Chapter 310: To Hear the Word 'Youth' is to be Incompatible with Mediocrity
Zoro's expression was uncharacteristically severe. To call it serious might not be quite right; it was more like he was actively suppressing a deep-seated agitation, a restless energy that coiled just beneath his skin.
Lucifer recognized him, of course. He had come in that day with Mai Shiranui, only to be unceremoniously kicked to the ground and forced to submit by Ren. She had to admit, she had a soft spot for the kid.
No… to be precise, with the exception of the overthinking genius Tony Stark and the terrifying Esdeath who had all but gift-wrapped herself for the shopkeeper, Lucifer held a good impression of all the guests from other worlds. Even the enigmatic Yuuka Kazami, sitting before her now, piqued her interest. Lucifer found herself intensely curious about what kind of unexpected, endearing side a woman like that might possess.
But in her memory, this green-haired youth, so full of passionate dreams, should have been burning with fervor. He shouldn't look like this, weighed down and tense. Lucifer couldn't help but wonder what had happened to him.
"Your wine," she said, placing the bottle on his table. "You seem to be in a complicated mood today. Something happen?"
Roronoa Zoro didn't answer. The moment the bottle was open, just as its rich fragrance began to bloom, he lifted the entire pot to his lips and chugged it down. This brutish method of drinking made both Yuuka Kazami and Clow Reed's mouths twitch. Was that any way to treat the world's finest liquor?
Only after he slammed the empty pot back down did Zoro wipe his mouth, lean back in his chair, and let out a booming laugh. "Ah! That was refreshing! Your wine is the most satisfying I've ever had, Shopkeeper. There's just never enough of it!"
Ren chuckled. "Judging by the drinking capacity of both Shanks and Mihawk, it seems the drinkers from your world are all quite formidable."
"I wouldn't know. I haven't traveled that far yet," Zoro said, a grin spreading across his face. "But I will soon. You might not believe this, but… I'm a pirate now. Never saw that coming."
Ren paused for a moment, tilting his head. "You weren't before?"
"Huh? Do I look like a pirate?! What?!"
Ren didn't say a word, but everyone else in the room—even the serene Yuuka Kazami—gave a slow, deliberate nod. The unified expression of confirmation made Zoro's eye twitch. Good heavens, his blood pressure was spiking.
Zoro let out a sharp breath. "I'm not a pirate! No… I wasn't a pirate before! I was a Pirate Hunter! I caught pirates, killed pirates, and collected their bounties!"
Lucifer tilted her head, a thoughtful look on her face. "So… this is what they call 'the one who slays the dragon eventually becomes the dragon'?"
Zoro froze, his boisterous demeanor vanishing. He fell into a rare, deep contemplation. After a long moment, he nodded slowly. "I don't know where that saying comes from, but it makes a lot of sense. That's right! I am that dragon-slaying boy! Bah! Man!"
There was something about hot-blooded youths that made them easy to get along with. They were masters at livening up a room, their passionate demeanor not only igniting themselves but also sparking a fire in those around them. A burning flame never only warms itself.
Ren watched Zoro, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "You probably didn't become a pirate on a whim. I get the feeling something very interesting must have happened."
Zoro propped an arm on the back of his chair, his grin returning, sharp and challenging. "Ah, you could say that. It was pretty interesting. But, Shopkeeper, how about we discuss something else?"
Ren's expression shifted slightly. He sighed with a hint of helplessness. "So you really are a warmonger."
"No! I just want to become stronger! To keep getting stronger until I'm the greatest swordsman in the world! So… Shopkeeper! I've come to challenge you again!"
Ren sighed, a sound of weary amusement. "Alright. But we have an agreement. This time…"
Zoro pushed himself to his feet, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Mm! I'll use my full strength!"
Ren slowly twisted his neck, cracking the joints, and stretched his wrists. "No, no, no," he said softly. "What I mean is, fighting is fine, but you can't hold a grudge when you lose."
