The rising of the Shield Hero X One piece

The Rising of the Sword Hero part 23

Wyndia's eyes fluttered open. The first thing she realized was that she was lying in the bed in her room at the inn.

She tried to push herself up, but immediately groaned and slumped back into her pillow. The sedative that the kidnappers had injected into her still had some lingering effect, and her head was now in excruciating pain.

Something moved next to her. Only then did she realize that she wasn't alone in the room.

Zoro was sitting next to her bed, looking at her quietly.

She immediately bolted upright and shrieked. "What the hell, you perv! How dare you sit here and watch me sleep!?"

Said perv only glared at her with annoyance clear in his face. "Is that the way to talk to someone who has just saved your ass from being hauled back to the place that has been your nightmare for years?"

Oh.

So he had been the one who rescued her from those kidnappers. And it meant he stayed here to take care of her while she was still unconscious.

Her face started heating up when she thought about that. It's not like she would ever admit it, though.

Zoro stood up from the chair he was sitting on. He glanced at the girl sitting on the bed. "Well, if you're already awake, get ready to go down to have dinner. Rifana was worried about you, you know. At least you have to go down there to calm her down.

Then he started walking out of the room, before realizing his sleeve was being held back. He glanced back at the dog girl who was grabbing his sleeve. "What do you need?"

"Train me."

The swordsman raised an eyebrow. "Hm?"

"You said that I needed to prepare myself for any enemies who might come after me, didn't you? So, train me. I'm not going to complain. I don't want to be a burden for everyone anymore."

She stopped for a few seconds, and finished with a single word. "...Please."

Zoro closed his eyes. He turned away and said in a light voice.

"We'll talk about it later. Now, are you hungry yet? Let's go down there to eat first."

Anyone who looked at him right now could see a small smile appearing on his face.

"I guess it's time to say goodbye for now. Thank you for all the help you gave us, Lord Sword Hero."

Zoro took the hand Berthold was offering him with a nod. "You're welcome. After all, you also gave us a lot of help, too."

Berthold grinned. "Oh, we're more than welcome to help you with anything, my Lord. Too bad we can't stay to watch you fight in the Grand Tournament... But oh well, good luck on your fights, my Lord."

Wotan walked up and bowed deeply before Zoro. "Thank you very much for giving us a second chance, Lord Sword Hero. We will never forget what you did for us. If in the future there's a time you need help, just go find us in Lafan Village. We swear solemnly that we will do anything within our power to assist you."

Zoro smiled, and reached out his hand. "You'd better remember those words."

When the caravan disappeared at the horizon, the Sword Hero looked at his companions. "It's time for work."

Back to present

"WELCOME, FIGHTERS, TO THE 11TH GRAND TOURNAMENT OF ZELTOBLE! MY NAME IS DAMIAN KAUR, AND I AM THE MAYOR OF ZELTOBLE HARBOR. TODAY, I'M PROUD TO BE THE HOST OF THIS GRAND ANNUAL EVENT OF OUR COUNTRY!"

The voice of the man standing at the highest separate seat box of the colosseum boomed into every corner of the stands, over the roar of sound that was now filling the packed stadium.