(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited
smoothly. sp.atreon/INeedRest)
*************
Ten minutes later, Colt and the others hurriedly left the rmaid Cafe.
From the back, their escape looked rather comical, carrying a hint of embarrassnt.
There was no helping it-breaking soone else's belongings and then fleeing in desperation was hardly a glorious act.
"It's all your fault! You blew up the crystal ball! If you had just let Nami-chan and handle things first, this wouldn't have happened!"
Perona floated around Colt angrily, her words making his head spin.
"I didn't know her crystal ball was so fragile!" Colt sighed, grabbing Perona to calm her down and stop her from spinning, before explaining:
"Besides, it's just a ball. She could always get another one for her divination. Who knew she'd decide to quit entirely after that?"
"So, when she said she's washing her hands out of this? She ant she is done??" Shirahoshi asked curiously, her wide eyes sparkling with innocence.
"Yep, it ans she is giving up divination for good," Colt explained patiently, and Shirahoshi's expression imdiately shifted to guilt.
"It's all my fault, Colt-sama..."
"Huh? How is that your fault? Don't say that again," Colt squinted at her, raising an eyebrow. "Woo, I was wrong-!" Shirahoshi quickly surrendered, waving her hands in panic.
anwhile, back at the rmaid Cafe, Shyarly stared blankly at the shattered remains of her crystal ball scattered across the table.
The crystal ball had been her companion ever since she awakened her strange ability to see the future.
Sadness washed over her, but alongside it ca a surprising sense of relief.
Her predictions never failed, but they often foretold catastrophic events.
It felt less like a gift and more like a curse.
Taking this as an opportunity, Shyarly resolved to stop doing divinations altogether.
However, the mont the crystal ball was destroyed, one final prophecy had appeared in her mind.
If Colt and the others had lingered even a second longer, they might have seen it on the crystal ball.
That fleeting vision left Shyarly restless:
A monstrous thunderstorm, the skies were torn apart, and a divine tree towering above all was blocking out the sun itself.
"Lightning..."
"That sacred tree... could it be related to you?"
****
Ti flew by, and nearly a week passed since Colt and his crew arrived at Fish-Man Island. After the initial chaos at the rmaid Cafe, the following days were peaceful and uneventful. Shirahoshi had perfectly integrated into Colt's small group, feeling more like an adventurer among friends rather than the princess of Fish-Man Island.
Having been confined to the Hard Shell Tower since she was six years old, Shirahoshi's knowledge of the island wasn't much better than Colt's.
Together, they explored every corner of the island, enjoying countless adventures.
Finally, Shirahoshi took Robin to the Sea Forest, where a Poneglyph lay hidden.
Although Colt didn't ask about its contents, Robin shared what she read.
"This is an apology letter..." Robin said, her brows furrowing.
"A letter written by soone nad Joy Boy to Fish-Man Island, apologizing for a broken promise. It also ntions a rmaid princess."
Colt, lounging lazily in Shirahoshi's arms, remarked, "Joy Boy's story is significant, but don't get too caught up in it. He's just a relic of the past-soone who died 800 years ago."
"No matter what the Will of D, Joy Boy, or any prophecy says, none of it will be able to stop ."
Robin shook her head with a helpless smile.
Colt always offered tantalizing glimpses of his knowledge but never gave her a clear answer, leaving her both intrigued and frustrated.
Still, Robin preferred unraveling history piece by piece herself. It was a historian's pursuit, after all.
Stretching, Colt leaped off Shirahoshi's arms, waking her from her drowsy nap.
"Colt-sama, what's wrong?"
"Robin's finished reading the Poneglyph. Our mission here is complete. It's ti for us to leave."
Hearing this, Shirahoshi's eyes widened with worry.
"You're leaving?"
"Yes." Colt used [Expansion Jutsu], growing to match Shirahoshi's size, and patted her head
gently.
"Be a good girl. I'll co back to visit when I can."
"But... but..." Shirahoshi struggled to find the words, tears welling up in her eyes.
She had grown to rely on Colt during their ti together.
Like a perfect big brother, he patiently indulged her every request.
But she understood-Colt had his own path to follow and couldn't stay forever.
Tearfully, she begged him to stay one more day, a request Colt couldn't refuse.
That night, Colt stayed with Shirahoshi in the Hard Shell Tower, where the two made a secret
pact.
****
The next morning, Shirahoshi watched with red, puffy eyes as Colt and his crew boarded their
ship.
"I thought you were going to take Shirahoshi with us," Nami teased, watching Fish-Man Island fade into the distance.
"I thought about it," Colt replied with a smile.
"But now's not the ti. She's still young, and she should stay with King Neptune for a couple
more years.
"If she wants to join then, I won't refuse her."
Thinking of Shirahoshi's teary face from the previous night, Colt chuckled and headed to the
kitchen, shouting:
"Perona, hurry up and cook so barbecue! I've had nothing but sweets and veggies for days,
and I'm starving!"
"Ugh, stop rushing ! Don't you see I'm already working on it?"
Their playful bickering brought a smile to Robin's face.
Although Fish-Man Island's cuisine was exquisite, avoiding fish ant their diet consisted
mostly of desserts and salads.
It was ti for a proper al.
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