The Black Bulls' base was anything but calm. Chunks of the outer wall lay scattered around, and dust filled the air, obscuring the remnants of the latest explosion. The sounds of battle echoed through the rooms as familiar voices shouted at each other amidst the chaos.
"Alright, now I'm really pissed! Are you ready to get your ass kicked, Luck?" Magna's voice rang out, his tone fiery as he summoned a barrage of flaming baseballs, each one glowing as he hurled them with precision toward Luck.
Luck, with his signature grin plastered across his face, darted around with ease, dodging each projectile with an effortless agility. "Oh, come on, Magna! This is too easy!" He laughed, bouncing around the room with an almost childlike thrill.
Across the room, Vanessa sat slumped in her chair, a bottle hanging loosely from her hand. Her red cheeks and droopy eyes were evidence of last night's festivities. "Ugh… drank too much again," she mumbled, rubbing her temples. "And even then… couldn't beat the vice-captain…" She let out a sigh, her voice tinged with disappointment.
Meanwhile, Charmy sat at a nearby table, completely oblivious to the destruction around her. Her cheeks were puffed out, stuffed with sweets as she munched away, a satisfied smile on her face. "Munch, munch… That pudding you were hiding was delicious!" she exclaimed happily, looking over at Luck, who only laughed in response, evading Magna's next attack.
"That pudding was supposed to be mine, you little glutton!" Magna bellowed, sending a fiery blast Charmy's way.
"Oh, I'd like to see you try!" Charmy replied, munching away unbothered, her attention fully focused on her sweets.
The commotion was suddenly interrupted by a sharp, exasperated voice. "Would you people quit breaking things?" came Yami's low growl as he entered through what was left of the front wall, trailing dust and irritation. He took in the scene: two walls missing, scorched marks everywhere, and his squad members bickering like rowdy children.
Everyone stopped in their tracks, eyes wide as they took in their captain's glare. For a second, there was silence.
Then, in unison, the members greeted him with cheerful enthusiasm:
"Yami-san! Welcome back, boss!" Magna shouted, giving a salute.
"Captain Yami is yummy!" Charmy mumbled with her mouth full, still chewing.
"Captain, do you have a moment?" Gauche called out, only half-paying attention as he polished a picture of his sister, Marie.
"Did anyone mess with you, Captain? Just say the word, and I'll crush 'em!" Luck declared eagerly, his eyes lighting up with a crazed gleam.
Yami's vein pulsed as he took in their rowdy greetings. "You guys are a pain in the ass, you know that?" He cracked his knuckles, shooting them all a glare that could send shivers down the spine.
"Sorry!" they chorused, all cowering in response to his intimidating gaze.
Yami huffed, crossing his arms. "Anyway, I've got an announcement. We have a new member joining us."
A wave of surprise and excitement spread across the group. Vanessa's eyes widened, and she leaned forward with a slight smirk. "A new member? Really?"
"Wait, where are they? I don't see anyone," Magna said, looking around, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"Are you sure about that, Captain? You sure you aren't seeing things?" Gauche asked with a suspicious look, adjusting his gaze to peer closely at Yami.
"HUH?" Yami turned, his face darkening as he glared at Magna and Gauche. "You doubting me or something?"
"N-no, Captain!" Magna quickly replied, waving his hands in defense. "It's just… ya know… no one usually joins us."
Charmy blinked up at Yami with innocent curiosity. "Where's Zoro-san, though? Isn't he supposed to bring the new guy here?"
"Yeah," Yami muttered, scratching his head in irritation. "That guy grabbed the kid and ran off this morning, saying he'd go on ahead to the base. Haven't seen him since."
"Wait… Zoro-san?" Vanessa mused, eyebrows raised. "I haven't seen him since last night, either…"
"Ah, now that you mention it, I challenged him to a drinking contest last night," she added with a smirk, though a slight groan escaped as she rubbed her aching head. "I lost. Obviously…"
Magna shrugged, scratching his head. "Yeah, no sign of him since morning. Guess he didn't stick around long."
Everyone fell silent, contemplating the mystery of their vice-captain's whereabouts. Charmy, chewing on yet another cookie, piped up with a curious expression, "Do you think… maybe he got lost?"
The room went silent as everyone considered Charmy's innocent suggestion. Slowly, nods spread through the group as realization dawned.
"Yeah… that makes sense," Luck murmured with a grin.
"Makes sense. That guy could get lost crossing the street," Vanessa added with a chuckle.
"Yup. Absolutely," Magna agreed, laughing as he imagined the directionally challenged Zoro stumbling around lost somewhere in the wilderness.
"Idiots," Yami muttered, rubbing his temples. "Why do I have to babysit you fools…?"
