October 7, 1500, Age of the Sea Circle
Staring at the sudden flood of points he had earned after killing the aggressive sea serpent, Orion was left completely dumbfounded. Never before had he received such an immense amount of SP, not even when completing difficult missions or when he had stood at the very edge of death.
To gain so many SP so abruptly was astonishing, but in a strange way it also felt almost insulting. Had killing such a weak beast really granted him this many points?! Then what had been the point of struggling so much to complete difficult missions?
Still, that indignation was only a fleeting thought, quickly swept aside by a surge of joy. After all, who wouldn't want to suddenly receive such a massive amount of valuable SP? It was like winning the lottery!
Even so, Orion read the notification again, the one that stated he had changed the future of the "Main Character." At this moment, the young Orion was in control of the body, and he did not have access to the memories of his past life on Earth. For that reason, he knew nothing about this new Main Character who had suddenly appeared.
Yet the moment he saw the full name of this individual, Orion immediately noticed something: this person bore the same family name as Dragon and Garp!
What were the chances of that being mere coincidence? In little Orion's mind, the possibility was zero, and he immediately concluded that the Main Character must be Dragon's son. At only ten years old, his thoughts were not nearly as intricate as those of his adult self, but by pure chance he had stumbled onto the correct conclusion.
Still floating in the water, Orion opened the system screen to check his current location on the map and to see if there was any marker indicating the presence of Monkey D. Luffy nearby.
When he brought up the system map, he found himself surrounded entirely by unexplored territory, his position represented only as a small white dot surrounded by darkness. Orion zoomed the map outward until he finally located a reference point for his location. From there, with a quick inference, he deduced that he was currently in the East Blue. That puzzled him—why would Dragon's son be here when his father was in the Grand Line? But he thought perhaps he was being cared for by his mother.
Orion did not dwell too much on the matter and instead turned his attention to the visible markers nearby. There were only four of them, and none belonged to Dragon's son. They were: Makino (11), Woop Slap (47), Gyoru (31), and Chicken (28).
By noting the direction in which these markers appeared on the map, Orion calculated that, under good sailing conditions, it would take him only a couple of days to reach them. Without hesitation, he decided to go take a look rather than return straight to Pacific Kingdom.
Just as his adult self had done when he had traveled to the West Blue, he could not allow the opportunity to investigate this place slip by, nor the chance to see if he might recruit someone talented for his kingdom.
Orion pulled a small sailboat from his inventory, and after setting a course for the island where these Named Characters resided, he began to sail at full speed.
Sitting on the deck of the boat, Orion shivered slightly from his wet clothes. Without delay, he opened a door in the air to retrieve a change of clothes from his Pocket Dimension. However, the two girls who had been waiting impatiently inside the small alternate space seized the chance and bolted out the instant they saw an opening.
Black Maria and Hatsume suddenly appeared on the deck, startling young Orion. Both girls raised their arms in delight, savoring the warm rays of the sun on their skin. Hatsume had not suffered too much—after all, she had only been confined in the Pocket Dimension for half a month—but Maria had been in there for almost two months!
Though the Pocket Dimension provided ample supplies and absolute safety, it was still difficult to endure staying there for so long, cut off from the real world by an impenetrable barrier. Over the past months, Maria had nearly developed claustrophobia, and she did not want to return to that space again.
The two girls enjoyed the sun and fresh air for a few moments, but soon their eyes fell on Orion, and they rushed toward him at full speed.
"Orion! Are you okay?" both girls cried out in unison, almost as if they had been practicing it.
Orion had only regained access to the system a few minutes earlier, and he hadn't yet had time to check on the situation with the two girls. They had witnessed his battle with Kaido and his brutal defeat, and even now they were still worried for Orion's well-being, despite how fine he appeared to be.
"All good!" Orion said, flashing a thumbs-up along with a smile that he believed looked cool. But with the gaps left by his missing teeth, it didn't appear nearly as impressive as he had hoped.
