—even without this lady's identification, the deal likely wouldn't have happened, right, shopkeeper?" Rowen asked, looking at the shopkeeper with a knowing smirk.
This shopkeeper, though greedy, wasn't inherently bad. Ultimately, he would give Zoro his family heirloom, Yubashiri, along with Sandai Kitetsu.
"Th-Thank you," Tashigi blushed, steadied by Rowen. She felt incredibly embarrassed by her clumsiness. If this man hadn't caught her, she would have fallen again.
"Hmph!! Those over there are all 50,000 Beri swords! Go pick from them!" The shopkeeper, losing face, grumbled twice, then pointed towards several barrels in the corner filled haphazardly with swords.
"Here, your sword," Rowen handed the sheathed blade back to Tashigi.
"Th-Thank you," Tashigi accepted it, examined it carefully, then smiled. This shopkeeper's sharpening skills were actually quite good.
"That sword... should also count as a famous blade, right?" Rowen asked with a smile.
"Mm! This is Shigure! I'll train hard and use it to retrieve more famous swords from the hands of villains!" Tashigi nodded seriously.
"!!!"
"W-What are you doing?" Tashigi looked shocked as Rowen gently patted her head.
"Sorry, sorry! You just looked so cute, I couldn't resist," Rowen chuckled, raising his hands defensively.
The combination of the glasses and her earnest, determined expression made Rowen subconsciously want to ruffle Tashigi's hair.
"C-Cute?!" Tashigi's face instantly turned bright red. She stammered, looking at Rowen. "Y-You! You still see me as just a woman!" she then puffed out her cheeks angrily.
Rowen found her reaction amusing. This klutzy woman's thought process really was different from most people's.
"Hm? This sword?" Just then, Zoro, who had been rummaging through the barrels, spoke up, holding a particular katana.
"Hm? Let me see... Hey! This... this sword... no mistake! It's Sandai Kitetsu! One of the Skillful Grade Swords! Its predecessor, Nidai Kitetsu, is a Great Grade Sword, and the original, Shodai Kitetsu, belongs among the Supreme Grade Swords!" Seeing a famous sword, Tashigi immediately got excited again.
"Shopkeeper! Is this sword really only 50,000 Beri?! Amazing! These usually sell for over a million!" Tashigi looked towards the shopkeeper, whose expression had become extremely uneasy.
"Oh? The Cursed Sword Kitetsu?" Rowen looked at the blade Zoro had drawn, Sandai Kitetsu, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Check Traits."
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