"Barn! Are you insane?! Your arm is really going to get sliced off!"
Brook's shout rang out, but Barn ignored him, closing his eyes in concentration. Brook fell silent. A strange stillness settled over the cave—so quiet you could hear the hiss of air being split as the Second Generation Kitetsu descended.
When the blade neared Barn's arm, Brook instinctively covered his mouth in horror, his skeletal knees trembling.
Shhh-CHAK!
The blade plunged into the stone floor, edge first—but it was the blunt side. Brook let out a deep breath, drenched in cold sweat. He dropped to the ground, stunned. "It… it didn't cut him…" he muttered, lips quivering and unable to form more words.
Barn bent down and pulled the Second Generation Kitetsu from the stone, gently running his fingers along the blade. Turning, he looked in Brook's direction. For a moment, a faint gleam flashed across his pale, pupil-less eyes—then he broke into a wild, elated grin.
"Ahahahahaha! Look, Brook! I conquered it!"A faint red light shimmered across the blade of the Kitetsu—as if acknowledging Barn as its rightful master.
Brook slowly got to his feet, staring at the boy bouncing with joy and swinging the sword around like a child showing off a new toy. Yet the scene from just moments ago kept replaying in his mind, sending fresh chills down his spine.
What kind of soul lives inside that small body…? Brook couldn't help but wonder.
Barn, meanwhile, was absolutely thrilled. "I knew it! Out of more than six billion people in the world, I actually scored a once-in-a-lifetime isekai ticket! With luck like this, I could outshine even Zoro! Second Generation Kitetsu, I swear I won't let your edge go to waste!"
At the same time, Barn noticed something incredible. Ever since he'd bonded with the cursed sword, his personal stats had surged—strength, agility, and more. The once-empty weapon slot on his status screen now displayed the Second Generation Kitetsu. But what thrilled him the most was that the long-inactive skill bar—previously grayed out—had finally turned yellow and usable.
So that's why I couldn't use any skills before…You need a weapon equipped to activate them!
Back on the ship route, Brook carried Barn piggyback as they returned the way they came. As soon as they arrived at the dock, Barn jumped down and shouted before Brook could even speak:
"Captain Yorki! Quick, get the crew—we found tons of gold! Brook couldn't carry it all!"
Yorki heard Barn's voice and rushed to the edge of the deck, peering down.
"For real?! Hahaha! Barn, Brook—looks like you two struck it rich!"
"It's all ours! Me and Brook found it, no sharing!" Barn clutched the Kitetsu tightly and puffed his cheeks in mock defiance, playing up the child card.
Brook and Yorki exchanged amused glances. "Alright, alright, nobody's trying to take it from you," Yorki said, chuckling.
Brook let out his signature laugh. "Yohohoho!"
Yorki straightened up, hands on his hips, and cleared his throat. "Ahem! Sako! Round up the rest of the treasure-hunting squads. Marb! Take some men and follow Brook—we're hauling gold!"
"Aye!" Sako and Marb shouted in unison. Pirates or not, treasure always got them moving.
Brook led the group back toward the treasure site, leaving Barn behind. Partly because Barn didn't want to carry anything, but mostly because Brook couldn't haul him and the treasure. Besides, Brook didn't like carrying him anyway.
So Barn stayed aboard, keeping Yorki company in the captain's quarters, chatting away.
"Barn, I've been meaning to ask… what's that on your head?" Yorki asked curiously, pointing.
"Huh? On my head?" Barn reached up and patted around. "Uh… what the hell is this?"
He pulled down a bird's nest.
Yorki leaned over for a better look—and burst out laughing. "PFFT—hahahahaha!"
"What? What is it, Yorki?!" Barn demanded.
"You mean you didn't notice you were carrying that around?!" Yorki doubled over, laughing like he'd eaten a whole bag of sugar.
Barn's expression darkened. "Oi, Yorki, stop laughing already! Tell me what it is!"
"HAHAHAHA—"
"I'll sue you for mocking a blind guy! What the hell is it?!"
"Alright, alright," Yorki wiped away tears. "It's a bird's nest. There's a baby chick inside—fluffy little thing. Two cracked eggshells next to it. Looks like it just hatched."
Barn was stunned. "Wait, I brought a bird back with me?! What kind?"
"Dunno. Still bald. How am I supposed to tell?"
"Oh." Barn leaned closer, intrigued despite himself.
The chick slowly opened its eyes. Its first sight in this world was Barn's enormous face leaning over the nest. It wobbled upright, hopped toward him—and then, right in front of Yorki's stunned eyes—
Poked Barn in the nose with its beak.