When Loki heard the names Nami and Nojiko, she immediately understood.
"I see. Cocoyasi Village."
"That's right."
"Then go on."
Emiya nodded. He told Shizuka Hiratsuka to stay behind and keep Loki company, then lifted himself with Psychic and flew straight up.
In just a short while, he arrived above Cocoyasi Village and descended toward Nami's house.
He knocked.
No one answered.
So Emiya rose into the air again and flew toward the nearby tangerine grove.
Just as he expected, Nami and Nojiko were there, busy with their work.
Emiya landed beside them.
When Nami saw him, her face brightened.
"Good morning, Emiya."
"Good morning, Nami."
"Wait a bit," Nojiko said. "The five hundred kilograms of tangerines will be ready soon."
Emiya waved his hand.
"No rush. I came today to tell you something. I'm going on a trip."
"You're leaving?" Nojiko asked quickly. "Where to? Why so suddenly? Can't you stay a few more days?"
She sounded anxious.
Part of it was reluctance. After yesterday, her feelings toward Emiya had clearly improved.
The other part was practical.
If Emiya stayed, Cocoyasi Village wouldn't have to worry about pirates anymore.
"You're right," Emiya said. "It is a bit rushed. But my friend wants to leave as soon as possible."
"Where are you going?" Nami asked.
"The Alabasta Kingdom."
Nami blinked. "I've never heard of that place."
She had traveled all over the East Blue, but that name was unfamiliar.
"It's a country in the Grand Line," Emiya explained. "A Warlord has taken control of it. The people there are suffering."
"So we're going to take him down."
Hearing that, both Nami and Nojiko fell silent.
Their own village had lived under the same kind of oppression.
The only difference was that Cocoyasi Village wasn't a country.
And Arlong wasn't a Warlord.
Nami looked at Emiya and spoke sincerely.
"You're the greatest hero I've ever met. I believe you'll save that country."
Emiya shook his head.
"I'm not a hero. Just an ordinary person."
In his view, a true hero was someone selfless enough to give up everything.
Someone who would charge into danger for others without hesitation.
Those people were rare.
Extremely rare.
You could broaden the definition a bit.
Someone who saved others and gave them hope could also be called a hero.
Heracles was one.
Tōma Kamijō could be one.
But Emiya wasn't.
He couldn't be completely selfless.
He wouldn't throw himself into every danger without calculation.
He was just an ordinary person with a bit of power.
Nothing more.
Nojiko smiled.
"Even so, you're a hero to me and Nami. A real one. You saved our village."
"...Is that how you see me?"
Being called a hero by a beautiful woman made Emiya unexpectedly shy.
He quickly changed the subject.
"I just wanted to let you know I'm leaving. Prepare the tangerines and send them to Arlong Park. I'll pick them up when I come back."
"When will you be back?" Nami asked.
"A few days," Emiya estimated.
It wasn't arrogance toward Crocodile.
It was confidence in Loki.
If she made a move, the fight wouldn't last ten minutes.
The real delay would be travel.
That was what took time.
"I see," Nami said with a smile. "Then we'll wait here and celebrate your victory."
"Go, great hero. Save the people of Alabasta."
"Don't worry," Emiya said calmly.
With Loki leading the way personally, Crocodile wouldn't cause any trouble.
After saying goodbye to Nami and Nojiko, Emiya flew back to Arlong Park.
"We can go now."
He raised his hand, using Psychic to bring Shizuka Hiratsuka and Loki to his side.
"Which route?"
There were two ways into the Grand Line.
The Calm Belt.
Or Reverse Mountain.
He already knew both from Nami's sea charts.
Loki stretched slightly. With her divine power sealed, she spoke slowly.
"Reverse Mountain. Then Whiskey Peak."
"But first, Loguetown."
"You lead."
Emiya pointed ahead.
"This way."
Loki smiled faintly.
The next second, the three of them shot forward like arrows released from a bow.
They broke the sound barrier.
And kept accelerating.
In only a few minutes, island after island passed beneath them.
Then-
Loguetown.
The town where the Pirate King was born.
And executed.
The "Town of the Beginning and the End."
That was why it was famous across the world.
The execution platform had been preserved.
Every day, countless tourists came just to see it.
Because of that, business here was thriving.
At the same time, the town's location near Reverse Mountain meant pirates often passed through.
To deal with that, the Marines stationed a Logia-type Devil Fruit user here.
As a result, very few East Blue pirates made it into the Grand Line.
Emiya, Loki, and Shizuka Hiratsuka landed at the entrance of a bustling commercial street.
None of them knew Loguetown well.
So they decided to split up and ask around for Eternal Poses.
If all else failed, they would "borrow" one from the Marines.
The Marines definitely had them.
After separating, Emiya didn't immediately ask about Eternal Poses.
Instead, he headed straight for a weapon shop.
He remembered that Zoro had obtained the Sandai Kitetsu here.
He wanted to see it for himself.
The problem was-
There were too many weapon shops.
No way to tell which one it was.
Left with no choice, Emiya visited them one by one.
Eventually, in one shop, he saw a bald owner.
That alone told him everything.
"I'm in the right place."
"Welcome!" the owner said with an ingratiating smile. "Looking for a weapon? We've got anything you want."
"I want the Sandai Kitetsu."
Emiya's gaze drifted to a large bucket filled with rusty, dull swords.
Among them-
The Sandai Kitetsu.
The owner's expression changed instantly.
"H-how did you know it's here?"
"That's not important," Emiya said. "The sword is."
"I can't sell it," the owner said immediately, shaking his head.
"Then I'll just look," Emiya replied, stepping back slightly.
The owner hesitated.
Emiya placed a gold coin on the counter.
"I'm not buying. Just looking."
"...Really?"
"Of course. It's a cursed sword. I'm just broadening my horizons."
The owner glanced at the coin.
Then sighed.
He walked over, pulled a sword from the bucket, and returned.
"This is the Sandai Kitetsu."
Emiya drew it slightly.
A bone-chilling cold spread from the blade.
Under the light, it gleamed with a demonic luster.
He waved it a few times.
The owner relaxed.
From Emiya's grip and stance, it was obvious.
A complete amateur.
Someone like this wouldn't choose a cursed blade.
Emiya held the Sandai Kitetsu in his left hand.
Then extended his right.
A few seconds later-
A katana identical to it appeared in his palm.
The owner's eyes nearly popped out.
"H-how is that possible?!"
Emiya tested the replicated blade.
Then swung it hard at the Sandai Kitetsu.
Clink.
Sparks flew.
Emiya examined the blade he created.
Sharp.
Flawless.
Then he looked at the original.
A clear notch marred the edge.
"This... this... this..."
The bald owner was completely speechless.
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