I, Gion, Am Not Weaker Than You

"You're very good."

Zefa saw that Rosen had mastered all the techniques of the Three Colors of Haki in just two lessons, yet remained neither arrogant nor impatient and even showed him, his teacher, great respect. He could not help but feel gratified.

"No matter what the future holds, the fact that Teacher Zefa was my first teacher will never change."

Meeting Zefa's gaze, Rosen spoke in a calm yet unquestionable voice.

Thinking of how this teacher had spent half his life nurturing the Marines, only to die at the hands of the very Marines he had cultivated, Rosen found it deeply ironic.

Justice?

If this was what Marine Headquarters upheld, then he would rather have none of it.

"You..."

Hearing this, Zefa's heart trembled for the first time.

He had taught many students throughout his life, including admirals and vice admirals, but this was the first time he had heard a student say something like that to him.

Especially from a super monster who had only attended one of his classes.

Having taught quite a few students with admiral potential, Zefa knew well that Marines with the makings of admirals were without exception proud and fiercely ambitious.

As long as their views clashed, even if it was their teacher or closest family, they would turn their backs without hesitation.

That was true of Marines, and pirates as well.

For instance, Monkey D. Luffy and Portgas D. Ace would never follow Garp's wishes, even if he was their grandfather. The same went for Monkey D. Dragon.

Marshall D. Teach was no exception either.

But Rosen seemed to have overturned that understanding.

At that thought, moisture seemed to flash in his tiger-like eyes, but it vanished the instant he turned away, as though it had never appeared.

"All right, that will be all for today's lesson."

"Once you return to the dormitory, remember to review what you learned today. After all, you learned all Three Colors of Haki at once, and the number of techniques you have to master is rather large. Besides, learning the Three Colors of Haki and being able to use them flexibly in battle are two entirely different things."

"That's all. Be here tomorrow morning at eight and wait for me."

With his back to Rosen, Zefa spoke to him like a kind elder speaking to a younger generation, every word carrying a deep, ocean-like concern.

"I'll remember it."

Rosen carefully considered every word Zefa had instructed him with.

He found that Zefa truly deserved to be called the Marines' foremost teacher.

There was no need to mention his ability to teach according to one's talents.

His guidance was precisely what Rosen lacked most right now.

He had learned all Three Colors of Haki and every technique at once, but his combat experience and awareness were practically nonexistent.

When facing an opponent, when should he use Conqueror's Haki? When should he use Armament Haki? When should he use Observation Haki? And which Haki technique should he use afterward?

Rosen had no clear concept of any of that.

After all, he had only just learned the Three Colors of Haki. Forget fighting anyone—he had barely used them at all.

But judging by Zefa's expression, he clearly understood all this. Perhaps he had already tailored an entirely new teaching plan specifically for Rosen.

"Zefa, you must teach him well."

"Rosen."

"He is the future of the Marines, the one and only successor to Absolute Justice."

Sengoku watched Rosen leave. Only after his figure disappeared from sight did he withdraw his gaze and speak to Zefa beside him.

"Every student is the future of the Marines. Every one of them is the one and only successor to Absolute Justice."

Zefa shot Sengoku a glare.

Clearly.

He was very dissatisfied with Sengoku's wording.

Students had varying strengths; that was a fact. But every student was the future of the Marines and an inheritor of justice; that too was a fact.

"You know what I mean."

"To be honest with you, even if I maintain my body as well as possible, given my current condition, I have at most around five years left at my peak. After that, my stamina, Haki, strength, willpower, even my Paramecia Ability—every aspect will weaken year by year as time passes."

"Garp is probably in roughly the same situation."

"Headquarters needs a new king. It needs a supreme ruler who can lead the Marines and reign over the world."

Sengoku stared straight into Zefa's eyes.

"You must ensure that Rosen grows strong within five years."

"No matter the cost."

"Zefa."

He barked each word sharply.

"He is this old man's student. Even without you saying so, this old man will spare no effort to nurture him into a worthy talent."

"Just like Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan."

Zefa could also feel the pressure Sengoku bore, along with his hopes for Rosen.

Not just anyone could become Fleet Admiral.

Internally, one had to face the World Government. Externally, one had to face pirates.

Once the heroes grew old and the old king stepped down, if the next Fleet Admiral of Marine Headquarters lacked Conqueror's Haki, it would not only cause the Fleet Admiral himself to be slighted by the Five Elders, but Marine Headquarters as well.

At the same time, they would be unable to suppress the increasingly rampant Great Pirate Era.

That night.

Rosen stood in the corridor outside the Military Academy dormitory, quietly looking at the two rows of cherry blossom trees below.

The same place.

The same scenery.

Only the mood of the one watching it had changed.

From the confusion and unease when he had first transmigrated, to his heaven-defying comprehension, crafting Thousand Cherry Blossoms by hand, and then mastering all the techniques of the Three Colors of Haki in just two lessons today.

After the experiences of this brief single day, when Rosen returned to the dormitory corridor and saw the drifting cherry blossoms once more, his heart held only anticipation for the future and confidence as blazing as the sun.

All of it came from the capital he now possessed to control the future and watch the tides rise and fall in the Great Pirate Era.

"Still not asleep this late?"

"Are you thinking about what happened this afternoon?"

Just as Rosen was in high spirits, admiring the cherry blossoms, a graceful voice came from behind him.

He turned and found Gion.

Perhaps because she had just stepped out of her dormitory.

At that moment, Gion wore a pink lace nightgown whose fabric barely reached past her hips, exposing legs nearly as long as Rosen was tall to the air.

There was nothing he could do about it.

Whether before or after transmigrating, Rosen had always considered himself reasonably tall.

At 2.2 meters, he was definitely not short among this year's students.

But Gion had the height of an admiral.

Just over three meters.

And that was not all—she was wearing ten-centimeter black high heels.

Forget it. Besides strengthening my Haki, I need to grow taller too. I wonder if heaven-defying comprehension can change my height.

"What happened this afternoon?"

Rosen did not quite understand what Gion meant.

"Conqueror's Haki."

Gion parted her lips and spoke the five syllables.

"Speaking of Conqueror's Haki, I really am sorry about today."

"I had just awakened it, and the first time, I couldn't control it very well. I caused you all trouble."

Rosen understood. He also remembered Zefa telling him before he left that when he awakened Conqueror's Haki, he had nearly knocked out all the teachers and students in the entire Navy School.

Only a handful, including Gion, Tokikake, Smoker, Hina, and Kizaru, had escaped unharmed.

Thinking that Gion had been hit by a blast of Conqueror's Haki for no reason, he assumed she had come to demand an explanation and thus explained himself.

"That's not a problem."

"Just don't suddenly hit me with Conqueror's Haki without a word again."

"After all, starting tomorrow, we'll continue being classmates for another year."

The corners of Gion's lips rose slightly as she spoke meaningfully.

"Don't worry. Something like today, where I can't precisely control Conqueror's Haki, won't happen a second time."

"As for what you said about continuing to be my classmate."

"Gion, you've already learned Armament Haki Coating Hardening, haven't you?"

The moment Rosen saw Gion's smile, how could he not understand?

The Gion before him had not come to demand answers for being hit by Conqueror's Haki at all. She had come to tell him that she had already mastered Armament Haki.

Of course, there was another meaning as well.

That was—

Gion.

Was not weaker than him.