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Chapter 6: A Tiny Voyage
In search of the mythical Huge Huge Fruit, I, Line, sneaked onto a massive human cargo ship and set off from Dressrosa on an endless journey across the unforgiving sea.
Counting my past life, this was actually my very first sea voyage. When the ship initially pulled out of the bustling port, the salty ocean breeze and the rhythmic rocking of the wooden hull had felt incredibly refreshing. Tucked safely away in a cozy little hammock I had fashioned out of stolen silk handkerchiefs in a dark corner of the lower storage decks, I had originally thought, It sure would be nice if I could just relax, take it easy, and enjoy the scenic trip while searching the world for the Huge Huge Fruit~.
However, reality is often a cruel mistress. I was currently experiencing a voyage about fifty times more grueling than I had anticipated. And the reason for my relentless headaches was...
"Pirates!! A pirate ship has appeared at three o'clock!!"
"Gyaaa!!"
"Uwaah! Don't let them ram us!"
"Kyaaah!! Someone man the cannons!"
Clang, clang, clang, clang! Awooga! Awooga! The deafening, mechanical wail of the emergency siren rang throughout the ship, vibrating through the floorboards right into my tiny bones. I rolled out of my silk hammock, rubbing my temples, and let out a heavy, exhausted sigh. "Not again..."
Yes, the difficult part of this voyage wasn't the sea sickness or the lack of fresh food—it was the sheer, unrelenting frequency at which we encountered pirate ships. It had only been a few days since I stowed away on this cargo vessel, yet we had been encountering a heavily armed pirate ship at a pace of about once every two days.
"There are way too many pirates out here... I completely underestimated the scale of the Great Pirate Era..." I grumbled, peeking out from behind a massive wooden crate.
Counting back from today, fourteen years ago, when I was only a one-year-old baby dwarf barely able to walk...
A man named Gold Roger, whom the world fearfully and respectfully called the Pirate King, was captured by the Marines and publicly executed on a scaffold in Loguetown.
"My treasure? If you want it, you can have it... Go find it. I left everything this world has to offer right there."
Thanks to those fateful, fiery words Roger shouted to the masses right before his death, the entire world was currently right in the middle of a massive, bloody pirate boom. ...What an absolute nightmare for anyone just trying to catch a quiet ride.
In search of the Pirate King's massive, legendary treasure, the "One Piece," an unprecedented number of cutthroats, dreamers, and outlaws were currently rampaging across the seas, turning every trade route into a potential warzone.
Clang, clang, clang, clang! Awooga! Awooga!
"Pirate ship approaching! It's moving at incredible speed!" the lookout screamed from the crow's nest, his voice cracking with terror.
"Hard to port! We have to outrun them somehow! Throw the heavy ballast overboard if you have to!" the captain barked.
"Go, go! Bring her around to port! Catch the wind!"
Perhaps because the crew of this merchant ship was also deeply used to encountering pirate ships, they were quite experienced at spotting them early, running away early, and dealing with them early. They moved like a well-oiled machine of cowardice. But...
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
The heavy thuds of iron grappling hooks biting deep into our ship's wooden railing echoed through the air.
"...Ah, they caught up to us. This is bad. They're going to board us..." I muttered, watching the shadows of the crew running frantically across the deck grates above my head. "We have to get away somehow... Ah, it's no use. We can't escape... Ah~..."
Up until now, we had managed to escape from the pirate ships pretty well by utilizing the wind and narrow reefs, but this time, it seemed the pirates' ship was simply faster and their helmsman was much better.
By the time the crew had noticed the black sails on the horizon, the pirate ship was already right under our noses.
"Alright, boys! Plunder the ship's cargo!! Take everything that shines!" a rough, booming voice ordered.
"""Uwoooohh!!!"""
The pirate ship violently pulled alongside us, the hulls grinding together with a sickening crunch of timber, and burly, weapon-toting men began jumping over the rails onto our deck like a swarm of angry locusts.
There wasn't a single person capable of fighting among our civilian crew. Within minutes, the sounds of scuffling died down as the sailors were tightly hogtied with thick ropes, thrown onto the deck one after another like caught fish.
I was secretly watching all of this unfold from the dark shadows of the stairwell. Hmm, this is bad. These aren't just hungry scavengers; they're real, battle-hardened pirates...
"Uwaaah! P-Please help! Take the cargo, but just spare my life!!" one of the sailors begged, his face pressed against the floorboards.
