Chapter 474: A Bashful Nami and a Curious Yakumo Yukari
A hush fell over the shop as every patron turned to stare, their gazes fixed not on Ren, but on the young woman cradled in his arms. To their discerning eyes, it was clear that while she was injured, her wounds were superficial—a few scrapes and bruises, nothing more. Her breathing was deep and even, lost in a deep, exhausted sleep.
Everyone looked on with a mixture of surprise and speechlessness. Lucifer's lips quirked, a flicker of amusement in her eyes as she pointed a delicate finger at the slumbering figure. "Ren, darling," she began, her voice a silken murmur, "am I seeing things, or does that girl bear a striking resemblance to our little navigator?"
Ren let out a soft sigh. "You're not seeing things. It's Nami."
Lucifer's mouth twitched again as she gave Nami a more thorough, analytical look. "My, my. Is it something in the water back in her world, or did she stumble upon some miraculous growth elixir? Her... development seems to have accelerated quite a bit."
Ren glanced down at Nami, whose figure was indeed noticeably more mature than the last time she had visited. He offered a helpless shrug. "Perhaps it's a matter of terroir. Different environments nurture different... outcomes."
"I don't know why, but I get the feeling the physiques in her world are a little abnormal," Lucifer mused, a thoughtful frown on her face. "Fortunately, our Nami is still as normal and cute as ever."
Ren tilted his head, a dry smile touching his lips. "You sound like you're praising your own daughter."
"Can't I speak from the heart? Still, she's really out of it. Sleeping like a log."
"She is," Ren agreed, his voice softening as he leaned down slightly. He murmured gently into Nami's ear, "Nami. Nami, it's time to wake up."
After a few quiet calls, Nami's eyelids fluttered. She slowly opened her eyes, a hazy confusion giving way to recognition as she took in the familiar, comforting interior of the shop. A deep sigh of relief escaped her lips. She had made it. She was finally safe.
Her gaze traveled upward, landing on Ren's face, which was etched with a hint of concern. A bright, relieved smile bloomed on her face. "Shopkeeper Ren! I'm here again!"
One of Ren's eyebrows twitched. "Nami, you've already said that once."
"Eh? I did...? I don't remember..."
Ren sighed again, a note of weary amusement in his tone. "Well, Nami, you've certainly set a new precedent for my shop."
"Eh?! What precedent...? Wait... wait a minute!"
It was then that Nami's brain finally caught up with her senses. Her eyes widened. A scorching heat flooded her cheeks, turning her face a brilliant shade of red. She had just realized she was being held. Princess-carried, no less! And worse, for some inexplicable reason, her own arms were wrapped tightly around his neck, clinging to him for dear life.
With a squeak of pure mortification, Nami scrambled out of his arms and leaped to the side, her entire body rigid with embarrassment. She stammered, her voice barely a whisper, "Shop-Shopkeeper Ren... you... why were you holding me...? No, wait... why was I holding you? That's not right either... How did this happen?!"
In that moment, all Nami could feel was a tidal wave of shyness. There was no anger, no disgust, not even a hint of discomfort. In her eyes, Ren was the epitome of a gentleman—kind, considerate, handsome, and impossibly strong. More, one of his companions had saved not just her, but her entire village.
As far as she was concerned, Ren and his patrons were her saviors. If the shop hadn't allowed her to come, she never would have made it here, and the thought of what might have happened then was too terrifying to consider.
Besides, she was sailing with Zoro and the others now. And while every day was an adventure filled with laughter, a quick comparison made certain things clear. They were the best companions she could ask for, but as men, they had... flaws. In short, they were a bunch of wonderful, lovable abnormalities.
Ren's gentle voice cut through her frantic thoughts. "Nami, are you injured anywhere else?"
Startled, Nami quickly checked herself over before shaking her head. "Just some scrapes on my arms and legs. They're minor. The magic Lady Lucifer gave me... even though the time was up, it still seemed to have some lingering effect. Luffy and the others were hurt badly, but I'm mostly okay."
"You were in a fight?"
Nami's hands clenched into tight fists at her side. "Yes! Something happened... we were cornered on an island by the Marines. One of the three Admirals showed up, and one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Kuma..."
Lucifer tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "Warlords? Marine Admirals? Are they powerful?"
Yakumo Yukari and the others also leaned in, their expressions curious. Without a word, Ren turned and headed upstairs.
Nami nodded emphatically. "They're all unbelievably strong! Especially the Marine Admirals. Every single one of them is a monster!"
Yakumo Yukari's expression remained placid, her gaze distant. "Powerful, you say? ultimately, they are merely human, are they not? Does their strength lie in exceptional martial skill, or perhaps advanced firearms?"
Nami shook her head. "No. Our world has guns, but the truly powerful people on the seas are either swordsmen and martial artists who have reached the absolute pinnacle of their craft... or they're Devil Fruit users."
"Devil Fruit?" came a chorus of four voices.
"Ah! Devil Fruits!" Lucifer exclaimed, a spark of recognition in her eyes.
Nami looked at her, puzzled. "Lady Lucifer, how do you know about them? Eh?! You're a demon... does that mean Devil Fruits come from your side?!"
"How could they?" Lucifer said with an exasperated roll of her eyes. "A man from your world named Hawkeye came to eat here a while ago. After he finished his meal, he gave one to Ren as payment. Ren never ate it, so it's been sitting over there as a decoration ever since."
Nodding in understanding, Nami turned back to Yakumo Yukari and the others. "Devil Fruits are cursed treasures of the sea. A single one can sell for an astronomical price! And every fruit is unique; there will never be two with the exact same power. Once you eat one, you gain its corresponding ability."
This seemed to finally capture Yakumo Yukari's interest. A flicker of genuine curiosity entered her eyes. "And what sort of powers do they grant?"
Nami thought for a moment, organizing her thoughts. "All kinds. They're divided into three main types: Logia, Paramecia, and Zoan, each with different effects. Logia users have a special characteristic—elemental transformation. They can turn their entire body into the element of their fruit, making them immune to physical attacks."
That gave Yakumo Yukari pause. "That is a truly fascinating ability," she remarked, her tone surprised. "Are your Admiral and this Warlord both Devil Fruit users?"
Nami nodded grimly. "Yes... Marine Admiral Kizaru ate a Logia-type, the Glint-Glint Fruit. He has the power of light. The Warlord, Kuma, is a Paramecia-type. He's the user of the Paw-Paw Fruit..."
Yakumo Ran, standing quietly beside her mistress, whispered, "Why does the 'Paw-Paw Fruit' sound a bit... strange?"
The others nodded in agreement.
Nami sighed. "That fruit can repel anything. Not just physical attacks, but even intangible things..."
Yakumo Yukari's eyes widened slightly. "Goodness," she said, a note of genuine surprise in her voice. "Your world is rather outrageous indeed."
Nami was about to elaborate when she saw Ren walking back down the stairs. He was carrying a first-aid kit, and his expression was gentle. "Nami, find a place to sit down. We can talk about everything else after we've taken care of your injuries."
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