The Going Merry's voyage had entered a strange period of stability.
My harem, my "family" form, was completely complete after that frenzied ritual that night.
The women understand their respective roles and, under me as their one and only king, live out their twisted yet harmonious daily lives.
In particular, I never got bored of watching the changes in those two cheeky cats, Nami and Nojiko.
Rebellious words still occasionally come out of their mouths.
But now it's nothing more than a playful gesture to get the owner's attention.
"Eros! Come over here and take a look! The next current is quite complicated!"
Nami, now a navigator and completely accustomed to the ship, called out to me. Despite her casual tone, her eyes held a clear sign of trust, as she relied on my knowledge.
As I looked over at the nautical chart, I put my hand on her shoulder, but she no longer jumped wildly like she used to. Instead, her shoulders simply twitched and her cheeks turned a faint shade of red.
Nojiko, who was tending to the mandarin orange tree on the deck, watched the scene with a look of envy and regret on her face.
When I walked up to her and touched her butt, she just muttered "...idiot" under her breath and didn't try to resist anymore.
Her body had learned to obediently accept my caresses.
Makino and Kaya are "fake sisters" and are now closer than real sisters, and they both take care of me.
Alvida's loyalty to me as my sword and slave grows stronger with each passing day.
Ah, what a pleasant voyage.
But at the same time, it was a little boring.
It's about time for a new "toy" - a fresh prey that will add new excitement and new tones to this accomplished harem.
It was as if fate had heard my desire.
Finally, the shape of a huge island came into view ahead of the Going Merry.
The end of the East Blue and the entrance to the Grand Line.
"...Rogue Town. The town of beginnings and endings."
Nami muttered with a slightly complicated expression.
I smiled fearlessly as I looked out at the vibrant town.
When the ship arrived at port, I gathered the entire crew on deck and announced:
"From now on, you will have free time. Nami, Nojiko, it's been a while since you last visited town, so feel free to do some shopping. Makino and Kaya, I'll leave the money here."
I toss the bag of money towards Nami.
"Eh... is that okay?"
"Yes. But be sure to return to the ship before sunset. Don't keep me waiting, okay?"
Those words were filled with an undeniable pressure.
The women looked at each other for a moment, then each nodded. The little freedom they had been given, but they now understood that even that was only possible with the permission of their master, me, and that it was merely a stroll inside a cage.
"Alvida, you come with me."
"As you wish, Eros."
I watched with satisfaction as the women scattered towards the town.
And so, I too set foot into town to fulfill my true purpose.
Ahead of my eyes, I could already clearly see the shape of my next prey.
A novice female swordsman clad in the naive armor of justice.
I couldn't wait any longer to carefully peel off that armor, piece by piece, with my own hands.
◇
I was walking with Alvida through the hustle and bustle of Rogue Town.
This town is where the pirate king, Gold Roger, was born and executed. Perhaps because of this, the town swirls with a unique heat and murderous aura unlike any other.
Using my memories from my previous life and the atmosphere of this town, I was able to accurately predict where my target prey would appear.
We're heading to a bar in the eastern district, which has a slightly rough reputation.
Sure enough, the moment we stepped into the bar, vulgar stares were cast at Alvida all at once.
"Oh...? Who is that, that beautiful woman..."
"I've never seen you before. What ship are you a pirate on?"
The local thugs are looking at us appraisingly.
I sat down next to them and ordered a drink.
"Hey, sis. Are you alone? Want to come and have some more fun with us?"
Soon, several men surround Alvida.
Alvida frowned her beautiful eyebrows and glanced coldly at the men.
"...Get lost, you bastards. It's time for Eros to relax."
"Oh? Eros? What's that, you mean that skinny guy?"
One of the thugs pointed at me and laughed vulgarly.
At that moment, murderous intent appeared in Alvida's eyes.
But I gently restrained him with my hand.
"Wait, Alvida. I'll 'play' with these guys."
"...As you wish."
I slowly stood up and stood in front of the thugs.
"Hey, you guys. What did you just say to my girl?"
"Huh? Didn't you hear me, Hyorosuke? I'm telling you to give that woman to us!"
I was waiting for those words.
With a smile on my face, I elbow the man in the face.
With a dull bang, the man's nose was shattered and he sank to the floor.
