After Becoming a Popular, Beautiful but Tragic Hero in the Pirate World

[Returning in November, not abandoning this]

Yuying Youyue was a corporate drone who wanted to retire on the very first day back at his old job. After clocking out right on time, he ran into a coworker who was trying to throw himself into the river again.

Firmly committed to the principle that "once work is over, work is over," he calmly chose to ignore him.

"Glug glug glug..."

Yuying Youyue: ...Saving one life is better than building a seven-story pagoda.

But the moment he jumped into the water, the current swept him away. When he opened his eyes again, he was in the middle of a vast ocean. At the same time, a mechanical voice sounded in his ear.

[Welcome to the comic-book world, player.]

*

After an accident, Yuying Youyue became bound to a forum System.

The System required him to take on a randomly assigned identity, become a comic-book character, and reach the top three in popularity. Completing the mission would grant him one wish. Failure meant he would get killed off and return to his original world.

"Can I wish to become a billionaire, live forever, or gain superpowers?"

[Of course.]

"Deal."

Yuying Youyue agreed without hesitation. Once he became rich, he would buy the company and make that lousy boss work overtime every day.

But then...

He looked at the card he had drawn: [Terminally Ill, Unhinged Fun-Seeker]

Yuying Youyue: ...

*

Comic Forum:

[I am dying, is this random guy seriously asking Zoro for directions? Wait, why did Zoro actually give him directions? Hahaha]

[Oh, so he's a "magical boy." This feels so jarring. This world is full of fighting and killing, and it has magic too?]

[I'm dying. Just wait until you see him whacking people over the head with his staff. Then it won't feel jarring at all, hahaha.]

[Magical boy X close-combat mage, that's right.]

[Who makes a wish to live to a hundred? Hahaha!]

[I'm rereading, and I'm already sobbing. Ayue, please live to a hundred, okay?]

As the story progressed, Yuying Youyue saw that his popularity was stuck in fifth place and decided to make a big move.

Meanwhile, the forum was being emotionally wrecked.

[Nooo, please don't! I refuse to accept this ending! Don't die, Ayue, just hang on a little longer...]

[It's just a terminal illness, Ayue, you can beat it!! Don't die! What about your wish? Didn't you say you wanted to live to a hundred?]

[At least give them a proper goodbye! Watching Ayue hide in a corner and slowly wait to die is breaking my heart.]

[What will Luffy and the others do if they can't find Ayue when they meet up at Sabaody in two years...?]

*

Looking at his popularity shooting straight to the top of the rankings, Yuying Youyue sighed. Tragic endings really were the best.

[Current main quest complete. Popularity ranking: Top 1.]

He watched the System bring up the exit screen and ran his fingers over the pocket watch in his hand. A faint smile curved his lips. "A farewell, huh..."

"System, I remember you can grant me one wish, right?"

"I want to stay by the side of those I love and those who love me."

Please note:

1. The protagonist is a sadistic, devilish overlord.

2. The blurb has been revised.

3. This is a writing exercise, so please be kind. There are tons of personal interpretations, and apologies for any out-of-character moments.

[Check out my upcoming story: Cyber-Raising Cats in the Pirate World]

As a seasoned otaku, Tsukimiya Wataru had watched countless anime and read plenty of fanfiction. Lately, he'd become obsessed with a soothing little game.

[One Piece Cats: The Grand Line] was a management sim where every level unlocked a new kitty.

The only downside was that leveling up required spending money.

Completionist Tsukimiya Wataru gritted his teeth: "I'm buying it!!"

*

His first kitten was a calico wearing a straw hat, with a scar under one eye. It was always going on about becoming a pirate cat.

After catching the runaway kitten for who knew how many times, Tsukimiya Wataru sighed in frustration. "Am I raising it wrong?"

Luffy Cat scratched itself with a hind leg, covered in dirt, its stomach rumbling and its beady eyes drooping. "Meow~"

Tsukimiya Wataru: This game is so devious! It's forcing me to spend money! Who could let such a cute kitten go hungry?

In a fit of enthusiasm, he stocked up on 99+ dried fish for the kitten.

*

His second kitten was a black-and-white cat wearing an orange cowboy hat, with tattoos on its body. This odd little cat liked to eat and sleep at the same time.

Tsukimiya Wataru looked at the test paper the kitten had handed in, moved to tears. He gave it a dried fish as a reward. "Thirty-six points! At last, there's a top student in my family! Boohoohoo!"

Luffy Cat always got single-digit scores or zeroes on exams. It had fallen asleep during tests time and time again, then gone home carrying a whole basket of zeroes.

Ace Cat, hands on hips: Let out a proud little snort * (happily swishes its tail)

Tsukimiya Wataru: Hmm... (my weakness has been found)

*

One day, he opened the game and discovered that one of his cats had gone missing!!

Looking at Ace Cat's missing status, he drew his sword and stared around in confusion. "???"

Who stole my cat?!

Tsukimiya Wataru was downcast for a while when he couldn't find the cat. Then he pulled himself together and continued caring for the kittens he had left.

Nami Cat, a money-grubber with an orange on her head; Zoro Cat, who treated dried fish like his three swords; Sanji Cat, with curly eyebrows and a weakness for pretty girls; and the cold-faced Law Cat, who wore a mushroom hat...

Even with the complete-collection badge showing in his catalog, he couldn't feel happy. He kept thinking about the lost kitten, and wanted the others to grow up healthy and strong.

In a fit of enthusiasm, he maxed out every kitten's skills and bought who knew how many 648-yuan bundles. Then the game crashed.

Tsukimiya Wataru: ...That can't be right. Did I spend so much money that I broke the game?

He stared uncertainly at the black screen and quickly reported the issue to the game's official support team.

*

Good news: after the game restarted, the kitten he'd lost had come back!!

Bad news: Ace Cat had brought home a whole group of cats and found himself a dad.

"Human, this is my old man!" Ace Cat now had an extra scar on his chest, and his eyes sparkled.

Tsukimiya Wataru looked conflicted as he met the gaze of the white cat with crescent-shaped whiskers, then burst into tears. "So I'm not Ace Cat's only dad?!"

He couldn't accept it!!

"Aren't we lovers, human?" Ace Cat tilted his head, utterly confused.

"Sachi said that other than family, only lovers treat someone well unconditionally. That's how things work in the human world." Ace Cat leaned closer, looking puzzled.

"You give me dried fish and play with me. Didn't you want to be my lover?"

"I don't understand human rules. I just want you to be happy."

Theme: Ideals and friendship