Want to read ahead? Join my Patreon for only $7 to get early access to upcoming chapters!
> > Patreon.c(o)m/inkshield <<
----------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 53
"Meow!"
The meow from the kitten in his arms interrupted their conversation. Jepack first gently stroked the little kitten in his embrace,
then turned to Tashigi and said: "I want to give this kitten a bath. Would you like to help?"
Tashigi pointed at herself in surprise: "Me? You mean me?"
"Yes, you, beautiful miss!"
"I think I can do that!"
Hearing Tashigi agree, Jepack turned to look for a place where they could bathe the kitten. Then, as if remembering something, he turned back, gave Tashigi a charming smile, and said:
"By the way, my name is Jepack."
He then continued turning to search for a spot to bathe the kitten.
Tashigi, slightly captivated by Jepack's smile, came back to her senses. She quickly walked up beside him and introduced herself: "My name is Tashigi."
After that, the two walked side by side in silence.
Tashigi was still thinking about the soft spot that Jepack's large hand had just touched. Her face started to blush again.
Finally, Tashigi gathered her courage and asked Jepack:
"About what you said earlier—do you really have a partner who looks just like me? It wasn't… just an excuse because your hand just…?"
Jepack calmly explained: "It's true. You two are practically carved from the same mold! That's why I mistook you for her."
"By the way, my partner's name is Guina. She's also a swordswoman!"
To make it more believable, Jepack told Tashigi both Guina's name and that she was a swordswoman.
Tashigi believed it about eighty or ninety percent. After that, the two continued searching together for a place to bathe the kitten, chatting normally along the way.
Tashigi was curious about how similar Jepack's "twin sister" partner really was. Jepack was curious about Tashigi's measurements—but he didn't ask out loud!
However, based on the brief touch earlier, they definitely weren't small.
Soon they found a place to bathe the kitten—a wooden basin and a small piece of soap!
When Jepack and Tashigi squatted down, the kitten still tried to run away. It clearly didn't want a bath!
Jepack quickly grabbed the kitten and pulled it back. Then the two worked together perfectly and finished bathing the kitten.
In the middle of it, something happened: while Tashigi was squatting and helping, the kitten splashed water and startled her. Jepack reacted quickly and caught her so she didn't fall.
But the place he caught her was a bit awkward. Still, since it was an emergency, Tashigi didn't say anything—her face just turned redder and redder!
"Sorry! I only grabbed there because it was urgent!"
Jepack felt a bit embarrassed. He quickly withdrew the hand that had accidentally held the lower part of Tashigi's back and explained.
"It's okay!"
Tashigi replied with her head lowered. The blush on her face grew even deeper.
"Feels really nice~!"
Jepack looked at the same hand that had touched two places in one day and sighed inwardly before continuing to bathe the kitten.
They finished washing the kitten very quickly.
After the bath, Jepack placed the kitten on his shoulder and gave it some food.
The kitten seemed to realize Jepack meant no harm and obediently stayed on his shoulder.
"You'll follow me from now on! I'll name you Lucky Star!"
The kitten's eyes sparkled. It meowed once in response to Jepack's invitation!
"Since you agreed, don't run off anymore. Stay obediently on my shoulder!"
Jepack gently stroked Lucky Star's little head!
Watching this scene from the side, Tashigi felt a touch of emotion: "Looks like this guy is really gentle!"
At that moment, Jepack suddenly remembered Tashigi standing nearby—after all, she was the one who had picked up Lucky Star.
He quickly asked her: "Can I take Lucky Star with me as a companion when I sail? Since you were the one who picked it up, I need your permission."
"Me? I don't mind. As long as the kitten agrees to go with you, it's fine!"
Tashigi hadn't yet gotten used to calling the kitten Lucky Star. She quickly waved her hands and responded to Jepack.
And so, the two of them—one cat on shoulder—walked back along the same path toward the center of town. When they passed a weapons shop, Jepack suddenly stopped. He turned to Tashigi and said:
"I just thought of a great way to thank you for helping me today!"
"Huh? No no no—this doesn't need thanks. It was just a small thing!"
Tashigi waved her hands to say no thanks were needed.
"Come with me—you'll definitely like this!"
Saying that, Jepack took Tashigi's hand and—without giving her a chance to refuse—turned left and right into the weapons shop from his memory.
"Sorry, Zoro—I'm stealing your sword. I'll make it up to you with something better later!"
Even after entering the weapons shop, Jepack still didn't let go of Tashigi's hand. In his heart he silently apologized to Zoro.
"Boss? Here to buy swords!"
Jepack called out to the shop owner. Tashigi, whose hand was still being held, weakly poked Jepack's shoulder.
"Um… can you let go of my hand now?"
Only then did Jepack realize he had reflexively held her hand the whole way. He awkwardly explained to Tashigi: "Sorry, sorry—I looked at your face and thought you were my crewmate again!"
Tashigi's face was already completely red. After hearing Jepack's explanation, she asked one more question.
Little master, there's more to this chapter—click next page to continue reading, it gets even better!
"So… can you let go now?"
"Uh uh uh…"
Jepack quickly released Tashigi's small hand. Just as he wanted to say more, the boss came out and interrupted their slightly awkward moment.
A man wearing blue clothes, with hair that looked like a pair of wings on top of his head, walked out. Behind him followed a stout woman—probably Ipponmatsu's wife Ipponmatsu's wife Ipponmei.
"Ahem… young man, are you here to buy swords?"
After the couple—who had been doing who-knows-what inside—appeared, Ipponmatsu gave a light cough before asking Jepack.
"Yes, boss—bring out your shop's treasure sword!"
Jepack went straight to the point with Ipponmatsu, then playfully teased Lucky Star on his shoulder!
"Young man has good taste. Wait a moment. Old man, hurry and bring it out!"
Ipponmei eagerly pushed Ipponmatsu inside to get the shop's treasure.
When Ipponmatsu brought it out, the first person whose eyes lit up was actually Tashigi.
Tashigi rushed to the front, picked up the treasure sword, examined it closely, and exclaimed:
"This… this is one of the 50 Ryo Wazamono swords—'Yukiwalk'!"
"That's right—this is our shop's treasure!"
"No no no—just 9,998 beri and you can take it home!"
Jepack, watching the scene from the side, said to the boss: "I'll buy it!"
"Also, are those swords in the barrel 500 beri each? I want to pick one too!"
Ipponmatsu, who was wiping Yukiwalk to prepare it for sale, replied without turning his head:
"That's right—500 beri each. Pick whichever one you like!"
Hearing that, Jepack casually grabbed a sword that clearly gave off the aura of a cursed blade with one glance.
Ipponmatsu, who had just turned back, said in surprise: "That's…"
Want to read ahead? Join my Patreon for only $7 to get early access to upcoming chapters!
> > Patreon.c(o)m/inkshield <<
----------------------------------------------------------