After safely reaching the island, I found an inn in town, enjoyed a proper meal, and took my time to rest, slowly recovering from the exhaustion of my drifting life.
During my stay, life was peaceful and ordinary, without any pirate attacks or other disturbances. Apparently, with a Marine Base nearby, even regular criminals rarely caused trouble in the area, let alone pirates.
I'd chosen this island somewhat randomly because it was close by, so finding such a tranquil place was incredibly lucky.
About two weeks passed in this way.
Once I was fully recovered, I began to consider whether to settle down here permanently.
As I mentioned earlier, the island was peaceful, and it seemed I could live a quiet, undisturbed life without getting mixed up in any trouble. It seemed like an ideal place to settle down.
The locals weren't particularly exclusive, nor did they intrude on my personal space. They maintained a comfortable distance in their interactions, which I appreciated.
If it had been me just a few months ago, I would have found this comfort irresistibly appealing and decided to settle down here.
But in the end, I chose to embark on a journey instead.
The reason was simple: During my drifting life, I had realized that more than anything, I craved extraordinary experiences and knowledge I never knew existed.
A peaceful, uneventful life certainly had its appeal.
But my intellectual curiosity had been relentlessly urging me toward the unknown and the untried, even during my convalescence.
While I genuinely cherished the simple joy of sleeping peacefully in a comfortable bed, I already knew deep down that such a life alone would never be enough for me.
I had tasted the thrill of discovering something new, witnessing the unseen, and doing the undone. That pleasure now had me hooked.
Before I knew it, I no longer wanted that kind of future: settling down in one place, getting a steady job, and living a peaceful, uneventful life.
So I gathered all the supplies I thought I'd need in town and set off on my journey.
Obviously, I couldn't use a pirate ship for transportation, so I bought a new one.
I gradually sold off the loot I'd taken from the pirate ship—selling too much at once would attract unwanted attention and trouble—and used the money to buy a small, used ship.
It was the perfect size for a solo voyage and looked easy enough to handle.
I'd learned the basics of sailing, but I bought a few specialized books to brush up on my knowledge, just in case.
And just to be safe, I made sure to pack the island's Eternal Pose, so I could always return here in an emergency.
I know I keep saying it, but this peaceful island seemed like the perfect place to relax. Even if I didn't settle down here permanently, I could definitely use it as a base to return to between adventures.
With my preparations complete, I finally set sail on my own terms—not being dragged along or kidnapped, but by my own free will. I wanted to experience the unknown and fully embrace this strange second life.
...And that was already a year ago.
I, Venerdi Tot Sue, had turned fourteen.
Over the past year, I'd sailed from island to island within the limits of my navigational skills, exploring everything from tourist hotspots to mysterious adventure locations, gathering countless new experiences along the way.
I'd witnessed landscapes of unparalleled beauty,
encountered nature's harshest extremes beyond imagination,
and tasted delicacies I'd never known existed.
I've had so many experiences, it's hard to sum them up in a few words. Like that time I was attacked by some rowdy pirates—the kind you find everywhere—and managed to turn the tables on them.
Of course, it hasn't all been smooth sailing. There have been tough times, painful moments, and times I was in real trouble. Some things I'd rather not talk about... But looking back, I think it's all been a valuable experience.
I'm completely used to traveling alone now. I feel like a seasoned traveler or adventurer, crossing the seas every day. My life is full and every day is enjoyable.
Ah, but now that I've casually called myself an "adventurer" or "traveler"... If someone asked me exactly what my current profession is, I'd struggle to answer.
Because I do a little of everything, combining my hobbies with practical work.
I've been traveling all over, sometimes even venturing into uncharted wilderness, so I think it's fair to call myself a "traveler" or "adventurer," like I said earlier.
But I mainly make a living by repelling attacking pirate ships—though I sometimes actively seek them out—and looting their ships. If there's a bounty head around, I'll capture them and turn them in to the Marines for the reward money, which makes me a "Bounty Hunter" too.