For some reason, when the two girls saw his utterly carefree expression, they both felt a flicker of irritation and an urge to smack him on the head. They had been dying of worry for weeks, yet Orion seemed as cheerful and carefree as ever. No—he was even more carefree than usual!
They had never interacted with little Orion before, nor did they even know of his existence, so although they sensed that there was something odd about him, they couldn't quite identify what it was.
"Don't worry too much. Right now we're in the East Blue. We'll make a brief stop here, and then we'll head back home," Orion said while undressing to change his clothes.
"A brief stop? … Wait, what are you doing?!" Maria cried, covering her eyes in embarrassment at the sight of Orion's naked body, while he stood before them without the slightest hint of shame.
Slap!
Hatsume promptly smacked him on the shoulder—not too hard—and spoke with a trace of embarrassment.
"Can't you change somewhere else?"
Orion raised his eyebrows in surprise, not understanding why they were so flustered.
"Hatsume, if I remember correctly, you once said you'd already seen me naked and that it didn't matter if you came into my room without knocking," young Orion said, recalling what had happened during their days together in Wano.
"I was joking! Who would want to see you naked?!" Hatsume snapped, anger rising as she felt she was being accused of indecency.
The truth was that she had never really thought much about Orion's naked body, but during the past two weeks Maria had taken it upon herself to give her long lessons about the differences between the sexes and the basics of moral conduct.
From the Pocket Dimension, Maria had been observing Orion's carefree interactions with Hatsume, and had been deeply dissatisfied with the little samurai's behavior. So, she had spent those two weeks drilling Hatsume on how to behave with modesty—over and over, in exhausting detail.
The result was the current situation: both Maria and the formerly carefree Hatsume now making a huge fuss over Orion's decision to undress in front of them.
For his part, little Orion simply couldn't understand why they were making such a big deal when he was only changing clothes, and he concluded that they were just being weird.
"With that attitude, you'll never become my concubines in the future!" Orion declared while finishing getting dressed, making an explosive statement.
Not that he truly wanted to make them his concubines, but given how things had gone with the other women he had encountered, he had come to the conclusion that it was the most logical outcome.
If adult Orion had been present, he surely would have coughed up blood at his younger self's words, which only caused him unnecessary trouble.
Ignoring the two girls as they fussed, Orion opened the notification screen to read the messages he hadn't been able to see earlier.
*You have completed the Dungeon: Wano*
*Objectives achieved: Rescue Toki, eliminate enemy troops.*
*Counting points obtained during the Dungeon. Total points: 27/100*
*Final evaluation: Unsatisfactory*
*You have received 5000 SP*
*You have received the method to cure Toki's condition*
*Bonus reward: The level of your skill "Conqueror's Haki (Level 0)" has increased by one (1).*
As Orion began reading the notifications, he felt a heavy wave of disappointment at having received such a low evaluation for the Dungeon. However, that disappointment vanished completely when he reached the final message!
An increase in Conqueror's Haki! This was a skill that could not be upgraded through SP, nor could the Skill Upgrade Card be used to raise its level. The only way to strengthen it was through natural growth. Yet Orion had no idea how to train his Conqueror's Haki, and for the past two years it had remained at its initial stage.
Now, seeing it rise by a level, the happiness he felt was absolute—especially given how crucial it was to possess a stronger Conqueror's Haki in this world.
Orion did not know why this reward had been granted as a bonus, but he had no intention of complaining.
What's more, the cure for Toki's condition was also an excellent reward, though once he read the process in detail, Orion realized it was extremely complicated. With his current medical skills he could not perform it, and on top of that he needed the powers of a Devil Fruit to carry out the procedure: the Ope Ope no Mi.
Orion had no idea where to find that fruit, so he had no choice but to let Toki remain in her current state as a sleeping beauty. Soon, he planned to contact Dragon and request the Revolutionary Army's information network to help him track down the fruit, though it would likely take some time before results came.
Beneath the autumn sky, Orion and his two companions sailed toward Windmill Village, where Orion intended to check on the Named Characters who resided there.
