The days spent in Small Garden were the most fulfilling and happiest days Mina had experienced since she transmigrated.
During the day, she would learn combat techniques from the two giants, and at night, she would sit around the campfire, eating meat and drinking alcohol to her heart’s content, bragging, and when the mood struck, she would even arm-wrestle with the two silly giants.
However, happy times are always short-lived.
Three days later, when Mina could already proficiently execute a decent “Hakoku” on her own.
And could even combine the “Spear of Elbaf” with her own flame ability to create an even more powerful “Flame Spear,” she knew it was time for her to leave.
After all, she was the woman destined to become a “Global Traveling Adventurer.” On the night of her departure, a final banquet was held.
This time, Mina did not go to hunt the dinosaurs on the island; instead, she went into the sea herself, and in less than ten minutes, she dragged back a giant swordfish over a hundred meters long.
Under the curious gazes of Dorry and Brogy, Mina used Brogy’s sharp giant axe as a kitchen knife and began to process the massive swordfish.
Scaling, bleeding, gutting, and then carefully carving out the most exquisite, tender meat from both sides of the fish.
Those two massive chunks of fish meat, like small mountains, glowed with an enticing pink hue under the Moonlight, the flesh translucent and the texture clearly visible.
Mina sliced the fish into huge, evenly thick pieces and arranged them neatly on a “plate” made of giant banana leaves, preparing the most heroic sashimi feast in the world of the Pirate King.
“Come, come!
Don’t be shy, try the home-cooked dish I made myself!” Mina greeted them enthusiastically, picking up a slice of sashimi larger than a small lake, and grabbed some kind of mint leaf she had scavenged from the island.
Finally, she wrapped the fish slice in the leaf, stuffed it into her mouth in one go, and squinted her eyes in happiness.
“Mmm…
Delicious!” Watching Mina’s intoxicated expression as she ate with such relish, Dorry and Brogy looked at each other, their faces full of doubt and resistance.
“I say, little girl…
this thing…
is it meant to be eaten raw?” Dorry pointed at the pile of pink meat slices that were still slightly quivering, asking in an uncertain tone.
“Yeah!
It’s sashimi; of course, it has to be eaten raw to be fresh!” Mina answered indistinctly.
“Raw?
How can you eat meat raw?
Won’t that give you an upset stomach?” Brogy looked disgusted, as if he were looking at some kind of dark cuisine.
For the warriors of Elbaf, food should be prepared in the most heroic way possible—roasted over a fire until it sizzles and drips with grease; that is the most basic respect for the prey.
This soft, bloody, raw meat was simply an insult to their warrior culinary values.
“Oh, what do you two old fossils know!
This is called refined taste!
Hurry up and eat; if you leave it any longer, it won’t be fresh!” Mina picked up another slice, waved it in front of them, and then stuffed it into her mouth again, making a satisfied chewing sound.
Looking at her expression of enjoyment, it really didn’t seem faked.
Dorry and Brogy’s hearts began to waver.
Finally, driven by intense curiosity, the two looked at each other, and with the determination that “even if I get poisoned, I have to try it,” they each picked up a slice of sashimi.
They mimicked Mina, closed their eyes, and with the stoicism of those facing death, put the slippery raw meat into their mouths.
The next second.
An unprecedented, extreme freshness and sweetness exploded on their taste buds like a tsunami!
The fish melted in their mouths without needing to be chewed; the purest umami from the deep sea, mixed with the refreshing stimulation of the leaves, struck like a thunderbolt, instantly shattering the culinary values they had upheld for over a hundred years.
“Mmm—!!!” The two old giants, who had lived for over two hundred and twenty years, simultaneously widened their eyes at this moment, as if they had opened the door to a New World.
“So…
delicious!!!” The next second, whatever warrior’s honor or prejudice against raw meat existed was completely thrown to the winds.
The two men, like beasts who had been starving for three days and nights, frantically pounced on the mountain-like pile of sashimi, their giant palms grabbing handful after handful of meat slices, stuffing them into their mouths ravenously.
After eating and drinking their fill, the three of them lay on the ground, bellies round and bloated, with no regard for their image.
Mina let out a long, satisfied burp and asked the question that had been puzzling her for the past few days.
