Chapter 314: The Price of Freedom
Zoro's voice was full of a fiery confidence, a conviction that burned in his eyes. This time, he truly drained the cup in one go. The moment he did, however, his entire face contorted, muscles spasming around his jaw as he fought to maintain his composure.
Ren watched him, a playful glint in his eyes. "If you can't hold it in, don't force it. Want some water?"
"No... no need!" The words were ground out, forced through a clenched jaw.
Everyone watching had the same thought: 'Doesn't it hurt to even speak like that?' It was clear this was no simple alcohol.
Ren looked at the swordsman with a sigh of genuine appreciation. "To endure that without a sound... that's truly impressive. You've got grit. You should know, though, that this is very good for your body."
Zoro froze, the words cutting through the searing sensation. He suddenly realized the pain was being replaced by an intense, radiating warmth. It felt as if a powerful pressure was building inside him, not to burst, but to reinforce. A wave of vitality, potent and pure, washed through his every cell.
Yuuka Kazami, the flower master, spoke softly, her voice like a gentle breeze. "It carries the scent of medicinal herbs..."
Clow Reed, for his part, had little interest in such a potent brew. As a man with a notorious sweet tooth, why would he ever choose something so spicy and bitter? The woman who had been observing from the side, however, seemed intrigued. As a heavy drinker herself, she was always curious about spirits she had never tried. But seeing Zoro's reaction, she wisely decided to wait until she was alone to sample it, lest she create an embarrassing memory she'd rather forget.
On the other side of the room, Nami had finally finished the last bite of her cheese-baked rice. Her slender figure showed no change, but she leaned back heavily in her chair, rubbing her stomach with a satisfied groan. "That was incredible... I think I accidentally ate way too much."
Ren had always been fascinated by the paradoxical nature of his female customers' appetites. They would often claim to be completely stuffed, only to proceed to devour desserts and drink beverages as if they had a separate stomach entirely.
Nami's gaze found Ren, a complex mix of gratitude and anxiety in her eyes. She said nothing to him, instead turning her full attention to the pristine demoness beside her. "Miss Lucifer," she began, her voice hesitant, "for that blessing... what kind of price do I need to pay?"
"Hmm? Oh, that," Lucifer waved a dismissive hand, the gesture impossibly casual. "It was merely a transaction. Pay whatever you feel is right. It was as simple as a flick of my wrist."
Her nonchalant answer threw Nami into a state of utter confusion. She didn't have much to offer, but giving too little for such a miracle felt like a grave insult. She was completely at a loss.
Lucifer seemed to sense her predicament, letting out a soft, theatrical sigh. "Humans. So very troublesome..."
With a grace that defied her lazy demeanor, Lucifer rose and walked over to Nami's table. She reached for the heavy money pouch resting by Nami's hand. Nami started to protest, but then she remembered that the blessing itself was essentially a gift. What right did she have to dictate the terms?
But then, Lucifer did something unexpected. She casually dipped her fingers into the bag, pulled out a single, gleaming coin, and tossed the full pouch back to Nami. She examined the small piece of metal in her palm for a moment before a faint smile touched her lips. "So, your world seems quite wealthy."
Nami nodded blankly, her mind struggling to catch up. It took a second for the reality of the situation to hit her. "Just... just one Beri?!" she exclaimed, her voice pitching higher. "That's far too little! This... this isn't right!"
Lucifer continued to toy with the coin, its surface catching the light. "When making a deal with a devil," she explained, her tone light but carrying an ancient weight, "the price is never determined by how powerful the boon is. It's determined by how difficult it was for the devil to grant. For something of this level, one coin is more than enough. Besides," she added, her smile widening slightly, "this isn't just ordinary metal."
Nami didn't know what to say. She could only try to comfort herself with the thought that these were the rules of devils, and she had no place to argue. Still, she knew in her heart she could never truly pay just one Beri.
Arlong had demanded one hundred million Beri to buy back the freedom of Cocoyasi Village. Now, looking at the pouch in her hands, she felt that this money belonged somewhere else entirely—a place where it could pay for true salvation.
Nami was, by nature, greedy for money. But she had never been blind to what was truly important. In that regard, money didn't even rank. In her heart, the most important things were her family and her companions. The most important place was her home. And the most precious, intangible treasure was her dream of mapping the world.
But tragically, she had been powerless to protect any of them. Her obsession with money had become a twisted prerequisite for reclaiming what was stolen from her. She was deeply, deeply grateful to these people—even to the stubborn swordsman who was now planning to return with his crew to help her defeat Arlong. A strange thought crossed her mind: perhaps all the bad luck she had endured for so many years had been leading her to this single, miraculous day.
If she hadn't been discovered, if she hadn't been chased for so long, if she hadn't desperately sought refuge in what she thought was an abandoned house... she never would have found her way here.
Her resolve hardening, Nami turned back to the proprietor. "Boss, what's the price for this meal?"
Ren considered it for a moment, then gave a relaxed shrug. "If you're going to pay... roughly... you can just decide."
Nami's jaw went slack. This was the first time she had ever encountered a business run this way. Just decide? It was the exact same baffling logic Lucifer had used!
In truth, Ren simply had no idea how to price his food in her world's currency. The large bags of Beri that Shanks and his crew had left behind were still sitting on the counter, untouched. He hardly had the time or inclination to sit around counting coins for fun.
But for Nami, this simple instruction was an impossible problem. She blurted out subconsciously, "Boss, you and Miss Lucifer are really alike..."
Lucifer raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? Are we? I don't see any similarity. Cerberus, have you noticed something?"
From her place by the counter, the three-headed dog girl chimed in, "Nothing, I just feel that Kirari and Yumiko also resemble the Master."
Lucifer paused, tilting her head in thought. "Hmm, that makes sense," she conceded with a nod. "But neither of them is a complete reflection. Momobami Kirari has his cunning, that hidden darkness. Yumiko Fuji has his considerate nature. Speaking of which... it's quite a curious phenomenon."
Nami had little interest in continuing the philosophical discussion. A single, urgent thought now consumed her: she had to tell Nojiko the good news. Her sister would be so happy!
With a decisive motion, Nami placed the entire, heavy bag of money on the table. "Boss! The payment for the meal is here!"
She then stood up, pulled the door open, and was about to step through when she seemed to remember something. She turned back, her bright eyes locking onto Ren. "Boss, can I still come here? I want Nojiko to have a chance to eat here, too!"
"Of course," Ren replied with a warm smile. "You are most welcome. Just find any door, think of this place, and you can return. Now hurry back. Go tell your sister everything you need to say. You've waited long enough, haven't you?"
A brilliant, teary smile broke across Nami's face. "Yes! Thank you, everyone! Boss, I'll be back! And... Zoro! Goodbye!"
Zoro, who had been quietly meditating to absorb the strange energy from the drink, opened his eye. "Yeah! We'll get to Cocoyasi Village as soon as we can!"
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