Chapter 9

【System: Shanks’ Favorability -1.】

Eh!!!?

So he could notice that?

You had been engrossed in picking apples, and unexpectedly, a familiar transparent panel appeared before your eyes. Only then did you notice the name written above the red-haired kid wearing a straw hat: Shanks.

He seemed to be about your age. Although his name was yellow, it looked like it was about to turn red…

Choice 1: Sorry, I apologize. Please forgive me.

Choice 2: Fight if you want! Am I afraid of you? (Enter battle mode)

Choice 3: Leave.

It’s rare to meet an NPC your age with a name, and perhaps he’s an important character. You’d rather not make an enemy.

You raised your hand and chose option 1, apologizing obediently with a pitiful expression, speaking earnestly: “Sorry, I apologize! Please forgive me!”

“Eh?”

The red-haired kid seemed taken aback by your apology. He blinked hesitantly, withdrew his grip on your hand, then reached up to his straw hat: “Oh…”

“Since you’re sincere, I’ll let it go.”

【System: Shanks’ Favorability +1, current favorability: 0.】

He’s surprisingly easy to talk to, this little brat.

Completely forgetting you’re also a kid now, you had a sudden clever idea: since he’s so approachable, why not ask him something? You excel at using your appearance to get others to do things for you.

“Brother, I really didn’t mean it. You’re so amazing—always able to spot the unblemished apples at a glance. So cool!”

You clasped your hands in front of him, hugged his arm gently, and shook it: “Could you please teach me how to pick apples? I beg you.”

Though you didn’t know his exact age—maybe he was even younger than you—but who cared?

“Ah? Uh, well, okay… it’s no big deal…”

Shanks sneaked a glance sideways, and the ear hidden beneath his red hair turned slightly red.

【System: Shanks’ Favorability +1.】

What a relief.

NPCs in this world seemed quite simple and honest. They were very friendly to people like you who shamelessly acted cute… though the favorability points they gave were rather few. If it had been Marco and the others, they’d have easily given you 10 points each time.

“Ahem, you just need to judge by the smell, like this…”

Shanks’ tone didn’t change. He rubbed his nose, lowered his head, and handed you a plump, translucent apple.

You took it with delight, not noticing the fruit stall owner opposite you had lost all trace of a smile. His face was even darker than before, as if he was holding back something.

“And this one…”

The red-haired boy picked up another good apple and offered it to you.

“Wow! Thanks, brother, you’re amazing!”

Shanks didn’t add any favorability, but he straightened up secretly and handed you another apple: “Ahem, this one’s pretty good too.”

…

“That’s enough!”

Suddenly, the fruit stall owner shouted, cutting off your conversation. With a scowl, he snatched the apple from Shanks’ hand and looked you both up and down with displeasure.

“I don’t allow picking fruit here. Get lost. We don’t welcome you!”

What!?

He’d already collected 1000 Belli, and now he wanted to kick you out? You still had four apples not put in your backpack. If picking was forbidden, why hadn’t he said so before selling?

Your anger flared. This time you didn’t just get mad for show—the fruit stall owner was only level 5!

Without hesitation, you drew a sharp dagger from your bag, leapt onto the stall, and aimed to stab him: “Say that again?!”

“Wah!”

The fruit stall owner was so frightened he stumbled backward, panic-stricken, raising his arm to shield his face: “Wh-who are you? What do you want?!”

Choice 1: My father is a pirate. Who do you think I am?

Choice 2: Damn lowlife! How dare you speak to me like that? I’m a Celestial Dragon!

Choice 3: Sorry, please forgive my earlier behavior.

Choice 4: Leave.

Who would apologize to him…

After hesitating between options 1 and 2, you chose option 1, bringing the dagger closer and threatening him with your backing: “My father is a pirate. Who do you think I am?!”

“Eek!?”

The fruit stall vendor screamed even louder, terrified, and ran away from his stall.

By the way, he accidentally lost a shoe in his escape.

【System Notice: You have driven away the fruit stall vendor in the market! Gained 15 experience, Doctor Town reputation -5.】

【Warning: Reputation in the village reaches -25 to earn the title: Unwelcome Fellow; at -50, title: Jinxed; at -100, title: Living Disaster. All villagers automatically become red-named.】

…Such a troublesome system! Sometimes NPCs aren’t people you can just choose not to fight. If you don’t fight, you’ll be a great wimp on the Grand Line!

You sighed and picked up the straw shoe left behind.

【System: Obtained Plain Straw Shoe ×1 (Attack +0.5, Agility +1.5, Defense -2.5).】

Since it was only one shoe, it had half the stats of the pair on your feet. The game was annoyingly strict about these odd details. You pursed your lips and put the shoe into your backpack.

With the vendor gone, the stall was unattended. Returning to your previous spot, you noticed Shanks staring at you in surprise.

“What?” you asked, frowning.

“Uh… nothing, just that you’re really amazing… in a way.”

The red-haired boy scratched his cheek. He didn’t scold you but curiously asked, “What’s your name?”

Choice 1: I’m Edward D. Marlowe.

Choice 2: Leave.

