___
1 week later.
___
The morning light filtered through the window, casting golden lines across the wooden floor. A soft breeze slipped through brushing past Robert's sweat-drenched skin as he grunted out his twenty-third push-up.
"Twenty… four…" Robert wheezed, arms trembling under his own weight. The wood creaked under his struggling frame as he lowered himself again, teeth clenched. His elbows flared awkwardly, his body shaking.
He really wanted to quit.
Every breath burned. His muscles screamed. He wasn't built for this, at least not yet.
"…Just one more," he whispered. "Just… one more."
With a desperate growl, he pushed himself off the floor one final time, arms locking out as his chest rose above the ground.
Ding!
The familiar chime of the system rang in his ears like a blessing from heaven.
[25/25 Push-Ups! Daily Requirement met!
Congratulations to Player Robert for successfully pushing through despite the difficulty.]
Robert collapsed onto the floor with a thud, gasping for breath. His arms gave out completely, sprawled like jelly on either side of him. For a long moment, all he did was lie there, soaking in the victory.
A grin crept onto his face. Exhausted, but victorious.
"Still alive…" Robert muttered with a chuckle, dragging himself toward the bed.
He leaned against the bedframe and reached for his bottle, downing water with desperate gulps. The cool liquid eased the dryness in his throat, though it couldn't wash away the soreness pulsing in his limbs.
Finally, after a few minutes, he stared at the air in front of him to bring the panel back.
The quest progress shimmered before him:
[Daily Exercise Requirements]:
Stretching: 5/5 minutes
Push-Ups: 25/25
Sit-Ups: 0/25
Squats: 0/25
Jogging: 0/10 minutes.]
Robert groaned and let his head drop back against the bed.
"Ugh… I'll do the rest later." he muttered, waving the panel away.
He crawled up onto the bed and sat there for a while, staring up at the ceiling. Beads of sweat still trailed down the side of his face, his mind drifted absentmindedly.
'It had been a week....'
A full seven days since he'd arrived in this world. The initial shock and excitement had worn off. The thrill of the first day, the wide-eyed excitement of being isekai'd… it had all faded. Now, he was here. Just… living.
No internet. No YouTube. No memes. No late-night streams or endless scrolling. It felt like someone had robbed him completely and left him with nothing but silence.
The worst part? He hadn't even realized how addicted he was to the internet before.
Tears welled in his eyes Unconsciously. He only noticed it after he found his eyes truly blurry. He quickly rubbed them off in frustration.
He knew there was no point in complaining and reminiscing about that life Become nobody would understand what he felt right now.
'I used to binge read fanfics, immersing myself in the chapters and demanding the author to upload more chapters..' Robert thought absentmindedly, his eyes felt dry. 'Yet only now do I realize.. those fanfics only showed the exciting parts.. not what it felt to actually live in such a world.'
'I miss it...' He thought to himself with growing sadness. 'I really do miss it...'
Ding!
Robert paused when he heard that familiar Sound. He watched with bated eyes as the glowing purple panel hovered in front of him.
[New Side Quest Available.]
His heart skipped.
"…What?"
Robert blurted out loudly. He felt genuinely surprised because He hadn't gotten any new quests in days. He'd tried everything he could think of. helping Masahiro clean the bar, trying to cook a meal. Nothing had triggered a quest. And now, out of nowhere…
He rushed to open the Quest tab with an eager heart.
And there it was
--
[A Deeply Rooted Craving]
[Status: Available]
[Description: You crave what you once had, realizing its importance only after losing it. Thus, it has manifested itself as a Quest.]
[Requirement: Be persistent with your training for 3 months.]
[Reward: Super-Snail O5]
--
Robert blinked, feeling a bit confused with the reward. He glanced at it and a new panel popped up.
--
[Super Snail O5]
Type: Growth-Item
[Description: A mysterious variant egg of the transponder snail from a century now Erased... Upon hatching, it will contain features reminiscent of a modern smartphone from 2024 including a TeraNail's worth of entertainment content of the Player's choosing.]
