By the mist-shrouded riverbank, Yamato stood in bewildered confusion, faintly glimpsing someone waving at her from the opposite shore.
"Yamato, come here, I'm your mother."
"Mother?"
Yamato numbly stepped into the river, the icy water soaking her calves and making her shiver uncontrollably.
When she reached the river's center, the figure on the shore gradually became clearer, the calling voice growing ever more gentle. Yet she stopped in her tracks, a question mark popping up above her head.
Huh? Did she even have a mother?
She didn't have one!
The girl flew into a rage.
"You're not my mother!"
"Hehe, I am—"
Seeing his lie exposed, the shadowy figure shed its disguise, revealing a burly true form as it stretched out its arms to grab Yamato with a sinister laugh!
"Waaahhh!!!"
Oni Island, Dungeon.
"Waaahhh, don't come any closer!"
Yamato screamed as she sat bolt upright, flailing her arms in terror until she realized she was in the familiar cavernous space, finally calming down.
Thank goodness, it's the dungeon!
The dark, damp dungeon now felt as warm as home.
That earlier scene had just been a dream.
It really scared her to death.
"Was I captured?"
Yamato hugged her knees, curling into a pitiful little ball.
Being in the dungeon meant she'd been caught by her father's subordinates. She'd have to wait until her strength returned before she could force her way out.
"Uuu~ I'm so weak now."
"My back hurts, my neck hurts, and my butt too."
"Everything hurts!"
"Grrrrr~~"
"(╥_╥) I'm so hungry!"
"I want to eat sashimi~ slurp~"
Hunger dulled the pain.
"Eh? That smells amazing!"
Yamato closed her eyes and sniffed, catching the aroma of meat wafting from afar. She couldn't help but swallow hard, her instincts driving her to follow the scent.
"Thunk!"
Her forehead collided with the iron bars.
"Oww, that hurts!"
The girl crouched down clutching her head in pain, little pearls of tears falling.
When she opened her eyes, she was delighted to find the area outside her cell filled with delicious-smelling food—not just various meats, but also her absolute favorite, salmon.
Drool cascaded down like a waterfall.
Yamato's eyes remained fixed on the salmon until a charcoal fire was lit, and the salmon was placed over the flames to grill.
"Nooo!"
The girl reached through the bars, trying to stop this travesty.
She liked it raw!
But her arms weren't long enough.
Soon, the salmon sizzled over the charcoal, its rich roasted aroma permeating the dungeon.
Yamato gripped the bars in anguish, her heart bleeding internally.
Why! Why would they do this!
Salmon is only best when eaten raw!
"Sizzle~ sizzle~~"
Gurd sat before the charcoal fire, expertly sprinkling spices on the fish's surface. When both sides turned golden brown, he took a huge bite.
Ah, this was the good stuff!
Back when he often went on outdoor excursions, grilling had been an essential skill—nothing too difficult. Now that he was guarding the dungeon alone, he treated himself to some extra meals.
After finishing the fish, Gurd efficiently started preparing skewers.
"Slurp~~ slurp~~"
The sound of swallowing saliva kept coming.
Gurd glanced sideways at the cell.
The white-haired girl was gripping the bars, staring longingly at the meat skewers in his hands while continuously swallowing her drool.
How pitiful.
Noticing Gurd looking at her, Yamato's eyes immediately lit up, filled with urgency and pleading.
Just like a puppy.
If Yamato had a tail, it would probably be wagging like a propeller right now.
Quite adorable.
Gurd chuckled and shook his head, picking up the large meat skewer and turning to face Yamato. Under her increasingly anxious and expectant gaze, he stuffed the entire thing into his mouth in one bite.
"Mmm, delicious!"
"..."
Yamato instantly lost all strength, collapsing into a heap.
Wuuuuu~~
Wuuuuuuuuu~~
The girl bit her lip, desperately holding back her tears.
She! Was! Not! Hungry!
Plop.
Just as the girl stubbornly resisted, a steaming bowl of white rice appeared outside the bars, within easy reach.
