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Chapter 19: Listruck (Squirreltruck Ship)
Several grueling, sweat-soaked months had passed since the incident at Mary Geoise...
I underwent Haki training with Ray-san! More Haki training! Endless, bone-breaking Haki training...!
We spent weeks in the rocky clearings behind the mangrove groves, pushing my tiny Tontatta body far beyond its natural limits. I was bruised, battered, and constantly exhausted. But through sheer willpower and countless beatings, I somehow successfully managed to earn the status of Full Mastery from the legendary Dark King himself.
"Hmph, it's quite rare for one's Haki colors to be so remarkably lopsided..." Ray-san mused, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow and taking a swig from his flask. "But considering your unique fighting style, I suppose this will suffice for now."
"Yessss!!" I pumped my tiny fists in the air, collapsing backward onto the grass in sheer relief.
As Ray-san had taught me, there are three main types of Haki. Armament Haki, Observation Haki, and Conqueror's Haki.
Armament is primarily an offensive and defensive application of spiritual energy. By coating yourself in an invisible armor of Haki, you can drastically increase your physical power and durability. If you truly master it, apparently you can harden parts of your body to a dense, iron-black color, or even project the energy to destroy objects from the inside out.
...But I am hopelessly, tragically bad at this specific Haki. Right now, I can barely manage to coat my fists, my tail, and the tools I'm holding in a thin layer of invisible armor, and doing even that takes every ounce of concentration I have. But well, since achieving this bare minimum means I can finally land physical attacks on Logia-type Devil Fruit users like Aokiji, Ray-san gave me a passing grade. Barely.
Next is Observation Haki, the power to sense the spiritual presences, emotions, and intents of others.
I was actually pretty damn good at this one. I mean, back in my Dressrosa days, I survived by reading people's presences and predicting their movements just to steal panties and bras without getting caught! You really never know what incredibly questionable life skills will end up paying off in the long run. Now, if I close my eyes and hyper-focus my consciousness, I can even clearly predict the future a few seconds ahead. Future sight! I felt like a genuine Jedi!
Finally, Conqueror's Haki. The disposition of a king.
This is a special, innate Haki that only one in several million people is born with, allowing them to exert their sheer willpower over others. ...Unfortunately, no matter how hard I flexed or glared at the local wildlife, I couldn't knock out a single squirrel. I didn't have the aptitude for it, so no comment on that.
It's not like I'm frustrated or anything! Who wants to be a king anyway!?
"It's fine, Line," Ray-san chuckled, seeing my slight pout. He knelt down and patted my head with a massive, calloused finger. "Even if you can't use Conqueror's Haki, you are still my proud disciple... no, my proud son. With your level of Observation Haki and your natural Tontatta speed, you could easily hold your own against the commanders of the Four Emperors. Have more confidence in yourself."
Having Ray-san, a guy who can probably knock out an entire army just by blinking with Conqueror's Haki, tell me that isn't exactly comforting...
—————
And so, my hellish Haki training finally came to an end.
Soon after, I received a report that the custom vessel I had commissioned was finally complete.
"It's finally here! My ship!"
My training was done, and my ride was ready. With this, I could finally set sail, navigate beneath the Red Line, and set off for Dressrosa. Bouncing with uncontainable excitement, I raced through the lawless zones until I arrived at the Grove 52 Shipyard. The smell of fresh varnish and sawdust filled the air.
Now, what kind of magnificent, stealthy pirate-hunting ship did they build me~?
"How about it, little bro? Pretty damn good ship, ain't it?"
The burly shipyard old man crossed his massive arms, showing off the completed vessel resting in the dry dock with an incredibly smug look on his face.
Yeah... I think the craftsmanship is good...
It was properly scaled down to a Tontatta-sized vessel, measuring just a few feet long but intricately detailed. The reinforced wood hull looked incredibly sturdy. But staring at the final product, there was a lot to unpack here...
"Old man, first of all, why the hell is the figurehead a 'squirrel'!?" I pointed an accusing finger at the bow.
Right at the very front of the ship, expertly carved from expensive wood, was an object shaped exactly like an incredibly round, chibi squirrel.
"Cute, ain't it?" the old man grinned, flashing a thumbs-up.
"It is cute, but that's not the point! A ship meant for navigating the treacherous New World doesn't need to be cute, right!?"
I'm not done calling you out!
"There are massive rubber tires bolted to the bottom of the hull!"
"Yeah, it's a fully amphibious model. This ship can run on dry land too. It's a total bargain, right?"
