A New Beginning

The "lost swordsman incident" finally came to an end amid the entire guild's celebration.

Though a rule that could only be called "humiliating" had been imposed on him, Zoro soon discovered that it did not seem to have much of a negative impact on his life. He had not planned on wandering around alone anyway. As long as there was alcohol to drink and somewhere to sleep at the guild, that was enough for him.

He had also silently accepted his fate of being "supervised." Whenever he wanted to move more than ten meters away from the bar, at least one person would watch him with an expression that said, "Where are you going? I'll show you the way."

After this incident, Zoro's relationship with the guild members had instead become closer and more genuine.

They no longer merely revered his overwhelmingly powerful strength. They had begun to treat him as a companion who, though he had a "fatal flaw," was incomparably dependable when it mattered. It was a strange feeling.

The guild's daily life had also gained many new, recurring comedic routines because of him.

For example, one time Zoro needed to use the restroom. Relying on his memory, he confidently headed in a certain direction. Five minutes later, Erza, who was helping Mirajane prepare lunch in the kitchen, suddenly heard a scream. She rushed out and found Zoro standing expressionlessly at the entrance to the women's changing room, while Bisca, who had just finished changing inside, stood red-faced and aimed her magic rifle at him. Naturally, Zoro was given a severe lesson by Erza on the charge of "offending public decency."

Then there was Natsu, who still persistently challenged him every day. Once, Zoro grew annoyed by Natsu's noise and wanted to find somewhere quiet to take an afternoon nap. He remembered there being a storage room on the second floor that hardly anyone visited. Yet he wandered back and forth through the second-floor corridor for half an hour without finding its door. In the end, he opened Guild Master Makarov's office instead and caught the old man secretly reading a risqué photo magazine...

One absurd little incident after another gradually accustomed Zoro to life here, while also deepening his connection to this noisy "home."

At dusk, Zoro stood alone by a second-floor window, holding a cup of strong liquor Cana had specially saved for him as he watched Magnolia Town's peaceful streets glow gold beneath the setting sun.

Not far away, Natsu and Gray were fighting again over some trivial matter.

From downstairs came Lucy's wail of "My rent!" and Elfman Strauss's roar of "Be a man!"

By the bar, Cana hugged a wine barrel as she bragged with Guild Master Makarov.

Everything was noisy and chaotic, yet brimming with vibrant life and irreplaceable warmth.

Though trouble never seemed to end, the feeling of being "looked after" and "nagged at" somehow gave this swordsman, who had always gone his own way, a long-forgotten sense of... peace.

The purity of Wado Ichimonji, the restless pulse of Sandai Kitetsu, the greed of Enma... He could clearly sense that these three "companions," who had accompanied him through life-and-death battles, were letting out eager, excited hums in this brand-new world overflowing with magic power. They, too, seemed full of anticipation for the future.

Zoro's gaze passed over the town's rooftops and turned toward the distant rolling mountains and the boundless sky.

The corner of his mouth lifted into a faint smile filled with challenge.

"Next mission, there'd better be a worthy opponent—and better booze, too."