Sea Circle Calendar 1496West BlueOhara—the Holy Land of Archaeology
A warm sea breeze swept across the sparkling ocean. Seagulls cried overhead as they searched for food beneath an endless blue sky.
On one side of the island, a small ship flying a crude pirate flag bobbed with the waves.
"Land! I finally see land! If I didn't spot an island soon I was gonna be the first transmigrator in history to starve to death—how embarrassing would that be?!"
A little boy with sunken cheeks—practically a walking skeleton—lay draped over the railing, tears of joy streaming down his face.
He looked about seven or eight years old, but his soul belonged to a 21st-century college student and proud NEET named Luo Lin. Anime otaku, gaming addict, the whole package.
After pulling several all-nighters, Luo Lin had finally climbed to the highest rank in his favorite MOBA—Most Strongest King! Riding that high, he'd planned to crash. Then he remembered his beloved One Piece had just updated, so sleep got postponed again.
He finished the newest episode, stood up to go to bed—and the world spun. Nosebleed, violent coughing, a mouthful of blood, lights out.
Next thing he knew, he woke up here.
When he first opened his eyes, he was completely lost. "Wait… wasn't I in my dorm? Where the hell am I?"
The moment he sat up, a flood of memories slammed into his head. It hurt like hell, but thankfully there wasn't much—two minutes later the pain faded.
Then came the dead silence.
"…You've gotta be kidding me." "( ๑ŏ ﹏ ŏ๑ ) I frickin' transmigrated? Into the One Piece world? And it's Sea Circle Calendar 1496 right now?!"
"Somebody save me! This is poisoned! All I did was stay up late—how does that land me here?!"
Luo Lin grabbed fistfuls of his hair, on the verge of a mental breakdown. He was still having trouble accepting the truth: he'd crossed over into One Piece… and turned into a little kid!
Back in his old world he'd been attending a top-tier university. Rich parents—his family owned a listed company worth billions. Even after falling deep into anime and games, his grades were still good enough for scholarships (all hail the Flour President and Big Bro Rush! Eternal gods!).
If nothing went wrong, he'd have graduated, taken over the family business, and become a domineering CEO—peak of life achieved.
But now? Everything gone.
He knew better than anyone how dangerous this world was. Freaks everywhere. His tiny life was in danger 24/7.
Grrrooowl~
His stomach roared, forcing him to set the breakdown aside. He stood up shakily and started searching for food while comforting himself.
At least it wasn't Raccoon City or Silent Hill. And there were tons of beautiful women here.
It was 1496—two years before Roger's execution would kick off the Great Pirate Era.
The body's original owner was named Portgas D. Luo Lin—close enough to his own name. The kid had a grandfather who'd been killed by two pirates. They knocked the boy out, planning to sell him. Then the two pirates fought over loot, accidentally killed the original Luo Lin in the process, and apparently fell overboard and drowned themselves.
When Luo Lin's soul arrived, the pirates were long gone, leaving him alone on a drifting boat with no food left. He'd even tried the standard transmigrator ritual—yelling "System?!" into the void. Nothing.
…
The moment he spotted Ohara, overwhelming relief flooded him. As soon as the boat scraped ashore, he chugged the last of the fresh water, dragged his half-dead body off the vessel, and collapsed onto solid ground.
"(╥_╥) Real ground… it feels so good…"
Tears rolling, panting every three steps, he staggered toward the forest in search of fruit. If he didn't find something soon, he really would starve.
At the same time—
Deep in the woods near the coast, a gentle breeze carried the scent of the sea. Four-year-old Nico Robin sat on a tree stump, an open book beside her. She wore a slightly tattered red dress. Her pale skin and short black hair fluttered in the wind as silent tears rolled down her cheeks.
Robin's father had died long ago. Her mother, Olvia, was a wanted criminal by the World Government and couldn't raise her. So Robin had been left with her aunt and uncle's family.
They treated her horribly—dumped all the chores on her, gave her only two pieces of hard black bread a day, and often hit her. Because she had eaten a Devil Fruit, the local children treated her like a monster, throwing rocks and sticks whenever they saw her.
Robin never complained about her unfair fate. Books were her escape—her way to forget everything.
She only allowed herself to cry when she missed her mother.
Luo Lin dragged his feet forward and eventually tripped over a small rock, crashing beside a tree with a loud thud.
Thump!
The sound made Robin freeze. She immediately wiped her tears and stared warily in that direction.
Were the village kids coming to bully her again?
After a few seconds of silence, she gathered her courage and crept toward the noise.
When she got close, she saw a boy about her age—or maybe a year or two older—leaning weakly against the tree trunk. She'd never seen him before.
At the same moment, Luo Lin noticed her.
There was actually another human on this island!
A little girl!
After drifting alone for more than ten days, he nearly cried from happiness at the sight of another person—even if she was looking at him like he might be dangerous.
"Don't be scared! I just drifted here from the sea. I mean you no harm—I'm way too weak to hurt anyone right now anyway!"
His voice was hoarse and faint; he hadn't eaten in days. Surely a little girl wouldn't be that guarded, right? He really needed help.
Robin studied him for a while. Unlike the adults on Ohara or the traveling merchants, this boy didn't look at her with strange, fearful eyes after learning who she was—at least not yet.
