Chapter 72: Farewell (part 1)
The next morning, before the first batch of vendors had opened for business, the Navy Soldiers who had gotten up early were already lined up neatly on the open ground in front of the Warship.
They seemed not to plan on disturbing anyone.
“Everyone, do a final check to ensure nothing is left behind.”
Seemingly afraid of waking the still-sleeping Townsfolk, Zephyr’s voice wasn’t loud, but his enunciation was clear.
The Soldiers present could all hear him clearly.
The Soldiers didn’t respond in unison either, just silently checking their Backpacks and luggage again.
A few minutes later, the rustling sounds of packing gradually stopped, and the formation returned to neatness.
“Good, since there are no issues, let’s board the ship.”
Zephyr waved his large hand, and the Soldiers turned in unison to prepare to board.
“Are you leaving?”
A familiar voice rang out again, still that elfin voice unforgettable after just one listen.
The Soldiers and Officers all turned their heads to look at that expected tiny figure.
“Brat, if you don’t sleep properly, you won’t grow tall.”
Garp looked at Ra carrying a large Food Box and half-jokingly spoke up to educate her.
“Thanks for the concern, Garp Mister.
But compared to me, you all leaving so quietly seems a bit discourteous too, making it seem like we were neglectful.”
Ra joked back, then her gaze swept over the neatly lined-up Soldiers.
『Hmm, the numbers haven’t decreased. Looks like they didn’t quietly leave anyone On the Island. I’ll check the dorms later.』
“This isn’t because we’re afraid of disturbing you all again. After all, we caused you quite a bit of Trouble yesterday.”
“But now it seems like it was all for nothing…”
Zephyr looked at Ra in front of him and said somewhat helplessly.
Because she had come out too early, the ends of the Girl’s hair still had some dew on them.
The crystalline dew drops shone beautifully against her radiant golden hair, like tiny Suns.
“You neither stole nor Raided, so where does the Trouble come from?”
“Actually, those Restaurants came to thank me yesterday afternoon for bringing them a big wave of customers.”
Placing the Thing in her hands on the ground, Ra straightened her Clothes.
“People like you are rare in the New World, so now that you’re leaving, I naturally have to prepare some modest farewell gifts.”
With that, she opened the lid of the Food Box, and each of the four layers inside was filled with tiny Pastries like Daifuku.
Each of these Snacks was small and exquisite, like gorgeous Gems, totaling probably six or seven hundred.
“These Pastries made with the Island’s specialty woodberries are for you as Snacks to enjoy on the return journey.”
Ra had made the Snacks last night when she was bored.
Adhering to the principle of being extra cautious at the very last moment, Ra unusually didn’t Sleep last night, though her current Body didn’t need Sleep to recover Energy anyway.
Seeing this group of Navy who hadn’t caused her any Trouble and had just obediently Slept, Ra thought to prepare some farewell gifts for them.
Hmm, just like rewarding a cat with freeze-dried treats for getting its shot obediently.
So in the quiet night, Ra monitored their every move through Energy Vision while leisurely making Snacks.
……
Looking at the Food Box in front of him, bigger than Ra’s Body, and the full layers of exquisite Snacks inside, Zephyr really didn’t know what to say…
Ever since they had landed on the Island in distress, this sensible Little Girl had been giving them meticulous care and Goodwill, yet they couldn’t give her anything in return.
Clearly the Navy tasked with Protection of the populace, yet they had become the ones being taken care of.
Moved, ashamed, self-reproach…
Countless Emotions surged in the heart of this old Navy in his early forties, ultimately turning into a promise.
“Thank you. Thank you, Child.”
“I promise you, we Navy will definitely come back here!”
Zephyr said as he straightened his Body and seriously gave Ra a Navy salute.
This was a promise given by a Navy Admiral bearing the mantle of Justice.
And behind this straight-postured Admiral, countless Navy Soldiers also stood at attention and saluted.
“?”
A bewildered and puzzled Expression rarely appeared on Ra’s face.
She, who was always mature, steady, and unflappable, was left a bit at a loss by Zephyr’s one sentence.
『What’s going on? Could the Navy be planning a full assault on the New World?』
『That shouldn’t be…』
There was no trace of lies in the other party’s Soul; those words just now were truly sincere.
To be honest, Ra felt the situation somewhat exceeded her expectations, but she couldn’t pinpoint where the problem was.
A faint Unease began to spread in Ra’s heart.
She, who could now easily see through others’ Souls, surprisingly couldn’t understand the other party’s Behavior at all.
Her Thinking was starting to diverge from ordinary Humans’ Thinking, which had always been her greatest worry.
If she couldn’t even understand Human Behavior… Ra didn’t want to imagine what she would ultimately alienate into.
Seeing Ra’s unexpected Expression, Zephyr repeated once more:
“I swear as a Navy Admiral, we Navy will definitely come back to this Island. By then, you won’t have to worry about Pirates anymore!”
『But what I’m worried about is the Navy…』
And the Navy below, who had been secretly covering their faces and sobbing lightly since Ra opened the Food Box, now chorused Zephyr’s oath.
“We will definitely come back!”
Ra: “…”
This sudden feeling of having fed the wrong cat made Ra have a slight impulse to take back the little Snacks.
Slightly adjusting the hair accessory behind her ear, Ra’s Expression returned to normal, and she gave the Navy a smile as usual:
“I’ll look forward to our next meeting. Goodbye.”
……
“See you later, Little Girl!”
Garp stood at the Stern of the Warship already departing from the Port, waving to Ra while eating a Snack.
Behind him were rows of Navy Soldiers standing straight, saluting toward the Shore.
The other Warship showed the same scene.
“Sigh~”
No matter what she felt in her heart at this moment, Ra politely waved back to them as a Response.
She had also figured it out: although she seemed increasingly distant from understanding Humans now, the doubts, panic, and other Emotions that had arisen in her heart just now couldn’t be faked.
Though they were all negative Emotions, it was better than nothing—at least she wouldn’t become a clay puppet without Sensibility, only Divinity.
Watching the Warships gradually disappear from Vision, Ra took out the Den Den Mushi from her sleeve and called Kaido.
“Purupuru~”
“Hey! Who dares disturb me Sleeping?!”
“It’s me, Kaido Captain. Very sorry to disturb you so early.”
“Ah~ it’s you. How are Zephyr and the others?”
Hearing Ra’s voice from the other end, Kaido immediately sat up in bed.
“They all just left completely, without leaving any marks or contingencies.”
“However…”
Ra hesitated a bit on how to phrase it.
“However what? Just say it.”
“However, before leaving, they said they’d come back here. From their Expressions, it didn’t seem like a joke.”
“Uro-ro-ro-ro! Just over this little thing?!”
“If they dare come back, let them. It’ll be a good chance to show them the New World isn’t for the Navy to meddle in!”