"Shut up! Keep quiet!" a pirate snarled, kicking the sailor in the ribs. "If you make any more noise, I'll kill you right here! Where's the valuable cargo kept!?"
"B-Back of the deck... down the stairs... in the main hold..."
"Hehehe, is that so. Good boy."
Listening to the exchange, it seemed the pirates' primary goal was plundering, not mindless murder.
The fact that the crew members were being tied up instead of immediately slaughtered was solid proof of that. However, the brave ones who had put up a fight were currently groaning in pain, having been lightly slashed on the arms or shoulders by cutlasses...
So they definitely wouldn't hesitate to kill depending on the situation. Makes sense.
Now then, what should I do...
The absolute smartest, most logical choice for my own survival would be to stay perfectly hidden in the shadows like this, holding my breath until the pirates loaded up their ship and left.
I was a dwarf. I was barely twenty centimeters tall and an incredibly fast runner.
If I seriously decided to run and hide in the walls or beneath the floorboards, no human pirate on this ship would ever be able to find me or catch me.
"...But if I do that, all the ship's cargo will be stolen by those thugs..." I reasoned with myself, tapping my chin.
It would be one thing if they only took the gold, jewels, and trade goods. I didn't care about the captain's wallet. But if they ruthlessly steal all the food and fresh water as well, that would be a little... no, completely disastrous for me.
If I get tossed out into the middle of the unforgiving sea on an empty, drifting ghost ship with nothing but the clothes on my back and no apples to eat, I will one hundred percent die of starvation. It's not like there's a convenient, floating restaurant out here on the ocean. This is a very grave, life-threatening situation.
"...Besides, there's no guarantee the pirates won't decide to sink the ship and hurt our crew members just for fun before they leave..."
Can't be helped... It's a little scary since I'm vastly outnumbered, but I guess I'll try my hand at some good old-fashioned pirate extermination...? If it looks impossible or I get overwhelmed, I can always just run away then. I'm a Tontatta dwarf, after all. It'll be fine, it'll be fine.
The pirates, eagerly aiming for the cargo, stomped down the stairs at the back of the deck, their heavy boots thudding against the wood as they headed directly toward the cargo hold where I was currently hiding.
I quickly darted behind a stack of rum barrels and secretly followed them. It's fine. I haven't been spotted. I'm one with the shadows.
They reached the dimly lit cargo hold, their eyes gleaming with greed as they saw the crates of supplies.
The pirates' guard naturally dropped as they sheathed their weapons and reached for the loot... Seizing that split-second opening, I struck!
Swish! Swish! Swish-swish-swish!!
Moving like an invisible bullet, I dashed through the group.
"Hm? Huh!? Where the hell did my sword go!!" one pirate gasped, grabbing at an empty scabbard.
"Whoa!? My jacket too... and my pants! What the!? They're disappearing one after another!?" another shrieked, suddenly standing in his boots and nothing else.
"What the hell is going on!? Uwaaah! Even my underwear disappeared!? I feel a breeze!"
Hehehehe! See that! The masterful snatching techniques I honed on the streets of Dressrosa! I haven't been acting as an invisible phantom thief fairy for years just for show. With a speed that the human eye couldn't even process, I completely disarmed and stripped the pirates one after another, tossing their clothes and weapons into a neat pile in the corner.
"Gyaaaah!?"
"What is this! It's a monster! A ghost of the sea!"
"Hiiii! I've been stripped bare! Have mercy!"
"Help me! It's terrifying!"
The pirates panicked, bumping into each other and showing clear signs of absolute terror toward the invisible "something" haunting the hold.
Alright! Now's the time for the finishing blow!
"Original Tontatta Combat... Jaw Tail!!"
Smack-smack-smack-smack!!
""""!!!""""
Jumping up while spinning like a top, I used the dense, powerful muscles of my fluffy tail to deliver rapid-fire slaps directly to the pirates' exposed jaws.
Shake the jaw, and you violently shake the brain.
Having lost consciousness instantly from the concussive force, the naked pirates collapsed onto the floor, their eyes rolling back.
"Phew! This was technically my very first time fighting real pirates in life-or-death combat, but it's surprisingly manageable! Hehehe!"
Alright! Alright! I'm amazing! I cheered in a hushed whisper, jumping up and down while pumping my tiny fists in celebration.
Suddenly, the heavy wooden door creaked open, and a massive, muscular man—a full size larger and wider than the pirates I had just defeated—ducked his head to enter the cargo hold.
"You guys are way too slow! How long is it going to take you to load a few... What in the world is this disaster!?"
