Chapter 29
The process of going from a low-grade fever to a high fever and then back down is not pleasant. But on the other hand, at least you can go for a walk outside the infirmary without a nurse following you. It's just that the sticky feeling of being covered in cold sweat after a few steps, combined with the salty sea breeze, isn't very comfortable.
Realizing your stamina was waning, you couldn't help but sigh. Just six months ago, you could run all the way to the Spade Pirates' camp in knee-deep snow. Of course, while your stamina was good enough to escape the Red-Haired Pirates, the bigger factor was probably that Shanks and the others didn't try to force you to stay.
If they wanted to, any officer could find you by following their footsteps. Even if Ace agreed to let you stay on their ship, they would still dare to come to Ace's ship and take you back. Although things took a bit of a turn for the worse, the outcome was good, and you had no complaints.
As you paused on the deck to look at the sea, exhausted, you heard the distinctive sound of wooden clogs on the deck behind you. Before you could turn around, Izo's voice came from behind you.
"Aren't you going to wear more clothes? Even though the sun is shining brightly today, the sea breeze is quite strong."
Izou, who had struck up a conversation with you, stood naturally beside you, his gaze lingering on your shoulder with a strong presence. Honestly, you were already wearing two layers at Nurse D's insistence. On the Moby Dick, where everyone else was wearing only a short-sleeved shirt, you were quite conspicuous in the blazing sun. Adding another layer would make you wonder if your ability to sense heat had deteriorated to the point of numbness.
"Thank you for your concern, but I think I'm already wearing enough. If possible, I'd like to wear even less."
When you thank me, I glance back with a somewhat disapproving look, but after seeing whose coat you are wearing, a smile appears in my eyes.
"Keep wearing it for now. If the nurse who gave you the coat finds out you took it off, you might not be able to go for a walk until you're fully recovered."
Izang's words reminded you of Nurse D, hands on hips, sternly warning you not to take off your coat. Although she didn't seem like she'd get angry, when she did, she'd probably be even scarier than Nurse C from yesterday. The thought of possibly being locked in the infirmary and unable to move around sent chills down your spine.
"That's true, let's keep wearing them."
Perhaps your frightened expression was too obvious, because Izo, who was standing next to you, couldn't help but chuckle. His already captivating beauty was imbued with the unique boldness of a pirate by his laughter.
"There's no need to look scared like that. They would never hurt you."
"Once you get better, they won't bother you like they do now."
You knew Izo was right, so you nodded in understanding. Just as Izo was about to say something more, cheerful laughter came from the deck, which was blocked by the corner, catching your and Izo's attention. Unlike you, who turned around simply because of the sound, Izo, who knew the habits of the people on the ship better, had a faint smile on his face.
"They're probably playing something. Do you want to go take a look?"
"May I?"
Unable to discern whether Izo was being polite or genuinely inviting you, you could only respond with his uncertain inquiry. Izo, sensing your worry, responded with a gentle smile, indicating that you shouldn't be too concerned.
"Of course, or rather, they have more fun because they have guests watching them."
"Do you want to go?"
If you haven't gone by now, you're just being a bit out of touch with reality.
"Sorry to bother you."
You follow Izo to the bustling deck, where two men dressed in similar styles are carving wood with swords. Each cut is swift and precise, and the finished pieces are full of personal flair.
Izo tells you that the one wearing the hat is Vista, and the one with short brown hair is Harta; both are captains of the Moby Dick. You, unaware of Whitebeard's hierarchical system, equate captains with officers based on your understanding from Shanks' time.
"They're probably having a competition to see who has the better swordsmanship."
This is Izan's explanation of their wood-carving, and you nod in understanding. When you and Izan arrive, the competition is nearing its end, and Besta and Harta's works are finished.
Besta's was a wooden rose, while Harta's was a morning glory. As the two sheathed their swords, the onlookers began to argue about which of their creations was superior.
"Captain Vista's technique is definitely superior!"
"Get lost! What do you know! Captain Harta's morning glory is facing the sun; it's clearly more skillful than a rose that hasn't even bloomed yet!"
"What? You dare say Captain Vista's skills are bad! Just wait and see if I don't beat you up!"
"You're the one who said our captain's skills were bad from the start. I think you're the one who deserves a beating!"
Perhaps you don't quite understand how the Moby Dick decided the outcome. The onlookers' discussion has escalated from a contest of carving skills to a brawl between supporters, and the way everyone's pulling hair and throwing punches doesn't sound like a normal argument. You instinctively take a half step back and bump into Izou standing behind you.
When you turn to apologize to Izo, he responds with a dismissive smile.
"Don't worry, they've always been like this."
"But it's still a bit scary for you, isn't it?"
Before you could answer, Izo walked around you and went to the middle of the crew who were fighting fiercely. With a powerful voice, he stopped the two sides from fighting.
For a moment, you didn't know whether to marvel at the contrasting aura of Izan and his image, or to burst into laughter at the crew member who had wrecked the other's clothes and hair.
