Starting as a Roger Pirates Apprentice-Chapter 274: - : Buggy Attacks Cocoyasi Village?
After all, Orinβs swordsmanship was his own, and his Conquerorβs Haki was even stronger. π§π³π¦β―ππ¦π·π―ππ£π¦π.πΈπ°π
Rounding it up, he could be considered tied for first place.
That was how Orin saw it, anyway. He figured that if he ever declared himself a swordsman, no one in the world would dare deny him the title of "Worldβs Greatest Swordsman."
In fact, that guy Mihawk would probably be the first to raise both hands in agreement.
Because if Orin admitted he was a swordsman, and the title of "Worldβs Greatest Swordsman" went to himβ
Wouldnβt that give Mihawk a new goal to chase again?
Just thinking about it would probably make Mihawk thrilled.
But Orin wasnβt thrilled at all. In fact, he looked a little bitter.
"Nani?!! Are you saying youβre the Worldβs Greatest Swordsman?!!"
Young Zoroβs mouth fell open, and then he recalled that earth-shattering slash Orin had unleashed. It suddenly made perfect senseβ
With swordsmanship like that, being the strongest in the world was only natural.
Kuina also stared blankly at Orin, stars flickering in her eyes.
Her lifelong dream was standing right before herβher heart filled with longing and admiration.
"Well... how should I put it... that title doesnβt exactly belong to me yet~"
Orin smiled faintly.
He would never publicly admit to holding that troublesome title of [Worldβs Greatest Swordsman].
"Iβm not really the [Worldβs Greatest Swordsman]..."
"The reason I said your dream is to surpass me is because my good friendβthe current holder of the title [Worldβs Greatest Swordsman], Hawk Eyes Mihawkβhas always wanted to test his swordsmanship against mine."
"So, if one of you truly becomes the worldβs number one someday, the one he challenges next wonβt be meβitβll be you!"
Orin casually explained, brushing off their assumptions. But the two kids were still beaming with excitement, gripping their swords tightly.
Zoro, however, refused to believe that someone as strong as Orin could ever lose.
"Then why does that Hawk Eyes keep challenging you if youβre not the strongest? Are you saying youβre weaker than him?!"
Clearly, that was the same question burning in Kuinaβs eyes as she stared intensely at Orin.
But the answer she got was...
"Actually... Iβm a sniper."
...
After accidentally slicing the dojoβs staircase in half, Orin left behind a hefty repair fee and bid everyone farewell.
He had seen what he wanted to see, and the regrets he came to resolve were settled.
He was the freest man in the worldβand he wouldnβt be tied down to one place.
"Hey!!!!"
Just as Orin walked off, a shout echoed behind him.
Kuina and young Zoro, having narrowly escaped death, ran after him, panting heavily. They looked up at the man carrying a large bag of food.
"Orin-san!!!"
"Master, are you leaving already?!!!"
Orin turned back slowly, smiling and nodding.
He was never good at taking care of kids, and his time here had already been long enough.
But kids were kids. The moment Zoro realized Orin was leaving, he couldnβt hold back his tears. Still, with his stubborn pride, he couldnβt bring himself to ask him to stay.
He only shouted loudly:
"One day, Iβll catch up to you and become the Worldβs Greatest Swordsman!!!"
Seeing this, Orin smiled faintly.
For a brief moment, he seemed to see his younger selfβcrying as he watched Captain Roger leave the ship.
"Well then... since youβve been calling me your master, and I havenβt really done much for you..."
Orin snapped his fingers.
In an instant, a long, pitch-black, elegant sword appeared in his hand. He walked over and placed it gently into Zoroβs arms.
"This is the sword I used when I was youngβone of the twenty-one Great Grade Blades. Kuina has her fatherβs Wado Ichimonji, so I canβt let you lose out from the start..."
"When you become the Worldβs Greatest Swordsman, bring this blade back to me."
Then, he reached out and ruffled Kuinaβs hair.
"And you tooβdonβt let this brat surpass you, Kuina!"
"Hahahaha!!!"
"Shut up!!! Iβll definitely surpass her!!!"
Watching Orin step out onto the sea, his figure growing smaller in the distance, Zoro drew the sword and looked at the gleaming blade. His determined eyes reflected back at him as he silently made a vow.
He would carry this swordβ
And become the strongest swordsman in the world!!!
...
The sea breeze blew gently.
Waves rolled and splashed now and then across the calm surface of the ocean.
But whenever they neared a lone figure walking across the water, theyβd quietly settle again.
Tap... tap... tap...
Carrying a large bag of food, Orin strolled leisurely atop the waves, munching on a sandwich as he studied his Eternal Pose, moving forward at an unhurried pace.
His long hair fluttered in the wind. Suddenly, he looked up and spotted a seagull carrying a newspaper flying toward him from afar.
It seemed to have a purposeβflying straight toward him.
But Orin only chuckled. Seeing the gleeful expression of that seagull, he immediately recognized who it was.
"Well, if it isnβt the Seagull King himself!"
"Gaβ!"
The seagull soaring proudly through the sky with a newspaper strapped to its back was none other than the Seagull King Orin had released long ago.
Now, it looked much livelier than beforeβmajestic and sharp, almost more hawk than gull.
"Looks like youβve really made something of yourself. I heard youβve even awakened Conquerorβs Haki~"
"Gaβ!"
Once called a "mobile natural disaster" by outsiders, the Seagull King now appeared remarkably gentle before Orin.
It let out a cry, pointing its beak toward its back, clearly offering Orin a ride.
But Orin only smiled and waved his hand.
If he wanted to save time or effort, he couldβve teleported to his destination instantly using the Warp-Warp Fruit.
But travelβ
Was meant to be enjoyed.
Understanding his intent, the Seagull King perched comfortably on Orinβs shoulder instead, serving as a decorative companion.
It then pulled a newspaper from its satchel, offering it to Orin for a bit of entertainment.
"A newspaper from the East Blue, huh? Itβs been a while since I read one~"
Each sea had its own news networks. Unless it was some massive event, reports about the New World rarely reached the Paradise or the Four Seas.
Orin wasnβt entirely sure how it all worked, but that system often made people from the Four Seas and Paradise ignorant of the world beyond.
Many so-called "Supernovas" dominated the Four Seas or the first half of the Grand Line, cutting down anyone in their way. But once they reached the New World, they quickly learned humilityβquestioning their entire existence before the might of the Yonko.
The East Blueβs papers were the sameβfew stories from the New World, mostly local news.
But one headline immediately caught Orinβs attention:
"Great Pirate Clown Buggy Attacks Cocoyasi Village β Motive Unknown!!!"