I do not understand the logistical point of a ship running on land. If I'm on land, I'll just walk!
"And the absolute cherry on top is this! Why is there a massive, edgy skull mark drawn on the main sail!?"
"Because you're going out to sea to be a pirate, right, little bro?" The old man looked genuinely confused. "If you're a pirate, then a skull mark is strictly essential. I even designed a custom jolly roger for you!"
"I don't need it! And I'm not becoming one! A pirate, that is!!"
I just wanted a fast, stealthy ship to secretly go back to Dressrosa and check on my family! Why did you take the liberty of adding all this highly conspicuous, unnecessary stuff!?
"Fix it! Get rid of the squirrel and paint over the skull!"
"Hey, I already finished the job. If you want me to do renovations and fix it, it'll cost a hefty additional fee. Is that alright with your wallet?"
"Nuoooaaahh!? What kind of extortionist scam is that!?"
Left with absolutely no choice and a bleeding budget, I gave the green light for the current, ridiculous design.
I have no choice... I already spent almost all my savings on the deposit and the premium wood...
"So this is my ship..." I sighed, dropping my shoulders in defeat.
"Her name is the 'Listruck', little bro. Treat her well."
"Don't just name my ship whatever you want..."
Well, anyway, I finally had a ship. There were a lot of things I deeply despised about its aesthetic... but I would just have to swallow my pride and compromise! Design is secondary. The real problem is whether it can actually survive the crushing pressures of the deep ocean.
As I was standing on the dock, staring at the Listruck from a distance with flat, half-lidded eyes...
"Oho, so this is Line's newly completed ship. ...It's a squirrel."
Ray-san strode down the wooden pier, a heavy toolkit slung over his shoulder and a coating resin bubble floating next to him. I had promised him beforehand that he would be the one to coat the ship in Yarukiman resin once the construction was finished.
Over the past few months, he's ruthlessly beaten Haki into me and taken care of my well-being in so many unspoken ways.
...I'll definitely, truly repay him someday.
"Alright then, I'll get started on the coating process right away," Ray-san said, examining the hull. "Line, a standard coating usually takes about two to three days... but for a ship of this minuscule size, I might be able to finish the job in one day if I push it."
"Thanks, Ray-san. I'll leave all the technical stuff to the professional."
"Yeah, leave it to me. Go rest."
Leaving the coating process entirely in Ray-san's capable hands, I headed back through the lawless zones to Shakky's Rip-off Bar for the time being.
—————
"Ah, welcome back, Big Brother," Esune smiled brightly as I pushed the door open.
"Welcome back, Line-chan. Was the ship finished? How did it turn out?" Shakky asked from behind the counter, polishing a glass.
"Yeah. It was a squirrel."
"A squirrel?" Shakky blinked, pausing her polishing.
For the one to three days it would take Ray-san to finish the resin coating, my schedule was completely wide open. I figured I would take a well-deserved break from the grueling Haki training and just relax my aching muscles for a bit.
"As the great Goku once said, you should rest properly at the end of your training," I muttered, hopping up onto a barstool.
"Who is Goku?" Esune tilted her head, thoroughly confused by my Earth references.
While munching on the crisp rabbit-shaped apples Esune had carefully sliced for me, I reflected on the chaotic eight years that had passed since I bolted from Dressrosa.
Yeah... come to think of it, I've spent almost my entire second life just hiding out here on the Sabaody Archipelago.
I had originally set out to sea to find the Huge Huge Fruit so I could become a normal-sized human. I never did find it. But once I sneak into Dressrosa and confirm that everyone is safe from Doflamingo, I'll set out on a proper journey to track that Devil Fruit down again.
"...So, Big Brother," Esune started, her voice suddenly growing quiet. "Once the ship's coating is completely done... are you finally leaving?"
"Yep." I swallowed a bite of apple, giving her a gentle smile. "This might be the very last time I get to eat your apples, Esune. Heheh."
"...If you take me with you, I'll cut apples for you every single day, you know?" she offered, her rabbit ears drooping sadly.
"I told you. Going into a Warlord's territory is incredibly dangerous. This is my own selfish journey to ease my own anxiety. That's why I absolutely cannot take you with me."
"..."
For the past few days, ever since I announced my departure, Esune had been desperately trying to find a way to come with me. I kept telling her that the New World was a sea of monsters, and I couldn't guarantee her safety...
