Pirate's Freedom

"The dishes are ready, everyone, let's eat."

After taking off his apron and wiping his hands, Tata Tot came out with a plate of three sets of duck.

"Huh—" x2

Nokigao and Nami breathed a sigh of relief as if they were being pardoned.

In just a short moment, after racking their brains and searching their stomachs, a slight layer of sweat formed on their foreheads.

"Then let's eat first."

Bellemere, who loosened his frown and withdrew his gaze, turned to look at Tata Tote, her expression was smiling.

"Tata Tote, would you like some wine to cheer you up?"

"I don't have to."

Tata Tot brought a chair and sat opposite Bellemere, with Ila and Guina on his right side.

After a while of pushing and squeezing, Nokigao and Nami slowly sat down on his left side.

"Nokigao, Nami, let me tell you a truth about life."

Tata Tote smiled and looked at the two people who were making small moves in private.

"It's actually easier to have no choice."

pity……

Two pairs of big eyes stared at him hard, and they completely took this sentence as a provocation.

"Dad! Let me help everyone with the food!"

Ila volunteered and stood up.

"Kuina gives it to you...this is Nuoqigao's...Nami's...sister Bellemere~this bowl is yours..."

finally--

"Dad, here's the food for you."

She slapped it with a rice spoon a few times, and a bowl of rice piled high was placed in front of Tata Tot like a treasure.

"Thank you, Ira."

Tata Tot touched her head.

"Hehe~"

As Ila smiled shyly, the dinner officially began.

"what is this?"

Looking at the plate of food in front of her, Kuina asked doubtfully.

Thin slices of meat with beautiful textures roll up pieces of tender yellow and crispy-looking flesh.

"This is [raw ham and cantaloupe]. Everyone in the village can make it, but dad makes it the most delicious!"

Ila took a piece and put it in her mouth, looking at her expectantly.

"Hmm... give it a try!"

"Okay, let me try it..."

Kuina picked up a piece and put it in her mouth, chewing it a few times.

"Well……"

Her eyes lit up and she chewed slightly faster.

"Delicious~!"

Thinly sliced, tender prosciutto rich in salt, and sweet, crisp and refreshing cantaloupe, the two form a perfect combination in terms of texture and taste.

"And this! This and this! Try them all, Kuina!"

As if inspired, Ila leaned forward at the dinner table and pointed out her favorites.

"OK……"

Kuina tasted each one.

"Huh huh..."

She screamed again and again.

"It's delicious~!"

"Hum..."

Ila narrowed her eyes in contentment.

After a while, there was only the crisp sound of clinking bowls and chopsticks on the dining table.

Even Nokigao and Nami, who were a little worried, couldn't help but immerse themselves in the delicious food.

……

"Ah! I'm full, I'm full~!"

Gently stroking his belly, Bellemare leaned lazily on the chair.

"But the wine I brought has not been opened yet..."

She stretched out her arms and hooked up the wine bottle at her feet.

"Tata Tote, do you really don't want to have a drink or two after dinner?"

"It's still not necessary."

Tata Tot found a glass and handed it over.

"What a pity. This is a rare bottle of good wine."

Pulling off the cork on the wine bottle, Bellemere poured himself a glass of wine and drank.

"By the way, don't you really plan to open a restaurant? The business will definitely be much better than your grocery store."

"Bellemere, this question has been answered for a long time. Not only you, but Nami has also asked it many times."

Upon hearing her name, Nami, who was engrossed in eating, looked up blankly, and Tata Tot declined with a smile.

"Well, that's a pity. After all, I heard from Nami that you participated in the World Chef Competition."

Despite this, Bellemeier's attitude was not taken seriously. Perhaps, she just wanted to open up the topic.

"..."

Hearing her name again, Nami glanced at Bellemere cautiously.

"It's just that I don't know yet, Tata Tot..."

Bellemel poured herself another glass. She already looked a little tipsy.

"I remember that many chefs from the Navy also participated in the competition. Are you going on your own or on behalf of the Navy?"

"I went alone."

Tata Tot replied with a smile.

"I only represent myself."

"Really? Then Tata Tot, you are really awesome, you know-"

Lifting his neck to drink, Bellemere muttered indistinctly.

"That's in the new world..."

"...!"

Nami's little ears perked up.

"That sea..."

Tata Toth echoed with a smile.

"It's really impressive."

"I still remember...someone once asked me this -"

Bellemare raised the glass to his eyes.

"Do you know the name of the sea in the second half of the [Grand Line]?"

"On the other side of the Red Earth Continent, the last vast ocean, people gave it... another name -"

She stared at the slightly rising bubbles in the amber wine.

"[New World]."

I couldn't tell what that look was.

"There...is a sea where strong men who can usher in a new era gather."

What Tata Tot can distinguish is a trace of yearning, a little nostalgia for the past, but more of it is a deep worry...

"He who can conquer that sea..."

Bellemere's voice suddenly became louder.

"It's [One Piece]!!"

"..."

The sound of the clinking of bowls and chopsticks gradually became quieter, and the children lowered their heads and looked at each other quietly.

Bellemere slowly put down his wine glass, which still contained unfinished wine.

"Nami's dream...to travel around the world...draw a world map..."

Nami couldn't help but raise her head and saw a Bellmere she had never seen before.

"I did too...but I thought it would be a long time later."

Lying on the table and burying his face in his arms, Bellemeier's voice was muffled.

The atmosphere in the restaurant became quiet, and Nami suddenly felt her eyes sore, and those uneasy emotions were swept away in an instant.

"...Bellemere..."

"Really...I understand, even Bellemere you..."

The guy who always behaved carelessly became like this.

"really……"

Tata Tot also looked slightly sighing.

No matter what era, no matter what world -

"Mother" is an antonym of "adventure".

"Nami, don't speak yet."

Seeing that Nami was about to say something, he stopped her with a voice.

"I see what you mean, Bellemere."

Tata Tot suddenly became serious.

"New world... I remember..."

He tilted his head as if recalling.

"In the past days when I was traveling around, I also had a reward."

"..."

Nami opened her mouth wide, and a seabird egg the size of a thumb fell back into the bowl.

Ila kept blinking hard.

"[Mysterious Man]...is that the title? Hahaha...you are so young..."

Tata Tote's smile was somewhat nostalgic.

"I have been away from the sea for several years. It should be difficult to find it now."

Bellemere raised his head from his arms, looked at Tata Tot and said calmly.

"However, there should be a few guys in the New World who remember this name."