--
Robert gawked. His lips slowly parted in disbelief.
'So… A smartphone snail?' His mind reached that conclusion immediately, as he felt a rush of excitement return to him that only felt when he first arrived here.
He nearly screamed with joy.
But he caught himself, glancing at the door. The last thing he needed was Masahiro bursting in to check if he'd lost it.
So instead, he hugged his pillow and screamed into it. Letting out a shaky laugh, then opened the quest again rereading every word to make sure it wasn't a cruel hallucination.
It wasn't.
He took one deep breath.
Then, he threw off his blanket and stood up on shaky legs, wobbling from the earlier push-ups.
'Three months..' Robert thought, his eyes blazing with a newfound purpose. 'I'll do it. I will earn that snail, No matter what!'
He immediately dropped back onto the floor with a loud thud and got into position for situps..
"One…"
His voice almost felt strained yet he was adamant to continue.
"Two…"
"Three…!"
___
3 Months later.
___
The steady thump of Robert's footsteps echoed along the sandy beach, matched only by the rhythmic crash of waves rolling up the shore.
His breath came out hot and fast, his shirt clinging to his back from the humid sea air and sweat. He could feel the burn in his legs, the slight ache in his chest but compared to the first time he ran this stretch.
Three months ago, this would've had him wheezing over the beach after the first fifty meters. Now? He was running the full length.
Although he felt winded But he was still running.
"Come on, Robert!" a tiny voice shouted from ahead, accompanied by wild flailing arms. "You're almost there!"
Makino, Like an ever-enthusiastic cheerleader, was waving excitedly from the beach, a water bottle twice the size of her head clutched in one hand.
Robert smiled as he picked up the pace for the last few steps, crossing an invisible finish line andThe moment he stopped
Ding!
[Daily Exercise Requirement Met!]
[Congratulations to Player Robert for maintaining consistent effort.]
Robert let out a long exhale and dropped down onto the sand with a heavy plop, his hands bracing behind him as he tilted his head up to the sky. The sun had begun its descent, casting a warm orange glow over the sea. A breeze rolled by, kicking up grains of sand and tousling his hair.
Footsteps rushed towards him. "Here! You forgot your water again, silly." Makino said, offering up the bottle eagerly.
Robert accepted it with a grateful chuckle. "Thanks, Makino. I wouldn't know what to do without you."
Makino beamed hearing the praise, making a peace sign with a wide grin on her face.
The water he drank soothed his dry throat, and he let the coolness settle in his stomach.
He glanced down at himself. His frame was still stocky, sure but he had slimmed down. Arms a bit more defined. Stamina leagues ahead of where he'd started. He no longer felt burdened like he did before.
'Status' Robert internally called out.
A soft purple panel shimmered in front of him.
---
[Status]:
Name: Robert
Title: None
Species: Human [Limiter Removed]
Age: 16 years and 3 months
Devil Fruit: None
Profession: None
[Attributes]:
Strength: F
Endurance: F+
Agility: F+
Intelligence: E
Charm: F
Spirit: E-
[Skills]:
Intuitive-Empath
Ravenous-Recovery
Navigation
Swordsmanship
[Inventory]:
Pension Pouch
6 in 1 Ramen Package.
12-Gallon of Fresh Water.
Metal Pipe
---
Robert stared at the screen for a moment, then smiled.
Although the stats hadn't improved by much but he still was proud of his progress.
He remembered those first days, dragging himself across the floor just to complete twenty-five push-ups. The sheer effort it took to jog in place for ten minutes...
"Hey, Robert," Makino said, sitting cross-legged beside him and staring out over the ocean. "Are you gonna become a Marine?"
Robert asked back curiously. "A Marine?"
"Mmhm! Papa says people who train hard, want to become Marine!" she said, hugging her knees. "You train every day. So I think you will!"
He smiled softly, looking out at the glittering waves. "I... don't want to be a Marine Actually."
Makino tilted her head in confusion "So, What do you want to be?"