However, an old acquaintance was also in the area, traveling toward the same village. It was Shanks, who had just begun his journey with a small crew of loyal companions.
…
October 10, 1500, Age of the Sea Circle
After nearly three days of sailing, Orion finally reached the island he had been seeking. When he saw the great windmills rising near the coast and the small village of low houses, he felt an odd sense of peace, as if this place were the very embodiment of the word tranquility.
Orion was now traveling alone, having decided to use his Space Gate to send Maria and Hatsume back to Pacific Kingdom. It wasn't that he didn't want their company, but rather that they had far too many questions—questions little Orion didn't know how to answer.
They had spent time with his adult self, and after only a day in the company of his younger self, they noticed the differences in his behavior. Naturally, they didn't keep those doubts to themselves but instead began bombarding him with questions.
At first, little Orion managed to distract them with vague answers, but the girls continued pressing until he finally decided to send them home to avoid any further complications.
There, Giolla could provide them with answers to satisfy their curiosity, which would surely be far better than anything he could come up with. As for telling them the truth about his adult mind, Orion had no intention of doing so—even though most of his subordinates and acquaintances already suspected as much.
Reaching the coast, Orion stored the small sailboat in his inventory. Then he set off toward the center of the village, glancing curiously at his surroundings. The town wasn't very large, and the people seemed to lead peaceful and contented lives.
Despite having no fortifications, there were no signs of pirate attacks, and those he passed by wore cheerful, carefree expressions.
Orion made his way to a fish stall, where he found a couple selling their catch. They were two of the Named Characters that appeared on his system map: Gyoru (31) and Chicken (28).
Using an Evaluation Card to check their information, Orion was disappointed to discover they were just ordinary people with no special talents. They only possessed an "S" talent for selling fish, which would hardly be of any use for the development of his kingdom. Orion quickly concluded it wasn't worth the trouble of recruiting this kindhearted couple.
He simply bought several kilos of fresh fish, stored them in his inventory, and after a polite farewell, continued on to where the other Named Characters were located. Still, after the experience with the fishmongers, he had little hope for the abilities of the two remaining villagers.
Orion next visited Woop Slap, discovering that he was the mayor of this small town. Analyzing his abilities with the help of the system, Orion found the man possessed some talent for administration and governance, but nothing remarkable.
It certainly wasn't enough to justify recruiting him and transporting him across the world, tearing him from his current life. Especially since, judging by how happy the people here seemed, convincing them to abandon their home would not be an easy task.
Disappointed, Orion then went to see the final Named Character: Makino, a girl his own age. He was braced for another letdown and fully prepared to return home empty-handed.
Yet, to his surprise, things turned out very differently.
He arrived at a tavern in the heart of the village—the only one in town, which gave it a steady flow of customers. While the owners weren't exactly growing rich, it was certainly a profitable business.
Pushing the door open, Orion looked around at the lively patrons eating and drinking. There were no pirates or criminals in sight, and the atmosphere was warm and harmonious. He walked over to a free table in a corner and sat down, waiting to be served.
A few minutes later, a girl appeared with dark green hair, a yellow bandana tied around her head, and a menu in her hands. With a bright smile, she handed the menu to Orion and cheerfully said:
"Welcome to Partys Bar! First time here, right? I never forget a face! What can I get you? Oh, and alcohol is strictly off-limits for minors, so don't even think about it!"
Orion listened to Makino's words pour out like an unstoppable river and didn't react right away. Makino was lively and charismatic, and she had been working in her parents' tavern since she was very young. Because of that, she had developed a tendency to talk too much, though it was never unpleasant; in fact, people enjoyed her company and found her chatter endearing.
When she noticed Orion wasn't answering any of her questions and was instead staring at her in stunned silence, Makino tilted her head curiously and waved her hand in front of his eyes to catch his attention.
"Heeellooo, dear customer, can you hear me? What can I get you? Are you all right? You're not having some kind of out-of-body exper—Ah!" Makino was once again letting her tendency to ramble run free when her words were suddenly cut short by Orion's unexpected action.