So fragrant!
The girl's eyes lit up again, staring intently at the rice.
The devil's tempting voice echoed in her ears.
"Want some?"
"Yes!"
Yamato nodded vigorously like a chick pecking at rice.
"Then eat up."
Unexpectedly, the man pushed the bowl of rice toward her.
Yamato froze.
He was really giving it to her?
Every time she'd been locked up before, the guards never dared to give her food. If that bastard father of hers found out, they'd surely be killed.
There was no way he didn't know this.
Sniffing the enticing aroma of the rice, Yamato swallowed hard. After a long internal struggle, she turned her head away, tears streaming down her face.
"I'm not hungry!"
"..."
Gurd paused for a moment, then laughed silently.
She really was quite cute.
As for Yamato, he couldn't say he liked her, but he didn't dislike her either.
This girl was impeccable in every way—her personal strength, her figure and looks, her straightforward personality—there was nothing to criticize.
He quite liked her.
But the problem was her head wasn't quite right, fantasizing about being Kozuki Oden and opposing her own father.
That part disgusted him.
Position determined perspective. He was currently a member of the Beasts Pirates and would have to rely on them for a long time to come. Naturally, he didn't like traitors.
However.
His experience in the Flower Capital had given him a wake-up call.
His current status wasn't high, and his strength was just starting to develop. It was inconvenient to do anything, but once Kyoshiro got involved, everything became smooth sailing.
This was the benefit of status.
He needed a real backer, or rather, a formidable figure to lean on. Relying solely on Ulti clearly wasn't enough, and the girl before him was perfect for the role.
In Wano Country, aside from Boss Kaido, who would dare not show respect to the Ogre Child?
Even General Orochi had to give her some deference!
The key was how to trick this girl and ensure she received the status and treatment befitting the Ogre Child. Only then could he effectively use her as a shield.
Growl~~
The girl's stomach protested loudly.
Gurd's smile widened as he picked up the bowl and scooped a large spoonful.
"Really not eating? Then I'll have it myself?"
"..."
Hungry eyes immediately locked onto the spoon.
Gulp~~
Yamato swallowed hard.
At this moment, that bowl of white rice seemed like the most delicious treasure in the world to her. How blissful would it be to take just one bite?
The next second, a fragrant mouthful of rice was shoved into her mouth.
"Mmm!!!"
Her taste buds exploded!
Yamato instinctively clenched her thighs, her eyes moistening.
Oishii~~
More, she wanted more!
"Go ahead and eat."
The bowl of rice was placed in the girl's hands.
This time, Yamato didn't hesitate. She wolfed it down like a starving ghost, even licking the bowl clean.
"There's a grain of rice by your mouth."
At Gurd's reminder, the girl quickly scooped the stray grain from her lips and popped it into her mouth, even sucking her finger clean with great care.
This was happiness!
After a long while, the girl looked at Gurd, her shining eyes filled with trust as if she had seen a beloved friend.
And worry.
"Thank you, but if my father finds out you gave me food..."
"Just don't tell him."
Gurd replied with a grin.
Inside the Dungeon, it was just the two of them—Yamato and him. Whatever happened here, the outside world would never know, as long as no one spoke of it.
On that point, he trusted the girl.
"Mhm, I'll definitely keep it a secret!"
Yamato solemnly promised.
Though her stomach wasn't completely full, her body felt an unprecedented satisfaction. Only then did she finally turn her attention to Gurd.
A somewhat familiar burly frame, a somewhat familiar shiny bald head, and a somewhat familiar fierce face.
She felt like she had seen him somewhere before.
Images of being beaten up by a man involuntarily flashed through her mind.
Yamato blinked, and as realization of his identity dawned on her, fine beads of sweat instantly covered her cheeks. Her eyes bulged in shock, and her tongue curled into a wavy line.
"WAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
Her scream echoed through the Dungeon.
"It's you!"
"..."
Gurd covered his ears, veins popping on his forehead.
This girl only recognized him now?!
(End of Chapter)