She worked up her courage and stepped forward.
"What happened to you?"
Before he could answer, a thunderous growl came from his stomach, startling her.
Luo Lin—almost twenty years old on the inside—blushed bright red.
"S-sorry about that…"
"I drifted here and haven't eaten in forever. Is there anywhere around here that sells food? I can pay you to help me buy some!"
He still had treasure on the ship—enough for an ordinary person to live decades in luxury. That's what the two pirates had been fighting over. Of course he hadn't brought it with him.
Robin hesitated. Seeing how he looked like he might collapse any second, her soft heart won out.
"I'll just give him half. I can sleep early tonight and ignore the hunger."
Reluctantly, she pulled out one of her two daily pieces of hard black bread and handed it over.
"Thank you!!"
Luo Lin stared for a second, then snatched it and devoured it like a wild animal. He ate so fast he started choking, pounded his chest, and somehow forced it down.
Tears poured from his eyes. On the ship he'd saved the black bread for last because it tasted awful, but now? It was the best thing he'd ever eaten.
Robin watched him wolf it down and unconsciously swallowed her own saliva—that had been her dinner.
Luo Lin let out a long breath. One piece wasn't enough to fill him, but after days of only water it was heaven.
"Thank you so much, little sister! My name's Luo Lin. What's yours?"
"Nico Robin."
"WHAT?!"
Luo Lin's eyes nearly popped out. He knew he was in the One Piece world, but running into Nico Robin on day one felt unreal!
"W-what's wrong…?"
He must know I'm a monster… Robin thought, shrinking back in fear.
"Oh—no, no, nothing! Relax!"
"…Okay."
She was only four; she didn't overthink it.
"Thanks for the bread. Do you know where we are? Is there anywhere to buy food?"
He reached out to pat her head but she dodged. As a hardcore One Piece fan, he knew exactly how miserable Robin's childhood had been. She'd just given him half her daily food—she'd go hungry tonight because of him.
"Yeah…"
"Really? Awesome! Wait here a sec!"
Luo Lin limped back to the ship, tore down and burned the pirate flag (he wasn't planning on becoming a pirate, thank you very much), grabbed a handful of Berry—about 2,000—and ran back to Robin.
"Here, take this."
He offered the money. Robin shook her head.
"Is it too little?"
He'd been worried giving her too much would be unsafe for a child.
Robin had saved his life. He was ready to give more, but she still refused.
"I can't take it. One piece of black bread only costs 50 Berry."
She had helped him out of kindness, not for reward.
"Then can you take me to the market? I want to buy some food."
"…Okay."
She thought about it and agreed.
Ohara was a large island, world-famous for archaeology and home to the Tree of Knowledge—the library with the most books on the planet. Naturally, it attracted scholars from everywhere… and merchants too.
After leaving the shore, they walked about half an hour with Robin leading the way until they reached the marketplace. Luo Lin bought piles of meat, rice, and flour—almost more than he could carry. In the end Robin helped him lug everything back.
You had to hand it to Ohara—the people were surprisingly honest. Two little kids carrying that much food and nobody tried to rob them. Truly the island of scholars.
Though some adults did give Robin strange looks.
Back at the ship, they dropped off the groceries. Robin prepared to leave—she wanted to go read.
"Wait! Robin!"
"Yeah?"
"Here."
Luo Lin pulled out a small bag of soft wheat bread—way better than black bread.
Robin started to refuse.
"You must be hungry too. You saved my life when I was starving and even showed me the way to town. I already consider you my friend!"
"This is just me treating a friend."
Friend…?
Robin stared at the ground, lost in thought. She'd never had a friend before. She didn't know what it felt like.
But this boy who was maybe a year or two older than her seemed different from the other kids on the island.
He… really saw her as a friend?
She looked up. He was grinning wider than ever, holding the bag out farther.
His gentle, warm smile melted the last of her hesitation. A child's heart is simple—she smiled back, eyes curving into happy crescents, and accepted the bread.
She took a bite.
So soft. So delicious.
Robin had never tasted bread this good. Before she knew it, her eyes were wet.
"Thank you…"
"Hahaha, no need! Come find me anytime you'reandt hungry—we're friends now!"
"Yeah!"
Luo Lin grinned to himself. He'd already accepted his new reality, and since Robin was right in front of him, why not start raising those affection points early?
Future intellectual goddess Robin was his absolute favorite character. Get in good with her as a kid, and who else would stand a chance when she grew up?
"I'm full. I've gotta head home now!"
While he was lost in his delusions, Robin suddenly held out the rest of the soft bread.
"Huh? What're you doing? I told you it's for you."
"If I bring it home, my aunt will think I stole it. So I'll leave it with you! I'll come eat it next time!"
Luo Lin remembered—yeah, her aunt and uncle really were that awful.
"Alright. We're friends, okay? Come by anytime you want to eat."
"Okay!"
Robin nodded happily, then skipped away. You could tell she was in high spirits.
She'd never had a real friend before. The other children treated her like a monster. Deep down she'd always wanted someone—anyone—to call a friend. That's why, years later, she would bravely approach a stranded giant named Saul and become his friend without fear.
And now, she finally had her first one.
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