As always, I'm not completely sold on Law's characterization but official contents during trying times is always welcome! I'll leave an extended summary.
Part 1 recap:
The story takes place during Law's North Blue piracy years. Law and the Hearts (Bepo, Shachi, Penguin) battle a notorious pirate crew, which ends with Law defeating the enemy captain but falling into the ocean. His old sword is shattered into pieces. One of the captives in the enemy ship, Hakugan, saves Law's life. As a gratitude, the Hearts escort him and other captives back to their hometown Welbems. The island's northern side is occupied by Nagels Pirates. The two orphans - Hakugan and his younger sister, live at a southern village. Hearts take a few days off at the village to recharge themselves. Bepo, Shachi and Penguin decide to develop a naval combat style to help their captain in future, while Law decides to buy a new sword.
Part 2
Law wakes up sweating as he's still adjusting to the island's summer weather. He changes to his yellow jacket. Hakugan's sister comes to nag at him for oversleeping and they run a debate back and forth until Law leaves the room.
Everyone has gathered at the breakfast table. Apparently other than Law everyone else are decent cooks so they're not used to eating someone else's home-cooked meals. They devour some fish grilled by Hakugan without bothering the cutleries.
The fish is called Bembem, the dish is a unique delicacy from the island. Penguin admits his loss as a cook this round, but he's determined to beat Hakugan's cooking (and win everyone and Captain's heart again) next time. Law thinks Penguin would probably beat Hakugan if the overall culinary skills are compared.
Everyone else resume their training while Law personally meets Hakugan. He consults about the local sword shops. he wants to bury the remaining bits of his old sword somewhere too. Hakugan suggests their home garden as a spot for burial and asks Law if he could join him in the sword funeral. Eventually, they do the funeral ceremony together.
Hakugan takes Law to a weapon shop. He suggests a flashy sword, but Law dismisses it because it wouldn't survive difficult fights. They head to the next shop. (Law takes his hat off due to heat, Hakugan fanboys over how cool Law looks but Law brushes it off).
The next shop is less flashy, the owner asks what they want. Law tells him to show the best sword regardless of the price. The owner brings a sword which can allegedly "cut the moon", but Law passes verdict that it's a scam. They leave the shop.
It's getting too hot so they return home. They find Nanagi sliding down Bepo like a slide. Nanagi interrogates why they're so late. Law plays mysterious and says "we went to pass some adult time" (pretty clear innuendo to red light district) which makes her furious, although she doesn't understand it properly. She calls him "Pervert Law", in return Law gets mad as well. Others are chilling at the beach so Law changes to a Hawaiian shirt.
They play dodgeball, Law is unreasonably brutal, no mercy towards a little girl either. Nanagi acknowledges Law as a strong person, the unusual sincerity throws Law off.
They do a polar tang startup and Hakugan tests his steering skills, everyone is impressed by how quickly he learns.
At night, Law studies about the Nagels pirates and local conflicts, and pays attention to a guy named Sheronia.
Next morning, Law and Hakugan visit the remaining weapon store in the island. It appears to be a worn out shop, the items are allegedly real deal but too quirky to be handled by normal people. Law takes a liking to a sword but decides that's not it, it's the same as his previous sword, he needs a stronger one.
When the shop owner hears the name of Law's sword, he asks Law about it. Then he says he can guide Law to a sword he might like. It's the "best", more like the "worst" sword he knows of. Law doesn't mind.
It takes them over two hours to reach their destination, a mountaintop shrine. The sword emits an ominous energy that leaves Hakugan frozen in his place. Law moves ahead to reach it. It's a sword longer than him and the markings look like a graveyard. The name is Kikoku.
The shop owner informs them he studied about the sword in his younger days and tried to fetch it from the shrine, but it was apparently too dangerous. The sword has been there for 200 years, rumors say it ruined nations and caused its wielders to die. There had been only one person, a Wano samurai, who could master this sword.
Law tries to pick it up and cut a rock but he feels his energy being sucked in. The old man urges him to drop it (he does), and suggests they should leave. Kikoku is known for absorbing the life force of its wielder, so it can kill a weak person or make them lose their sanity and attack own allies.
Law sets his goal to master it. He needs something like this to take down Doflamingo. (There's a poetic line about Law being known for his cool, dry nature but that's because he's a captain and has a mission to take down Doflamingo, while in reality, there's a passion beneath him "shimmering like magma.")
Law decides to remain there as long as it takes to master the sword. Hakugan wants to stay too, but Law tells him to first go back and let everyone know about it. When Hakugan leaves, he begins training.
Meanwhile, the Hearts have been training themselves. Shachi and Penguin are learning to shoot water bullets. When they hear the news from Hakugan, they respect Captain's decision and carry on with their own preparations.
48 hours has passed since Law came here, Hakugan helps him out and hands him food when he asks for It. Law is now able to fully lift the sword but he still can't unsheathe it. The only way it can be mastered is by using Haki. Law can't use haki yet.
He theorizes that he should try to awaken his strongest emotions and see if it works. The certain feathered brothers pop up in his mind....
He feeds all his rage into Kikoku and, in a twisted delight, he's happy to finally be able to unsheathe it. But Kikoku strongly rejects it and makes Law almost attack himself. Hakugan throws himself at Law and gets injured by the process.
Law gives him first aid while reflecting on Hakugan's action. He realizes he ignored Kikoku's own will and treated it like taming some wild animal rather than trying to understand it. He holds Kikoku gently and remembers his beloved people. The feeling of love flows from his fingertips into Kikoku. Law screams within his heart that he wants to be strong.
There are people I couldn't protect. That's why I need the strength to protect the people who will be with me from now on.
"So lend me your strength, Kikoku!"
It works. Kikoku accepts him, and Law is able unsheathe it and cut some large stones.
Right when they're about to celebrate, the remaining Hearts and the mayor come running. The Nagels kingdom is launching a full on invasion in their village, and they're badly outmatched. The mayor bows to Law and asks for his help. Law tells him not to do something like that so easily.
Everyone starts climbing down from the Mountain. When Law is about to leave, a hand made of mud grabs his leg. Then the lump grows and turns into a pitch black version of his own self.
Bartolomeo's New World Middle School Investigation notes
Law spoiling Onigiri | Bepo and Onigiri
Notes
One Piece Academy is an ongoing official One Piece spinoff that releases in Monthly Saikyo Jump. In the magazine, the chapters are roughly 40 pages, but they're divided into two parts and released bimonthly on the official site.
You can find chapters 1-32 translated unofficially in several manga piracy sites [ x or y ]. Raws for 33 onwards can be found here.
Like most spinoffs, the original author isn't involved in its writing. However, it has been confirmed that Oda himself decided the nicknames exchanged between characters (Cora and the SHs) in the donquixote brothers arc.
For latest chapters, check the official site. It removes access to free chapters as new ones add up, so if you like a specific chapter, better keep all pages saved!
Here's the author's Twitter.
At the moment, I'm only translating specific chapters or arcs that feature Law. This post is updated after each new translation.
HE REALLY HAD TO GET BACK AT LUFFY FOR STARTING TROUBLE THE SECOND HE STEPPED INTO TOWN (Law really had to get back at his boyfriend for making him wait so long but Law won’t admit that)
