CHAPTER 8 — Trouble from the Mountain
Windmill Village was peaceful in the morning.
Too peaceful.
Ren walked along the dirt path behind Makino's bar, carrying a small basket full of tools. Makino had given him permission to collect some wood from the forest outskirts for the shed repairs.
He inhaled the scent of pine and sea breeze.
Kiro walked beside him, kicking a pebble. "Today feels strange."
Ren frowned. "Strange how?"
Kiro shrugged. "Like something stupid is about to happen."
Ren sighed. "Please don't say that. Stupidity follows Luffy, not me."
Kiro snorted. "We're friends now. That makes you a target."
Ren groaned. "…I regret bonding."
They arrived at the forest edge. Birds chirped. Leaves rustled. Everything was calm.
Too calm.
Ren set the basket down and inspected a fallen log.
"This one looks usable," he murmured.
Kiro nodded. "Yeah, let's cut—"
A loud CRACK echoed.
Ren and Kiro froze.
"Did you hear that?" Kiro whispered.
Ren swallowed. "Hear what exactly?"
Another crack. Heavy footsteps.
Kiro paled. "Oh no. Oh no no no."
Ren stiffened. "What?"
Kiro pointed dramatically. "It's THEM."
Ren turned slowly.
From behind a cluster of trees emerged three figures—rough clothes, messy hair, ugly grins, and an aura of "poor life decisions": Dadan's bandits.
The leader grinned. "Well, well! Look what we found. Two little brats wandering around alone."
Ren stared at them.
Kiro whispered, "Don't make eye contact."
Ren whispered back, "Too late."
---
Enter the Bandits
The tallest bandit cracked his knuckles. "Kids shouldn't be snoopin' near our turf."
Ren blinked. "We're collecting wood. For my shed."
"Oh?" The bandit smirked. "Then pay the toll."
Ren paused. "…There's a toll?"
"For everything," the bandit said proudly. "Forest tax. Walking tax. Breathing tax—"
Kiro groaned. "Oh come ON."
Ren gently nudged him. "Kiro, please don't escalate—"
Kiro hissed, "I'm not escalating. They're dumb!"
The bandits glared.
Ren whispered, "You escalated."
---
First Push
The shortest bandit walked closer and shoved Ren's shoulder.
Ren stumbled back, nearly falling.
Kiro growled. "Hey!"
"Relax, kid," the bandit sneered. "We're just havin' fun."
Ren's heartbeat quickened. His chest tightened.
He hated this.
Being powerless.
Being pushed.
Being cornered.
Old memories clawed at him—bullying, helplessness, fear.
But something else stirred inside him too.
Makino's gentle voice:
"You're part of us now."
Kiro standing beside him.
Luffy's chaotic grin.
Ren clenched his fists.
"I don't want trouble," he said quietly. "But we didn't do anything wrong."
The bandits laughed.
"Aww, look at the polite one!"
"Let's see how polite he is after a little scare—"
---
Luffy: Agent of Chaos
Before the bandits could touch him again—
A voice screamed from the trees:
"RENNNNN!!!"
Ren closed his eyes in despair.
"…Oh no."
Luffy burst out of the bushes like a wild animal, tripping on a root and flinging himself directly into the tallest bandit.
WHAM.
The bandit toppled over.
Luffy popped up, grinning wildly. "REN! Let's fight these guys!"
Ren panicked. "NO—!"
Kiro groaned. "Oh this is getting worse."
The bandits stood up, furious.
"You little brat!"
Luffy pointed at them. "Don't pick on my friends!"
Ren's breath hitched.
Friends.
The bandits cracked their knuckles.
"Alright, you asked for it!"
---
Ren Stands His Ground
Ren grabbed Luffy's arm. "Luffy, stop—these are adults. Dangerous ones."
Luffy blinked. "So? I'm dangerous too!"
"No, you're reckless!"
The tallest bandit swung a fist at Ren.
Time slowed.
Ren's instincts screamed—move, dodge, do something—but his body froze.
Then—
Another hand appeared.
Not his.
Makino's.
She grabbed the bandit's wrist mid-swing.
Everyone froze.
Makino's warm smile was gone—replaced by cold fury.
"Touch that boy again," she said slowly, "and I will break your arm."
The bandits paled instantly.
"M-M-Makino—! W-We weren't—!"
Her grip tightened.
Crack.
The bandit screamed.
Makino shoved him backward. "Get out."
The bandits ran.
They didn't look back.
They didn't dare.
---
Silence After the Storm
Ren stood still, heart racing.
Makino turned to him, worry replacing anger. "Ren, are you hurt?"
He shook his head quickly. "…No. Just startled."
She knelt and checked his arms anyway. "Good. I heard yelling and ran." She sighed deeply. "Those idiots never learn."
Luffy bounced excitedly. "Makino! You were so cool!"
Makino glared at him. "And YOU—! Why did you run into a fight?!"
Luffy blinked innocently. "I wanted to help Ren!"
Kiro added, "He almost helped us die."
Makino pointed at both boys. "No more running into forests without telling me. Understand?"
Luffy saluted. "Aye aye!"
Ren nodded softly. "…Sorry."
Makino softened. "You didn't do anything wrong."
Kiro crossed his arms. "I blame Luffy."
Ren sighed. "We all blame Luffy."
"HEY!"
They all laughed.
---
A Quiet Moment
Makino placed a gentle hand on Ren's back.
"You did something brave today," she said.
Ren blinked. "…I did?"
"You didn't look away. You didn't run." Her voice softened. "That takes courage."
Ren lowered his gaze, cheeks warming.
"…I wasn't brave. I was scared."
Makino smiled. "Being scared and still standing your ground is what bravery is."
Ren swallowed hard.
Something warm bloomed in his chest.
Luffy grinned. "Ren's getting strong!"
Kiro smirked. "Next time, duck faster."
Ren groaned. "Please don't bring next time."
---
Returning Home
As they walked back toward the village, Ren glanced once more at the forest.
He wasn't powerful.
He wasn't strong.
He wasn't fearless.
But he wasn't alone anymore.
Makino.
Luffy.
Kiro.
The villagers.
They stood behind him.
They cared.
He clenched his fists softly, feeling the faintest spark of resolve.
"…I'll get stronger," he whispered to himself.
Slowly.
Steadily.
For the first time, Ren wasn't just surviving this world.
He was beginning to live in it.
---
End of Chapter 8