"A man must dare to lose if he ever hopes to win!" Zoro declared.
Ren rolled up his sleeves. "Let's begin, then. You can go first."
Zoro pulled a black bandana from his pocket and tied it firmly around his head. With fluid motions, he unsheathed three carefully maintained katanas—one for each hand, and the third clenched between his teeth. His eyes narrowed, transforming into the predatory gaze of a wolf that had locked onto its prey.
"Three Sword Style…"
The next second, the entire room stared with complex emotions at Roronoa Zoro, who was now lying flat on his back, completely unable to move. In a single, imperceptible instant, Ren had pressed one hand flat against Zoro's face, caught the cross-slash of the other two swords with his free hand, and sent him flying with a single, clean kick to the chest.
Ren shook his hand out, a casual gesture that belied the shocking display of power. "You rascal. How long has it been, and your strength has already increased this much?"
"It's been two months!" Zoro grunted from the floor, his voice muffled. "But you, Shopkeeper… you're a real monster! I thought I could at least land one cut on you this time! Damn it!"
Clow Reed and the others watched the scene unfold, at a complete loss for words. Their image of Ren had just undergone a seismic shift. The fluid, overwhelming series of movements he had just executed didn't seem like something the gentle, unassuming restaurant owner was capable of. You're a chef, for crying out loud!
Ren looked down at the downed swordsman and, letting out a soft breath, asked, "So, how does it feel? To have companions?"
Zoro lay on the ground, one arm thrown over his face. A wide smile bloomed beneath it. "It's not bad. He's an idiot, but… he's interesting!"
As he spoke, Zoro struggled back to his feet. Everyone's eyes were drawn to his chest where Ren's kick had landed. A dark, angry bruise was already forming over a mix of older, fainter wounds—most of them clearly from swords.
Clow Reed's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Judging by the scars on his chest, he must have been through many battles. He truly is a hot-blooded youth."
Zoro nonchalantly stretched his shoulders, wincing only slightly. He grinned. "Not a youth. A man!"
Ren smiled. "In a sense, you are indeed still a youth."
"Hmm? How do you figure?"
"Hmm… let me ask you a question," Ren said, leaning against the counter. "If one night, a girl you're very close to asks you to come over to her place, saying no one's home, she's scared and bored all alone… and you happen to be in the middle of training, what would you do?"
Zoro answered without a moment's hesitation. "Of course, I'd bring her over to train with me."
A collective expression of 'as expected of you' washed over the room. Even Yuuka Kazami's lips curved into a subtle, amused smile. He was an iron-headed straight man, through and through, but that type was usually the most passionate.
Ren chuckled. "That's why. In a sense, you have the ambition of a man, but you're still a youth at heart."
"Uh… I don't really get what that means, but as long as you admit I'm a man, it's fine!"
"Being a youth isn't a bad thing," Ren added. "Aren't there 'dream-chasing youths'and'hot-blooded youths'?"
Zoro considered this with surprising seriousness for a moment before shaking his head. "Later, later! Shopkeeper! That braised pork… give me another serving! And a huge bowl of rice! I've been starving for a while!"
"No problem," Ren said, turning toward the kitchen. "And your dream is very fitting for a certain saying."
"Upon hearing the word 'youth,' it should be antithetical to mediocrity. You, boy, have a much more passionate look in your eyes than Mihawk ever did."
Zoro's chest puffed out with pride. "Of course! I'm going to become the world's greatest swordsman! I'm going to ascend to the absolute pinnacle of swordsmanship! How could a dream like that ever be mediocre!"
Ren nodded. The fire of a hot-blooded youth was infectious. Just as he was about to turn away, the restaurant door burst open. An orange-haired girl carrying a small bag stumbled inside, slammed the door shut behind her, and slid to the floor, letting out a long, exhausted sigh.
Lucifer tilted her head, observing the newcomer. "Guests from other worlds really do like to arrive in groups…"
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