Seeing his entire boarding party lying naked and unconscious on the floor, the muscular man raised his booming voice in sheer disbelief.
Ah... Could it be... Are you the boss of this pirate crew? He was wearing a very stereotypical, extravagant pirate captain's hat, he had a giant anchor tattoo on his chest, and his intimidating aura felt somewhat strong, so there was absolutely no mistake.
"Hm...? A dwarf?" The captain's sharp eyes darted around the room and immediately locked onto my tiny form standing amidst the bodies. "Don't tell me... a little rat like you is the one who took out my subordinates!?"
"Ah, crap, I've been spotted..."
This was no time to be hopping around celebrating. I messed up. I stopped moving. He glared at me sharply, pulling a massive, curved cutlass from his hip. His eyes were terrifying, filled with the bloodlust of a seasoned killer.
"I won't forgive you! I'll chop you to pieces, you little brat!!" he roared.
"Whoops!"
The muscular man lunged forward, slashing the heavy sword at me without a moment's hesitation, intending to cleave me in two.
But... you're too slow!!
"We Tontatta Tribe have mobility that you lumbering humans can't even compare to! Hehehe! You can take a nap just like your subordinates!"
Saying that, I easily dodged the sluggish blade and leaped directly at his face while spinning, intending to hit the muscular captain with a swift "Jaw Tail" to end the fight... but in that exact moment—
Grab!!
"Eh...!"
My vision suddenly went dark. Before I even realized what had happened, my entire body was tightly, inescapably grasped by the muscular man's massive, calloused hand.
Huh? What? What just happened? He didn't even move his arm; it was like an invisible force pulled me right into his palm!
"Gwahaha! You fool! You let your guard down!" the captain laughed triumphantly, bringing his fist up to his face so he could sneer at me through the gaps in his fingers. "I ate the Grip-Grip Fruit, making me a Gripping Human! Whether it's a speeding bullet, a cannonball, or a fast little rat like you, I can instantaneously and forcefully grip absolutely anything that fits within the palm of my hand!"
"...!! So you were an ability user..." I groaned, feeling my ribs creak under the immense pressure.
There it was. The mysterious, rule-breaking power of a Devil Fruit. Isn't this an absolute cheat in close combat? I wonder how many times Leo has stitched me down to the floor because of unfair abilities like this...
"Gwahaha! You seemed pretty damn proud of your speed a second ago, but once I grip you like this, you're just a powerless, fragile little toy! Now then, what should I do with you? Crush you to death right now? Or maybe I'll sell a rare dwarf off to the Sabaody slave market for a massive profit? Gwahahahahaha!"
"...Sorry to interrupt your cliché villainous laugh," I wheezed, glaring up at his giant, ugly eye, "but isn't your grip a little weak for a pirate captain?"
"Hah...?" The captain blinked, his laughter dying down.
I took a deep breath, planted my tiny feet against his thumb, and gathered strength throughout my entire body. I focused every ounce of my Tontatta muscle density. When I pushed, the muscular man's thick fingers slowly, gradually began to pry open, trembling under the sheer force.
"W-What the!? How are you doing that!?" the captain gasped, his face turning red as he tried to squeeze his hand shut with both arms.
"Hehehe... Speed isn't the only thing... we Tontatta Tribe are proud of...!!"
Because of our incredibly small size, we dwarves were often thought to be weak, delicate fairies by ignorant humans. But our physical power was terrifyingly stronger than that of normal humans.
A trained Tontatta warrior possesses enough raw strength to easily collapse a human-sized brick house with a single punch.
I'll easily slip out of this giant, useless palm... Slip out... Slip... Guh, grrr...!! Wait, it's actually pretty tight!? What kind of monstrous grip strength does this guy have!? Damn you! Full power!!
"Funnnggggghhh!!!" I roared, pushing with my arms and legs simultaneously.
"Gwooooh!? T-That's impossible!" the captain screamed, sweat pouring down his face as his fingers were violently bent backward. "I am a fearsome pirate of the New World!! There's no way I can't hold down... a single, pathetic dwarf...!!"
"Doryaaaaaahhh!!!"
I got out!! It was close, but I managed to slip out somehow!!
"Gaaah! My fingers!" the captain howled in pain, stumbling backward.
How dare you grip me with that greasy, stinking, unwashed hand of yours!?
I stomped down hard on his open palm to break his grip. Using the solid surface of his hand as a springboard before he could react, I jumped high up into the air, flipping over his head and swinging my tail down with maximum velocity while spinning.