Robert stared into the setting sun, after hesitating. He told her a half truth "I want to go on adventures, Explore new islands, Make new friends and feel what it's like to be free.."
Makino nodded like it made perfect sense. "Like Uncle Roger!"
Robert's brain paused, He stared at Makino and asked "You know about Roger...?"
Makink nodded her head eagerly "Yeah! Uncle Garp talks about him a lot when he visits, He usually complains how he almost managed to catch him every year." Makino Giggled out loud Remembering Garp's annoyed face while he ate his Senbai.
"Makes sense" Robert said, letting out a sigh of relief. He honestly wouldn't have been surprised if Roger had visited Garp's island and met Makino.
"Why do you ask, Does Uncle Roger seem familiar to you?" Robert heard Makino ask curiously.
'Shit...' Robert uncomfortablely shifted a bit, He had almost forgotten that his excuse was that he has amnesia. "Uh yeah, You could say that.. His name sounded Vaguely Familiar."
"oh! Maybe you two are related!" Makino said, her eyes sparkling in eagerness. "What else do you remember about bim?"
Robert was starting to sweat behind his back, not willing to expose his cover, he faked his expression as though he was trying to remember. "I vaguely remember that He... is very childish and is prone to be adventurous. He had a strawhat, that He loves to wear."
"Oh! That does sound like what Uncle Garp said about Uncle Roger." Makino excitedly exclaimed, bashing her fist into her other palm "What else, What else? Try to remember more!"
'Fuuuuuuck..' Robert thought to himself while pretending to remember stuff he already knew. But then, an idea took root in his mind. 'Wait.. This could be hilarious... Maybe...'
"I remember Something!!" Robert exclaimed in excitement. Makino also felt excited and delighted by Robert's Recovery. "Tell me, Tell me!"
"I am... Gol D. Robert. A distant cousin of Gol D. Roger" Robert revealed to Makino with a serious face. Trying his best to not laugh out loud.
"WHAAAT?!" Makino exclaimed, then she jumped in excitement."Yay! You remember now! It also makes sense! Maybe that's why you also crave adventures like your cousin.. It runs in the family!"
Robert laughed out loud, hearing her logic. But to Makino, it seemed as though he was happy Because he finally remembered.
Ding!
'Huh..?' Robert paused when he heard the familiar system ding. He glanced up to see.
[New Main Quest Available.]
He was almost tempted to check it out right now but he held back that urge and stood up, dusting sand off his pants. "Alright, up We go."
"Eh?" Makino blinked.
Before she could protest, he scooped her up and set her on his shoulders.
"Wah! I'm flying!" she squealed, laughing as she grabbed onto his hair for balance.
"Hold on tight." he said with a grin, jogging down the path that led back to the village, Makino giggling all the way.
__
__
The sun cast long shadows across the dirt road as Robert walked towards Party's Bar, Makino bouncing lightly on his shoulders, humming a tune. The mood was light.
Until they turned the final corner.
Robert slowed to a stop.
The bar's entrance loomed ahead… or what was left of it.
The wooden door had been shattered, one half dangling by a single hinge while the other lay in splinters across the ground. Cracks splintered up the frame, and bits of broken glass glittered like spilled stardust in the dirt.
Robert's smile vanished.
He gently lifted Makino off his shoulders, placing her down behind him. "Stay behind me." he said softly.
Makino's eyes widened, small hands clenching her skirt. "O-Okay…"
Robert bent down, picked up a jagged piece of the broken door that resembled a crude club, and stepped forward with quiet caution as he pushed open the remains of the door.
The bar inside was a wreck.
Chairs lay overturned. Tables broken. Glass shards littered the floor like confetti after a bad party. Bottles had been smashed against the wall, their contents dripping down.
Amid the destruction, two figures sat near the back.
Masahiro slouched in a chair, his head wrapped in a bloodstained bandage. Woop Slap was crouched beside him, dabbing gently at the wound with a cloth and shaking his head in frustration.
Makino upon noticing, immediately gasped. "Papa!" She dashed past Robert towards her father.
