You Won't Become One of Them

Before she could finish speaking, Gawain's bathrobe fell straight to the floor.

Without changing expression, Gawain felt every hair on his body stand on end. Brooke, you were a little too good at understanding how to undress people...

Was the belt tied around his robe just for decoration?

And when they had carried him back to bed, they hadn't even put underwear on him?

There was no time to complain. The maids immediately picked up towels, dipped them in warm water and Sea Beast Milk, and began vigorously wiping Gawain down.

Their technique was impeccable, and they wiped him exceptionally thoroughly.

Although the maids' cheeks were slightly flushed and their bodies trembled faintly,

as professional maids, they did not show any unprofessional expressions of surprise.

That gradually made Gawain feel less awkward.

Beside him, Brooke blushed as she greedily glanced at Gawain's physique.

While openly sneaking peeks, Brooke trembled as she softly asked,

"My lord, what did you just... say?

Ah, no, no, no, I mean, I heard you clearly, but, um...

When you call the great Five Elders later, we'll all need to leave, right...?"

Well now, this well-endowed little Brooke had already started babbling incoherently!

"Of course."

Gawain smiled and nodded. Some things were destined not to be heard by these girls.

That would not only be dangerous for him, but even more dangerous for the girls.

As soon as Gawain finished speaking, while the maids who had been wiping him were still momentarily stunned, another three or four girls immediately crowded in from the side and joined the work.

Many hands made light work. The ancestors truly had not lied.

Meanwhile, the maids outside hurried over with the suit.

By the time the suit was delivered to Gawain's room, the wiping had just ended. After getting dressed with the maids' assistance, Gawain picked up the Den Den Mushi.

But at that moment, Brooke, now fully awake, appropriately held up the bubble helmet she had been carrying toward Gawain.

"My lord, your suit differs from Celestial Dragon attire, so the helmet may be difficult to wear securely. I'll go adjust its size for you right away."

"No need." Gawain shook his head.

After receiving Gawain's reply, Brooke thought for a moment before softly asking,

"My lord, this is Holy Land Mary Geoise, your own castle, so naturally you may go without the helmet.

But if you travel elsewhere, given your noble status, you cannot breathe the same filthy air as commoners.

Please allow me to leave briefly. As the head maid, it is my duty to prepare everything for your daily needs, whether you are traveling or staying home. I... I, I, I... Eh?!!"

Brooke was interrupted because Gawain freed the hand that was not holding the Den Den Mushi and placed his palm on her slender, exposed shoulder.

"Brooke."

Gawain spoke with a smile.

"I was just about to tell you that you won't need to prepare helmets for me anymore."

Brooke's tongue practically tied itself in knots. His lordship had touched her shoulder—she had thought the good times were about to begin!

But it was only an order...

"Th-this... all right!"

Seeing how firm Gawain's attitude was, Brooke nodded and bowed, indicating that she would obey.

Then, seeing Gawain pat the Den Den Mushi, Brooke led the maids away, leaving the room to Gawain alone.

Click.

After the door closed, Brooke let out a deep breath.

Then her skin, which had only been lightly flushed, instantly turned crimson.

It was her first time witnessing such a grand scene! Not showing her nerves had already been her absolute limit!

As for now, Brooke had long lost the bearing of a head maid. Instead, she grabbed the arm of another maid beside her.

"Y-you... you all saw his lordship's body, right~~~?"

With her heart racing and hands trembling, Brooke even needed the maids to support her as she staggered forward.

The maid supporting Brooke was not nearly as nervous as she was. Equally excited, she replied,

"His lordship's body is truly the finest I've ever seen. Every part of it!"

"Eh?!!"

Brooke was utterly shocked.

"You've seen more than one man's body?"

"Hehe, not because I wanted to. After all, I'm not like you, Sister Brooke.

You're a common noble yourself, so naturally you could live a simple life. But before I came to Mary Geoise, I was merely a tavern servant doing odd jobs.

After those stinking men got drunk, they could do every kind of ugly thing imaginable. I've seen far too many disgusting sights, especially from pirates!"

The maid disdainfully shook her head, then recalled Gawain's physique once again.

For a moment, the maid took several deep breaths before excitedly continuing,

"I thought being taken to Mary Geoise would mark the beginning of a tragedy, but unexpectedly, as long as you aren't assigned to serve some... some especially awful Celestial Dragon, life can be better than it was before.

And I'm so lucky to have encountered a Celestial Dragon like Saint Gawain!"