"Tontatta Combat... Tail Hammer!!"
BA-BOOOOOM!!!
"!!!!"
My tail connected directly with the crown of his skull. It was a flawless, one-hit KO that practically caved in the solid oak floor beneath his boots!
The muscular captain's eyes rolled completely back into his head, blood spurting from his nose, and he lost consciousness instantly, collapsing like a felled redwood tree.
Alright, I win. Never underestimate a dwarf.
Having successfully knocked out the captain and all his pirates, I scurried up the stairs and went back out to the sunlit deck with a sharp kitchen knife in one hand.
Then, moving at a speed the human eye couldn't follow, I zipped between the hostages, swiftly cutting the heavy ropes binding our ship's crew, who had been tied up round and round like sausages.
"Eh?"
"What?"
"The ropes... they just snapped..."
Suddenly freed from their bonds, the civilian crew members looked around in absolute confusion, rubbing their chafed wrists, completely unaware of the miracle that had just occurred.
Eventually, the brave first mate timidly stepped down the stairs into the cargo hold to investigate, and he discovered the fully unconscious, battered captain and the pile of naked pirates.
"Eh!? H-Heeey! Captain! Everyone!" the first mate yelled up to the deck. "The pirates are all knocked out! All of them! Even their boss!"
"Ehhh!? Why!?" the crew shouted in unison, rushing down the stairs.
For some inexplicable reason, the terrifying pirates were completely unconscious. And more than half of them were stark naked, their clothes folded neatly in the corner.
The crew didn't really understand what kind of divine intervention had saved them, but realizing, Now's our chance!, they quickly grabbed the discarded ropes and tied up all the pirates securely.
Working together with renewed vigor, they dragged the unconscious bodies back up the stairs, tossed the bound men roughly back onto their own ship, and just left them there on the deck. They even kicked the grappling hooks away to separate the vessels.
The cargo ship's sails caught the wind, and we started moving forward again, leaving the pirate ship drifting aimlessly in our wake.
...Wait, is it really okay to just leave them there drifting? You don't need to arrest them or hand the pirates over to the Marines for a bounty? You don't. You really don't. Because dealing with Marine paperwork and investigations is a massive hassle when you have a delivery schedule to keep. I understand.
"Still, Captain, why do you think all those terrifying pirates were knocked out down there?" the first mate asked, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Looking at that absolute disaster of a scene, they probably got greedy and fought amongst themselves over who gets the best cargo," the captain nodded sagely, stroking his beard.
"What a bunch of greedy idiots! Hahahaha!"
"That's just how pirates are! No honor among thieves! Fuhahaha!"
...They're so incredibly carefree. Ignorance really is bliss. Regardless, my first real pirate extermination was successfully completed without being discovered by the crew.
I didn't fight to be thanked or treated like a hero, so it's probably better to just stay hidden in the shadows like this. It would be way more troublesome if they found out a Tontatta dwarf was illegally stowing away on their ship and eating their rations, after all.
I quietly slipped away and hid inside the dark cargo hold once again.
...Still, where exactly is this ship heading? I'm honestly starting to miss the feeling of solid, dry land beneath my feet...
When I jumped aboard back in Dressrosa, I had completely assumed this fast-moving cargo ship was heading to the closest neighboring island on a short trade route, but I never expected to be traveling across the open sea for this many days.
To think the massive drawback of blindly boarding a ship would catch up to me so soon...
Later that evening, as I was pilfering some of the ship's food stores, munching quietly on a green apple that had unfortunately lost some of its crispness, I faintly overheard a serious conversation between the captain and his navigator through the floorboards above me.
"We're almost at our final destination, Captain. The wind is favorable."
"Yeah, I can see the outline. Listen, I'm sure you guys know this without me telling you, but make sure you keep your heads down and don't look anyone in the eye once we dock in Mary Geoise."
"We know, Captain. If we accidentally anger one of the Celestial Dragons up there, it'll be a massive, life-ending disaster for all of us, after all."
"I just want to hand over this tribute cargo quickly, get our clearance papers, and get the hell out of there before we breathe the wrong way."
...Huh? Mary Geoise? You mean... the Holy Land? The absolute summit of the Red Line where the World Nobles live? I had just heard some incredibly dangerous words that threatened to turn my relaxing voyage into a waking nightmare. But, deciding to pretend I didn't hear them for now to protect my own sanity, I took another bite and stubbornly finished eating my apple in the dark.
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