I've been diligently training all along, so I've gotten even stronger since then.
I've continued to hone my swordsmanship, of course, but I've also been carefully studying and refining the powers of the newly acquired Paper-Paper Fruit.
I can now do far more than simply scatter into paper to evade attacks or slash with paper blades. Someone in the Original Work once said that the power of a Devil Fruit can become an incredibly potent fighting tool depending on how you use it, and every day I'm more convinced that they were right.
As for the specifics of what I can do now... well, let's save that for another time.
So, as you can see, I'm a bounty hunter. But there's one more profession I can add to the list.
And that is...
"Yes, I've received the manuscript! Thank you again, Teacher Sue!"
"You've done great, Eddie-chan. I'll leave the rest to you."
"Got it! I'll rush this back to the office right away. Excuse me!"
The girl who just gave a brisk ninety-degree bow and dashed off like a rocket is my editor. She's taking the novel manuscript I just handed her back to the office for editing and various checks.
And the job that lets me hand manuscripts to her? That's right, I'm a writer.
I'm still pretty new to this, and the title "Teacher" makes me a little awkward, but... I'm working as a full-fledged professional writer.
As I mentioned before, I've had all sorts of experiences this past year. After accumulating some of those experiences, I felt this overwhelming urge to pick up my pen again.
I wanted to do more than just absorb; I needed to create.
I wanted to use all my experiences as fuel to write my own stories, to put them into words... and I wanted someone to see them. To read them, and to enjoy them.
That desire grew so strong that I couldn't resist. So, when my latest adventure reached a lull, I settled down and let my writing impulse guide my hand, pen flying across the page.
After finishing my original novel, I entered it into the same publishing contest I had years ago. To my surprise, I actually won the grand prize!
The novel, an adventure story based on my own real-life experiences, became quite a hit after publication, generating respectable sales.
After that, the publishing house assigned me an official editor named Eddie-chan.
Now, I can freely enjoy my adventures. Whenever inspiration strikes, I jot down my ideas and turn them into novels.
Once the manuscript is complete, I hand it over to Eddie-chan for review. If she finds it interesting, she pitches it to the company for consideration.
If the proposal gets approved, we sign a contract, and it's officially published as a book.
That's how I'm able to make a proper living as a writer!
Ever since I was little, I dreamed of doing this, wishing I could make it happen. Now that it's real, I'm beyond happy and thrilled.
But once I've written everything I wanted to and feel satisfied, I start craving another adventure. I want to go out and have exciting new experiences that I don't have yet.
And after indulging in plenty of adventure and gathering those experiences, the urge to turn them into stories comes back, and I pick up my pen again.
So it's this cycle, really: adventure and writing, input and output. They work together perfectly in a loop, creating this wonderful life where I get to be both a writer and an adventurer.
If I had to combine my two identities into one, I guess "Adventure Writer" would do. I actually quite like the sound of that.
Well, I've written everything I wanted this time and feel pretty satisfied. I think it's time for another adventure soon.
Where should I go next? Lately, I've been exploring a lot of nature-rich places, so maybe I should visit a bustling city or some other lively urban area for a change.
I'm always searching for something I don't know yet, fearlessly diving into new places.
Even if it means tough experiences, terrible setbacks, sadness, or pain... I doubt I'll ever give up this journey, this way of life.
I want to experience everything—the joys, the sorrows, the delights, the hardships—and weave even more captivating tales to share with the world.
I want people to see, read, and be delighted by what I create. I want to flaunt the stories born from my life to every corner of the earth.
Right now, I'm just a rookie, a complete beginner, but someday...
That's how I started thinking this past year, and it's blossomed into a dream.
To put it in One Piece terms... yeah.
"I will become a great writer!!"
This is the story of how I, wielding both the sword and the pen, will ride the raging waves of the Great Pirate Era, and with the power of words, bring strength and hope to a world overflowing with suffering—
…Well, Probably!
To be continued...