"I-I...! If I transform into my full rabbit form, I'll be just as small as you! So I can easily fit on your ship!" she pleaded, slamming her hands on the counter.
"Just because you can physically fit doesn't mean you can tag along."
"I'll do the cooking, the laundry, any chores you need!"
"You still can't come."
"I can even fight now! I won't be a burden!"
"No~pe."
Esune bit her lip, her face flushing a deep crimson as she played her final, desperate trump card. She leaned over the counter, intentionally letting her loose top slip to reveal a generous amount of cleavage.
"My boobs... you can play with them as much as you want?"
"..."
"Line-chan, freezing up with your mouth open like that makes you look really uncool," Shakky sighed, resting her chin on her hand.
Damn it, trying to flawlessly negotiate using boobs is a remarkably dirty trick...
Lately, ever since our 'talk' in my room, Esune has fully realized the destructive power of her sex appeal. Before I know it, she's flashing her cleavage at me to win arguments. ...Don't go doing that to other guys, geez.
"Shakky, give me the newspaper," I coughed, desperately averting my eyes and waving my hand vaguely to change the subject.
"Yes, yes." Shakky chuckled, tossing a rolled-up paper onto the counter. "It makes me feel like a proud mother to see Line-chan, who used to hate reading the news, finally realizing the vital importance of gathering worldly information."
"..."
Ever since I read that horrifying article about the Seven Warlords a few months ago, I started meticulously skimming the newspaper every single day. I figured there might be an article detailing the political state of Dressrosa... or maybe some news about Doflamingo's movements.
...So far, I haven't found a single major lead, though...
"Let's see here..." I unrolled the paper, scanning the bold headlines. "'Captain' Kid. Massacring civilians again... huh. Haa, the top news is just these violent rookie pirates again..."
As expected of the Great Pirate Era... or something...
The front page of the World Economy News Paper was almost always covered in horrific reports of damage caused by the worst of the worst traversing the Grand Line.
"Captain" Eustass Kid.
"Straw Hat" Monkey D. Luffy.
"Magician" Basil Hawkins.
"Red Flag" X Drake.
"Surgeon of Death" Trafalgar Law.
These guys in particular were regular features in the breaking news sections. They were currently making a massive name for themselves, often talked about as the crazy rookies of the 'Worst Generation'. Oh, so scary, so scary.
"Fufu, the articles about the Straw Hat Pirates are always so incredibly entertaining to read," Shakky hummed happily, leaning over to read over my tiny shoulder.
"..."
Front-page news of massive, destructive incidents caused by violent pirates...
And Shakky is reading those casualty reports and giggling like a schoolgirl.
...To say I'm put off is a massive understatement.
For whatever crazy, inexplicable reason, this terrifying former pirate's current hobby was 'stanning' the new generation of pirates. Her absolute favorite right now seemed to be the Straw Hat crew.
"Yeah. That weird fan-club hobby of yours is the one thing about you I truly can't understand, Shakky," I deadpanned.
"I wholeheartedly agree..." Esune nodded slowly.
"By the way, Esune, you don't have a favorite pirate or anything you're secretly rooting for, right?" I asked, looking up at her.
"Eh? Me... let's see." Esune tapped her chin thoughtfully, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "I'd have to say the 'Invisible Phantom Thief' is my absolute favorite."
"That's me!! I'm not a pirate!!" I yelled, throwing my hands up in exasperation.
"Ahaha!"
While we were all chatting, laughing, and reading the newspaper in the quiet afternoon light, the brass bell on the shop's entrance door suddenly chimed with a loud clatter.
A customer? I should hide for a sec just in case it's the Marines or bounty hunters. I quickly dove behind a large bottle of rum on the counter. And so, from the safety of the shadows, I peeked out to evaluate the customer who had just entered...
"Nyu~~. Are Rayleigh and Shakky here?"
A tall, pinkish-skinned man with a bandage slapped haphazardly on his forehead walked into the shop. He was wearing an open shirt with the number 8 printed on it, and he possessed a long, protruding mouth that looked like a trumpet.
A Fish-Man... maybe? Probably an octopus type based on the suction cups.
Seeing this bizarre octopus guy, Shakky's eyes instantly lit up with genuine delight.
"Oh my, Hatchan!? It's been what, ten years? Long time no see!"
"Nyu~~, it's certainly been a while, Shakky."
Apparently, they actually knew each other. Since she said it had been ten years, maybe he was a regular customer from the era before I even started working here...?