"Makino!"
She flung herself at her father, nearly knocking the wind out of him as she wrapped her small arms around his waist. "Papa! What happened? Are you okay?!"
Masahiro winced slightly but smiled through it to comfort his daughter "Heh… Don't cry now, Sweetiee. I will be fine before you know it."
Robert stepped forward, lowering the makeshift weapon. Relief mixed with concern. 'At least the danger was gone...' He thought positively.
"What happened here?" Robert asked, his voice unusually low.
Woop Slap explained with irritation. "Troublemakers. Pirates." he spat, as though the word tasted like rot.
Robert's eyes narrowed. "Tell me everything."
Woop Slap exhaled and sat back. "It started just a few hours ago…"
__
Flashback, Few hours ago.
__
The bar had been unusually quiet today, However That changed when the front door was pushed open.
A group of four men swaggered in, each bearing the telltale marks of trouble. One had a saber sheathed at his hip, another wore a coat with blood stains on the sleeve. Their leader, a tall, lean man with a scar running down the side of his neck, looked around with lazy arrogance.
They spotted a table in the corner and swaggered over like they owned the place.
Masahiro approached with caution and a calm smile. "Good evening, gentlemen. What'll it be?"
The pirate captain barely glanced his way. "Meat. Rice. And booze. Lots of it."
Masahiro nodded and retreated to the kitchen.
They drank heavily while waiting, boasting loudly about their 'adventures', which mostly sounded like glorified pillaging.
Masahiro served their food, watching silently as they devoured it like dogs.
Once they were done, the pirates stood without speaking and moved towards the exit.
Masahiro frowned and after a brief hesitation he called out "Wait." he said, voice calm but firm. "You might have forgotten to pay..."
The crew stopped, Their captain turned, slow and amused. His lips curled into a grin. "Did we?"
His crewmatws Laughter followed. The kind that meant no good.
Masahiro didn't back down. "It's not free..."
The pirate's grin twisted. "You want payment?"
Before Masahiro could react, the man's fist slammed into his gut as he gasped for air.
The impact sent him staggering backward, He collapsed into a nearby chair, groaning. The captain sneered down at him. "There's your tip."
"Oiii, Don't mess with Masahiro!" Some of the bar's regulars who'd seen enough, stood up, pulling up their sleeves angrily. A few went to help Masahiro up.
But The pirates didn't back down, after briefly glancing at each other. They all started an one sided beat down.
Masahiro tried to intervene and calm the situation but took a bottle to the head for his trouble. Blood poured from the wound. The pirates beat down every local who resisted before finally walking out, laughing.
__
Present
__
"…They wrecked half the place," Woop Slap finished with a frustrated grunt. "If Garp were here, those bastards would've been eating crap by now."
Robert unconsciously gripped his fists when he looked at Makino, who's eyes were welled up with tears looking at her father and Masahiro, who tried to reassure her daughter.
'I..'
Ding!
A soft, familiar sound echoed in his ears.
Robert briefly turned his gaze toward the floating system panel as it shimmered into view.
[New Side Quest Available]
The glow of the message reflected in his eyes.
__
End
___
Voting time:
[Retaliating Against Oppression]
Status: Available [Time-sensitive]
[Description: After you arrived at the Bar, You realized someone has unfairly treated the man who had fed you and sheltered you for the last few months. So are you gonna sit on your ass or doing something about it]]
[Requirement: Defeat those Pirates]
[Reward: ???]
1. Should Robert accept this quest?
A. Yes
B. No
1.1 If Yes, How should he complete the Quest?
A. Go straight to them and defeat them [70% To die]
B. Sneak off Stealthily at night and defeat them [25% To Die]
___
Word count: 2746
Author's Note:
Yeah, sorry for overwhelming the readers with so many quest prompts last chapter. I will only mention the ones which requires voting from now on.
Also Pirate choice won if you can't tell. So he is gonna be a pirate.
See you all on 23/07/25 at 10 am Central Time.