"And besides, aren't those people pirates? I don't have a good impression of pirates..."
Amatsuki Toki gently bit her chopsticks, her calm gaze fixed on Daren.
Over the past 800 years, during countless journeys through time, she had witnessed sights that most people wouldn't see in a lifetime. The tides of eras, the passage of time, the rise and fall of seas, the collapse and rebirth of nations, the ever-shifting state of the world... but one thing remained certain: in every age, pirates were synonymous with chaos and plunder.
Not to mention, the moment she arrived in this era, she was deceived by a pirate human trafficker and nearly sold as a slave.
With all that combined, it was only natural for Amatsuki Toki to harbor no fondness for pirates.
What a grounded girl... Daren's eyes lit up slightly, and he couldn't help but admire her for a moment.
He had initially been worried that the influence of the world line might give Amatsuki Toki a different view of Kozuki Oden. He thought he'd have to spend time persuading her, but she turned out to be so perceptive—it saved him the trouble. Discover more novels at novel✶fire.net
"So, you're not worried I might be a bad guy too, Toki?"
Daren asked with a smile.
"No, I'm not, Daren-san."
Amatsuki Toki returned the smile, then lowered her head slightly and said shyly,
"Besides, someone as handsome as Daren-san couldn't possibly be a bad person."
Daren paused, then let out a quiet laugh.
That was one reason he hadn't considered—but thinking it over, it made perfect sense.
On one side, you have a tall, handsome Marine who saved you from traffickers.
On the other, a pirate who looks like a swollen-headed brute, charging around like a monster.
Who to trust and who to follow—it couldn't be clearer.
"It's just, Daren-san, that guy who calls himself Kozuki Oden... The clothes he's wearing look like they're from Wano Country?"
Amatsuki Toki suddenly recalled something and couldn't help but ask.
"You've been holding back that question for a while now, haven't you, Toki?"
Daren glanced at her with interest.
She clenched her fists, a bit flustered that her thoughts had been exposed, and nodded with a blush.
Her goal in traveling through time was to reach the future Wano Country. After finally encountering someone wearing samurai garb, of course she'd be curious and pay attention.
But she'd faintly sensed that Daren held some hostility toward Kozuki Oden, so she hadn't dared to bring it up—until now. As they got more comfortable with each other and opened up, she finally asked the question that had been weighing on her mind.
To her surprise, Daren simply smiled and replied,
"Yeah, that guy's definitely from Wano Country."
He had no intention of hiding the truth from Amatsuki Toki.
Though she seemed gentle on the outside, she was sharp and strong-willed inside. If he kept too much from her, she might not say anything, but she'd definitely lose trust in him.
Better to be upfront than conceal things.
Women hated being lied to by men. That was true in any world.
So, as a man, you either had to be honest—or lie completely.
But Daren didn't like lying to the woman he liked.
"Kozuki Oden, heir to the Kozuki clan and Daimyo of Kuri in Wano Country. Born with an unusual appearance and exceptional strength."
Daren smiled openly, speaking patiently as he explained to Amatsuki Toki.
"He was a man with a wild sense of adventure. From a young age, he scorned societal norms and had little regard for fame, power, or loyalty to family and country. His heart was set on venturing out to sea and exploring a wider world."
"But as I told you before, Wano had long followed a strict isolationist policy, cutting itself off from the outside world. Its people were strictly forbidden to leave by sea."
"So in the end, Kozuki Oden chose to abandon his clan, his status, his people, even his homeland. He boarded Whitebeard's ship and became a free-spirited pirate."
"In short, Kozuki Oden was an unrestrained, eccentric, and bold man. In Wano, those who hated him absolutely despised him, while those who admired him worshipped him like a divine hero."
"And I'm sure you've already guessed it—he appeared on that island because he heard your voice. He came to save you."
As he said this, Daren caught a flicker deep in Amatsuki Toki's eyes—confirmation of his assumption.
"So, after talking about the 'invincible hero' Kozuki Oden, let's talk about me."
Daren gave a casual smile, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it.
With the sea breeze brushing against his face and smoke curling upward, he rarely opened up about his past.
"I come from the most chaotic of the Four Seas—the North Blue. I had no special talents. I started out as a regular Seaman Recruit and climbed my way up, step by step, to where I am today."
"To gain strength, I trained harder than anyone—so hard I'd often cough up blood."
"To earn promotions and military achievements, I never hesitated to use any method necessary against pirates and enemies."
"I once wiped out a mafia family of thousands in a single night. I've assassinated nobles and politicians who stood in my way using the dirtiest of tactics."
"Beyond my official rank, I control vast underground networks across many seas through all kinds of channels."
"My illegal income is too much to count, and as for the women I've been with... I've lost track myself."
"The nobles tremble under my threats. Pirates have nearly vanished from the waters I govern. And because of that... the crime rate under my rule is terrifyingly low."
"I'm ruthless, greedy, and merciless. I never let a single enemy go. But I never betray my friends either."
By the shore, beside the campfire...
The Commodore's face, veiled in smoke, held a pair of deep, brooding eyes filled with memories.
The world around them was unnervingly still.
Only the sound of waves crashing against the rocks echoed in the silence.
"Toki, soon you'll realize—I'm not a good man. I'm Rogers Daren."
"Despite my military honors and the title of 'monster,' most people out there curse me behind my back as the 'worst scum in the Marines.'"
With a hint of self-mockery, Daren curled his lips into a half-smile and turned to the woman in the kimono kneeling quietly beside him.
He looked at her and asked with a smile,
"So, do you regret it?"
"Choosing me—the scum—instead of Kozuki Oden, the hero everyone praises?"