Finally, Yami turned to Finral. "Oi, Finral. Open up a portal. We need to find that idiot and bring the new kid here."
Finral gave a resigned sigh, standing up. "Got it, Captain." He focused, summoning a spatial magic portal, scanning for the familiar energy signature of their wayward vice-captain.
...
The air in the abandoned street was thick and eerie as Zoro stood in the middle, scratching his head in exasperation. He clenched his teeth and let out a growl, feeling utterly lost.
"Grr! Why do these streets have to be so confusing?" he muttered, looking around with a scowl, clearly frustrated by the twisted alleys of this part of the kingdom.
Meanwhile, a few paces behind him, Asta was barely able to contain his excitement. His eyes sparkled as he took in the sight, thinking that this must be the legendary Black Bulls' base. After all, if someone as strong as Zoro was wandering around here, it had to be nearby, right? He imagined hidden switches or secret mechanisms waiting to reveal the entrance. His heart raced at the thought of discovering it.
Asta carefully trailed Zoro, relieved that the swordsman hadn't noticed him tagging along yet. He didn't want to interrupt him or—worse—lose him in the winding maze of streets. But just as he felt he was getting closer to figuring things out, Zoro suddenly stopped in his tracks, his nostrils flaring slightly.
"Booze," Zoro muttered, his eyes lighting up with a glint of excitement. Without a second thought, he bolted, following the scent with the speed of a hawk on the hunt.
Asta watched, wide-eyed, as Zoro took off toward an open clearing in the midst of the abandoned streets. As he approached the center, he was met with an entirely unexpected sight—a realm of soft, pink hues, almost as if he'd wandered into a fairy tale. There were plush pink sofas arranged in a cozy circle, tables laden with steaming plates of food, and, most importantly, barrels upon barrels of booze stacked on the side, almost glowing in the warm pink light. At the center of it all was a woman lounging on a sofa, her head propped on her hand, watching Zoro with a dreamy smile.
Dorothy Unsworth, the captain of the Coral Peacocks, looked like she was part of this magical world. Her pink, wavy hair cascaded down her shoulders, framing her soft yet mischievous face. Her dark eyes sparkled with hidden mirth as if she knew secrets that others could only dream of. She wore her Coral Peacocks robe loosely draped over her shoulders, but her posture was anything but formal. There was a relaxed grace to her, a languid confidence, and an aura of mystery that suited her title as the Dream Magic user. Despite her laid-back demeanor, her presence commanded attention—especially for anyone unfamiliar with her world.
Asta's jaw dropped as he recognized her. "Th-the captain of the Coral Peacocks? Here?" he thought, feeling a mixture of awe and confusion. Why would someone so high-ranking be in a place like this?
Dorothy broke into a smile as she saw Zoro approach, her voice soft yet playful. "Ohh, Rorochi! Why are you so late? I've been waiting for ages!" She pouted slightly, gesturing to the spread. "Look, I even prepared all this booze just for you."
But before she could get another word in, Zoro, with astonishing speed, darted past her and collapsed into one of the plush pink sofas. He grabbed a barrel of booze, uncorked it, and took a deep swig, letting out a sigh of satisfaction. His face softened, savoring the taste as he leaned back with his drink.
Dorothy's brow twitched, an adorable pout forming on her lips as she crossed her arms, looking at him with feigned annoyance. "Dumb, dumb, dumb Rorochi! How can you ignore me like that when I went through all this trouble?" She tilted her head, giving him a cute, scolding look that only seemed to make her more endearing.
But despite her irritation, she couldn't bring herself to stay mad. Smiling fondly, she sat down beside him, lifting a delicate plate filled with appetizers. She picked up a bite-sized piece of food, bringing it to Zoro's mouth, who accepted it without even looking, still engrossed in his drink. Dorothy's gaze softened as she watched him, and a blush crept onto her cheeks, unnoticed by the absorbed swordsman. She was enjoying herself, feeling oddly at peace. Feeding him like this felt strangely intimate, even if he was oblivious to her intentions.
Meanwhile, Asta stood off to the side, feeling completely out of place in the dreamy scene. He looked around awkwardly, scratching his head and muttering to himself. "Uh…hello? Anyone…notice me?" He felt like a fly on the wall, watching a scene he wasn't sure he was meant to see. In typical Asta fashion, he clenched his fist, feeling slightly envious. "So that's how captains get treated, huh? Man, I gotta become one someday!"
Dorothy finally seemed to notice the extra presence, and her attention drifted to Asta. A sly smile appeared on her lips as she regarded him, her tone lilting as she greeted him. "Ohh, it's you, magicless kid," she said with a mix of curiosity and amusement.
