"W–Where is that sound coming from?!"
Usopp completely lost it, covering his ears as he trembled. "Don't listen! Don't listen! It's evil spirits trying to lure us—if you hear it, you'll be taken away!"
"Ahhh!!"
"D–Don't!!"
Chopper's fur stood straight up as he clung to Usopp, both of them shaking like leaves.
"C–Could it really be a ghost ship…?"
"I don't know, but that voice really does sound kind of c-creepy…"
"It's here—it's a ghost ship!!"
As the strange vessel slowly approached the Thousand Sunny, accompanied by that indescribably eerie melody, the atmosphere instantly turned terrifying.
Jin and Zoro both gripped the hilts of their swords, eyes fixed on the ship ahead.
"There's a figure on it."
"Enemy?" Zoro said calmly. "If it is, I'll cut him down."
"Stop talking—please stop talking!!"
Merry clutched Jin's pant leg, trembling.
"Is it… is it a ship spirit?"
If it was a ship spirit, she wouldn't be afraid.
They'd be the same kind, after all.
But if it was a ghost…
She was scared too!
"Whether it's a ship spirit or not, I don't know," Jin said, his Sharingan spinning as he stared ahead.
"But that guy up there…"
He froze.
Then his eyes widened.
"A… a moving skeleton?!"
"What?!"
"Everyone, prepare yourselves—this thing is a skeleton that can move!"
Jin could see it clearly now.
That strange singing was coming straight from that skeleton.
But why would a skeleton be alive?
Unless…
This thing was like Merry—a special lifeform?
The thought instantly excited him.
This might be a summoned beast delivered straight to my doorstep!
"A moving skeleton?!" Sanji shouted. "Oi, Jin, are you sure you're not seeing things?!"
"I'm sure."
"D–Damn it… don't tell me it's really an undead!"
Usopp screamed. "Chopper, don't look up! You'll be taken away!"
Chopper burst into tears immediately, too scared to even lift his head.
At that moment, the ghost ship drifted close enough for everyone to finally see it clearly.
Brook's body swayed gently with the rhythm of his song, as if he were completely immersed in it.
"It really is… a moving skeleton…"
"Yohohoho~
Yoho yoho~
Yohohoho~
Yoho yoho~
Bink's sake~"
As the broken ship slowly passed by, Luffy's eyes lit up.
"Hey! Did you guys see that?! That skeleton can sing!"
This bizarre creature immediately captured his full attention.
He wanted to go over and take a closer look—right now.
"Idiot! Skeletons can't sing!"
Usopp roared. "Don't say stuff like that, Luffy!"
"But he was singing."
"Then it must be an evil spirit trying to trick us…"
"Whether it's evil or not, I don't know," Jin stroked his chin.
"But… this guy might be usable as a summon."
"Huh?"
"I think he's a special lifeform like Merry," Jin said with a grin.
"Hey, Luffy—want to go check him out?"
If that skeleton could sign his name on a summoning scroll…
Then this trip would be absolutely worth it.
"Let's go, Jin!"
Luffy grabbed him excitedly and dragged him toward the ship's edge.
"Hurry, don't let him get away!"
He was already desperate to meet that singing skeleton.
"A living skeleton!!"
"Oi! Wait!" Sanji shouted.
"What now?"
"Before going—draw lots," Zoro said, pulling out several short sticks.
"Whoever gets the long one goes with Luffy."
"Why?!"
"Hey, moss-head! Can't the people who want to go just go?!"
Nami instantly exploded.
Drawing lots meant she might get picked!
And she was the one most terrified of skeletons!
Zoro glanced at Robin and Franky, both already standing near Luffy.
"If everyone who wants to go goes," he said calmly,
"there won't be enough people left on the ship."
"If something shows up in the fog, those staying behind will be in danger."
Nami: ...
"F–Fine… I'll draw…"
Tears streamed down her face as she accepted her fate.
"Please, God, let me not get picked," Usopp muttered.
"Usopp, we have to pray!"
"Chopper! Merry! Pray hard or we'll get chosen!"
"O–Okay!"
The two kids were immediately dragged into it, closing their eyes and praying with all their might.
The result—
Usopp, Chopper, and Merry were safe.
Nami wasn't.
"…Why me…"
Her face turned green.
"I'm the most scared one! Why am I the one going?!"
"See? I told you," Usopp said seriously.
"You didn't pray properly."
"Can we redraw…?"
"No," Zoro said flatly.
"Otherwise drawing lots means nothing."
Nami could only lower her head in despair.
In the end, the group going consisted of:
Luffy, Jin, Sanji, and Nami.
They boarded the lifeboat and headed toward the ghost ship.
"If you're this scared, why come at all?" Luffy said casually.
"YOU IDIOT!!"
Nami grabbed him by the neck.
"You think I wanted to come?!"
"If I hadn't drawn that cursed stick—!"
