Chapter 17 – I’M Pregnant

Yato left the bandit camp, his body filled with renewed strength. He walked toward the village under the moonlight, his steps steady as if he had just completed a great feat. Upon arriving at Makino's bar, he entered her room without hesitation. She stirred slightly in her sleep as he approached, and with a gentle touch on her shoulder, he woke her up.

"Yato...? What are you doing here so late?"

He leaned in, whispering against her ear, "I just couldn't resist."

Makino chuckled sleepily before pulling him closer, initiating his second battle of the day.

Meanwhile, back at the bandit camp, Dadan slowly woke up, feeling disoriented. Her body was exhausted, but what she hadn't noticed was the small, satisfied smile on her lips. As she sat up, a sharp realization hit her—her legs were weak, barely supporting her weight.

She blinked, confusion crossing her face. "Was that... real?"

Looking around, she searched for any sign of Yato, but he was nowhere to be found. For a moment, she thought it had been nothing more than a vivid dream, but her aching body told her otherwise. With a deep breath, she lay back down, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions.

The days passed. Yato, now fully strengthened, continued his rigorous training and his routine with Makino. He waited patiently for Luffy's departure, knowing his journey was about to begin.

Twenty days later, five days before their scheduled departure, Yato approached Makino one evening after closing the bar. She was cleaning the counter when he leaned against it casually.

"I need to talk to you," he said, his tone calm but firm.

Makino looked up at him, curiosity in her eyes. "What is it?"

"I'll be leaving on a trip with Luffy. We'll sail together for a while, but I won't follow him to the Grand Line. I'll come back before our child is born."

Makino's hands paused for a moment before she let out a soft sigh. "I knew you'd leave eventually. Luffy has always dreamed of being a pirate, and I could tell you were waiting for something."

Yato nodded. "I don't plan to be gone for too long. Just enough to experience the sea."

She smiled, placing a hand over her stomach. "Then I'll wait for you. Just don't get yourself killed out there."

Yato chuckled. "That would be a waste after all the effort I put in to get stronger."

The night before his departure, Yato made a brief trip to the Goa Kingdom's capital. The bustling port was filled with people enjoying the nightlife, but Yato had a clear target in mind. Using his shadows, he had already identified a skilled navigator—a cruise ship captain docked in the harbor. It was a simple plan.

As the captain walked through the quiet alley behind a tavern, Yato struck swiftly and silently. A precise blow to the throat ensured there was no noise, and within moments, the man was dead. His body faded into darkness as Yato absorbed his shadow, replacing one of his tiger shadows with the new acquisition. A skilled navigator would be invaluable for his journey.

With his business in the capital complete, he returned to the village before dawn, unseen and unnoticed.

The next day, as Yato and Luffy trained in the forest, Dadan unexpectedly arrived. Yato had been testing his strength against Luffy, estimating that he was now at least as strong as one of the Nyaban brothers.

Luffy, covered in dirt and grinning, stretched his arms lazily. "You've gotten way stronger, Yato!"

Before the conversation could continue, Dadan called out from a short distance away. "Oi, Yato! I need to talk to you!"

Luffy turned to her. "Oi, Dadan! What are you doing here?"

Dadan crossed her arms. "None of your business, brat."

Yato wiped imaginary sweat from his brow and walked over to her. "What is it?"

She hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. "I think I'm pregnant."

Yato's eyes gleamed with satisfaction, but he kept his expression composed. "That's good news."

Dadan fidgeted slightly. "You... you're not going to run off and pretend nothing happened, right?"

Yato chuckled. "Of course not. I'll take responsibility. But first, I need to go on an adventure with Luffy. I'll try to return before the baby is born."

Dadan looked at him for a moment before sighing. "Hmph. Fine. But don't die out there."

Yato gave her a confident smile. "I don't plan to. Oh, and don't tell Luffy. He doesn't need to know just yet."

Dadan snorted. "Yeah, yeah. Just go already."

The following morning, the day of departure arrived. Yato and Luffy stood at the shore, gazing at the sea before them. The boat was ready, supplies packed.

Luffy grinned, excitement in his eyes. "Time to set sail!"

Yato smirked, stepping onto the boat. "Let's see what the world has in store for us."

As they drifted away from the island, the waves rocked the boat gently. However, their journey barely began before a massive Sea King emerged from the depths, its enormous jaws opening wide.

Luffy, without hesitation, clenched his fist and pulled his arm back. "Gomu Gomu no... Pistol!"

With a powerful punch, he struck the beast square in the face, sending it crashing back into the ocean, unconscious.

Yato crossed his arms, watching the beast sink. "I guess that's one way to deal with it."

The journey had begun.