Asta stiffened, his eyes wide, not expecting the sudden attention from the mysterious witch. "Uh—yes, Captain Dorothy! It's an honor to meet you!" he managed, bowing awkwardly before realizing he wasn't exactly invited.
She chuckled lightly, giving a small wave. "Don't be so stiff, kid. Sit with us if you want." But without sparing him another glance, she returned her attention to Zoro, who was happily working his way through the barrel, completely lost in his own world.
"Uh vice captain?" Asta said meekely.
Zoro leaned back, the empty bottle of booze in his hand, the amber liquid swirling lazily inside as he tilted it to take a final swig. His eyes closed for a moment, savoring the familiar burn as the alcohol slid down his throat. He was sitting comfortably on one of the plush, pink sofas that Dorothy had conjured around them, completely oblivious to the tension in the air caused by Asta's interruption. His swords were resting against the sofa next to him, and he was in his usual laid-back state, enjoying the small respite from the chaos of life.
Dorothy, on the other hand, was nestled beside him, her long purple hair spilling over her shoulder, her usual serene and playful demeanor momentarily replaced by a slight irritation. Her soft pink dress, made of illusory fabric, glistened in the low light, and her sharp violet eyes shifted from Asta to Zoro, clearly a little bothered by the interruption. She had been in the middle of feeding Zoro the last bit of food she had prepared, her fingers delicately lifting a forkful of snacks to his mouth, when Asta had decided to speak up.
Asta, standing awkwardly in the clearing between them, could feel the weight of their gazes pressing down on him. The thought of disturbing their moment was not sitting well with him, but his curiosity had gotten the better of him.
"U-uh... when are we going to go to the base?" Asta asked meekly, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. He was visibly uneasy under their scrutiny, trying to maintain his usual cheerfulness but failing to hide the apprehension in his voice.
Zoro, who had been lost in his own thoughts, blinked, his frustration evident as he furrowed his brow. "WHAT?" he barked, sitting up abruptly, glaring at Asta for disturbing his drinking session. His voice was thick with annoyance, but it wasn't just directed at Asta; it was the sudden interruption that grated on him.
Dorothy, though usually more composed, seemed equally irritated, though her expression was more playful than menacing. She shot Asta a look that could only be described as a mix of bemusement and annoyance, clearly unimpressed by the disruption.
"Did you really have to interrupt us?" she asked, her tone light but sharp. "We were having a moment."
Asta took a step back, almost bowing in apology. He had meant to ask Zoro about their plans, but now that he saw their reaction, he felt small under the weight of their presence. His cheeks flushed, and he awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "Sorry, I didn't mean to... But, uh, I really want to know when we're heading to the base. I just... wanted to know."
Zoro let out an exasperated sigh and looked down at his empty bottle. He gave a long, drawn-out stretch, his muscles tensing as he cracked his knuckles. After a beat of silence, he shrugged, seemingly unconcerned by Asta's awkwardness.
"Ah, right. I totally forgot about that," Zoro muttered, rubbing the back of his head as if trying to shake off the cobwebs of his buzzed state. His gaze drifted to Asta, his tone more casual now. "We'll leave once I finish my drink. Can't do much on an empty stomach, right?" Zoro continued, his voice still rough and unbothered.
Asta nodded nervously, trying to stifle his growing curiosity. His gaze flicked between Zoro and Dorothy, unable to shake off the question that was burning in his mind. He had seen them together, but he didn't understand their dynamic, or why Dorothy, a woman of considerable magic and status, would be so familiar with Zoro.
"Then... can you tell me how you two know each other?" Asta blurted out, the question escaping before he could filter it. It was one thing to see them together now, but it was clear that their relationship was deeper than he understood, and he was dying to know more.
For a brief moment, Zoro turned his head, the gruff look on his face softening slightly as his gaze flicked toward Dorothy. There was something unreadable in his eyes, like he was weighing whether he should speak about it at all. He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, Dorothy cut in, her voice playful yet sincere.
"Why don't I tell it to you?" Dorothy interjected with a smile, her eyes brightening as she turned toward Asta. The smile on her face, usually reserved for moments of teasing, now held an undercurrent of warmth as she glanced at Zoro beside her. She settled back, her posture relaxed, but the way she looked at Zoro—there was affection in her eyes, unmistakable in its intensity.
"Oh, about that…" Dorothy continued, her tone now nostalgic, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass. She was completely at ease as she spoke, as though recounting the most precious memory of her life. "Rorochi saved me. Gave me a life of freedom." Her words were slow, laden with emotion that she rarely showed outwardly, her voice softening as she said the nickname. "Rorochi," the name that only she called him, was a personal term, as she looked at zoro remembering the first time they met.