But I won't let that be the end of it.
He grabbed the man's arm and twisted it in the opposite direction, as if he were breaking a branch.
"Gyaaaaaaah!"
The man's scream echoed throughout the bar.
The other thugs, filled with fear and anger, all drew their weapons and charged.
I dodge their attacks with ease, almost like I'm dancing. And as I pass by, one by one, I precisely shatter their joints, hit their vital points, and render them unable to fight.
This is not a legitimate act of self-defense to protect oneself.
It was clearly the work of a sadist who "enjoyed" inflicting maximum pain on his opponents and hearing their screams.
And a woman was watching this scene at the entrance to the bar with a shocked expression on her face.
A floral shirt, jeans, and red-framed glasses. A female swordsman who still retains a youthful innocence.
It's Tashigi.
Her straight eyes clearly captured my "evil".
"That's enough!"
A dignified voice reverberated.
She stepped in between me and the thugs on the floor.
In his eyes, there was a mixture of pity for the thug and clear hostility and loathing towards me.
"Whatever the reason, this excessive violence will not be tolerated! In the name of the Navy, I am detaining you!"
I gazed at his face, filled with a sense of justice, and a smile of delight spread from the bottom of my heart.
(...It took a while, pure heroine.)
"Here comes the heroine of justice. Interesting. But do you think I can cut you down with your dullness?"
I picked up a cheap, unbranded sword that one of the thugs had lying on the floor and slowly took a stance towards her.
The curtain on the stage has risen.
Tashigi's eyebrows shot up in response to my provocation.
"I'll make you regret those words!"
She drew the famous sword "Shigure" that was tucked at her waist and unleashed a straight, unwavering thrust.
Her beautiful sword strokes seem to represent her serious and honest personality.
But for me, it's too easy to read.
I easily deflect the tip of the sword with the unnamed sword I just picked up.
Clink!
A high-pitched metallic sound echoed throughout the bar.
At that moment, I made a move.
The impact of the swords clashing sends minute amounts of "excitement hormones" and "pleasure hormones" into her body.
"...!"
Tashigi's body stiffened just a little.
She has yet to notice the subtle changes occurring in her body.
"What happened? Is that all?"
I continue to provoke her and continue the exchange of blows.
Tashigi's pride is stimulated and she attacks again and again.
"Shut up!"
"slow!"
"Damn it...!"
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Every time the blades clashed, I continued to pump hormones relentlessly and repeatedly.
Gradually, her brain begins to learn this unusual equation.
"Sword fight with me" = "pleasant excitement"
Eventually, Tashigi herself began to notice the change.
(Wh... why...?)
When I fight with this man, I feel a heat deep inside my body.
His heartbeat was different from the sound of a normal battle, it was a sound full of anticipation.
I want to fight more.
I want to receive this man's sword with my own sword more.
Such a perverse impulse, unbecoming of a swordsman, began to grow in her heart.
"Haa... haa...!"
Her breathing was irregular, not just due to fatigue from the battle, but also due to a strange excitement. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were moist.
Her face was no longer that of a marine enforcing justice, but simply that of a woman infatuated with one man.
I confirmed that her heart had begun to take on my colors.
It's about time to call it a day.
At that moment, as if he knew my plan, a deep voice and a huge amount of smoke poured in from the entrance of the bar.
"Tashigi! What are you waiting for? Are you the man causing trouble in the East Blue?"
Introducing the "White Hunting Smoker."
Just before the smoke completely engulfed us, I took a large distance from Tashigi.
Then, looking into those melting eyes, he says his farewell words.
"That's all for today's waltz, my lady. The rest will be on the Grand Line."
"Ah...wait a moment!"
Tashigi shouts something.
However, the voice was drowned out by the smoke released by Smoker.
I slipped through the smoke as if it didn't exist, and together with Alvida, I leisurely disappeared from the scene.
"He got away...!"
Smoker's frustrated voice was heard behind him.
◇
All that was left behind was a silent bar and Tashigi standing there in a daze.
The memory of the extraordinary elation and slight pleasure she felt during that battle is engraved strongly, like a stigma, on her body.
She still can't understand what happened to her body.
However, deep in his heart, one irresistible emotion was undoubtedly beginning to grow.