"Yes, we're so lucky."

Brooke nodded, her face full of happiness as she agreed wholeheartedly with the word lucky.

But the next second, Brooke remembered something belatedly.

She leaned close to the maid's ear and whispered,

"But from now on, you must never privately criticize the sacred Celestial Dragons again, understood? Otherwise, I won't forgive you."

"Mm-hm, understood. Thank you, Head Maid Brooke."

And so, chatting and laughing about their good fortune, the maids arrived at the room in Gawain Castle used to store and alter clothing.

After putting away the traditional Celestial Dragon garments they had brought earlier, Brooke held the bubble helmet and felt somewhat troubled.

"If his lordship doesn't wear a helmet outside either, and only wears a simple white suit,

then the head maids of the other Celestial Dragons will laugh at me for not knowing how to do my job.

But I can't disobey his lordship's orders.

What should I do?"

On the other side, after the maids left the room, Gawain placed the White Den Den Mushi atop an ordinary Den Den Mushi.

Then he held the large snail in his hands, feeling a little numb.

He wasn't an old man or a collector. He had never even used a rotary phone, much less one that was alive!

Fortunately, its workings were not complicated. After fiddling with it for a while, Gawain roughly understood how it worked.

At the same time, Gawain noticed a slip of paper stuck to the White Den Den Mushi, with a string of numbers written on it. He dialed them accordingly.

Purururu~~

After ringing only once, the Den Den Mushi immediately took on the expression of the Elder of Military among the Five Elders and shouted to Gawain,

"You only slept for three hours. Very good. It seems Kuma has developed the Paw-Paw Fruit to a considerable degree.

Had you not collapsed so early, we could have talked longer. After all, the incident you caused made all of Mary Geoise rest for quite some time.

But now, I must keep this brief, because the five of us have more important matters to attend to.

Gawain, listen carefully!"

"Mm."

Gawain nodded and gave a brief reply. The person on the other end seemed to pause for a moment, but soon, the Sword-Wielding Elder continued,

"We are very pleased that you awakened Conqueror's Haki. However, aside from Conqueror's Haki, you yourself are weaker than even the Den Den Mushi in your hand!

Therefore, you need sufficient training. You must not only train your body, but also train your control over Conqueror's Haki.

Thus, to prevent your training of Conqueror's Haki from having too great an impact on Holy Land Mary Geoise, we have decided to grant you the right to freely enter and leave Mary Geoise!

As for your future, the positions of the Five Elders will remain supported by us five old ghosts for now. You only need to strengthen yourself as quickly as possible.

When you feel that you are strong enough, you may challenge us at any time. If you win, then the lucky one among us whom you choose can finally rest properly.

Our brief conversation has given us a general understanding of your character. Your wisdom is no less than ours; what you lack is merely sufficient experience.

So go travel the seas more. Like your other Celestial Dragon peers, make the islands and kingdoms you visit recognize the nobility of the Celestial Dragons once again.

Of course, we hope you do not stray down the wrong path in that process, and especially that you do not truly learn from those peers of yours. You should find your own genuine view of this world.

If you ever feel lost, you may come to our office and see us at any time.

That's all!"

With that, the Sword-Wielding Elder immediately intended to hang up.

Gawain hurriedly stopped him.

"Wait."

"Oh? What is it?"

The Sword-Wielding Elder asked bluntly, so Gawain decisively spoke.

"Are there any taboos or matters I should pay attention to during my journey across the seas?"

"Heh. Rest assured, even if you slaughter dozens of islands, even if you destroy dozens of countries, as long as it does not affect our ultimate plan, you may do whatever you wish.

We were once young like you. The things you wish to do are likely things we also considered or personally tried when we traveled the seas.

But there is indeed one thing you must pay attention to: you must recognize your position and your allegiance.

You are a Celestial Dragon. You may use pirates, use Marines, and even use the Revolutionary Army.

But you will never become one of them!"

Purururu~ The call ended.

Holding the Den Den Mushi, Gawain wore an extremely satisfied smile, because he had gained enough freedom for what came next!

So he smiled and patted the Den Den Mushi's big eyes, teasing it,

"Little fellow, they said I'm not even as good as you. Hahaha."

Hearing Gawain's words, the Den Den Mushi noncommittally closed its eyes.

As it slept, the Den Den Mushi thought,

My maternal cousin is a Super Den Den Mushi that carries an entire fortress across the sea.

Would you believe that?