But my attention quickly shifted. Because this octopus guy hadn't come alone. He had brought a massive, chaotic entourage with him into the bar.
A cute, energetic mermaid girl.
A butt-ugly, talking Starfy wearing a rasta hat.
A cute, walking tanuki wearing a pink top hat.
A towering, walking afro skeleton wearing a gentleman's suit.
And... the guy from the front page of the newspaper. Straw Hat Luffy.
Yeah... wait.
"THE SKELETON IS MOVINGGGGG!!?"
Before I could process the logic of the situation, I was screaming at the absolute top of my lungs, completely abandoning my hiding spot.
I wasn't screaming at Straw Hat Luffy, the currently trending 300-million Berry pirate who had just barged into our shop... I was screaming at the literal, undead afro skeleton casually walking right behind him.
"What the!? Where did that voice come from?"
At the sudden sound of my tiny voice echoing across the room, Straw Hat Luffy looked around the bar frantically, his eyes wide with childlike curiosity.
Crap. I yelled without thinking and blew my cover.
Why the hell am I panicking over a skeleton anyway? This is the Grand Line. He's obviously just a Devil Fruit user. A skeleton human who ate the Bone-Bone Fruit or something. Get a grip, Line!
As I was holding a rapid-fire, mysterious reflection meeting in my own head to calm myself down...
"There you are!"
"Whoa!?"
Straw Hat Luffy's arm suddenly stretched out across the room with a cartoonish biyoooon sound. His rubbery hand clamped down and firmly grabbed my entire body off the counter.
What the heck, this guy is a Devil Fruit user too!? My tiny appearance was completely exposed as he reeled his arm back, holding me up to the light in front of the entire Straw Hat crew.
"Gununu... To spot my perfect stealth on your first try, you're not half bad! Straw Hat Luffy!" I grunted, struggling against his tight rubber grip.
"What is this guy? He's so tiny," Luffy marveled, poking my cheek with a finger. "Is it a stuffed toy?"
"Who the hell are you calling a stuffed toy!!"
"Bugeh!?"
Since he had the audacity to call me a toy and handle me like one, I immediately coated my fluffy tail in the Armament Haki I had just spent months learning and violently smacked him directly across the face.
Luffy dropped me, stumbling backward and clutching his cheek. "Ouch! But I'm made of rubber!? That actually hurt! What the heck are you!?"
"Me?" I landed gracefully on the counter, crossing my arms with a confident smirk. "My name is Line! And as you can clearly see, I'm a proud dwarf!"
"Whoa!? A dwarf!? It's my first time seeing a real one!?" The entire Straw Hat crew swarmed around the counter, their eyes sparkling with stars as they examined me.
No, look in a mirror! You guys are way weirder creatures than I am...
Especially the talking starfish, the reindeer-tanuki thing, and the literal skeleton!
"Nyu~~. So, Shakky, what's the deal with these two?"
Slithering several hidden, suction-cup-lined arms out from under his shirt, the octopus Fish-Man pointed at me and Esune, who had stepped up to stand defensively beside me.
"Fufu, well now... What do you think they are? Hatchan," Shakky smiled mischievously, resting her elbows on the counter.
"...Part-timers?"
"Incorrect. They are Ray-san's and my children."
"NYUUUUU!!?"
The octopus called Hatchan was so utterly shocked his eyes nearly popped clean out of his skull.
Well, yeah, anyone who knows Ray-san would be surprised by that lie. At least add the word 'adopted' to make it believable, Shakky.
"I-I see. Well then! My name is Hatchan. Just call me 'Hachi'." Still recovering from the shock, he extended two right hands toward Esune and me. "I'm a bit of an old acquaintance with your parents."
We shook hands to be polite. Given my size, I just tightly gripped Hachi's pinky finger.
"My name's Line. Nice ta meetcha, Hachi."
"E-Esune... Nice to meet you. Hachi-san..." Esune bowed politely.
Well, if he's an old acquaintance of Shakky's, I guess we can trust him for now.
More importantly...
Munch, munch, munch, munch.
"Ah, Shakky-san. These boiled beans are incredibly delicious," a polite voice echoed from the corner.
"WHY ARE YOU GUYS RAIDING SOMEONE ELSE'S FRIDGE WITHOUT PERMISSION!?" I shrieked, pointing wildly.
In the brief split second I had looked away to shake hands, Straw Hat Luffy and the tall skeleton had casually wandered behind the counter, opened our private fridge, and were happily eating whatever leftovers they could find.
