One Piece: The Strongest Trait System novel Chapter 112

Chapter 112 - [112] : [BONUS] - The Klabautermann! See you soon, Aokiji!

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The unprecedented bonfire feast raged from night into day, then from day back into night.

Joyful laughter echoed ceaselessly until everyone—every race present—was utterly exhausted. As the bonfires slowly died down, the grand celebration gradually drew to a close.

Nami and Vivi lay peacefully on either side of Rowen's chest, their beautiful faces adorned with blissful, contented smiles.

Robin too had fallen asleep, her head uncharacteristically resting on Rowen's lap, her hands subconsciously clutching his torso—a position that clearly brought her immense comfort and security.

Rowen opened his eyes, shaking his slightly aching head, then smiled fondly at the two lovely sleeping faces beside him and Robin clinging to his leg.

This epic party—even he had had a bit too much to drink. The subsequent headache wasn't pleasant, but the joy of the drinking itself was unforgettable.

Rowen carefully extracted his now numb arm from beneath Nami and Vivi's heads, shaking it out.

Looking at Robin, sleeping so peacefully with a serene smile, still hugging his leg—Rowen found her unexpectedly adorable. He smiled and playfully poked her cheek.

"Mm?"

Robin frowned slightly, like a little girl whose dreams were disturbed, and slowly opened her eyes.

"Good morning—" Rowen greeted her with a smile.

Robin looked at Rowen, then at her current position, and her face instantly flushed crimson.

But her hands subconsciously tightened their grip on Rowen, reluctant to let go.

She had slept so soundly, so peacefully—more peacefully than at any time since the Ohara Incident...

Since she was eight, witnessing the horror of Ohara under the Buster Call, burdened with a 79 million Beri bounty, she had endured countless betrayals and pursuits, even with her Flower-Flower Fruit.

Never a truly restful night's sleep.

But this sleep—had been incredibly sweet, incredibly secure. In her dreams, there were no horrors of Ohara, no pursuits, no nightmares of being captured by the World Government.

Only endless tranquility and sweetness. And it was all because she was leaning on—Rowen.

Robin cherished this feeling, reluctant to let it go!

"Mmm! Rowen... Robin... Good morning," Nami and Vivi stirred awake. Nami blinked, looking at Rowen, then at Robin still clinging to his leg.

"Ahhh!" Like a startled rabbit, Robin instantly let go of Rowen.

Seeing Robin like this, Nami and Vivi stared, momentarily stunned.

Especially Vivi...

Miss All Sunday, who always seemed so enigmatic and unreadable in Vivi's eyes—was now acting like a little girl!!

"Um... I..." Robin looked at Nami and Vivi, wanting to say something but unsure where to begin.

But just then—

"Shhh." Rowen placed a finger to his lips, his expression mysterious.

Thump! Thump!

The clear sound of a wooden mallet striking, amplified by his Rumble-Rumble Fruit-enhanced Observation Haki, reached Rowen's ears.

"Rowen?" Nami, Vivi, and even Robin looked at Rowen, confused. They didn't possess his enhanced Haki.

"Follow me—" Rowen said, standing up and walking towards the slightly misty White-White Sea.

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Aboard the Going Merry, shrouded in light mist.

A figure in a raincoat, wielding a wooden mallet, was diligently repairing the ship. Under its ministrations, the wings that had been attached for their ascent to Skypiea vanished, and the Merry gradually returned to her original form—the way she looked when Kaya gifted her to them.

"Th-That's..." Nami stared incredulously at the figure.

"The Klabautermann... It's Merry's spirit—" Rowen murmured, looking at the figure in the raincoat, a wave of emotion washing over him.

The ship's spirit, whose appearance brought tears to countless One Piece fans in the original story—had finally manifested...

More importantly, this spirit was born from the ship Kaya had given them.

Thinking of that beautiful lady from Syrup Village, a gentle smile touched Rowen's lips.

'The day I fulfill my promise and return to take Kaya to sea... is not far off.' Rowen's eyes gleamed.

Nami, Vivi, and even Robin pressed their lips together, watching the figure in the mist diligently repairing their ship, the Going Merry.

This legendary spirit—said to only appear on ships deeply loved and cared for by their crew—had been born on their ship?

"Merry," Rowen called out softly.

"R-Rowen... N-Nami... V-Vivi... R-Robin..." Merry looked towards them, speaking somewhat haltingly, but accurately naming each of them.

Hearing her name, Robin covered her mouth, tears welling in her eyes.

'The ship's spirit... remembered her name? Did even Merry acknowledge her... as a true member of this crew?'

In that moment, Robin felt the darkness in her heart, which Rowen had slowly been dispelling, recede even further.

"You've only just been born—you probably can't talk much yet, can you, Merry?" Rowen asked with a kind smile.

Merry nodded, smiling back.

"I... I can't appear... where there are many people..." Merry spoke in broken sentences, but Rowen understood.

As a somewhat ethereal ship's spirit, she arguably didn't exist in the same plane as humans.

This was likely why Klabautermanns always appeared amidst mist.

"Don't worry. I'll figure something out—" Rowen stated seriously.

So what if they weren't the same species?

After dealing with the World Government, they would definitely have an unprecedented feast—a final feast—and Merry would absolutely be there!

With the Strongest Trait System, Rowen was certain he could make it happen.

"Mm... Th-Thank you, Rowen. W-Without your ability... I-I would have been hurt much worse," Merry's voice was filled with a cheerful lilt.

"Unfortunately, none of us are shipwrights—we can't properly modify you. Don't worry, when we reach the next island, we'll definitely find the best shipwright to make you even stronger!" Rowen promised earnestly.

After acquiring the Munch-Munch Fruit, Rowen had made some minor reinforcements to the Merry, focusing primarily on strengthening the wood of her keel—

But Rowen wasn't a shipwright; he knew little about ship modification.

Carelessly using the Munch-Munch Fruit for major alterations could lead to unforeseen problems. So, Rowen had been very restrained, only focusing on the keel.

"Mm," Merry nodded, smiling.

She too wished to accompany Rowen and the others on their voyages for much longer.

But on the Grand Line, her hull was inherently ill-suited for such demanding conditions. If not for Rowen using his Munch-Munch Fruit to strengthen her somewhat, she might already be struggling to sail.

"I-I have to go now," Merry said, looking at the gradually dissipating mist with a smile.

"See you next time, Merry," Rowen replied, smiling.

As the mist cleared, Merry's figure vanished, leaving only the Going Merry, now restored to her original appearance.

"Incredible... Merry," Nami smiled softly. Vivi and Robin also smiled.

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"Alright, let's get ready. Time to leave this place. Nami, how's the Log Pose?" Rowen asked.

"ALL SET!" Nami held up her wrist; the Log Pose needle was now pointing downwards—towards the next island, in the Blue Sea.

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(Thanks to the System, this spiritual 'knot' was even more better than Joy Boy's. Joy Boy's 'knot', once untied, released all its Haki at once. But Wyper and the others could gradually untie Rowen's knot, drawing out portions of the stored spiritual power as needed—

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