Chapter Thirty-Seven: Zoro Joins

Listening to Roland’s answer, Zoro fell silent.

Truly, the world’s greatest swordsman—was he not worthy of that title? Roland, whom Zoro couldn’t even hope to match, claimed that the gap between himself and Hawk Eyes was even larger than the gap between Zoro and Roland. Was the dream he’d had when he first set out to sea nothing but an unattainable fantasy?

Zoro gazed out over the ocean, staring into the distance as if through the vast waters he could see the man he had always yearned to challenge.

He didn’t look for long before suddenly breaking into a bright, cheerful smile.

What was happening to him? He had vowed to become the greatest swordsman in the world—how could a single duel shake his resolve? The enormous gap between himself and Hawk Eyes only proved how rare and precious that position was. If it were a goal easily achieved, how could he ever make his name resound throughout the world and echo in the heavens?

The stronger Hawk Eyes was, the harder Zoro had to work, and one day defeat him. Only then could Kuina—far away in heaven—hear his voice.

The ocean was vast; it was time for him to see the wider skies.

“Mr. Roland, there’s a humble swordsman who wishes to travel with you and see the sights of this great sea. Would you be willing to take him along?”

This was a decision Zoro made after careful thought. As a swordsman who had left the dojo, he knew well how important it was to have a teacher in swordsmanship.

Roland might say he was nothing compared to Hawk Eyes, but in truth, most people in the world were nothing compared to Hawk Eyes! Using Hawk Eyes as a measure was meaningless. But comparing Roland with himself—that was different.

Everything Zoro knew, Roland knew as well. Everything Zoro didn’t know, Roland still knew. So what harm could there be in following Roland?

Iron-cutting, flying slashes—Zoro hadn’t mastered any of these yet. How could he hope to compete with Hawk Eyes? It was impossible that Hawk Eyes hadn’t mastered what Roland already knew.

Instead of aiming impossibly high to challenge Hawk Eyes now, it was better to first learn these fundamentals, step by step.

Besides, Roland was preparing to join the Navy. If Zoro went with him, he would surely encounter many powerful swordsmen within the Navy.

He had left Shimotsuki Village and come to this sea precisely to find the strong and challenge them. Now there was a place where the greatest warriors of this sea gathered—why shouldn’t he consider it?

“Are you sure? You must know, in the grand scheme of the ocean, I am but a humble swordsman myself.”

Roland had considered accepting Zoro, but when Zoro brought it up himself, Roland hesitated. In his previous life, Zoro had been his favorite character—just, strong, never wavering at key moments, unlike Luffy, who often acted like a fool...

There were so many virtues Roland could list about Zoro.

But he couldn’t guarantee that Zoro would become stronger than in the original story by following him.

He practiced swordsmanship, but being the greatest swordsman was not his goal; he sought overall strength. Sword techniques, physical skills, even Devil Fruit powers—all were tools for him to grow stronger.

When it came to swordsmanship, as someone not wholly devoted to the way of the sword, he could not teach Zoro much. Even his own swordsmanship was raised by the system, and his theoretical knowledge came from Golden Lion, which he had only memorized superficially. How could he presume to teach Zoro?

“A formidable companion is what stirs my competitive spirit within.”

“If I can’t defeat even you, how could I hope to challenge Hawk Eyes? Can I rely on being a swordsman who hasn’t mastered iron-cutting or flying slashes?”

Zoro spoke plainly. He chose to follow Roland to learn iron-cutting and flying slashes, and to always have a worthy opponent to challenge.

He hadn’t abandoned his goal of becoming the greatest swordsman just because he chose to follow Roland.

“I understand.”

Roland nodded slowly, comprehending Zoro’s intention. It was just like Zoro seeking out Hawk Eyes in the original story.

He chose you not because he thought surpassing you was hopeless, but because he wanted to learn from you, then defeat you.

Such a Zoro—even Hawk Eyes didn’t refuse in the original story; how could Roland, whose aim wasn’t to be the greatest swordsman, refuse?

Following Roland, Zoro might even be able to spar with Navy swordmasters, learn from many schools, and enrich and create his own swordsmanship.

“Let me tell you something else—your move just now was powerful.”

Roland handed Zoro a torn piece of cloth, cut off during their duel.

Clutching the fabric tightly, Zoro looked at Roland’s back and smiled with genuine happiness.

So he hadn’t missed entirely after all.

A gap is not frightening; what’s frightening is not being able to see the gap at all.

At Roland’s command, the pirates who were prisoners busied themselves—some raised the sails, others took the helm.

Following Roland’s instructions, the sea ship slowly left the port, heading toward Loguetown.

On board, Koby kept sneaking glances at Zoro, who was napping against the mast, too afraid to approach.

He hadn’t witnessed Zoro protecting Roland on the island, so his impression of Zoro was still of the fierce pirate hunter.

Standing at the bow, Roland’s lips curled into a faint smile.

Nami was now on the ship, Zoro had chosen to follow him. He had far exceeded his goal for this journey to the East Sea.

Next, he would go to Loguetown to join the Navy, then eradicate Arlong and give Nami peace of mind.

Inside her cabin, Nami sat beside the window, idly chatting with little Donna, but her eyes never left Roland.

She was deeply conflicted.

Regarding Cocoyasi Village, she didn’t know whether she should ask Roland for help.

If Arlong’s crew were just ordinary pirates, she wouldn’t hesitate; after all, Roland could capture even Krieg, what ordinary pirates could possibly pose a threat?

But Arlong's crew were not ordinary men—they weren’t even human.

They were fishmen from the Grand Line, their physique and strength far surpassing humans.

Faced with such opponents, Nami didn’t want to trouble Roland.

She sighed deeply. If only she could be a little more selfish. Then she wouldn’t have to agonize over such matters.

...

On the distant other side of the ocean, on a small island called Gosa Town, a group of fishmen landed silently.

“Chu, this is it—Gosa Town.”

“Kuroobi, let’s split up.”

Two fishman officers exchanged glances, then each led their subordinates toward different parts of the town.

Within about half an hour, flames erupted, smoke billowed skyward.

Cries and wails rose as one.

By evening, a merchant ship passed by and saw the smoke.

When they landed, the island was nothing but ruins and corpses.

A reporter captured the scene with a camera and sent it back to headquarters.

The next day, countless news birds took flight from the newsroom, scattering across the East Sea.