"Ahaha... it's fine, it's fine. Do as you like. I don't charge Hatchan's friends," Shakky laughed, waving a dismissive hand.
Are you kidding me!? When I raided the fridge without permission, she violently beat me and made me work as a bouncer for free for two years... the blatant favoritism is sickening!
"By the way, Skeleton! Where does the food you eat even go!?" I yelled, utterly baffled by the biology of the undead.
"Yohohoho! It's quite mysterious, isn't it? The food just vanishes, even though I don't have a stomach! Yohohohoho~!"
For a terrifying skeleton, he's awfully cheerful. It actually makes him even creepier... I'd rather not get involved with him if at all possible.
Just as I was thinking that...
"Yohohoho... ho?"
The skeleton stopped laughing. His empty eye sockets locked directly onto Esune. ...Well, he obviously doesn't have eyeballs since he's a skeleton, but the intent was clear...
He slowly stepped away from the fridge, approaching her with the grace of a gentleman.
"You there, beautiful young lady."
"Eh? M-Me...?" Esune blinked, taking a cautious step back.
"..."
"..."
The bar fell dead silent.
"May I see your panti—Gah!?"
Esune's leg whipped up in a silent, flawless arc. Her heel landed squarely on the skeleton's jaw with a bone-rattling crack, sending him flying backward into the wall.
...Yeah. I wonder why. I watched him slide down the wall. I suddenly feel a deep, profound sense of kinship with this skeleton. A man's hopeless perversion truly transcends race and biology.
"Yohoho... cough... How incredibly strict!" Brook groaned, rubbing his cracked jaw.
"What is wrong with you!? Mr. Bone!" Esune yelled, her face bright red as she held her skirt down.
"P-Panties..." Brook reached out a trembling, bony hand.
"I won't show you!!"
"...By the way, these are Esune's panties." Flutter, flutter.
I casually held up a pair of white, frilly cotton panties, letting them flutter in the bar's ambient breeze.
"NYAAAAA!? Why do you have those!? Big Brother!!" Esune shrieked, her hands flying to her hips in horror.
"I snatched them in an instant, just like always. You know it well," I bragged, puffing out my chest. "The Tontatta-Style Snatching Technique! Combined with my newly mastered Observation Haki, the speed and stealth have been drastically powered up."
"Give them back! Give them back!"
Smack! Esune hit me over the head, snatched her panties back from my hands, and bolted for the employee bathroom in the back.
She went to put them on. Understandable.
"Yohohoho~! That is truly magnificent, Mr. Dwarf!"
The skeleton scrambled to his feet, his non-existent eyes practically sparkling with tears of awe at my brilliant technique. He rushed over to the counter, bowing deeply.
"Please, you must! I beg of you! Teach me that Snatching Technique!"
"Oh, Mr. Skeleton." I smirked, crossing my tiny arms. "Do you have a professional interest in the art of panty-snatching?"
"Absolutely! It is my dream!"
"You... you're a massive, irredeemable pervert even though you're a literal skeleton."
"No, no, I pale in comparison to a master like you, Mr. Dwarf."
"Fuhehehehehehe~!"
"Yohohohohohoho~!"
Recognizing a fellow man of culture, we clinked my tiny cup of apple juice and his stolen glass of milk together in a toast.
"...Wait! No, no, no! Why am I getting buddy-buddy with a terrifying skeleton!?" I suddenly snapped out of it, shaking my head to clear the camaraderie.
"What's wrong with that! We can be the best of skeleton friends! Yohohohoho~! Shall we sing to celebrate our new bond? Let's sing!"
"I'm not singing with you!"
"Ah, Binks's Sake~♪" Brook began to play an invisible violin, his voice surprisingly rich and soulful.
"We're coming to deliver~♪" I found myself singing along perfectly in tune. "Wait, huh!?"
"Yohohohohohoho~!" Thud! Brook laughed so hard he fell over.
Because Ray-san constantly hums that exact song around the bar when he's drunk, the lyrics were ingrained in my memory and I instinctively ended up singing along. What a blunder!
Straw Hat Luffy watched our entire ridiculous exchange from the fridge, laughing uproariously as he shoved a piece of ham into his mouth.
"Ahhyahyahya! You guys are hilarious! Hey, Loin!"
"It's Line!"
Luffy swallowed his food and pointed a rubbery finger right at me, a massive, unyielding grin on his face.
"You, join my crew!"
"...Huh? No way."
Like hell I would. Become a pirate, that is.
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