"Everyone is dead..."
Tears streamed down Robin's face, and her heart suffered another blow. She grabbed Rob's arm with her small hand, lowered her head, and cried:
"Oni-san..."
Rob gently placed his hand on Robin's head, looking serious:
"Yeah! I'm here!"
Rob knew comforting words, but he didn't know how to say them. People's joys and sorrows are not the same, and Robin's feelings for Ohara were definitely different from his. Unable to fully empathize, all Rob could do was assure Robin of his presence.
Regarding the destruction of Ohara, Rob also felt regret. There were some good people on that island, but he didn't have deep ties to Ohara, nor many attachments. He is a practical person. Knowing Ohara's fate, he deliberately avoided forming bonds to prevent any irrational, impulsive actions.
With no ties, he could leave without worry and wouldn't feel sadness now.
As long as there were no attachments, the sharp knife of emotion wouldn't hurt him.
Robin was grieving.
Of course.
Her grief wasn't just about Ohara's destruction. It also included the pain of being left by Olvia for the second time. After experiencing various ups and downs in a short period, her inner state was understandably fragile.
But this was better than Robin's original life, where everything piled up and exploded at once.
At least--
Now Robin still had her brother Rob!
Seeing Robin cry, and Rob quietly accompanying her, Crocus, who was sitting on the beach chair, sighed and left silently, not wanting to disturb the siblings.
...
Three days passed.
On the shore of Twin Capes—
The small sailboat had its anchor raised again, and the hull had been modified. A sea beast subdued by Rob was ready to serve as the puller for the next voyage, waiting at the bow.
Standing on deck, Rob said goodbye to Crocus:
"Goodbye! Mr. Crocus, when Robin and I come back from East Blue, I'll call you again!"
Lazily reclining on a beach chair, Crocus waved his hand after hearing Rob:
"Get out of here! Brat... I haven't had a good night's sleep since you arrived. I don't know if accepting you as a student was a mistake, torturing myself!"
Hearing Crocus' rant, Rob laughed. Robin also waved her small hand, saying goodbye to Crocus.
Not long after, pulled by the sea monster, the small sailboat sailed away from Twin Cape, heading towards the Calm Belt linking to East Blue.
If one doesn't want to give up their ship and lacks the special technology of Marine warships, they can only rely on sea beasts to traverse the Calm Belt.
There was no need to worry about safety issues; Rob was confident they could cross the Calm Belt safely.
...
clatter—
Under the sea beast's pull, the small sailboat swiftly sailed towards East Blue. On the deck, Rob and Robin enjoyed the sea breeze, relishing the long-lost sea life.
Sitting on the railing, Rob looked at Robin, whose personality had become quieter, feeling a bit distressed. So much had happened this year. Enough to change Robin's cheerful personality, cultivated by him, into a quieter, slightly gloomy and closed demeanor. She was oblivious to these psychological changes.
Rob could only stay by her side and help her slowly recover from this state. However, even if she did recover, Rob was certain that Robin would never return to her previous innocence.
This was the price of growth.
"Robin!"
After staying on the deck for a while, Rob called out to Robin, who was reading a book.
Hearing him, Robin closed her book and looked at Rob peacefully:
"What's wrong, Oni-chan?"
With a serious face, Rob took out a potential potion and a body training potion, passing them to Robin:
"The dark green one is the potential potion, which enhances physical potential without side effects. The light green one is the body training potion, which strengthens the body without side effects and activates physical potential. From today onwards, before you take a bath each day, take the Potential Potion first. Then, pour the body-building potion into the bathtub and soak for at least an hour before coming out!"
He paused, his tone filled with emotion:
"In this world, no matter what we want to do in the future, strength is something we must have! Remember, Robin—having a sword and not using it, and not having a sword at all, are two different things! Pursuing dreams, protecting loved ones, all can be achieved and preserved through one's own strength! A weak person can't even choose how they die!"
Hearing Rob's words, Robin, holding the potions, had a serious look in her eyes. She thought about her mother, who left to avoid bringing her danger, and about the destroyed Ohara. If they were strong enough, wouldn't her mother have needed to leave? Wouldn't Ohara have been able to avoid destruction?
The answer came to Robin quickly.
If they had enough power to make the World Government afraid, all the tragedies related to her wouldn't have happened!
Not having a sword, and having a sword but not using it, are two different things! Oni-san's words were the truth of life.
Finally, Robin's face grew firm:
"I got it! Oni-chan, don't worry, I won't let you down! I will become stronger! Strong enough to protect you in the future!"
Hearing this, Rob smiled and stroked Robin's head:
"Okay! From now on, I will trust Robin to guard my back!"
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