Little Orion, who had been gazing at Makino in a daze, suddenly took her hand in his own and, looking her straight in the eyes with utter seriousness, declared:
"My name is Orion. Marry me!"
Orion's words were not spoken softly but shouted at the top of his lungs, a bold declaration of love. At once, the lively tavern seemed to fall into sudden silence, and every patron turned their gaze toward Orion, who was holding Makino's hands and looking at her with shining eyes.
This was the first time young Orion had ever felt something like this. Though he had once been betrothed to girls such as Gion and had even accepted several marriage proposals, he had never truly experienced what it meant to fall in love.
Only through the memories of his adult mind could he imagine what love was, but unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), the system had imposed restrictions on his access to memories involving his adult self's romantic partners. Thus, in nearly eleven years of life, this was the very first time he had felt such a thing. Seeing Makino smiling so brightly before him, Orion was experiencing love at first sight, and he had stepped forward decisively, acting on the hazy recollections of how his adult self had interacted with women.
If he was in love, then the most logical step was to propose marriage! That was the reasoning guiding little Orion at that very moment.
Makino didn't react right away, but after a few short seconds her face turned red as a tomato, and she hastily pulled her hand free from Orion's grasp.
"D-dear customer… please don't make jokes like that…" Makino said, speaking far less than she usually did.
"I'm being serious! I want to ask for your hand in marriage!" Orion declared grandly—though the effect was somewhat undermined by the fact that several of his baby teeth were missing, making him look far less imposing.
By then, all the disappointment Orion had felt over the lack of talent among the other Named Characters had completely vanished. The only thing on his mind was the lovely Makino. He even forgot to analyze her abilities, so he had no idea whether she possessed any talent or special skills.
"What's going on here?!" a shrill voice demanded from across the room.
Orion turned his gaze from Makino and saw a man with green hair striding toward them with long, angry steps. He immediately recognized who the man was and stepped forward solemnly.
"You must be my father-in-law! I'd like to ask for Makino's hand in marri—"
Bam!
Orion never finished his words, for the furious man struck him with a powerful blow, sending him flying across the room until he crashed into one of the tavern's wooden walls.
"Papa! What are you doing? You'll kill him!" Makino cried, deeply alarmed by the force with which her father had hit Orion.
Her father was no ordinary man—he had once sailed the seas, and his strength was formidable. That was partly why no bandits from the surrounding area ever dared to cause trouble in the bar.
"Bah! Insolent brat! How dare he try to harass my daughter right in front of me?! Maybe this will teach him a lesson!" Makino's father growled in indignation. Yet, the sensation he had felt when striking the boy… it had been strange. Almost as though he had been punching a bar of iron.
Makino rushed toward where Orion lay sprawled on the floor, worried her father had just killed a child and might end up in serious trouble. But before she could reach him, Orion casually rose to his feet, dusted off his clothes, and walked toward her, pulling a bouquet of flowers from his inventory.
"This is a small gift, as a token of my feelings!" said young Orion, producing one of the presents his adult self had stored in his inventory to surprise his beloveds on special occasions.
Makino instinctively accepted the bouquet, and her cheeks flushed once more. Still, the good manners instilled in her by her mother wouldn't allow her to be rude after accepting a gift, so she said timidly:
"T-thank you…" Her words grew fewer and fewer, straying farther and farther from her usual chatterbox self.
Makino's father watched as his precious daughter—his little princess—blushed and thanked Orion while holding the bouquet, and his fury exploded. Grabbing the large kitchen knife he always kept at his waist, he charged at Orion without a second thought, while the tavern's customers looked on with great interest at the unfolding scene.
"May I call you father? Or would you prefer I call you father-in-law?" Orion asked brightly as he nimbly dodged the sharp knife being swung at him like a sword by the enraged tavern keeper.
Meanwhile, deep in the mountains, a group of bandits was plotting an attack on the most prosperous business in Windmill Village.
...
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