Seeing the disheveled state of both sides, you felt a pang of laughter, but realizing that bursting out with laughter might annoy others, you turned your back, avoiding the sight that amused you. Unbeknownst to you, Harta, noticing your presence, let out a subtle laugh and, from an angle you couldn't see, whispered in Vista's ear.
After they parted, a sly smile, as if they were on the same side, lingered in their eyes.
"It would be unfair for me and the people in the team to vote, so let's just let her do it."
"That's fine, no matter who wins, no one will have any objections. Can you do me a favor, Ace's friend?"
When the two decided to steer the conversation toward you, your smile vanished. The crew members who had been stopped by Izo all agreed, while only Izo, who had brought you, sighed and gave you an apologetic smile.
Even if you know both of them make a valid point, it's still a bit difficult for someone new to the Moby Dick. It seems that whoever you vote for will affect the impression you make on the ship.
"Do you really want me to decide?"
You tried to get them to change their minds, and the two captains and the crew members who had just been fighting all nodded in agreement. Now, those who were just watching the show have become the ones being watched.
Knowing that his brother only wanted to tease him and to tell him not to be so afraid of them, Yi Zang didn't explain further.
With everyone else in the room agreeing except you, you have no choice but to bite the bullet and go for it.
"Then, I will try my best."
Standing on the edge, you step into their territory. In the quiet circle of people, you walk to the finished wood carvings and stroll around them to observe.
For someone like you, who has absolutely no artistic talent or swordsmanship skills, it's truly impossible, and you wouldn't dare, to judge who's bad. Fortunately, the universal rhetoric ingrained in your genes can still be used here.
Having made up your mind, you stopped and, under everyone's gaze, gathered your thoughts before stating your opinion on the two wood carvings.
"The rose's folds are clearly visible, and even in a single-colored wood carving, one can see the swordsman's pride and composure in his swordsmanship."
As Vista sculpted the rose, he instinctively puffed out his chest, his face showing satisfaction with your comment. During the brief exchange of glances, you gave Vista your standard, slight smile.
"The morning glory may seem to have only one layer, but the corolla and stamen inside are meticulously crafted. Without a certain speed and strength, it would be difficult to carve such a piece."
Harta, who was a little unhappy about being praised by Vista just a second ago, felt a bit embarrassed when his eyes met yours, but more so, he was happy that you were praising him.
After you shared your opinions one by one, the impatient crew members couldn't help but ask you for the results.
So who won?
Izou chuckled softly upon seeing the result in your comment, which elicited a shy smile from you. Amidst the expectant gazes of the crowd, you revealed your conclusion.
"In conclusion, there are two winners in this match, that's my opinion."
The players from Bitta and Harta weren't entirely satisfied with your result, but your explanation made a lot of sense, leading to complicated expressions on their faces. It seemed that rejecting your conclusion would also lower the level of performance of the two winning captains.
The key point is that the two people who participated in the competition were very satisfied with the result you gave. Vista even gave you a blooming rose, which made Harta, who had nothing to give in return, utter a single sound of dissatisfaction. This left you somewhat bewildered, having just received the rose from Vista and thanked him. When your eyes met, Harta blushed, crossed her arms in front of her chest, and deliberately turned her head away from you.
"I'll send you something even prettier tomorrow."
Clearly, Harta is upset because his companion gave you a gift, but he can't afford one right now. You might not think it's a big deal, but judging from his behavior, Harta is the type who needs to be appeased; refusing him would only make him angrier.
"Now that you mention it, I'm already looking forward to tomorrow."
Harta, turning his head away from you, was momentarily speechless. Their eyes met briefly, then quickly looked away again. Harta then left, heading into the circle of people still debating the outcome, leaving you standing there with the rose in hand. Seeing this, Vista, who had invited you to be the referee along with Harta, glanced at you.
"He's probably just shy, don't worry about it."
You shook your head, indicating that you didn't take it to heart. After a brief exchange, Vista also stepped into the encirclement and began a new match amidst the cheers of his squad.
Izang walked in the opposite direction from the two of them. He returned to your side, his eyes filled with undisguised laughter.
"You're more capable than I imagined."
You can't discern any other meaning in the Tibetan language; you can only honestly explain why you made the decision that both of you are winners.
"In my opinion, you are all very skilled, whether it is using a sword or carving, you are all much better than me."
To make your words more convincing, you take off one side of your jacket, revealing your dominant hand, whose muscle definition is not visible.
"Look, I can't even hold a regular kitchen knife properly."
When you looked at Izou again, the gentle smile on his face, which had even impressed the nurses, faded, and you instinctively put your coat back on. Only then did Izou's original smile return.
"It seems you still remember what the nurse said."
Izo's words made you connect the dots with his expression just now. So, is the reason Izo isn't smiling because you didn't follow the nurse's orders?
It seems you can't find any other reason to convince yourself. Only after barely convincing yourself can you continue with what Izang was saying.
"No matter what, it's not good to make a nurse angry."
You alone are no match for a dozen nurses, let alone the entire ship's crew.
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