"I could've gone alone," Luffy said innocently.
"No way," Sanji replied.
"Who knows what stupid thing you'd do."
"And if you curse the Sunny, we're done."
"Then Jin going with me is enough!"
"That guy isn't any safer than you," Sanji snapped.
"He's just as reckless."
A man who challenged a Buster Call head-on—
what wouldn't he dare to do?
Ghosts? Curses?
If one tried something funny, it'd probably eat a Fire Style jutsu to the face.
And that might curse the Sunny even worse.
"Tch, don't lump me together with Luffy," Jin clicked his tongue.
"Alright already," Luffy said excitedly.
"I wanna meet that skeleton!"
"That thing is NOT a person!"
"After decades… I finally see living people again…"
Brook trembled with excitement, holding a cup of water.
For dozens of years, he had wandered alone—
like a ghost that had long since died.
Seeing living humans again nearly drove him mad with joy.
"Yohohoho~!"
"This is amazing!"
"I finally met living people again!"
How long had it been since he last saw someone alive?
He couldn't even remember.
As the four climbed aboard using ropes, Brook rushed over eagerly.
"Hello there, living people!"
"My apologies—I was so excited earlier that I forgot to greet you properly!"
"It's been decades since I last saw living humans, yohohoho~!"
"This place is full of ghost ships—terrifying, really!"
"Please, make yourselves at home! Sit anywhere!"
"He's really talking!"
Luffy's eyes sparkled.
"It's a real living skeleton!"
"And he's a chatterbox," Sanji muttered.
The horror atmosphere was completely destroyed.
"Decades without seeing living people…"
Jin raised an eyebrow.
"So he really is a special lifeform."
His interest skyrocketed.
If this skeleton truly possessed unique abilities—
he might actually be worth adding to a summoning contract.
"Ah~!"
Brook suddenly noticed Nami.
"Well now, what a beautiful young lady we have here!
My heart is trembling with excitement!"
He gently placed his teacup down.
Then, under everyone's stunned gaze, he carefully adjusted his posture—
so dignified that for a moment, he truly looked like a gentleman.
He walked up to Nami and bowed politely.
"Miss, may I have the honor of seeing your panties?"
Jin: ...
Sanji: ???
Nami: !!!
"YOU PERVERTED SKELETON!!"
BAM!
Nami's fist smashed straight into Brook's skull, sending his entire body spinning before crashing into the floor.
Yet Brook laughed.
"What a violent punch—it went straight to my brain!"
"Ah! Though I don't actually have one! Yohohohoho~"
"YOU DISGUSTING SKELETON—DIE!!"
Oddly enough, Nami wasn't scared anymore.
She just wanted to punch him again.
"Why does a skeleton even get a bump?" Sanji yelled.
"He's all bones!"
"That's… probably because it's Nami," Jin said thoughtfully.
Sometimes, Nami's punches defied logic.
When she wanted to hit someone, physics simply gave up.
Sanji stared.
"…That actually makes sense."
"No it doesn't!!"
"Ask that again and I'll hit you again!" Nami threatened.
"Yohohoho~ Such a fiery lady~"
Brook stood back up, unbothered.
Pain didn't matter.
Loneliness did.
"Hey, skeleton," Luffy suddenly asked,
"do you poop?"
Sanji: ????
"WHY would you ask that NOW?!"
"…Honestly," Jin muttered,
"I'm kinda curious too."
"YOU TOO?!"
Brook thought seriously.
Then he picked up his teacup again.
"…Yes, I do."
"WHY DID YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT?!"
"Hahaha! You're fun!"
Luffy laughed loudly.
"Hey, skeleton—join my crew!"
"EH?!"
Nami and Sanji froze in shock.
He invited him just like that?!
Without asking anything?!
"Sure."
"He agreed?!"
Jin smiled warmly.
This felt familiar.
Back on the Sea Train—
wasn't this exactly how Luffy had invited him too?
Simple. Direct. No hesitation.
One question.
One answer.
Partners.
"Damn it…" Sanji covered his face.
"I can already hear that marimo bastard mocking me…"
(You idiots—what did you even go there for?!)
"Same," Nami sighed.
"Come on," Luffy said happily.
"I'll introduce you to everyone!"
"Yohohoho~ What an honor!"
Brook bowed elegantly.
"Please lead the way."
Being around living people again—
that alone made this worthwhile.
"Jin… are we really bringing him back?"
Nami whispered, tugging his sleeve.
"Luffy invited him as a crewmate," Jin said calmly.
"Which means we're bringing him back."
"…Accept your fate, Nami-chan~"
She knew he was right.
When the captain decided something—
the crew followed.
Still…
A skeleton who asked to see her panties within five minutes…
Her future suddenly looked very troubling.
"Alright—back to the Thousand Sunny!"
"Yeah!"
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/ZoroTL442