(Once again…)
I want to cross swords with that man once more.
This perverse desire, which she must not be aware of, began to quietly but surely erode her sense of justice from within.
◇
At dusk, I returned to the Going Merry with Alvida.
All the women, who had finished their shopping, were already gathered on the deck of the ship.
Nami and Nojiko were carrying large shopping bags in both hands and looked satisfied, but also a little tired. They had probably enjoyed their first freedom in a long time.
Makino and Kaya were carrying the ingredients they had obtained into the ship's food storehouse.
Upon seeing me, the women each greeted my return in their own way.
Makino smiled gently and said, "Welcome back, Eros-kun."
Kaya rushes over, looking worried, and asks, "Are you hurt?"
Alvida stood upright behind me, as if to reserve her place.
And Nami and Nojiko said, "Welcome back," a little brusquely, but certainly.
"Oh, I'm back. Are you ready to set sail?"
"Yes, we can go anytime. We have plenty of food and water."
Nami, as a navigator, answered accurately.
I nodded and headed towards the bow of the ship.
Below me, the hustle and bustle of Rogue Town spread out.
(...Tashigi, huh?)
That pure and straightforward female swordsman.
I wonder how the seeds of pleasure I planted in her are beginning to sprout right now.
She will definitely follow me.
While making excuses in the name of "justice," they are drawn to the "pleasure" that their bodies desire.
I'm looking forward to seeing you next time.
"Eros"
Suddenly, Nami stood next to me and called out to me.
"what up?"
"...You're really going to take away my sorrow, aren't you? I'm sure there will be even more people like Arlong once we enter the Grand Line..."
There was still a hint of anxiety in her eyes that she couldn't completely wipe away.
I pulled her tighter by her waist.
"Yaah...!"
"Of course."
I whisper in her ear.
"Whose woman are you? I am Cain D. Eros' woman. All the sorrows of this world are like rubbish before me."
Nami's face turned red at my words.
I watched the reaction with satisfaction.
"Everyone, set sail! Heading for Reverse Mountain! Let's launch an assault on the Grand Line!"
At my command, the Going Merry slowly left the harbor.
The "fun" in the East Blue is over.
What lies ahead is a lawless sea where the world's common sense and laws do not apply.
I wonder what kind of noble and beautiful women are waiting for me there.
A princess?
The Revolutionary Army?
Or maybe a child of the devil?
I thought of the prey I had yet to see, and a fearless smile appeared on my lips.
My lustful journey (harem route) has only just begun.
◇
Meanwhile, at the Rogue Town Navy branch.
In one room, a smoker was smoking a cigar resentfully.
"...So he got away in the end. That man was clearly on a different level than a mere thug."
In front of him, one of his subordinates stood motionless.
It's Tashigi.
She had been holed up in her office since the battle earlier, but now she came here with a stiff expression, as if she had made up her mind about something.
"Mr. Smoker."
"...What is it, Tashigi?"
"I have something to report. It's about the man from earlier... the man who called himself Cain D. Eros."
She took a breath and then said clearly and firmly:
"That man is far too dangerous. He smells of a fundamental evil, unlike any evil I have faced before. If he is left unchecked, he will surely cause great disaster on the Grand Line."
Those words came from a pure sense of justice as a naval officer.
Smoker saw the serious look in his subordinate's eyes and silently nodded.
And Tashigi continues.
"So please! Let me pursue that man! I will take responsibility for this. I will definitely capture that man on the Grand Line!"
It was a brilliant piece of advice from a subordinate.
Smoker narrowed his eyes slightly at his enthusiasm.
"...Do as you like. In the first place, I have no intention of leaving him like this."
"!thank you!"
Tashigi saluted and ran out of the room.
As he watched her leave, Smoker suddenly noticed something strange.
(...He's awfully enthusiastic. He's a little different from usual...)
He doesn't notice.
What was her soul crying out behind her subordinate's righteous words?
(Once again…)
As Tashigi ran out of the room, her mind was dominated by a single, perverse thought.
(I want to cross swords with that man once more...!)
The absolute justification of enforcing justice.
Beneath that beautiful mask, she takes a step towards the unknown pleasure her body desires.
She herself is not yet aware of this.
Or maybe they're just pretending not to notice.