Help, save me.

Why did this situation appear again!?

You felt suffocated, your fists clenched and unclenched repeatedly. After a long silence, you forced yourself to face the pain of the name and spoke quickly: “I’m Edward D. Marlowe.”

“Edward?”

The red-haired boy showed no reaction to your last two names but was surprised by the surname: “Are you Whitebeard’s daughter?”

“Whitebeard? Yeah…” probably.

Recalling the blond man’s distinctive features and the pirate crew’s name, you nodded hesitantly.

Turns out your cheap old man was that famous.

“I didn’t expect Whitebeard to have a biological daughter. I thought all his crew were adopted.”

Muttering, the red-haired boy removed his straw hat, revealing his full head, and gave a somewhat proud, toothy smile. He looked quite cheerful: “I’m Shanks, also a pirate!”

Really?

You eyed the red-haired youth suspiciously. He seemed about your age, perfect for playing house… but since he knew your cheap old man, he probably wasn’t lying.

No wonder the great pirate era introduced in the trailer was true: pirates were everywhere, all ages, and their behavior was nothing like you imagined.

Though Shanks called himself a pirate, he paid for his fruit (thinking carefully, Marco paid too). Even after you chased the owner away, Shanks only took the amount he had already paid for.

As for you…

You weren’t really a pirate. You hadn’t officially joined any pirate faction. The system panel showed you as neutral. Not a pirate, you planned to take all the remaining apples on the stall—and the pineapples Marco loved—too.

Since you were taking pineapples, you might as well take all the bananas left.

Hehe, that’s what happens when greedy merchants underestimate the hero!

【System: Obtained Regular Apples ×30, Rotten Apples ×62, Bananas ×100, Pineapples ×100.】

【System Notice: You took all the clearly priced goods from the stall, reputation -5.】

Let it reduce, as long as it stays above -25.

Apple-buying quest completed.

Next, sell some useless junk at the general store, then you can return to Marco to complete the quest.

You glanced at Shanks beside you. He took out a shopping list from somewhere and was already lost in thought, stroking his chin and murmuring: “Next, I need to buy salt. I have to hurry and beat that guy Buggy…”

You moved closer to check his list and tried to start a conversation: “Buy salt?”

“Mm… I have to hurry. Next, I need to buy salt. I have to be faster than Buggy.”

Looks like this guy had no further plot. Rare to meet an NPC like this; no reason not to increase favorability. You thought for a moment and pulled a mushroom from your backpack to give him.

“This is for me? Thanks.”

【System: Shanks’ Favorability +1.】

You gave him another mushroom.

“Oh, I accept it, thanks.”

【System: Shanks’ Favorability +1.】

And another.

“Again? Thanks.”

【System: Shanks’ Favorability +0.5.】

Hmm? The effect diminishes when giving the same item repeatedly? Whitebeard and Marco didn’t do this. You were quite surprised.

Since your backpack had 99 slots and unlimited quantities per item, you had harvested hundreds of mushrooms on the deserted island. Mushrooms were the one thing you weren’t short of. Being stingy, you only wanted to give NPCs this “junk.”

You hesitated a few seconds, then swapped out a freshly harvested banana from the fruit stall to give Shanks.

“This is for you.”

“Whoa! I accept it, thanks.”

【System: Shanks’ Favorability +2.】

“Here’s a banana.”

“Thanks!”

【System: Shanks’ Favorability +2.】

You wanted to give another banana, but the familiar transparent panel popped up.

【System Notice: You have given too many gifts. Come again tomorrow.】

Looks like that’s enough for today.

You reluctantly put away the gifts. After the gift-giving ended, Shanks showed a silent expression. He held his hat down, tossed the banana in his hand, and said uncertainly: “By the way, is it really okay that you took all the fruit from the stall? Doesn’t that seem a bit wrong?”

Choice 1: You’re right, I’ll return it now.

Choice 2: He deserved it.

Choice 3: Leave.

What?

How could a player ever return something they got? Is this guy really a pirate?!

“He deserved it.”

You put your hands on your hips, fearless: “Who told him to try kicking us out after taking money? He should think about the consequences!”

“Alright…”

Shanks nodded: “I’m an apprentice with the Roger Pirates. I’ll be on this island for the next two days. If you run into trouble, you can find me at the tavern to the east. After all, I was involved in this matter.”

“Oh.” Is this unlocking a new faction? The Roger Pirates?

You suddenly remembered at the start of this game, the trailer showed a black-haired man with twin blades on a gallows, laughing: “Want my treasure? Go find it! I left everything there!” And the world entered the Great Pirate Era. [Note]

That man was apparently named Roger D.

Your heart stirred with excitement. These people were definitely important characters. The favorability you gained wasn’t wasted. Following them might be the key to going home.

Maybe finishing the game and finding the treasure lets you return. What to do—should you check out the so-called east side now?

“But I don’t think you’ll need my help. The Whitebeard Pirates are our equals.”

Shanks didn’t know how excited you were. He was just an NPC, indifferent to your reaction, and with a programmed smile waved goodbye:

“See you, Marlowe.”