The morning in Elbaf did not arrive quietly.
It burst into existence with the roar of wind brushing against the colossal roots of the Adam Tree, sunlight spilling like molten gold across the cliffs and docks below. The air smelled of salt, steel, and roasted sea-king meat—Gray was already hard at work.
Huge slabs of meat rested on his shoulders as if they weighed nothing. His muscles tensed and relaxed rhythmically while he packed supplies, grumbling to himself.
"Long voyage means long hunger… and I refuse to starve at sea again," he muttered.
I stood alone on the cliffside above the cove, the wind tugging gently at my hair. The Lunarian fire behind my back burned calmly—steady, controlled… almost too calm.
My eyes stayed fixed on the endless blue horizon.
"Ripple…" I whispered softly, my voice carried away by the sea breeze.
"You're safe… right? I know you are. Just wait a little longer. We're coming."
A quiet voice suddenly broke through my thoughts.
"So, Gold D. Ash… you're really sailing again, huh?"
I turned slightly.
Gaban was walking toward me, hands tucked behind his back. His usual carefree expression was gone. Instead, he looked… thoughtful. Almost nostalgic.
He stopped beside me, staring at my face for a long moment before speaking again.
"You know," he said slowly, "your face reminds me so much of my captain's son… it's almost annoying."
I blinked. "Annoying?"
"Yeah," he chuckled lightly. "Because every time I look at you, I feel like I should be doing more… like I owe him something."
His hand moved behind his back.
Then, slowly… he pulled out a folded bundle of cloth.
The fabric unfolded with a soft flutter.
A deep, royal red cape.
It looked weathered by time, yet it radiated an indescribable aura… as if it had witnessed storms, wars, and legends beyond imagination.
My breath caught in my throat.
"Is that… Roger's?" I asked quietly.
Gaban smirked, though his eyes softened.
"One of his spare capes. I 'borrowed' it a long time ago… and never returned it."
He stepped closer before I could react and draped it over my shoulders.
The weight… wasn't heavy physically.
But emotionally? It felt like an entire era had just been placed on my back.
He fastened it firmly, then—without warning—roughly ruffled my hair.
"I'm not a kid, Gaban!" I protested, immediately trying to fix my messy hair.
He exaggerated a shocked gasp. "Yeah, Shanks and Buggy used to say the same thing. I guess you're just too old for me, then?"
I froze for a second.
Too old? In my past life, I was twenty when I died. And here... I'm still twenty.
"…I'm twenty," I muttered.
Gaban blinked. "…You say that like you just remembered."
"…It's complicated," I muttered.
He burst into laughter, loud and booming, echoing across the cliffs. "So you don't even remember your own age properly? Typical pirate behavior!"
Before I could reply, a small weight suddenly landed on my shoulder.
"Nice cape, Captain-resu!"
I glanced sideways.
Spruce was sitting proudly, his tiny eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Where have you been all morning?" I asked. "You just vanished."
He ignored the question completely, grinning mischievously.
"Is everyone ready to sail, Captain-resu?"
I looked down at the shore. Gray had finished packing supplies. Skolldir stood beside the dock, checking his gear while Pandora hovered nearby, clearly impatient.
"…Yeah," I replied softly. "Everyone's ready."
Spruce's grin widened even more.
"Then follow me! I prepared a surprise-resu!"
Before I could question him further, he leaped off my shoulder and ran down the rocky path. I exchanged a glance with Gaban before following.
____
The closer we got to the hidden cove… the more I felt something strange.
Something different.
When we finally rounded the last rock formation—
I stopped.
My footsteps froze completely.
"…What?"
The ship… was there.
But it wasn't the same ship anymore.
The hull had been reinforced with dark, polished wood that gleamed under the sunlight. The design resembled the Oro Jackson, yet it was smaller… sleeker… faster. The mast stood taller, the sails broader, and the deck looked stronger than before.
It felt like our ship had… evolved.
Beside it stood Hajrudin and his giant crew, all covered in sawdust and soot, holding massive smithing hammers with proud smiles.
"This is the surprise-resu!" Spruce shouted proudly, jumping onto the deck.
Skolldir's eyes widened slightly, while Pandora immediately zipped through the rigging like an excited child.
"My new castle!" she cheered.
Gray circled the ship, whistling in admiration.
"Woah… it's bigger… sturdier… and for once it doesn't look stolen."
Spruce puffed out his chest proudly.
"Hajrudin and his crew helped build it! And Gaban did the blueprints-resu!"
Gaban scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "…It was nothing special."
But I knew better.
I stepped forward slowly, placing a hand on the hull.
The wood was warm… alive.
"The Fimbulwinter…" I murmured. "…You've been reborn."
My chest tightened slightly.
For a moment, I couldn't tell whether it was the ship that had changed… or us.
I turned toward the crew.
"Everyone," I called out firmly, my voice carrying across the cove,
"Get on the ship."
Gray jumped aboard first, dropping the meat sacks with a heavy thud. Pandora flew straight toward Spruce excitedly.
"Did you make a room worthy of your Goddess?"
Spruce nodded rapidly. "Yes, Goddess! Exactly as you described! Behind that door-resu!"
I then looked at Skolldir.
"Do as we discussed."
He clicked his tongue. "Yeah, yeah… I know."
He stepped onto the dock and transformed into his colossal wolf form. The ground trembled slightly under his weight. But then… his body began shrinking, compressing rapidly until he was no larger than a powerful husky.
With a small leap, he landed on the deck.
The ship groaned slightly… but held firm.
"Don't worry, Ash!" Hajrudin shouted proudly. "We used wood from the Treasure Tree Adam! It won't break so easily!"
Gray immediately jumped onto Skolldir's back.
"Mush, wolf!"
"GET THE HELL OFF ME, YOU DAMN MINK!" Skolldir roared, snapping his jaws.
Their usual chaos… strangely felt comforting.
I turned back one last time.
Gaban, Hajrudin, and the giants stood on the shore… watching us like family sending someone off to war.
I slowly raised my hand and waved.
"If you ever need help," Gaban shouted loudly, raising his axe high,
"Remember me, Ash!"
My grip tightened slightly on the edge of my cape as the wind made it flutter behind me like a burning flame.
From the helm, Spruce called out,
"Captain! Shall we sail-resu?"
I looked toward the endless sea ahead.
So many enemies.
So many answers waiting.
And somewhere out there… Ripple.
"…Yes," I said quietly.
Then louder.
"Yes. Let's go."
The sails unfurled.
The ship creaked.
The sea welcomed us once again.
And just like that—
The journey of the Sol Pirates began again.