Merry

By the coast, at the harbor.

As they passed through the lush forest path, the sound of waves crashing against the shore gradually grew clearer.

The moment their view opened up, a sailboat quietly moored in the bay came into sight.

It was a uniquely shaped single-masted sailboat, with smooth, rounded lines.

The most eye-catching feature was undoubtedly the adorable Sheep Head figurehead.

It had been carved with lifelike detail: round eyes, curved horns, and a gentle smile that seemed to linger at the corner of the mouth, as though welcoming the companions about to board.

Although Ronan and the others had just captured the Black Cat Pirates' Pirate Ship, which was larger and more imposing.

Compared to the vessel before them, brimming with spirit and thoughtful design, that gloomy Black Cat ship was nothing more than floating trash.

"Wow—!!"

As a professional navigator, Nami's eyes immediately lit up. She hurried forward, reached out to touch the grain of the hull, and exclaimed,

"This is... a light sailboat! This streamlined design, and this draft... it's practically perfect!"

"This... is it really for us?" Luffy's eyes turned into stars, his voice trembling with excitement.

Kaya smiled faintly and nodded. "Yes, please, I insist that you use it! It may not be large, but I hope it can carry you to farther places."

Merry, standing nearby in his neat butler's uniform, was filled with pride.

He stepped forward and gazed affectionately at the ship as if he were looking at his own child.

"Although its style was based on light sailboats from the Old Era, this is a masterpiece I poured my heart into designing."

"It has a skeletal frame and uses a triangular sail with a central stern rudder."

"While this design sacrifices some cargo capacity, it greatly improves maneuverability and speed in complicated sea conditions."

Butler Merry pushed up his glasses and introduced it earnestly. "Its name is—Merry!"

Ronan looked at the Sheep Head, warmth rising in his heart.

"Merry..." he murmured softly.

Within the perception of his Observation Haki, even the wood of this new ship seemed to be breathing.

Although it was still only an inanimate object now, he knew that during future voyages, under Luffy and the others' care, this ship would give birth to the legendary ship spirit.

"Let me explain how to operate it," Butler Merry said as he unfolded a blueprint and began talking at length. "First, regarding the power system, the main sail's halyard is located..."

Luffy was clearly completely uninterested in such complicated mechanical principles. His attention had already drifted to the nine heavens.

Nami, on the other hand, listened with great interest. She nodded from time to time and even asked several professional questions, earning Butler Merry's high praise.

"What an awesome ship!"

Luffy leaped onto the deck in one bound. He ran straight toward the Sheep Head figurehead, plopped down on it, and patted it excitedly.

"Especially this bow! It's so cool! This place is practically a first-class seat!"

Ronan watched Luffy sitting atop the Sheep Head, a knowing smile curling at the corner of the mouth.

That was the Captain's exclusive seat, Luffy's favorite spot.

Over countless days and nights in the future, this Straw Hat youth would sit there, gazing out at the distant Great Sea and shouting, "I'm the man who'll become the Pirate King!"

"I've already loaded everything you might need for the voyage."

Kaya stood on the shore and looked up at Luffy. "Fresh water, food, and some spare ropes and canvas."

"Thank you so much, Kaya!" Luffy shouted, waving both hands.

"Aaaaaah—!!"

Just then, a shrill scream approaching from afar shattered the harbor's peace.

Everyone looked toward the sound and saw a huge figure carrying a bundle half the height of a person rolling down the steep slope leading to the coast like an out-of-control ball of flesh after losing his balance!

"That is...?" Nami froze.

"Someone... someone help me stop!!"

The rolling ball of flesh let out a desperate cry for help.

Kaya covered her mouth and exclaimed in surprise, "Usopp?!"

He was rolling incredibly fast, kicking up dust all the way. He was about to shoot off the slope and crash directly into the Merry moored by the shore!

"What's that guy doing?" Luffy tilted his head in confusion.

"Idiot! This isn't the time to stand around!"

Zoro's hand was already on his sword hilt, but he immediately realized he couldn't cut him, so he sighed helplessly.

"Just stop him first! At that speed and along that path, he'll definitely smash our new ship!"

"Okay!"

No sooner said than done.

Luffy and Zoro raised their feet at the same time with perfect coordination.

Just as Usopp's terrified face was about to kiss the Merry's hull—

Bang!!

Two huge feet, one from the left and one from the right, stomped down precisely and viciously onto Usopp's face!

The immense Kinetic Energy was instantly canceled out.

The world fell silent.

Ronan stood to the side, watching this classic scene of a "human brake," and nearly burst out laughing.

The familiar formula, the familiar flavor—this was the Straw Hat Pirates' unique way of greeting someone.

"Uuuu..."

Usopp, his nose bleeding heavily and two clear shoeprints stamped across his face, raised a hand through his tears. "S-sorry..."

After that farce, the atmosphere became somewhat delicate again.

Usopp struggled to his feet and patted the huge backpack on his back.

He did not look at Luffy and the others. Instead, he turned around and faced away from Kaya, as though he did not dare meet her eyes.

"So you really are setting out to sea, Usopp." Kaya's voice was soft, yet full of understanding.

"Yeah..." Usopp adjusted the goggles on his head and said in a deliberately solemn tone,

"I need to leave before my resolve wavers. Don't try to stop me, Kaya."

He looked utterly serious, like a lone hero about to march onto a battlefield.

Kaya smiled gently. "I won't stop you, because I've known for a long time that you belong to this Great Sea."

Usopp's body stiffened slightly. Then he turned his head, the tip of his nose a little red. "When you say that... I really do feel kind of empty!"

He sniffed, raised a thumbs-up, and revealed his signature grin.

"Don't worry! The next time I return to this village, I'll tell you true adventure stories that are ten thousand times more unbelievable than all those 'lies' I used to tell!"

"Mm! I'll be waiting!" Kaya nodded firmly, sparkling tears glimmering at the corners of her eyes.

This was a promise between childhood sweethearts, and a boy's declaration that he would become a man.

After doing all this, Usopp took a deep breath and forcefully suppressed the sorrow of parting in his heart.

He turned around and looked at Ronan, Luffy, Zoro, and Nami, who were already standing on the Merry's deck.

As he looked at the companions he had fought alongside, a trace of loneliness flashed through Usopp's eyes, but he quickly hid it.

He stood on the shore, waved at them, and called out with feigned nonchalance,

"Hey! You guys! Take care of yourselves too! I hope we get the chance to meet again at sea someday!"