“I say, you two, why on earth do you have to stay on this crappy island and duel?
Just for some bullshit honor?
There are so many delicious things and fun things outside; wouldn’t it be a pity not to go see them?” Hearing Mina’s words, a solemn and sacred expression, different from the usual, appeared on the faces of the two giants.
“Little girl, you don’t understand,” Dorry’s voice became low, “This is a duel where we Elbaf warriors stake our lives; until a winner is decided, neither of us can leave.” “Right!
This is the honor of Elbaf!” Brogy added.
“However,” Dorry changed the subject, a fanatical light of faith flickering in his eyes.
“If one day we wait for the arrival of the Sun God, we will definitely follow him without hesitation, even if it means breaking our vow of the duel.” “Sun God?
Nika?” Mina curled her lips, “How do you know he will definitely come?
What if he died out long ago?” “He won’t!” the two giants retorted in unison, their tone firm and unquestionable.
“We of the Giant Race have been followers of the Sun God since ancient times!
Waiting for Nika is a mission engraved in our blood!
He will return one day, bringing dawn and laughter to liberate this world!” Looking at their fanatical believer appearance, Mina wisely chose not to argue any further.
As someone who just wanted to have fun, she really couldn’t understand such heavy faith.
“Fine, fine, you guys are awesome.” She waved her hand perfunctorily, then changed the subject, a carefree smile hanging on her face once again.
“But, are you guys interested in going to sea with me for an adventure?
My ship is still missing two crew members.” “Gahahahaha, little girl, we appreciate the sentiment.” The two refused, as expected.
However, Brogy pondered for a moment, took out a peculiar compass the size of a bracelet with a needle that always pointed in one direction, and handed it to Mina.
“This is for you.
This is an Eternal Pose to Elbaf; we have never given one to an outsider.
I hope that one day, you can go and see our homeland.” Mina’s eyes lit up, and she accepted it without hesitation.
“Sure!
Once I’m tired of playing, I’ll definitely go to your hometown for a free meal!” “By the way, little girl, do you want to be a pirate when you go out to sea?” Dorry asked curiously.
“A pirate?
No way, fighting and killing is so boring.” Mina curled her lips, “My dream is to become an adventurer who travels around the world, eating all the food in the world and seeing all the scenery in the world!” Hearing this answer, the two giants smiled at each other, their smiles full of relief and gratification.
“Gahahahaha!
Good!
This is the path that belongs to you!
Come!
To the great adventurer, cheers!” The three of them raised their wine barrels again and drank to their hearts’ content.
The next day, just as the sky was beginning to brighten.
Mina had already quietly climbed up, stepped onto her giant surfboard, and, facing the rising sun, left this primordial island filled with memories.
Behind her, Dorry and Brogy had long since awakened and stood side by side on the mountaintop, watching the golden figure disappear at the edge of the horizon.
After a long while, Dorry let out a sigh.
“This child’s talent…
is truly as strong as a monster.
Perhaps she really has a chance to inherit the power of that fruit.” “Are you talking about…
that fruit passed down through generations?” Brogy’s voice became incomparably grave.
“Indeed.
It’s not just her talent; that quality she possesses, which makes everyone let down their guard and unite around her, is just too suitable for eating that fruit of Elbaf.” The two fell silent simultaneously, a common name appearing in their minds.
Mythical Zoan, Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Nidhogg Model.
“However, looking at her, she doesn’t seem interested in any of this at all.” Dorry gave a bitter smile.
“That’s fine too,” Brogy smiled with relief, “This carefree girl shouldn’t have to bear such heavy things anyway.” On the distant sea, Mina, who was riding her surfboard across the waves, suddenly sneezed without warning.
She looked back at Small Garden, which had already turned into a small black dot, and felt that those two old guys seemed to be plotting something.
“Sigh, whatever, why think so much.” She shook her head, shaking those messy thoughts out of her mind.
“If I want to do it, I’ll do it; if I don’t, I won’t!
With great power comes great responsibility?
Go to hell!
That kind of troublesome stuff should just be left to the future Straw Hat Luffy!” “I came to this world to enjoy!
Enjoy!
And enjoy!” Accompanied by an extremely arrogant burst of laughter, the golden figure accelerated again, speeding away toward the unknown distance.